#its too late...... lets just say she has a carbuncle ring on the other hand

[crystalpallette]

I've been in a fugue state all day and made zero progress on any art ever, and then I zoned out and suddenly its doppel arle with a steel chair. recently all I've been able to draw is vaguely threatening girls in red pen I think something is wrong

[the-truth-will-light-the-sky]

Time would eat away everything, but for now, let this moment be ours

Summary: Young King Regis realizes the strain of being king, but his son is more important than his failing health.

The light peeping from the dark Lucian curtains that hung in the king’s bedroom glimmered upon the Lucian King himself.

He saw the light pink haze of its presence upon his closed eyes, feeling the way his skin touches the exquisite fabric of his similarly exquisite bed.

Lying there for a time, he stretched out his limbs, moving every finger and toe, breathing in the usual scent of woodsy perfume that lingered about his rather enormous room.

When his feet reached beyond the edge of his blanket, he recoiled his legs back. It was far too cold a room to spend in.

It has been a long time ever since he ever felt warmth in this room. 

‘Ever since she left me and ascended,’ Regis suddenly thought.

Somehow, waking up was becoming even harder for him nowadays.

She wasn’t there for him to hold on to in the mornings when he just wanted to remain a man and nothing else, or joke with him in the middle of the night when sleep won’t take them both.

Regis gave up the fight against the cold, however, and braced it, throwing the blanket off of him and shivered as the cold assaulted his skin.

As his bare feet touched the carpeted room, the Lucian king found himself staggering.

The room tilted and he fell on the floor with a groan.

Cursing himself for being a tad too dramatic, he hauled himself up on the edge of the bed. He inspected himself for any bruises, but there was none.

Only, he found himself unable to properly use his right leg. He poked at it, tried to twist it and even shook it. He laughed at the way he would have looked.

But that would have been for another day. Today, however, Regis found that he couldn’t even walk properly.

A man of thirty three who couldn’t even walk straight.

The weight of the ring in his left hand felt even heavier now.

Ah.

He was sure he wouldn’t have enough time. And so he walked with a limp to where his son slept in his chamber.

The moment he opened it, a smile quirked at the side of the king’s lips.

Huddled between numerous pillows and an assortment of thingamabobs, young Noctis Lucis Caelum slept as soundly as ever.

‘The burdens of the world are not yours to carry,’ Regis thought to himself as he slowly sat on the bed. ‘Let them be mine.’

His arms softly gathered his son, feeling the child’s slow breathing on his skin as he cuddled him, eyes shut tight with stars on his lashes.

Time would eat away everything, but for now, let this moment be ours, my son.

He felt the young boy’s arms reaching out to hug his father, and Regis couldn’t help but cry in joy.

Regis Lucis Caelum has always been dramatic, Aulea always said. And she was right.

She was always right.

The young king brushed the stray dark hairs away from the boy’s face and smiled as he saw the way Noctis’ lips moved, talking of carbuncles and fantastic worlds that only roamed freely in his dreams.

He let the child sleep the early morning away as he hugged the boy closer, pushing back his own urge to cry. But he did cry.

And Cid could call him a sissy over and over again like broken vinyl player for as long as he wants but he doesn’t give a damn.

Today, I shall be no one else other than ‘Father.’ Being King can wait.

The next day, young Noctis pulled a long black stick from the edge of his bed, wondering why his father would even carry such a heavy thing.

Regis chuckled as he observed his son’s curious expression, the young boy’s brows meeting together in a soft clash.

‘Whassis?’ the boy asked in a jumble. Regis smiled as he matted the boy’s unruly hair down.

The thing in question was in fact, a cane. Made of exquisite material of Tenebraen oak and Lucian metals, the cane was gilded with fine mythril-like silver. But of course, the handle was the important part of it. It was made of nothing special, really. But it was very comfortable indeed.

The cane is strong enough to injure anyone if he so wishes to hit someone with it. But of course not, there are no rooms for such violence in Regis’ mind, yet.

The father held the cane in his fingers and laid on his stomach on the bed, leaning closer to his son.

‘It’s a toy,’ he grinned conspiratorially.

‘Toy?’ the boy asked curiously, a smile forming in his lips.

‘Yes. And it’s a magic wand!!!’ Regis exclaimed, suddenly turning to lie on his back as he pointed the cane upwards to the ceiling with a dramatic swish.

