031.5.1 Aaeru and Sylvie

Started by Corwin, December 03, 2010, 04:54:28 PM

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Corwin

[21:10] <Kotono> ---
[21:13] <Kotono> Heading out of Whimisical Sweets, feeling the evening breeze kick up is pleasant. Sylvie's content to head back to the New City, near the border with the Old City. Here a small, well kept house is tucked away amid others. Sylvie smiles as she appraoches, "Mmm, home. C'mon, Mom should have dinner ready."
[21:15] <Aaeru> "It's just you three living here?" Aaeru asks, excited over the opportunity to learn more about her fellow employees.
[21:22] <Kotono> "Yeah," Sylvie goes to the front door, wooden and worn. She opens it and calls, "I'm home!" As you step in you can smell roasting meat and potatoes.
[21:23] <Aaeru> "Anything I can help with?" Aaeru asks. "I'm bad with cooking, I'm often told," she honestly continues, "but I can do all sorts of menial chores!"
[21:28] <Kotono> "You're a guest," Sylvie says, as you hear a woman's voice call back, "Welcome home, dinner's ready in 20 minutes!" With that Sylvie starts to head back, past a nice, polished floor living room. Back into a room...a room of books. Bookshelves, stacks of books, piles of books, books filling a hole in the wall. Manuvering around great book-drifts is a bed, Sylvie sitting on it. "Um, take a
[21:28] <Kotono> seat. There's not a lot of space except on the bed."
[21:30] <Aaeru> The bed it is, then. Aaeru settles down on it, staring at the stacks of books in a haze of open admiration. "You are a lot smarter than I thought," she says, shaking her head slowly.
[21:34] <Kotono> "I try," Sylvie smiles as she sits, "Mom always said I'm smart. I learn like," A snap of her fingers, "This."
[21:36] <Aaeru> "Yeah... it's all very admirable. Just being here is make me have bad thoughts," Aaeru admits to her.
[21:37] <Kotono> "Bad thoughts?" Sylvie blinks, "...what about books and my bedroom makes you have bad thoughts?"
[21:38] <Aaeru> "I really want to have one," Aaeru confides to her in a whisper.
[21:44] <Kotono> "Oh, then get one," Sylvie says, "It's not bad to own some books. Really." She says, looking about, "Ilmater wants you to be smart, doesn't he?"
[21:45] <Aaeru> "He never really said either way," Aaeru admits.
[22:00] <Kotono> Sitting back, "You won't ever get a boyfriend if you don't read, anyway," With a smile she picks up a book by the bed, "It won't burn you or anything. It's a book."
[22:02] <Aaeru> "I read really slowly, not like you, so it would take me a long time to get through just one," Aaeru says longingly, her eyes tracking the book in Sylvie's hands.
[22:31] <Kotono> "How long does it take you to read?" Sylvie says, "Maybe a few days for this book?" She holds it up, at least a good 300 pages.
[22:32] <Aaeru> "Probably ten days?" Aaeru guesses, never having read anything that long in her life. "When I see a really large book, it's kind of scary so I can't read much of it in one go."
[22:36] <Kotono> "...oh." A full stop from Sylvie, "How does it take that long to read a book?"
[22:37] <Aaeru> "I'm just stupid."
[22:37] <Kotono> "That's because you haven't read enough books!" Sylvie says brightly, "So go read some now!"
[22:39] <Aaeru> "Do you have any adventure books? I could try one," Aaeru says slowly. "I could probably get into it, I think, and then it wouldn't be all scary?"
[22:40] <Kotono> Sylvie goes off, digging up a book from a tall bookshelf. She hops atop a tall stack of them, almost to the ceiling. Coming back down with a slender tome, "Here, this is an adventure. It's stories about Kangap and Goldan, a pair of dragons. It's a really old story that's been around for a long time. It's one of the oldest from what I've read."
[22:40] * Aaeru shudders at the very mention of the book's age, but she reaches for it all the same, gathering her courage. "I will guard it with my life!" she vows to Sylvie.
[22:41] <Kotono> "Just relax," With a smile and a hand on her hip, "Sit down and read it."
[22:43] * Aaeru is already sitting, but she obediently opens the book to try and read it carefully. She can only hope it's not in a strange and exotic language like Elven, so she wouldn't need to ask for a simpler tome.
<Steph> I might have made a terrible mistake

Corwin

[20:09] <Kotono> It's in Common. It looks to be a story about a red dragon and a gold dragon offhand as she begins to read.
[20:10] <Aaeru> It seems she should learn more about dragons if she intends to keep on living in Balmuria, an so Aaeru absorbs herself in the book until Sylvie would call her for dinner. Or to help with dinner, whichever she chooses.
[20:17] <Kotono> It's a vivid story, Aaeru losing herself in it. Slowly the pages turn, deeper in. As Aaeru just really starts to get into it, "Hey, it's dinner time," Sylvie calls.
