He came up behind her, taking hold of her shoulders and gently altering her, shifting her entire body and making adjustments. "There," he said eventually, controlling her hand in his. "Summon your claw again."
He was quiet, adjusting her hand. “Alright,” he said quietly in her ear. A target appeared five feet in front of her. “Think about your Magyck flowing from your head to your fingers.
She would feel it this time. A jolt of energy passed through her, and the claw swept forward and rammed into the target. It didn't burst into flames as Ben's did, but she felt that contact, felt the action of butting against the target, and the target toppled and Ben let go of her, looking exhilarated. "Yes! You did it!"
"You did!" he replied, equally excited. "You felt that, right? Very well done, Calliope, very well done."
He waved a hand and the target vanished in a small puff of white smoke and he turned to her, crossing his arms and leaning against the table. "You felt it because it was such a blunt force. With time, you'll be able to feel it with more sensitivity."
He gave her a smile that may have been bordering on a smirk. It was his eyes that gave away its genuine nature, crinkling at the corners. "That's right. We'll work on it. For now, though, are you hungry?"
"Come on," he said, gesturing with his head before heading for the door. "I'll show you where you can get food."
He led her down the hallways of the castle, passing grand windows that revealed the shabby city below. It was worse to look at in the light of day, and if she was paying attention, she might notice that Ben almost deliberately kept his gaze straight ahead, as if to avoid this view. On the ground floor, towards the South end of the Castle, they found the kitchen, with Ben opening the door. It was loud and bustling, with many humans running around trying to assemble the breakfast. However, one person seemed to be calling the shots; a short human woman with fiery red hair holding a butcher's knife was calling out orders and directing chefs. She acted as a whirlwind, moving this way and that to perfect dishes and offer critiques, all yelled at with a thick accent. She noticed Ben and Calliope and her face brightened. "Ben, you losah, I didn't know you'd be back so quickly!" Ben gave her a grin, raising one eyebrow. "Luce, this is Calliope. She'll be staying with us for a while. The woman looked over at Calliope, squinting slightly. "She's rail thin, Benedict," she said sternly, jerking her head up to look up at Ben.
Calliope looked a little embarrassed, shuffling her feet as she avoided gazes. She seemed particularly nervous when Ben mentioned her to the head cook.
Ben sighed, sounding a little irritated. "She can understand you, Luce." Luce's eyes widened and she turned to Calliope, taking her hand in both of hers. "Oh, I'm sorry, missus, I didn't mean any insult," she said earnestly, giving her a good shake. "I just didn't expect the first girl Benny brought home for me to meet would be an elf!" "Luce," Ben said icily, raising one eyebrow. Luce looked up at him before her gaze returned to Calliope. She had warm brown eyes and although she seemed like a loud, undignified woman, she didn't seem malicious. "Oh jeezus. You must be hungry, huh? I'm Luce. Whaddya want to eat, hun?"
Calliope looked stricken with all the unfamiliarity, looking around with a small panic. She didn't necessarily seem uncomfortable, just a little overwhelmed. She looked over at Ben after Luce spoke, uncertainty in her eyes before opening her mouth, her tone a little nervous and quiet. "I.. Well-" she tugged on her hair instinctively. "What do you suggest?"
