Private Tales To Interfere in Vel Anir

[Maho 'Jerik' Sparhawk]

"Maho, You've been here for just over a year. When we found it within ourselves to give you this position, you knew you would be doing tasks we couldn't just give to any Maester. Therefore, you will do us this small favour, in order to begin paying us back for the job we so kindly provided you with."

"Of course. I understand. But the Dreadlords? Really?"

"Just do your Job, Hawk. Your Experience may serve you well in Vel Anir."

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It had been a longer journey than he'd hoped. Since the College didn't want him to draw any attention to himself, they decided it best if he rode to Vel Anir as part of a travelling band, rather than on the back of Nemesis.

It took just over a month for him to travel there, due to the group wanting to explore the different towns and villages they came across. It was a nice change of pace for Sparhawk; being able to enjoy a little time getting to see some sights, whilst calmly riding to Vel Anir on the back of his horse. And, although the bard was barely fitting of the title, it was a delight to talk to the different travelling members, each from different parts of Arethil, talking of their own adventures. Some came from Elbion, like him, hoping to spot some of the Legendary Dreadlords;

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"Man- you wouldn't believe these- these people! They have like, weapons and... and MAGIC and shit! They're like, meant to be human weapons! Wait, but uh- you know that, since you're uh- a mage...guy, right? I mean, you've got that staff, and uh.... uh.... your beard!"

"I'm currently teaching at Elbion as a Sorcerer, yes."

"Man, that's like- awesome! My ma' wanted me to go to a magic school or, something... went to a Bard's school though. Toootally worth it!"

He began to play a roughly put together tune, probably learnt by ear - poorly. Sparhawk just clapped his hands together as he listened, playing to the beat of the song, whatever beat there was that is.

"Thank you, thank you. Wait- now I think about it, why are you like, going to Vel Anir? M-Magic stuff?"

"Yes. Magic stuff."

"Cool! Here's another one I learnt from a man named Emelerion..."

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​

Sometimes the journey felt longer than it was.

He had his own reservations about going to Vel Anir, with or without a task set by the College. The lack of other races always bothered him. Of course, he was a human himself, but his whole life he'd been surrounded by a plethora of races; from when he was a child slave in Cerak At'Thul, all the way to now, when he's teaching elves and other races. He found their warring ways against Magic. He'd put a life of war and death behind him, but what scared him was, if they knew of his past, he'd probably be celebrated as a great warrior.

He had to admit though, as he entered the borders of the Fortress City, it was a magnificent place. It's huge towers almost overshadowed by it's huge walls, all stone built, rumoured to be magically enchanted by the Dreadlords to be nigh-invulnerable to any kind of attack or siege, physical or arcane. The city rang with conversation, humans bustling through the cobble-made streets, trading with one-another, chewing the fat over the latest news.

He, however, was walking not towards the trading streets, but towards the Dreadlord Academy, more aptly referred to as the Dreadlord Fortress. He knew every student that came out of there was built for war. He found it strange to think a student who's studied for 10 years may not be able to produce a simple healing or lighting spell, but would easily produce a small bolt of lightning, or out-duel an experienced swordsman

Strange people...

It was an over-bearing building. It spoke volumes of their warring ways, strongly put together, it's front decorated with their famous red, black and white banner. Few people came in and out of it, but he entered, it's entrance hall equally massive.

He quickly referred to his task sheet, to remind himself of why he was there;

Spoiler: The Letter

Great, a year spent as a Professor, and i've becoming a glorified Errand-boy.

He akwardly looked about himself, getting a few odd-looks by some students, clearly noticing him to not be from there.

"God, who do I talk to..." He mumbled to himself.

 

[Selene Avar]

Selene moved through the halls of Vel Acadria like a storm. Students ran out of her way, Proctors looked down as she approached, and servants vanished as though they'd never been there in the first place. All of them knew who she was, all of them knew to avoid her as best they could.

She did not want to be here.

It had been a year since her excursion to the mountains of the Spine, seven months since she'd returned. Seven months since she'd bathed in dragon blood and become something all together...different.

Things had changed drastically for her in that time.

Since her return Selene had advanced by leaps and bounds within the Dreadlords and Anirian society. She had been promoted to a rank among the First, granted more autonomy from her Masters in House Virak, and even managed to secure herself a small estate on the outskirts of the city. It was a triumph of all of her ambitions, though still not enough.

