Mother of Learning:Volume 01 Chapter 001 - Revision history

76.21.95.209: /* Good Morning Brother */

2015-06-19T08:19:37Z

Good Morning Brother

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:19, 19 June 2015
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	"Going back to the academy!" she whined, clearly aware of what he was doing. He needed to learn some new tricks. "Learning magic. Can you show me some magic?"		"Going back to the academy!" she whined, clearly aware of what he was doing. He needed to learn some new tricks. "Learning magic. Can you show me some magic?"

	Zorian let out a long suffering sigh. Kirielle had always treated him as something of a playmate of hers, despite him doing his best not to encourage her, but usually she remained within certain unspoken boundaries. She was downright impossible this year, though, and mother was wholly unsympathetic to his pleas to rein her in. All he did was read all day long, she said, so it wasn't as if he was doing anything ''important''… ~~Thankfully~~ the summer break was over and he could finally get away from them all.		Zorian let out a long suffering sigh. Kirielle had always treated him as something of a playmate of hers, despite him doing his best not to encourage her, but usually she remained within certain unspoken boundaries. She was downright impossible this year, though, and mother was wholly unsympathetic to his pleas to rein her in. All he did was read all day long, she said, so it wasn't as if he was doing anything ''important''… thankfully the summer break was over and he could finally get away from them all.

	"Kiri, I have to pack. Why don't you go pester Fortov for a change?"		"Kiri, I have to pack. Why don't you go pester Fortov for a change?"

Drowzycow: noinclude tag

2014-10-07T13:06:01Z

noinclude tag

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:06, 7 October 2014
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	Tired from the long journey, Zorian closed his eyes, intending to take a short nap. He wouldn't wake up until tomorrow morning.		Tired from the long journey, Zorian closed his eyes, intending to take a short nap. He wouldn't wake up until tomorrow morning.

			<noinclude>
	==Author's Notes and References==		==Author's Notes and References==
	<references />		<references />

Starwarscards: Grammar

2014-08-21T01:31:20Z

Grammar

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:31, 21 August 2014
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	"Don't worry, I have no intention of wading through that mud," Zorian said. "Watch."		"Don't worry, I have no intention of wading through that mud," Zorian said. "Watch."

	He made a few gestures and cast a levitate object spell, causing the bike to jerkily rise out of the water and into the air. The bike was a lot heavier than the objects he usually practiced with, and he had to levitate the bike a lot higher than he was used to, but it was nothing outside his capabilities. He snatched the bike by ~~it's~~ seat when it was close enough and placed it on the bridge.		He made a few gestures and cast a levitate object spell, causing the bike to jerkily rise out of the water and into the air. The bike was a lot heavier than the objects he usually practiced with, and he had to levitate the bike a lot higher than he was used to, but it was nothing outside his capabilities. He snatched the bike by its seat when it was close enough and placed it on the bridge.

	"There," Zorian said. "It's all muddy and wet but I can't help you there. Don't know any cleaning spells."		"There," Zorian said. "It's all muddy and wet but I can't help you there. Don't know any cleaning spells."

Starwarscards: Grammar

2014-08-15T06:51:18Z

Grammar

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:51, 15 August 2014
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	"May I come in?"		"May I come in?"

	"Huh? Oh!" said Zorian. "Forgive my manners, ~~miss~~ Zileti. Come in, come in."		"Huh? Oh!" said Zorian. "Forgive my manners, Miss Zileti. Come in, come in."

	"Thank you," she accepted politely, stepping into the house.		"Thank you," she accepted politely, stepping into the house.
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	"Ah," said Zorian in understanding. Idly he spun the key in his hand, wondering how exactly they got a hold of his mana signature. Something to research later, he supposed.		"Ah," said Zorian in understanding. Idly he spun the key in his hand, wondering how exactly they got a hold of his mana signature. Something to research later, he supposed.

	"Normally I would be explaining to you in detail what it means to be a third years student at Cyoria's magical academy, but I hear you have a train leaving soon, so why don't we jump straight to the main reason I'm here. Your mentor, and electives. You can ask me anything you wish to know afterwards."		"Normally I would be explaining to you in detail what it means to be a third years student at Cyoria's magical academy, but I hear you have a train leaving soon, so why don't we jump straight to the main reason I'm here. Your mentor and electives. You can ask me anything you wish to know afterwards."