[20:19] <Aaeru> She can remember where she stopped, at least. Consoling herself with that, Aaeru closes the book carefully, leaving it on the bed, and calls back, "Thanks, I'm coming over!"
[20:29] <Kotono> Coming out, Aaeru finds herself in the kitchen. A plain, well kept but nicked wooden table is against one wall. Here Sylvie sits. In a higher chair next to her is a young child. He has a short, wild mane of blonde hair. He's babbling to Sylvie about something or another. From the cooking fire comes another woman - white/blonde hair, older. She walks slowly, wearing a simple peasant dress.
[20:29] <Kotono> Her smile is polite, "Oh, you're Sylvie's friend?"
[20:30] <Aaeru> "Aaeru," she introduces herself with a matching smile. "We work together and we're friends, yes. It is nice to finally meet you."
[20:38] <Kotono> "It's good to see Sylvie bring a friend or two home," She brings dinner to the table in the meantime, "You're from Whimisical Sweets?"
[20:39] <Aaeru> "Yes," Aaeru responds, having to focus consciously on not moving to help her. "Isn't it nice how we provide both candy and troubleshooting, all together?"
[20:43] <Kotono> "It's unique," Sylvie's Mom says. Meanwhile her son looks to Aaeru with wide blue eyes. He points, "Girlie! Girlie!"
[20:46] <Aaeru> "Hi!" Smiling, Aaeru crouches slightly to be on the same level as the boy. "And who might you be?"
[20:49] <Kotono> The boy smiles all the way up at Aaeru. He reaches out, touching her chin. "Calley!" He says, all while inspecting Aaeru's chin with the utmost attention.
[20:51] <Aaeru> It's a very strange feeling to have someone focus on her chin, and Aaeru's eyes momentarily cross as she tries to glance at just what Calley is looking at so intently.
[20:55] <Kotono> "Stop that," Sylvie reaches out, slowly removing Calley's hand, "Don't touch people without asking, it's rude."
[20:55] <Kotono> Calley seems unperterbed, his other hand going for Aaeru's chin.
[20:55] <Aaeru> "Do I have something there?" Aaeru asks, now slightly concerned.
[20:57] <Kotono> Sylvie sighs and takes his other hand, "Sorry, he grabs anything that gets his attention."
[20:59] * Aaeru offers one of her hands to Calley instead!
[21:03] <Kotono> Calley takes that hand, a strong squeeze to it. He laughs, as Sylvie shakes her head. She starts on her dinner in the meanwhile. Her Mother does just the same, "So you're tied to the House of Suffering?"
[21:05] <Aaeru> "Oh, we don't tie anyone there," Aaeru responds, shaking her head as she looks back at Sylvie's mother. "It's not actually a house where suffering is caused. An incredibly large amount of people make that mistake. The naming was probably unfortunate, when I think about it...."
[21:07] <Kotono> "It's quaint," Sylvie chuckles, as her Mother just shakes her head, "I know what it is."
[21:08] <Aaeru> "I suppose it is quaint," Aaeru agrees quite readily. "It's not actually any sort of house at all. More of a shack. A shack that looks like it might fall over at a strong wind, but really clean and tidy within! I love that place!"
[21:22] <Kotono> "Really?" As Sylvie's Mom notes that, Sylvie just smiles, "Oh, it is quaint. They're anti-materialists, Mom. It means that they don't believe in possessions, instead preferring to live in simple poverty. It's almost like a monastic order in that regard."
[21:24] <Aaeru> "Look at ot this way," Aaeru says, starting on the food set aside for her at last. "I can take care of myself. I don't need that much to begin with, and whatever I get from the work I do or from donations is a lot more than that. And then, there are people who really need that sort of help, so isn't it best that it just goes to them and lets me fend off for myself, since I can do that?"
[21:25] <Kotono> "Yeah," Sylvie nods, "The voluntary poverty focuses on improving those who can't. It's essentially the voluntary reallocation of resources to the less fortunate."
[21:26] <Kotono> "Oh, I see..." Sylvie's Mother nods, "That sounds like you're very dedicated."
[21:26] * Aaeru shrugs. "I get by. What's really important is if I can help other people. At the end of the day, that's what really counts!"
[21:31] <Kotono> "It's nice of you," Sylvie says, "I don't agree with all of it, but it's so kind of you. Sometimes you think the world needs more kind people, you know?" Pausing to take a few bites of dinner, "So many takers out there, so many people who don't care."
[21:36] <Aaeru> "If everyone agreed with me, I'd be out of a job," Aaeru says jokingly, trying to subtly shift the topic from her. "Speaking of jobs, how did you come to work for the world's first and only Candymancer?"
[21:38] <Kotono> "I needed a job and Josa pays well," With a shrug, Sylvie eats, "I ran into Josa while looking for something that wasn't being a barmaid or a seamstress. We got to talking and one t hing lead to another."
