"And this is where I stayed for most of my time here, once it was done being built," Xander says, waving to the hellish-looking building. "It used to give me nightmares, but there are some nice barbecue stands nearby."
"Was it designed by those who drink too much?" Umeko finally asks after several minutes of the kiriga tilting her head this way and that as she tries to make out what it is supposed to be. "It ... looks like a nightmare made reality. Were students tortured daily too?"
"Well.. some of the instructors could be harsh, but I wouldn't call it torture," Xander says, rubbing an ear. "I don't know who designed it. All of the student dorms have some sort of theme - I blame the Earth Mages."
"It looks like a bonfire full of monsters," Nawar opines.
"Just so," Umeko agrees with Nawar. "The school of water was more ... elegant. This is ... mildly disturbing," she adds ... and is now staring at Xander.
Xander twitches. "What? I didn't work on it!" he says defensively.
"Why would you pick a career if the buildings looked like ... that?" Umeko finally asks.
The buck just looks blank. "What? Umm.. well magical talent tends to favor one Sphere over others, and I tested best with Fire," he explains. "I.. never thought about which one would have the nicest dorm!"
Umeko gestures to Xander and looks down to Nawar. "Male," she says.
"Well, what would you have chosen?" Xander asks, even though Umeko hasn't seen the other dorms yet.
"I do hope the rooms are more ... relaxing," Umeko comments as her attention returns to the odd building. "To truly learn, you must be relaxed and devoid of any and all distractions. As for chosen? Me? I have no magical talent."
"Well, the dorms here are certainly devoid of distractions," Xander admits. "They're like cells with windows and easy access... and a built-in fire-suppression system that is rather temperamental at times."
"Well, I suppose that is one way to ensure the students bathe regularly," Umeko remarks as she suppresses a grin. "And what I said regarding talent isn't quite true; I have never been tested for such. I was expected to be a dutiful wife. Master of the finer arts of painting and poetry."
"I imagine if you were to choose a Sphere.. it'd be Chaos," Xander notes. Nawar just shakes her head.
"And I end up cutting apart the evil beings of the world and marching through knee-deep muck," Umeko remarks rather dryly. "And why chaos?"
"Well, because you're a fighter!" Xander notes. "You'd be able to increase your luck and worsen it for your opponent."
"I put my faith in skill, not luck," Umeko notes. "Now, I expect Nawar will be very disappointed if you don't show her your old room. She was mad that you left her alone; but it might cheer her up if it turns out that you didn't move to someplace better than home."
"Oh.. okay," Xander says, and takes Nawar by the hand. "Follow me!" he declares, and heads for the dormitory.
Umeko follows after Xander. "Are you uncomfortable being back here, Xander?" she asks. "I just realized that it may be uncomfortable to be back in a place where you grew up."
The buck pauses before a doorway framed by the frozen flames of the wall. There's a glowing coal pit leading up to it. "I can't say I miss the place, except for when we were in that swamp," he admits. Then he tells Nawar, "You have to run really fast! Ready?"
Umeko walks up behind Xander and Nawar. She leans to the side and eyes the coal path ... and her brow dances about a bit suspiciously.
Nawar gulps and nods, and the two race across the coals into the building. "You just have to keep moving, Umeko!" Xander calls from inside. "And don't trip, whatever you do!"
"You have to walk over burning coals to enter the dorms?" Umeko finally asks. She hasn't tried to cross them yet.
"Of course! Just like we had to go underwater at the School of Water," Xander replies. He's got a stupid grin on his face though.
"This is ridiculous," Umeko remarks dryly. She takes hold of the folds of her kimono and pulls it up to near knee-height. "And also very undignified," she adds as she holds her tail high too. The kiriga now tries to cross the coals quickly while walking on the very tips of her toes.
Flames fly up all around the Kiriga as she steps on the coals.. but she doesn't burn. The coals aren't even particularly hot!
"Remind me to punish you later for teasing your employer," Umeko says, her normally lilting tone taking on a growling edge as she crosses the apparently faux-coals. When she steps off the coals on the other side, she releases her kimono and lets it fall back to float a mere inch from the floor.
