To Learn, To Teach

Shadow of Zero XI

"Well that's one way to put it." I kept my new information, still just a guess really, to myself. "I suppose I can learn the rest from books… The afternoon is approaching." I looked outward. "It'll be a clear sky tonight. Tell me Louise de la Vallière… do you wish to learn my school of magic?" I asked her. "To know its intricacies, its power, its price?" I gave a slight loosening of my menace at her. Not much, just enough to touch on the remains that had earlier driven her to ground, to awaken the creeping horrors that had paralyzed her before.

She held firm, wavering in form only for a moment. She looked me steady in the eye. "Yes." It was firm, a whisper, yes, but firm.

I grinned wide. "Then I will do my best to instruct you. I warn you now however, you may have to disregard much of the lessons you've already learned here. Our styles may not be mutually compatible." I trailed off, considering what little of their magic I had seen, what little I knew. Still few forms of magic outright prevented one from learning another. "Still… I feel I can shape this power of yours, help you give it strength, form." Well first by looking up everything on other void users, but even if that was a bust and I couldn't make an epic sorceress out of her, I could still turn her into a half decent wizard given time.

She nodded slowly. "Whatever the price!" She added.

My eyes burned brightly at those words. "Be careful with statements such as that My Master… not all are as unselfish as I." I looked out at the sky again and seemed to consider something. "Your first lesson will begin at midnight." I started. "We will begin over by the lake, away from prying eyes. You have tomorrow off?"

"Does it matter?" She began. "If I can't use Point magic, then shouldn't I focus entirely on circle magic?"

I shot her a scolding look. "No." I stated firmly. "You will continue with your classes, and do your best in them. It would not do to give up on something you've already invested so much effort in." I stated pointedly. "Besides… the styles might not be incompatible. It could be… circle… magic will help you with your original studies." I rolled around the terms for the different styles of arcane magic. I wasn't sure how suitable they were as names. I'd use a more elegant term surely. "Mayhaps it will unlock some block within you." And unleash this mysterious power over void.

She groaned and flopped back. "Then I must attend class tomorrow." She informed me.

"Ah." I noted, I had hoped at least one more day off after the meeting of familiars… Midnight would be a little late to go out into the woods if she was going to be needed in the morning.

"Nine then." I adjusted. She seemed to miss the irony of the chosen time.

I moved back over, and started backing away by bedroll and pillow; really, I should have done so in the morning. "I am going to go do a bit of research on the magic of this land, see if there is anything I can use." I informed her. "One of the teachers might stop by about the little fainting spell." I warned her.

"What? On that…" she said flushing and looking down. "I'll take care of that! You go study! Get ready! Go! Go!" she rushed me out.

"I'm going, I'm going!" I laughed as I was rushed out of the room. Now how to find the library?

It took me several minutes. Interestingly just trying to sniff out the distinct odor of 'books' had left me several false trails. It seemed both student and staff here often carried a personal collection worth note. Again something to investigate when I had the time.

In the end I found the both humble and impressive school library of this mage tower. It wasn't exactly huge, I had seen far larger in the arcane universities of my homeland. It was still very large considering this was an academy for beginners, and not exactly all that large of one at that. I began browsing titles, mostly history texts, with a few simple spell books, and one large tome on magic theory. All went into the Haversack. Say what you would for their collection, it certainly had some rare copies. Age radiated off these books. Most were likely older then I was, cracking one open I noted that most were of the handwritten sort, though some of the younger were made by press.

"Oh my." A sensuous voice called, and I looked up. It was that green haired teacher from before. "What are you doing here?" she questioned, a true inquiry, there was no accusation in her voice

"Reading." I stated the obvious, though with enough of a smile that the jab would not strike deep. "The magic of this land fascinates me… it's so different from where I come from." I admitted freely.

"Truly?" she asked, "I would think elf magic not that different from our own. On another scale perhaps, but still much the same."

"Perhaps it is." I shrugged. "I wouldn't know. My land is far from here. It's all so strange." I tapped the history text. "Hence the other choice of material."

She raised an eye at that. "Interesting…" she rolled the word around in a rather attractive way. Now that had me curious in a way I hadn't felt since I came to this realm. Hum, it had been a while…

"You know." She continued. "You yourself are rather strange." She stated, and hoped up onto the table I was using, showing a generous bit of leg through that uniform… "You're an elf, but I've never heard of one like you." She added, reaching out and touching my skin.

It burned, in a good way, damn it, the worst part was I was now certain she was trying to get something out of me. She was laying it on far too thick for a genuine opening bid. Oh well play the roll monkey, dance until they showed you were the fruit was hidden. I gulped. "S-s-subspecies." I stuttered perfectly. "I'm a Drow, a Dark elf." I stated. "You're probably used to high elves."

"Oh?" she traced a line across my jaw, and I leaned in to a calculated amount. "And just what is a 'Drow?'" she asked seductively, a flash of triumph in her face.

"Were stealthy, quite types… live underground, away from all the danger up top." By now rumors and stories would start circling around from the students. I had to work with that as best as I could. "We don't waste so much time fighting… there are so many ways much better ways to waste eternity right?" I gave my absolutely worst attempt at back flirting. I must say I was almost proud with how lame and overeager that sounded, add a touch of nervousness and presto.

"Indeed." She purred in mirth. "So you wouldn't say you're much of a fighter then?" she sounded almost disappointed, laying the bait for a trap.

To play this game or no? Hum, choices… No. I honestly just didn't have the time, two apprentices, research, and a blue haired witch child to prove myself to… far too much on my plate to deal with this right now.

Instead I pounced on my own, my posture at once shifting to a cold serious tone. "No… not much of a fighter at all." I informed her with a predator's purr. "After all, if you do things right, there's never much fight to begin with." My eyes flashed dangerously. "What do you want?"

She snapped back as if struck, then composed herself, off balance. "Nothing." She said quickly sliding off leaving the room.

I smirked slightly. "Interesting." I debated stalking her. Flirting from shadow to shadow I could discern her intent with little effort… again, not quite worth it. Not from what I had seen. I looked back into the book, and worked over lines.

It was time for Siesta's first lesson soon after all.

Shadow of Zero XII

I got around half way through the book by six, at that point I left to hunt down my first apprentice in wizardry.

Luckily enough I had memorized the young servant's unique sent. It made tracking much easier. Surprisingly enough she was still in the kitchen, I entered through the shadows… again it was growing just dark enough for me to have a wide road, but not so dark as to warrant lit torches.

I watch Siesta work over the dishes, freshly dirtied from the mass picnic, and stepped forth out of the darkness. "Feeling better?" I asked in my normal curious/casual tone.

It's a good thing she was in a skirt, because she'd have jumped right out of any set of pants she had been wearing. "You!" she yelled in surprise.

I put on my best sheepish look. "I am dreadfully sorry about that earlier event. If there is any way I can make up for it, please let me know."

"No no no!" she waved off. "It's fine, I was just… overwhelmed." She threw it off. "That was amazing! It looked so real, with the people, and the dragons, and Headmaster Osmond!"

I smiled at the reaction, at least some good had come from it then. "You still wish to start with the lessons then?" I asked her.

"Of course! I mean yes, please." She said slipping back into a more 'proper' state, and then bowed deeply.

I tried not to stare at the view offered by that. I really really did.

As it was the glance I gave wasn't TO intrusive… and it's not like I couldn't sense everything already vea blindsense.

Dear gods had that green woman really rile me up that badly? I needed to get out more.

"Right then, are you ready for your first lesson then?" I asked.

"What, here!" she squeaked.

I shrugged. "Why not? The location doesn't matter to much, not for the start, quite would be better yes, but you'll need to learn to deal with such distractions anyway. I don't suppose you know anything of meditation?"

