Disclaimer: I do not own 'A song of Ice and Fire' nor 'Magic the Gathering'.

Author's Note: Hello everyone, new chapter available. Gonna try to post around this date every month.

A special thanks to GoMagikarp. I really did make some rookie spelling mistakes, so i found an online spell check to help me out. For the Warging, i almost left it like that, reasoning that as a 6-year-old kid, misnaming a technical term was plausible. But then i realized Maester Luwin would have probably corrected him so i ended up correcting it. My story is a bit better because of it.

If you want to see what the 3 NPC in the story look like, i took inspirations from the following cards: Quandrix Pledgemage, Lorehold Command (bottom left) and Dueling Coach.


Chapter 6

"All right, your order will soon be delivered to your table. Have a pleasant day."

Jon nods at the waitress behind the counter and returns to his table after having paid for his order, where his colleagues await. The bustling room of the Firejolt Café is packed with both first-years taking a well-earned break after finishing their exams and college students cramming in preparation for their own tests. Having confirmed just a few hours ago that both he and his familiar passed, Jon invited a few of his classmates to celebrate together at the local coffee shop, since he wasn't allowed to drink at the Bow's End quite yet.

Jon soon crosses the magic field of one of the shop's 'Quiet room' and the ambient noise quiets down. In the room sitting at the table are three other students, a merfork, dwarf and human. The merfork, Cairu, had light olive green skin, orange petal-like fronds for hair with one frond in each forearm and orange lines decorating his brows and the middle of his face. Dradiel was a beefy looking dwarven girl with the same pallid skin tone as his own and had fiery red hair, held together in multiple braids behind her head. The only other human, Tanner, looked as if he had some elven ancestry, for his features seemed sharp and angular. His hair though was his defining feature, black with streaks of blond in them. He sits down in his seat and rejoins the conversation that they were having.

"In conclusion, after thinking about everything I've learned so far and what I've shown an aptitude for, i think I'm going to apply to Quandrix." Cairu stated.

"Big surprise there. Next you will tell us the sky is blue." Tanner snarks.

"Don't be rude Tanner. In fact, what college will you sign up for?" Dradiel asks.

"Please, is there any doubt in what my choice will be?" Tanner counters.

"Witherbloom?" Dradiel taunts.

"Excuse me?! A cultured fellow such as myself is destined for the finer things in life, so obviously i belong in Silverquill. No offense, but do i look like i belong in a filthy, noxious swamp?" Tanner responds.

"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?" Jon confronts Tanner.

"I think he's implying that Witherbloom students are unsophisticated." Cairu suggests.

Jon's crosses his arms before defending his parent. "My mother went to Witherbloom, and she's much nobler than you."

"Yes, yes, i am sure she is a wonderful lady with a noble heart. Anyway, will you not change your mind Dradiel? With that sharp tongue of yours, you would fit right in with Silverquill." Tanner appeals.

"Sorry, but I've set my eyes on Lorehold. You know I have always had a passion for history. Imagine being able to speak directly with heroes and villains of ages past." Dradiel says with a starry-eyed look."

"Jon, have you or Nivaeron chosen a college yet?" Cairu questions.

"Yes, has this year's young genius and his familiar chosen which institution will have the honor of teaching him?" Tanner adds.

"Um... not yet. I'm still... thinking on what career i want." Jon mumbles.

Cairu observes Jon for a second before speaking. "Jon, the deadline to make your choice is coming up in a few days. If you need some help in choosing a college, maybe we can help. After all, if it wasn't for you, i would still be studying alone." Cairu offers.

"You also helped me by inviting me to your study group. I'm sure i would have flunked a few tests without your help." Dradiel states before nudging Tanner with her elbow.

"Fine... and you did give me some useful tips on mana manipulation so i guess i could offer some advice." Tanner droned.

Jon takes a moment to appreciate their words before replying. "Thanks everyone. I'll keep that in mind. Oh, our order's coming."

