April Event and Intro Log

[magicademymods]

April Event and Intro Log Plants Off The Path Green grass and radiant flower gardens bracket all the major walks on campus, and fragrant scents fill the air all around. Note the key words "major walks" there. Move off the common paths and onto 'shortcuts' or less frequented areas of the vast campus and things are quite different. Here, the plants grow just as experience with this chaotic and often dangerous school would lead you to expect. Broad-leafed stalks stretch upwards, petals unfolding to reveal long jets of fire instead of a sensible stamen. Bushes have large toothy mouths, and viciously swallow anyone who comes near (though they are still just bushes, and the victims end up on the their other side just a few scratches worse for wear). A tree grows quills instead of needles; another sprouts paper airplanes instead of leaves. An extremely aggressive pitcher-plant wanders the pathways, mugging students at knifepoint. It's a jungle out there. Bullies, Of Course Surely a Magicademy, with many students already adults and with such an emphasis on learning and control, wouldn't have those who used their magic for such petty ends as making others suffer? Uh-huh. A pack of bullies with more spell experience than wisdom has banded together to take delight in the suffering of others. They overtly pick on the small, the meek, and those with less magical skill; they torment the larger, the bold, and the powerful in secret. Worse, they are the clever sorts of bullies, who go out of their way not to get caught and not to do anything that can't be played off or explained away. Maybe you attracted their attention by looking weak enough to pick on. Or strong enough to need to be taken down a notch. Or weird enough that you were the Other and thus lesser. Or pretty/handsome enough that you needed to look less attractive so they would look more so. They are pretty good at justifying picking on anyone, really. Are they pestering you by magical tripping or property destruction? Playing keep-away with your class books? Better be careful how you respond; their fathers might hear about it. Wind At The Docks (aka The Prompt Where You Don't Get Mugged) The winds of spring bring something of a dark pastime to Anastara -- dockwatching. Aware that a sudden blast of air can rip across the island at a moment's notice, crowds gather at the docks with the air of those expecting spectacle. All too often, they are rewarded -- in the wake of a sudden wind, airships list violently, or bump into each other, or desperately pull sails and power up their flotation cores to avoid a worse collision. Curses fly through the air, and sometimes even spells. With luck, the audience might even see a pair of vessels engage in an all-out air duel, as two captains driven by pride or vengeance refuse to back down. Now, to their credit, the assembled people aren't heartless. If a ship truly looks to be in trouble, or if it's smashed to the ground or into a dock, the people of Anastara don't hesitate to help those on board to safety or ensure that they don't go down with their ship. But mostly it's watching the chaos. It IS quite a show... Research On the Sundered With the arrival of the Sundered come those wizards engaged in research on their presence here, now set to investigate what brought them here and how to get them home. All newly-arrived Sundered students are asked to meet with representatives of the research team, to introduce themselves and relate what they will of their homes. In addition, the team requests samples of blood, hair, and skin -- carefully magically collected, and the researchers will sign in the presence of the Sundered a Glyphed contract that forbids them from using the samples for a purpose they know will be harmful. (They quite understand your reasons to be suspicious of this collection! And they will not compel anyone who refuses even given these conditions.) This month, the team has developed a Sundering Glyph designed to detect any influence of the magic on you. Painted on your arm, it will shine with a bright light when a Sundering effect attempts to influence you. They explain that they believe the Sundered are still subject to either the spell that brought them here or new ones, because they have detected remnants of Sundering magic in the wake of students who have mysteriously disappeared. They ask only that you report back when it lights up. Problem: when the Glyph erupts, either because of the Glyph itself or the spell it has detected... those who bear it find themselves no longer where they started. Perhaps they find themselves in a classroom late at night. Or the wrong dormitory. Or in the Great Hall in their nightshirt. Or for the utterly lowbrow amongst you, a restroom occupied by the wrong gender. Whatever the case: sorry. Wonders Await Diatu Magicademy is open to you in all its glory. Have fun! A Special Note If you thread out one or more scenes based on the confusion from "Research on the Sundered", respond to the comment on this post with a link to that thread. The results of this will be revealed next month! (It is some sort of regain this month!)

Comments

[bearshermark]

A gasp fled his lips as water rained over his head and rushed over his reddened skin. Part relief, part burn, he shivered through the deluge.

One of the straps of the... thing, draped down his arm. Eleven tossed his clothes away and pulled it off with another grateful word to Yggdrasil. When the last offending garment was off, he dove for his clothes and hurriedly pulled them back on.

Once fully dressed, he darted from behind the screen like he might suddenly be attacked again for that simple fact alone. "Can we burn them?"

[darkenedmoon]

"I do not know, and I believe at the moment it will be difficult to do so. They are wet." But that was a capital idea...for later. She set the now-empty pitcher back on the mantel of her fireplace, brow furrowing.

"I shall have to redouble my efforts to find the one who sent them to me," Yotsuyu said with dangerous sweetness, her teeth clenched in a smile that was more a snarl. But that passed swiftly, as she turned to rummage about in her desk drawer for a moment and drew out a small jar, offering that to Eleven.

