Dreadlords Study Abroad

[Edric]

Elbion

"This is fucking ridiculous." With a vile bitterness in his voice. "Do you know how many people I've slaughtered? How many many cities I've brought to heel? How ma-"

"You think that matters?"​

The voice was flat. Total.

There was no arguing with the tone, the voice that echoed outward. It would have been more simple to fight a mountain than the Proctor who stood in front of Edric. Her face was a mask of simple truth. Determination. No objection could have moved her from the place she now stood, the opinion, no, the facts that she wielded.

"It doesn't. Don't even talk."​

Pure and utter contempt clung to her tone.

"You're an Initiate still. I don't care what you've done. How much you're grown. In my eyes you're the simpering little fuck that showed up here then years ago. Do as you're told along with the others. Go To Elbion. Study, learn what you can. Then steal whatever more they're hiding."

Edric sat upon one of the carts that pulled into the small space beyond the gates of the College of Elbion.

His face was an impassive mask, his eyes settling straight ahead at the great University that lay before them. Arms laid crossed, and his mind was enraptured with much of the same thoughts that they had held as the last hundred miles as they had traveled here.

This entire exercise was a waste of time. What could a bunch of fucking academics teach them? They were Dreadlord's of Vel Anir. Soldiers, warriors. Weapons crafted to kill and cut throats. That was their purpose, the whole reason they had been raised. This place was a mockery of that, pampered children and teachers who thought pursuits of thought were more important than killing.

"Welcome! Welcome all!"​

A man walked towards the small caravan, his smiling face half obscured by a lengthy beard.

"We have so been looking forward to your arrival! Please come down, please. I am Maestar Ammorath, and I welcome you to the College of Elbion."​

Edric stared down at the old man, wondering in the back of his head how easy it would be to kill him. Fingers flickering unconsciously towards where a knife should have been resting. A scowl pulled at his lips as he noticed it's absence, his buttocks stubbornly sticking to the bench below him even as some of his peers began to jump down off the cart.

Some more eager about the situation than him.

 

[Noel]

Her last assignment had sent her and a fellow initiate into the wastes of the Aberresai Savannah. They’d spent a week tracking down a peculiar half-orc who’d strolled into a border town and caused anything he coughed on to begin melting into a bluish-green ooze.

While the mission’s parameters had specified that they should try to bring him in alive, presumably so the academy could study that peculiar kind of inadvertent magic, Noel had been so over the job once they finally caught him that mercy was completely out of the question. Lugging some prisoner that could accidentally cause her to melt all the way back to civilization?

No thank you.

But at least that mission had given her practical experience. It had been a challenge and tested her abilities. This next assignment was… well, was it even correct to call it a mission? Or a challenge?

Still, they were assigned a task and Noel would complete it. She assumed some of her compatriots likely complained or disputed the wisdom of the academy but not her. The duty of any initiate, and of any Dreadlord, was to carry out your orders first and voice your concerns never.

The welcoming voice exploded out of a man that must’ve been three centuries old, yelling about the Anirian consortium’s arrival to the college grounds.

”Joy,” she muttered under her breath in an apathetic tone. Swiftly she descended from the wagon and placed both of her feet on the stony college grounds. Just behind Maestar Ammorath stood a gaggle of other elderly men and women, a few armed guards, and an assortment of teenaged humans, elves, gnomes, dwarves, and a half dozen other species she barely recognized.

An elf with huge glasses and curly hair approached the wagon to help a few of the initiates down. He spoke in a high-pitched voice, “hello! I’m Bingo! I’m going to be the campus buddy for all of you from Vel Anir’s College of Magic!”

”Bingo?”

He nodded his head feverishly in excitement. “Yep! That’s me! Maestar Ammorath will likely serve as your guide but if there’s something you guys want to know from a fellow student,” the elf extended both of his thumbs and pointed them at his chest, “I’m your guy!”

Noel raised an eyebrow and stared at the scrawny thing before her. This mission was going to be a lot harder to keep her cool than she initially assumed.

 

[Henk]

For once, Henk was somewhat glad he'd been picked for a mission. The constant violence that came with being a Dreadlord Initiate was his life, to be certain. It was not, however, something he enjoyed. Henk had never been shy about his distaste for senseless killing, for fighting that had no cause. At the end of the day, however, that violence is exactly what their Academy was tasked with teaching them.

That was not the case with Elbion's College. Its halls were devoted to the emboldening of the mind, the pursuit of knowledge above all things. It was a refreshing change of scenery, to say the least. And while some of his peers-- namely Edric, barely contained their frustration with the unusual assignment, Henk was quite eager to spend time in one of the few cities he had not yet had the chance to visit.

Despite his positive outlook, the ride here had been rather miserable. Nobody seemed to want to say a word, and the uncomfortable silence among the carts hung over the caravan of Initiates like a stormcloud. Edric was visibly uncomfortable with the idea of being stuck in Elbion for too long and Noel... Well, things were still strange between them.

