Lord El-Melloi II - Waver Velvet (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
ask_whydunit) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
aterat2022-08-23 12:08 pm
ask_whydunit) wrote in aterat2022-08-23 12:08 pm
Entry tags:
A to-do list disaster
Who; Lord El-Melloi II & YOU RIGHT THERE!
What; An open log
Where; The market
When; End of August/Early September
Warnings; None, but I will update if something comes up!
Note; If you would like something specific or have an idea, you are welcome to throw it at me. I can be reached at this journal or on discord @ WhimsicalSpook#8219
A to-do list disaster - Market District - OTA
Eventually following his first day and it’s enlightening conversations with a couple people he met, he’d forced himself to leave his flat in the red building again after steeling his nerves and compiling a list of things he was going to need. Usually his apprentice Gray would have volunteered to take it and gather things for him, knowing his rather pathetic constitution when it came to being out and about when he’d rather not be.
But Lady Gray wasn’t here, and he was a grown man who’d traveled the world for months before he’d settled down at the Clock Tower. He could damn well handle this, right? Right.
So out the door he went with a last frown at his list that included materials he needed to make more of his mystic code cigars, clothing, and materials or supplies he would need to 1. set up a classroom and 2. set up a mage workshop once he found a location that looked undesirable enough that people wouldn’t bother it… Oh, and a small scribble at the bottom to find that Raimon fellow’s shop to see if his abilities were as impressive as he suggested, hoping to get something he was going to need if he was going to be here for any great length of time.
He started towards the market, brushing a hand through his excessively long, dark hair with a sigh at the sky above. A certain king would have boisterously laughed at this situation, patting him on the back (and forgetting his own strength) while commenting on what a grand and exciting adventure he’d found himself in if he were present.
Eyes drifting the stalls as he passed them, he began making note of prices for things he couldn’t get in the first trip, while looking for the shops he knew would be his priorities.
Unfortunately, the fates tended to pick on him for reasons unknown, as he didn’t notice some rotten produce hadn’t quite made it into a refuse bin and stepped on it. The mushy vegetable underfoot made for a slippery cobblestone and down he went with a surprised shout, losing what little dignified demeanor and tone he’d been using while speaking before now. “Curse littering idiots to bloody blazes…!” He ground out in frustration, holding his head as he sat where he fell and gathered his nerves after the surprise and shock.
Continuation from the TDM for:soulsword
“Thank you, that’s very helpful, miss.” He ground out, the lines on his face deepening, and he reached up to massage his head in an attempt to alleviate the tension that had been growing. Seriously, she was reminding him of someone. Someone who would probably offer her a gift of thanks for ensuring he wouldn’t miss his darling younger ‘sister’s’ teasing. Brat. Still, he needed a moment to process the words she’d gone on to say. Returning to the exact moment he left would be ideal, as long as he wasn’t dying. He still wasn’t entirely sure he’d done something that was equal parts clever and stupid to stop lightning that had been thrown at them. But not remembering any of this? Well, fuck. He took a deep breath, clearly trying to not explode. “So you’re saying we’re essentially on a cosmically imposed hiatus from our lives to help another world clean up its messes post disaster, and something in the method we’re transported here and back removes the memories we obtain while here… Even the potentially useful ones. Isn’t that just bloody wonderful.”
Essentially: Thanks, I hate it.
“That either means he’ll make a mess in the name of being a hero or pull something helpful last minute in my experience.” Hopefully, it was the latter, but you never knew until something was actively happening. “If you haven’t seen evidence to prove his heroics, is that to say nothing in need of a hero happens around here or he just hasn’t had a chance?” Because, well, that would give him an idea of how much trouble he could expect from this place himself.
