Mother of Learning:Volume 01 Chapter 004 - Revision history

Drowzycow at 13:07, 7 October 2014

2014-10-07T13:07:55Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:07, 7 October 2014
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	Dimly, Zorian could hear the lich chanting in some strange language that definitely wasn't standard Ikosian used in traditional invocations, but any curiosity about this was washed away by a wave of pain and unidentifiable ''wrongness'' that suddenly slammed into him. He opened his mouth to scream but then his world suddenly erupted into bright light before suddenly going completely black.		Dimly, Zorian could hear the lich chanting in some strange language that definitely wasn't standard Ikosian used in traditional invocations, but any curiosity about this was washed away by a wave of pain and unidentifiable ''wrongness'' that suddenly slammed into him. He opened his mouth to scream but then his world suddenly erupted into bright light before suddenly going completely black.

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

Starwarscards: Grammar

2014-08-16T23:00:00Z

Grammar

Starwarscards: italicizing/spelling

2014-07-16T03:38:06Z

italicizing/spelling

Starwarscards: /* Stars Fell */

2014-07-14T07:48:45Z

Stars Fell

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Onizuka-gto: /* Stars Fell */

2014-07-11T16:14:05Z

Stars Fell

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:14, 11 July 2014
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	==Stars Fell==		===Stars Fell===

	"I'm coming, I'm coming," Zorian grumbled, stomping towards the door. Really, what's with all the frantic knocking? Who exactly was so desperate to come into his room? He wrenched the door open and found himself staring at Akoja's disapproving face. "Ako? What are you doing here?"		"I'm coming, I'm coming," Zorian grumbled, stomping towards the door. Really, what's with all the frantic knocking? Who exactly was so desperate to come into his room?
	"I should be asking you that," she said. "Why are you still at home? The dance is-"		He wrenched the door open and found himself staring at Akoja's disapproving face.
	"Two hours away," Zorian interrupted. "I can get to the dance hall in 10 minutes."		"Ako? What are you doing here?"
	"Honestly Zorian, why do you always have to wait for the last possible moment to do something? Don't you realize what bad example you're making?"		"I should be asking you that," she said.
	"Time is precious," Zorian said. "And I will repeat my question: what are you doing here? I don't think its your usual habit to seek people out when they're not early enough for your tastes."		"Why are you still at home? The dance is-"
			"Two hours away," Zorian interrupted.
			"I can get to the dance hall in 10 minutes."
			"Honestly Zorian, why do you always have to wait for the last possible moment to do something?
			Don't you realize what bad example you're making?"
			"Time is precious," Zorian said. "And I will repeat my question: what are you doing here?
			I don't think its your usual habit to seek people out when they're not early enough for your tastes."
	"Miss Zileti told me to get you," Akoja admitted.		"Miss Zileti told me to get you," Akoja admitted.
	Zorian blinked. It seems Ilsa wanted to make sure he didn't 'forget'. Hah. While the idea had occurred to him, he knew that would never fly.

			Zorian blinked. It seems Ilsa wanted to make sure he didn't 'forget'.
			Hah. While the idea had occurred to him, he knew that would never fly.
	"She also said you couldn't find a date, so that will be me for the evening," Akoja continued in a more subdued tone, suddenly finding the doorframe interesting enough to look at.		"She also said you couldn't find a date, so that will be me for the evening," Akoja continued in a more subdued tone, suddenly finding the doorframe interesting enough to look at.