"I just wanted to see your sexy legs again," Xander claims, and leads them deeper into the building. Inside.. it looks a bit more normal, aside from the burning torches that don't give off heat or smoke, it could be the inside of a stone fort. Rooms have numbers and doors - although some have doors that appear to be smoking or on fire. A stair leads to the second floor, and Xander opens a normal looking door to let them in to his old room. Which looks.. mostly empty. There shelves, a wardrobe, a simple cot-like bed, and several handy buckets of sand next to the small desk.
There is also a small window, and a door to the shared balcony with a railing sculpted to look like monstrous teeth and fangs.
"It is no bigger than the room back home," Nawar claims, sounding disappointed. "Where are the cauldrons and demons and stuffed crocogator?"
"It is not as horrid as I had expected," Umeko admits as she peers about. "I had expected a bed of nails and an assortment of whips and chains. This place feels like a dungeon. Or ... a torture chamber."
"Have you ever been in one?" Xander asks. "The dungeons at Rookery were nasty."
"Once, when I had angered my father when I was ... ah, about Nawar's age. He made me go where prisoners of Jadai are kept and told me this is where those who disobey were sent," Umeko admits as she folds her hands together. "And that if I did not learn proper manners, respect, and to follow the rules of society, that I would one day be there."
"Imagine if we'd done that with Xander," Nawar says. "He'd probably be respectable too," she teases.
Xander hrmphs at his sister, and tells Umeko, "I thought your father was scary enough before, now I'm really terrified!"
"He was being kind that day," Umeko claims. "Considering what I had done."
"Did you try on his hat or something?" Xander asks, glancing out of the window. "The Lunchtime Lecturer program is still running I see. We should get something to eat soon too."
"I caused a stampede that collapsed one of the bathing palisades," Umeko admits as she goes to peer out the window to look at what Xander is talking about. "A family guest was bathing at the time, too."
"What sort of punishments will I get if I make a mistake?" Nawar asks nervously. Outside, the room overlooks a small stone amphitheater, where a Mage in mixed robes is talking to a bunch of younger students, while they all eat sandwiches.. likely from the sandwich cart parked nearby.
"Should we join them?" Umeko asks as she watches and tries to hear what the speaker is talking about, causing her ear fins to spread wide, giving her an almost frilled-head-neck look. "As for punishments ... you will have to launder Xander's undergarments," she remarks to Nawar.
"Ewww," the girl goes, while Xander says, "Hey, I know those robes. It's old Light my Fire, Mage Kessler. Let's hurry before the cart leaves!" And then the buck is dragging Nawar back out to the stairs.
"He lacks patience," Umeko remarks to herself as she follows along in Xander's wake. "And respect, I daresay. 'Light my Fire'? That is hardly respectful to a teacher. It is no different than if I called Master Longtooth, 'Ancient Saddlebags of Doom' ... "
"You'll like him, Umeko; he's like you," Xander notes. "A warrior Fire Mage, but also a Mage of the Sphere of Light, so something of a renegade. Talks about the underlying unity of the Spheres and stuff.. or used to. After the whole Seven Sisters debacle, the Schools seemed to try and distance themselves from one another."
"Seven Sisters? I may have heard such a name before but ... I must admit I have no idea what it means," Umeko admits as she crosses over the threshold of fiery coals. This time she doesn't bother to lift her kimono.
"Oh.. uh, it was all about.. bad stuff," Xander says. "A lot of Mages broke the rules, summoned gods, said the wrong things or performed sacrifices for power. It's still being cleaned up."
The aforementioned Mage Kessler is currently holding two small luminescent crystals splayed in his right hand, while he gestures at them with the oval-shaped sandwich in his left. "Apprentice Vandenberg, can you tell me the difference between the magical animus of these two crystals?" He then takes a bite, watching the apprentice think. Dressed in robes of red and yellow with a sun motif, a turban fit for a Khattan trader covering most of his head, he's an exotic sort of vulpine.
"Power corrupts," Umeko remarks dryly.
"Sam is one of the big talents, so he rotates between Schools to lecture or run classes," Xander whispers as they get closer. "There's a shortage of instructors still, and since he can teach in two Spheres the powers-that-be don't question his ideas too much."
The apprentice looks between them, brow furrowed. "Umm, that one is using a fire-magic empowerment," the Khatta finally says. "The other.. isn't?"
"I'll get us some sandwiches, my treat," Xander promises, and hands Nawar over to Umeko.
