"What? No! At least, I never did. Should I have?" Pylea looked at Nikodemus with a slightly worried expression on her face, but the old satyr simply shook his head.<br/>"Striking deals with the fundamental forces of the universe is beyond the ability of even the most powerful of the Lost," Nikodemus explained, "except in some extremely rare cases, like when four changelings bargained with the four seasons and gave us the Seasonal Courts."<br/>He leaned forward and looked Ember in the eyes with a fatherly smile on his lips.<br/>"Those were exceptional changelings indeed, and as all like them they have a big part in the lore and legends of us Lost." He leaned even closer, Ember thought she could hear his back creak but she might have been imagining things.<br/>"I guess what I am trying to say is this: don't worry about the big picture. Focus on yourselves and the here and now. There's plenty of time to get involved in the affairs of the Lost later, if you so choose."<br/><br/><em>"It might not even be up to you in the end,"</em>he thought grimly as he leaned back again.<em>"You might find that the choice will be made for you, and I would have this time be as happy and uncomplicated as possible so you at least have better times to remember with bitter sweet fondness."</em><br/>He sighed and did his best to chase away his dark thoughts before the girls noticed. The last thing he wanted to do was dampening their spirits.<br/><br/>"Pylea, lend her your necklace and let her try again."<br/>"Sure." The fiery changeling unclasped her necklace, shaped like a silver bonfire, and handed it to Ember.<br/>"Wear this, then give it a try yourself." Pylea suddenly looked rather serious. Despite what some people might think she obviously took her role as teacher quite seriously.<br/>"Now, before you stick your hand into the flame, you could try doing what I did when I was new at this. Talk to the fire, in your head like. Remind it that you have a pact and it shouldn't be hurting you. It won't answer, of course, but a gentle reminder of what we expect from it can't hurt, right?" Pylea gave her friend a warm smile as she sat almost holding her breath, with eyes big as saucers and fingers crossed, as it now was Ember's turn to show fire it held no dominion over her.<br/>