"I did see that you clawed yourself nearly raw. You may want to apply that to the spots you can. It will soothe your skin and help it to heal." At least her alchemy class was good for something. She had simples like an herbwoman!

"And I cry your pardon, Eleven. That was the last thing I thought would happen--to anyone, but certainly not to you." At that, she inclined her head to him, eyes closing.

[bearshermark]

Eleven colored, hoping she hadn't seen much else, and spared a thought for the patched over skin of his chest and back. He took the jar with a partial smile of thanks that wavered quickly under her apology.

"I know you wouldn't intend for it, Yotsuyu. ..I appreciate your help, actually; I wouldn't have known what to do. Maybe Hendrik doesn't need to know, though."

[darkenedmoon]

Yotsuyu actually blanched at that, looking at Eleven quickly, yellow eyes wide.

"Blessed kami," she breathed. "I should hope not! I would not care to cross the man, and I was certainly not innocent in all this!"

Perhaps it might end up a silly little anecdote months down the line, but she did not want to whisper a word of it now. For both their sakes.

[bearshermark]

His heart lurched.

"I didn't mean that as a threat," he said quickly. "Hendrik wouldn't hurt you; I just would rather not have to explain it to him."

[darkenedmoon]

"I do not think Hendrik would harm me. Not unless I truly deserved it." Nor was Yotsuyu certain that this sort of thing would fall under that aegis, either. But it wasn't as if she had not harmed others in the past--not here, not unless she was defending herself or others. Yet the fact remained, and she would not deny it, any more.

"What we had here was an accident. Yet he is your protector, and you were harmed while in my quarters and while I was present. He may be angry; and he would have the right to be. He is not a man I would care to anger, you understand."

It was a strained smile Yotsuyu offered Eleven at that point. "So we are in agreement. We shall simply not mention this to him."

[bearshermark]

Eleven hesitated, combatting the urge to reassure her further.

"I- ..yes."

He stood a little straighter and wished for the first time that he'd had any sort of training for giving speeches or else conducting himself formally.

"However, I would like it known that I don't hold you at fault for the events that occurred."

[darkenedmoon]

"You do not, no." Yotsuyu agreed, drawing herself up with what dignity she could muster. Poor Eleven, she did make it look easy, but he had to recall that she was twice his age, and most of that time had been spent being educated in etiquette and other things that a courtesan and spy ought to know.

Though if he asked, she would give him pointers on etiquette, at the very least.

She let out the tension she felt in a sigh, and tore the pages she had been taking notes on out of her chapbook, rolling them up and tying them together with a scrap of ribbon before she offered them to Eleven.

"Do you plan to go back to the researchers? If you do, you may take these with you, but if you do not, I shall have to make a special delivery."

There was a small part of her that thought she ought to gift them with the evil underwear, but that might be a bit too ruthless, even for her.

[bearshermark]

"Ah," he paused halfway in reaching for the papers. "I wasn't planning to go there immediately, but I wouldn't want to trouble you to deliver them."

His fingers pinched the corner of the pages. "I'll get these to them later today, once I feel a bit better. ..They'll probably want to look at the glyph and touch it."

[darkenedmoon]

"At your leisure. I am sure they will be doing this for quite a while, will they not?" Yotsuyu arched a brow at that.

"Do you think you will want willowbark tea as well? I usually keep a flask brewed, and I could send that with you as well, if you like."

She hadn't scratched herself raw when the lingerie had attacked her, but she was more inured to pain. That and Yotsuyu was fairly certain anger had dulled it at least a bit at that point...

[bearshermark]

Eleven took the papers with a nod.

"That's all right- you've done enough for me already, thank you."

But he hesitated to leave, fighting with the niggling feeling that maybe she knew, and that was why this particular exchange felt so familiar.

"..Can I ask.. How much did Hendrik tell you, about me?"

[darkenedmoon]

"That he was your protector. Beyond that, little more than you have heard in our company. I admit I have not asked him about you. I had thought that should I want to know, you were the one I ought to ask. Was I wrong?"

Hendrik might have mentioned Eleven in passing as 'the Luminary', perhaps, but Yotsuyu had not made much of it. After all, it was not as if there were not a number of individuals on Hydaelyn with an...interesting destiny. Of that, she had mostly heard secondhand, but nevertheless, those folk existed.

"Or perhaps is there something I ought to know?" She arched a brow at Eleven, but she couldn't help but smile at him, if only to attempt to set his mind at ease.

[bearshermark]

He flushed. "You're not wrong, I just- he's.. adamant." Which is still strange, sometimes. "And it's not that I'm trying to hide anything- it's just.."

That he was hiding something. His expression betrayed guilt, and he struggled with it.

"..The person I am in my world- or what's expected of me.." Goddess, but it all sounded so selfish even in his head. "I- I know it's something I have to do, but..."

He trailed off, frowning, then breathed an agitated sigh and rubbed at his face.

"What I mean is, I don't think that my destiny should matter all that much while I'm here."

[darkenedmoon]

Yotsuyu listened to him sputter, and arched a brow again at Eleven. She leaned back against her desk, and tilted her head at him.