She slowly shook her head. And I nodded. "Right, that's the first lesson. You can't cast magic until you can call it. And you can't call it with your head so cluttered." I signed. "This… may take a while."

I began leading her through basic mental exercises, finding the clear spots within one's mind, blocking out sound, sight, and touch vea random prods with a nearby cooking utensil.

I'd move onto pain, psychic attacks, and pleasurable stimulus later, for now this would do the trick.

She couldn't hold a state of quite mind long. Enviably something brushed through her paper thin control and snapped her out of it. But her drive was impressive, and her efforts not fruitless. She had the basics down enough to practice on her own.

"This is just the first stage." I explained. "First you must be able to clear your mind, then hold it tranquil while in motion, then control it. Only once you control your mind, can you through it, control the world." I quoted/explained to her. "The mind is the source of a Wizard's power. There is no magic in your blood, but there is magic in the world. Once you can drink from the world, one does not need magic of the self." Really it was mostly philosophical mumbo jumbo, but it worked more often than not.

With Siesta it seemed to be working. She was opening up… or closing down rather. Regardless for this stage of it anyway she could self study.

Once I saw she got the hang of it I dug into my haversack. "Here a gift, from master to apprentice." I withdrew an old leather bound book. "Don't mind the tricks it plays on your eyes. It's been enchanted to make itself understood." I smirked slightly at that. The book was written in draconic, and in fact with enough time studying it, one could grow fluent in the written aspect of the text. But like most magic tomes it wanted to be understood, and had its ways of insuring it. I had little doubt given the servants enthusiasm she'd not regret the initial headaches.

Daintily she reached out and grasped the book, gasping slightly as she realized something was… Off about it.

I smirked at her. "You can feel it can't you? Sense something just a little off?" I asked.

She nodded quietly, taking the book and examining it reverently. "What is it?"

"My first year spell book." I stated plainly. "It's mostly arcane theory, but it dose brake down a few cantrips. Even if I were to disappear today, with that book you could learn much on your own. Maybe not enough to be a full wizard, but quite possibly…"

"Enough to be a noble!" she stated in surprise. Her eyes shot wide and looked at me.

I grinned. "Maybe." I stated mysteriously. "Work on your exercises first and foremost." I ordered her. "That book will do you no good until you can at least hold a tranquil state while doing your daily chores." I reminded her. "Remember, your spells are like living things. They are energy, borrowed from the world. You have to make a home for them or they will flee from you." I explained in metaphor. "You must trust in them, care for them, and in turn they will serve you unconditionally." I held my fists firm before me.

She nodded quickly. "I'll remember! Thank you… Thank you." She smiled brightly, and I was fairly sure she was now holding back tears.

"Now now enough of that." I turned back to the dishes. "Your lessons went on longer then I had expected, we've fallen behind. Help me by filling the sink." I grabbed a tray.

Inwardly I wondered how Louise would stack up compared to Siesta. How would my efforts to make a sorceress out of her, stack to my successes in showing wizardry in this young girl? Both were approximately the same age, both were passionate, driven, and both started as relatively blank, but very promising slates… it would be interesting, I considered. To watch how they developed.

I fought down my smirk. Yes… this would be a most interesting project indeed.

Shadow of Zero XIII

I returned to my Master's room at what was roughly half past eight, to find her sitting at the edge of her bead waiting anxiously. "Is it time?" she asked of me in the tone all young girls must have known by instinct. You could see her barely containing the urge to burst out.

I nodded. "Come." I waved a hand, then eyed back. "And put on a jacket, there's a slight chill out tonight." I advised.

She obediently did so, with an almost manic energy. It was hard not to smile at her antics.

What school to start her on? Perhaps some simple conjuration? Most arcaneist were rather limited in what they could do in that school, but then most did not have a dragon to teach them… then again it was also one of the more complex of the mystic arts… Divination then? Despite the need for intense focus it was actually a very basic form of magic when brought down to the basics, all it did is enhance the senses, or set an overlay unto them, directly or no.

Additionally, while not all that impressive externally, it tended to have quite the flashy affect for the caster themselves. Yes, divination would be an excellent place to start.

We left out to the courtyard, and from there further out to the lake. I could see a line of trees out in the distance, hum, might be a good spot for midnight hunting.

I'd need to be able to sleep in if I wanted to do that however… only so many hours in the day after all, even dragons needed sleep. Honestly the idea was still tempting, we were only on day two and already this dayshift thing was killing me.

Coming to a stop a few feet from the shore, I shot a hand out to stop Louise. "Alright." I said. "For now, this will be our training ground. Put away your wand." I stated.

This surprised the pink haired girl considerably. "Put it away? But I thought we were going to learn magic."

I raised an eyebrow. "Circle magic." I used the term again, damn it, I really needed a proper name for that before 'circle' magery stuck. "Have you ever seen me use an implement?" I raised an eyebrow. "The Arcane arts of my land sometimes use reagents, spell catalysts to trigger or amplify there power, foci to form a symbolic link, but the only people who actually need an implement are clerics, and that is because they use them as a link to their patrons."

"Casting without a wand." She whispered to herself, apparently not fully believing it.

I nodded. "Right, so put that thing away. Now I need to ask a question of you. Have you ever used magic without intending to? Made things happen, lights, sounds, maybe sent a book flying, or set a man's hair on fire?" I smirked slightly at the last one.

"No!" she snapped, eyes narrowed. "Why would I have done that?"

"I said without intending to." I frowned. "Alright, at what age did you start practicing magic? What were your typical results?"

"Since I was born." She stated in an annoyed tone. "I was holding a wand before I could even walk!"

"And did it work for you?" I raised an eyebrow.

She looked down. "No…" she grew frustrated. "Every spell ends in the same things, just another blasted explosion!"

I raised an eyebrow. "An explosion? Show me."

She reached for her wand, and I reached out stopping her. "No." I shook my head. "Your wands how do they work? Do you know?"

She twitched, very much wanting her little crutch. I could read it off of her. "The wand focuses a noble's magic, it helps them shape it, and amplify the power of their spells."

Now that rendered my curious, the implements they used I originally took as just a basic implement, or spell focus, where now sounding more like a spell catalyst. I'd have to acquire one to dismantle later. I let her hand go. "Alright take it." I said. I could teach her how to cast without such crutches later. It wasn't That much harder to do without really, and honestly far too large a vulnerability to exploit in my mind.

I waved a hand out to the water. "Take you shot."

Eyes narrowed she withdrew her wand in a simple utilitarian motion. Strait to business type eh? I could work with that. She pointed her want out at the lake and called up the power within her. "Fireball!" she called, surprising the heck out of me.

I could feel the power lash out, a chaotic bolt of energy twisting and jerking along its path, more akin to 'Chaos Hammer' then any elemental evocation I had ever seen. The invisible bolt crashed into a wave and a massive burst of water, air, and raw concussive force lashed out wildly in all directions.

"Woh." I stated surprised… a force spell? No… it was more akin to a much more violent form of 'Implosion' Just a second before the detonation went off all air seemed to drain in, had she actually disintegrated the air quickly enough to induce a shockwave?

Forget divination, my master had a strong gift for evocation, plain and simple. If I was going to keep her interested in my brand of magic I'd need to play to her strengths for now… besides it was almost criminal to not try and tap potential like THAT.

"Alright." I said looking at her. "I'm impressed." What to teach her then? 'Ray of Frost' was out, that much power would overload any cantrip I taught her until she gained a more fine control. I needed something not of the traditional elements; her bias would affect the casting, something with enough power… Ah perfect. "You seem to have a gift." I said in a pleased tone.

"Gift? It was just another failure!" she raged in despair. "It was supposed to be a wave of flame."

