IA: A Teacher for Laynie

[Rystil Arden]

"There are standard procedures on Divi..."

"I can handle this question, Garrick," the other man speaks quietly, "The magic of Divination is a dangerous and powerful art. There are certain ways that Divination can be employed, such as to locate a specific missing nearby object or detect magic at the low end, and even to catch glimpses of the near future or find the exact location of any person you know, no matter where they are on the high end. However, there is no way to use Divination to ask freeform questions and gain the answer, lest mortalkind gain all knowledge in the Universe."

"Thank you Damien. As for our facilities, I would be glad to arrange for a tour for you, guided by one of our younger students if you'd like. I'm afraid you can't just wander around on your own, though...besides, with the ancients guards and wards in place over our great Academy, that may not be safe in any case."

 

[Bront]

"Well, that would be appreciated. At least we didn't journy all this way for nothing."

"Would you like to look around the school Laynie?"

 

[Rystil Arden]

"Sure! Maybe they have a library with books to read!"

"Sorry little one, but we don't have any of the kinds of books you would read--no picture books or anything."

"There aren't any are cane code hexes or held rich grim wars? What kind of a magic school is this? Even Orussus had those!"

"Oh, we have codexes and grimoires, but those are much too advanced for little girls to be reading. Anyway, I can go check for volunteers with Layna escorts you to the office where you'll need to fill out the paperwork."

"Too vanced? Fine, I'll just read my own book--I don't need your library books, right Mister Vanitri? I still want to see the library though!"

 

[Bront]

"She was reading Advanced Studies in Thaumaturgy by Draelik Vryden earlier in Orussis. I wouldn't be supprised if she could read some of those other books."

 

[Rystil Arden]

*Garrick laughs softly and shakes his head.*

"Advanced Studies in Thaumaturgy? She may have been reading the words, but she wasn't reading it, if you know what I mean? For one, to even have a clue what Vryden was talking about, you'd need to know the basics of thaumaturgy first."

"Actually, they had some of the stuff in the front part. Thaw met orgy is the study of the conned your-A-shun of mystical essences across play nar boundaries. A true practitioner of thaw met orgy will need to understand the underlying connections between the energies flowing through our world and the outer planes and ether beyond, and draw upon the mystical connections located in the six L-M-mental towers."

"Ah, so do you have an eidetic memory, little one? But just because you can repeat the words doesn't mean you understand them."

"It means the big magic towers on the sides of the world hold us with some outer planes, and a thaw met orgyist needs to be able to find out the changes in order to bring things from one plane to another. Didn't you know that, silly?"

*Garrick arches an eyebrow.*

"Really now? Well that isn't exactly right, but it's not bad. Now let me go find you a guide while Layna takes you to fill out the forms. Thank you for coming, Damien, but it looks like you're not going to need to take a student for the testing after all."

 

[Bront]

"Realy? I think she's just proved that she can take the test. While she has had little formal training of late, she is incredably bright, and what better way to guide her way to becoming a great mage and bringing back glory to the Academy that to spend that extra time with her? Sure, she's young, and has many things to learn, but you can teach her. She could learn more now that she might if she came back years from now, and you'd have her even longer durring the crucial learning years of a child. I think you'd be a fool to not at least explore the possability."

 

[Rystil Arden]

"Bringing back glory to the Academy? The Academy's glory shines all the brighter in the face of the decay of the arcane arts throughout the rest of the lands. There is no finer institution of magical knowledge in the lands. But we are not a nanny service, and we will not babysit a child. Besides which, there is no way that a child could pass the entrance exam in full, no matter how smart...in fact, I think it would not be right if I didn't tell you that I think it would not be safe for her to take it."

 

[Bront]

"Unfortunately, I beg to differ. Having met Elise, I knew of the Academy, but only from that. The people of Orusses has not heard of it, and there were very few references to it in the library. While your traditions and honor may be as strong as ever, memories fade. Even the people of Medebaria have somewhat mixed feelings about the Academy because of your choice to stay here instead of move with the city. I think here is the chance to teach a student who could make people notice the Academy again around the world.

"And perhaps you're right, it may be dangerous now, but surely you have someone who might be willing to take her under their wing till she is truely ready. Someone to groom her for the Academy. Someone who's name may go down with her as her mentor. And when she is ready, surely then she will show you that the time was well spent, for her and for the Academy."

 

[Rystil Arden]

"The Academy is the composite of the hard work and effort of the countless individuals who compose it. The candidacy of one student would not possibly have the effect that you ascribe here. The Academy is still the greatest school of Wizardry in the land. Those who know about these kinds of things understand this, and so they continue to send us the best and the brightest and pay our tuition fees."

"As for a special tutor, that seems to me unlikely. You could ask around, I suppose, but the Wizard would have to do the teaching on his own time, something I don't think anyone would be willing to volunteer, even if they didn't agree that the child is too young."

 

[Bront]

"Well, you have little faith my friend, but I can understand that. It's safer that way sometimes."

"There is more Laynie needs tutoring in than simply magic. I would like to believe you teach more than just that as well, as might any mentor who would look after her."