[21:39] <Kotono> "If you'd only tried applying to something more serious..." Sylvie's mother clicks her tongue.
[21:39] <Kotono> "Mooom!" Sylvie draws that out, "My job is serious! Dangerous too."
[21:40] <Aaeru> "Should I be supporting you here?" Aaeru whispers to Sylvie. "I'm not sure if it's a good thing or not."
[21:41] <Kotono> "Shh," Sylvie murmurs, a moment's quiet coming. Sylvie's Mom moves on, "So what does go on at your job, Aaeru?"
[21:47] <Aaeru> "Let's see... I really do think that for someone like Sylvie, it's the best possible job that can be in Balmuria," Aaeru tells her mother. "She gets to make all sorts of important, umm, business connections. How many other jobs would let you have a working relationship with someone well-placed in one of Balmuria's temples, or the Guard? Maybe one or two, but here, she's already come across four and it's only going to grow. And, uhh, merchants and artists, too. I think it can be important to her later in life, when she has people like that she could rely on, instead of just having to start looking from scratch. And, of course, there's all the other employees. We show each other the, well, the things we're good at. Like sorcery or self-defense or the proper ways to wrestle a troll to the ground or how to put up a play for a bunch of people. Isn't that really useful? All these household spells that clean everything perfectly in a flash, or create water, or clean food from infection, or even just add a bit of taste to the meal! And it's important later on, if you want to, I don't know, become a full-time mage. Since you don't have to start at the very bottom. So it's like your entire future is open before you!"
[22:02] <Kotono> "...my. That's a lot that goes on." Sylvie's Mother has a reply that's relatively restrained. Sylvie herself turns red
[22:02] <Kotono> .
[22:05] <Aaeru> "Like today. We got a job to show this teenage boy around town. So while we're doing that, we got to meet a powerful, I think, sorceress working with the Guard, and we made friends with several of the soldiers, and we visited a few of the city's landmarks and got complimentary drinks, and we're now closer with some of the faithful of Seira. They're from a really faraway land that you can't get to without magic. Just imagine, having friends so far away! And if we ever have to go there for a job, we already know someone. Then, there's the simple joy of helping someone along their path in life, and the preparation for... I'm repeating myself, I know. I'll stop."
[22:06] <Kotono> "That sounds a little bit like the Crimson Guard," Sylvie's Mother observes, while Sylvie reddens more, "Mooooooom!"
[22:07] <Aaeru> "We get to keep our hours and choose what we wear, though," Aaeru says, grinning. "I don't think crimson is the best color for Sylvie. Maybe blue, to match your eyes? That's really got an appeal!"
[22:12] <Kotono> "It sounds better than a candy clerk." Sylvie's Mom says, "Really Sylvie, you can do so much more with yourself."
[22:12] <Aaeru> Now confused, Aaeru asks, "What could be better?"
[22:13] <Kotono> "It's fine," Sylvie says quickly, taking a long bite of food. After she rises, "Thanks Mom! Aaeru and I will be back in my room reading."
[22:14] <Aaeru> "We will? We will!"
[22:15] <Kotono> Back the two of you go! Once back Sylvie smiles, "So anyway," she goes right on, "What do you think of Kangap and Goldan so far?"
[22:16] <Aaeru> "Did I say something wrong?" Aaeru asks instead, valuing a friend more than a couple of ancient dragons, however interesting.
[22:19] <Kotono> "Don't worry about it, Mom's just...Mom." WIth a little smile as she grabs a book and sits back, "Just because I'm smart she thinks I should go and try to be admitted into Lord Salman's Academy and join the Crimson Guard. She got that idea stuck in her head."
[22:21] <Aaeru> "But... it's the military," Aaeru says slowly, not really understanding. "You have a young child. You can't really go and say 'Sorry, Sir, but I can't go on that week-long patrol because my little boy needs me.' Oh, and it's certainly a lot more dangerous than Whimsical Sweets! Why would she want you to risk yourself like that?"
[22:22] <Kotono> "That was around the time I got pregnant," Sylvie explains, "That's what got Mom to mostly give up on it."
[22:23] <Aaeru> "Do you want it? Not now, maybe, but at all? Or if not that, some other job?"
[22:26] <Kotono> "Not really," Sylvie says, "Mom just got the idea because I'm smart and learn fast. She thought if I got trained I'd learn how to be a wizard or a warrior like that," A snap of her fingers, "It's not really my thing."
[22:30] <Aaeru> "You want to learn everything. Not just one thing really well. Right?"
[22:32] <Kotono> "Well yeah. Knowledge is to be learned," Sylvie says with a smile, "I can learn anything." She goes to a half smile, staring off into space. "I learned how to fight by reading a few days and then practicing a little bit. Sure, I learn fast and I have good aptitude, but I'm not as good as any of you are at it, let alone the Crimson Guard."