With her promotion she now stood in a position of rank that only two dozen others equaled, but still there were those stationed above. Nobles of the Great Houses, the King through technicality, and then of course the Archons.

The latter was why she was here.

Archon Idrig Crane had requested her presence here at The Academies manor in Vel Anir. It was not the official training ground of Apprentice Dreadlords, that was located in the countryside far to the south of here, a secret that no one spoke of. She was to meet a Maester of the Elbion college and see that he was properly escorted through the city.

A task befitting a Servant girl, not a Dreadlord. Still, she had to do as she'd been asked, even if it made her want to burn this whole place down. "Professor Sparhawk."

She greeted the man as she met him in the courtyard of the manor.

"I am Selene Avar." No handshake was offered. "I am to be your guide while you visit our city."

Maho Sparhawk

 

[Maho 'Jerik' Sparhawk]

Whilst he was looking around, wondering what he was doing, he was approached by something very different to what he was initially expecting;

A fairly young woman, with eyes and hair of crimson, rarely seen among any race. It reminded him of the dragons he spoke to on the far shore, the colours still vivid in his mind. She looked strong, easily strong enough to break about every-bone in Sparhawk's body.

Not intimidating at all...

He could tell by the way she spoke, that she was probably even less enthusiastic about this than he was, speaking to him in a formal, rehearsed tone, with no handshake in sight. If body language could speak, she spoke 'Let's get this over with'.

Fair enough.

"Oh, Thank you, Selene. I was led to believe I was sent to help with any of the Dreadlord's needs- on behalf of the college of course. I'm a Pyromancy specialist you see. I assumed that's why I was allocated this position. But uh, I guess, you lead the way!" He awkwardly formed those sentences together, oddly shaken by the building he was in, struggling to get the war-mongering concepts out of his head.

 

[Selene Avar]

Pyromancy.

She supposed that made sense. Though getting spies into Elbion was difficult, she had no doubt that Idrig Crane of all people had managed to weasel at least one or two people into the service of the College over the years. The man had likely known Professor Sparhawks magical inclinations.

He thought them a pairing, how amusing.

"We do not have need of much." That wasn't really a slight against the Professor and more of a comment on the fact that Dreadlord's didn't really reach out for much of anything from outside parties.

Such things made you weak. "I have been told you will be teaching a class here at Vel Acadria."

She supposed that made sense now.

"Our students are not used to your...style of learning." Selene smiled at the words she chose, as if they were amusing to her. "But I've spoken to those you will be before today and they understand what is expected."

That, she had made sure of. With the flicker of a smile disappearing she continued on. "Afterwards I am to show you the city, and then we will head to my estate nearby."

This was more of a tour than anything really, a way to say 'look how much better we are'.

 

[Maho 'Jerik' Sparhawk]

Is this a joke?

This must be a joke...

The College sent me all this way to teach a Pyromancy class to an Academy famed for their brutal methods, and even deadly training regimen.

Oh wait,
Of course they'd pick me.

He was, indeed, a little taken back by Selene's speech. He thought that, perhaps, if they'd seen him teaching - someone experienced in warfare and practical combat with magic - that they'd respect the college more. But even then, wouldn't mean anything if he somehow got himself killed.

"Well, not what I was expecting, but good. You never know, maybe I'll teach you a thing or two!" He laughed a little, not so much trying to break the ice, but trying to break him out of the ice-cold, freezing depths he felt like he was in.

"Well, I assume you know your way around this Academy well so, if you could show me where I am to teach, that would be greatly appreciated."

God I feel like an idiot.

 

[Selene Avar]

Selene nodded her head. She did not disagree with Maho's view of the situation. The idea that some professor from Elbion had anything to teach even Apprentice Dreadlords was utterly laughable to her.

Many of the children here had already seen battle, most of them having mastered at least one magical talent. It seemed silly to her, but then again she also knew the true reason behind it; politics.

In the great game of Houses that constantly plagued Vel Anir appearance was everything. The Ruling alliance wished to further their relations with other cities and states. The tournament a few months ago had been a reaching arm to Elbion, and now this was a continuation of that. The Academy did not want this man here, the Proctors did not, but the ruling Great Houses did. It was a way to cooperate, to show Vel Anir was open to new ideas.

Even if they were not. "Tell me, Professor Sparhawk."

Selene mused as she turned and began to head towards their location.