"What if I said that I agreed with you? That while you are here, whatever you had to be there had no bearing on who you are here? Now. My rationale for that is because I left what I had become behind on my world, as well. And so."

She gestured shortly with one hand. "However, I will say that if you have some Great and Weighty Destiny there, you have to ensure your chances of survival there on your return, if that makes sense?"

If only because she would regret greatly if she told him to shirk entirely, and then when he took up the reins of his destiny again, he was struck down because of not doing enough to be certain he could win. Even the Warrior of Light never rested on their laurels, back on Hydaelyn...

[bearshermark]

That.. did make him feel a bit better. He might have said too much- or else, she was too perceptive- to guess that it was of great importance, however.

His shoulders dropped a bit. "Yes.." A breath, straightening. "I'm praying, studying, and Hendrik is training me.. I'm not going to forget, I just want to live for myself a little."

[darkenedmoon]

"And perhaps be yourself as well, hm? I mean. It is not as if you do not sort of take on a persona, when you are made to have a Great Destiny, do you not?"

Seven hells, it wasn't as if she hadn't done something like that as well. Though Yotsuyu was rather glad that the Witch of Doma was not well known, here. That part of her could stay dead.

"It is easier to keep a part of yourself for yourself that way. When you are a hero, it is as if you are expected to give, and give, and give. And that is all well and good, when you are in a happy mindset, but that is not always the case, eh?"

No, she could understand Eleven's mindset all too well, even if she usually had come to her comprehension from the other side.

[bearshermark]

A little too insightful, Eleven decided, heart hammering. Expressing in words what had taken him weeks if not months to understand. He still wasn't quite sure who The Luminary was, but the more people depended on him, the more he adapted to the role.

Only to shatter when it mattered most.

"I guess that's true," he hazarded as the internal war raged on again- a vicious cycle of circular questions that called his identity into question and plagued the back of his mind as often as they pleased. It was exhausting and left him yearning for something far stronger than tea.

Curious and a touch suspicious, he met Yotsuyu's gaze. "..You must have spent a lot of time among heroes."

[darkenedmoon]

"It is more proper to say, I have spent a good deal of time grinding those who thought they were heroes beneath my heel." For all that the words were somewhat sharp, Yotsuyu said them matter-of-factly. Though she had not admitted that she had not been righteous and good in Doma, she felt no need to hide this from him.

Life was not always fair, after all. Still, she had begun here how she wanted to continue; a changed woman. The Witch of Doma had died there, for all that she had claimed the title here. After all, Alphinaud Leveilleur knew who she was and even though they had a truce, she had not seen the young Elezen in some time.

In truth, that concerned her, at least a little bit. But Yotsuyu could sort of sense the inner turmoil in her young friend Eleven.

"You need to use the time here to find out who you are. To build a core of strength within yourself. I believe you know why you need to do what you must, back where you are from. And not simply because others expect it of you. It is not much, but I believe in you."

[bearshermark]

That.. wasn't what he expected. But perhaps she trained would-be heroes, or tutored them.

Not for the first time, Eleven lamented that his predecessor had only been the first Luminary and when he became a star, left precious little details about his life and accomplishments behind. He wondered if Erdwin ever knew that he would be reincarnated a thousand years later.

Eleven managed a half-smile, her faith as warm as it was readily scrutinized.

I believe in the Luminary.

"Thank you, Yotsuyu. ..I think I just need to learn to have faith in myself."

[darkenedmoon]

"It can be difficult, make no mistake. But there is much less pressure upon you here, and I hope that it will help. And if you need to hide and de-stress...well. You know where I live, now."

And yes, Yotsuyu would cheerfully hide him for a while. There was a bonus to being seen as a dragon lady. If there were those who refused to even knock upon her door, well, no one would ever think to look for Eleven here, would they?

Save perhaps Hendrik, but that simply would be a challenge she had to rise to. A small smile curled its way across her lips at the thought.

"But the kami know I have certainly kept you overlong, if you have places you need to be. You are always welcome here, though. I am making it plain." And she nodded to him, firmly.

[bearshermark]

Eleven huffed a short laugh and he settled, smile more genuine than it had been. He didn't have anywhere in particular to be, but he did want to calm the mildly painful sensitivity of cloth against his skin.

"I'm deeply grateful," he said with a sincerity that felt appropriately weighty for a few moments- yet was swiftly ruined by the flash of an untamed grin.

"I don't think I'm very good at formal." And thinking about it, that was something people expected of the Luminary. Eleven was raised in a small village in the mountains where there was no need for them. "But maybe I don't need to be."

The understanding felt light in his chest and he turned on heel with a smile. "Take care, Yotsuyu."

[darkenedmoon]

"I shall. But oh, Eleven, if you care to practice formal, I dare say I might be able to help you, there."

Yotsuyu chuckled quietly at that, but she waved him off. "You may not, no. Sometimes speaking from the heart does more than any pretty words might. And in their own way, I suppose they are pretty in their own way. So, good day to you."

He certainly could find his own way out, so Yotsuyu felt no great need to go after him or give him direction.