	Zorian perked up on this, especially the mention of 'mentor'. Each 3rd year was given a mentor that they met with once a week, who was supposed to teach students in ways not possible in a standard class format, and otherwise help them reach their maximum potential. A choice of one's mentor could make or break one's magical career and Zorian knew he had to choose carefully. Fortunately, he had asked around among older students to find out which ones are good and which ones are bad, so he should at least be able to get an above-average one.		Zorian perked up on this, especially the mention of 'mentor'. Each 3rd year was given a mentor that they met with once a week, who was supposed to teach students in ways not possible in a standard class format, and otherwise help them reach their maximum potential. A choice of one's mentor could make or break one's magical career and Zorian knew he had to choose carefully. Fortunately, he had asked around among older students to find out which ones are good and which ones are bad, so he should at least be able to get an above-average one.
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	But that was a thought for another time. He gave a brief goodbye to mother and Kirielle and entered the train to find himself a seat. He intentionally chose an empty compartment, something that was surprisingly easy to find. Apparently, despite the gathered crowd, few of them would be taking this particular train.		But that was a thought for another time. He gave a brief goodbye to mother and Kirielle and entered the train to find himself a seat. He intentionally chose an empty compartment, something that was surprisingly easy to find. Apparently, despite the gathered crowd, few of them would be taking this particular train.

	5 minutes later the train gave another ear-splitting whistle and began ~~it's~~ long journey towards Cyoria.		5 minutes later the train gave another ear-splitting whistle and began its long journey towards Cyoria.

Bilagaana: typo

2014-07-27T00:09:06Z

typo

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:09, 27 July 2014
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	"Um, okay. Sorry to bother you then."		"Um, okay. Sorry to bother you then."

	With a lot of squealing and steam-letting, the train stopped at Cyoria's train station, and Zorian disembarked as fast as he could, pushing past the awed first-years staring at the ~~sigh~~ before them.		With a lot of squealing and steam-letting, the train stopped at Cyoria's train station, and Zorian disembarked as fast as he could, pushing past the awed first-years staring at the sight before them.

	Cyoria's train station was huge, a fact made obvious by the fact it was enclosed, making it look more like a giant tunnel. Actually, the station as a whole was even larger, because there were 4 more 'tunnels' like this one, plus all the support facilities. There was nothing like it anywhere in the world, and virtually everyone was stupefied the first time they saw it. Zorian was too, when he first disembarked here. The feeling of disorientation was amplified by the sheer amount of people that went through this terminal, whether they're passengers going in and out of Cyoria, workers inspecting the train and unloading luggage, newsboys shouting headlines, or homeless people begging for some change. As far as he knew, this massive flow of people never really ceased, even at night, and this was a particularly busy day.		Cyoria's train station was huge, a fact made obvious by the fact it was enclosed, making it look more like a giant tunnel. Actually, the station as a whole was even larger, because there were 4 more 'tunnels' like this one, plus all the support facilities. There was nothing like it anywhere in the world, and virtually everyone was stupefied the first time they saw it. Zorian was too, when he first disembarked here. The feeling of disorientation was amplified by the sheer amount of people that went through this terminal, whether they're passengers going in and out of Cyoria, workers inspecting the train and unloading luggage, newsboys shouting headlines, or homeless people begging for some change. As far as he knew, this massive flow of people never really ceased, even at night, and this was a particularly busy day.

Onizuka-gto: /* Good Morning Brother */ grammar correction

2014-07-16T09:59:29Z

Good Morning Brother: grammar correction

Onizuka-gto: /* Good Morning Brother */ grammar correction.

2014-07-16T09:42:38Z

Good Morning Brother: grammar correction.

Onizuka-gto: /* Good Morning Brother */

2014-07-16T08:55:25Z

Good Morning Brother

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:55, 16 July 2014
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	Zorian never liked his father's sense of humor.		Zorian never liked his father's sense of humor.

	A whistle pierced the air, and the train entered the station with a high-pitched squeal of metal wheels breaking against the tracks. The original trains were steam-powered machines that billowed smoke wherever they went and consumed unholy amounts of coal to keep going, but this one was powered by the newer techno-magic engines that consumed crystallized mana instead. Cleaner, cheaper, and required less maintenance. Zorian could actually feel the mana radiating off the train as he approached, though his ability to sense magic was too underdeveloped to tell him any details. He had always wanted to look around the engine room of one of these things but could never figure out a good way to approach the train operators.		A whistle pierced the air, and the train entered the station with a high-pitched squeal of metal wheels breaking against the tracks. The original trains were steam-powered machines that billowed smoke wherever they went and consumed unholy amounts of coal to keep going, but this one was powered by the newer techno-magic engines that consumed crystallized mana instead. Cleaner, cheaper and required less maintenance. Zorian could actually feel the mana radiating off the train as he approached, though his ability to sense magic was too underdeveloped to tell him any details. He had always wanted to look around the engine room of one of these things but could never figure out a good way to approach the train operators.