"What landed you at the college of Elbion?" She knew that unlike Vel Anir, Elbion took in most everyone who could perform magic. At least most of the time. A stark contrast to the Dreadlords, all of whom had spent their entire lives in the service of the Fortress City.

 

[Maho 'Jerik' Sparhawk]

"What landed you at the college of Elbion?"

That's a hard question to start on.

Sparhawk didn't see himself as a dishonest person. But he knew better than anyone that no one could no about his real past, whether or not it earned him respect, or scorn.

"Well, I haven't been a professor for long, only a year or so. Before... I uh-" He stuttered. He wasn't sure what to say. Oh hey yeah, i'm a mass murderer. Oh, I was in a Siege that led to the death of uncountable Dwarves and innocents. Oh, and I almost forgot, I cut a deal with a god, selling my soul.

Yeah, that wouldn't sell.

"I was a Battle-mage." He said, solemnly. It's about the most he could say without sounding too suspicious.

"I regret it terribly. I'd seen enough." He stated. He fell silent for a short while, before carrying on.

"I know most Dreadlords think all of us Elbion Sorcerers are about Books and study. They're not wrong. But I bet i've even seen things a lot of Dreadlords wouldn't believe." He left it at that. Arrogant? Maybe. Egotistical? Very possibly. Over-confident? Definitely. But he had to stand his ground, especially in this place, where skill, respect and aggression mean everything.

 

[Selene Avar]

She cast a glance back at him for a second, musing to herself. "Is that so?"

A battle-mage?

Her curiosity was piqued at the very least, though the term could really apply to any one of a hundred things. In the back of her mind she wished that she had access to Crane's spies. It was infuriating that the Archon would not share such things.

Especially during a time like this when it would have helped further his own goals. Had she the proper resources she would know exactly how to handle this Professor.

"Perhaps you're right." She said as they turned through a corridor decorated with dozens of statues of both men and women. "Though tell me."

Selene continued. "What do you know of our training here at the Academy?"

Few knew the actual truths of it.

 

[Maho 'Jerik' Sparhawk]

"Perhaps you're right."

Now that made Sparhawk nervous. For someone so sure of herself, it seemed strange for her to even consider the idea of him ever being a battle-mage. Whether she was being coy with him, he did not know, but for now he would play along, and pray it didn't end up being to his embarrassment, or even his undoing.

"What do you know of our training here at the Academy?"

"To be honest, very little. I know that the methods of the Dreadlords are very different to Elbion's. I had heard you delve more into practical application of magic, even going to extremes- Not that I uh, totally disagree; I very much see a lack of practical teaching of magic at Elbion, but..." He paused.

"I had heard worrying things. I've heard people have even died during this training."

"Could that be true?" He believed it possible, almost knew it. But he had to ask, if not to indulge his own personal curiosity.

 

[Selene Avar]

She stopped for a brief moment, turning towards the Professor and regarding him for a quick second before she began to speak. "I have never met anyone from Eblion who could understand."

There had been a few professors that she'd crossed paths with, some students in her youth. None of them had quite been able to fathom exactly what went on at the Academy. Even after the tournament months ago it seemed most walked away with a misunderstanding of what this place and it's twin in the countryside was.

"Perhaps you as a battle mage will." The term almost seemed to amuse her for some reason.

"The Academy is not a school, Professor Sparhawk." No, that was not the correct term. "It is a forge."

She remembered this speech well. An Archon had given it to her, a woman that was now dead. Her name had been Illidia. When Selene had been in the Academy the woman had been ancient, nearly brushing a hundred and fifty. She'd been somewhat of a mentor, though a harsh one. "We Dreadlords are never students, and never mages of any sort. We are weapons of war."

Her expression never changed.

"Our lives are honed in a singular purpose; to kill. Here in the Academy we are forged." Crimson eyes flickered to the statues surrounding them. "What do you do with a weapon when it breaks?"

Selene turned away from Sparhawk and continued down the hall.

It was a hard truth, one that Selene had lived all her life.

 

[Maho 'Jerik' Sparhawk]

Sad.

That was the only word Sparhawk could think of listening to her speak. His whole life, he'd seen Elbion as a ticket out of his old life. He went from slavery, to Sorcery. And it was magic that set him free; allowed him to travel across the world and meet new people, forge new bonds. Although he'd done terrible things with it, he'd never once thought that he learnt magic for the sole purpose of battle.

In his mind, magic was something you studied, something you sought to improve upon. You'd use it to help those around you. That was the true purpose of magic; to help your fellow men. All he'd seen was death when magic was used in war. Not pleasant.