[22:33] <Aaeru> "Just who's in the Crimson Guard?" Aaeru wonders. "Are those men we saw today part of it, too?"
[22:35] <Kotono> "No, they're City Guard. You know the old garrison in the old city? It's where the Guard used to be. Now it's the home of the Crimson Guard. They're the elite troops and heroes. Alicia and Seira used to be members, for example. Those soldiers aren't anywhere close to them."
[22:36] <Aaeru> "Should we visit them?"
[22:37] <Kotono> "You can't go visiting, their base isn't open to the public," she says. "There's not undead armies or evil empires next door, so at least there isn't as much immediate need fo rthem."
[22:39] <Aaeru> "So no one can come to them, and they don't need to go anywhere unless the world is ending...." Aaeru tilts her head, peering at Sylvie. "I think it's a pretty boring job. I'm glad you didn't go for it."
[22:43] <Kotono> Sylvie shrugs, "Some of the members are active around. Eudard of Helm comes to mind, and there's a wizardess that I hear about sometimes. Abagail Aryn, that's her name," Another finger snap, "When I was growing up, it was all about the Crimson Guard and how they saved us."
[22:44] <Aaeru> "Yeah, I remember that too. It's good that we don't need saving so much now."
<Steph> I might have made a terrible mistake

Corwin

[20:25] <Kotono> "Isn't it?" Sylvie kicks back and hums, "I don't know. Alicia, Seira, all the names in the Crimson Guard. So many of them were women. They weren't barkeeps or seamstresses, were they?"
[20:28] * Aaeru grins at her. "Seira was an innkeeper, which is entirely different. That's some career change, don't you think?"
[20:31] <Kotono> "Isn't it?" Sylvie chuckles as she sits back, "Isn't it funny how magic doesn't seem to care if you're a man or a woman? If you figure it out, youd on't have to be a wife and mother unless you want to be."
[20:31] * Aaeru just laughs at her words. "You mean with alter self?"
[20:33] <Kotono> "No." Sylvie makes a face, "I mean socially." Rolling over to lazily eye Aaeru, "Most women are mothers, or if they have a job it's something simple. Oh sure there are exceptions...and the Crimson Guard massively emphasized that. With the rise of magic, anyone with the talent can make their own life now."
[20:35] <Aaeru> "Spoilsport." Aaeru pouts at Sylvie. "I do get it. If you have magic, it doesn't matter if you're not as strong as a man, and it would take care of getting stuff like money. If you wanted to, anyway."
[20:36] <Kotono> "Yeah," Now Sylvie looks away and up, wiggling her fingers. A stack of books nearby twitches, neatly sorting themselves out. "I'm surprised it was so easy to learn once I paid attention to you. Guess I can really learn anything. Is it like that for you? You're a sorcerer, it's in your blood."
[20:39] <Aaeru> "I don't know if it's the same for me as others," Aaeru admits. "I just know that I practice the spells that I know, and I think about what I want to do. A lot of the time, when I'm ready, I just manage to learn that spell. It still takes a while, though."
[20:41] <Kotono> "Wonder if it's the same for Janson or Andrea?" A pause as she looks back over, "Speaking of...Do you happen to know what his favorite food is?"
[20:42] * Aaeru snaps her fingers. "Darn! Didn't come up. I'll try to find out for you!"
[20:46] <Kotono> "No big deal. I'm going to invite him out soon, I'll make it up as I go along." Now resting and going quieter, "Maybe once this job is done."
[20:49] <Aaeru> "How about asking him along to that Lunatic festival?" Aaeru suggests. "Just going as friends. I'll arrange a chance for you and you'll see if it's working out?"
[20:53] <Kotono> "That's a thought. We'll have fun, have some drinks and see what happens," Sylvie grins, "Now we just have to endure more days of Mr. Angst."
[20:54] <Aaeru> "I'm sure we'll be fine!"
[21:07] <Kotono> You meet up with Sylvie the next day, walking towards Seira's temple. As you do, "So waht's the plan for today?"
[21:09] <Aaeru> "How about we visit the magic shop we couldn't last time, and then get him talking? Just chat, about him and about his life? Maybe Gracel never had anyone pay attention to him or listened to his troubles!"
[21:20] <Kotono> "Sure, why not," Sylvie says, as the two of you head to the temple. There you find Gracel waiting, arms crossed and staring at the ground as you approach.
[21:21] <Aaeru> "Hi~" Aaeru greets him merrily. "How about today? Do you have any preferences, Gracel, or are you coming with us to sightsee again?"
[21:27] <Kotono> "Whatever," Gracel doesn't look up and starts to walk.
[21:27] <Aaeru> "That's the spirit!" Aaeru chirps, taking the lead.
[21:29] <Kotono> Sylvie sighs as she falls in behind him, rolling her eyes once he's past her.
