Fable - Ask The Wonders of Studying in the Sun

[Atticus]

"Is it just me, or are we going to remain pale if our study hour's are always in this room? There's a large window and a half in here!" Atticus leaned back in his seat, glad to have taken his gaze away from his parchment on the essay they were all tasked with writing to revise the five laws of magic. "That sunshine looks really good. It's a nice day! I would rather be out there," he pointed to the sunniest window, "than be stuck in here for an hour."

Atticus looked around, only a cluster of first year students around him as they claimed the right side of the desks set up. This side also was on the opposite side of the room from the sunlight pouring in.

When no one seemed to answer him, Atticus began to grin. "Well? Why don't we take our things and enjoy the sunshine? Could be more enriching environment to study than in here."

 

[Suleiman Askari]

Suleiman felt like fog filled his head. His neck, desperately in the struggle to support his embattled head, kept bobbing and bending like a oasis tree weathering a gale. His book, his parchment, he might fall into them, literally if his neck lost the battle, if he kept at it any longer.

So hail Atticus's excuse!

Suleiman stood up straightaway. "Yep. Yep. Yeah. I'm ready. I miss the sun. I need that enrichment."

Miss the sun. He never thought he'd say that. But (and for reasons other than Elbion's weather) he said it and he meant it, and just the act of standing up and being in motion, with a mission in mind, seemed to give him new life.


Atticus

 

[Svenia Albrecht]

Studying and writing essays did not bother her much. She had been taught to run numbers and to read and write when she had been young. Before the fire, she had helped manage the books and deal with correspondence from the far corners of the Albrecht empire.

The only trouble was that Elbion was far to the north of her home. Right now, the streets would have been sweltering under the yoke of the sun. The stones would have been baking and commerce would lull at the height of the day.

It was a radical difference from here. North, but not so far that it was cold. But it rained often and was overcast a lot. As a result, she had to deal with the crushing weight of depression every couple of weeks.

The bright sunshine beckoned.

"They like the dusty shadows. Fits the stereotype of a wizard," she offered as she stood up. "All they need is a stuffed crocodile and a skull with a dribbly candle on it and the scene is set." It was a rare bit of humor, brought out by the warm sun. The warm day meant that perhaps the need for fires to warm the dorms would end. The crackle of the flames in their place kept her awake at night sometimes. Better that than nights when she woke up screaming or in tears.

It didn't make her popular, but some traumas couldn't be laughed off.

She stared in puzzlement at her desk. There were lap desks, but she only had two hands and one of them was already spoken for - the staff already in hand. "Might have to make two trips," she muttered under her breath.

 

[Aiko]

Aiko had been hard at work, and just completed the first draft of her essay. A purple spark flew through her fingertips as she grabbed the parchment and cast a simple spell, drying the ink instantly. While many of her classmates had focused on flashier spells to tame lightning or levitate, Aiko had spent tine on little tricks to help her study, and work faster. There would be time for flashy later. Today she had a paper to write, and she intended to write it thrice. A wave of her brush over her inkwell and the color turned from a charming light blue to a piercing red. It was time to edit.

It was then that Atticus made his suggestion. Aiko’s face soured, and her brush slipped, crossing red over her writing. Aiko resisted a curse and began using magic to pull the wet red ink out of the page.

“Outside? And mottle my fair skin? I’d look like a -“ She stopped herself from saying ‘peasant’ as she glanced over at Suleiman Askari . Red flushed on her cheeks as she realized what she had done. Her father would have never tolerated such an obvious gaffe towards a business partner. The relationship with her classmates was not quite the same, but close enough that she would certainly be scolded.

“I will need my parasol.” Aiko said, and shifted to begin putting up her things. She noticed as Svenia Albrecht mentioned two trips.

“Svenia you mustn’t worry. One of these fine gentleman will carry it for you.” Aiko said confidently as she finished putting her things in her bag and put parasol in hand.

“Atti looks up to the task. He’ll carry it as we walk. Would you like the cover of my parasol as we go?” She asked Svenia and left no quarter for Atticus .

 

[Atticus]

Atticus grinned, already moving to pick up a large amount of study material Svenia had brought with her. "It is no fuss. Aiko is right."

If anything, he had wished Aiko said nothing. The moment Svenia had spoken her troubles, he was ready to leap in to help.

Atticus wandered back to his desk, carefully placing his things into his bag and slinging it over one shoulder before readjusting his hold on Svenia's tihngs. He smiled at Suleiman. "Fresh air, sunshine. What more can we ask for?" Atticus was glad that Sul had been quick to agree and back up Atticus' suggestion. "But perhaps we should find some shade for the ladies all the same. Would be rude to make them bake under the sun."

Suleiman Askari
Svenia Albrecht
Aiko

 

[Suleiman Askari]

Suleiman collected his materials as the consensus swept over Svenia and Aiko too. Aiko glanced at him for a reason unbeknownst to him, and she flushed briefly, and Suleiman wasn't quite sure why; she did have fair skin and it could be mottled by the sun. She had the right idea with the parasol though.

And Atticus too, thinking of shade.

"I don't want to bake under the sun either. Heh, I thought it was supposed to be cooler and cloudier up here." In fairness, coolness and clouds did occasion Elbion much more than Maraan. But then a new, related, wonder struck Suleiman. "I'm going to sound awfully dumb right now, but...have you been here when it's snowed? Does snow fall in Elbion?"

He'd never in his life before seen it. Just heard of it.

Atticus Svenia Albrecht Aiko