"And instead you unleashed a powerful bolt that would most likely level a small building. As an attack spell I think you got the original intent beat." I commented. "I think I know where to start you now. Tell me Louise, have you ever seen someone throw Lighting?"

Her eyes lit up. "Like the blue dragon?" she asked.

I nodded. "You have the power for it… it's not one of your conventional spells, but I think I can make it work for you."

Our attempts were… difficult. Her magic was strongly predisposed to destruction, I managed to refine the aim and control of the bolt. Once I had informed her that she was in fact producing a projected, if transparent, spell, her accuracy had shot leaps and bounds.

But making it form into anything But a negation of the world it touched was proving difficult.

Time for another track.

"All of the world is made up of tiny little things known as atoms." I explained. "They form larger things, known as molecules, and are in turn formed of smaller things known as particles."

"I know this!" she said "We call them grains." She informed. "A mage can manipulate the grains in an object, to shape them to their will."

That was interesting… not to unexpected, I had been surprised back when I first reached my own school, that most wizards knew far more about physics then your standard medieval civilization had any right to. It came with the territory, magic was a science, and art after all, you needed to understand what you were using in order to do it right.

And when you were changing the nature of time and space, well you needed to know the rules of time and space.

"Right." I said. "Well your magic seems to like to remove these grains, break them down." I stated. "What I need you to do is while it's doing so take hold of the smallest, lightest of the parts the brake down into." I stated, and considered making an illusionary model of a simple carbon atom to show her.

"Take hold of them?" she asked.

"Close your eyes." I told her. I needed to limit sensory input for now. Keep her focused entirely on the task.

She hesitated, but did as I asked. "Now what?"

"Cast another explosion, a small one, and reach out and feel it, feel what it is doing, how it affects those grains." I went to a lower voice there, using basic hypnotism to help, the same I had used with my little illusionary 'show', the same I had used to help teach Siesta.

"Yes…" she said, and then her eyes narrowed and she cast forth another spell.

It was actually oddly beautiful, she had somehow managed to slow down the effect. A dark sphere formed, small. The orb of annihilation eating anything that touched it, including the photons that formed light.

"I can feel them." She said surprised.

"Good." I said. "Now take hold of them, just the small parts, the light ones. The little bits that dance around the parts all stuck together."

The dark sphere collapsed, and brightened to a growing orb of cackling lighting. I grinned wide. She muttered to herself. "This is it? It's so easy…" I saw the orb expand, and begin to warp into different shapes, chaotic, unrefined, but quite definitely controlled.

Time to show her what she had done. "Open your eyes." I commanded.

She did so, and let out a yep of surprise, before she lost all control of the orb of ball lighting, and it shot down into the earth with a violent crack.

"Congratulations. Not quite what we were aiming for, but you've done it. You've conjured lighting." I informed her.

"I did it?" she asked in shock and surprise. "I did it!" She yelled, and then started all but dancing. "I did it! I did it! I did it!" she sang aloud in happiness.

"And this is just the start." I informed her. "This power you hold over the tiny bits of reality, this control on the things that make up the things, that make up us. Given a bit of time you can use it to do so much more."

She looked at me in surprise. "More?"

I nodded. "You need to learn to soften your grasp a little. Stop breaking apart the elements you move so directly, but given time you should be able to do everything any other mage can do and more."

"Anything any mage… any element can do?" she asked surprised.

I nodded "From what I can see… you work on a different level than most nobles." I started. "Where most people move the grains of reality to reshape them how they will, you affect the grains of the grains. You've been tearing apart anything you've tried to effect, and just making it all fall apart, making explosions."

She nodded, drinking it all in with a rapped, attention. "And you can teach me how not to not do that?"

I grinned ferally. "I can teach you to Use that." I started. "And yes, how to move all the little parts together to make the big parts all move as one. With a little practice, yes, you could use every element in this land, a little more, and I can show you how it can be used to form countless other effects." Illusions, elemental transmutations, a little practice of pushing her power outside of the boundaries of the material and I'd have her summoning in no time. I had really stumbled across a prodigy this time… or had she stumbled across me?

Regardless, I now knew what I would be focusing on for the majority of my stay here. This girl, this tiny little girl had the power to reshape nations within her. I had Never heard of talent like this. Mystra's chosen were not born with this kind of power.

I needed to see where it would take her.

Shadow of Zero XIV

I escorted Louise back to the castle proper, but stopped at the doorway. "Goodnight master." I said with a slight bow.

She stopped and turned to look at me. "What? What are you waiting for familiar?"

I looked out. "I think I will stay out this night. It's been to long since I've had a chance to run the woods. Provided you approve of course." I added quickly.

She frowned, I could tell easily she wished to deny me, however… I had just given her a gift. The one gift she had always wanted, the one thing she had always wanted. Guilt and greed warred with one another, and eventfully she took the high choice. "Very well… but you will be ready to serve by morning!" she added warningly.

I grinned wide. "Thank you master!" I turned back to the green, and looked up at the night sky. I could already feel muscles tensing in excitement.

I took off like a dart and didn't look back for a moment, I wasn't walking, jogging, I was outright running, the warm surge of power pumping through my legs. I called to the darkness and it shrouded me, my form fading from view.

And then, half way past the lake I let go.

My form rippled.

You'd think it would be painful, changing every part of my body, my form falling over as hands became claws, became paws, my sprint became bounds, as I worked both set of limbs in consort. Wings, huge translucent sails of flesh, bone and scale burst free and stretched forth. My tailbone extended rapidly and dramatically, my neck and face lengthening.

My form grew explosively, and in the time between heartbeats were was once a smallish male Drow, a man barely clearing five feet in height, now ran a beast of legend.

Yes, you'd think it would hurt, so many changes, a warping violation of my very body. But it didn't. No, if anything it felt good, liberating, to be so free after so long.

I'm small for my age, really, only around twelve feet from the base of my tail, to the tip of my snout, with the length of my neck, that wasn't nearly as much as it sounded. I was only around four foot at the shoulder.

Built slender, wiry, like a serpent mixed with a hunting cat, I tore a track, as my wings caught the wind around me, not enough to take me into the air, but just enough to feel it again after so long… I gave a sharp downward pump and my legs retracted. I let loose a roar of glee, I was flying… after so long, to taste the free air again…

It was like being drunk really. Dragons made great enemies, and better allies, but to BE the dragon… oh, if only others could know what it was like. To fly unaided, to feel the nigh infinite power thrumming from within.

It was the kind of high that explained so much of the infamous arrogance of my kin. How could we not, when we felt like this? I tuned my tail to adjust for my head, letting me freely gaze up to the open moon. I drank in the sky with senses that would put an eagle's to shame. My wings beat again, and again, the darkness shielding my form from common view.

And I was not alone.

Flying at a more sedate pace, further out by the academy itself was the other, and her witch child companion. I banked lazily, and moved to cross paths.

I trilled at them, a loud reverberating sound of joy and greetings. Not a true word, but the meaning was clear.

The blue haired one's head snapped in my direction, eyes searching.

I laughed, and flew over them giving a sharp down thrust, slowing to half speed, and banking to hold place a few feet above and to the right of them. "I'm up here." I peeled away partly from the shadows, and let myself be viewed. In the dark of the light sky I was still all but invisible, my form vaguely transparent, solid, but as is cast from living smoke or ash. I met her cold ice blue eyes with my warm burgundy red ones. I banked lower, and got us to head level. "It is a wonderful night to fly." I stated looking from the mage to the dragon.

She was looking at me in an open mix of awe and curiosity. "ku…." She sounded. "Big sister?" she asked. Her voice young, toned high and lyrical.

"You." She accused more than stated, staff ready.

I refused to allow it to ruin my mood. "Me!" I chirped, in a obvious amused tone.

"Kukuyu, Me too!" The younger dragon chimed in.