Henk had put that out of his mind. It did neither him nor the others any good to waste his time dwelling on what if, at least when there was work to be done.

Finally though the trip had come to an end, and they were all ushered from the carts by an elderly gentleman, declaring loudly their arrival. Henk could see the wisdom behind those wizened eyes, but he knew before his boots had even landed on the Elbion soil that his enthusiasm would do nothing to win over some of his constituents. Henk, for his part, took a small bow towards him in thanks for the warm reception.

"Thank you, Maestar. I am eager to explore what the College has to offer."

If they were going to get anything out of this, some of them would have to at least pretend they wanted to be here.

"I do hope this little excursion of ours is beneficial in building the relationship between our cities."

His conversation was getting somewhat drowned out by a particularly loud little elf gesticulating like some sort of showman to Noel. Henk had to fight back a smile. "You've already made a friend, Noel..."

It was going to be a miracle if nobody died by the end of this mission, especially if less-than-privvy students started gravitating towards Noel because of her looks.

 

[Davi]

Davi jumped off the carriage with barely a glance to the student offering to help him with the bag slung across his shoulders. All of his attention was on the spires of the college behind their greeting party. Apparently the College had the largest collection of books on the continent on subjects ranging from biology and alchemy to the dark practises of necromancy and summoning. If he had had the choice of which magical school he could have gone to and if his geography hadn't decided it for him, Davi imagined he would have come here.

He barely heard a word of what was being said. Henk the diplomat, Noel the friend maker, Edric the muscle who terrified most of the students into giving him a wide berth. Teachers too. They could handle this part of the mission. He had his own.

"Let's start with the library," he declared and set off without a second glance to the others or their supposed guides. Maestar Ammorath gaped after the retreating boys back then hurried to catch him up, playing it off with a almost hysterical laugh.

"Yes, yes my boy what a brilliant suggestion! It is so good to see enthusiasm for learning," the word seemed to hold a point that he threw in Edric's direction.

 

[Kristen Pirian]

Kristen clutched her book, holding it to her chest as if fiercely protecting it, for the vast majority of the trip to Elbion. It was the thing she was most excited about in this venture to Elbion, the possibility of actually being able to explore works on her Celestialist faith and, hopefully, finding some means by which she could open her new tome. An artifact recovered from the ruin of Sentinel's Home, the tome's covers were bound with metal, and a strong latch that had proven impervious to mundane lockpicking attempts had the book sealed shut.

She was, of course, not alone on this venture. This wasn't the first time the Academy had sent Initiates abroad to study—Zael had clapped her hard on the back (she spat out her water!) when she told him where she was going and he said to her with a wink, Hey, try to keep your clothes on! She didn't know what precisely he meant by that. In any case, this time the Academy had sent a larger group of Initiates north to Elbion for this excursion.

Her company, however, was...not so great. The only person she liked that was aboard this cart was Noel, yet she recognized that her favor was likely highly asymmetric. Henk she now had reservations about, her dislike of Edric likely now matched or exceeded his dislike of her, and Davi...well, what could she say about him, for she and he had not even truly met. In his case she was starkly neutral, and there existed still that frigidity of unfamiliarity.

So Kristen, normally the most conversational and outgoing of any group of Initiates in which she was a part, was strangely the most quiet of all. The last thing she wanted to do was inadvertently dredge up a smoldering memory in one of her companions and spark some manner of confrontation. All she wanted was to leave them be so that they would leave her be. Their differences could be settled in the sparring arena back in the Academy, not here in the College of Elbion.

The cart arrived.

And, though Kristen was absolutely starved for socializing, the chipper elf who greeted them had a cheeriness that was immediately off-putting. Mayhap it was the silent and awkward gray pall under which she and the rest of the Initiates had traveled to get here, but off-putting he was. A thought, though: By Aionus, is this...how I appeared to my peers when first I arrived at the Academy?

Davi sidestepped both the Maestar's and Bingo's introductions, simply declaring that they ought to head to the library. Kristen's heart swelled with the first infusion of good feelings since the journey began. Yes! That was quite good, precisely where she wanted to go! It was the whole reason why they were here, after all.

Kristen hopped down from the wagon and hurried along until she had caught up with Davi. She was dying to speak with someone about just about anything, and she figured, why not finally do away with that aforementioned frigidity and cross the bridge of acquaintance?

"Hello, Davi. Mayhap you feel the same as I: in the case of certain topics, the Academy's libraries are woefully lacking. Is this venture to the College not a splendid opportunity for us?"

Edric Noel Henk Davi

 

[Edric]

For a few moments the Initiate left himself simply planted on the carts. Unlike Davi, or it seemed Kristen, he was hardly chomping at the bit to go anywhere near this fucking College. Knowledge and books were all well and good, and he'd learned his lesson to read more...but a whole place filled with the fucking things?