“More or less, if they don’t last with me, then they’re out.” Which, frankly, was dangerous in his opinion. Especially with people who had more power than they knew how to handle. They’d eventually become problems in some way, and then end up with sealing designations that either meant the ‘honor’ of being preserved in the depths of clock tower because of their potential value in reaching the Root, or dead in an alleyway depending on the policy departments rulings. A goddamned waste either way, in his opinion. “That’s correct. Odd names are common in mage society, in my experience.” They were a weird lot, Illyana. His real name was Waver, after all. He had no room to make fun of Flat’s name. His brow creased to hear what Illyana’s race had gone through, thanks to someone with talent for chaos magic. He hated wasted life, and a loss that heavy for a people was certainly counted that way. “I would say it certainly has the potential to be dangerous in my world as well, given some of the things I’ve seen in my life… Which is why working with students with so much potential is important.” To keep them out of trouble in the long run. Flat was his student, and so he was important to the man. If he were an honest man, he’d probably go as far as to admit he thought of them as his own kids with how protective of them he got.
The door titled ‘Bad Decisions’ was definitely the winner. Huffing, he shrugged stiffly. “I owe the Weins family for lending me money to purchase my professor’s lecture hall so the space wouldn’t go to waste. Just because he’s gone doesn’t mean the students need to lose it.” He responded blandly. It was his fault as far as he was concerned that Kayneth was dead, after all. Which led to the second debt. “The El-Melloi debt is a little more complicated. I doubt we have the time to expand on that right now.” Which was to say, he wasn’t about to spill all his secrets to this woman he just met. Even if they were going to be colleagues, some things were best kept for another day.
“Really? You’re making it sound like I’m as old as dirt. I’m only 29!” He snapped back, a slight shift in his voice’s pitch at the end. Compared to the deeper, more refined tone he used, it was higher and actually younger sounding. Was the voice he used with everyone else a trained act to seem more impressive than he was? Probably, he had a lot of habits like that.
Hang on a sec, as he cast another glance at her with a raised brow. “You questioned my student’s name and you know someone named ‘Wolverine?’” And yes, the lack of a cigar was going to make him a little grumpy, if only because the useful properties of his secret mystic code were going to dissipate and he wasn’t keen for something bothersome to happen upon them.
Continuation from TDM for:harrythelizard
Hey, as long as Harry didn’t have some kind of eldritch monstrosity hiding inside him that would go on a rampage if something happened, then Lord El-Melloi II would count that as a step up from some of the more frustrating troublemakers he’d dealt with in his time. There were some magically inclined people that caused trouble that he could put up with, and some he wished to be a million miles away from if he heard they were in town.
But since he didn’t know that Harry was the one making the trouble, he simply offered a frown in return. “Ah, so that’s how it is. I can’t say I don’t understand it myself… Troublesome, when the universe keeps flinging unnecessary chaos caused by others your way.”
He eyed the front of the line again. The idea of having to cross the midway was not ideal. He wanted to get his food and get out of there, not go further in. That said, the indecisive man had begun asking more questions of the poor sod working the counter. Shoulders sagging, he let out a sigh. “Alright, probably for the best. Otherwise, we’ll be here all night.” He reluctantly stepped out of line to fall into step next to Harry. “Just warn me if you see any of that trouble flying by so I can sidestep out of the way.” He added. Was that a joke or a legitimate request? Hard to tell, given his deadpan delivery.
What; An open log
Where; The market
When; End of August/Early September
Warnings; None, but I will update if something comes up!
Note; If you would like something specific or have an idea, you are welcome to throw it at me. I can be reached at this journal or on discord @ WhimsicalSpook#8219
A to-do list disaster - Market District - OTA
Eventually following his first day and it’s enlightening conversations with a couple people he met, he’d forced himself to leave his flat in the red building again after steeling his nerves and compiling a list of things he was going to need. Usually his apprentice Gray would have volunteered to take it and gather things for him, knowing his rather pathetic constitution when it came to being out and about when he’d rather not be.
But Lady Gray wasn’t here, and he was a grown man who’d traveled the world for months before he’d settled down at the Clock Tower. He could damn well handle this, right? Right.
So out the door he went with a last frown at his list that included materials he needed to make more of his mystic code cigars, clothing, and materials or supplies he would need to 1. set up a classroom and 2. set up a mage workshop once he found a location that looked undesirable enough that people wouldn’t bother it… Oh, and a small scribble at the bottom to find that Raimon fellow’s shop to see if his abilities were as impressive as he suggested, hoping to get something he was going to need if he was going to be here for any great length of time.
