Teachers and Teaching

[Hadrian]

48th Summer, 512 A.V. "...and so despite all the various crimes against humanity committed by magicians on both sides of the Suva-Alahea conflict, it was Ivak's great eruption that put the nail in the coffin of the reputation of practitioners of the magical arts throughout most of Mizahar. After centuries of conflict, unethical experimentation, treaties signed with the intent to break them, it was the conflict between the gods reflecting the conflict on the ground that caused the Valterrian. "Gnosis-bearing mystics following many deities offer versions of that conflict, but the god of peace and civilization died, the god of emotional turbulence and necessary violence was chained, and the god of chaos and deceit seems to have been at the helm. Now wizards and sorceresses are viewed with suspicion the continent over. Sahova is an enclave for the undead practitioners, of course, and Zeltiva is ever so enlightened, but for the most part and for the common person, magic is a frightening thing and those who wield it terrible people. "There is some wisdom in their fear, of course, but the path through fear is lit by education, knowledge, and true wisdom. If reports that the wild djed storms were caused by an eruption of Mount Skyinarta and that the eruption was caused by Ivak's return to the world are true, then the effects of the storm might not only alter the landscape of magic, but the way in which it affects lives, and the way in which its practitioners are treated. "Thank you." The end of his lecture came abruptly, and he could only hope that it would garner him some students of philosophy and history, culture and literature. It seemed like there was a rash of students interested in magic, when Hadrian had been on the fringes of a small group not two years previous. He ducked out before Zilpah could corner him about her thesis, and he bypassed his office, taking a side corridor and crossing a small courtyard to get to the building's exit faster. It seemed wise to stay at the cottage this evening, after all.

[Zerren Verre]

Purposefully, Zerren made his way through the aimlessly roaming Zeltivans coming and going from the university. Occasionally a student or student-to-be would bump up against the sack slung across Zerren's shoulder and be rewarded with a glare and growl. The best and brightest in all of Mizahar and they can't see two feet in front of their noses. Like seagulls flapping around. Zerren scowled for a second but then reconsidered. Why shouldn't I use a phrase I picked up from my time on the Hilos? It's not like it was the phrases that beat me mercilessly when I did something wrong or tossed me overboard when I... Zerren realized that he had stopped moving and was grinding his teeth together. Ah yes, that's why I can't use phrases I picked up at sea. Zerren shook his head and started forward once more. The roaming crowds were becoming less frequent the closer he got to the entrance to the school itself and almost all of them he passed were leaving the school. I wonder how that works... Zerren turned around and watched a student as she walked towards town. Suddenly, a couple other students who had been coming towards the school stopped and started walking back towards town with the girl, chatting with her. So they get distracted from what they were originally doing and start walking in the other direction or just stop entirely... Just like me, right now. Zerren turned again and realized that Hadrian, the man he had been coming to see, was hurrying past him about twenty feet away. Zerren grinned and started after the professor. Looks like I'll never get to the university either. Zerren started to shout after Hadrian but reconsidered. It's not every day that I get the chance to stalk someone who probably won't try to kill me when they notice... And it's not like he wouldn't have been leading me wherever he was going right now if I had shown up thirty chimes earlier... Already Zerren was maneuvering so that he could be in the shadows as he followed Hadrian along. Stalking people is a lot like stalking deer. Only people can't hear half as well and aren't nearly as cautious. Of course, spotting a man in all black carrying a sack is probably far easier than spotting a panther... But is it enough easier that Hadrian will spot me? Hmmm...

[Hadrian]

As was often his wont, Hadrian's mind began to roam as he walked. Once out of the building, the coast was mostly clear and his feet knew the route home quite well. There had been many late nights at the library or in the magecrafting labs as a student when he had stumbled home barely awake, and so he needed little attention to do so now. He led Zerren on an easy chase, and it didn't take long to leave the University grounds and then the Old Quarter with its pre-Valterrian architecture. His little neighborhood was not rich as one might expect living so close to the ancient buildings, but it was none to shabby either. His father had bought it for him as a home during his student days rather than have him live in the dormitories, and for the most part he had been happy with that arrangement. It was much cleaner now that he had been in town long enough for the cobwebs and dust to be dealt with, but then they had given him quarters at the University as well. His cup runneth over. His cottage was not remarkable, and the narrow verge running between his house and the sidewalk was a tangle of grass and weeds. Unsightly, said some of his neighbors, but he hadn't been there for two years to hear their grousing. Perhaps someday he would see to that... He put his hand on the door, key out to let himself in. The population of this house was uncertain still. Lucas was getting student dormitories, but still came over sometimes. Ethan and Xnnn, the Kelvics. Hadrian hadn't seen Kendall, though. He thought the blond had gone back to his family to repair their breach, but Kendall seemed to want distance, so Hadrian left him alone.