	But that was a thought for another time. He gave a brief goodbye to mother and Kirielle and entered the train to find himself a seat. He intentionally chose an empty compartment, something that was surprisingly easy to find. Apparently, despite the gathered crowd, few of them would be taking this particular train.		But that was a thought for another time. He gave a brief goodbye to mother and Kirielle and entered the train to find himself a seat. He intentionally chose an empty compartment, something that was surprisingly easy to find. Apparently, despite the gathered crowd, few of them would be taking this particular train.

Starwarscards: italicizing

2014-07-15T01:58:14Z

italicizing

Starwarscards: italicizing

2014-07-15T01:20:01Z

italicizing

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:20, 15 July 2014
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	"Mom said to wake you up," she said matter-of-factly, not budging from her spot.		"Mom said to wake you up," she said matter-of-factly, not budging from her spot.

	"Not like this, she didn't," Zorian grumbled, swallowing his irritation and patiently waiting till she dropped her guard enough. Predictably, Kirielle grew visibly agitated after only a few moments of this pretend disinterest. Just before she was about to blow up Zorian quickly grasped her legs and chest and flipped her over the edge of the bed. She fell to the floor with a thud and an indignant yelp, and Zorian quickly jumped to his feet to better respond to any violence she might decide to retaliate with. He glanced down on her and sniffed disdainfully. "I'll be sure to remember this the next time I'm asked to wake you up."		"Not like this, she didn't," Zorian grumbled, swallowing his irritation and patiently waiting till she dropped her guard enough. Predictably, Kirielle grew visibly agitated after only a few moments of this pretend disinterest. Just before she was about to blow up Zorian quickly grasped her legs and chest and flipped her over the edge of the bed. She fell to the floor with a thud and an indignant yelp, and Zorian quickly jumped to his feet to better respond to any violence she might decide to retaliate with. He glanced down on her and sniffed disdainfully. "I'll be sure to remember this the next time I'm asked to wake ''you'' up."

	"Fat chance of that," she retorted defiantly. "You always sleep longer than I do."		"Fat chance of that," she retorted defiantly. "You always sleep longer than I do."

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:59, 16 July 2014
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	He entered the kitchen and frowned when he saw a bowl of porridge already waiting for him on the table. Usually he made his own breakfast, and he liked it that way, but he knew his mother never accepted that. This was her idea of a peace gesture, which meant she was going to ask something he won't like out of him.		He entered the kitchen and frowned when he saw a bowl of porridge already waiting for him on the table. Usually he made his own breakfast, and he liked it that way, but he knew his mother never accepted that. This was her idea of a peace gesture, which meant she was going to ask something he won't like out of him.

	"I figured I'd prepare something for you today, and I know you've always liked porridge," she said. Zorian refrained from mentioning he hadn't liked it since he was about 8. "You slept longer than I thought you would, though. It's gone cold while I've waited for you."		"I figured I would prepare something for you today, and I know you've always liked porridge," she said. Zorian refrained from mentioning he hadn't liked it since he was about 8. "You slept longer than I thought you would, though. It's gone cold while I've waited for you."

	Zorian rolled his eyes and cast a slightly modified heat water spell at the porridge, which was instantly back at a pleasant temperature.		Zorian rolled his eyes and cast a slightly modified heat water spell at the porridge, which was instantly back at a pleasant temperature.

	He ate his breakfast in silence while mother talked to him at length about a crop-related dispute one of their suppliers was involved in, dancing around whatever topic she wanted to breach. He effortlessly tuned ~~out~~ her out. It was practically a survival skill for every child in the Kazinski family, as both mother and father were prone to protracted lectures on every subject imaginable, but doubly so for Zorian, who was the black sheep of the family and thus subjected to such monologues more frequently than the rest. Thankfully, his mother thought nothing of his silence, because Zorian was always as silent as possible around his family – he had ~~learned~~ many years ago that this was the easiest way of getting along with them.		He ate his breakfast in silence while mother talked to him at length about a crop-related dispute one of their suppliers was involved in, dancing around whatever topic she wanted to breach. He effortlessly tuned her out. It was practically a survival skill for every child in the Kazinski family, as both mother and father were prone to protracted lectures on every subject imaginable, but doubly so for Zorian, who was the black sheep of the family and thus subjected to such monologues more frequently than the rest. Thankfully, his mother thought nothing of his silence, because Zorian was always as silent as possible around his family – he had learnt many years ago that this was the easiest way of getting along with them.

