October Event Log

[magicademymods]

October Event Log Fall Cleaning Suddenly and without warning, the lighting in or near every building on campus goes red. A second later, a deep alarm rises in volume as the buildings begin to shake. The faculty barely bat an eye as they direct students to get outside quickly. "Fall cleaning," they explain wearily to those students who have never experienced this phenomenon. Older students offer their own explanation as they move: at some point every fall the buildings of the Magicademy rearrange themselves so the cleaning golems can repair their foundations, tend to the ground around them, keep them from sinking into the caverns, that sort of thing. Totally harmless. Well, until you realize no one knows where your House tower went. Or till you need to get to class promptly except Kedrigan Hall is in the middle of a lake somehow. Or till the Library of Starchime is down in the middle of the lab caverns and you have to try to study while students practice magic in the aisles. But it's okay! This will only last for a couple of days! You can get by, right? The Bonfire To say goodbye to the warmth and hello to the frost, the Magicademy celebrates the changing of seasons with a great bonfire. A massive conglomeration of burning wood sends flame licking up some sixty feet into the air, and the warmth pouring from the huge fire wards off any hint of cold from those nearby. By tradition, the bonfire burns till morning, and many students have bedrolls or tents or even straight-out beds parked nearby so they can take their spot in keeping it lit. Others have brought food and drink, enough to selflessly share with everyone. The whole things is one big party, really; House rivalries and personal animosities and music duels are all set aside for a night as the campus unites in solidarity. It's one of the nicer times you could ask for. This Is Halloween Bad news. Terrible news. The worst news imaginable. Headmaster Birony has found out about Halloween. Diatu Magicademy is nothing but orange and black now. Carved pumpkins wander the campus and aggressively pose for anyone who glances their way (or doesn't...). Spiderwebs litter every hallways and passage, complete with spiders that patiently move their webs out of the way and sincerely apologize for the inconvenience with a sort of weariness that says they know exactly who to blame for this. A twelve-foot-high menorah sits in the Great Hall, leading some to suspect that the Headmaster's Intimations to learn more about the holiday did not produce universally-accurate results. Headmaster Birony herself patrols the grounds like a madwoman, slinging extra spookiness wherever she passes and occasionally Discovering costumes straight onto the innocent students she passes. "Spirit of the season!" she yells before fleeing, candy and toilet paper left behind in her path. If by this point you are questioning whether the Headmaster ever does actual work, rest assured you're not the first, nor will you be the last, to wonder that. Research on the SUNDERDOG! (Sunderdog!) SUNDERDOG! (Sunderdog!) This month's assignment, for those willing to undertake it: actually nothing disastrous! Instead, the researchers ask that you compare your world to another Sundered student's, then report back to them on the differences and similarities. They're most interested in magic styles, but anything you give them will have value!

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[mithrarin]

As darkness fell over the campus, the light of a fire beneath a tree gave away Dust's location, to anyone who might be looking in that direction for signs of someone camping out off the beaten path.

With his back against that tree, Dust munched on the remaining half of a particularly large sandwich he'd snagged from the Great Hall back when it was still where it should be, and mentally patted himself on the back for picking up that habit. The rough days of a couple months ago had left enough of an impression that he'd vowed not to go hungry again, and lo and behold, it had served him well!

Honestly, this was the most comfortable Dust had been since coming to the Magicademy. It called back to his days in Falana, camping wherever he needed to and always on the move the next day, to find whatever trouble he needed to put down or answers he needed to find. It'd be perfect, except...

Well, he hadn't spent that time alone. The lack of his friend was the one major thing that cast a shadow on an otherwise pleasant night.

[talkyourwayout]

It was nice. The bonfire, the comradery, the feeling that for once, it's safe there at the Magicademy.

It was also getting loud and crowded, and for a young duck who - though he'd never admit it - is pretty sensitive, it was getting overwhelming. He didn't want to isolate, though... Not having someone to talk to would make him more uncomfortable.

The solution presented itself when he spotted Dust - it had certainly been a while, but he headed over to stand in front of him, all the same.

"Hey... I'm Louie. You helped me with those jerks a few months ago, if you remember that."

[mithrarin]

Dust looked up from his contemplation of people who weren't here, taking note of the duck who'd wandered by. The mention of that incident flickered his memory right back to it -- of course he remembered incidents of conflict better than most.

"Yeah," he said, a brief smile as he nodded to the fire. Go ahead and sit down if you want. "Your tower wander off too?"