The waitress soon arrived at their table and started serving everyone. Working with a practiced efficiency. They each ordered their own pastry and coffee, with Jon's having milk and honey added to his drink. Jon was soon eating his meal and savoring his drink, with everyone at the table having paused their discussion. He had discovered coffee in his first month after entering Strixhaven when he joined a study group. It was also the first time he personally felt its effect on himself, he barely slept that night. Since then, he has grown to love the hot brew, but drinks it in moderation to avoid the repercussion of that evening. Sometimes, he couldn't help but wonder how popular the drink would be in his original birthplace. Belatedly, he notices his classmates staring at something behind him. Tanner in particular seemed captivated by whatever he was gazing at.

Jon abruptly feels a hand on his shoulders but before he could defend himself he hears a very familiar voice announcing herself. "Friends of yours Jon?"

His face beamed with joy as he turned around and hugged the woman behind him. "Mother!"

Jon embraces her for a few seconds before releasing her. "I wasn't expecting you soon. How was your trip?"

"Oh, the same as always, except i finished my services earlier than expected. So i decided to surprise you and see how much you have grown. Now, could you introduce to your companions? I thought i raised you better than this." Liliana lightly chides.

"Oh, right. Everyone, this is my mother, Serafina Onyx. Mother, these are Tanner, Dradiel and Cairu."

Cairu nodded in response and Dradiel returned a respectful greeting. Tanner, however, suavely stood up and started to converse with her. "Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Ms. Onyx. Jon informed us a little while ago about how you are an accomplished graduate of the noble college of Witherbloom."

Jon felt annoyed at Tanner's words, even though he was being respectful towards his mother, until it suddenly clicked. 'Wait, is he... is he trying to COURT her?!' Jon asked himself. He narrowed his eyes and spoke. "Weren't you the one who implied Witherbloom students belong in a 'filthy, noxious swamp' just a few minutes ago?"

Tanner's smile froze in his face as his cheeks flushed red, standing still in front of her. Liliana smiled slightly as she raised an eyebrow, waiting for a response as his friends snickered behind his back.

"Ahem. N-no, i would never... i mean-" Tanner floundered as he tried to respond.

"Tsk, tsk. Barely started and already flopped? I expected more endurance from a Silverquill initiate." Liliana taunted.

Cairu suddenly chokes on his drink while Dradiel cackles in her seat while Jon looks on in confusion at both of their reactions, not understanding the joke. As a Silverquill aspirant who wishes to learn the ways of eloquence, Tanner realizes he just got thrashed. Jon's mother must have had some experience against Silverquill mages for her rhetoric to be so ruthless. It hurt his pride, but the best move at the moment was a tactical retreat.

"Ahem. I did not expect Jon's mother to have such... fierce wit. I sincerely apologize for any disrespect to your college i may have implied. I will not be making the same mistake again. Your son Jon is an incredibly gifted child for his age, very talented and protective of his mother. You have raised him well." Tanner says.

"Hm, good survival instincts. You might just graduate Silverquill if you keep it up. Anyway, as much as i love to see Jon making friends, i was hoping to spend some time with my boy before i have to leave again. He can meet with you at a later time. You understand, right?" Liliana informs them.

Jon says his goodbyes to his fellows before leaving the Firejolt Café with Liliana, with Jon's current lodging as their destination. "So, are both you and Nivaeron doing well?" Liliana asks after walking for a bit.

"Yes, mother. Our studies are going well."

"I asked how both of you are doing, not your studies. I do not need to look at your grades to know that you are the best student of the year. I taught you personally, after all."

"Oh. Well, we're doing all right. Just having a bit of a disagreement at the moment."

Liliana sent a sideways glance at Jon. "Could you elaborate on what topic both of you are not seeing eye to eye on?"

"It's just... we want to choose different colleges but don't want to separate, so we're stuck trying to convince each other."

"So what did both of you choose, and more importantly, why?"

