Child's Play

[Hadrian]

"You might recognize some root glyphs," he allowed grudgingly after Kaeson answered all his questions with a nervous student's alacrity. This mollified Hadrian somewhat. He had practiced on his own for so long now, he wasn't used to people questioning his methods. "My style started with the written form of Nader-canoch-- You speak Nader-canoch, don't you? You had better before you graduate. No self-respecting, classically trained magus should be ignorant of Nader-canoch. Anyway, you might get the gist of things if you can recognize the root glyphs, though I have studied various forms of runes, hieroglyphs, and cuneiform." He shrugged. "In the end, whatever catches your imagination. "Kaeson Dakano," he murmured thoughtfully. Of course, he knew Moara, had been her student at one point. He knew Fianza by reputation, but his own experimentation in summoning had come after graduation. This Rayage, he didn't know. He should have met him by now. "Anthropology," he corrected, and he was not lying. But then he turned back to the task at hand. The soulcore and persona were done, and he took a few minutes to teach it a few more things it ought to know in order to best interact with children and amuse them. Lastly, he began to mold its astral body, which would allow it to actually move, the pinwheel needing its own power to spin and flutter without borrowing wind or breath from nature or person. Its basic movements were to spin one way or spin the other, and those were quickly taught, but he further taught it about air currents and how short, intense bursts of spinning might pitch it forward to fly as its bug-soul would. Finally, when the pinwheel was complete, he paused to look at the student, who knew more animation that he was letting on if Hadrian knew how to read a person. Perhaps he would have some input before Hadrian sealed the deal and awoke his new creation.

[Kaeson Dakano]

"I know Nader-Canoch...," Kaeson's voice trailed off, making his lie more obvious. "At least the basics," he added, smiling awkwardly. The little he did know had been picked up at the various apprentices Kaeson had, not enough to read through ancient texts, but enough to read some of the more basic glyphs he had been taught so far. "I've never studied the ancient tongue formally, although I suppose studying glyphing has taught me more then I originally knew."

"Anthropology?" Kaeson asked, his question coming more from curiosty then disbelief. He had expected the young professor to teach a magical discipline, Kaeson had assumed the young man a professor of animation after all.

But everyone had their hobbies, although Kaeson assumed the man before him to be more then a magical hobiest. The glyphs the man had laid out over the animation circles were far too complex for Kaeson to read, this leading Kaeson to believe the man was more the aquatinted with the more ornate arts. "Animation? Magecrafting? Reimancy?," Kaeson thought to himself, listing as many of the magical arts as he could, trying to fine one that would fit with this secretive professor.

Kaeson notice the man glance over his way, which allowed for questions on Kaeson's part. "What do the glyphs do exactly, Professor...," Kaeson's voiced trailed off as he realized the man hadn't given him his name, "And, if you don't mind me asking, what directives did you use? Why did you decide on using a bug as the soulcore?" Kaeson asked the questions as innocently as he could manage, his real intent to find out how much the man knew of the art of animation.

[Hadrian]

"Hm." He didn't seem impressed, but then he knew he had grown up with the advantages of tutors, knowing a good deal of the ancient tongue before he matriculated into the University. "If you mean these glyphs specifically, they stabilize my work so I can stop and chat with you without losing my work. If you mean glyphs in general, than you had better run back to your professor with your tail between your legs. I chose the bug because it has wings, and what is a pinwheel except a collection of neatly arranged wings? A flying bug understands the air innately, being a creature of Air. The directives were simple, because its actions and intellect will be simple." He turned back to his work, tweaked a few things, and then said aloud in the ancient tongue: "Awake!" There was a pulse in the rings as the soulcore transferred from the source to the destination, knitting itself to the structure of the pinwheel. The support glyphs disappeared, their work done. He released the gentle hypnotic hold on the bug, and it buzzed into the air to go about its business. The pinwheel shivered and shook, answering his command, waking up. He picked it up. "Observe." With a brief, gentle breath of air along the feathery wings of the pinwheel, it began to spin fanatically, comically, blowing his hair back. He laughed then, his scholarly gravitas banished by a simple joy that he hoped the children would share.

[Kaeson Dakano]

Kaeson rolled his eyes, "I did mean those glyphs, specifically," he said, hardly believing the professor would take him for such a fool. "I understand the general reasoning behind glyph -- it's a support magic," Kaeson added coolly, casual in his confidence.

Hearing the man command the pinwheel awake, Kaeson eagerly turned his attentions towards the animation. A pulse of energy resonated throughout the animation rings, quickly accompanied by the disappearance of the intricate glyphs. The feathered pinwheel shook and shuddered, signaling the completion of what Kaeson expected to be a successfully animation.

And then the bug flew off.

Kaeson hardly needed to be told to observe, animation in general being a source of fascination for the young man. Kaeson watched as the pinwheel gather strength, and began to spin with a magical force. The professor laughed as the unnatural breeze blew back his black hair stained with blue.