It was a nightmare.

Not to mention the quality of people they'd find here. Judgmental little fucks so glued to their desks they had probably never even seen a corpse. One of them, apparently more than willing to encourage Davi seemed to look at him as he spoke. A verbal jab shot towards the young Initiate still lingering on the wagon.

Fingers scrunched for a moment, tightening into a fist. He watched as the man quickly ran after Davi. Apparently intending to escort him.

A second later Edric, perhaps spurred by the glare of the Maestar who had so enthusiastically taken to Davi's call for the library, pulled himself from the cart.

He landed with a soft thud of his boots on the cobbles. His expression entirely unchanged as he stepped up just behind Noel and Henk. Figuring that it was his best bet to at least tolerate this place. Behind him the last cart pulled into the College's courtyard. From it springing a small, lithe blonde girl.

Lips thinned for a brief moment as the overly enthusiastic Elf pitched his services to the Initiates.

Unlike most in Vel Anir, the xenophobia taught in the Academy had never much stuck to Edric. The way he figured it Elves weren't much different than humans. Despite the stories, the historic hatred, to Edric they were simply another victim of his magic.

More meat for the grinder.

Lips thinned even further at the grim thought, and as 'Bingo' finished his introduction with a verbal flourish he looked to Noel. "I think he wants to fuck you."

Edric commented dryly.

Henk | Noel | Davi | Kristen Pirian

 

[Noel]

Noel was dumbfounded by the boy before her. She wondered exactly how bad the consequences would be if she fractured only a few of his bones until Henk joined the conversation.

”No, I have absolutely not made a friend,” she shot back at Henk while glaring down at the elf before her. Noel was about to continue her dismissal of the elven student until Edric arrived and gave his, very much unwanted, opinion about Bingo.

There was a flash of red but only for the briefest of moments. She’d become accustomed to Edric’s attempts to get under her skin and while his quips still annoyed her she was slowly getting better at pretending like they didn’t.

”He’ll have to get in line then,” she turned her head and narrowed her rage-filled eyes at Edric, ”can you use your magic to regrow your tongue? Just curious.”

She didn’t wait for an answer. Noel simply walked past the curly haired Elbionese student and up the stairs behind Davi, Kristen, and Father Time. For a man with more wrinkles than the entire Anirian population he’d chased down the shapeshifter with a blistering pace.

From the base of the steps the student ambassador’s face had gone pale and he shouted after Noel with a shaky, “n-no! I don’t want to, I mean I wasn’t trying to fuck you!,” several of the College’s staff looked on with disappointment strewn across their faces. Frazzled and defeated he turned his attention back towards Henk and Edric. “I just want to make sure you all feel welcome! That’s it!”
Whatever scholarly pursuits the Pirian brat and the little wolf boy had were looking more interesting every passing second.

 

[Henk]

Henk had brought a hand to his face in an attempt to hide the smile of amusement that was growing wider the more that the unfortunately named Elf tried to salvage the situation with Noel. Edric approached them from behind, seemingly deciding they were currently more tolerable than the already departing Kristen and Davi, and added his own unique brand of cynicism to the atmosphere.

For a minute Henk thought Noel actually might kill the poor boy. That wouldn't have gone well for this 'diplomatic' mission they were on, but he couldn't say that it wouldn't be somewhat warranted; The College really should do more research on who they allow onto their campus, lest they be trained killers, for example. Noel pushed past her admirer, who now pled his case to Henk and Edric.

"Allow me to give you some advice, Bingo." Henk reached out and patted the elf's shoulder comfortingly. "We're from a rather rough and tumble place. Aside from myself, and perhaps the young woman headed to the library, I think it's in your best interest to give us a wide berth." Hopefully Bingo would follow Henk's wisdom, but even if he did, there would be others. The chance of this going smoothly was close to zero, which made him rather glad they had a few cooler heads like He and Davi on the trip. He would have included Kristen in that, but... things had gotten rather strained.

Offering a smile to Bingo, and a nod to Edric, Henk quickly made pace to follow Noel, quickly moving up the stairs. "Hey." He called to his stoic-as-ever classmate. "Thank you for not doing what I know you must have been thinking of doing." If Noel had her way, Henk feared Bingo's head would be on a pike right about now. "But you know that's going to happen again. These people aren't far from us in age, but the world they live in is different. We can't afford to hold that against them..."

Edric Noel Kristen Pirian Davi

 

[Davi]

Kristen Pirian.

There were many rumours that passed through the Academy. Rumours of initiates sneaking into one another's dorms, rumours of vile horrors that still went on behind the closed doors of a Proctors office, rumours of what the new graduation ceremony would be. But none caused quite so many people to groan and grimace as the tales of Kristen Pirian. Davi wondered if there had ever been such an unlikeable initiate. Even Proctors grimaced when they heard her name. Davi, until today, had had the great fortune of never having had to meet her.