"Nivaeron wants to go to Prismari. Among the various reasons he's given to me over the weeks, the most common is because, and i quote, 'They make the best shinies'. His entire motivation for choosing Prismari is that he wants to learn how they make their 'treasures' so he can create his own and outshine everyone. Can you believe it?"

Liliana laughed at his description of Nivaeron's incentive. That was another unforeseen consequence of their bond. It was during their first month into their Multiverse trip before enrolling in Strixhaven that Nivaeron spoke for the first time. They were visiting a marketplace in Shandalar when he saw a bauble that caught his eye. When he jumped in front of the item, puffed out his chest and uttered the words 'Give Shiny', it took everyone who heard him completely by surprise. They left soon after for a secluded spot to planeswalk back to Ravnica, but were ambushed soon after by a gang looking to steal his familiar. His mother was not merciful that day, making short work of them by killing the first attackers with death magic and ripping the survivors apart with their reanimated brethren. He had nightmares for weeks after that day, ghastly images of sundered corpses filling his head.

Once back home, his mother looked him over with her magic, determining the possible side effects were worth risking to acquire solid answers. In doing so, she partially confirmed her previous theory, but it wasn't Nivaeron's mind that was influenced while in the egg. When skinchanging, Jon would send his soul out to directly control his familiar's soul and because of the constant contact between them, both of their souls were trying to reach an 'equilibrium'. Thus, Jon's spark, which was tied to his soul, was having a slight influence on Nivaeron's soul, not enough to develop one himself, but enough that they shared a few benefits. The Universal Language perk that all planeswalkers enjoyed was the most obvious one. Privately, Jon wondered how Nivaeron was influencing him through their bond.

Once she finished laughing, she continued. "That sounds exactly like him. What about you Jon? If not Prismari, then where will you continue your studies?".

Jon took a few seconds before replying. "...Quandrix."

She could hear a hint of uncertainty in his answer. 'His rejection of Prismari had more conviction than that.' Liliana thought, a suspicion growing in her mind. "Quandrix, eh? Prismari is not to your liking?"

"No, not really." Jon answered quickly.

Liliana narrows her eyes in skepticism before asking. "Why not?"

"Because... nothing against them, it's just... it doesn't seem like i would learn a useful career there. Quandrix, on the other hand, offers careers that are more useful, like Biomathematics. I would be able to focus on learning to wield blue mana more effectively. Also, their courses focus on the manipulation of the laws of nature, a powerful skill to have."

With a hypothesis now formed inside her head, Liliana held Jon back for a moment to look into his eyes as she asked her next question. "Jon, i want you to be perfectly honest with me. Are you choosing Quandrix because it is the college you want to join or because you feel i would be disappointed if you chose Prismari?"

Jon's inability to look her in the eye was answer enough for her.

Liliana pinched the bridge of her nose. She could not believe this was happening, he was sabotaging his potential to be useful to her because he cared about being useful to her. If it were anyone else in her position, she would be laughing at the irony of the situation.

"I am disappointed in you Jon. I expected better of you." Liliana stated.

"I'm sorry mother. I keep trying to conv-" Jon cries out in pain as she flicks his forehead with her index finger.

"Foolish child. I am not disappointed in you because of your interest in Prismari, but for having such a narrow perspective. I taught you that magic has infinite potential, and now i find you effectively hamstringing yourself because you are worried about what others think of your gifts. Your infant familiar is showing more sense than you right now." Liliana scolds him.

Jon rubs his brow with his hand. "Please don't tell him that, he'll never let me live that down."

Liliana sighs before continuing walking, Jon following along. "You are missing the point, Jon. You are studying in Strixhaven to further your magical studies, not your magical career."

"Are they not the same thing?"