	"Mother," he interrupted her. "I just woke up via Kiri jumping on me, I haven't had a chance to go to the bathroom and now you're pestering me while I'm eating. Either get to the point or wait a couple of minutes while I finish breakfast."		"Mother," he interrupted her. "I just woke up via Kiri jumping on me, I haven't had a chance to go to the bathroom and now you're pestering me while I'm eating. Either get to the point or wait a couple of minutes while I finish breakfast."
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	"She did it again?" his mother asked, amusement obvious in her voice.		"She did it again?" his mother asked, amusement obvious in her voice.

	Zorian rubbed his eyes, not saying anything, before surreptitiously pocketing an apple from the bowl on the table while his mother wasn't looking. There ~~were~~ a lot of annoying things Kirielle did again and again, but complaining about it to mother was a waste of time. No one in this family was on ''his'' side.		Zorian rubbed his eyes, not saying anything, before surreptitiously pocketing an apple from the bowl on the table while his mother wasn't looking. There was a lot of annoying things Kirielle did again and again, but complaining about it to mother was a waste of time. No one in this family was on ''his'' side.

	"Oh don't be like that," his mother said, noticing his less than pleased reaction. "She's just bored and playing with you. You take things way too seriously, just like your father."		"Oh don't be like that," his mother said, noticing his less than pleased reaction. "She's just bored and playing with you. You take things way too seriously, just like your father."
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	"Of course you're not," mother said airily, before suddenly switching the subject. "Actually, this reminds me of something. Your father and I are going to Koth to visit Daimen."		"Of course you're not," mother said airily, before suddenly switching the subject. "Actually, this reminds me of something. Your father and I are going to Koth to visit Daimen."

	Zorian bit the spoon in his mouth to prevent himself from making a snide comment. It was always Daimen this, Daimen that. There were days when Zorian wondered why his parents ~~made~~ three other children when they were clearly so enamored with their eldest son. Really, going to another continent just to visit him? What, were they going to die if they didn't see him for a year?		Zorian bit the spoon in his mouth to prevent himself from making a snide comment. It was always Daimen this, Daimen that. There were days when Zorian wondered why his parents had three other children when they were clearly so enamored with their eldest son. Really, going to another continent just to visit him? What, were they going to die if they didn't see him for a year?

	"What's that got to do with me?" Zorian asked.		"What's that got to do with me?" Zorian asked.

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:42, 16 July 2014
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	"Mom said to wake you up," she said matter-of-factly, not budging from her spot.		"Mom said to wake you up," she said matter-of-factly, not budging from her spot.

	"Not like this, she didn't," Zorian grumbled, swallowing his irritation and patiently ~~waiting till~~ she dropped her guard enough. Predictably, Kirielle grew visibly agitated after only a few moments of this pretend disinterest. Just before she was about to blow up Zorian quickly grasped her legs and chest and flipped her over the edge of the bed. She fell to the floor with a thud and an indignant yelp, ~~and~~ Zorian quickly jumped to his feet to better respond to any violence she might decide to retaliate with. He glanced down on her and sniffed disdainfully. "I'll be sure to remember this the next time I'm asked to wake ''you'' up."		"Not like this, she didn't" Zorian grumbled, swallowing his irritation and patiently waited until she dropped her guard enough. Predictably, Kirielle grew visibly agitated after only a few moments of this pretend disinterest. Just before she was about to blow up Zorian quickly grasped her legs and chest and flipped her over the edge of the bed. She fell to the floor with a thud and an indignant yelp, Zorian quickly jumped to his feet to better respond to any violence she might decide to retaliate with. He glanced down on her and sniffed disdainfully. "I'll be sure to remember this the next time I'm asked to wake ''you'' up."

	"Fat chance of that," she retorted defiantly. "You always sleep longer than I do."		"Fat chance of that," she retorted defiantly. "You always sleep longer than I do."
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	"About what?" Zorian asked innocently, feigning ignorance. He knew what she meant, of course, but constantly asking obvious questions was the fastest way of frustrating his little sister into dropping a conversation he'd rather not have.		"About what?" Zorian asked innocently, feigning ignorance. He knew what she meant, of course, but constantly asking obvious questions was the fastest way of frustrating his little sister into dropping a conversation he'd rather not have.

	"Going back to academy!" she whined, clearly aware of what he was doing. He needed to learn some new tricks. "Learning magic. Can you show me some magic?"		"Going back to the academy!" she whined, clearly aware of what he was doing. He needed to learn some new tricks. "Learning magic. Can you show me some magic?"

