Witchwolf- You missed my last deadline by about an hour but I'll respond in this chapter (since I don't have any reviews from my last one…it hasn't even been up for a day yet. That means you're getting all of my crazy rantings, Muwahahaha!) So, here's what I have to say, Kae comments are pretty air tight if you have certain presumptions down…I don't entirely agree with all of it, though. I'm pro-magic as Firilya put it. The dream sequence seems like that because I switched tense about 4 million times (exaggerating) but it was more than it should be…I was going to do something and changed my mind. Anyway sorry, I wanted to show Punkin before she became Punkin Capernum, Bard Extraordinaire. As far as Meris, I don't deserve to have create a character as deep and cool and near-perfect (from a writer's perspective) but that's what happens when you're hyped up on coffee and sugar. And Punkin's insane…I think I've toned her down a bit but she's very impulsive (I'm sure no one noticed.) And you're not the only person hooked, I'm getting death threats over here…that's why I popped out what three chapters in three days but I did because I love it (and I love my life, too.) –laughs and walks away- here's your next, next chapter, have fun…no one dies.
Chapter FiveI had never flown before…okay that was a half-truth, Ash had flown with me under her arms a few times but the Laziest Avariel of All Time preferred to walk instead of fly. But I personally had never flown by myself, although it was through Meris' magic that allowed me to do so. With hindsight now on my side, I'm sure it would have been torture to have to walk back the two hours it took me to get to him and probably worse if we were discovered by Sharwyn's search party; Meris being topless wouldn't help the situation much either…which brought my mind to another thought, or problem actually. Meris can be the most tactical individuals that anyone ever met but in a swift moment his wizardry nature could take over and prove to me that he'd never make a good rogue and tonight's situation involved his jacket and shirt…both of which were either lying in the woods or captured by the enemies I mentioned early. But it wasn't nothing terrible I guess, I thought as I laid on my bed half-asleep, but to engrossed with tonight's events to leave the wonderful feelings that I now had behind…I tried to remember the things that Meris had told me while we were floating over the Neverwinter Forest…
"This must be why birds sing so loudly, who couldn't be happy to see Toril from this vantage point," then he moved closer to me, "That was supposed to be poetic," he whispered with a smirk on his face.
I pretended to be moved by the wordsm "Good," I whispered back with my hoarse pitch.
He smirked quickly again, "Sometimes I hate the world… almost everything on it seems so wrong…so…erroneous. Nothing seems to have purpose or reason, and there's nothing you can trust in…but then you look at the little things, the things you don't think matter until they are gone…the sun, the moon, the stars that with trustworthiness come out on cue and the flowers that keep blooming no matter what happens but death and continue their legacy, they've learned that no matter how difficult or disappointing or rigorous the day before was that tomorrow is a new day when nothing from yesterday matters, hurts or is as resilient as it seemed."
"Good," I said impressed by the multitude of analogies that he came up with off the top of his head.
"That wasn't really part of the poem," Meris coolly said.
"My bad."
"Huh," he looked bewildered. What did your mother keep you locked up in the upstairs cellar?
"It means I'm sorry," I explained and a look of discovery came over his face.
"Oh…my bad," Meris joked with a chuckled at the witty comment. I never wanted him to change, not a bit.
We landed a few moments later in a minor courtyard of the Academy, Meris told me was going to go check in so the hunt for him would subside. I figured that it would be best ie I went back to my room, so here I laid in darkness, half-dreaming about the things that came and went and would come. When I finally succumbed to sleep, it was the most aesthetic sensation that I ever felt in my life; my body felt as if it were sprawled on a pile of feathers, my heart thumped out a beautiful tune…a love tune and the smile across my face could have awakened Akyrra if I aimed it at her…
XOXOXOIt must have been fate that I rolled over the wrong way, which sent a million stinging signals across every synapsis in my body. My eyes opened to the glaring light falling through the windowsill, I looked over at Akyrra's empty bed and I knew that I'd be late for class. Gingerly, I arose while I checked my condition; my chest felt better, I could breathe without wincing in agony and my throat seemed less swollen. I decide that I would do everything humanly possible to avoid hurting myself today, no matter what my ego wanted me to do. I changed into a pair of shorts with relative ease but exchanging shirts proved thornier than I predicted but after a few screams I finally accomplished that task as well. So with more speed than I anticipated, I gathered my materials and headed to my first class, which of course was directed by the def but not dumb Jan Jansen.
XOXOXO"Misse Capernum," Jansen said in his kind yet demanding voice, " You are awre that you are fifteen minutes tardy?"
Exaggeratedly, I mouthed that I wasn't feeling good.
"There's no need to yell at me, just take your seat and see to it that those books leave when you do."
My books that I was supposed to buy yesterday, all of the workbooks were here and even without looking at his note I knew who was responsible for this…Meris to my rescue again.
His note was simple 'This is an apology for reading your poem."
I couldn't even stay mad at the guy long even to remember that he weaseled his way to read my poem about him, but I was happy that he enjoyed it, maybe I would right some more stuff about him….
"Misses Capernum," Jansen interrupted my thoughts, "We are in Chapter One…imagine that, if you wouldn't mind could you read aloud."