[21:34] <Kotono> Luna Del Stronger is atop the hill, next to Seira's inn. The building is classical, with fine construction all over. The Mythal's glittering light above seems to shine extra-strongly on it.
[21:35] <Aaeru> Stepping into the shop, Aaeru wonders out loud, "Do you think people can come and see the Mythal up close, Sylvie?"
[21:43] <Kotono> Within are rows of magical, mystical items. Weapons, armor, staves, wands, scrolls, potions and more. Each is neatly arrainged and labeled, a soft, illuminating radiance all about. The air smells of dried rose petals. By the scrollracks are several men in soft purple robes. As you look at them, a man appears. He is clad in flowing silver robes, runes of a soft, refined red engraved into his
[21:43] <Kotono> cheeks and forehead. He has a widow's peak, black hair combed back. "Greetings, seekers of magic."
[21:45] <Aaeru> "Hello!" Aaeru returns. "Are you the owner?"
[21:50] <Kotono> "I am not," He answers, "I am Gallbath; do you require assistance or guidance?"
[21:52] <Aaeru> "Guidance," Aaeru chooses. "This is where the Crimson Guard would shop, isn't it?" She can't really think of another magic store in Balmuria, but this certainly sounds better. "If someone was going to going it, what would you recommend for them to get?"
[21:57] <Kotono> "Going to going it?" The man asks back.
[21:58] <Aaeru> "Join!" she says brightly.
[22:03] <Kotono> "It would depend on their aptitudes and abilities," He goes on then, "What are they?"
[22:04] * Aaeru maneuvers herself to stand next to Gracel, nudging him slightly with her elbow.
[22:06] <Kotono> Gracel looks up, blink-blinking a moment. Then, "Swordsmanship and magic."
[22:07] <Aaeru> "It's not really something I know a lot about," Aaeru adds here. "I try not to rely on anything, but I know a lot of people do. So how would you help someone just starting out?"
[22:08] <Kotono> "Aaah, a sorcerous warrior," With a sage nod, "Light but functional armors, augmentation of magical power, weapons that can channel spells. Increase the base talent and protect them as well as possible. Combine the abilities."
[22:10] <Aaeru> "What about having a balance?" Aaeru inquires. "From what I understand, these things should help people. But can't someone just get too dependant on them? It would be dangerous to just rely on a good sword and neglect your skill. How can you keep that balance?"
[22:34] <Kotono> "Practice," Sylvie murmurs, Gallbath nodding his agreement. "One can rely too much on a weapon, but skill continues to grow."
[22:35] * Aaeru nods seriously, and glances at Gracel. "What do you think?" she asks him.
[22:37] <Kotono> "Who needs to practice?" Gracel mutters, crossing his arms.
[22:37] <Kotono> "Everyone?" Gallbath says with a raised eyebrow, "Countess Stronger has regaled me with tales involving Seira's training. If a Goddess must train, then surely we must all strive the same?"
[22:39] <Aaeru> "Gracel is actually one of Seira Aryn's faithful," Aaeru adds at that point. "Do you think you could share one or two of those tales with us? It would be very helpful!"
[22:46] <Kotono> "Is he?" Gallbath shakes his head, "Son, why didn't yous ay so? Countess Stronger holds her in the highest regard."
[22:48] <Aaeru> Saying 'because he's so modest' would make her a liar, regrettably, so Aaeru abstains. "We had hopes that there would be something like that," she voices instead. "What with the shop and Seira Aryn's inn being built so close and all, and them both being mages."
<Steph> I might have made a terrible mistake

Corwin

[20:41] <Kotono> "I never met her, but I know the stories." He replies. Meanwhile Gracel looks down again, not saying anything.
[20:43] <Aaeru> Interested in his fresh outlook on this subject, Aaeru looks hopefully at Gallbath in hopes of him sharing those stories in present company.
[20:48] <Kotono> "I need to tend shop right now - come back in two hours and we'll talk over lunch," he says, "Is that allright with all of you?"
[20:48] <Aaeru> "Oh, of course! A job is important!"
[20:51] <Kotono> "Whatever," Gracel mutters, turning around and going out.
[20:52] <Kotono> Sylvie smiles "Thanks!" she says, eyeing Gracel out of the corner of her eye. In a lower whisper, "Wanna try and get im talking past the horrible, horrible burden that his life is, Aaeru?"
[20:53] <Aaeru> A friendly wave, and Aaeru follows! "Gracel, before I say anything I want to be sure we understand each other," she tells the teen, smiling brightly. "By that, I mean that I can run just as fast as you and I won't lose at endurance either. Alright?"
[20:56] <Kotono> "Yeah," He looks up, grumping, "Yeah."
[20:56] <Aaeru> "So what don't I understand?" she asks him. "If you don't tell me, how am I supposed to know? I can't read your mind and I've only met you yesterday."