	Zorian let out a long suffering sigh. Kirielle had always treated him as something of a playmate of hers, despite him doing his best not to encourage her, but usually she remained within certain unspoken boundaries. She was downright impossible this year, though, and mother was wholly unsympathetic to his pleas to rein her in. All he did was read all day long, she said, so it wasn't as if he was doing anything ''important''… Thankfully the summer break was over and he could finally get away from them all.		Zorian let out a long suffering sigh. Kirielle had always treated him as something of a playmate of hers, despite him doing his best not to encourage her, but usually she remained within certain unspoken boundaries. She was downright impossible this year, though, and mother was wholly unsympathetic to his pleas to rein her in. All he did was read all day long, she said, so it wasn't as if he was doing anything ''important''… Thankfully the summer break was over and he could finally get away from them all.
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	Quickly changing out of his pajamas and putting on his glasses, Zorian took a moment to look around his room. He was pleased to note Kirielle hadn't rummaged through his stuff before waking him up. She had a very fuzzy notion of (other people's) privacy.		Quickly changing out of his pajamas and putting on his glasses, Zorian took a moment to look around his room. He was pleased to note Kirielle hadn't rummaged through his stuff before waking him up. She had a very fuzzy notion of (other people's) privacy.

	It didn't take Zorian long to pack – he had never really unpacked, to be honest, and would have gone back to Cyoria a week ago if he thought mother would have allowed it. He was just packing his school supplies when he realized with irritation that some of his textbooks were missing. He could try a locator spell, but he was pretty sure he knew where they ended up – Kirielle had a habit of taking them to her room, no matter how many times Zorian told her to keep her sticky little fingers away from them. Working on a hunch, he double-checked his writing supplies and, sure enough, found they have been greatly depleted.		It didn't take Zorian long to pack – he had never really unpacked, to be honest, and would have gone back to Cyoria a week ago if he thought mother would have allowed it. He was just packing his school supplies when he realized with irritation that some of his textbooks were missing. He could try a locator spell, but he was pretty sure he knew where they ended up – Kirielle had a habit of taking them to her room, no matter how many times Zorian told her to keep her sticky little fingers away from them. Working on a hunch, he double-checked his writing supplies and sure enough, found they have been greatly depleted.

	It always happened – every time he came home, Kirielle would raid his school supplies. Putting aside the ethical problems inherent in breaking into your brother's room in order to steal his things, what on earth was she doing with all those pencils and erasers? This time he specifically bought extras with his sister in mind, but it still wasn't enough - he couldn't find a single eraser in his drawer, and he bought a whole packet of them before coming home. Why Kirielle couldn't simply ask mother to buy her some books and pens of her own was never really clear to Zorian. She was the youngest, and the only daughter, so mother was always happy to spoil her - the dolls she talked mother in buying her were 5 times more expensive than a couple of books and a stack of pencils.		It always happened – every time he came home, Kirielle would raid his school supplies. Putting aside the ethical problems inherent in breaking into your brother's room in order to steal his things, what on earth was she doing with all those pencils and erasers? This time he specifically bought extras with his sister in mind, but it still wasn't enough - he couldn't find a single eraser in his drawer, and he bought a whole packet of them before coming home. Why Kirielle couldn't simply ask mother to buy her some books and pens of her own was never really clear to Zorian. She was the youngest and the only daughter, so mother was always happy to spoil her - the dolls she talked mother into buying for her were 5 times more expensive than a couple of books and a stack of pencils.

	In any case, while Zorian had no delusions about ever seeing his writing supplies again, he really needed those textbooks. With that in mind, he marched off into his sister's room, ignoring the 'keep out!' warning on the door, and quickly found his missing books in ~~their~~ usual location – cunningly hidden under the bed, behind several conveniently placed stuffed animals.		In any case, while Zorian had no delusions about ever seeing his writing supplies again, he really needed those textbooks. With that in mind, he marched off into his sister's room, ignoring the 'keep out!' warning on the door, and quickly found his missing books in the usual location – cunningly hidden under the bed, behind several conveniently placed stuffed animals.

	His packing done, he went downstairs to eat something and see what mother wanted from him.		His packing done, he went downstairs to eat something and see what mother wanted from him.

	Though his family thought he simply liked to sleep in, Zorian actually had a reason for being a late riser. It meant he could eat his food in peace, as everyone else had already had their breakfast by then. Few things annoyed him more than someone trying to strike up a conversation while he was eating, and that was precisely the time when the rest of his family ~~was~~ most talkative. Unfortunately, mother wasn't willing to wait for him today, and immediately descended upon him when she saw him coming down. He didn't even finish ~~his descent~~ down the stairs and she had already found something about him she didn't like.		Though his family thought he simply liked to sleep in, Zorian actually had a reason for being a late riser. It meant he could eat his food in peace, as everyone else had already had their breakfast by then. Few things annoyed him more than someone trying to strike up a conversation while he was eating, and that was precisely the time when the rest of his family were the most talkative. Unfortunately, mother wasn't willing to wait for him today, and immediately descended upon him when she saw him coming down. He didn't even finish descending down the stairs, and yet she had already found something about him that she didn't like.

