"...oh. I-" Yeah. He really has no idea how to respond to that. "As you say, sir."

The ronso grunts. He seems to have no need to explain himself. He keeps moving forward, though is careful to match Aten’s pace. 

Aten doesn't seem to feel the need to speak either.

Then they travel in comfortable silence, until the sun dips below the horizon.

Auron calls for camp to be made. They start setting up in the shadow of a hill, relatively protected, but it still worries Auron to be so exposed. 

Fiends aren't the only problem in these plains, Spira's native fauna can be just as deadly.

Yuna casts a huge protega over the camp, shaking a little with the effort, but has a happy smile once she's done.

Aten settles down again. He's looking a little brighter than he did earlier, but still slightly wan.

Yuna summons Ifrit once she's done setting up camp, and he eagerly lopes over to Aten, already summoning fire to heal him.

Well. Good.

There's that pleased flicker again. "Couldn't let it hurt her," he murmurs.

Yes. Protect.

Yuna comes and sits beside them, leaning into Ifrit. "How's he doing?" She says to the beastly aeon.

He. Good. Strong.

He flickers shyly, still unused to praise, and not sure what to do with it.

Yuna sends images of the fight through their bond to Ifrit.

He puffs up proudly, sending another fire spell to Aten.

Learn. Stronger. Brighter.

"I-I'll try. I- don't really. Have training. I just... Do."

Hard. Alone. Easier. Friends. Share. Knowledge.

"I- guess it. Would be. Yes."

I Teach?

Shy flicker. "I-I'd like that."

Ifrit nods approvingly.

He begins to show Aten, through a series of images, how to change and warp the shape of his fire, to attack and defend, to create arcs and walls.

Aten pays close attention. It's not that different to how he shifts and shapes himself. Except it's using the fire as an extension of himself, rather than just a part of him. He learns quickly.

Ifrit shows him how to best use his fire against enemies weak to it, and how to change and vary it for enemies that can resist. He tries to-

Ifrit disappears and Yuna takes a shaky breath in. "Sorry, I'm so sorry," she says to Aten, looking guilty. "I couldn't sustain him for much longer."

-mildly distressed flicker. "I- no, it's fine. I- you shouldn't have- I'm sorry. I forgot. I'm sorry."