Noctis’ eyes grew wide and his imagination run wild. The young boy squealed as he demanded his father to do tricks and magic, gripping Regis’ hair and jumping on his stomach, being the carefree boy that he should be.

The young king obliged, of course.

Outside the room by the door, Cor Leonis stifled a laughter. He’s supposed to be on guard duty…silent guard duty. But how could he?

‘Sorry I’m late. Ignis wanted to borrow some books. What is it?’ his partner V inquired with a quirk of her brow as she settled in her place opposite him.

‘The king is now a horse,’ Cor said trying to act so formal about it, but he couldn’t even piece the sentence together without laughing.

‘The hell are you talking about?’ she asked, incredulous.

’Today his majesty is wielding a magic wand,’ Cor replied with a snort.

‘Ah so today is pretend day, isn’t it,’ V said with a similar snort. ‘So the young prince found it amusing to ask the king to change himself into a horse.’

’Seems so.’

V found herself snorting at the image of her friend and liege pretending to be a horse just to make his son smile.

‘You shouldn’t eavesdrop, Cor Leonis. That’s rude,’ she said, but the mirth in her eyes showed how much she rather liked the image of father and son shielded away in their own carefree world on a rather hectic day.

‘I should say the same to you,’ Cor replied back, his ears red as he tried not to laugh too much.

From the inside, they heard the prince squeal in delight.

‘A jabberwocky!’

‘A cat!’

‘A garula!’

All sorts of noises spilled outside the room. 

Clarus Amicitia walked passed and then doubled back as soon as he saw the two supposed guards red in the face, eyes spilling with tears and all sense of dignity as Crownsguard rolling down the floor as they struggled, no, shamelessly laughed by the door. 

As soon as he heard the King crying forth a declaration of war against peas and vegetables and a spirited cry of agreement from the young prince Noctis, Clarus Amicitia headed on towards the meeting room.

He shut the door tight behind him and smiled at the people who were waiting.

Today, I’ll let you be a father, my friend, Clarus thought to himself.

And so the battle was won and Regis Lucis Caelum had successfully taught his son to eat small pieces of vegetables. He had ‘swished’ the accursed vegetables into ‘marshmallows’ with his magic wand, his son’s imagination running wild as the young boy chomped down his supposed green enemies who have turned into delectable sweets. 

Regis had never been so thankful for owning a cane. It doesn’t matter how the Ring takes away much of his years. 

Today. 

Today is what will always matter.

[thinkofduty]

It's a nervous entry, but an entry nonetheless. At the behest of the guildmaster, Vydhe has come to see what the new tutor can do. The idea of a new tutor completely baffles her to begin with - why then the need for a guildmaster? - but there is no harm in seeing, in watching, at least. She's surprised to see someone of a height with her. Weren't mages meant to be as tall as Miss Guildmaster?

The guardians of the ring recognise her, though it has been some time since she last stepped in these halls and give her leave to approach the summoning ring. She can almost taste the aether on the air, the concentration thick and familiar as a favoured fragrance, and she can feel her own mana itching to burst out through her fingers. Still, she does not want to enter unjustly if the ring is in use. She can practise on her own time.

"Now I know that this is a bit advanced, but please direct your carbuncles to positions A-5 and T-3. Once they're there, attack the dummies while /you/ focus on attacking another dummy." A voice rings out, and a hand directing motions amongst the students. "It requires a lot of concentration, but I know you all can do it. Your carbuncle is an extension of yourself, not just merely aether stuffed into a cute shape." Nive starts to walk amongst the students, nodding and directing a few who can't seem to quite get it. She blinks when she spots another, and waves. "Ah, hello! Guildmaster didn't tell me that there were more coming!"

Vydhe looks at Nivelth Ajuyn in shock! Nivelth smiles back at her.

She'd been trying to hide - not that behind a post was the best place for it - but is so used to being overlooked that the teacher's direct gaze startles her. She jumps, cowers, tries to draw herself up all in a few moments and is successful only in bringing blood to the fore of her cheeks. "I, um, hello! Miss Guildmaster bade me attend! I, um. I only just returned to Limsa Lominsa, so I've... been absent from a great many lessons... I'm sorry for interrupting!"