I laughed. "Play?" I asked raising an eyebrow.

The small lady (for she certainly was no girl) did not seem amused at my antics. That was fine, she wasn't the one I was interested in at the moment.

I banked hard to the side, then rolled into a sharp dive, snapping open my wings as I approached the large lining wall of the castle, riding the updraft formed by the large walls and castle heating into a big upward spiral.

"Kukuyu kuyu!" The blue dragon called again. "Big sister!" she begged. I looked down at them, and swore that the dragon was biting at her lips.

"Come on!" I called down at them, breaking out of the thermal, and circling above. I needed to know more of this dragon, and by extension her rider.

"Kuyu!" The dragon cried again.

I tried a different track. "You'll never know what I'm up to unless you chase me!" I sung in a childish tone. I pulled hard and swung out over towards the lake.

A burst of speed and the blue form raced up at me, "Kukukayu!" she crowed on her own.

I let out a laughing roar, and then pulled into another sharp rolling dive, catching myself and trailing over the water top, my dark form indistinct over there black depths. I let my tail tap the water at random intervals', catching a wave at random to mark my place.

She was pulling up fast, far faster than I expected of one with such small wings. I poured on the speed, and beat my wings hard, the tips tapping the water with every down stroke. I hit the shore and the sharp updraft sent me rocketing up.

The smaller dragon caught my slipstream and began holding pace, I didn't dare look back, I couldn't afford the unnecessary drag now.

A sudden sharp down thrust of wind crashed into me and knocked me off course… miraculously I noted that my competitor did not suffer the same fate.

Keen eyes locked on the small mage's face, and the slight, almost none existent, smug smirk that was on it place.

My eyes narrowed. "That's cheating!" I roared in challenge. "Well two can play that way, Expeditious Retreat!" The magic surged through my legs and wings, strengthen them far beyond what nature would allow. Suddenly my wing beats were moving me at twice their normal range. I caught her slipstream, and closed the gap fast. I couldn't hold the spell long, a number of minutes, but she was simply so fast, and honestly it wouldn't be fun if either of us held to great a lead. That wasn't what this race was about.

She banked to the side, riding the downwind. Unlike me she had a passenger, and no matter how firmly secured, that limited her ability to maneuver.

I under cut her, and retook the lead, dodging a surge of headwind as the mage who road upon her cast forth another spell. "You'll have to try harder than that!" I challenged.

She did.

Again and again we traded spots, dancing in the sky under the pale moon's light. The young magus was very skilled, and more than made up for her burden upon my rival. Her wind magic granting her domination of the sky easily equal to my own.

It was more fun than I had enjoyed in a literal dog's age. Still we tired, hours past, and though we could continue, both I and the rider had business in the morning. We circled, I faded into the shadows, and when we touched ground, I retook the form of an elf.

Pulling away from the shadows I was revealed again, and offered a smile. I was panting lightly, and there was a manic energy to my eyes.

Though subtler, going to the effort to conceal it, so two was the mage. Her eyes locked to mine with what I knew was a rare focus.

We shared a moment… then she spoke. "Explain." She invited.

I wasn't about to pass up such an opening.

Shadow of Zero XV

I bowed deeply. "Greetings noble Mage. Allow me to introduce myself." I am a man of wealth and taste… damn that was a good endorphin rush! "I am known Levethix'moxt." As I rose I tilted my head to the young dragon behind her. "My friends, what few I have here, call me Lev."

"Kuuuyu…" The dragon leaned in. "Leveth-ku! Ku ku!" she was interrupted.

I laughed. Yes she was a young one indeed, not a wyrmling certainly, but most likely not more than fifty if even that.

"Tabitha" The mage breathed out in a quite tone. "Slyphid." She leaned her staff back to the young dragon.

"Irukuku is Irukuku… except when Irukuku isn't Irukuku, kuyu…" she explained in simple logic.

I nodded. "That is when you are Slyphid?" I guessed.

The bluenet nodded.

"Big sister gave me a new name!" The dragon explained. "Cause talking's a secret Kuyu." She nodded smartly.

I was nearly overcome by the cuteness. Was she Trying to be that adorable? She must be. "You don't want to be found. I guess I can understand… no one here seems to know of our kind." I looked at her pointedly. "Why is that by the way?" I asked, the questioning had been bothering me.

Irukuku slumped and made a sad sound.

Tabitha did not look happy at that. But she seemed willing to let this one slide. "Extinct." She stated the word quietly.

I snapped back as if stuck. Extinct? What? How! I was quick to verbalize this. "Extinct!"

"That we Know." She stated quietly, and then looked at Irukuku. I did the same.

"Your hiding… someone began hunting dragons, leading some kind of a crusade?" I guessed.

"No." was the reply. "All gone… no one knows why."

"We were a small group, Kuyu…" the younger dragon explained. "Irukuku doesn't know much Ku… the old ones kuku, and… kuyu." She warbled sadly.

I wasn't in a much better state… grief, warred with rage and confusion. Just gone? What could have driven the entire population of true dragons underground? I needed answers. Answers I was most certainly not going to find in this school.

I looked at the pare and felt a moment of hope, obligation, and a powerful biological compulsion. I looked to the smaller of the pare, the girl not much shorter then I, and I bowed. "Thank you Noble mage… I see the reasons behind your actions now." I rose back up, and looked again to Irukuku. "I… I am not that old." I started. "I am still not that strong. I know much of magic, I know much of how to hiding as a dragon. I Will help you." I vowed. "At night, at times like this, I will teach you [b]all[/b] that I can." I offered. "In the morn, if you need me, seek me out and I will do my best to keep you safe." What else could I do? I had no layer to offer shelter with, my horde contained few items of might to help protect her. "Can you take human shape?" I asked quickly.

Her blue eyes were wide as she took in my words, and nodded quickly, making affirmative trills.

I exhaled in relief. That was one less lesson I needed to teach. "Good… That will make things easier if you need to hunt me down in the middle of class." I looked up at the sky, and noted how high the moons were in the sky.

"It's getting late… we will talk again tomorrow night." I looked to Tabitha.

She nodded, looking down.

I paused… was there anything else truly to say? I had found kin here, and they were friendly. Worrying in the extreme, but friendly. Mentally I reviewed all the obligations I had somehow pick up for myself in the mere two nights I had been with this realm. Two apprentices, a servant bond to an ungodly powerful sorceress, my own research into the strange magic of this land… and now a young dragon, still naïve to this world, who I had to protect for both the sake of her, my own secret, and quite possibly the greater fate of my race.

Whatever happened to my nice cushy job as familiar?

I sighed, there was nothing else I could do now, I had to return, and there were classes in the morning. Classes I desperately needed to attend if I wished to learn more of the magic of this world. Something that my instincts told me would be beyond vital in my stay here.

I found myself walking the halls openly, too much contemplation needed to surrender my place to the shadows.

I walked through the real, world, light and darkness washing over my skin, mind tossed for a loop. Extinct? How? My mind conjured images of great wars, of the population of the world rising up against individual dragons, ripping them down vea sheer numbers. Of the mysterious elves of this land of eldritch things coming up and stalking them like simple animals. I thought of large cover-ups, of rewritten history books and totalitarian regimes , and ancient conspiracies.

In the end it was all guesses, all theory's, ideas. I didn't know enough, damn it! Story of my life, I just didn't know enough of the situation, of what happened, of what was happening, of how the politics were moving, how the magic here worked, the hierarchy, who I needed to muscle in For the information I needed. Who I dared not annoy, or draw the eye of…

What the hell was up with the elves that I wore the form of…

I opened the door to my master's room, sliding in, and shutting it quickly and silently, as to not let the warm air out.