	"You don't really intend to go out looking like that, do you?" she asked.		"You don't really intend to go out looking like that, do you?" she asked.
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	"Zorian, don't be so difficult," she snapped at him. "Our family is one of the pillars of this town. We're under scrutiny every time we leave the house. I know you don't care about such things, but appearances are important to a lot of people. You need to realize you're not an island, and you can't decide things as if you were alone in the world. You are a member of this family, and your actions inevitably reflect on our reputation. I will not let you embarrass me by looking like a common factory worker. Go back to your room and put on some proper attire."		"Zorian, don't be so difficult," she snapped at him. "Our family is one of the pillars of this town. We're under scrutiny every time we leave the house. I know you don't care about such things, but appearances are important to a lot of people. You need to realize you're not an island, and you can't decide things as if you were alone in the world. You are a member of this family, and your actions inevitably reflect on our reputation. I will not let you embarrass me by looking like a common factory worker. Go back to your room and put on some proper attire."

	Zorian restrained himself from rolling his eyes just long enough to turn his back on her. Maybe her guilt trip would have been more effective if this was the first time she tried it on him. Still, it wasn't worth the argument, so he changed into a pricier set of clothes. It was totally excessive, considering he'd be spending the whole day in the train, but his mother nodded approvingly when she saw him coming down the stairs. She had him turn and pose like a show animal for a while, before pronouncing him 'fairly decent'. He went to the kitchen and, to his annoyance, mother followed after him. No eating in peace today, it seemed.		Zorian restrained himself from rolling his eyes just long enough to turn his back on her. Maybe her guilt trip would have been more effective if this was the first time she tried it on him. Still, it wasn't worth the argument, so he changed into a pricier set of clothes. It was totally excessive, considering he would be spending the whole day in the train, but his mother nodded approvingly when she saw him coming down the stairs. She had him turn and pose like a show animal for a while, before pronouncing him 'fairly decent'. He went to the kitchen and, to his annoyance, mother followed after him. No eating in peace today, it seemed.

	Father was thankfully on one of his 'business trips', so he wouldn't have to deal with him today.		Father was thankfully on one of his 'business trips', so he wouldn't have to deal with him today.

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:58, 15 July 2014
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	"Going back to academy!" she whined, clearly aware of what he was doing. He needed to learn some new tricks. "Learning magic. Can you show me some magic?"		"Going back to academy!" she whined, clearly aware of what he was doing. He needed to learn some new tricks. "Learning magic. Can you show me some magic?"

	Zorian let out a long suffering sigh. Kirielle had always treated him as something of a playmate of hers, despite him doing his best not to encourage her, but usually she remained within certain unspoken boundaries. She was downright impossible this year, though, and mother was wholly unsympathetic to his pleas to rein her in. All he did was read all day long, she said, so it wasn't as if he was doing anything ~~important…~~ Thankfully the summer break was over and he could finally get away from them all.		Zorian let out a long suffering sigh. Kirielle had always treated him as something of a playmate of hers, despite him doing his best not to encourage her, but usually she remained within certain unspoken boundaries. She was downright impossible this year, though, and mother was wholly unsympathetic to his pleas to rein her in. All he did was read all day long, she said, so it wasn't as if he was doing anything ''important''… Thankfully the summer break was over and he could finally get away from them all.

	"Kiri, I have to pack. Why don't you go pester Fortov for a change?"		"Kiri, I have to pack. Why don't you go pester Fortov for a change?"
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	She scowled at him unhappily for a second and then perked up, as if remembering something, and quickly ran out of the room. Zorian's eyes widened when he realized what she was up to a second too late.		She scowled at him unhappily for a second and then perked up, as if remembering something, and quickly ran out of the room. Zorian's eyes widened when he realized what she was up to a second too late.

	"No!" he yelled as he ran after her, only to have the bathroom door slammed into his face. He pounded on the door in frustration. "God damn it, Kiri! You had all the time in the world to go to the bathroom before I woke up!"		"No!" he yelled as he ran after her, only to have the bathroom door slammed into his face. He pounded on the door in frustration. "God damn it, Kiri! You had all the time in the world to go to the bathroom ''before'' I woke up!"

	"Sucks to be you," was her only answer.		"Sucks to be you," was her only answer.
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	"My, I wonder why," Zorian mumbled. "Alright, fine. What about electives?"		"My, I wonder why," Zorian mumbled. "Alright, fine. What about electives?"