"Not a problem! I'm actually not a regular teacher, so you're not in any trouble." Nive smiles again, beckoning the smaller woman over. "She must have sent you down because I was here -- I only get to lecture a few times each moon."

Vydhe Qaubren nods. "Oh! Then, um, it's nice to meet you, Miss Teacher. I... must have missed the beginning of your lesson. Is there- is there aught I should do to join?"

Nivelth Ajuyn considers her for a moment, tapping her chin. "Hm... Well, for starters, you could summon a carbuncle. Either topaz or emerald, either one works. You don't have to join if you don't want to -- this is more of a combat class, with a focus on strategems."

Nodding again, Vydhe allows the mana this time to flow through her, to coalesce until it bears true shape and stands ready to attention. She'd thought herself drained from the ferry; not so, it seems.

Nivelth Ajuyn smiles at Vydhe’s Carbuncle as the girl summons her aide.

"I'm- I'd be delighted to join, if you'd have me! I don't spend a lot of time in the city, so I need to know how to look after myself! Mr Carbuncle has been helping, of course, but I know there's always more to learn!"

Nive gently pushes the kitten at her feet to the side, ignoring the sleepy hiss directed at her. She smiles down at the carbuncle, examining it. "Hm, solid work! He looks well formed, and won't disappear after a hit or two. Well done~"

Vydhe motions joyfully to Nivelth Ajuyn. "My name is Lieutenant Nivelth Ajuyn, it's nice to have you here!"

A lieutenant! Vydhe's never come across anyone quite so dignified, and does her best to offer a clumsy salute. "T-they call me Vydhe, Miss Lieutenant! I'm at your command!" Whatever nervous energy courses through her directs itself also to the carbuncle, who stays not in spot as the others do, but shifts its weight and looks as though it might start pacing.

Nive hides a small giggle behind her hand, waving her other one gently. "Don't mind that. I'm enlisted in the Malestrom, but here I'm not much more than a teacher. Guildmaster asked me to come down and help teach simply because I have the most combat experience, and I'm a summoner." She looks over the group of students, checking on how they're doing.

Vydhe Qaubren's eyes widen. Noticeably. A summoner! She's heard of them, of course, who hasn't? -- but to meet one, and to have her work complemented by one... She might remember little and less, but she'll hold the praise dear as long as she can remember it. "H-how did you become a summoner, miss?" She's asking the question before she can stop her tongue, too excited to slow down. She ought to slow down before reaching for unattainable heights, but the idea itself is dizzying.

Nivelth Ajuyn smiles. "A lot of hard work, honestly. I've been an arcanist in Limsa Lomensa for nigh on four years before I was considered for a summoner's soul stone. Y'mhitra, a scholar of the Sons of Saint Coinach had unearthed several soul stones, and went to the grand companies to see if anyone met the criteria. Myself and one other person had both fought a primal and lived to tell the tale, which I do not recommend." She makes a face at the memory.

Vydhe’s eyes grow wide with awe.

"A.... a primal...."

Nivelth Ajuyn nods.

And really, what more is there to say to that other than awe and fear? A primal-slayer! She'd thought primals were the stuff of dreams and dreams only. Suddenly, the heights she aspired to seem that much further off, a mountain she has no hope of climbing. She's not sure whether it relieves or saddens her. I. um." nothing to do than clear her throat and straighten her back. "I-in that case, I can only hope to prove myself here! Let me- let me apologise again for my lateness!" She pulls her book out and lines up with the rest of the students, eyes still wide and ready to try and impress with what little she's learned in the wild.

Trust me, it's alright!" Nive says, smiling gently. She turns to the rest of the class, nodding at their progress. "Alright, now for the next part. I'll summon my own Egi, and have you attack it. Don't worry about hurting it or me, but focus on taking down a moving target. For right now, I just want you all to direct your carbuncles to attack it, and /then/ yourselves." Nive's carbuncle disappears, replaced by a shimmering bird like creature with small gusts of wind around it.

The nerves - the blood - it's all pounding around her body like her life depends on the adrenaline to survive. Mayhap it does. Whatever Nive has summoned, it's larger than Vydhe was expecting to see, and so noticeably different from aught she's used to that it takes her by surprise, catches her entirely off-guard. It reflects in her carbuncle, whose hackles raise, on the defensive immediately, its beady eyes watching the egi float to-and-fro. With no small amount of trepidation does she point one quivering finger at the newcome-summon, directing the carbuncle to it, and just like that, the tension snaps as a rubber band might. The carbuncle bounds forward, snaps its little jaws, and does its best to swipe at the quick-moving creature.

