Fated Paths [Hadrian]

[Rhuryc]

A scholar? What kind of answer was that? Rhuryc frowned and turned back ahead, his voice falling silent for a few moments. The specifics of Hadrian's studies must have been nefarious, or maybe he was just uncomfortable explaining them. Whatever the case the man felt his curiosity flow. Sometimes his mind was far too questioning for its own good. As they walked Rhuryc mused on what exactly 'scholar' meant. Even when a few drops of rain landed on his face he did not even noticed, so bent was he on deciphering the cryptic wording of his companion. And he did not have long. Already the glorious walls of Syliras were in sight, the usual traffic streaming in and out of the city no matter the weather.

"I hope it's in celebration!" Rhuryc spoke with a jovial, yet distracted voice. He seemed distracted by something. "What did you study, then? Scholar is a bit vague. I don't even think I know what kind of universities Zeltiva has." His head bobbed after he finished. What did they study there? Agriculture? Rhuryc realized he did not even know much about the city itself. Huh. He needed to get out more.

[Hadrian]

"It's just the one university, though it spans several buildings and departments. I studied anthropology and, ah, magical systems. It's all very scientific," he assured Rhuryc, fists clenching as if the man would see the faint scars of his reimancy initiation from years ago. Hadrian liked mystery, and on some level he wanted to be one, but he was young yet and still entirely human. He had plenty of foibles.

He looked ahead at the people moving in and out of the city gates, trying to see if anything strange showed up in his auristic Vision, but it all seemed normal to him; by normal, of course, there was a range of emotions and intensities, patterns of light and consciousness that he was not yet adept enough to untangle.

"It might be..."

[Rhuryc]

Magic? That somehow made sense. Rhuryc always imagined wizards to be frail, scholarly individuals and Hadrian fit his self-imposed stereotype to every degree. His demeanor changed at the mention of the mystical art. He did not become hostile or scared, but instead he seemed interested. An expression of curiosity flickered over his countenance and Rhuryc was suddenly much more friendly, warm even, like a student seeking the affection of a respected professor. Anyone privy to such knowledge was great person indeed, at least in his mind. The man was almost infatuated with idea of wielding such great powers, perhaps even jealous that he possessed no such ability. The questions in his mind were unlimited.

"Magic? Huh." His words repeated his thoughts. "What kind? To be honest I've only ever encountered some subtle tricks, I think, a blind man that could see through, ah." Rhuryc blinked, unable to remember what Stitch had called it. "Powers, I guess. Can you do something similar? Or, even, what can you do?"

[Hadrian]

"Auristics," he supplied immediately. He was in the habit of answering questions quickly while at university. "Auristics is a discipline of personal magic whereby the practitioner can see djed. Of course, learning to understand what they see is another thing entirely."

Hadrian himself was still a novice even after years of looking and trying to understand. Still, he felt like he was improving little by little, and there was certainly a greater variety of things to See now that he was no longer living only within the confines of Zeltiva.

"I've some little skill at auristics," he said diffidently. "I'm actually practicing it now. Trying to get used to the added sensory input. And it will help me get around once it gets truly dark." He considered how much to give away. "I've dabbled in a few different disciplines, but mostly my focus was on magecrafting. Or... well, I call it enchanting, because I don't really have any skill at crafting things. I can't make weapons or armor, I can't carve or anything. But I can take things and enchant them. It's a long, boring process usually. Well, I don't think it's boring, but I've always been an odd duck. So I suppose I'm an enchanter. Akvin is gone, though... Not that he was accepting apprentices last I checked anyway.

"What, ah, do you do? Other than being a professional warrior of swords while avoiding the knighthood." He tried to smile. It was probably a little off.

[Rhuryc]

"Auristics." Rhuryc repeated the word with a slow, measured tone, almost tasting it. There was a strangeness in the syllables, a foreign appeal, and what was Djed? More magical terminology no doubt, some kind of tongue for those of a higher mental caliber. Nevertheless the man listened, intent to satisfy his curiosity. There was no visual cue that Hadrian was practicing much of anything; but then again, neither was there a hint when his blind friend utilized the same skills. The intricacies were lost on Rhuryc. While he was by no means stupid, his education was a practical one: live, work, participate, there was no university for him. At least he could read.

His interest was further piqued when the mage mentioned crafting. He was of no great skill himself, but that idea was a fascinating one.

"I'm a blacksmith. At the ironworks." He said briefly before backtracking to Hadrian's words. The gates were close now. In a few more minutes they would be safely back in the city, well ahead of the coming storm. "But magecrafting, you say? How does something like that work?" Rhuryc glanced down at the blade on his hip, curious to the possibilities. "Or enchanting, whatever. Does it let items use magic? Or, ah." He blinked, unsure of how to voice his thoughts.