"I was about to instruct Nawar to go get some, but as you like," Umeko agrees and takes a hold of Nawar's hand. Her tail snakes around her feet as she 'settles' in to listen for now.
The coney sits down next to Umeko and looks around. "That man is a Keiltyn, not a Zerda," she points out helpfully to Umeko.
"I do not recognize that species name," Umeko admits, her head cocking slightly to the side. "What is their country of origin?"
"Correct," the mage says, smiling. He begings rolling the two crystals in his hand, letting them mix around as he continues his lecture. "To the natural senses, these crystals display identical light. They are an example of the convergent evolution of the magical Spheres, detectable only with the magic sense." He then begins walking towards one end of his line of students, offering the crystals to a young woman to examine and pass down the row. "While we are taught that each Sphere is largely seperate, with a unique identity -- yet still somehow overlaps and maintains its own identity," he pauses to scan his students, possibly, as Xander had suggested, expecting opposition to his views, " ... You will find in the 'wild' magic does not always behave to our expectations."
"They don't have one," Nawar whispers. "I think they're Exiles, called Foxes usually."
"You mean like sorcery?" another student asks.
"The wild being the world outside these walls?" Umeko asks from where she listens. "If so, then taking with you expectations about anything is dangerous. It clouds how you see the world. It can make you inflexible, unable to adapt."
"Sorcery, also known as hedge wizardry, 'witchcraft,' spirit worship and other names besides, is an excellent example, Apprentice." The instructor smiles again, inclining his head respectfully to the astute young observer. He looks about to make a comment, then his turban twitches as his ears perk -- something Umeko has learned to recognize from Lisandra's similiar reactions. "Ah?" He peers across the array of students at Umeko, then smiles broadly. "A visitor? We so rarely get visitors willing to offer their insights. You are correct, of course, Miss ..? Or should I say ..," he cocks his head to the side, consideringly, " ... Lady?"
Many of the students turn to look at Umeko, apparently confused by her kimono. Nawar keeps the Kiriga between her and the crowd.
"Lady Umeko Tsuguri of Jadai," Umeko introduces herself as she bows low; bending at her waist. As she rises, she says, "And forgive my interruption, it is not quite my place to bring voice to my thoughts here. Always look at the world through new eyes, I suppose you could say. It does, if nothing else, allow you to find wonder wherever you go. You may also quickly learn things you once believed truth, were, in fact, wrong."
Xander tiptoes towards Umeko and Nawar, his arms laden with pita-bread sandwiches and some drinks.
The instructor bows as well inclinging his head respectfully. "Ahlan wa-sahlan, Lady Umeko Tsuguri of Jadai. I am Mage Samael Kessler of the College Estorica, as you san see." As he rises, he spreads his hands in a welcoming gesture. "It is no trouble at all, my Lady. I welcome fresh opinions and learned insight; wisdom springs from many wells, as it were. It seems to me, that you have seen your share of wonders in this world? And, why, is that ...," his head turns, brow arching, "Mage Xander?"
"Uh, hi Sam.. er.. Mage Kessler!" Xander calls, as he hands his sister a falafel sandwich. "You always have your lunch lectures next to the best Zerdan sandwich cart." He offers Umeko a piece of bread with a pocket in it, filled with shredded meat and rice, along with a spicy sauce.
"I have seen a few wonders, yes. From the origins of my kind to the truths behind long forgotten legends in the swamps of a dying land," Umeko answers as she delicately lifts the pita from Xander's hand. She sniffs it ... and her brow does a curious dance as she tries to decide if it is edible or not. In the end, Umeko decides to take a risk ... and takes a bite.
It's spicy, but the Kiriga has gotten used to that while staying in Abu Dhabi. It's also a bit sweet from the sauce. Xander sets a paper cup filled with cold tea next to her as well.
"As disrespectful as ever, I see." Mage Kessler gives Xander a brief, but stern, eyeballing before he suddenly laughs. "But you are back among family! It is not the time to lecture on etiquette! That you are alive and not, say, dust in a gaudy urn is something to be thankful for. I had heard you had been assigned." He watches as Xander passes the food on to Umeko, smiling as he clasps his hands together. "As your military science studes should have taught you, claiming a point of excellent supply is a great advantage. A hungry belly makes for an empty mind."
"She's my boss," Xander tells Kessler. "Oh, and I was able to use your Eye of Flame familiar to blow a Desert Giant's head open!"