"Weapons of war..." Those words rung with scars. It sounded like words that had been beaten into someone, from the very moment they could understand speech, they'd learnt that one truth; that they were nothing more than weapons.

We are people.

"What do you do with a broken weapon..." A Harsh question.

He looked down to the floor for a moment, then looked at her.

"You teach." He left it at that.

"Have you seen much War? From the sounds of it, I imagine Dreadlords must face it on a daily basis."

 

[Selene Avar]

Selene either did not hear or did not acknowledge his comment to her rhetorical question, choosing instead to immediately continue on the conversation.

"I attended my first battle at the age of Fourteen." She remembered it well, she was sent along with a detachment of Anirian Guard to deal with a band of Raiders just north of Vel Luin. A war it was not, but the battle itself was significant enough.

There was no need to actually go into every battle that she had participated in. There were dozens, though none of them could truly be described as a war. The closest thing to it was the campaigns in the Savannah, though even that had been short lived. "It was not the last."

In an odd way, she almost longed for war. Attaining what she wanted would have been so much easier during war.

It was lamentable that the current ruling Houses wanted nothing but peace.

"Perhaps we will speak more of it tonight." She gave him a smile, motioning towards a grand double doorway. "Your classroom awaits."

Beyond the door Maho would not find a classroom, but instead a stage. Before him were eleven students, all of them around the age of fifteen or sixteen. They sat quietly, staring in silence.

 

[Maho 'Jerik' Sparhawk]

Jesus, fourteen.

Sparhawk had been allowed early admittance to College on his Master, Jerik's recommendation. It was hard to take in that, in essence, a child could possibly step into a battle, taking lives. He remembered very distinctly the first life he took, but it wasn't a battle. He wanted to feel bad for her, but knowing she was totally on-board with everything she'd learnt and had taken part in, it was hard to. Then again, is that what she believed, or what they wanted her to believe?

It wasn't Sparhawk's place to question it.

"Perhaps we will speak more of it tonight."

That'd be nice. Maybe grab a beer- wait, no. College business Sparhawk, College business...

Now, he was looking at an incredible double-doorway, decorated in Dreadlord colours, with strange markings that Sparhawk didn't recognise scarred into it's finish. As it opened, he was presented with a very large room.

Not a classroom, no. A platform. It was a wide, elevated stage that spread across most of the room. There were eleven students sitting on the far side of it. All human of course. And all looking very young. There looks pierced him, already analysing what kind of person he was, what he would teach, if he could provide anything at all. Clearly, from what Selene had said, they weren't hoping to be very impressed by anything he could show them.

The stage made more sense now, thinking of it. Made it very easy to traverse when practicing spell casting, easy battle ground as well, if one were to duel on it. Reminded him of the duelling stage in Elbion almost. Although he wasn't going to be doing any of that. That's not what teaching is about. At least from Sparhawk's perspective.

He laid the small bag he had with him on the floor, and unhinged the Staff from his back, standing it beside him. He cleared his throat, the sound echoing around the room.

"My na-"

"Why are you here?" A young man in the middle of the group interrupted, standing above his peers.

"S-Sorry?" Sparhawk awkwardly asked.

"Why. Are. You. Here."

"Well, I've come to teach you all some Pyromancy- I'm from Elbio-"

"We all know about your stupid fucking College!" He shouted. The others around him stayed silent, most likely in knowledge of the consequences the boy would face for speaking out of turn. But by their expressions, Sparhawk could tell they could agree with what he was saying.

"I bet even a fourth level mite could wipe your sorry ass!" He said, full of bravado.

"Well, I-"

"Deny it!"

"I'm not-"

"DENY IT!"

His shout was a cacophony, the symphony of an angry soul. The sounding must've bounced off of every single wall countless times, ringing in Sparhawk's ears. He turned to Selene, who was standing just a little behind himself.

"What is the policy on punishment here?"

 

[Selene Avar]

A boy speaking out against a Proctor in such a way likely would have seen him tossed in the Box.

At the Academy, the one located in the countryside, the box was a steel contraption that sat outside all year. A student was locked within it for days at a time, whether sun or snow. It was a torturous thing, designed to simply break ones will.

Selene had spent collective months within the box.

Here though things were different. Sparhawk was not a Proctor, and thus he did not yet merit the same respect. Selene glanced at him, and then towards the student that had spoken. The boy shirked slightly underneath her gaze, knowing who Selene was.