"Let me give you a practical example. I was training to be a member in a clerical order called the Foward Order back on Dominaria before my spark ignited. I studied to be a healer under the tutelage of a woman by the name of Lady Ana, however, i was also studying necromancy in my spare time. I believed that learning how to manipulate death would enhance my healing abilities, and in a way, it ultimately did..." Liliana trailed off, lost in her memories for the moment. "Anyway, although i am a necromancer, my career is that of a healer. Do you see the difference?"

"How could i not?" Jon sarcastically replied.

"Do not sass me, child. Besides, you are letting the personal bias of your original plane blind you to a fundamental truth about Prismari."

"Which is?" Jon curiously asked.

"Technically, they have the mightiest magic between the five colleges."

"WHAT?! I know they claim to express themselves with raw magical power, but the mightiest?" Jon questioned.

"Before you start getting the wrong ideas, when i say they have the mightiest magic, i mean that Prismari mages are known for casting spells that use much more mana than other colleges would normally use. In fact, when i was a student, there was this Prismari girl who considered explosions to be the ultimate expression of art. The fool girl tried to turn in an explosion so large that she happened to accidentally be inside the blast radius. They let her graduate posthumously but the point is, just because their focus is not on destruction does not mean that what they teach is not destructive. For example, their motto, 'Express yourself with the Elements', can definitely be applied if you decide to express rage at your enemies."

The conflicted look in Jon's face showed the internal battle raging between his mind and his soul. Logically, he should be choosing Quandrix, they had the most to teach him and would help advance his magical potential immensely. However, ever since that one day when he heard a Prismari student playing that haunting melody, he had become tormented with indecision. His mother was practically giving him permission to choose as he desired, but inside he felt guilty at wasting such an amazing opportunity. What would his mother say if she found out that his motivation to enter Prismari was even more childish than his familiar's?

Unbeknownst to Jon, Liliana was contemplating how she could help Jon. 'The main problem is that he is suppressing his own desires in a misguided attempt to appease me. Normally that is the path i would lead him down, but that would stunt his potential in utilizing red mana. Knowing Jon, he probably has it in his stubborn head that his desires are stupid or some other nonsense. Maybe if he were to see living proof that something can be artistic and practical it would let him make peace with this internal conflict. Hmm, do i know of something that fits the criteria?' Liliana pondered until the answer struck like lightning. 'That will work. We never actually visited when we passed by the plane.'

Lost in their own thoughts, they barely noticed when they finally reached their destination. They entered the accommodations he was living at, climbed some stairs and opened the door to his sleeping quarters. Inside was a simple, moderately sized room with a bunk bed, desk and wardrobe. On the bottom bunk there was a pony sized red dragon curled up around some of his personal baubles, sleeping peacefully. The rest, she guessed, was neatly organized inside the trunk under the bed.

"Are you still sleeping!?" Jon blurted out before trying to wake him up. "Come on, Niv, wake up! There's someone here who wants to see you."

"... Don't wanna..." an infant-like voice petulantly growled.

Liliana smirked, knowing just what to do in this situation. "Want a new BAUBLE?"

Yellow slitted eyes immediately opened, a scaly head rushing up until it bumped into the top bunk. "ALPHA-LILI!" Nivaeron roared before sinuously moving around Jon. He then proceeded to affectionately rub his head on her, like a giant scaly cat. Jon pinched the bridge of his nose as his familiar greeted Liliana. He loved his dragon familiar, he really did, but sometimes he wished that Nivaeron were more... dignified.

When they discovered Nivaeron's potential, they set up a training regimen, so he could train his voice and intellect. In one of the lessons the little guy asked where his mother got her tiara, which led to her spinning a tale of how an archangel tried to kill her. The story ended with her enemy brought to the ground, her treasure claimed from her head and leaving her foe to be butchered behind her, not even looking at the angel's final moments. His familiar has been suffering from hero worship ever since.

"Look at how much you have grown!" Liliana exclaimed. "Is my favorite dragon getting more handsome? Who is a shiny dragon?! Who is a shiny red dragon?! You are!" She continued heaping praises on him with a high-pitched voice while scratching his chin. Nivaeron purred in delight at the attention.