Helpless… damn it, always so damned helpless. I was supposed to be a King serpent. A beast lord of land and sky… yet I always ended up like this. Not enough time, not enough knowledge, not enough Power.

No point brooding over it… Tomorrow would be busy, I had school, and three students now to teach. Where would I find the time? No enough of that. No more worrying. That was for tomorrow, for now I just needed rest, some sleep.

Yes... I pulled forth my bedroll, and slid it down onto my hey hewn sleeping area, slipping down inside the fine cloths. Just sleep…

I closed my eyes.

Sleep.

A flash of sad blue eyes…

Sleep damn it!

My eyes opened, and I looked to the roof. "Well… this sucks." I commented.

Shadow of Zero XVI

I didn't really get much sleep that night. I ended up reading my 'acquired' collection. The subject of dragons wasn't touched on much; they had been 'wiped out' by an unknown factor millennia ago, shortly after the death of 'Founder Brimir.' The man who had apparently first uncovered magic, and used it (with great success) to conquer the vast majority of the continent. It was worth noting that the man apparently was also the first, and according to the book, only user of the Void.

Given my suspicions, and how quickly Louise had picked up the basics of evocation, it wasn't hard to believe that someone similarly gifted could devise an entire style of magic given a lifetime.

I learned much of the rise and fall of the local empires, of the four apprentices, the four kingdoms they founded, of the rise of nobles, and how magi had grown so numerous that one in ten could call themselves a magus.

Eventually my curiosity and desire to learn beat out my bad mood, and I dug into the arcane theory. I learned of Earth magic, of its golems, crafts, it's ability to make buildings and weapons of war in a matter of moments, Permanent structures mind you, not simply conjured things. That held my interest firmly, I'd find quite the market in being able to make gold from common stone, or fine blades from simple earth.

I learned of wind magic, how it could be twinned to others to numerous effects, though largely in enchantment. How it became the spear point as an element of war, speeding strike, hindering foes, lashing out with cutting winds, or crushing pressure. There were subtle tricks to it, bending of air to form lenses to see in the distance, shielding oneself from fiction on a mount to ride freely on dragon or gryphon back. It was a versatile element, not so much as earth, but with more direct combat ability. Wind mages largely enlisted as soldiers, and if I were to do battle in this land, it would be they I would have most to fear.

Fire, as odd as it sounded, held least interest to me. It could heat thing, burn things, a million and one common uses both in and out of combat. But the magic was strait forward, crude, and inelegant. I knew more of fire magic by my juvenile years then this entire culture had ever discovered. I shook my head, memorized the capabilities, but largely my interest was tapped out before it began. My own school of magic had long long since mastered the detailed research into… burning things.

Really it wasn't so much that the magic was sub-par compared to the other spells, it wasn't, it was simply my own form of arcane lore was so much better at setting annoying things on fire.

Water was another interesting path. It was also further proof that this land did have things it could teach me. Water was one of the most difficult magic's to use freely in the land, this was obviously do to the fact one needed water to manipulate, there was only so much one could draw from the air and earth around them after all. But it was how they used it that interested me.

Yes the concept of liquid barriers and striking rams, held merit. Normally if I were to go to the effort of conjuring a material to weaponized, I'd go for something a bit sturdier, such as stone, or steel, I had never considered a liquid shield in depth before. Water compacted with the same difficulty of steel, and with a mind to guide it, it could be reformed with far greater ease then a stone wall. Yes it would be less able to withstand a single strong blow, but it would also be able to regenerate from numerous witling strikes. Handy if you were to face vastly superior numbers of inferior opponents.

But the real gem with water was healing. Healing! I couldn't believe it. Very few arcane arts were capable of mending living flesh, one often had to go to ether drastic measures, or highly exotic disciplines in order to men something as simple as basic nicks and scrapes…

These people had learned how to bind a body back together with water, how to manipulate it into healing itself with dramatically greater efficiency, easily on par with their 'circle' equivalents.

Damn now she had me doing it. I shot a mock glare at my still sleeping master. She made a cute little noise and rolled over.

Ah Louise… I may have to call on the debt of my lessons from you all too soon.

Really ideally most of my problems could be solved simply by gathering up Louise, Siesta, and Irukuku all together, and teaching them at once. Perhaps Tabitha as well if she felt it prudent to learn. But insuring that I could do so safely would be a trial in and of itself. Louise was well programmed by her society. All nations did it, and it was hardly wholly a bad thing. But I would have to break her of it at least in part. Perhaps a small comment here, a question there, get her wondering how the other aspect of my arts worked? How she would stack up against a wizard similarly trained? If I broadened her mind enough she might even catch me in my little manipulations, and turn the tables on me entirely.

I grinned at the prospect, ah, now that would be something… Still it would take time to get any of the three to that point, much less all of them.

I turned back to the books before me. The reagents of this land were interesting, as were the foci. I was not entirely accurate on my guess as their purpose as a universal spell catalyst. The Mages of this land didn't take many of the shortcuts of my land, they had to hardnosed through things that I knew a number of bypasses to. It make their magic simpler, less complex, and over all less powerful, but more routed in the material, more Real. To get the effects they needed to throw the entirety of there will behind each spell, the absolute total of their effort into Forcing the world into the shape they desired.

There is an old saying about two men and a cart I heard once, I couldn't quite recall it, but I knew it was just the one to summaries the situation.

Wands, staffs, other implements helped direct their magic. There magic was routed in there will power, there focus, and it and chants took the strain off of 'shaping' the spell, letting them throw the entirety of their mystical 'muscles' behind the push.

Without them, I'd estimate they'd lose somewhere around seven eights of their ability to cast. Most, long used to their use, would be utterly helpless without.

I knew a few tricks around that. Louise would be my test bed to see how they worked out, but again, I needed the basics hammered down first.

Ah the joy of teaching.

A glimmer of light passed through the window, and I realized it was morning. I blinked the sleep from my eyes, and rose. It seemed I had pulled an all nighters again… I was going to pay for that.

Well best go help make breakfast. Louise was going to be pissed at me if I drowsed off in the middle of the day. If I bribed my way into her good graces now then I might receive a bit more leniency…

Rising up I stifled a yawn… oh joy. This was going to be… Fun.

Shadow of Zero XVII

I made my way to the kitchens and wondered for a moment if Tristan had coffee as one of its national drinks. If not I'd damned well introduce it. I had gotten half of Toril hooked after letting it lose in Silverymoon, and I'd darned well do it again if that way the only way to get a good cuppa.

The smell of good food, and simmering tea rushed into me, and I drank it down, finding new energy in the aroma.

I slipped in through the shadows, as I normally did, appearing beside a slightly groggy, but still diligent Siesta. "Long night?" I asked.

She jumped, the surprise flushing any tiredness out of her. "Gah! Stop doing that !"

"Lev please." I waved off. "You're my apprentice now, we can stand to be a little less formal." I informed her.

"Lev." She rolled the name around in her mouth for a moment. "Alright Mr. Moxt!" She agreed happily.

As tired as I was it actually took a second to register what she had done.

Casting a baleful look, I started on the dishes, as was quickly becoming our ritual.

"Kukuyu!" A familiar voice trilled. "Levekukuoxkuyu!" My head shot up, and swiveled to the source.

I had all of a second to register a flash of blue before I was tackled by roughly one hundred and twenty pounds of soft nubile flesh.

I hit the ground with a loud thump, and a look of utter surprised. Not as planned! Definitely Not As Planned!

Looking down at the bright teal eyes beaming into my eyes, I really had only one question.

"Irukuku… why are you naked?"

Naturally this was just about the right time for 'Gofer one' to pitch over with a huge nosebleed.

The big guy closed his eyes and pinched his nose. "Mr. Moxt, would you care to explain?" he was quite obviously not amused.

