[ a what? he's never heard his magic described in those sorts of terms. the look on bel's face is cute, though, so mahanon can't really help showing off a little.

he unfolds both hands from around his cup, spreading them over the table so his palms face one another with a few inches between them. lightning crackles along the fingers of one hand, then jumps to the other. it sparks and hisses, leaping from finger to finger, before he closes his hand into a fist and extinguishes it. ]

I've never been one to study the how and why of my magic, really. It's not-- My people have a hard life. We don't often have the luxury of study for study's sake, I guess. [ a beat, then he straightens faintly, brightening. ] Dorian would be a good one to ask, though. He's another mage, a human, and he's.. brilliant, really. I'll try to introduce you to him. [ even though.. he hasn't really spoken to dorian since that first day. the thought still makes anxiety curl uncertainly in his chest. ] I can tell you that as mages, we draw our power from the Fade. It's a sort of.. spiritual realm that exists alongside the physical.

[ his fingers lace together around his cup again. ] There are different ways to learn and utilize magic, of course. Mine is mostly offensive. [ his lips quirk. ] I've been in a lot of fights.