Vydhe's carbuncle isn't the only one to attack, and the Egi dodges almost all of them. It doesn't seem to be fighting back just yet, only moving around erratically. "Good!" Nive calls out, stepping back to watch. "She's moving fast, but do your best to keep her in your sights. Once you have a strong enough bond, your carbuncle will start to attack things that you've only paid attention to once, but most of you aren't there yet." "And that's alright! Arcanima is about focusing and precise movements, as well as logic and reasoning. It's not for everyone, and sometimes it takes longer to understand how it works."

It's clear to Vydhe herself that too long has she neglected to truly study the art. Too long in the field with the carbuncle at her side choosing to do mostly as it pleases without regard for the guildmaster's lessons - the aether comes so naturally to her, and to have it tested now... it feels almost a slap to her pride. Spells come from her fingers easier than the carbuncle's focus, but together they've taken down beasts bigger than this quick-moving summon. It infuriates! It grates upon her as only sleeping in the rain has done! She can discern her carbuncle leaping, swiping, snapping, and missing every time, and does not know how to focus further. "Miss Teacher," she says absently, eyes still upon her summon. "What if- how do you make your summon faster? IS that something that can be taught?"

To a degree, yes," Nive states, waving a hand. The Egi slows down, now drifting around the students. "My Gardua-egi is wind aspected, so she flies easier through the air. However, you can Rouse your pet for a short period of time, making them quicker and stronger. It's a bit more advanced, but it /can/ be done. It requires you to focus the patterns that make up the pet into a different pattern, while still maintaining it's shape. The pattern only lasts for a short while though, so I find it easier to have the spell scribed into my grimoire and activate it. As for increasing base speed - that comes down to familiarity with each other. The carbuncle may be an extension of yourself, but it's also an intelligent creature."

"Miss Guildmaster stated there were multiple kinds of carbuncles. A-and your... egi, was it? That's part of the same...? Is it all the same? One must needs build familiarity with them all?"

"To a degree, yes." Nive nods, having the egi start to attack one of the dummies while she explains. "There are multiple carbuncles, namely topaz and emerald. However, the base spell to summon them is the same, with only additons being different. It's how a topaz becomes stronger than an emerald, while still being the same shape. At it's core, the pet is the same aetherial creature that /you/ summoned."

Vydhe gazes upon her Carbuncle in deep reflection. "I... think I understand..." Her tone belies the untruth of that statement. Calling the carbuncle back to her side, she stares down at it, twisting her mouth as she thinks, trying to understand just how all of this is meant to fall into place. Surely... surely it shouldn't be so difficult. If she puts her mind to it, and summons enough mana, surely she should be able to call her summon to her in whatever form she desires, and yet - it seems a complete impossibility to have her carbuncle change its colour, let alone its shape entirely. The carbuncle's beady eyes stare back up at her as she considers it carefully, mind racing through the possibilities. Living away from the tutor-grounds was a much simpler existence. One glance around the room, and she notes the other students scribbling in their grimoires, or discussing things with one another, and all dressed as one body - while she stands there with dirt under her nails and the stench of sea-spray in her hair. "I..." and she does not know what to do, or to say. "I think I... might stop."

Her eyes begin to well up.

Nive comes over with a concerned frown, head tilting as she looks the new student over. "It's alright, truly. Do you mind telling me what's wrong?"

"I..." and she can't look the tutor in the eye. The coeurl kitten that follows its master makes for a better thing to focus on, cute and inoffensive as it is. "I thought... I was doing well. When I was on my own, I mean. I'm not from Limsa, or- from anywhere, so I was- trying to find out where, and I- it was just me, and Mr Carbuncle, and I thought... I thought I had the hang of this." She can't help a little sigh. "It seems I was wrong."

"You're doing well, actually!" Nive smiles, looking back to the student's carbuncle. "The fact that you've gotten this far is wonderful, and there's nothing wrong with not doing it precisely like everyone else. Arcanima is a science, yes, but it's also an art."