Think fast Lev! Think faster then you've ever thought before! Magical bullshit powers activate! DO SOMETHING!

I found something rather soft in my hand, experimentally I gave it a slight squeeze.

Irukuku lit up red. "Leveku- Lekuku- Kukuyuku!" she… 'kued?' … "Big brother!" she settled on, complainingly. "Not here!"

Oh dear gods… if any moment in my life had ever managed to make me feel like a dirty old man, this This was it.

I reacted with as much grace and charm as could be expected given the situation.

"GAH! What in the nine hells Irukuku!" I yelled as I burst free and crab walked as fast as I could.

Given my experience as a pseudo quadruped I actually managed a decent pace. Rising swiftly to my feat, I snapped my hand forth. "Greater Shadow Conjuration!"

Calling forth my native element, I shaped the shadow stuff into a 'minor creation' spell; I formed and caught a simple cloak of fine linins the same teal shade as her eyes. Continuing the motion of my hand, I threw it over her. "Cover yourself please." I stated earnestly. The item fluttered for a moment, before settling over her head, like a poorly concealed teddy bear under a blanket.

The drain of the spell hit and I felt a spike of pressure between my eyes… ouch.

Well at least it didn't backfire. Even if I had been more than a little distracted when I cast the thing.

"Kuyu…" A head popped out of the neck of the large piece of mana made fabric. "Big brother?" she looked up at me with puppy dog eyes, looking utterly adorable in a confused innocent kind of way.

I sighed. "I'm sorry Sir. This is a friend of mine I met through one of my master's classmates. I didn't know she would be stopping by today."

"And her clothes?" asked a voice that Radiated Righteous feminine fury.

I did not wish to turn my head to the side, and see the look of doom upon my apprentices face, I had no idea how far into my old spell book she had delved. Spell resistance or not, supernatural toughness or not, I Was Not Going There.

"Big brother?" Irukuku cooed again with a slight warble to her voice looking with SAD puppy dog eyes, she leaned in as she tried to find her way around the restrictive cloth.

Gods why did you hate me? This was your fault Timat wasn't it? You were always bitter that I didn't turn to the darkside!

"It's fine Irukuku." I stated calmly, tapping into that long underused paternal instinct as best as I could.

"Gasp!" she said eyes wide. No… she didn't gasp, she actually said the word. "You said my name!" she informed me.

"Yes Irukuku." I nodded. "Because Irukuku is Irukuku." I said slowly, let her pick it up, dear gods let her pick it up!

She tilted her head to the side in confusion, then her eyes widened. "AH! Of course! Your real smart big brother!"

I turned to the gathering. I shook my head. "I think she was hit with a spell gone wrong." I explained away. "I know she was visiting her sister. She was very different last night." I stated with a curious tone, as if confused.

Yeah, very different, as in a few hundred pounds bigger, with scales, and another set of limbs different! I needed to get her out of here, fast. "I think I should get her out to her room." I said apologetically.

"Big brother?" she said tilting her head to the other side this time. GAH! To adorable. What was with this land and cuteness? It was like it tried to compensate for all the missing supernatural threats by weaponizing all things adorable!

The big guy nodded. "I think that'd be for the best." He now looked sympathetic, I thought I heard one of the older ladies add in a 'pore lass', but I was a bit to focused on other issues to really pay attention.

"It's OK." I explained to the rather curvy bluenet, as I walked over, and helped her up. She stood a few inches above my current form, a fact that somehow irritated me. "I'll explain when we get you to your sisters… why did you come to see me Irukuku?"

We cleared the door and started down the halls. Fortunately it was still very early in the morning, only a few people were up and about.

She made another sound. "Ku…. I was so lonely big brother, I'm all alone out there in the woods. Ku… no other drakuyuku…" she despaired. "So I thought Ku! I'd come visit Levethyukukukuyu!" she stated. Was my name really That hard to pronounce? "He would know what to do!"

I sighed. "Irukuku, I am busy most days. You're not supposed to come get me in the morning unless it's an emergency."

Her eyes widened in what had to be the most evilly moe thing I had ever thing. "But but but Ku! I'll kukukuyukuyuyuku!" she started.

I breathed deep, hand to my face. I put a hand on her shoulder. I looked her in the eye and tried to properly convey the importance of this. "I know it's not nice." I started. "But as things are, it's too dangerous for you to just walk the halls. And I have a lot of things I Need to do here. You understand?"

It was like taking a kitten from a toddler… she seemed to deflate on herself, and shrunk back. "I understand." She said in a softer sadder tone.

Really. She was apparently a lot older then I had guessed, but was definitely still… young. I guess it was true what they said, it wasn't the age, it was the mileage.

"Hey… it's ok." I said trying to cheer her up. "We can still play at nights." I reminded her. "And maybe we can work out a way for you to visit like this, in the mornings too!" I added quickly.

I near instantly regretted it. She squeezed me like a grape. I wasn't sure what method she used to change shape, but whatever it was apparently it didn't sap a drop of her strength!

"Gah! Air, AIR!" I gasped.

She let me go, and tilted her head, again. "Ku?"

I held up a hand, recovered a few breaths, then started up. "Right… let's just go find Tabitha. We need to come up with a cover story and fast." I explained.

Ah, the joys of teaching.

Shadow of Zero XVIII

I knocked on the door, and waited, while Irukuku started batting for my ears. I twitched. "Stop that."

"Kuu…" She reached out at touched at one again, despite my best efforts to dodge.

"Gah!" Pretty soon we were dashing through the narrow stretch of hallway, Elven grace, and shadow born stealth facing off against draconic strength and childish stubborn determination.

I didn't even notice when the door opened. It must have at some point because right when Irukuku succeeded in tackling me to the ground and pinning me by my overly long ears, a quite, yet utterly audible voice rung out.

"Slyphid." Both Irukuku and I turned to look at the source, well I tried, but had to settle for just looking out of the side of my eye.

Tabitha was wearing a night gown, a simple, little, light blue number that by the sheen was most likely silk.

It didn't stop her from being more then slightly intimidating with staff and book in hand. "Explain." She demanded in perfectly emotionless monotone.

"Ah…" I tried to rise, grunted, then looked back up at the dragon who had frozen in place above me. "Irukuku if you would?" I asked drily.

"Eeeps!" she jumped off of me. "Big sister, kuu… I was just Kuu…" she bit at her lower lip and rubbed a foot into the ground like a scolded five year old.

Was she really as old as she looked? Perhaps she had just adopted a elder form to move around?

I sat up. "Irukuku decided that she needed a visit." I explained. "She ambushed me while I was helping in the kitchens… though fortunately she thought ahead enough to put on a human disguise." I didn't add that she had done so sans clothing… really I should, the rumors would spread and she'd find out eventfully.

Irukuku beamed at the praise. "Ku!"

"I explained I met her last night." I continued unhindered. "That she was visiting someone in the castle." I looked at her pointedly. "And that her name was Irukuku…"

Tabitha's eyes narrowed just an inch at that.

I held up a hand defensively. "What was I supposed to call her?" I defended. "I couldn't very well call her Slyphid. Not in a room full of the castles servants. I explained away her behavior as a spell gone wrong, and did my best for damage control. Now all we need to do is go along with the act, and claim she is some distant friend or relative."

"Big sister!" Irukuku recommended as she bounced right over to Tabitha. "Can I please ku? I'll walk around like a human, just like this." She demonstrated by pacing back and forth, with a very serious look to her face.

The smaller bluenet seemed to consider it. And looked at me sharply. "Teach?"

I nodded slowly, getting the just of it. "I'll spend the night explaining to her the basics of mortal culture… it shouldn't take long to get her to seem like a simple eccentric." I looked at the now excitedly bouncing form of Irukuku and held up my hand sharply. "The Night. You still have to go back for now Irukuku." I told her firmly.