	Ilsa handed him another scroll, this one unsealed, containing a list of all elective classes offered by the academy. It was long. Very long. You could sign up for practically anything, even things that weren't of strictly magical nature: things like advanced mathematics, classical literature, and architecture. It was to be expected, really, since Ikosian magical tradition had always been inextricably connected to other intellectual pursuits.		Ilsa handed him another scroll, this one unsealed, containing a list of all elective classes offered by the academy. It was long. ''Very'' long. You could sign up for practically anything, even things that weren't of strictly magical nature: things like advanced mathematics, classical literature, and architecture. It was to be expected, really, since Ikosian magical tradition had always been inextricably connected to other intellectual pursuits.

	"You can choose up to 5, but no less than 3 electives this year. It would be a lot more convenient for us if you did it now, so that we can finalize the schedules over the weekend before the classes start. Don't be too intimidated by the sheer size of the list. Even if you choose something that doesn't appeal to you, you can switch to a different elective during the first month of school."		"You can choose up to 5, but no less than 3 electives this year. It would be a lot more convenient for us if you did it now, so that we can finalize the schedules over the weekend before the classes start. Don't be too intimidated by the sheer size of the list. Even if you choose something that doesn't appeal to you, you can switch to a different elective during the first month of school."
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	Because they're immature jackasses, just like Fortov, that's why.		Because they're immature jackasses, just like Fortov, that's why.

	He sighed, looking at the empty train tracks with annoyance. The train was late. He didn't mind waiting as such, but waiting in the crowds was pure torture. His family would never understand, but Zorian hated crowds. It wasn't any tangible thing, really – it was more like large gatherings of people projected some kind of presence that weighed down on him constantly. Most of the time it was annoying, though it did have its uses – his parents stopped taking him to church when they realized that dragging him into a small hall packed with people resulted in vertigo and fainting in a matter of minutes. Fortunately, the train station wasn't currently crowded enough to produce such intense effects, but Zorian knew prolonged exposure would take its toll. He hoped the train wouldn't take too long, because he didn't relish spending the rest of the day with a headache.		He sighed, looking at the empty train tracks with annoyance. The train was late. He didn't mind waiting as such, but waiting in the crowds was pure torture. His family would never understand, but Zorian hated crowds. It wasn't any tangible thing, really – it was more like large gatherings of people projected some kind of presence that weighed down on him constantly. Most of the time it was annoying, though it did have its uses – his parents stopped taking him to church when they realized that dragging him into a small hall packed with people resulted in vertigo and fainting in a matter of minutes. Fortunately, the train station wasn't currently crowded enough to produce such intense effects, but Zorian knew prolonged exposure would take its toll. He hoped the train wouldn't take ''too'' long, because he didn't relish spending the rest of the day with a headache.

	Fortov's loud laughter broke him out of such gloomy musings. His older brother didn't have such problems, that's for sure. Like always, he was cheerful, sociable, and had a smile that could light up the world. The people he was surrounded with were clearly enthralled with him, and he stood out among them at first glance, despite having the same thin build that Zorian did. He just had that kind of presence around him. He was like Daimen in this way, only Daimen had actual skills to back up his charm.		Fortov's loud laughter broke him out of such gloomy musings. His older brother didn't have such problems, that's for sure. Like always, he was cheerful, sociable, and had a smile that could light up the world. The people he was surrounded with were clearly enthralled with him, and he stood out among them at first glance, despite having the same thin build that Zorian did. He just had that kind of presence around him. He was like Daimen in this way, only Daimen had actual skills to back up his charm.
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	"Hey you! You're one of the upperclassmen aren't you?"		"Hey you! You're one of the upperclassmen aren't you?"

	Zorian looked at the girl talking to him and suppressed a groan of irritation. He so did not want to talk to these people. He had been in the train since the early morning, mother had given him a nasty lecture because he didn't offer Ilsa something to drink while she was in the house, and he was in no mood for anything.		Zorian looked at the girl talking to him and suppressed a groan of irritation. He ''so'' did not want to talk to these people. He had been in the train since the early morning, mother had given him a nasty lecture because he didn't offer Ilsa something to drink while she was in the house, and he was in no mood for anything.