"Is she, now?" The senior mage inclines his head again to Umeko, deeper now. "I hope she is finding her coin well spent? We of the Sphere of Fire are often well pleased by our student's rapid expansion of the cranial region of exotic fauna, preferably with the a rousing boom. It is, I think, what makes us most approachable and personable." He smiles.
There's a murmur as some of the students try to decipher that, until one Korv apprentice blurts out, "He means it's good to make monster heads a-splode."
"He amuses me," Umeko remarks between bites of her spicy sandwich. The cold tea isn't quite up to her standards ... but she doesn't complain. Probably because she needs something to help with the heat in her mouth!
"I'm her military magic advisor, and we've had lots of adventures, and fought with the Imperial army and blown up pirates and warlords," Xander claims, mostly to the students, a few of which ooo and ahh in respect.
"He amuses us all, our Mage Xander. I am glad he is well." The Keiltyn turns to regard his once apprentice, listening before he nods. "We are often called to provide military advice, my Apprentices. And yesm there can be much adventure in our work. Also, much danger and loss. It is the nature of war and man, but if you can accept this balance, you are sure to find a rewarding path, as our Mage Xander has."
"Some might claim I am more of a curse. I tend to be overly demanding, stubborn, and frustrating," Umeko notes after she finishes her pita and is now just sipping at her cold tea. "And opinionated."
"And a good dancer," Nawar offers.
"It is but a blade's edge away from dancer to warrior," Umeko offers. "All things have many uses; it is a matter of perspective."
"Oh, come now, we all have our faults," the mage instructor insists as he begins walking down the line, heading to where one of his apprentices holds up his crystals for him to retake. "I, for example, have been told I should never speak with visitors as I present an unified picture of the 'agust and venerable pillars of magical arrangement.'"
"That and you're too expensive," Xander claims with a grin.
"Xander does have the quality of being cheap," Umeko says with a completely straight face.
The mage snatches up his crystals, then tucks them away in his robes. "That, my old apprentice, is an unfair and malicious accusation," he insists, grinning. "I am reasonably priced for what I can offer, and that is versitility." He then inclines his head to Umeko. "That he does, my Lady."
"I just advanced, that means I get to charge more now," Xander says proudly.
"You intend to charge me more?" Umeko asks Xander as her brow arches slightly.
The senior mage folds his hands in to his robes, keeping silent on the matter of payment as he watches Xander curiously.
"Well, the Guild sets the fees," Xander notes apologetically. "I'll make it up to you though," he whispers to Umeko after saying so, though.
"I suppose I can at least feel less guilty about sending you into danger and almost certain death, then," Umeko decides after some thought. She then dutifully sips her tea.
Nawar watches the two, no doubt getting a bizarre impression of what flirting is about.
"I'm afraid that is true, my Lady Tsuguri," the senior mage says, also apologetically. "We are bound to our Guild regulations; it is the price of order and quality, Despite what I say, I have great faith in our Guild and our services. You will not find such general reliability among sorcerors."
Xander squirms a bit. He wants to tell Sam about the Burning Sands and their magic... but can't mention it in public. "I've come across some interesting.. shamanistic fire magic, Mage Kessler. If you have time later I can relate it to you."
Kessler nods his heads. "Certainly," he agrees,
"If you wish time to visit old friends while we are here, Xander, that is fine. I am sure I can manage fairly well. I have Nawar to help attend to things," Umeko notes.
"I'll meet with him later, after my official award ceremony," Xander notes.
"As you like. I will just return to my room after that, then. Or perhaps explore the island on my own if I am feeling adventurous," Umeko says, "And speaking of attending to things ... Mage Kessler has a lecture to finish. My apologies for interrupting."
"If you haven't seen them already and would like a further tour of the grounds, I recommend the Sphere of Light's Gallery Luminescent, and the Sphere of Life's exotic gardens," the fox suggests to Umeko. "And it is no trouble, my Lady. It is good our students witness a practicing mage and his employer, it gives perspective." He then steps back and bows, "Ma'a salaama, Lady Tsuguri." Another bow. Ma'a salaama, Mage Xander." And with that, the sun-dressed mage returns to his stage, clapping his hands together.
"Now, who can tell me why the Sphere of Light is not employed in direct attacking ... "