	Zorian scowled. How does 'I refuse to bring a date' become 'couldn't find a date'? It seemed that Ilsa, like his mother, had a tendency to 'translate' his words into whatever is more convenient to her purposes. The two of them would get along quite well, Zorian suspected.		Zorian scowled. How does 'I refuse to bring a date' become 'couldn't find a date'? It seemed that Ilsa, like his mother, had a tendency to 'translate' his words into whatever is more convenient to her purposes. The two of them would get along quite well, Zorian suspected.
	"Anyway, get dressed so we can go already," she said, suddenly regaining her confidence. "You might be alright with cutting things close but I'm not."
	Zorian stared at her for a full second, trying to decide what to do. He was half-tempted to slam the door in her face and refuse to participate in this farce, but he supposed it wasn't Akoja's fault she got roped into this. In all likelihood she had more pleasant plans for the evening than accompanying a surly boy who loathes the experience. He shooed her into the room and went into the bathroom to get dressed.		"Anyway, get dressed so we can go already," she said, suddenly regaining her confidence.
			"You might be alright with cutting things close but I'm not."
			Zorian stared at her for a full second, trying to decide what to do.
			He was half-tempted to slam the door in her face and refuse to participate in this farce, but he supposed it wasn't Akoja's fault she got roped into this. In all likelihood she had more pleasant plans for the evening than accompanying a surly boy who loathes the experience. He shooed her into the room and went into the bathroom to get dressed.
	He really had to marvel Ilsa's manipulation skills, though – if it was just him going to this thing, he would have came dressed in casual clothes, spent the absolute minimum of time there before leaving and avoided people like a plague throughout the entire evening. Now? He didn't want to ruin Akoja's evening, which meant he would have to make at least a token effort. Yes, Ilsa and his mother would get along like two peas in a pod…		He really had to marvel Ilsa's manipulation skills, though – if it was just him going to this thing, he would have came dressed in casual clothes, spent the absolute minimum of time there before leaving and avoided people like a plague throughout the entire evening. Now? He didn't want to ruin Akoja's evening, which meant he would have to make at least a token effort. Yes, Ilsa and his mother would get along like two peas in a pod…
	The walk to the dance hall was a quiet one. Zorian refused to strike up a conversation, despite sensing that Akoja found the silence awkward. The silence suited him just fine, and he knew he would be comfortable with very few things this evening. He would enjoy the peace while it lasted.		The walk to the dance hall was a quiet one. Zorian refused to strike up a conversation, despite sensing that Akoja found the silence awkward. The silence suited him just fine, and he knew he would be comfortable with very few things this evening. He would enjoy the peace while it lasted.

Onizuka-gto: /* Stars Fell */ needs formatting. please do not edit words or grammar/sentence structure.

2014-07-11T03:43:51Z

Stars Fell: needs formatting. please do not edit words or grammar/sentence structure.

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Onizuka-gto: prep page

2014-07-11T03:35:35Z

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==Stars Fell==

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

{{MotherofLearningNavbar
|[[Mother of Learning:Volume_01_Chapter_003|Chapter 003]]
|[[Mother of Learning:Volume_01_Chapter_005|Chapter 005]]
}}
</noinclude>

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:00, 16 August 2014
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	"She also said you couldn't find a date, so that will be me for the evening," Akoja continued in a more subdued tone, suddenly finding the doorframe interesting enough to look at.		"She also said you couldn't find a date, so that will be me for the evening," Akoja continued in a more subdued tone, suddenly finding the doorframe interesting enough to look at.

	Zorian scowled. How does 'I refuse to bring a date' become 'couldn't find a date'? It seemed that Ilsa, like his mother, had a tendency to 'translate' his words into whatever is more convenient to her purposes. The two of them would get along quite well, Zorian suspected.		Zorian scowled. How does 'I refuse to bring a date' become 'couldn't find a date'? It seemed that Ilsa, like his mother, had a tendency to 'translate' his words into whatever is more convenient for her purposes. The two of them would get along quite well, Zorian suspected.

	"Anyway, get dressed so we can go already," she said, suddenly regaining her confidence. "You might be alright with cutting things close but I'm not."		"Anyway, get dressed so we can go already," she said, suddenly regaining her confidence. "You might be alright with cutting things close but I'm not."
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	Sadly, no matter how much he pleaded with Akoja, she refused to let them wait on the outskirts of the gathering until the start of the dance. As revenge, Zorian 'accidentally' managed to get separated from Akoja when they were ushered inside and got himself lost in the crowd. He chuckled to himself, wondering how long it would take Akoja to find him again. He'd be shocked if it was less than half an hour, since he was quite adept at avoiding notice of a particular person at a party without drawing attention from the other party goers.		Sadly, no matter how much he pleaded with Akoja, she refused to let them wait on the outskirts of the gathering until the start of the dance. As revenge, Zorian 'accidentally' managed to get separated from Akoja when they were ushered inside and got himself lost in the crowd. He chuckled to himself, wondering how long it would take Akoja to find him again. He'd be shocked if it was less than half an hour, since he was quite adept at avoiding notice of a particular person at a party without drawing attention from the other party goers.

