She's gliding, she's propelled by the trickle that's become a stream, she's flying.

It takes her only part of a moment to orient - and then she's soaring, laughing like she hasn't laughed in what feels like months or longer - certainly like she hasn't laughed (let alone smiled) since the Demon Queen took her. Her mind's utterly clear, the exultation of flight and magic sweeping away all thoughts beyond the sensory impression of the moment.

(Most new students - let alone most children trying to learn this - would have lost focus and crashed after that first startling realization of flight. Most wouldn't have achieved even brief flight this early. But Lily was never meant for anything less than the highest skies, and with her mind uncluttered by thoughts of the future or past she's able to respond quickly to this new world unfurling before her, getting the hang of maneuvering with remarkable speed.)

Very impressive. Speed and control, yes, one of the quicker attunements she's seen- though flight is expensive, and she estimates the girl has perhaps another minute before the drain exceeds her reservoir's capacity.

It will be interesting to see if she crashes, or lands before then.

The answer seems to be 'attempts to land, misjudges when exactly she'll run out, and then drops into a roll to recover (just like she learned from being thrown off horses).' She scowls as she recovers, between the desperate gasps for air.

"A fine first attempt," she calls. "Though you would be well served to keep a closer eye on your reserves in the future."

She's still running too much of that high to be annoyed, even with the let down of her reserves running out. She instead ends up trying (and only mostly succeeding) to suppress a bright grin at the praise.

And, once she has her breath back: "How do I fly longer?"

"Your capacity will increase as you grow, and when you cast consciously you can be more efficient about it. Or you could learn a ritual for shapeshifting that will give you wings."

" - How long can I fly with wings?" she asks, very carefully not bouncing as excitedly as she wants to. 

"Until you get physically tired."

She bites back a 'teach me that next,' but she doesn't want to ask - "I want to learn that next."

"Shapeshifting is difficult. There's a reason I'm the only one in the world with an army of demons."

"Isn't the whole point me challenging you? I want to start."

"Hm. Good. Very well, then."

She loses control just enough to give a few tired bounces. 

"There is a long way to go before you will be able to perform it. Not only theory, but the ritual takes a certain amount of magic to cast, beyond what you draw from the environment."

"I'll work hard on everything, and learn everything on the way."

"You will, yes."

There's a warm, bubbly glow in her chest. She shouldn't feel like this.

"And," she adds, "I will expect equal or greater progress on your other lessons."

"I'll keep up."

"See that you do. Come, you must eat to recover your strength."

She gets to her feet and follows - coming closer than she has since that morning. 

She puts a hand on the girl's back to steer her towards the refectory.

She tenses - and then permits the contact with a shiver, feeling odd - definitely hyperaware of the Demon Queen's touch, but... She doesn't pull away, reluctant to let go of that warm feeling in her chest at being praised. 

She lets the Demon Queen guide her the entire way.

As they get closer, other people appear in the hallways, bowing respectfully as the Demon Lord passes. (They seem human, for the most part. Maybe a little demonic around the edges or the teeth, but nothing like the army that burned Lily's home.)