The shivered, disgusted warnings of quite how joyful the young noble was at seemingly everything in the world, did not do the real thing any justice and Davi had to fight not to let his lips curl up over his teeth at her sing song voice. Not with the Maester standing on his other side. He needed the old quack to like him in case he needed access to books guests weren't meant to.

So he plastered on a slight smile and nodded.

"Yes, but hopefully the new Republic will be more open to taking on books from... a wider pool of authors now," he tried to keep his tone measured and neutral and the Maester gave him an approving, encouraging smile.

Good.

 

[Kristen Pirian]

"It would be most beneficial, I agree. The Academy could do with an expansion of its scholarly resources."

And with that, a small parting smile and she faded back from Davi, walking now between him and the rest of the Initiates to the rear.

That went well, she thought. Much maligned was Davi, and Kristen couldn't fathom why, for neither the Proctors nor fellow Initiates who spoke ill of him ever elaborated, at least not to her. But he seemed like a perfectly fine young man, and among their group he didn't seem to see their venture to the College as some sort of bothersome waste of time. Certainly a plus, this scholarly interest in furthering his knowledge, and as well the even temperament he possessed.

Yet.

Kristen had been burned before. She'd come to learn that the Academy was nothing if not a place rife with individuals wearing masks, a sort of horrific masquerade party, where beneath initial impressions you would be lucky to find a human being who was merely flawed. What you were more likely to find instead was something foul or wretched. In some cases the mask barely covered anything.

And so when Henk shared his thoughts with Noel, Kristen couldn't help but to glance back over her shoulder at him, an affirming look coloring her expression. She agreed. The world these Students lived in here at the College was different from the life they all led at the Academy. Why should they be begrudged this? For what reason, other than to indulge in one's own foulness through wickedness or one's own wretchedness through jealousy, should they hold this against the Students?

Hopefully Noel was not seriously entertaining the thought of doing something barbaric, even if Bingo was grating to endure. One barbarian was enough for this group.

The grand and expansive halls of the College were a sight to behold, with high arching ceilings and smooth walls and pleasant lighting from magical etchings along both. Kristen took notice of the Students they passed by, and yes, they were different. Mostly it was in the eyes, eyes that were surely very much like her own a year ago. They were eyes unhardened by grisly sights and tormenting experiences which stole one's innocence. In their eyes was the kind of unladen joy for life that no Initiate could lay claim to.

There was, inevitably, some difficulty in looking at them, Kristen found.

But the Grand Library was drawing near.

Edric Noel Henk Davi

 

[Edric]

"Over and over again." Edric jabbed as Noel swept away from him and Henk. His gaze flickering towards Bingo who quickly flustered over his tongue as he tried to explain himself.

Edric simply kept his expression neutral as his fellow Initiate explained things to him, trying to keep the amusement from his face. When the elf turned to look at him he simply rolled his shoulders in a shrug. As though he had no idea what any of this was about.

After a moment he followed the pack of his peers.

Davi apparently set himself on a crusade, one which Kristen quickly joined. Noel and Henk probably saw nothing better to do and Edric...well Edric was much the same.

This was an unfamiliar world to him. One that presented not the lash or the back of a hand, but instead a warm initiative of learning. The very thought made his spine crawl with a strange sort of anxiety, not that he would have ever voiced as such.

He followed along with the others, not paying much attention to anything in particular as they walked through the halls.

"You see it's quite simple. Magic is energy, no matter where it's gained from. A spell takes cost. Drains a part of something. There is always something taken. Stamina, vitality, life."​

The words caused Edric to suddenly stop.

His boot settled on the stone, lips thinning for a moment as he turned his head towards the voice.

"The cost is not always per-determined, but can be set. As long as the spell is set right of course. One can guide magic, and channel power to pay the price set by the spell itself.​

Slowly Edric turned his head, noting an open door where the voice came from. Slowly he stepped away from the group of his fellow Initiates, wandering towards the classroom. There, in front of an audience of a hundred or so students stood a Tiefling.

She was of a regal sort, wearing splendid robes of purple slashed with blue. She continued to speak, offering her lecture as Edric stood in the doorway.

 

[Noel]

Noel pressed onwards, not dignifying Edric's response with any sort of comeback. She was here to learn what these people knew and then report back to the Proctors how Vel Anir could exploit and crush them when the time came for it. At least, that's what she assumed was the purpose of this trip.

Whatever it was Davi and Kristen hoped to gain from the library she'd press to her advantage as well.

And then Henk caught up with her and rambled. "You don't have to worry," she said while making eye contact with the light-manipulator before turning to meet Kristen's wandering gaze, "at most I'll just break a few fingers."