It's plain from the hope that springs to Vydhe's eyes that she wants to believe that. "... I thought it was something to learn by rote? Everyone's grimoires," and she gestures to the rest of the students, the heavy books that hang by their side. Vydhe has one, too, but its pages are far less worn than the rest of the students'.

"Grimoires do not an Arcanist make," she says, patting her own. "They're a tool to help focus, but they're not required. It's the same with thaumaturgey, and conjury. You /can/ cast the spells without a rod or a cane, but they do help. Arcanima is more rooted in logic and reasoning, so most need the grimoire to help with the patterns."

Vydhe Qaubren nods as she listens, and thinks hard. "Magicks are... to me," she clarifies, "It feels like breathing. I don't need to think about how to cast, I just... DO. The spells I've learned have been... suggested to me, rather than learning them. I don't know if that's... is that normal?"

Nive considers her for a moment, before nodding slowly. "Not quite, but it's not uncommon. Sometimes spoke have an affinity for spellcasting, more than others. Personally I find myself confined to arcanima and summoning, while other types of magic are much harder for me. If it's like breathing to you, then perhaps you don't need the same help that others do...." She thinks for a bit more, pacing slightly and looking down at the coeurl kitten.

"It- it can be jarring to start thinking of other spells if I need to, but I can do it!" And just like that, the fire is back, and she's ready to show off her worth. She hesitates, pulls a small wooden wand from her belt in favour of the grimoire, and adopts a ready position facing one of the targets. She knows this spell from early lessons with the guildmaster upstairs, and it is nothing to call the aether to the fore. Simple magic, a ruin spell, but it shoots from her fingertips - one hand outstretched, the other clutching the wand away from her body as a focus tool - and the spell flows neatly into the target as it has done to many a beast on her journeys. Fluidly, now she has the aether at her command, she's able to shift between spells. First a protection spell, easily cast, then another Ruin directed at the target. A healing spell, after that, and follows up with a simple poison spell which affects the dummy not at all, but at least tastes different on the air when cast. She can't quite manage this sort of spellcasting and retain a carbuncle on the side, but it's quick and easy, at least. She's had to get good at this on her own.

Nive watches avidly, eyes darting around underneath the brim of her hat. She watches each spell, head tilting to the side as the differnt types come out. A part of her can't help but be jealous, but she dismisses it. "That's amazing!"

Vydhe beams with delight at Nivelth Ajuyn.

"I'm impressed, it's hard to do things like that," Nive says, smiling at her. "I certainly can't, and I'm supposedly a master in my field."

Vydhe Qaubren blushes, unused to the praise, but can't help a shy smile dominating her face nonetheless. "T-thank you! It... can certainly be hard to keep track of - it's not something I can do when I'm tired or unfocused. I'm hoping to change that the more I'm away from Limsa Lominsa." Her gaze flits to the egi, still patiently hovering nearby. "I don't really understand how to form things like your summon, or to direct them... but I'll work on it! I promise I will! I have a long way to go if I'm to be like you!"

"Summoning is hard, but don't be discouraged. From what I've been told, it's the hardest of the three major branches of magic. But if you have such a good grasp on everything already, then there's no stopping you. It'll just take a lot of work. If I may suggest something though?”

Vydhe Qaubren nods. She's all ears.

"Keep your carbuncle with you all the time. Have it run errands, hold your things, sit in your lap. It might sound frivilous, but it's the easiest way to build familiarity with a summon, and the best. If you only rely on them for battle, they can get a mite touchy, which no one wants. Carbuncles are generally kind creatures, and they like to help."

"Thank you! F-for the advice! It really means a lot, coming from someone as esteemed as..." she's trailing off, embarrassed. The journey here was long, and her head starting to feel fuzzy from the lack of rest and the aether she's been using now.

"It's no problem! And please, my name is Nive, and I'm just another adventurer. Hm..." she digs into her pocket, and produces a small vial. "Here, and ether. You've been doing a lot of spells..." Nivelth Ajuyn hands over something to her.

Ethers taste more tart than unripe berries right off the bush, but she knows a good thing when it's handed to her. Gratefully, she drains the entire thing, feels it settle in her stomach as a pool of welcome warmth. "Thank you," she says, and means it. She'd been expecting to sleep the next couple of days away. Now, not so much. "You... you said you don't normally teach, right? It would be nice to see you another time, though... I-I mean, I understand you're busy! Helping the Maelstrom and with primals and here and probably other things!" she takes a deep breath, attempting to counteract the nerves. "B-but you've been really kind. And helpful. I think you're the first person aside from Miss Guildmaster that's been like that since I woke up."