	For a supposedly simple school dance, the entire event was surprisingly lavish. The tables were overflowing with food, much of it so exotic that Zorian couldn't identify it, and the hall was decorated with high-quality paintings and animated carvings that moved in pre-programmed manner. Hell, even the tablecloths were full of complicated lace and so soft they had to have been made of something monstrously expensive. Many of his fellow students were openly gaping at their surroundings and even Zorian, who had been at these kinds of events many times before was a little shocked. Then he shrugged and did his best to blend into the crowd so Akoja couldn't find him.		For a supposedly simple school dance, the entire event was surprisingly lavish. The tables were overflowing with food, much of it so exotic that Zorian couldn't identify it, and the hall was decorated with high-quality paintings and animated carvings that moved in pre-programmed manner. Hell, even the tablecloths were full of complicated lace and so soft they had to have been made of something monstrously expensive. Many of his fellow students were openly gaping at their surroundings and even Zorian, who had been at these kinds of events many times before, was a little shocked. Then he shrugged and did his best to blend into the crowd so Akoja couldn't find him.

	He meandered through the tables overflowing in food, occasionally sampling one of the dishes when he saw something interesting, observing the other people and studiously avoiding notice from anyone who might be inclined to strike up a conversation with him. He could see why Ilsa was so determined to make everything about the dance run smoothly – the sheer expense of the thing aside, it wasn't just the students that were present. There were also representatives from various guilds, Houses, societies, and organizations. And not just from the Alliance, but also from abroad, even other continents – he could see at least one man in the distinctive light blue Abnasia military uniform, A small delegation from Hsan, and a dark-skinned woman in a garb so colorful Zorian doubted anyone failed to notice her by now. He idly wondered what this dance was ''really'' about, since these people wouldn't be here for a simple school dance, before deciding he didn't really care. People like this lived in their own world, and had different standards of 'important' from mere mortals like him.		He meandered through the tables overflowing in food, occasionally sampling one of the dishes when he saw something interesting, observing the other people and studiously avoiding notice from anyone who might be inclined to strike up a conversation with him. He could see why Ilsa was so determined to make everything about the dance run smoothly – the sheer expense of the thing aside, it wasn't just the students that were present. There were also representatives from various guilds, Houses, societies, and organizations. And not just from the Alliance, but also from abroad, even other continents – he could see at least one man in the distinctive light blue Abnasia military uniform, A small delegation from Hsan, and a dark-skinned woman in a garb so colorful Zorian doubted anyone failed to notice her by now. He idly wondered what this dance was ''really'' about, since these people wouldn't be here for a simple school dance, before deciding he didn't really care. People like this lived in their own world, and had different standards of 'important' from mere mortals like him.
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	An hour later he was pretty sure Akoja was no longer in the dance hall and that she wasn't going to come back. He didn't really want to chase her through the streets in the middle of the night, so he refrained from following her outside. Besides, what was he supposed to say to her? He wouldn't know where to even start. He thought about going home himself, but in the end he simply climbed up ~~unto~~ the roof of the dance hall and observed the stars. He wasn't going to get much sleep tonight, anyway.		An hour later he was pretty sure Akoja was no longer in the dance hall and that she wasn't going to come back. He didn't really want to chase her through the streets in the middle of the night, so he refrained from following her outside. Besides, what was he supposed to say to her? He wouldn't know where to even start. He thought about going home himself, but in the end he simply climbed up onto the roof of the dance hall and observed the stars. He wasn't going to get much sleep tonight, anyway.

	To keep his mind occupied, he silently named all the stars and constellations he could see. Due to his interest in the topic as a child and the Astronomy class they had in their first year at the Academy, he knew quite a bit, so it was a full hour before he ran out of things to name and describe.		To keep his mind occupied, he silently named all the stars and constellations he could see. Due to his interest in the topic as a child and the Astronomy class they had in their first year at the Academy, he knew quite a bit, so it was a full hour before he ran out of things to name and describe.

	Monday was going to be awkward. Zorian had no doubt their little drama was overheard and would be ''the'' topic of conversation for several ~~week~~ to come. Considering that Akoja was a bit of a teacher's pet in most of the subjects, the teachers could very well decide to make his life more difficult in the days to come as well.		Monday was going to be awkward. Zorian had no doubt their little drama was overheard and would be ''the'' topic of conversation for several weeks to come. Considering that Akoja was a bit of a teacher's pet in most of the subjects, the teachers could very well decide to make his life more difficult in the days to come as well.