[hyperdrivemonalisa]

Valhudor Tower had yeeted itself off into the distance early in the morning, much to Isabel's displeasure. She had had enough time, at least, to get herself out of the dorm before she'd been taken along for the ride. Chaos had been equally displeased, in truth, but a bit of fish straightened him out, bought fresh from the docks.

That was because Isabel's answer to her quarters disappearing for now was to go into the city. Especially when she found out that the Great Hall had disappeared, as well. That meant it was time to get food for the evening as well as the moment, and maybe some supplies for later that night.

She'd only returned when twilight painted the sky with a blend of warm and cool colors, so it was easy to see the smaller fire away from the big bonfire.

Isabel strolled right up to Dust's campsite as if she owned the place, sitting herself right down next to the Warmblood. She lifted a small, wrapped parcel so that he could see it.

"I've been in the city. So do you want cherry amaretto pie, or apple caramel pie?" She knew Dust had a sweet tooth, so she'd come prepared! But since he was still eating, she wasn't about to shove dessert in his face.

[mithrarin]

Dust opened his mouth, but before the 'hey' could even escape she was already plopped down and in charge. Bemused, Dust could only smile. Bossy girl, but she was good people.

"Apple caramel. Thank you."

Honestly, thinking of him like that was a real kindness and an unexpected warmth.

[hyperdrivemonalisa]

He hadn't even seen her final form at her bossiest! This was nothing! Isabel also came prepared with a tarp, a bunch of blankets, and a pillow, but for the moment, she'd just plopped them down to one side of herself. The side where Dust wasn't.

"Sure thing. I ate already, so. I'll wait for my dessert 'til you're done, though. And in case the Great Hall's still missing in action, I've got cinnamon rolls, too."

Chaos was likely off hunting for his dinner, since the Maine Coon was conspicuously absent. "I wouldn't have minded picking you up beforehand and taking you out for dinner, though," Isabel said. "Or if El wasn't busy, you could've come with us." But she hadn't seen the Luminary since early that morning for their usual run. Not that that was a problem, either.

[mithrarin]

"That's kind of... what's the expression? Third wheel?" He'd picked up on a couple of things here in Anastara, even as many more continued to escape him in his transition to life in this magiteknical human society. "But I appreciate you thinking of me. I'm all right, though."

Survival skills! He still needed to find a way to make some money, of course. Still hadn't had any idea on that course of action.

[hyperdrivemonalisa]

Isabel rolled her eyes, then. "We're kinda far from serious, considering El's got this giant world-shaking destiny to go home to, you know. He's put that first, I'm on board, so what's all this about wheels, now?"

She wasn't able to hide her vague annoyance at that, but the last thing Isabel wanted was to get into a serious argument about it. Not with Dust, at least.

So for the moment, she busied herself with laying out the tarp and arranging her blankets and pillow on it into what would be a snug little bed--especially if her familiar showed up. He was almost like another blanket!

[mithrarin]

"Don't we all. Is that really going to stop you?"

Isabel seemed like someone who frankly didn't give a honk. After all, here she was just plopping down to hang out with the Sen-Mithrarin, after all.

[hyperdrivemonalisa]

"I might not. Have a destiny, that is." Isabel had to chuckle just a little at that. "I don't want to be a liability when El has to go home, though. I don't want him to think he has to stay and not save his world, to spare my poor little heart."

Isabel folded her hands over where her heart was and tilted her head at Dust, now. "Will it stop me from having a good time while he's here? Telling and showing him I care about him? You're right, no, not at all, but that also goes hand in hand with what I just said, too."

[mithrarin]

"Tell him..." Dust thought he knew Isabel well enough to take a stab at this. "That you like him because of who he is, including that he'll take care of his destiny. And you wouldn't like him so much if he were the sort to consider staying with you instead of doing what needs to be done."

[hyperdrivemonalisa]

Isabel laughed at that, and leaned against Dust. "Been there, done that. Done so, basically. Maybe not in the same words? But he knows. Or he should know!"

She shook her head, though. "Honestly though, if we all did something like spar together or train a bit--I know you do that, I know he does that, that's why I run all over the island in the morning with him...we're hardly thinking of romance at that point in time. You need more friends, so why can't you just come hang out with us at a time when it definitely won't be awkward? Hell, I know he trains at the Temple of Raida in the afternoon with Hendrik, too, so that's another option."

[mithrarin]

"I can give it a shot," Dust said, though he still sounded uncertain. Mostly because he didn't want to get in the way, and while Isabel insisted he wouldn't, Dust wasn't too sure about Eleven's side of it.