[21:01] <Kotono> "It's not fair," he scowls and crosses his arms, "How come they're better than me?"
[21:04] <Aaeru> "You were already told why," Aaeru says in what she hopes is a reasonable tone of voice. "Practice and effort. Constant practice and effort. Take my first spell, Prestidigitation. It was the first one I ever managed to cast, and I could probably do it in my sleep now, but I still practice it every day. Are you too busy to practice?"
[21:06] <Kotono> "The best talent still has to learn," Sylvie adds in.
[21:06] <Kotono> "Hmph." Gracel mutters, "You know magic?"
[21:09] <Aaeru> "Oh yes! I don't really have a strong talent, I'm afraid, but if I work enough at it I get progress!" She snaps her fingers, a small orb of light hovering above them. "If even naturals like the Crimson Guard had to keep on working all the time, everyone else has to work twice as hard to keep up!"
[21:10] <Kotono> Gracel looks up and utters an arcane word! Another light joins it, "That's easy."
[21:11] <Aaeru> "How many times can you recast it?" Aaeru asks curiously, dismissing her light and then summoning another in its stead.
[21:18] <Kotono> "A bunch of times," he says, "I can also study it and do it from a book, too." He then shrugs, "Yeah, you can probably do it much better, or some stupid random guard could."
[21:20] <Aaeru> "Call it magical endurance. It's probably not much, being able to cast Light twice as much as you can. Maybe you don't want to practice that. But what if I said the same thing works with--" Aaeru pauses briefly, thinking of a spell teens would like. "--fireball? Wouldn't you want to be able to cast it as much as possible?"
[21:21] <Kotono> "Yeah?" Gracel says, "That sounds like an awesome spell."
[21:23] <Aaeru> "It's pretty much what it means. A huge ball of fire! And the more you practice it, the stronger it is, and the more times you can call on it. And that's how things work with all magic. Like, now I'm trying to see if I can make Light last longer. It's easier to start that way, but if I manage, maybe I could use combat spells for a longer time, too? That's how I think, so I practice and practice."
[21:27] <Kotono> Gracel scowls, "Practice, huh?" He closes his eyes, as several motes of light appear above! 1, 3, 5, 8, 10! Ten orbs of light just like the original, each appearing in rapid succession, faster than Aaeru can flurry. "Like that?"
[21:28] <Aaeru> roll 1d20+3
[21:28] * Hatbot --> "Aaeru rolls 1d20+3 and gets 13." [1d20=10]
[21:30] <Aaeru> "That's nice," Aaeru says somewhat blandly. "But don't you want to be recognized for your own power?"
[21:30] <Kotono> "What the hell do you mean by that?" With a sudden snap, "I just did tha tmyself!"
[21:33] <Aaeru> "Maybe you're better at magical theory than me and could explain just how you did it, then?"
[21:34] <Kotono> "I just can," He says, voice going sour and sharp. "It's my talent." You can hear his teeth grinding, as a great wash of fire blasts above you! The orbs of light detonate in little balls of fire, "Want a demonstration so I can prove you wrong?"
[21:37] * Aaeru shrugs. "I think you proved your talent already, so it's fine. It must be nice to have it, but I still want to hit you for not making more with it. If I were talented like you, I wouldn't stop training and trying to get even better, so seeing you just throw that chance away is a bit painful."
[21:38] <Kotono> roll 1d20+4
[21:38] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+4 and gets 7." [1d20=3]
[21:42] <Kotono> "Yeah," Gracel says shortly, "..." No reply for a few moments, "You think I should keep going? I get told to stop when I do this."
[21:43] <Aaeru> "Who tells you that?"
[21:45] <Kotono> "The teacher my uncle has visit me sometimes. Why?" His gaze is steely as he meets Aaeru's gaze, "She's his servant or something."
[21:46] * Aaeru shrugs again. "We don't know why you're told to stop. Maybe it's to protect you, or to protect people around you. If there's that chance, you shouldn't risk it."
[21:48] <Kotono> "Why not? If I have this power, why shouldn't I use it to be a hero?"
[21:48] <Aaeru> "Did you ask your uncle or his teacher friend?"
[21:51] <Kotono> "Don't see my uncle often," he grunts, "She said I'd regret it if I did."
[21:53] <Aaeru> "People regret enough on their own, so there's no need to add to that," Aaeru suggests. "You trust your uncle, don't you? He wouldn't try to harm you? Because if you trust him, then you should listen to him on this one. You know, I bet every hero has some sort of handicap. I'm sure that's how it is. Maybe that could be yours?"
[21:55] <Kotono> "But I want to be a hero!" He scowls, "I hear my entire life about Seira this, Seira that. How Seira's wisdom would help Sanaxt, Kesse and Evrai find peace at last! Ain't that worth doing something for?"