	Damn it all.		Damn it all.
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	Ilsa and Kyron shared a look between each other before turning back to him.		Ilsa and Kyron shared a look between each other before turning back to him.

	"Go join Akoja and the others in the dance hall," Ilsa told. "~~Well~~ see what is happening and teleport everyone into the shelters if necessary."		"Go join Akoja and the others in the dance hall," Ilsa told. "We'll see what is happening and teleport everyone into the shelters if necessary."

	The both pushed past him and rushed to the roof, leaving Zorian to stumble into the dance hall in a daze. Akoja… Akoja wasn't in the dance hall. She left. Because of him. She was out there, maybe even already dead…		The both pushed past him and rushed to the roof, leaving Zorian to stumble into the dance hall in a daze. Akoja… Akoja wasn't in the dance hall. She left. Because of him. She was out there, maybe even already dead…
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	"What is that?" Zorian asked suspiciously. The rod had none of the markings that might identify what it's for, which made Zorian a bit leery of it. Using unknown magical objects without identifying what they're for was a big no-no if you wanted to remain healthy and alive into your old age.		"What is that?" Zorian asked suspiciously. The rod had none of the markings that might identify what it's for, which made Zorian a bit leery of it. Using unknown magical objects without identifying what they're for was a big no-no if you wanted to remain healthy and alive into your old age.

	"It's a teleport rod," Zach said. "It's programmed to transport ~~whomever~~ is holding it to the shelters. I've set it to a 30 second delay, so hold it before you're left behind."		"It's a teleport rod," Zach said. "It's programmed to transport whoever is holding it to the shelters. I've set it to a 30 second delay, so hold it before you're left behind."

	"But what about you?" Akoja asked. "You need to hold on too before it activates!"		"But what about you?" Akoja asked. "You need to hold on too before it activates!"
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	"You'd be dead, then!" Zorian protested. He wasn't going to let a person who helped him so much tonight die from a stray spell if he could help it. Besides, whomever was casting that would surely fall to Zach's magical might, just like the rest of the creatures and enemy mages they encountered so far. Just how bad could this enemy caster be, really?		"You'd be dead, then!" Zorian protested. He wasn't going to let a person who helped him so much tonight die from a stray spell if he could help it. Besides, whomever was casting that would surely fall to Zach's magical might, just like the rest of the creatures and enemy mages they encountered so far. Just how bad could this enemy caster be, really?

	A sudden gust of air blew the dust away and a gaunt humanoid figure stepped into view. Zorian actually gasped in surprise as he took in the appearance of the thing in front of them. It was a skeleton wreathed in sickly green light. Its bones were black with a strange metallic sheen, as if they were not bones at all, but rather a facsimile of a skeleton made out of some kind of black metal. Encased in gold-decorated armor, with a scepter held tightly in one of its skeletal hands and a crown full of purple gemstones, the creature ~~looking~~ like some long-dead king risen from the dead.		A sudden gust of air blew the dust away and a gaunt humanoid figure stepped into view. Zorian actually gasped in surprise as he took in the appearance of the thing in front of them. It was a skeleton wreathed in sickly green light. Its bones were black with a strange metallic sheen, as if they were not bones at all, but rather a facsimile of a skeleton made out of some kind of black metal. Encased in gold-decorated armor, with a scepter held tightly in one of its skeletal hands and a crown full of purple gemstones, the creature looked like some long-dead king risen from the dead.

	It was a lich. It was a trice-damned ''lich''! Oh, they were so going to die…		It was a lich. It was a trice-damned ''lich''! Oh, they were so going to die…
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	"Zorian, run away while I deal with this guy," Zach said, clutching the staff in his hand.		"Zorian, run away while I deal with this guy," Zach said, clutching the staff in his hand.

	Without waiting for a response, Zach launched a barrage of magic missile towards the lich, who retaliated with a trio of purple beams as it erected an aegis around itself with a single wave of ~~it's~~ bony hand. Two of them were aimed at Zach, but sadly enough the lich saw fit to aim one towards Zorian's retreating form. While it failed to hit Zorian directly, the beam's impact with the nearby ground created a sizeable explosion that drove stone shrapnel into his legs. The pain was immense, and Zorian collapsed on the ground in an instant, unable to take a single step further.		Without waiting for a response, Zach launched a barrage of magic missile towards the lich, who retaliated with a trio of purple beams as it erected an aegis around itself with a single wave of its bony hand. Two of them were aimed at Zach, but sadly enough the lich saw fit to aim one towards Zorian's retreating form. While it failed to hit Zorian directly, the beam's impact with the nearby ground created a sizeable explosion that drove stone shrapnel into his legs. The pain was immense, and Zorian collapsed on the ground in an instant, unable to take a single step further.

