A Teacher for Laynie: Mystery at the Academy (Part 2)

[Bront]

"You ever thought that perhaps they could be hiding some tallent? I mean, this is the Accademy of the Chromatic Order, it's not like it's easy to get into."

 

[Rystil Arden]

"But nobody knows exactly what the standards are except a few of us. That's useful in that someone who is faking is less likely to do so to an extent because they don't know when they're going to fail, plus doing poorly on purpose on the entry exams is going to make getting scholarships harder. For Dolder, he got in on the skin of his teeth, for instance. The sithinaar'liir, on the other hand, we know her level of power even more certainly because she got into an illegal mageduel, and she's not very good. They may be the best way to tell someone's skill, in the end, because faking incompetence can lead to serious injury or even death, so participants tend to give it their all."

 

[Bront]

"The sithinaar'liir, you mean Misha? And Dolder disapearing seems different as well as there was no note."

 

[Rystil Arden]

"Yes. Sithinaar'liir is the high elven word for the dark elves. As to the notes, they weren't a standard, per se. Only the first two involved them."

 

[Bront]

"What do you think if Misha by the way? I met her yesterday, and she seemed nice enough, but most people seem scared of her."

 

[Rystil Arden]

"It's unprofessional of me to spread gossip about the students, so I won't say. If you get a chance to read up on Elven etymology, you can look up sithinaar'liir though. Vanitri, I'm sorry that I haven't been able to be helpful to you. Ever since I was a graduate student, my goal has always been to try to be a friend and confidant of my students as well as a teacher, but I've found that as I gain higher and higher status here, although the respect and power that comes with the position helps make my dream of a friendlier and less prejudiced Academy easier to push on an institutional level, the responsibilities and restrictions that fall on me make it so much harder for me on a personal level. I must seem incredibly callous and uncaring, and on the inside, the part of me that is just Rayne, the student of the arcane weeps for that, but the part of me that is the Housemistress of Daryne has to be strong for everyone..."

 

[Bront]

"Well, some things you have to learn on your own. But anything said here stays here if need be. I just wish I could find more about this Dark Lord."

"Oh, and if you ever see a buch of large snakes running around attacking students, look for me by the fountain pumping blood. Not sure that realy helps, but there it is for you."

 

[Rystil Arden]

"Snakes? Well I will say that the serpent or dragon alternately are symbols of Sice. Wait, a fountain pumping blood?...What do you mean, can you be specific?"

 

[Bront]

Vanitri will describe the fountain in his vision, and everything surrounding it, as well as who was in it.

 

[Rystil Arden]

*Rayne gasps and pales immediately.*

"May Zephos shelter them and grant that what you've seen never comes to pass if it is what I think. Vanitri, you must not tell anyone else about this, or they'll probably take you in and experiment on you, mindrape you to get every last detail out of your brain..."