"I wonder, Professor, if you have any plans for any further animations? Or possibly take a donation for your charity?" Kaeson asked, more out of interest then actual generosity. "I don't believe I ever got your name..."

[Hadrian]

Kaeson asked an awful lot of questions when he was trying to work a delicate enchantment, but ultimately the careful planning and even more careful application of willpower paid off. The pinwheel was animated, and now the orphans would have a toy to share that even rich children might not boast. This gave him a small smile to himself, the pleasure of giving. Regarding the student, he was not sure whether Tock wanted people knowing what she was up to. He was certainly one to err on the side of absolute secrecy, but Kaeson was offering to help with the orphans and it didn't seem like he should turn such help away. "For the time being, animation is not the focus of my work, but I will continue to craft animated toys for the orphanage. With time and diligence, I might even make one for each and every orphan, which would help them feel special in a good way despite all having lost parents. Not an exchange, of course, but a consolation. If you wish to practice simple things such as that and donate them, I'm sure the children will appreciate your efforts. The children at the infirmary certainly enjoy the partially animated puppets someone created for them. "I'm Hadrian Aelius, temporary stand-in for Professor Stonemiller's advanced students and, as I said, anthropology." Perhaps it seemed disingenuous. That a professor of humanities and social sciences was practicing more than one discipline of world magic in his office would point to a lot of things, but he wasn't the only crazy professor in the building.

[Kaeson Dakano]

"I - I would like to donate my, uh, efforts, Professor," Kaeson quietly said, slightly stuttering in his response. "Of course, it could never be considered an exchange," Kaeson repeated Hadrian's words, affiriming what he already knew to be true, his eyes slowing fading to a light jade, "But hopefully it can be considered a small consolation considering their situation," he mumbled.

Kaeson sighed audibly, a wave of depression rushing over the young animator. Orphan. He had lost his only parent, his only care giver at 16 -- Kaeson supposed that he could considered himself an orphan, although he hadn't grown up one. Kaeson had been made an orphan by Dira, by Fate.

The way Hadrian spoke of these orphans, Kaeson assumed them to be much younger then he had been -- much too young to be alone. He supposed he should consider himself lucky in that regard; Kaeson had been left alone, much too quickly for his preference, but he had been able to make something out of his situation or rather, his magic had allowed him to make something out of his situation. Animation led him to Alvadas, and then to Riverfall. Kaeson had passed through Abura and landed in Zeltiva. Magic had given him the chance to be happy.

Maybe magic could do the same thing for one of Hadrian's orphans.

Kaeson quickly rummage through his pack, looking for the one thing he had kept all these years, "I think I have something for the orphans, now, If you'll take it Hadrian -- uh, Professor Aelius," Kaeson quickly said, still not quite sure on what to call Hadrian. He was, technically, a professor after all. Just not one Kaeson would be studying under.

Kaeson pulled out a small toy soldier, placing on Hadrian's desk. Slowly, and clumsily, the toy soldier managed to walk itself to the end of the desk and back. Kaeson smiled.

"His name is Toy Soldier, not as creative as some of my newer animations, but it gets the point across. He was my first, or rather, my first successful animation. I've had him for ages and he's helped me out of a couple of rough patches, but I'd like to think he be able to do so much more for another."

Kaeson paused, watching as the toy soldier made another round on the desk. "He's as basic as you can get, but inspiring, I would like to think. He knows not to fall of the edges, see?" Kaeson pointed as the clumsily animation turned right before he would fall of the edge of the desk, "There's no command word either, he'll walk on any stable surface you out him on."

"So, Hadrian," Kaeson continued, still watching Toy Soldier, "Would I be correct in assuming animation and glyphing are not the only, uh, magics you practice?"

[Hadrian]

Hadrian wasn't a mind-reader, but he was observant as hell, and he noted Kaeson's responses and might have made some educated guesses as to what he was thinking. He didn't soften, exactly, nor warm up to the student who had ruffled his feathers, but he hadn't exorcised him from his office either, nor been unkind. He watched the animated soldier guard his desk, then offered the student a tight smile. "It is well done," he said of the toy soldier. "Would you like to come to the orphanage at some point and give it to a child yourself?" But of the question, he said, "I hope you know better than to ask a lady her age." He rubbed his forehead. "Yes, I have rather broad experience with magic, though much of it has been dabbling. Safe dabbling for the most part."

[Kaeson Dakano]

"I would," Kaeson nodded, "I would like that."

Kaeson was hardly generous, extremely possessive of what little he had and even more so with what he had learned. The young animator was selfish, usually more willingly to spill his own blood then freely give something away. Kaeson couldn't understand the point of most charities, not really understanding the misfortune life can so harshly bring; it was Kaeson's belief that anyone can bring themselves out of any situation, given enough effort -- after all, his life had hardly been easy and he had ended up happy.

The orphans were different. The orphans' situation was relatable to the young man, Kaeson could understand what they were going through, he could sympathise with the orphans; which made all of the difference.