She wasn't serious but she also didn't care if her fellow classmates realized that or not. There wasn't any point in mangling a defenseless calf. If the rest of the Elbion students were anything like Bingo she assumed they couldn't threaten her even if they wished to.

Maestar Ammorath, who was just far enough away not to catch very many details of their conversation, spoke up loudly enough for the group to hear. "And just off towards your left you'll find the Grand Library."

"Let's go bury our noses in the combined magical knowledge of Elbion," she whispered in a sarcastic tone. Not paying much attention to whatever it was that had suddenly caught Edric's ear.

 

[Henk]

Henk had arrived sincerely hoping that they were able to maintain some illusion of being polite with the Elbion people, but it was increasingly clear to him that any lasting cordiality between them was a pipedream. The best he could hope for now was that they would not do something that would find them prosecuted by the city. Henk had the strangest feeling his fellow initiates wouldn't take such a thing lying down.

Noel was joking, at least for now, and Henk realized that. At the same time, she was serious enough that any other students who overheard her would think twice about asking her out to dinner. "Oh, I'm not worried about you. I'm worried about them." He smiled a bit. Kristen's eyes tried to meet his, but he turned his head. Henk could only assume the worst as of late; she hadn't spoken to him since their meeting in the armory.

He honestly pitied the Maestar a little, the effort he was putting in to making them feel welcome was never going to be reciprocated, and Henk turned to Ammorath as he caught up with him, only now realizing that Edric had wandered off somewhere along the way. "My friends are all very eager to begin studying. Perhaps you can give us all the grand tour at a later time, once they've settled down?"

Casting a quick look back to Noel, Henk certainly hoped that she picked up on the opportunity to get away from their unwelcome guide that he was giving her. "I'm sure after we've had our fill of knowledge for the night we'll be much less energetic, Maestar."

 

[Davi]

"Perfect."

The single word was all Davi offered by way of farewell before turning on his heel and setting off to the left where the Maester had gestured towards two large oak doors. Everything was so theatrical here in comparison to the simplistic, brutalist designs of Vel Anir. Even the library there was a room that, if needed, could be used to kill, trap or garner precious thinking time in home front battles. Elbion on the other hand had built their city on the pompous assumption nobody would dare want to meddle or destroy knowledge. A stupid assumption if recent stories of the city being turned into a series of floating islands held only a slither of truth.

"Wouldn't you like to--" The Maester started but Davi merely waved over his shoulder and then let himself inside. Henk could deal with the talking.

Once inside he couldn't help but pause a moment to take it all in. Bookcases marched away from him in rows as far as the eye could see down the hall and when he stepped forward and glanced up, he realised those rows continued on four other levels. There must have been millions upon millions of books here.

"Hello there!" a small woman with hair a bright shade of green that made Davi wince popped up before him and whoever had crowded in behind. "You must be the students from Vel Anir. I suppose you've already met my brother Bingo?" she beamed. "Well if there's anything in particular you're looking for I'd be happy to help."

 

[Kristen Pirian]

As Kristen was making the turn along with the rest of the group to enter the Grand Library, she had a split second decision to make, and she stopped briefly to make it.

She had noticed that their group had become one short. Looking back down the hall, she saw why. And here the decision, here the cause for concern, because if any of them needed a chaperone, it was Edric. Everyone knew that he could scarcely control his temper, and everyone knew what always awaited at the end of that incredibly short tether. He simply could not be trusted to behave in civil society. And yet...everyone just left him there. Either they didn't notice him fade away from the group or they did and thought, erroneously, that Edric left to his own devices wouldn't cause at minimum an embarrassing scandal between Vel Anir and Elbion.

So, then, it fell to Kristen to keep an eye on him. A position most awkward, absolutely, given their last significant interaction together. But...how awkward really? Mayhap it would be so the Students of Elbion, or for any other (sane) person upon Arethil who was not an Initiate of the Dreadlord Academy. What were Initiates if not those who were made to fight one another over and over again one day, and then to work as a team whilst out on a mission the next? It would not be genial between herself and Edric, no, certainly not, and the best she could possibly hope for was a kind of frigid terseness amounting to scant cordiality.

But so be it. Somebody had to do this. So Kristen took it upon herself. Those books in the Grand Library weren't going anywhere.

Kristen broke from the group as they entered into the Library. Headed back down the hallway. Approached the open classroom door where Edric stood, hands held casually behind her back. She stood slightly behind him, offset enough to be able to peer partially into the classroom if she so wished. Inside, the lecture was continuing.

It wasn't a smile, the shape her lips formed, but more a polite gesture of curiosity and simple entreaty to conversation.

"Hear something interesting?"

Edric Henk Noel Davi

 

[Edric]

"A law of magic, then, as has long been theorized is that everything has a cost."​

The Professor continued her lecture, seemingly unaware of Edric standing in the doorway and paying attention to her words. His attention entirely upon her, listening as closely as he possibly could.