"You may deal with him as you please." She said with a tone of ice. Selene was loathe to reveal too much about just how things worked here, lest too many secrets escape. "Perhaps a demonstration would be best though. "

Careful maneuvering and plotting. "A test of the boys bravado."

And The Professors.

The young man that had hurled insults at Maho leaned forward eagerly, as if he was expecting the Elbion Professor to agree. Worse, as if he was expecting to win any sort of 'demonstration'.

 

[Maho 'Jerik' Sparhawk]

"Perhaps a demonstration would be best though. "

It was beginning to sink in now, that the methods he'd use at Elbion just wouldn't cut it here. He wouldn't be able to gently teach a lesson about theory or tutor at a reasonable pace.

Well, deep end it is.

"Well, alright then. Have it your way." He stated, coldly.

"Best we keep this to this room, eh?" He turned to Selene, whispering.

He put his staff on the floor, laying it next to him. He then began to slowly remove his cloak, unclipping it where it rested on his shoulders. It fell to the ground with a light thud.

"Fuck, this is just embarrassing, old man. What are y-"

"Have you ever heard about 'The Burning'?" He then began to undo his hood.

"The- The burning- What's the burning? And what's it got to do with you being too pussy to fight me."

"Well, I'm from Cerak At'Thul you see. I was a slave before I came to Elbion." Now he continued to remove his upper clothes, the outer-robe unravelling onto the floor, leaving only his under-wrappings, still covering his chest and arms.

"Once a week, they'd hold a traditional ceremony called 'The Burning'. Can you guess what that was?" His voice was oddly gentle.

"What, they burnt you, or something! So what?"

"See, there weren't many of a magical inclination there. All that were however, were forced into a small cage. I remember it very well. Made of wet wood that uh, that they couldn't use on the fires. It stunk of rot. Every week, 5 would walk in, and 1 would walk out." Now he began to undo his wrappings, there were many. Must have taken him half a minute. No one said a word.

Once all of his upper-clothes were off, it revealed a horrifying site. His entire chest, back, arms, spine; everything, covered in burn marks and scars. It were as if his body was a collage of fire, marking years and years of suffering at the hands of others just trying to survive as he was. It spoke volumes where words could not.

"I spent 13 years on that island before I was saved." He cracked his neck, rolling his ankles and wrists, all creating the same echoed clicking noises, the tone of his voice still calm.

From his shoulders, flame began to envelop his arms. Not an inferno, but a blanket that surrounded his being, like how a lamp glows in the night, or how a sword shimmers in battle, it's sparks brightening the battle-field.

"Sorry, I am going on quite a bit, I think what i'm trying to say, is that, You could not fathom the amount of bodies that are behind me. I could murder you, all of the students sitting beside you, your family if you have any, and it wouldn't even approach that number." His tone was frozen. He was disgusted by himself.

"So i'd best start listening to me, boy, because you're going to face far worse than a harmless old Elbion Professor. And if you talked like that to anyone else, you'd be signing your own death warrant." The student kept looking at him, keeping direct eye-contact.

"So Sit, the fuck, down." He was finished.

The young man looked like he wanted to say something, but just couldn't put the words together. But as he was thinking desperately, the smallest glimmer of fear entered his face, and he knew it. With that, he looked about himself, the other students looking at the floor, and sat back down. The flames on Sparhawk's arms evaporated into smoke, and he began to re-dress himself.

"Right, um- where uh, where were we?" He turned to Selene, genuinely confused where he'd left off, still placing his robe back on.

 

[Selene Avar]

Selene stayed quiet for the entire display, watching Maho more than she watched the student.

Perhaps Sparhawk had already guessed, or perhaps he had not, but many of the students listening had endured similar things to him. Selene certainly had. What they bore from his words was not fear or terror, but respect.

Just like Selene these boys and girls had been made to do horrid things. Each of them had already carried out more than one execution, and each of them had fought each other to near death. Upon their graduation they would face one another upon the tower, and only one of each pair would walk away.

That was the way it always was.

When Maho impressed upon them his own past they did not quake with terror, but instead gained a modicum of insight. An understanding that this man was indeed not a weak professor from Elbion, but perhaps someone who could understand them.

For Selene's part, she only saw a mystery.

Why would someone with power retire to Elbion? Why would someone who had the strength decide not to take what he wanted.

Was it some sort of scheme? A plan to get something from the college?