	"I suppose you could describe me as such," he said cautiously.		"I suppose you could describe me as such," he said cautiously.
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	The threat of rain and bad luck aside, he felt invigorated as he drew closer to academy grounds. He was drawing on the ambient mana suffusing the area around the hole, replenishing the mana reserves he spent levitating that girl's bicycle. Mage academies were almost always built on top of mana wells for the express purpose of exploiting this effect – an area with such high ambient mana levels was a perfect place for inexperienced wizards to practice their spellcasting at, since anytime they run out of mana they could supplement their natural mana regeneration by replenishing their mana reserves from their very surroundings.		The threat of rain and bad luck aside, he felt invigorated as he drew closer to academy grounds. He was drawing on the ambient mana suffusing the area around the hole, replenishing the mana reserves he spent levitating that girl's bicycle. Mage academies were almost always built on top of mana wells for the express purpose of exploiting this effect – an area with such high ambient mana levels was a perfect place for inexperienced wizards to practice their spellcasting at, since anytime they run out of mana they could supplement their natural mana regeneration by replenishing their mana reserves from their very surroundings.

	Zorian took out an apple he still carried in his pocket and levitated it over his palm. It wasn't really a spell, so much as raw mana manipulation – a mana shaping exercise that was supposed to help mages improve their ability to control and direct magical energies. It looked like such a simple thing, but it took Zorian 2 years before he mastered it fully. Sometimes he wondered if his family was right and he really was too focused on his studies. He knew for a fact that most of his classmates had a much more tenuous control over their magic, and it didn't appear to be inhibiting them too much.		Zorian took out an apple he still carried in his pocket and levitated it over his palm. It wasn't really a spell, so much as raw mana manipulation – a mana shaping exercise that was supposed to help mages improve their ability to control and direct magical energies. It looked like such a simple thing, but it took Zorian 2 years before he mastered it fully. Sometimes he wondered if his family was right and he really was ''too'' focused on his studies. He knew for a fact that most of his classmates had a much more tenuous control over their magic, and it didn't appear to be inhibiting them too much.

	He dismissed the mana construct holding the apple in the air and let it fall down on his palm. He wished he had some kind of rain protection spell – the first drops of rain were already starting to fall. That, or an umbrella. Either would work just fine, except an umbrella didn't require several years of training to use.		He dismissed the mana construct holding the apple in the air and let it fall down on his palm. He wished he had some kind of rain protection spell – the first drops of rain were already starting to fall. That, or an umbrella. Either would work just fine, except an umbrella didn't require several years of training to use.
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	"Huh. So there is a rain protection spell," mumbled Zorian as he watched raindrops splattering upon an invisible barrier in front of him. He extended his hand over the edge of the barrier, and it passed unimpeded. He retreated his suddenly rather wet hand back into the safety of the barrier and followed the boundary as far as his eyes could follow. From what he could tell, the barrier encircled the entire academy compound (no small feat, as academy grounds were quite extensive) in a protective bubble that stopped the rain – and only rain - from penetrating it. Apparently the academy upgraded its wards again, because they didn't have this feature the last time it was raining.		"Huh. So there ''is'' a rain protection spell," mumbled Zorian as he watched raindrops splattering upon an invisible barrier in front of him. He extended his hand over the edge of the barrier, and it passed unimpeded. He retreated his suddenly rather wet hand back into the safety of the barrier and followed the boundary as far as his eyes could follow. From what he could tell, the barrier encircled the entire academy compound (no small feat, as academy grounds were quite extensive) in a protective bubble that stopped the rain – and ''only'' rain - from penetrating it. Apparently the academy upgraded its wards again, because they didn't have this feature the last time it was raining.

	Shrugging, he turned around and continued towards the administration building of the academy. It was too bad the barrier didn't also dry you out when you passed it, because he was soaking wet. Thankfully, his bag was waterproof, so his clothes and textbooks weren't in any danger of getting ruined. Slowing down to a leisurely stroll, he studied the collection of buildings that made out the academy. The wards weren't the only thing that was upgraded; the whole place looked… prettified, for a lack of a better term. Every building was freshly painted, the old brick road was replaced by a much more colorful one, the flower patches were in full bloom, and the small fountain that hadn't worked for years was suddenly functional.		Shrugging, he turned around and continued towards the administration building of the academy. It was too bad the barrier didn't also dry you out when you passed it, because he was soaking wet. Thankfully, his bag was waterproof, so his clothes and textbooks weren't in any danger of getting ruined. Slowing down to a leisurely stroll, he studied the collection of buildings that made out the academy. The wards weren't the only thing that was upgraded; the whole place looked… prettified, for a lack of a better term. Every building was freshly painted, the old brick road was replaced by a much more colorful one, the flower patches were in full bloom, and the small fountain that hadn't worked for years was suddenly functional.

	"Wonder what that's all about," he mumbled.		"Wonder what ''that's'' all about," he mumbled.

	After a few minutes of contemplation, he decided he didn't care much. He would find out sooner or later, if it was of any importance.		After a few minutes of contemplation, he decided he didn't care much. He would find out sooner or later, if it was of any importance.