In his own teaching he had never heard things like this. The Academy had always stressed personal power, the strength it took to kill, the magic that was inherit and strong within oneself. To them he had been a killing machine. A thing wrought with the power to take and take endlessly.

Never had they spoken of what he could do with what he took.

"So, then the question is not what the spell is, but what fuels it? What is it you are willing to give? A little string of your life? A piece of your soul? A haunted little memory in your mind? All of these can pay the price, but deciding what you give is...well far more difficult, isn't it?"​

A small chuckle ran through the crowd.

"Half of casting a spell is learning what price you will pay. That is the intention of this class. Teaching restraint. Ensuring you never go beyond your limits. Take more than you can ha-"​

Kristen's voice rang out behind him before he could listen to what the Professor said. His back stiffened, his expression grew more dour. Lips thinned and a low bestial growl escaped his throat. "Don't you have a book bury yourself into?"

He demanded, trying to focus on the Professors words.

 

[Noel]

It was hard to pay much attention to whatever it was Henk said to the Maester and to herself. Harder still to will herself about caring for Edric or the sudden departure of Kristen to babysit the annoying brute. No real harm there, Kristen could take a punch or two and it was probably better for Edric to use her as a punching bag than one of the students here in Elbion.

At least Noel knew that Kristen (probably) wouldn't start crying.

What actually grabbed the young allomancer's attention was the keen interest in the library being displayed by Davi. Normally that boy was aloof and hardly showed interest in anything. To see him so singularly focused was... a shift.

Noel took in the books that lined every shelf and for a moment even she was speechless. Thoughts of checking out 'forbidden knowledge' rummaging through her mind. But then her focus was broken by a green-haired elf.

"Bingo is your brother?" Oh gods, there was more than one of them... "I'm so sorry," she offered with a smirk.

The girl twisted her lips in confusion and stated, "you're sorry for what?"

"Nevermind."

An arm gestured around the wide expanse of the grand library before them, signaling to all of the tomes of knowledge within their grasp. It had likely been the accumulation of centuries, perhaps millennia, of work. "So," she said with sarcasm dripping from her lips, "you like books here in Elbion?"

 

[Henk]

The Maestar seemed to study Henk for a moment, perhaps in an attempt to discern his intent. Even if the bearded man had known about Henk's lingering concern for the safety of Elbion's students, though, he likely would have underestimated the capabilities of the people he'd just welcome to this place. After a moment, he nods, seemingly satisfied

"Yes. Very well then. I shall leave you to it for now, and collect you when the day has ended. I do ask that you not interrupt any ongoing classes, though."

Henk bowed his head to the Maestar, "Of course, sir."

With a small smile, the old man nodded and departed, leaving Henk in the hallway. Alone, he now realized... Noel had taken the chance to follow Davi into the library, and Kristen had evidently found something else to keep her interest, perhaps whatever had distracted Edric as well. He'd been left alone in one of the winding halls of the great Academy.

Honestly, Henk didn't know what to do now, grabbing idly at the buckles of one of his arm covers and slowly making his way down the hall. The sounds of his boots echoing against the stone floors as he moved were strangely foreign to him as he passed a few classrooms with doors shut tightly; When was the last time he'd been alone outside of Vel Anir, left with only his thoughts? Hell, he couldn't remember. At least he had a goal in mind-- there had to be some way he could gather information, the library was crowded at the moment anyways.

"Excuse me, mister?"

Henk spun around, perhaps quicker than was normal. The girl behind him took a startled step back. Right, his body was used to surprises from behind meaning a quick death...

"I'm very sorry. Just startled me, is all."

She was another elf, short and slender. She wore the robes of an apprentice, likely she'd just left a class, Henk figured. Whoever she was, she was staring up at him a bit more intensely than he liked. Was there something on his face? Besides the obvious?

Quickly, she shook her head, clutching a large book to her chest. "No, that's fine. I was just wondering if you're lost or something. You were just standing there. Kinda spooky, you know?"

Henk had been called a lot of things in his life, but spooky was a new one. The ridiculous choice of vernacular was enough to break the tension, bringing an amused little smile to his lips, almost a chuckle as he ran one of hands through his hair to the back of his head.

"Right, I see. Yes, maybe you can help me, Miss..."

"Sovia"

"Miss Sovia. Where can I get a glass of water, maybe find somewhere to sit and think for a spell?"

The elf girl flashed him a smile, pushing past him and trotting down the hallway. When Henk didn't immediately follow, she turned and raised a brow. "Well? You coming?"

Nodding, Henk followed. He would return to the library to check on the others later. Right now, he needed to think, perhaps ask around to see what places would be in his best interest to investigate.

