"Likely not even in a century," he repeats. "But it's possible? And expanding either way? People are trying to fix this problem, right? Beyond just five apprentices on the edges of it?"

Aw. He supposes it makes sense that he'll need to start learning somewhere less complicated than 'flying rituals'.

Franklyn gets a smile. "Darn. What is a practical answer, then?" 

"People are absolutely trying to solve it." He tries to reassure. "Our current method is digging and cutting out the infected parts. Creating isolated floating islands. And Felix and his crew are just peripheral to the solution."

"With this version of the ritual? I can give you one or two hours. Or something more flexible but that might make you feel you just run a marathon by the end of it if you keep it up for too long."

He's tempted. But...

"I... Should probably not strain myself," he admits with a sigh. "The two hour one'll do," he adds. "I haven't flown for more than half an hour in... a while."

"Good. That's..." he shakes his head, "A huge ritual failure like that is the sort of thing that probably killed off the precursor peoples, I'm guessing?"

Temple nods. "One of the most likely theories. On the bright side. Whatever got them was probably something was... destructively designed. And probably took a few thousand lives as fuel."

Franklyn pats his back. "Rest for a few days, at least. Do you like swimming? It's not the same, but I do find it relaxing when I can't fly."

"The bright side, huh. At least it isn't easy." 

"I do, yeah," he says, "We don't live near any good spots for outdoor swimming right now, but I go to the pool nearby sometimes." Which isn't the same, but it's better than nothing. 

Nod. Franklyn starts preparing the ritual, picking objects from their shelves. "We have a pool. Oh, has anyone asked if you're okay with nudity? I am usually nude at home."

"Yeah. I know it isn't completely reassuring, but there is that."

"No one's asked, no? I don't mind it. I might stare? I'll try not to stare. That seems like it would be rude." This will probably result in alternating between staring and not looking, at first, which doesn't seem great either! Still, he's not gonna try to limit anyone else's freedom. He'll get used to the cute nude flying guy. 

"Can I help with anything? For the ritual?" 

Nod. Pause. He's out of questions for the moment. 

Though.

"...Did your investigator do some... genealogy stuff? To find us?" 

"He did. I didn't get around to reading it. But I am pretty sure dad has a file on it and will show you if you ask."

Franklyn chuckles. "It's okay to stare as long you're comfortable with me and everything. And sure. If you don't mind following instructions."

"Ok! And, I can follow instructions." 

"...Yeah, I'd like to see it." Where did he say he would be if they needed him?

"He should be at his office." Temple can shows him where.

Franklyn shows him how to step through the steps. It's a different ritual from the one they got Alex to use, but the end result is effectively the same.

He'll follow, then, and ask Temple to stick around when they get there. 

"Temple says you have the genealogy research the investigator did when they were looking for us?"

The result is Flying!! He is much less tentative about it than Alex was, and his whole face lights up once he's in the air. 

"This is so much easier," he marvels, hovering in the middle of the room. "My gift really isn't made for flying, I guess." He shakes the thought away, "Can we go outside?" He asks while doing a circuit of the room, "Temple said this place is on Earth, but no one's just wandering around, right?"  

Franklyn lifts into the air as well. "No one around, no. The joys of living in the middle of nowhere."

Stephen quietly nods. "I do. I hope you don't mind that I have read it." He hands an envelope that was already on his desk.

Outside, then! He might be giggling a bit.