The Dreadlord frowned slightly, caught slightly unaware as Sparhawk half turned to her and prompted her with a question. Her gaze drifted towards the students for a moment. "Your name."

She had to find out more.

 

[Maho 'Jerik' Sparhawk]

"Oh yes, of course." He chuckled.

He finally finished putting all of his robes back on, clipping the cloak that once hung around his shoulders back on. He looked about himself, picked up his staff, took a deep breath, and continued;

"My name is Maho Sparhawk. For today, I am going to speak on some deeper theory on Pyromancy. Of course, I already know you are all familiar with it, and it's applications. However, what many Sorcerers do not know, is how we can use it on a smaller scale; to cauterise wounds for example. As you will most likely be in many battles, I assume it will be of great value to you to be able to heal yourselves without the use of another healer. So..." He cleared his throat again.

For the next hour or so, he went through the techniques Pyromancy could be used for, avoiding it's more simplistic combat applications. Though the students looked as if they found it droll, they seemed to have a new-found respect for him, and seemed to listen to the different things he was saying. They practiced making small, targetted fires, heating up small areas of water that Sparhawk had summoned, and attempting to create a small, super-heated flame in the palm of their hands, for more specific use.

In Sparhawk's mind, the lesson went far better than he had imagined, expecting there to be a lot more friction between him and the other students. But he found no such thing.

"Well, uh- Thank you for giving me the privilege of teaching you, and I hope that you found at least something today as useful." He finished speaking, and bowed his head slightly. All of them provided him the same courtesy.

He turned to Selene.

"Alright, I assume we can now leave the College, unless I have more duties to carry out." He asked, stuffing his cloak into his bag, now too hot to wear.

 

[Selene Avar]

"Academy." Selene corrected with a smile.

There was no malice in the words of course, just a bit of poking. It was all part of the game, how she communicated. After what he had revealed of himself Selene was sure that such concept weren't too unfamiliar for Sparhawk, even if the didn't quite understand Vel Anir.

She motioned to him. "We'll be going to my estate."

A pause hung in the air, and she glanced towards the students. Her eyes weighed something for a moment, and then she glanced back towards Sparhawk.

"Unless you wish to see some of the city." She was not the best, nor the most learned tour guide, but she knew the big things.

The students of course remained completely quiet, not moving from their seats as they waited for Selene and Sparhawk to leave. Most of them likely thought that she was playing some sort of game, that her being nice was a way to manipulate Sparhawk into one path or another.

They werne't really wrong.

 

[Maho 'Jerik' Sparhawk]

Yeah, she's definitely being coy.

"Of course, Academy, yeah." He said, disconjointed.

"We'll be going to my estate."

A pause hung in the air, and she glanced towards the students. Her eyes weighed something for a moment, and then she glanced back towards Sparhawk.

"Unless you wish to see some of the city."

He'd been to Vel Anir once before. Not his most pleasant experience, but he's seen it. He didn't doubt that she knew the city in and out, and could show him places he wouldn't think to - or care to - visit. But no, he was here on business, at least for the time being. It sounded wise for him to go to the Estate. Yes, ask some questions, grab a drink perhaps. That sounded like a far better option in Sparhawk's mind.

"The Estate sounds promising. Unless you want to show me round of course." He said, with his usual calm and collected tone, a hint of a smile at the edge of his lips.

He made sure he had everything, and made his way through the door, following Selene.

"An Estate? Must be nice. I still rent a room..." Not something he was proud to admit. He was so used to travelling in order to escape the ramifications of his actions, that he constantly stayed in various inns and taverns. He also needed to save some money to buy a home but, that's besides the point...

 

[Selene Avar]

Her shoulders lifted for half a second in a shrug. It made no difference to her whether or not they returned to the Estate or toured the city. The former was far more comfortable, so when the man chose that option she did not seem offended.

"As you wish." Selene told the man.

Without regard for dismissing the students she followed behind Sparhawk and stepped into the hall behind him, pointing in the opposition direction they had come.

"The stables are this way." She explained. "We'll take a carriage."

There was no possible way she would lower herself to walking. "The Estate is about an hour outside the city."

Unfortunately, even with the wealth that she had managed to accumulate it had been impossible to afford a manor within the city itself. Such things were reserved for those of the Nobility. Still, the place she had found was nice enough.

"Does the College not pay you?" She asked Maho, her face contorting in confusion.