 

[Davi]

It appeared he had managed to lose most of his annoying entourage before beginning his search and that suited Davi just fine. Noel was a burr but perhaps this other woman could distract her. They could talk about.. well whatever it was girls talked about he supposed. Or... not, he corrected with a wince at Noel's sarcasm. She might of well as bludgeoned the other girl, it would have been just as effective at showing her how Noel felt towards her and Elbion as a whole. Going by the girl's confusion, however, even a bludgeon might not hammer home the obvious.

With a quiet sigh he nevertheless used the opportunity to quietly slip into one of the many aisles. If they murdered one another it was of no consequence to him.

Vel Anir had a good library full of human authors who discussed different types of magic. Or at least, the magic Vel Anir had praised. Weather, the elements, even soul eating for Edric. But there was very rarely anything on what the Proctors called 'base' magic like his. That allowed him to shift and turn into something very not human. In many of their eyes by having such a gift he was only one above a Forsaken - or worse - an elf. As such what he had learnt had been through trial and error and never graceful. There had to be more information, better guidance, and he knew it was somewhere in this room.

 

[Kristen Pirian]

"Why, I have it right here."

Kristen pulled her metal-bound tome out from behind her back, lifted it up just so to add extra emphasis, then held it down in front of herself in ladylike posture.

A brief glimpse beyond Edric and into the classroom, the colorful robes of the Professor catching her eye and eventually coming to coax them into said glimpse. The fact that the Professor was a tiefling (though Kristen would not have been able to identify her as such, if asked) was striking, so used was she to Proctors, and the greater majority of Vel Anir itself of course, all being human. Her attention wasn't much focused on what the Professor was saying; only vague bits reached her, something about the casting of spells and limits. It wasn't particularly important.

Back to Edric. She shrugged in a casual manner. And, cognizant of keeping her voice low so as not to disturb the class in session, said further to him, "I merely thought some company would be nice."

Quite the roundabout way of phrasing it but, if pressed, she resolved to simply tell him the boldfaced truth.

Edric Henk Davi Noel

 

[Edric]

He glanced down at the book Kristen was holding, frowning for a moment as he tried to read the cover.

"Everyone has a 'pool' of the magic they can give. Some more naturally than others, and with some having more affinity towards one spell. For instance, I have always found spells manipulating the earth to come far more easily than those shifting the winds."​

A few students seemed to murmur something when the Tiefling Professor spoke of that, but Edric wasn't paying enough attention to hear what they said. Instead he divided himself between Kristen and the Teacher, the interest at the back of his mind driving him to actually listen.

"I'd have thought I'd be the last you want in your company." Edric remarked.

After everything that had happened between them, he was fairly sure that he was likely Kristen's least favorite person in the world. He had beaten her half to death, dragged her as a ragged doll down the street, and apparently disappointed her in every way possible.

"But, that's a tad more advanced, no? We'll start with Gresh's Theorems of Energy."​

Edric frowned as he heard the shuffling of books, realizing that everyone was turning to reading out of a text. As they did so, the Tiefling's head turned, her odd eyes staring at the two Dreadlord Initiates. Shit.

 

[Noel]

Davi had practically vanished. Whatever that boy was up to was the first thing that seemed to catch his interest in... maybe ever? It would've been the most entertaining thing going on to figure out what that changeling was up to but the student librarian with lime-colored hair was too engaging.

"Y-yes," she answered hesitantly, "we like books in Elbion. Do they not in Vel Anir?"

A grin covered the initiate's face. "We like them alright. They're a fine tool to bludgeon others with."

Bingo's sister went doe-eyed for a second before deciding it was time to change the subject. "Well, um, are there any books you're looking for? I could help you find one." She adjusted her glasses and added one more statement, "to read I mean! Books you wish to read. We don't use them to hit people here."

Oh. This was going perfectly.

"Do you have any books on Allomancy? What about warfare?" A finger came up to her chin. "Ah! Any books on the defensive capabilities of Elbion? Maybe you could just fetch me a cart?"

Within a few moments multiple tomes were being loaded onto a cart with wheels by the green-haired librarian. Maybe Noel could convince the girl to load the books into one of the carriages they brought here too.

 

[Henk]

Walking beside the elven stranger was certainly awkward at first. These were the people that he'd had it hammered into his head were the enemy, the ones that he should hate. Now, she kept trying to make attempts at small talk with him. "So... you're with that group that came in from outside? The scary ones?" Sovia, for somebody who'd called him spooky and their entire group scary, didn't seem very frightened by Henk.

Despite the Academy's efforts, Henk held no contempt for the Elves. Yes, there were some of their kind who had wronged humanity. So too, though, were there humans who had committed atrocities against the elves. The Initiate had never been able to understand the idea that any race was inherently better than another based solely on what they were. Did they not all have the same souls? The same morals and desires? "Yes. We study magic under another academy. This little study trip is meant to bring our institutions closer, or something like that."