	Over the next five minutes, Zorian painfully dragged himself behind a nearby cart, hoping that it would shield him from at least some of the destructive power that was being thrown around in the battle. Zach was keeping the lich occupied enough that it didn't send any more spells after Zorian after the initial beam, which was fortunate because Zorian was no longer in any state to evade them. He watched with growing unease as Zach and the lich exchanged various destructive spells that Zorian couldn't even identify, realizing with rising dread that his prediction of their grisly death was well founded – no matter how good Zach was, he was not even in the same league as the lich. The thing was toying with the other boy, and was bound to tire of the game sooner or-		Over the next five minutes, Zorian painfully dragged himself behind a nearby cart, hoping that it would shield him from at least some of the destructive power that was being thrown around in the battle. Zach was keeping the lich occupied enough that it didn't send any more spells after Zorian after the initial beam, which was fortunate because Zorian was no longer in any state to evade them. He watched with growing unease as Zach and the lich exchanged various destructive spells that Zorian couldn't even identify, realizing with rising dread that his prediction of their grisly death was well founded – no matter how good Zach was, he was not even in the same league as the lich. The thing was toying with the other boy, and was bound to tire of the game sooner or-
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	"You seem surprisingly unconcerned considering you're about to die," the lich remarked conversationally.		"You seem surprisingly unconcerned considering you're about to die," the lich remarked conversationally.

	"Ah, whatever, " said Zack, rolling his eyes. "It's not like I'll be dead for good."		"Ah, whatever," said Zack, rolling his eyes. "It's not like I'll be dead for good."

	Zorian looked at Zach incredulously, not really understanding what Zach was getting at. The lich seemed to understand, though.		Zorian looked at Zach incredulously, not really understanding what Zach was getting at. The lich seemed to understand, though.

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:38, 16 July 2014
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	For a supposedly simple school dance, the entire event was surprisingly lavish. The tables were overflowing with food, much of it so exotic that Zorian couldn't identify it, and the hall was decorated with high-quality paintings and animated carvings that moved in pre-programmed manner. Hell, even the tablecloths were full of complicated lace and so soft they had to have been made of something monstrously expensive. Many of his fellow students were openly gaping at their surroundings and even Zorian, who had been at these kinds of events many times before was a little shocked. Then he shrugged and did his best to blend into the crowd so Akoja couldn't find him.		For a supposedly simple school dance, the entire event was surprisingly lavish. The tables were overflowing with food, much of it so exotic that Zorian couldn't identify it, and the hall was decorated with high-quality paintings and animated carvings that moved in pre-programmed manner. Hell, even the tablecloths were full of complicated lace and so soft they had to have been made of something monstrously expensive. Many of his fellow students were openly gaping at their surroundings and even Zorian, who had been at these kinds of events many times before was a little shocked. Then he shrugged and did his best to blend into the crowd so Akoja couldn't find him.

	He meandered through the tables overflowing in food, occasionally sampling one of the dishes when he saw something interesting, observing the other people and studiously avoiding notice from anyone who might be inclined to strike up a conversation with him. He could see why Ilsa was so determined to make everything about the dance run smoothly – the sheer expense of the thing aside, it wasn't just the students that were present. There were also representatives from various guilds, Houses, societies, and organizations. And not just from the Alliance, but also from abroad, even other continents – he could see at least one man in the distinctive light blue Abnasia military uniform, A small delegation from Hsan, and a dark-skinned woman in a garb so colorful Zorian doubted anyone failed to notice her by now. He idly wondered what this dance was really about, since these people wouldn't be here for a simple school dance, before deciding he didn't really care. People like this lived in their own world, and had different standards of 'important' from mere mortals like him.		He meandered through the tables overflowing in food, occasionally sampling one of the dishes when he saw something interesting, observing the other people and studiously avoiding notice from anyone who might be inclined to strike up a conversation with him. He could see why Ilsa was so determined to make everything about the dance run smoothly – the sheer expense of the thing aside, it wasn't just the students that were present. There were also representatives from various guilds, Houses, societies, and organizations. And not just from the Alliance, but also from abroad, even other continents – he could see at least one man in the distinctive light blue Abnasia military uniform, A small delegation from Hsan, and a dark-skinned woman in a garb so colorful Zorian doubted anyone failed to notice her by now. He idly wondered what this dance was ''really'' about, since these people wouldn't be here for a simple school dance, before deciding he didn't really care. People like this lived in their own world, and had different standards of 'important' from mere mortals like him.