"I can't- read…" I whispered.
Jansen interrupted me again, "Oh, I'm sorry I wasn't aware you were one of the special students. Damn that Sharwyn I specifically said I didn't get paid enough to deal with illiterate kids but hey don't worry, I've got a cousin on my mom's side that can't read a STOP sign and he's the mayor of…oh, I can't remember the town right now but it goes to show you that you can easily buy your way into high society…where was I at? Oh yeah, Misses Capernum, could you read from the first Chapter, please?" This is what Sharwyn consider a formal education?
XOXOXO"Mr. Minsc…" I said hoarsely as I entered my next class.
"Oh, it's the little weapon master, and Boo says he believes that you have a soar throat," the large ranger said petting his 'assistant' rodent.
"Yes," I said and before I could explain he held out a small berry, a red one. It looked innocent enough but I had my concerns.
"It is berry from the Rogy-Rogie bush that goes far off to the east, it is said to have magic powers…" I might try it, "That is what Boo tells me at least." I might think twice since it was getting better on it's own.
I looked around the class and noticed that the class nearly tripled as Minsc begain his lecture, "As most of you might notice, this class has a few more people than it should. The nice Bard lady that runs the Academy…yes, Boo and writes our paychecks, has informed Boo and I that this class will be used as a weed out course, so not only do you have to pass my class for your own honor but also to remain in the Academy." I would kick any student out that failed a class facilitated by a small rodent and his puppet ranger also…I had no worries but many of the other students didn't seem to have the sense of confidence.
XOXOXO
Finally my ailments excused me from something, Tibitha couldn't find it in her heart to make me sing in my condition so I got to practice reading music as everyone else sang bars do, re, mi for what had to be an eternity…thankfully it did end and I was off to what had to be the most sane class that I had this semester…I'm scouting my teachers for next semester, though.
Master Takrath was standing before the four of us as he gathered his notes and preparing his lecture for today's lesson. We sat in a semi-circle with Meris and I in the middle; he seemed focused on what the pale master was preparing to say, I on the other hand had one thing on my mind…Meris, of course.
"I just wanted to let everyone no that the tombs and study aides Sharwyn made me have you get, just leave them in your rooms or burn them…do whatever you wish with them, this class will be more discussion based than fill-in-the-blank."
This comment was accompanied with loud cheers from his four pupils, okay mainly me but I could tell that those stuff-shirt mages were happy, too.
He continued, "I've picked out a topic for today that will help you with you papers that I'm sure you are eagerly completing," For once I was eagerly doing work from school since it was a third of the way done.
"Good and evil," he paused for emphasis, "It's highly contested debate but it truly is the basis for all the things a person believes in…what is your stance, Treva."
The half-orc sorceress thought for a second, "I think that there's good and evil, if that's what you are asking."
"Not quite." Master Takrath stroked his goatee. I would if Meris will get a cool goatee like that? "Punkin Capernum, I'm interested in what a bard thinks about this subject."
I smiled as I stood up, "Good is- being truly selfless-, denying yourself- completely and helping make- the world better…"
"That sounds like something a cleric would say," he was pretty sharp, "How would that fit in a bard's desire for fame and influence?"
"Well it wouldn't…"
"Than how can you say that is what good is…"
I had to set this guy straight, soar throat our not, "I never said that I was good or that I even wanted to be good, did I, you're assuming a lot. Most people try to come up with things that make that seem as if they are right as if they are true but I think that is a mistake…everyone can't be good and everyone can't be evil…first of all it would rub off all the notoriety of the terms. They are supposed to be special for select people but society has a need to place you and me into one or the other when we probably don't fit into either since we aren't fully either."
Meris smirked at my roundabout thoughts as the pale master responded, "That sounds more like you, but it brings up what kind of characteristics go into good and evil…Meris if you would, assuming there's good and evil, what kind of things would 'good' people do."
"Nothing." Meris said coolly.
"Could you elaborate?" Master Takrath asked.
"To be good is to change nothing, to harm no one and to never affect the balance of anything. So in essence to be completely good, you must be nothing, do nothing and in the end amend nothing." I didn't like that statement but he had a point in an overall view of life.
"Yandor," the dwarven mage stood up, "Would you like to add anything?"
"Yes sir, I think that good isn't about changing nothing but about affecting the world, to become all you can be and to respect everythings right to the same freedom."
"Intriguing," Master Takrath said, "So you think that Meris is incorrect?"
"I didn't say that."
"But you implied it. Do you believe you're good or evil?" the Pale Master asked.
"Good of course, sir."
"Well, I believe you are wrong by your own definition…"
"No, I'm not…"
"You've attempted to impede on Meris opportunity to think of the world in his own world by disrespecting what he believes, right?"
"Yes…no…I don't know?" The dwarf sat down confused.
"Okay, my time with you is over…class dismissed." Master Takrath released us.
I waited for Meris to gather his things and he greeted with one of his patented half-smiles, "I assume you want me to lead you back to your room."
"Not today…I think- I'm hungry, cafeteria- now," I directed.
"Sure why not…I don't have any homework." Stupid weasel probably is planning to make me did it, not today though…no ego.