Sovia raised a brow, seeming to debate whether or not she believed that before shrugging and turning back to face forward. "Well, your friends could stand to be a little more friendly. I think that woman made poor Bingo soil his trousers." Even though she said it as a bad thing, Henk caught the little ghost of a smile that played at her lips as she spoke. Henk too smirked at the memory of the poor boy's expression when Noel had bored a hole in his skull with her gaze. "Most have us have been victim to her evil eye at one point or another. It gets easier the more often it happens to you."


Once the initial wall of awkwardness was broken down, conversation with Sovia actually came rather easy. Henk was so used to all of his interactions revolving around The Academy, Vel Anir, or whatever mission he was on that it felt almost exciting to speak with another student about ordinary, boring things.

So when the two of them sat in a large roomed lined with tables, all with students lined up for food and drink, Henk hadn't really noticed how much time had passed, his mind preoccupied on the surprisingly competent meal and refreshingly clean water placed in front of him. They weren't the only ones there, several of Sovia's friends, a few humans and another Elf, were all taking turns talking.

"--which is why Sovia thinks the concept of Transmutation is absolute bunk. I think it supports it, though, what about you?"

Henk looks up at the skinny human man, Wallen, he believed he was named, blinking out of a small trance. Transmutation? He wasn't familiar with the subject, but he knew the basic idea, turning one thing into another. Sovia was staring daggers at Wallen for bringing her into it, but Henk shrugged. "I'd say a lot of magic involves the changing of one energy to another. The entire basis of the arcane is turning your thoughts into power, is it not?"

The other students seemed to ponder his words, but before the conversation could continue, a familiar voice called from behind Henk.

"Mister Henk! It's good to see you engaging with the students!"

Henk spun around in his seat to face Ammorath, the bearded man wearing a smile that seemed to widen his prominent facial hair even more, if it were possible. Quickly the Initiate stood and took small bow. "Ah Maester, I was just learning about some of the teachings here from Miss Sovia and the others. They've been very welcoming to me."

Ammorath smiled, nodding approvingly to the students still sitting at the table before reaching around Henk and patting a large hand onto his back. "Well, I'm very glad for that! Listen, I'll be giving another tour in a couple hours, and I wanted to ask if you'd like to participate. You seem a bit more idle than your friends, perhaps you'd like a better look at everything we have to offer here?"

Henk didn't have to think much about it. Gathering info was the mission, wasn't it? If nobody else was willing to, at least Henk could be sure they'd at least heard the information offered in a new enrollment tour. With a nod of his head, Henk smiled. "I would be honored."

 

[Davi]

Davi found himself quickly becoming laden down with his own stack of tomes and admitted defeat when he couldn't see over the top of the pile any longer. Haphazardly he made his way back to one of the small alcoves were there were small tables design for one or two students to study at in relative privacy. He set the pile down and slid into the small booth with a sigh. Briefly he wondered if he should care at all where the others were or what they were doing, Edric in particular was of concern. He might simply start trouble because he was bored; he'd certainly complained enough on the journey over.

Eh, Henk would sort it out if there was.

Conscious settled he picked up the first book and flicked to one of the pages to read.

 

[Kristen Pirian]

"I find it difficult to imagine anyone would find your company to be pleasant, but...'tis not the worst."

He was no Henk, was he? Thus, a balance of being truthful and being gentle. Certainly it would have smacked of near patronizing fallaciousness had she pretended that nothing in Amol-Kalit, Cortos, or Salesia had happened. The short list of Initiates tethering Edric to Vel Anir, his short list of friends, likely did not include her name, and nor would she be inviting Edric to any manner of Pirian event.

But unpleasant didn't mean intolerable. Someone not being your friend did not mean they were your enemy. Among spectrums of all kinds a large gap of middle distance separating the extremes. Kristen might have giggled aloud if she were given a series of Yes or No questions to elucidate her relationship to Edric, for each question would certainly produce a nuanced answer whose truthfulness a simple yes or no could not hope to capture.

There were plenty of things about Edric to detest. Plenty.

But if Kristen could change (and hadn't she, even if her progress thus far was slow and small, hadn't she?), so could he—even if she had her doubts. He could slide along those aforementioned spectrums to become the man worthy of all the good things which were possible for him, or he could become the man who deserved every bitter misfortune ordained by the gods for him to suffer.

There was scarcely any time for her to remark further, or for Edric to respond. A shuffling of books from inside the classroom. A curious drag of Kristen's eyes back inside the room revealed that the Professor was staring right out through the open door and at them.

Autonomous, was Kristen's response. Her back straightened even more than it already was, her whole posture slowly shifting to the rigid position of attention. The drills endured in the Academy did not stay there upon the Initiates' departure to Elbion, no. Though the Professor was not a Proctor, she was an authority figure well enough in an environment that, while different, was still akin to the Academy. Kristen only became aware of her deferential response after she had done it.

Edric Henk Noel Davi