To accept that someone is better at you at something is a crucial step on the path that everyone leads, even should it diverge.
To accept that you may have wasted time, but have yet time to spend continuing and focusing your efforts into more productive and useful skills, hobbies and projects, is just as crucial.
Life itself, many would argue, begins as you shed your misconceptions and take new, tentative steps toward your wildest and most beautiful dreams. That is to say. We all have time. Even if the clock doesn't stop turning, we have yet time to turn around, and smile at the road ahead. Even if we don't feel like that time is coming soon. Or if obstacles block us every step of the way.
Izaneus sat idly within the tristainian magical academy vault, studying, with supervision, the gross and wild power of ethereal magic flowing from its wood, to its golden gem in the center, reminiscent of fossilized amber. Yet glowing with a serene stasis that set a solid foundation for the magics it would allow its next wielder to cast.
In contrast, Izaneus' eyes stared downward, watching as the wisps of magical power flowed both to and fro. Normally this would be enough. But once more it seemed as though he was in a flux. His ability to sense, and feel the arcane was hindered for some reason. One he would have to delve into.
Nonetheless, he was more than aware to feel and watch those powers flutter by was not common by any means, thus, he would of course, use the more traditional solution. Delving into the staff's past. Who handled it, where it traveled, and, of course. How it ended up here.
Taking a large, deep breath, Izaneus continued. Preparing the spell he would use to divine the tales the implement carried… As his "Supervisor" Looked on in shock. Not that he would do anything, but.. Seeing the man before him use magic wandlessly was.. A touch insane. Just a touch. Rumors had floated about, so it wasn't exactly… well, an exaggeration.
Slowly, a faint glow began to fill the vault, several specks of light began to coalesce into a large puddle-like surface in front of the Azure Wizard; before they flickered and flashed in a compilation of scattered images, faces, plains, forests, lakes. Izaneus struggled to gain control of the divination, though he normally was able to breeze his way through these types of spells on talent alone.
Something about the staff, and its lifespan, had entirely too much to share.
The information flooded the Phortean boy like an avalanche. Cascading, and drowning him in its depths before he could grab hold, and recognize any similar patterns. People or places.
With a grunt of effort and the entirety of his focus, he forced himself, and the divination, to halt.
Exhaling a brief sigh of relief, Izaneus got to work, staying deathly careful to move as little as possible, as though any small movement of the fingers would trigger it to start again, or jump forward or backward a thousand minutes.
Taking one last breath, and exhaling, the Wizard continued with his magical machinations.
Meanwhile, in another part of the academy. Louise sits quietly amongst her classmates. Somehow sitting in class nowadays felt… mundane, compared to her recent ventures. Though studying the magic of willpower was still just as fascinating as before.
She quickly found she preferred the more hands on approach Izaneus had taken in their studies. Practicing application and studying theory in equal measure.
Though they had the chance to practice their own magic in the academy as well. Louise found she enjoyed practicing the spell in question, writing her thoughts on the magical application, and then reciting the practical theorem behind it.
With what little physical material her elven teacher provided, she found this was the best way to hone her understanding of the powers she meddled with.
"-iere!"
Of course she couldn't exactly fault him for not providing much on the subjects he taught in the way of homework per se, after all it was she who ripped him from his home. Wherever that was. It was no surprise he had to improvise in the form of study material.
"-lliere!"
Though.. It wasn't as though he held an obligation to do so… outside of being her familiar that is. Which was also strange…
She sighed, it seemed as though she'd been internalizing things more lately. Thinking heavier thoughts, such as the origin of her familiar… and her gratitude toward him. After the initial high of casting had fallen, the fact that she'd truly finally achieved her dream struck her, After all the torture, no one could truly say she was a Zero anymore, and that meant more than the world to her.
"Miss Valliere!" reprimanded a frustrated Professor Colbert who stared at the student, having needed a third time calling of her name.
Louise jumped slightly at the calling of her name, and instantly realized that she'd been called before but had not answered, a slight gulp of nervousness. " Yes professor?" She asked carefully, internally hoping, and abhorring the thought of being made to practice whatever was just taught.
A piercing glare impaled her heart, making her feel all the more guilty as one of the kindest professors in the academy spoke his next words to her. " Seeing as you're paying so much attention, perhaps you'd like to perform our next spell?" He questioned. But not for cruelty, for curiosity.
It'd been no secret, especially among the staff, especially to the professor himself that Louise had been practicing magic, thus the square classed mage had discovered a new line of thought, a new question to be raised, now that she was able to practice magic in another form would she be more attuned to the elemental powers?
The majority of her schoolmates also held this curiosity, though most just cowered behind their desks, not willing to risk it.
Louise stared at the chalkboard intently, memorizing the spell before intaking a large deep breath. Drawing her wand, and stepping down to the front of the class, her own curiosity raging.
Yet, a sense of dread also began to well, this. Would prove it. This would prove whether or not she had truly awakened.
Drawing a short oath from her voice and breath, she flicked her wand to and fro, before she felt the familiar draining of willpower, the spell was taking effect. She could feel it… she could feel too much, what? Wait, something was wrong, she needed to stop befor-
A thunderous echo sounded throughout the classroom as the smoke billowed out from a powerful explosion of magic, not unlike the other times she'd casted magic.
Louise coughed horrendously as Colbert dispatched the smoke with but a flick of his own wand, himself, uninjured, prepared for this eventuality.
He mentally noted that exposure in other forms of arcane splendor did not in fact, raise one's potential for willpower.
"Ah, well. You tried your best, and unfortunately, we've run out of time for today, don't forget this week's assignment! You're all to study the fundamentals of your elemancy!" He called, as he helped Louise up, the younger mage unaware she fell to her knees.
She sighed, the nervousness gone, left with fateful depression. " Well, that went about as well as expected.." She mumbled, as she began to gather her things. Colbert stopped her.
"Miss Valliere, a word?" He asked, after making sure his books on the familiar's runes were unharmed as well.
He'd waited long enough, it was far past time he let this loose after all.
The graveness of their situation was not to be denied, lest catastrophe strike while they were unprepared.
Izaneus sat still in the Vault, his eyes shocked, fixed, on what they saw. His mind a flurry of tempestuous emotions that left nary an inch for thought.
"Father?" He asked, as his eyes graced an image he'd not seen since his parent left on that fateful day, a band of avid adventurers by his side. Years ago.