[22:00] * Aaeru finds herself fairly lost at this point. She decides to just go with it. "I'm not telling you no," she tries to explain. "What I'm saying is that a hero would never put other people in danger. You don't know how you can do the things you do, just that it's your talent. You know just as well as me that it's very dangerous. So if you want to test your limits, why not ask a powerful mage to keep an eye on you, somewhere outside the city? There is that school for mages not too far from here, and maybe you could ask if that Countess that owns the shop could help, or knows someone who can. There's the temple, too. Even if other people are there just in case things go wrong, it's still all about you. Why not try it that way?"
[22:14] <Kotono> "...." Gracel's reply is to stare off at the horizon, where the green seas of the Bay of the Sparkling STars can be glimsped amid the high masts of the ships in port. "Will that let me be a hero?"
[22:16] <Aaeru> "I don't know," Aaeru admits. "It might get you started. Or it might become an obstacle. Are you strong enough to try and become a hero if it's the latter?"
[22:18] <Kotono> "...yeah, I guess," he says at last, "It's what I want to be."
[22:18] <Kotono> "Thank all the Gods," Sylvie murmrus under her breath.
[22:22] * Aaeru nods. "Alright. I'll help however I can. This... obstacle.... I don't know what it is, but every hero has to overcome one. I bet it's a test of will, or the strength of your conviction, but Sylvie read more books so she'd know better. Let's just... look around for a couple of hours and then ask Gallbath who could help us with this?"
[22:28] <Kotono> "Yeah," Gracel says, as Sylvie nods.
[22:29] <Kotono> Two hours pass. You meet with Gallbath in Seira's inn, at a side table and with meals prepared. Gracel sits quietly, Sylvie smiling and starting on hers. "Thanks," she says.
[22:30] * Aaeru echoes Sylvie's gratitude, even as she subtly checks that they won't be easily overheard by the other patrons.
[22:32] <Kotono> It's quiet over here, a certain space.
[22:33] <Aaeru> "I know that we asked you to share some of your stories," Aaeru says apologetically, "but before that, could we use your expertise? We came across something that our magical knowledge just doesn't cover."
[22:36] <Kotono> "Alright," He says after tucking into his meal, dabbing his lips clean with a napkin. "What is it?"
[22:37] <Aaeru> "Gracel has a talent that breaks the laws of magic," Aaeru informs him, following their agreed-upon plan. "For a start, he can cast ten cantrips one after another, quickly. And by quickly, I mean quicker than I can cast two."
[22:39] <Kotono> "...what?" With a stop there as he looks right to Gracel, "That's impossible!"
[22:40] <Aaeru> "It really shouldn't be possible," Aaeru agrees. "You could stretch the limits quite a bit, but not that much or so blatantly. And, like I said, it's only one part of it. He was told not to use that power, but he's now old enough to make his own decisions. Do you think you could help him make this one responsibly? There needs to be some safe place to try calling on this power, and someone who knows more than us about magic on hand to help."
[22:45] <Kotono> "Yes..." A trail off as he looks to Gracel, "If I can see proof of that?"
[22:45] <Aaeru> "In here?" Aaeru asks in surprise.
<Steph> I might have made a terrible mistake

Corwin

[19:58] <Kotono> "Of course not." Gallbath rises back up, "Gracel, come with me."
[19:59] <Aaeru> No lunch, then? Shrugging, Aaeru stands up as well, ready to accompany them.
[20:02] <Kotono> "Just Gracel," Gallbath says, "I want to see this myself, somewhere safe and without anything possibly interfering. Please, enjoy lunch," he says, as Gracel rises with a grumble.
[20:03] <Aaeru> "But we're... sort of supposed to follow him?" she says uncertainly, glancing at Sylvie. They're bodyguards, aren't they?
[20:06] <Kotono> Sylvie looks to Gallbath, Gracel and then Aaeru. After a bit she shrugs, staying where she is, "I'm not going to argue with a wizard. It never works out in the stories, you know."
[20:07] <Aaeru> "Please don't do anything rash," she requests, sitting back down. "And if there's anything we could do to help, we'll be right here, alright?"
[20:09] <Kotono> "Yeah, okay," Gracel says, as the two go off. Sylvie settles in and takes a long drink, "So what do you think of all this?"
[20:10] <Aaeru> "It's not a human power," Aaeru responds, once they are left alone with their meal. "So Gracel isn't human, or one of his parents isn't, or he's linked to something nonhuman in some way. Not mortal, really. I doubt an elf dad could cause this."
[20:21] <Kotono> "Who knows?" With a little smile as she eats, "Maybe he's a chosen champion for Seira, and he got off to a bad start by being spoiled?" She lightly shrugs her shoulders, "What's interesting to me isn't that, though. What's interesting is that they sent him here. Y'know, that teacher knew about it so the family probably did, right? Balmuria's the center of magical activity in the world right
[20:21] <Kotono> now." Using a fork to point and gesture as she eats, "Not to mention where Seira worked. So that makes sense. The kicker? We're not really bodyguards for him as much as to make sure no one gets hurt around him, I bet.""
