Academy of Drell, Part I

[Tokiwong]

Sometimes I forget how short humans can live...

"Why yes... by human reckoning that is a long time... but it seems but a brief moment in my life..."

Keith takes another sip of his juice before placing it back down...

"Perhaps... I should give it a try... I might find that their is some hidden talent tucked away deep inside me... one can only fathom I suppose..."

She is probing me... is she intrigued... or mocking? She shows a sincere effort to listen and I shall not fault her for that...

"I did appreciate the chance to spar this morn... complacency and inaction dull the blade... to maintain the skill my mentor would say... you must maintain a keen edge..."

Keen... Alustir was always keen... never a chink in her armor.. her skill absolute... her ability perfect... her beauty... intoxicating...

"But as I said 22 years out of 136 by human reckoning is only a small slice of time... by human accounts my mother is 876 years... young..." smiles...

 

[GnomeWorks]

"Sometimes, I wonder what it would be like - to be immortal, or close enough, like elves. To always have time, to always be patient. To always be calm."

She laughs lightly at herself.

"Look at me, though - I guess I'm like a mouse to you, then. Just think - in 60, 70 years, I'll be gone, and you... you'll have barely aged at all."

She sighs.

"I think that you should try to find talent. It is obviously troubling you that you don't have any kind of magical or psionic ability. Try it. After all, you have a lot of time. You'd get it right, eventually.

"And I thank you, Keith, for giving me a chance to spar with you. Admittedly it wasn't initiated in the best way, but sometimes spur-of-the-moment spars are the best. Training only goes so far, sometimes you need to get out there and actually use your skills for a change..."

Charlotte doesn't even comment on Keith's mother's age, instead just giving him an incredulous look and continuing on with eating.

 

[Tokiwong]

Keith cracks a smile and laughs for a few moments before settling himself...

The look was well as they say priceless...

"It is not all glamour I assure you... to watch others grow old and die..." he sighs... "there is always another edge to the sword..."

60 to 70 years and then she shall be gone... a twinge of sadness... for she is friendly enough... I have not spoken at length like this in ages...

Keith finishes his juice...

"That is the best way to test one's abilities... at the spur of the moment... in that sliver of moment between what shall be and what has come... to tread the edge of the blade... it is both exciting... and wholly satisfying. That is the moment where I thrive... the moment between life and death..."

Keith brushes his hair back from his face...

"It sounds morbid but I assure you... I do not relish death only the rush of the moment... it sets me free... if only for a brief moment..."

 

[GnomeWorks]

Charlotte observes Keith as he laughs.

Well, now that was a sound I didn't expect to hear. Especially not so soon after meeting him.

"I imagine that it wouldn't be. If you made any friends outside of your own race, you would soon - by your standards - be speaking with their great grandchildren, and you wouldn't have changed even a little. It must be depressing, at times."

She listens carefully to Keith's words.

"I agree with you entirely. To fight when the outcome is uncertain, to duel when you know that you might come out alive, or dead... there is certainly a feeling of exhileration that comes from that."

This is becoming... eerie. In so many ways are we alike. Thankfully we have our differences. But still... the similarities, they are very unnerving...

"I understand why you feel that way. But, if you don't mind me asking - what does the 'moment' set you free from?"

 

[Tokiwong]

Interesting question...

"The moment sets me free from the hum-drum of everyday life... I suppose... a brief sojourn I suppose. To know that in that moment my will will make a change in reality... for better or for worse... the answer is perhaps not wholly satisfying... it is soemthing that should be experienced..."

If only I knew the whole answer myself...

 

[GnomeWorks]

Hmm... that wasn't it.

"An interesting thought. I don't experience any type of... elatedness like that when I am fighting. Perhaps I am just not listening well enough to my senses. During a duel, my feelings all get a little mixed up, and add that to trying to ensure that I don't end up hit or dead, I'm not really able to observe my thoughts at the particular moment."

Where is this conversation going?

 

[Tokiwong]

Interesting...

"I try to analyze every moment... like now.. we have been chatting long after we finished our food... on subjects that most others would find terribly strange or boring..."

Keith thinks for a moment...

"Well I think I should get to some chores before the day drags on too long... perhaps we can chat later?"

Keith stands...

 

[GnomeWorks]

He's scared of something. Why else would he be going now? Sure we have finished our food, and we are talking of matters that 'others would find terribly strange or boring' - so? Oh well... men...

"They might, and might not. We are simply friends trying to understand each other. What is so strange about that?"

Charlotte stands up after Keith rises.

"Indeed, I also have things to do before the sun gets too high. We should do this again some time, Keith."

With that, Charlotte begins walking back to her room, letting none of her inner, chaotic emotions show through in any of her actions.

Why does he always act so non-emotional? I know that he has them, but he acts as though he can't let them through. That can't be good for his psyche. He'll figure it out eventually, I guess...

 

[Tokiwong]

She is inquisitive and interesting... I like her... she called me a friend... how interesting as well...

Keith returned to his quarters with a slow measured walk... mulling over the events of the morning...

So far it has been a pleasant morning...

 

[GnomeWorks]

Charlotte returns to her room, slamming the door behind her.

Why didn't he want to keep talking? What triggered it?

Trying to be as calm as possible, she sets her rapier in it's place above her bed. She then removes her psicrystal, and places it on her bed.

Oh well. Nothing I can do now. It's over and done with. We might talk again, and we might not. For now, I need to concentrate and bring my powers into focus. Then I can consider the spar, and then perhaps there will be time to contemplate Keith.

Charlotte sits on her bed, crosses her legs, and closes her eyes, bringing out the psionic talent that she knows lies dormant just within her mind.