[Hadrian]

"Oh really?" he asked, glancing at Rhuryc as if there would be some proof of his statement in his aura or otherwise. "Perhaps I will have to drop by. I knew a student in Zeltiva... much stronger than me, who could do both. Smithing and magecrafting, I mean. If he chooses, he might make a fine magesmith one day... And yes, theoretically you can enchant something such that it can utilize magic on its own. There are many different ways to get the same or a similar effect. Eventually I'll be able to make use of the most efficient means for everything, but now... well, I'm no slouch, but the more I learn the better I will be able to do it. The more I learn everything, I mean. It's sort of a holistic discipline, at least to my mind.

"But it's a long, drawn-out, complicated process... Even the simplest of enchantments still take me a few days."

[Rhuryc]

"Well. I can't make much of anything that would be of use to you." He snorted as they passed through the gates into the fortress, the rain only now starting to ruin their trek. It started as a light drizzle, nothing threatening, just a brief refreshing coat of cool liquid to cool off the evening. Rhuryc did not seem to mind at all, in fact, he reveled in it. When both himself and Hadrian passed beyond the walls the thicker man came to a stop and turned towards his companion, his eyes shifting to look onto the level stare they shared. That was unique. Rhuryc was used to looking down. There was a kinship in humans that shared the same, absurd height. Mostly in the back problems.

"Blacksmithing is not as exciting as making arms or armor, I just hit metal with hammer." He grinned as a hand rose to rub the back of his neck. "I will be sure to look you up, though, should I ever learn a more unique craft. But for now I'm sure you're busy, friend, and I would hate to hold you against your will. So! Shall I bid you goodbye and for a good evening?"

[Hadrian]

"You would be surprised, friend," he said, echoing the honorific, "how unexciting my own work can be. The bulk of my early work will most likely consist of making metalcrafts stronger. Sharper blades, more durable things... The time, money, and effort that goes into the truly wondrous things will make them few and far between until and unless I become independently wealthy, attract apprentices, and acquire my own laboratory. I'm working on all that, of course, but until then, I might as well make horseshoes that won't break..."

He smiled ruefully. There was nothing wrong with making functional things. In classes, he had always tried to err toward utilitarian projects, while making their process as clean and elegant as possible to also show that he was capable of magical artistry. That was why Professor Stonemiller took him personally under his wing, but out here away from the ivory tower, bubble mentality of the University of Zeltiva, Hadrian wasn't shit.

Not yet.

"Oh, of course... You must have things to do." To be perfectly honest, Hadrian didn't want to go to the home of his father, not now, not ever, really, and would jump at the opportunity not to, even if it was to share a drink with a relative stranger. Rhuryc seemed genuinely interested and not as superstitious as most folk, and Hadrian appreciated an appreciative audience. It almost made him feel like a normal person. "Well, I will have to drop by the Ironworks at some point, though I'm fairly sure I would be useless in there."

[Rhuryc]

Horseshoes that did not break? Rhuryc mused. That would cut down on his work quota by half. Most of his orders were replacing shod he had done not but a week past. The forge could charge ten fold for items like that. Maybe even twenty. And what was better, he would not have to make so many damn shoes. Sure, by now they were fast, easy to make, but that did not mean he actually enjoyed their construction. Quite the opposite. With a shake of his head Rhuryc realized that Hadrian was still talking; strange, did not he have somewhere to go? With a half-interested gaze the man swept his attention back on the mage, focusing for a moment before he was able to comprehend the continued machinations. Rhuryc had things to do? Hardly. It was well into the evening, all he had to do was drink. Heavily.

"Well." He started, his gaze flicking about the gates. "The 'works are closed now, but I do need to eat. If you want you can join me at the Stallion, s'always better to have a bit of company." Rhuryc grinned and waved Hadrian on, not one to wait for an answer. If the mage intended to follow, he would.

With that in mind Rhuryc began his cant through the city, maneuvering through the twisted corridors and narrow streets with a surprising degree of expertise. It seemed twenty years wandering a single location gave him a bit of an edge when it came to navigation. By the the time the Stallion came into view the clouds had released a torrential downpour of rain, the small droplets assaulting the inner courtyard with a reckless abandon. Seemingly unconcerned, Rhuryc adjust his coat and meandered his way toward the tavern door. He worked his way past the crowds as they came and went, his path finally ending inside the dry, thick atmosphere of Syliras' most popular tavernous establishment.

[Hadrian]

Hadrian offered a crooked smile and walked the streets of Syliras with him, and though he had been mostly absent for four years, it was still the city of his birth and his youth, and he knew his way around rather well. The Stallion was easy to get to, which is probably why so many people went there. He didn't even mind the downpour very much. At least the taproom would be heated warm and dry and the water would eventually evaporate, leaving him rumpled, but whole.

The young enchanter offered to get the first round, and then brought the pair of ales to the table Rhuryc selected. He wondered if he was going to have to explain the economics of unbreakable horseshoes to him. It sounded well and good, but it would be bad for business in the end. Few would be able to afford them, and then they would never be return visitors for more horseshoes. But they were nice to have if one could afford them; that much was true.

"Every time I come back, it seems like Syliras has changed so much," he noted, "but in reality I think I'm the one changing. Growing up, I suppose."