[20:23] <Aaeru> "Yes, I figured that," Aaeru agrees, deciding to get started on her food. "We probably weren't told since it had to be left to us if we would help or not? His guardians probably hoped someone would take an interest and genuinely want to help him." She nods to herself. "Yes, I like this theory."
[20:24] <Kotono> "The fly in the ointment is why they didn't just ask or commission someone to help," she murmurs. "Why let him run around if you know he has this uncontrolled power?"
[20:24] <Aaeru> "Because you can spot it when someone's acting like they're there for you, but are just fake?"
[20:26] <Kotono> "You're unusually perceptive today," Sylvie cracks a look at Aaeru, "So in essence...hire someone who will find out and care? Especially someone giving, kind and innocent." Her look fixes right onto Aaeru.
[20:28] <Aaeru> "Everyone involved knows that we are hired, so it doesn't feel weird when two strange women decide to show up and take Gracel out to the city. But he knows all we're paid to do is just show him the sights, so if we go past that, it's just by choice. Makes sense, doesn't it?" Aaeru returns Sylvie's look. "Am I being too perceptive? Because I could stop that."
[20:31] <Kotono> "It's a cute plan," Sylvie half smiles, "It's left-handed thinking, but I like it. Except for the part where we have to deal with him."  She doesn't answer as she gives Aaeru a longer look, "Right now? Probably. They want the big, happy and warm routine for him and you're good at that."
[20:33] <Aaeru> "Then I think we're good," Aaeru agrees. "This sort of thing only comes to me after the fact."
[20:38] <Kotono> About an hour passes without incident. As you wait, a waitress comes up. A smiling elven woman, "Hello," she says, her voice lyrical music to your ears, "Magus Gallbath sent work. Would you please wait here for awhile longer? Drinks will be provided on his tab for you while you wait."
[20:39] <Aaeru> "Why not? We'll wait as long as we have to," Aaeru responds, returning her smile.
[20:41] <Kotono> Sylvie shrugs, hours slipping by. It's getting close to sunset when at last Gallbath returns. Sylvie sips her fourth or fifth drink, a easy, messy smile on her face. Gallback sits down, his face all bunched up, "I've spent the day observing young Gracel."
[20:42] <Aaeru> "Where is he?" Aaeru asks, mildly concerned. "You didn't leave him alone, did you?"
[20:44] <Kotono> "He's resting under observation." Gallbath says, "I won't be certain for a while longer, but my hypothesis is that Gracel is to magic and sources of power as a dry cloth is to a spill. It naturally absorbs it into itself."
[20:45] <Aaeru> "That's... new," Aaeru says uncertainly. "Is he alright? Is that power hurting him?"
[20:48] <Kotono> "I'm not certain of the details yet." He shakes his head, "I won't be for some goodly time. There's no sign of physical distress, for what that means."
[20:49] <Aaeru> "Ah, that's a relief. I know that, umm, really strong magic is dangerous when you use a lot of it together? But it seems fine here...." Aaeru trails off, looking at the wizard. "So how much time are we talking about, here?"
[20:53] <Kotono> "Barring a breakthrough, weeks," he says, "Perhaps months. I've not seen a power like this before. There's also a possibility that his emotional state could influence absorbtion and the rate at which he works. When his mood improved, so did his production."
[20:53] <Aaeru> "Production?"
[20:54] <Kotono> "The amount he could do at once," Gallbath explains, and with a thin lipped smile, "He's a slight bit fond of you, I believe."
[20:55] <Aaeru> "Oh, really?" Aaeru asks happily. "That's so sweet!"
[20:58] <Kotono> "Be that as it may..." He shakes his head, "I've taken the liberty of contacting the Church of the Golden Flame. For now Gracel's going to stay with me while we figure out this power."
[20:59] <Aaeru> "If that's what he chose, then that's really how things should go," Aaeru agrees. "Do you know just how... I mean, you said you don't know everything yet, but do you know if Gracel is human?"
[21:02] <Kotono> "He appears to be, but..." With a little shrug, "There's no way to know for certain yet." H e rises, "Miss Seke said she would be in touch in time over this matter. For now though you're free to go home and return to your normal business. We have to get to the task of figuring all of this out."
[21:03] <Aaeru> "I think it's a polite way of telling us we're fired," Aaeru comments to Sylvie.
[21:06] <Kotono> "I'd still call it a successful job," she says, "We can't do anything else until they contact us, so..." she looks to Aaeru, "Let's go home?"
[21:06] <Aaeru> "That does sound a lot better!" Aaeru agrees. "Alright, let's go with that."
<Steph> I might have made a terrible mistake