"Mother, please stop spoiling him." Jon begged.

"I will not." Liliana immediately denied.

Nivaeron suddenly stopped purring and turned to her. "Alpha-Lili, tell Brother-Jon that Prismari is the best college. He listens to you."

"Nivae-" Jon began but was interrupted by Liliana.

"Just a moment Jon, me and Niv here are speaking. It is rude to interrupt."

"But mo-" Jon tried to speak but was interrupted once more.

"Yeah, it's rude to interrupt." Nivaeron agreed with Liliana before continuing. "I keep trying to convince him but the yolk-head won't listen. I heard the rooms in Prismari are huge, so i can finally display my treasures. They teach how make fire, lightning, ice and shape stone and water. They have the biggest and prettiest spells. And they make the best shinies. Pleeeease tell him to choose Prismari?"

Liliana held back a chuckle. "Yes, he is being a yolk-head, but i think i have an idea how to fix that."

"You do?" Nivaeron asks excitedly while at the same time Jon asks suspiciously, "How?".

Liliana laid out her plan. "We are going on a trip. Knowing Jon, he probably feels guilty because he is captivated by something he thinks is superfluous, so we are going to show him a place so captivating that it will inspire him to embrace his desires."

"It was a har-" Nivaeron tried to blab but Jon shut his mouth,"Shut up, Niv."

Liliana smirked at their antics. "See? This trip will be good for your development Jon, and a delightful vacation for everyone else. Now, run along and get ready, both of you."

Soon enough both Jon and Nivaeron had packed all their essentials and stood waiting next to each other in front of Liliana, ready to follow her. Jon's eyes start to glow white with Nivaeron's eyes starting to glow almost immediately after. Liliana soon starts to shimmer and disappears in a cloud of inky, black vapor, with both Jon and Nivaeron quickly flickering before giving off a flash of searing light before disappearing as well, planeswalking to their destination together.


Author's Note: Ok, first off, sorry for the cliffhanger. My original plan was ending the chapter with their visit to the next plane and how Jon became inspired but as i saw the length of what i wrote, i saw that i would have to either make the rest criminally short or split into a new chapter. So i chose to flesh the story out and make it into a new chapter. I am curious to see if anyone can guess where Liliana is taking them, the location has been decided but i want to see if anyone can guess.

Another point i would like to explain, if it wasn't clear enough, is Nivaeron's intelligence. For those who think he's too smart way too early (he's around two years old at this point), i researched Niv-Mizzet to see what exactly Ancient Ravnican Dragons were capable of. Apparently, 'Ancient Ravnican dragons were able to speak upon birth and were born with knowledge that they could not have personally gained', so by that metric the little guy has some catching up to do. Niv-Mizzet has also said that Hypersonic Dragons were a 'primitive specimen of my kind' and they REALLY look like him. So in this fiction, i am considering Nivaeron's current species as 'Ancient Ravnican Dragons' that are missing their genetic memories (think of the neanderthals from the book series 'Clan of the cave bear'). When Jon skinchanged with Nivaeron in his egg, he donated HIS genetic memories to his familiar, which is why he is still childish. Nivaeron knows only as much as Jon did and only has the mental capacity of a human child, for now. I imagine dragons grow up a bit quicker in the wild than humans, so he will catch up mentally with his partner soon enough. Another way to explain in metaphor, think of Nivaeron like a high end computer that had no operating system, and then Jon downloads a copy of his operating system into him.

Liliana is, lore-wise, around 200 years old, and she had a brief torrid affair with Jace Berelen. Her interaction with Tanner and Nivaeron stems from my head-canon of what a single, old lady would be like if she had eternal youth. Also, for those who are wondering how i plan to write Liliana, she has always been a cutthroat, vindictive and manipulative individual with her own personal agenda. But thanks to Jon entering her life, she is now a cutthroat, vindictive and manipulative individual with her own personal agenda who has a kid.