Tabitha seemed to accept this compromise. "Supervised." She added pointedly.

I raised an eyebrow. "You'll have classes still." I reminded her. "Are you sure your willing to give up the time?"

She nodded, and looked back to her book.

I sighed. Fair enough. "Alright then, we have a plan. We can hammer out a good back story for her later. Right now I need to go check up on Louise and help her get to class." I would have to find some time to rest in the afternoon it seemed.

Tabitha nodded, and motioned for Irukuku to return with her into her room.

"Bye byes!" the bubbly dragoness waved as she was half lead, half dragged into her 'big sisters' room.

I sighed, and yawned again, gods damn it… well at least that was one arrow dodged. I eyed the shadows cast in the hall, still a bit of time before Louise should wake up. Well thank the gods for small mercies.

I swung back to the kitchens. Finding that things had calmed down notably. Slipping back in, I stepped back into the light a good distance from everyone as to not shock them so bad. I had my guilty pleasures here and there, but even I knew when to draw the line. "I miss anything?" I questioned as I slipped back to my spot with the dishes, Siesta wad making good progress, but wouldn't look me in the eye.

"Nothing much." The big guy stated. "Any luck with the noble?"

I nodded. "Found easily enough, it's a good thing I know a few tricks about tracking though." I added smoothly. Let them think I had to hunt her down from a trail, that I was mostly detached from the matter.

Siesta made an indignant sound.

"A Tracker? Maybe you could hunt us down a deer for the evening meal?" The larger man laughed.

I considered it… hunting would be a nice escape from everything, it wouldn't take me all that long if I did it after nightfall ether… I pursed my lips and slowed my pace for a moment. "Well… I'd have to clear the time with my master. Most of my spare time's going to teaching at the moment, but I could probably deliver something by morning. Do you have some way of preserving the meat?"

His eyes flashed at that, apparently there was actual desire behind the request. "Ah! Well we have a cold box. If nothing else we could always salt it."

I nodded. "Alright then… I keep late hours however, mayhaps in the morning." I rubbed my hairless chin. That was one thing that always bugged me about morphing elves, no facial hair to stroke maniacally.

He grinned widely. "We'll then, we'll keep a table open for you." He stated with a respectful nod of the head.

Finishing off the last dish of the load, I dried off and threw together some eggs in a pan, whipping up a quick omelet with mushrooms, onions, and cheese for my master, at the same time cutting a quick dry beef on a bun for myself.

Stealing some tea, I was back off to my master's room to deliver her breakfast in bed, taking care while moving the whole thing at a brisk pace.

It would be time for class soon after all.

Shadow of Zero XIX

Louise was still sleeping by the time I arrived, though by her breathing pattern she wouldn't be for much longer. Her face was twisted in a look of distress, and I had to fight down the uge to wake her up and find out what was wrong.

My I was getting quite paternal as of late wasn't I?

Setting down the tray I did just that. "Master." I shook her shoulder lightly.

She made a sound, but did not fully awaken, so I grunted and shook her a little harder. "Master!" I stated harder.

Still nothing. Louise was apparently a heavy sleeper at times.

I considered my options. I could keep trying, administer a mild electric shock, hunt down some smelling salts… or.

My grin wasn't TOO evil. I worked hard to avoid the darkside! Really I did! I mean I wasn't a paladin or anything, but I was far from being a moral black hole.

"[b]Shadow Conjuration![/b]" I invoked the spell, and shaped it. The shadow stuff pored easily for me, a mixture of innate affinity, and long practice with what was easily one of my most versatile spells. I took the semi real illusion and reshaped it into one of the most basic clerical spells I knew of, scaling back the effect drastically from its maximum potential.

The spell itself? Create water.

Louise shot up with a gasp as roughly enough water to fill a large glass, or small mug fell directly onto her face, pure cold and crisp. She let out a shriek and her head swiveled around in alarm.

"Good morning master!" I chimed happily… ok… maybe the smile was a little evil.

It took a few moments for her to register what was happening, but when it did, she reacted in the manner I was coming to expect of the women of this land.

"Familiar!" She roared. Arm lashing out for her wand.

I disarmed her before it was even up and pointed. "Yes master?" I asked. "Oh! I brought you breakfast!" I grabbed the tray with my free hand, bringing it out into her view.

"Breakfast?" she asked, mind still a mix of left over fear, shock, anger, and complete and utter confusion.

"A simple omelet I fear." I said with some sadness, "I've seasoned it as best I could, and added a side of sliced fruit and bread." I set the tray before her. "That lovely black tea you like as well."

"Blueberry." She commented, blinking and wiping some of the excess moisture on her face, surprised to find it to be far less then she thought.

I quirked an eyebrow. "Is it now? That's interesting… the local breed tastes far different to what I normally associate with it." I'd have to steal the recipe later, it really was quite fine.

"Yes… why am I eating in my room rather than in the hall?" she questioned apparently willing to drop the awakening to simply get answers out of me.

Excellent…

"I thought you might wish to discuss the events of last night first and foremost…" I said with minor expressed confusion.

An expression she mirrored for a moment, before her eyes widened dramatically. "Last night!" she said suddenly. "You! Lightning? Magic!"

Apparently finding resolution I nodded properly. "Yes, last night you used your magic to conjure lightning."

"It wasn't a dream." She seemed near tears. What was it that she had dreamt last night, I wondered. To provoke such a reaction from her? She reached for her wand. "Can… can I try it again?"

I slapped away her hand, and my face resolved into a stern mask. "No. Not here, not now. One false move and you'll set the room alight." I shook my head, and then eased it. "Control, Louise. You called Lightning." I said a small manic grin coming across my face as I said it. "True lightning! Heaven's wrath personified. But the moment you concentration wavered, you lost all hold of it." My expression shifted to the morose, and I shook my head. "It's too dangerous as things are. Too much power to wield without care. The stories I could tell…" poor poor Jono… I wondered, did you still have the scars from what I taught you? You had wished to keep them at first, a reminded of caution needed when dealing with such primal forces.

A surge of something deep within me, Louise would need no such reminder. I would drive this lesson down hard into her very being if I must!

Some of that must have come across my face for Louise shrunk back into her bed under the effects of my aura of terror. I eased it away. "Lightning is not like fire Louise. It is swift, merciless. Flames will burn a man to ash, hungry enough to consume anything in their path, but lightning's very touch is death!" She needed to know the scale of the danger. "Fire could cost you your flesh, maybe a limb, your sight." I described reaching out and touching her hand, then arm, flashing across her face, the sharp points of my nails dragging small unbleeding scratches across her skin. "Fire will scar you if you lose control, maybe cripple, possibly kill." I trailed off. "Lightning… all it takes is the slightest touch… Give it the slightest connection for it to enter your body, then it would be over." I shook my head. "This is magic on another level then what you are used to Louise. It is a magic born and refined on an endless battlefield, a magic to protect, cure, and kill, swiftly and without hesitation." My eyes flashed.

She shivered from her spot, frozen, she pulled her arm from my grasp, and looked to the wand like it was a viper. "T-then why?" she asked. "Why teach me?"

I calmed… good the fear had taken hold, it would teach well the lesson of caution. "Because it is what you are suited to." I stated plainly, shifting back to indifference. "I will teach you more constructive magic in time, but to do so you must first understand your power and the danger's there in. You must learn to control it. Though you are new to magic I can already name your discipline. You are an Evoker. One who wields power over energy. In time I will teach you other disciplines, conjuration, illusion, divination, abjuration," I listed them off one by one absently. "But at your core you will always be a mistress of Evocation. A lady of power, one who destroys… or protects." I reminded her. "Though this land is more passive then my own, you hold your wars. There may come a time you need such dread strength."

She nodded slowly, and then reached for her wand.