	An hour later the first dance was about to start and Zorian made his way to Akoja. She was fuming, and didn't appear to believe him when he claimed he had honestly gotten lost and couldn't find her until now, but she managed to restrain herself from blowing up at him. He led her to the dance floor and didn't retaliate when she 'accidentally' stepped on his toes a couple of times.		An hour later the first dance was about to start and Zorian made his way to Akoja. She was fuming, and didn't appear to believe him when he claimed he had honestly gotten lost and couldn't find her until now, but she managed to restrain herself from blowing up at him. He led her to the dance floor and didn't retaliate when she 'accidentally' stepped on his toes a couple of times.
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	Aw ''crap''.		Aw ''crap''.

	All this time he thought Akoja was roped into this to keep an eye on him, but what if she had wanted to go with him? That…		All this time he thought Akoja was roped into this to keep an eye on him, but what if she had ''wanted'' to go with him? That…

	She fled before he could figure out something to say.		She fled before he could figure out something to say.
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	To keep his mind occupied, he silently named all the stars and constellations he could see. Due to his interest in the topic as a child and the Astronomy class they had in their first year at the Academy, he knew quite a bit, so it was a full hour before he ran out of things to name and describe.		To keep his mind occupied, he silently named all the stars and constellations he could see. Due to his interest in the topic as a child and the Astronomy class they had in their first year at the Academy, he knew quite a bit, so it was a full hour before he ran out of things to name and describe.

	Monday was going to be awkward. Zorian had no doubt their little drama was overheard and would be the topic of conversation for several week to come. Considering that Akoja was a bit of a teacher's pet in most of the subjects, the teachers could very well decide to make his life more difficult in the days to come as well.		Monday was going to be awkward. Zorian had no doubt their little drama was overheard and would be ''the'' topic of conversation for several week to come. Considering that Akoja was a bit of a teacher's pet in most of the subjects, the teachers could very well decide to make his life more difficult in the days to come as well.

	Damn it all.		Damn it all.
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	It was hard to tell whether it was simply a consequence of his hearing being damaged, but he noticed the faint sounds of celebration had stopped. Looking over the city he noticed that what happened to the residence building wasn't an isolated occurrence – wherever one of the flares hit, it left devastation in it's wake. He only had a few seconds to ponder this before he noticed another batch of flares start ascending into the sky from the distance. This particular barrage was not masked by the fireworks, so it was pretty obvious that they ''were'' artillery spells. They were under attack.		It was hard to tell whether it was simply a consequence of his hearing being damaged, but he noticed the faint sounds of celebration had stopped. Looking over the city he noticed that what happened to the residence building wasn't an isolated occurrence – wherever one of the flares hit, it left devastation in it's wake. He only had a few seconds to ponder this before he noticed another batch of flares start ascending into the sky from the distance. This particular barrage was not masked by the fireworks, so it was pretty obvious that they ''were'' artillery spells. They were under attack.

	As the flares started dropping back to earth, Zorian began to panic. What the hell was he supposed to do!? Running away would be pointless since he didn't know what the flares were targeted at, and he could very well be running straight into the area of effect if he runs blindly. Wait a minute, why does he have to do anything? There is a bunch of capable mages in the building, and he should just notify them and have them handle it. He rushed down into the dance hall.		As the flares started dropping back to earth, Zorian began to panic. What the hell was he supposed to do!? Running away would be pointless since he didn't know what the flares were targeted at, and he could very well be running straight into the area of effect if he runs blindly. Wait a minute, why does ''he'' have to do anything? There is a bunch of capable mages in the building, and he should just notify them and have them handle it. He rushed down into the dance hall.