"Truth be told I've been more busy with my free company and the miner's guild than the Malestrom," Nive smiles. "I'd be happy to, if you don't mind it being later at night. I sleep during the day, most times, so today is a special case." She pauses, then tilts her head. "Since you woke up?"

"Whenever I'm in Limsa, I'm here. I... kind of live in the guild here," she explains, with one careful glance around the room. The students here know already, but she's always wary, just in case. She doesn't know why. "It was some time ago, I suppose. I... they tell me I was found close to shore. A shipwreck, they think. I don't remember." She shrugs. "Miss Guildmaster helped look over me while I was recovering. She sensed the aether in me, I suppose, and offered me board if I wanted it. I've been studying under her and staying here when I'm around. I owe her a lot."

"Hm... that's ..." Nive considers, tilting her head. "That's interesting, certinaly. You can't remember much, or at all? I'm sorry, I don't mean to pry." She frowns again, itching to pull out her cards. They probably wouldn't help, though... "I wonder what the Guildmaster would say if he saw you..."

Vydhe Qaubren shakes her head. "It's okay. You aren't the first person to ask me about it. I don't really remember anything. Vydhe is a name one of the sailors that found me gave me." She tilts her head. "... That's not quite right. I heard someone calling 'vida, vida', and I thought they meant me, so I took it as my name. The Qaubren was the ship." It's old news to her now, something she has made as much peace with as she is able. Still, she worries her lip. "Um... which guildmaster?"

"Oh, the guildmaster for the arcanists. The /actual/ guildmaster is... wandering around Eorzea. For some reason. Miss Thubyrgeim is the stand-in for now, though she runs everything quite well."

Vydhe Qaubren 's brows knit together in confusion. She'd not known that.

"I've only met him twice, and he's ... a bit of an oddball," Nive confesses. "He had me run all over Morbay Drydocks before I could even meet him, doing all sorts of strange things. The other time was when I was formally given a soul stone."

Vydhe bursts out laughing at Nivelth Ajuyn. "Oh! That's... that's certainly strange. One would think someone with your talents wouldn't be used as an errand-doer... I'm glad I've escaped that fate, then."

Nivelth Ajuyn shrugs. "He literally had me dancing for his amusement..." Nive says forlornly. "But I think you and he might get along like a house on fire. He has a grasp of Arcanima that I don't, and might be able to help you~"

Vydhe Qaubren nods. "I'll ask Miss Guildmaster about him, then! It won't hurt, at least. ... Unless I, too, have to traverse the Drydocks for him..."

"I think he said he might be moving further upland, into Upper La Noscea..." Nive muses, before absently drawing out a pack of cards and shuffling them between her fingers.

The cards draw Vydhe's attention. She doesn't want to ask - something about it seems too forward - but her eyes follow every movement of Nive's fingers, every snap of the card as they shuffle into place.

Nive doesn't notice at first, lost in thought, before flushing and starting to put the cards away. "Twelve, I'm sorry," she says sheepishly. "I didn't mean to take those out today, not when I'm supposed to be focusing on Arcanima..."

"That's okay! I've... never seen anything like that before. What are they?"

"They're fortune teller's cards, actually," Nive says, spreading them out for her to see. There's only six different types, but some of them are printed in reverse or on their side. "My mother..." She clears her throat, and starts again. "My family's magic has to do with stars and the fates, and my mother trusted these to me. I've only just started using them, actually..."

 A new type of magic! Vydhe had thought she'd heard of them all - clearly not. Her interest piqued, she peers at the cards carefully, taking in the designs like a parched man does water. "They're beautiful," she says honestly. "I've never heard of magic from the stars, though... how do you use them? What sort of magic is it?"

"There's a type that's similar to my clan's magic, found in Sharlayan and it's called astronomancy. It deals with shifting fates and reading the aetheric positions of the stars and how they influence people. It's ... extremely hard for me to use, since it deals so much with fate and strange whims, whereas I'm used to the logic and reasoning of Arcanima."

"... It sounds complicated," Vydhe says, frowning as she tries to understand. "I've never thought... fate could be something that could influence magic. Or be influenced by it."