Also to 'Loud little thing' have no fear; what you wish for will happen!
P.S v.v. sorry about the C in Niko!
Thinking of Sandry and her skill at parties, mingling enough to enchant everyone and making friends constantly, Tris walked up to Tao and his group of a few other mage students, one obviously another noble, the other two of merchant class. Tris suppressed a thought about the dress code at Lightsbridge; there was none, allowing class distinction to carry through into the school. Whilst it became less of an issue as magical skill asserted its authority regardless, social aspects continued to be affected.
"Jona, I'm glad that you could make it here. Let me introduce you,"
As he motioned to the first male, Tris took in his appearance, tall, with tousled dark hair, average looking, probably from Emelan by the look of his nose.
"This is Sirre Darmon, from Southern Emelan, and these two are Dhara and Goni Handa, from Capchen."
"Cousins" inserted Goni, certainly a merchant from his exacting and crisp tone.
"Jona Dartin." She shook hands firmly, thinking what kind of conversation she could expect. When none came, she fought her natural instinct to read and began, "So you studied with Nightfeather, what was that like?" If she knew that she only seemed to include Tao in the conversation she gave no indication.
"Amazing, I was able to learn much about what mages in the world are doing. I had no idea how much until he began to tell me. Then of course there was the meditation..."
"Jona, can you answer this as well?" said the mage leading the class learning about different magical symbols and their meanings. Tris knew it of course, but she couldn't decide whether to say so or not, after answering, or being able to answer all previous questions it seemed like bragging, but she was on a streak now.
"Its a symbol to keep away fires." One she had had to learn when she wished to practice her lightning talents at discipline.
"Correct as usual, and can you tell me what kind of strength it-"
Trisana? Can you hear me? It was Niko, speaking through one of her siblings. Can you meet with me in secret this evening? I am staying at the Lights Inn.
Of course I can Niko, which one of you is there with him?
Me. Daja speaking through the connection, we're all here.
"Jona? Jona are you listening, what is that on your palm?"
"Sorry. Its nothing." Drawing a veil over the magic that shone from her scar as she had poured strength inadvertently into her connection to Niko.
He continued, keeping an eye on her.
The university, with the exception of near qualified mages, prevented students from leaving the premises in the evenings. This hadn't stopped Tris. Occasionally she had needed to escape from the sea of images from around Lightsbridge. For the purpose she escaped to the roof of one of the seaward towers, hidden from most students by an illusion that had blazed in Tris' magical sight. Leaving aside her usual practice of meditation that night she released a portion of her west wind braid, weaving it into the platform with which she could bypass the university buildings. As wind whistled around her, fitting into the pattern she turned, feeling a spell being formed.
She was facing a man around fifty, silvered hair cut short around his thin face. The spell he was readying was one she didn't recognize; she sensed something familiar about the magic. Sensing an attack she raised strong shields around herself, her wind broke free of the pattern and surrounded her shield, she unconsciously wrote symbols into the wind, giving it the ability to blow away stray spells. Lightning escaped her braids and spontaneously came into being over her body, ready for her command. Ready in less than a second, Tris registered the look of shock on the mage's face.
All right, I need to react less strongly in the future. - Mentally kicking herself for giving away her identity.
"Who are you?" His voice was authoritative, but seeming to be failing in intimidation at the sight of Tris' formidable shields.
"Jona Dartin." If this man hadn't realised then she wasn't about to let her guard down. Slowly dragging her lightning back into her braids without moving she sent the winds to her back, gathering information about other mages near. There were none.
"You lie." His voice was suddenly stronger, he probably thought that the sudden winds were her extent of power; he clearly couldn't see magic or the invisible shields close to her body would have practically blinded him. Suddenly Tris realised how the symbols might interact if given a sophisticated magical input and adjusted her shields as a ring of lightning sprang around her, dividing into ever-smaller bolts until it formed a cage around her.
She realised this must be the mage that had mastered lightning at Lightsbridge, Thanks Niko, she thought realising that this was about to become a complicated situation. He must think that she would be intimidated by lightning; either that or he thought she was a foreign mage. Perhaps the rumor that Trisana Chandler had gone traveling again had been spread. Still it won't do anyone any good if he goes around telling everyone there is another mage who can work lightning apart from Keth.
Still, it's really my obligation to teach him a little about lightning since I am more experienced.
She reached to his lightning, it wasn't the same as hers, more clinical, not like the spirited force she used, but it wanted the same thing. She brought the tower at the highest point in the university, and the rod attached to its attention. It sprung from the mage's control to the iron, harmlessly passing down the rod that reached all the way to the ground the university.
"My name is Trisana Chandler. Who are you?" She stated slowly, drawing out her medallion and holding a spark of her lightning near it so he could see its inscription if not test its validity.
He took a pair of spectacles from his pocket, maintaining his shield as he placed the spelled lenses on the bridge of his nose, suddenly took a step back and slowly lowered his shield. Tris responded in turn. Taking a step forward she let him test her medallion, trying to work out how she could convince her secret.
"Darei Shockfist. Why are you here at Lightsbridge?" he seemed calmer now but there seemed to be a hint something she couldn't place in his voice.
"I'm earning an academic license so that I can practice more normal magework in public."
"Why would you want that?" Tris declined saying something pithy about academic mages and showing off, especially about his mage name, instead shrugging and taking a step backward.
"Would you mind not telling people that I am here, I prefer to keep a low profile." She glanced back to check no one else was coming up the stair.
"Wait. I mean yes. Could we discuss our shared gift at some time?" Tris' undecided opinion changed to the negative as his tone told her that what would probably her trying to teach him whilst working around his ego was a bribe.
"Of course, but if you will excuse me I really must be going." She returned her breezes to their position in her disc, walking away and rising over the wall, speeding towards the Lights Inn and soon leaving his sight.
Another chapter hopefully coming soon!
will