[Zerren Verre]

As Zerren silently followed Hadrian through the streets of Zeltiva, he quickly realized that it wasn't going to be much of a challenge. All he does is look straight ahead or at his feet. He doesn't even glance to is side when he turns a corner. I've seen turtles who were more attentive. Dead turtles. Being fairly certain that Hadrian wouldn't spot him even if Zerren started singing sailor tunes at the top of his lungs, Zerren relaxed a little and observed the Old Quarter as they passed through it. I've never really taken any time to come through here and enjoy this part of town. It's really quite beautiful. And it was, looking up at the old buildings was like looking up at an old tree in the forest. Having with stood ages of punishment and weather, it gave Zerren a sense of awe to look up at them. These buildings have been around longer than I've been on this planet. They were here before my father was, and remained after he had gone. I wonder why he never brought me here. He was always gone to distant parts of Mizahar, and I could never join him because I couldn't set foot on a boat without breaking down and fleeing headlong back to the house... I wish I'd gotten over it now. Wish I could have at least been with him when the ship went down. Maybe I could have saved him... Zerren shook his head, it did no good to dwell on what could have happened if things had been different. The past isn't for living in, it's for springing forward into the future. That's what Zerren told himself every time he started to think of his father's death. Maybe one of these days I'll believe it. Zerren decided it was time to reveal himself. I'd rather talk with Hadrian than with my ghosts, I'm sure he won't make me half as depressed. Conveniently, Hadrian had chosen that moment to stop in front of an old house that reminded Zerren of his own. The only way you can tell someone's living here is because there's a path between the door and the street. Zerren quickly jogged up behind Hadrian and spoke. "I hope you don't walk around town at night. Because if you payed twice as much attention then as you did walking home from the university just now, you probably wouldn't have any clothes, let alone a coin in your pocket." Zerren grinned and leaned back against the house, setting his sack down at his feet. "Hope you don't mind me following you, you just seemed so deep in thought that I didn't want to interrupt. Is this where you live?"

[Hadrian]

The key turned in the lock, the door opening under his hand. He turned back to blink quizzically, then smile slightly in recognition. "Oh. Hello, Zerren. On the short walk from the University in broad daylight, my safety isn't generally in question. At night, I would pay much better attention." He could, and certainly would, pay more attention in such a situation. Hadrian could sense a man laying wait with ill intent at a rather good distance, far enough to prepare a magical response. "Won't you come in?" he asked, holding the door for the young Kelvic.

[Zerren Verre]

"Well, since you offer, I suppose I will." Zerren picked up his bag again and walked through the open door. "And it doesn't work to say you'd pay attention if the situation became dangerous. With the way you were walking, you wouldn't have noticed a stray ship that managed to get miles inland until it hit you." Zerren cringed a little at his own choice of phrase, but didn't dwell on it. As he stepped the rest of the way inside, he glanced quickly about the cabin, looking for somewhere to set down his bag. "I brought some rabbit and a bit of deer for you. Caught just last night." And with no small amount of difficulty... Zerren had spent a day and two night trying to bring down the thing and then been forced to leave the majority of it in the forest because it was too much to haul back all the way to his house. "Where should I put 'em?"

[Hadrian]

"Well, I have survived this long," he said, not really wanting to argue. He felt safe in Zeltiva, and normally he knew one of the Kelvics was stalking him or he was in enough daylight that crime was not common. But the young Kelvic certainly had a point; he should be more alert. "Oh, thank you." He was careful to thank the Kelvic for the offer of food. Food was life to Kelvics; they understood that primal connection, and so the gift of food was akin to the gift of life. "Over here in the kitchen, please." He led the way; it wasn't far. The cottage was spacious with just the two of them in it, but it was no Stormhold Citadel. It was cooler in the kitchen than anywhere else, and either one of the Kelvics could eat it raw, or they could cook it for human consumption before the end of the day. Raw meat didn't keep well in the summer months. "I appreciate it. Did you come just to make sure I was fed and not being killed by street thieves?" he asked with a vague smile.

[Ethan]

"I thought that was my job," Ethan walked in and closed the door behind him, only catching the last bits of their conversation. "protecting you from theives and other scum." He kept his tone polite, for Hadrian's sake, but he was clearly displeased with the thought of company. His watch had been long and tiresome. His sheild and other armaments were left at the barracks but he was still draped in his Wave Guard uniform. "You must be Zerren. Pleasure to meet you." Ethan forced a smile and went to shake his hand. Unsure if the Kelvic was really as civilized as his teacher claimed. "Hadrian has told me much about you." OOCSorry for it being short but I wanted to squeeze myself in there >:D

[Zerren Verre]

Zerren followed Hadrian across the house and into the kitchen area and set the bag down one last time in the corner of the room furthest from the outside wall. He was turning to answer but pulled himself short as a man walked into the room and spoke. Hadrian doesn't seem overly suprised to see him or worried at all, so he probably isn't dangerous. Might even live here. Not sure I like the amount of emphasis he put on that 'other scum' bit though. I hope he makes terrible first impressions and then makes up for them later. Zerren stepped forward and smiled right back at Ethan, taking his hand and shaking it firmly, possibly overly firmly. "If it's your job to keep him safe, I'd be shocked if you had time to sleep. I think I know a bit about you as well actually. You're Ethan, right?" Zerren looked the man over, searching for any trace of birdiness about him. No feathers that I can see, no talons on his fingers, and his eyes... Zerren peered at the man's eyes closely, it was similar to staring at the reflection of the sky in the sea. Ah... Might not mean that he's the bird I'm looking for, but those are most certainly not human. No more than my eyes are. Not that my eyes really do anything in my human form... "Tell me, do your eyes work as well in human form as they do when you're a bird?"

[Hadrian]

Hadrian had noted the approaching aura, but not commented on it. Instead he smiled welcome. "Zerren brought us some meat," he said, indicating the wrapped stuff. That might soften Ethan a bit, as he would know how primal and important the sharing of food could be, symbolically and otherwise. Hadrian hoped the two Kelvics would get along, but they were both male predators and Ethan had not been especially pleased with Xnnn or Tiki or even Cathan. But other than that vote of confidence in the feline Kelvic, Hadrian fell quiet and let them interact. It was interesting to observe.