I gave it to her.

I looked tired… gods I Felt tired. Since I had arrived here it had been one thing after another, and by my own nature and will I had become drawn out unto a web of danger and intrigue. Why did I do this? What prompted such action in me?

I looked at her face, scared, but determined. I had failed my mission it seems… she had scared. It was simply not a physical one. I had ripped some of her innocence from her, and lords and ladies help me I would do so again and again before this apprenticeship was through.

I touched her plate. "Eat your food. If you leave it out like this it will swiftly grow cold." The scold was slight, and she nodded obediently, picking up fork.

I simply watched her for a moment, familiar and master, teacher and student, sitting there at the edge of her bed.

I smiled and rubbed the top of her head, earning an indignant look. "You have talent little master." I informed her. "It's hard now, but it'll be easier. There's a spark of greatness in you I think. You'll make me proud." I stated it as fact.

She flushed, and looked down at her meal. "Stupid familiar." she muttered between bites.

Pouring a glass of tea for myself I sipped it back, breaking down the flavors in hunt for the illusive blueberry tartness that I had apparently missed last time.

Yes… it would be hard at first. But there was some greatness there. Some… potential.

I would see it through.

Shadow of Zero XX

The halls were far busier this time around; I had never seen them quite as full… then again I had only really been here for three days now. I had to admit I was curious as to how things would play out around here. I was drawing looks, a lot of them, but it was less surprise and fear, and more… wariness.

Louise walked with a new confidence. Vivified by both her successful summoning, and on finally finding a way past the roadblock that had held her back so long.

I felt a slight surge of pride in that, confidence was vital for any mage, tempered with caution yes, but you needed to believe in both yourself and your magic to really get anywhere.

The trick really was balancing the two. That was a struggle that held true for most magi well into their later life.

Idly I considered the various options for 'buying time' that could be used on a mortal caster. Louise was only human after all, eighty or so years may not be sufficient to see the full potential of a sorcerer trained void user.

I shelved the thought. On that front at least I had plenty of time. It wouldn't start to be an issue for over half a century yet.

Thought she might want to preserve the strength and agility of a younger body…

Bah, it wasn't like there were not ways to regress ageing if it came down to it. Nor to strengthen ones form.

That redhead I had frightened the pants off earlier was there, as was the familiar slight form of Tabitha. The two were conversing, and tired as I was, I couldn't quite bring myself to take the effort to listen in. I trusted the wind mage to help support our mutual interests in keeping my nature and identify ambiguous. If nothing else, she would keep her words on the details short.

My master narrowed her eyes at the gold eyed girl's curvy form, and she clenched her hand tight, making slight reflective motions for her wand.

A curious action. Hostility between my charge and this friend of my… friend? Fellow caretaker/teacher of Irukuku? I really would have to better define my relationship with the small spectacled girl, and by extension the tanned young woman as well.

A teacher entered the room, a brown haired woman with forest green eyes. Her uniform was new, fresh, and not quite as well fitted as it could be. She surveyed the student body and made note over every individual. I saw a flicker of fear as her eyes met my own. I gave my best assuring smile as she did, and that for once, seemed to actually offer some relief. She carried herself as an experienced educator, and indeed seemed to be in her mid to late thirties.

A new teacher? Curious.

"Good morning class." She began, her voice wasn't particularly lovely, or harsh, she seemed to have managed a good balance as a approachable authority figure, just a little bit intimidating, but still personable enough. "Most of you do not know me. You may address me as Mrs. Chevreuse." She instructed.

I could learn from this one, I sensed, and forced back the tired portions of my mind. It was time to see what this world had to offer first hand.

"Earth magic." She began. "Is the very foundation of our society." She stated, a slight quirk of the lips showing that the pun had likely been intentional. "Though not as flashy as fire or water magic, it is just as versatile as wind, and a necessary skill set on every level of our culture." She continued the lecture. "Earth magic shapes the buildings that we live in, it helps grow and harvest the crops that we eat, makes channels for the water that we drink." Now that had me interested, growing crops? Perhaps a more mineral take on the water based healing techniques, one designed to encourage growth, rather than repair softer tissues?

She continued. "Certainly such things are accomplishable without magic, but with it, building in general becomes far more efficient. With an Earth mage, a farm can produce ten times as much crops as without, buildings can be made from boulders, and cities made within days." She raised the high points of what I strongly suspected to be her personal element.

"It is of course, also used in mining, and in times of strife, simply producing the rare metals so needed for fine wares." She explained, and with a motion of her staff formed an orb of reddish clay to float near the top.

The ease of the conjuration surprised me. Tapping into my internal well of power I traced a line over my eye and muttered a word. "Detect Magic." my senses lit up beyond the normal spectrum, the minor cantrip. I studied the remains of the spell, the magic that went into animating it, and most of all, into the orb myself.

That was not magic forged material! It wasn't a pseudo stuff that would fade back to energy in time. She had called forth true real red clay.

How! Had she drawn particles from the air? Summoned it from deep within the earth or some other location? Had she actually invested the massive energy to simple create permanent material from nothing but shear power? Magic was flexible with such things… maybe she had tapped into the elemental plane of earth directly?

Now that was a thought. All mages manipulated 'grains' what limited them to a single element? Something else was obviously in play rather than simple matter manipulation.

I was interrupted from my thoughts as she continued to explain.

"My Runic name is Chevreuse of the Red Clay." She informed Dryly. "And while it may not seem all that impressive in and of itself. You will find with enough skill, an earth mage can make gold all but fall right into her fingers."

A flash of power, and the orb contracted in and on itself, I would call it sloppy, but again the result was a true one, not temporary. An orb of pure brass, which my natural draconic insight weighed in at around the value of a good amount of silver coins, maybe a gold piece in the right market.

The natural impulse to horde all but screamed within my head 'We must learn this! We must learn this NOW!'

"It's not true gold of course." She explained. "That would take a Square mage. I am only a triangle."

They could make GOLD!

I'm pretty sure at this point I had some kind of seizure, I don't really recall to much beyond it for several minutes. Gold… real permanent gold. Real Permanent Glorious Gold.

From a spell. From magic.

I damned near fell to my knees and promised a church to Bahamut, Io, and any other deity that could perhaps be involved in sending me to this wondrous, wondrous, place.

I also damned near burst out of my seat to crow a take that at all my fellows who had looked down upon me for 'wasting' so much time learning the arcane arts to the level that I had.

I'm actually rather certain at this point that it was in fact the conflict between these two actions that held me in place.

I was going to learn this spell, yes, yes indeed I was.

I snapped out of my happy coma just in time for Mrs. Goldmi- I mean Mrs. Chevreuse to call down my master to go transfigure a small pebble into something else.

I blinked at that, as she looked to me for response. I considered the options. On one hand the spell was small, harmless, on the other, Louise was not.

Well yes she was small, but harmless she was not. We had identified her problem, not fixed it. If she tried to break apart atomic structures without really understanding what she was doing… well…

No I did not want to test my personal toughness against an atomic detonation, even a very very tiny one.

But I couldn't very well tell her to refuse the request of a teacher…

"Do what you originally did." I whispered to her. "Keep it small, tiny as you can. It's ok if you fail this one now, we can make it up when we get to fire." Give me a few days and we would have more than enough time to refine a small lighting tick or two that could do most of the jobs a fire spell could. I was sure on that.

She looked at me silently begging for another answer, eyes flickering to the redhead.

I shook my head slightly. "It's hard now…"

"But it'll pay off later on." She continued, and slumped her shoulders in resignation. "Alright."

"Ms. Vallière? If you would come down now." The Earth mage requested again.

Rising up, with as much dignity as she could manage. My tiny Master marched down to meet her fate once more.

I would be waiting, no matter the results.