	He had barely stepped on to the stairway when he ran into Ilsa and Kyron.		He had barely stepped on to the stairway when he ran into Ilsa and Kyron.
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	And so he did. They traveled through the burning streets of the city, leaving a trail of dead invaders behind them. Zach didn't even try to avoid the monsters, simply plowing through them like an angry god out for vengeance. At one point they were even attacked by a horde of skeletons and an enemy mage, but Zach simply made the earth beneath their feet open up and swallow them. Zorian dutifully kept his mouth shut and never questioned Zach about his seemingly inexhaustible mana reserves or his knowledge of advanced magic that should be beyond his access level and proficiency, content to enjoy the benefits of Zach's skill and talent. He would never have come this far without Zach's help, and he was honestly grateful for the boy's assistance. Zach could keep his secrets, whatever they were.		And so he did. They traveled through the burning streets of the city, leaving a trail of dead invaders behind them. Zach didn't even try to avoid the monsters, simply plowing through them like an angry god out for vengeance. At one point they were even attacked by a horde of skeletons and an enemy mage, but Zach simply made the earth beneath their feet open up and swallow them. Zorian dutifully kept his mouth shut and never questioned Zach about his seemingly inexhaustible mana reserves or his knowledge of advanced magic that should be beyond his access level and proficiency, content to enjoy the benefits of Zach's skill and talent. He would never have come this far without Zach's help, and he was honestly grateful for the boy's assistance. Zach could keep his secrets, whatever they were.

	They eventually found Akoja barricaded in the upper floor of one of the houses. Apparently she was chased there by a pack of winter wolves and then refused to leave for fear that the creatures are lying in wait for her to come out. Smart, really. Smarter than what Zorian had done, that's for sure. Fortunately there was no trace of winter wolves around the house at this point – not that Zach was likely to have had any trouble with them if they were present – so they moved to the slightly frustrating task of convincing Akoja it's safe to unbarricade the door. Apparently her experience with the winter wolves had shaken her up pretty badly.		They eventually found Akoja barricaded in the upper floor of one of the houses. Apparently she was chased there by a pack of winter wolves and then refused to leave for fear that the creatures are lying in wait for her to come out. Smart, really. Smarter than what Zorian had done, that's for sure. Fortunately there was no trace of winter wolves around the house at this point – not that Zach was likely to have had any trouble with them if they ''were'' present – so they moved to the slightly frustrating task of convincing Akoja it's safe to unbarricade the door. Apparently her experience with the winter wolves had shaken her up pretty badly.

	Zorian was certain she would blame him for causing her to leave the safety of the dance hall, so he was quite surprised when Akoja immediately latched onto him when she finally opened the door, hugging him and sobbing into his shoulder.		Zorian was certain she would blame him for causing her to leave the safety of the dance hall, so he was quite surprised when Akoja immediately latched onto him when she finally opened the door, hugging him and sobbing into his shoulder.
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	The lich casually gestured towards Zorian, and he suddenly felt his entire body freeze up as it was encased in some alien force. Another wave and Zorian was hurled with great speed towards the shocked Zach, where he painfully slammed into the other boy. They both ended up on the ground in a tangle of limbs, and Zorian was relieved that at least the unknown force paralyzing him was gone.		The lich casually gestured towards Zorian, and he suddenly felt his entire body freeze up as it was encased in some alien force. Another wave and Zorian was hurled with great speed towards the shocked Zach, where he painfully slammed into the other boy. They both ended up on the ground in a tangle of limbs, and Zorian was relieved that at least the unknown force paralyzing him was gone.

	"It doesn't matter if your soul can be reincarnated elsewhere if someone mutilates if beyond recognition before it gets there," the lich said. "After all, the soul may be immortal, but no one said it cannot be altered or added to."		"It doesn't matter if your soul can be reincarnated elsewhere if someone mutilates it beyond recognition before it gets there," the lich said. "After all, the soul may be immortal, but no one said it cannot be altered or added to."

	Dimly, Zorian could hear the lich chanting in some strange language that definitely wasn't standard Ikosian used in traditional invocations, but any curiosity about this was washed away by a wave of pain and unidentifiable wrongness that suddenly slammed into him. He opened his mouth to scream but then his world suddenly erupted into bright light before suddenly going completely black.		Dimly, Zorian could hear the lich chanting in some strange language that definitely wasn't standard Ikosian used in traditional invocations, but any curiosity about this was washed away by a wave of pain and unidentifiable ''wrongness'' that suddenly slammed into him. He opened his mouth to scream but then his world suddenly erupted into bright light before suddenly going completely black.

	==Author's Notes and References==		==Author's Notes and References==