He knew what a difference it would make to their life's if someone would show interest, maybe install confindence within. Kaeson had felt what the orphans themselves were feeling, and he figured giving them something he treasured so dearly would surely help them in some way.

"Never," Kaeson chuckled polietly as what he imagined to be Hadrian's attempt at humor, "It was a simple question out of curiosty," Kaeson smiled awkwardly at the professor, very much obvious at his attempt at interrogation. "A small assumption, given your obvious talent with animation and glyphing, I had just assumed you were learned in the, uh, arcane arts." Kaeson's attempt at flattery was both obvious and outlandish -- perhaps more obvious was his own awkward attempt, signaling the young animator not one to hand out compliments.

But Hadrian had given the young man an idea, a simple idea and one Kaeson hoped would work. A philantrophic professor who dabbles in magic? Perhaps someone without much time for leisure and most likely someone in search of an assistant, perhaps even a partner in research. "And here's me, looking for a job," Kaeson though to himself, smiling drastically.

"What with all your work, Professor Aelius," Kaeson paused, considering how to exactly phrase his question. "I, uh, mean, with all the work a charity so worth while as yours, as well with your work here, at the university, I suppose you wouldn't have much time to...dabble? At least, not alone. I could help you, it would be a learning opportunity for me, and less work for you.

Kaeson smiled eagerly, waiting for what he hoped to be a positive response.

[Hadrian]

Had Hadrian been a mind-reader, he would have argued the definitions of sympathize and empathize, but Caelum was the only one who usually debated moral, ethical, and spiritual matters with him, and he hadn't seen him in far too long. He only hoped the storm had not taken him. But Kaeson wasn't terribly difficult to read, and Hadrian thought he saw a great deal of himself in the younger student; whether that was a good thing or a bad thing, he didn't bother to ponder. "With a little research," he began, terse but amused, "you would be able to ascertain that my focus as a student was anthropology and magical studies, focusing on the effects of magic on culture. Also, while studying with Professor Nightshade, who is now the resident magecrafter for the Order of the Knights of Syliras, and with Professor Stonemiller, I achieved some success as a magecrafter before leaving Zeltiva for Sahova upon graduation. "As an anthropologist, I better understand what I am studying if I have personal experience with it. As a magecrafter, all other disciplines can be used for more complex projects. For both purposes, I have, as I said, dabbled. You can see that I am not a master animator, but in studying the principles, and testing them out, I have a greater understanding both of magecrafting and those who practice the discipline of animation." He hoped someone had drilled a healthy does of fear into this Kaeson, because until one had been fucked by Drainira, one didn't know the full extent of animation's dangers. Hadrian had watched Drainira kill a Master of Sahova without even showing her hand to any but the dead Rela and Hadrian himself, who had only survived by the skin of his teeth, and was then cast into the vipers' pit that was Sahova's power structure. Perhaps it would behoove Hadrian to lesson the lad. "I'm not an idiot, Kaeson Dakano. You are right: I am quite busy. If you want something from me, you will find I appreciate directness and honesty. It saves time for busy men such as myself." This was not said unkindly, but it was said with directness and honesty. To Hadrian, those were signs of respect. Whether the student would take them as such were dependent entirely on him. In truth, the beleaguered professor could use more help. Lucas was helpful, but also a student. Trente was focused on the auction, as were those hired through him. Ethan and Xnnn were loyal, but Kelvics with all the considerations that implied. With the administration of the orphanage also on his plate, he knew he could use a research assistant or someone willing to be delegated odd requests.

[Kaeson Dakano]

Kaeson listened quietly to Hadrian, not wanting to miss that 'yes' he so desperately wanted to hear. It was obvious the professor was well educated, his very presence screamed of academia. It came to no surprise to Kaeson that Hadrian had studied with only the best, his eyes slightly brightening to an azure color, indicating himself impressed. Studying under the resident magecrafter of the Syliran Knights wasn't something anyone could claim to, and only heightened Kaeson's expectations of Hadrian's own talents.

Hadrian's mention of Sahova hardly went unnoticed, Kaeson quickly drawing up ideas of the young professor studying under the great master. For now, reaching Zarik Mashaen was Kaeson only and ultimate goal. He longed to study with the grand animator on the undead isle, and longed even more to surpass him in every way -- thus was the cycle of an education, the apprenticeship with Mashaen Kaeson so desired.

Kaeson briefly entertained the idea of asking if Hadrian had met Zarik, and if he had managed to study under the animation master as well. "No," he thought, considering how well Hadrian had reacted to his original question. Perhaps once he had the opportunity to get to know the man before him a little better...

"Of course, sir," Kaeson quickly said, "I can understand your appreciation of a direct and honest person, perhaps even more so in someone working with you." Kaeson paused briefly, not really sure of the man's tone. It was direct, even a little blunt, but Hadrian had just said he appreciated directness. "Would I be wrong in assuming you are looking for someone then, Professor Aelius? Obviously, I would be interested in working for you."