 

[Maho 'Jerik' Sparhawk]

A carriage...

Cool.

Sparhawk had rarely taken a carriage, as his main mode of transportation had almost always been by foot, by horse, or by sea. The only time he'd ever been in a carriage was, funnily enough, on part of the way to Vel Anir, 2 weeks ago. He was looking forward to getting out of the main city however. There was something about Vel Anir that never sat right with him.

He didn't aline with their ideals of course, but he always got a strange feeling around the city, as if he was being watched. He felt that if he made one wrong move, the right people would be informed, and he wouldn't be seen again. Ghastly place.

"Does the College not pay you?"

They could pay me more...

"Of course. In truth, I save most of it. I only use what I need to find somewhere to sleep, or buy certain rare textbooks. I'm putting what I save toward something. I can find most of what I need in the library however, so I don't even spend that much- in the greater-scheme of things I mean." The library truly was extensive. You did however, find small sections of information strangely empty, requiring independent research and sourcing to find a book or scrap of knowledge.

"Where'd you find the money to afford an estate?" He asked Selene, with a questioning tone. He assumed it was from battle, but who knows.

 

[Selene Avar]

Selene lead Maho through more of Vel Acadria, taking the shortest path to the stables. A number of students flowed apart before them, knowing well that getting in the Dreadlord's way was something that most people wanted to avoid.

"Vel Anir's wealth is vast." That was of course a poor answer, and one that the Professor would immediately read as bullshit.

She had no choice but to start with it though. That was part of the game. She was sure that the Archon had someone listening here, and if she gave the wrong answer it could very well end up coming back to bite her in the ass.

Not something she wanted.

"Us Dreadlords are treated well with that wealth." She said as she glanced back at Maho. "We are given the liberty of spending with small stipends granted to us."

Selene continued to explain. "I myself have done well buying into trading ships in the Cortosi Coast."

There was more to that story of course, far more, but she would not go into it here.

 

[Maho 'Jerik' Sparhawk]

"Vel Anir's wealth is vast."

Even that phrase alone told Sparhawk everything he needed to know. From the get-go he noticed her tone of voice changed the minute they went outside, scripted almost. He wasn't sure why, but if he had to hazard a guess, he thought that she was either being watched, or afraid of that possibly being the case. In this city, he wasn't all that surprised; a Professor from Elbion seeing how things are, certain things would be put in place to make sure he'd get the right impression.

They knew that if something was very out of place, he'd tell Elbion immediately, the ties between the Academy and College suffering because of it.

"Small stipends? Vel Anir sure wounds generous." He took an almost sarcastic tone.

"Trading ships on the Cortosi Coast though, that seems wise indeed." He knew little of ships and taking investment, but he indeed felt that trading ships were the way to go, seeming as about every major trader in Elbion was literally drowning in money.

"Must be interesting being a Dreadlord. I suppose you see a lot of action?"

Did that come out wrong?

Nah, that didn't come out wrong.

 

[Selene Avar]

"Indeed." She said with a slight scoff, ignoring the attendant that opened the large double doors to the courtyard for them.

Outside a carriage was already waiting for them, the markings of House Virak sitting upon it's doors. A man in all black stood besides it, clearly waiting for them.

She shot Maho an amused glance, then climbed into the carriage.

"It was said that even three hundred years ago Dreadlords did not see Vel Anir for months at a time." Selene mused to the Professor, apparently slightly more relaxed within the carriage. "Too busy on the front."

Now it seemed the opposite.

 

[Maho 'Jerik' Sparhawk]

It felt strange, being waited on.

He climbed into the carriage after Selene, taking the seat opposite her. It was small, cosy, but comfortable enough for an hours ride. He heard the man who waited on them clamber on-top of the carriage, and kick his foot to the side of the carriage, the horses taking a second to realise what was going on, and then began to move forward.

"Must be strange. On the way here, I kept thinking about what it must be like- to be a Dreadlord, I mean. Bred for war, and all that. So far from home..." It boggled him.

Despite this, he could relate to it. He'd spent most of his life away from home, sometimes without one. He remembered the farm he used to live on with the love of his life. That, now, seemed like a lifetime ago. So, so long ago.

"War..." He mumbled to himself. All this talk of battle got him thinking about Belgrath; not something he liked to think about often. It always placed him right back at that day, where the sun was scorching, sparks flew across the battlefield, and bodies were hot in fire.

"Do you enjoy it?" He turned and asked her.