He started towards the market, brushing a hand through his excessively long, dark hair with a sigh at the sky above. A certain king would have boisterously laughed at this situation, patting him on the back (and forgetting his own strength) while commenting on what a grand and exciting adventure he’d found himself in if he were present.
Eyes drifting the stalls as he passed them, he began making note of prices for things he couldn’t get in the first trip, while looking for the shops he knew would be his priorities.
Unfortunately, the fates tended to pick on him for reasons unknown, as he didn’t notice some rotten produce hadn’t quite made it into a refuse bin and stepped on it. The mushy vegetable underfoot made for a slippery cobblestone and down he went with a surprised shout, losing what little dignified demeanor and tone he’d been using while speaking before now. “Curse littering idiots to bloody blazes…!” He ground out in frustration, holding his head as he sat where he fell and gathered his nerves after the surprise and shock.
Continuation from the TDM for:
soulsword“Thank you, that’s very helpful, miss.” He ground out, the lines on his face deepening, and he reached up to massage his head in an attempt to alleviate the tension that had been growing. Seriously, she was reminding him of someone. Someone who would probably offer her a gift of thanks for ensuring he wouldn’t miss his darling younger ‘sister’s’ teasing. Brat. Still, he needed a moment to process the words she’d gone on to say. Returning to the exact moment he left would be ideal, as long as he wasn’t dying. He still wasn’t entirely sure he’d done something that was equal parts clever and stupid to stop lightning that had been thrown at them. But not remembering any of this? Well, fuck. He took a deep breath, clearly trying to not explode. “So you’re saying we’re essentially on a cosmically imposed hiatus from our lives to help another world clean up its messes post disaster, and something in the method we’re transported here and back removes the memories we obtain while here… Even the potentially useful ones. Isn’t that just bloody wonderful.”
Essentially: Thanks, I hate it.
“That either means he’ll make a mess in the name of being a hero or pull something helpful last minute in my experience.” Hopefully, it was the latter, but you never knew until something was actively happening. “If you haven’t seen evidence to prove his heroics, is that to say nothing in need of a hero happens around here or he just hasn’t had a chance?” Because, well, that would give him an idea of how much trouble he could expect from this place himself.
“More or less, if they don’t last with me, then they’re out.” Which, frankly, was dangerous in his opinion. Especially with people who had more power than they knew how to handle. They’d eventually become problems in some way, and then end up with sealing designations that either meant the ‘honor’ of being preserved in the depths of clock tower because of their potential value in reaching the Root, or dead in an alleyway depending on the policy departments rulings. A goddamned waste either way, in his opinion. “That’s correct. Odd names are common in mage society, in my experience.” They were a weird lot, Illyana. His real name was Waver, after all. He had no room to make fun of Flat’s name. His brow creased to hear what Illyana’s race had gone through, thanks to someone with talent for chaos magic. He hated wasted life, and a loss that heavy for a people was certainly counted that way. “I would say it certainly has the potential to be dangerous in my world as well, given some of the things I’ve seen in my life… Which is why working with students with so much potential is important.” To keep them out of trouble in the long run. Flat was his student, and so he was important to the man. If he were an honest man, he’d probably go as far as to admit he thought of them as his own kids with how protective of them he got.
The door titled ‘Bad Decisions’ was definitely the winner. Huffing, he shrugged stiffly. “I owe the Weins family for lending me money to purchase my professor’s lecture hall so the space wouldn’t go to waste. Just because he’s gone doesn’t mean the students need to lose it.” He responded blandly. It was his fault as far as he was concerned that Kayneth was dead, after all. Which led to the second debt. “The El-Melloi debt is a little more complicated. I doubt we have the time to expand on that right now.” Which was to say, he wasn’t about to spill all his secrets to this woman he just met. Even if they were going to be colleagues, some things were best kept for another day.
“Really? You’re making it sound like I’m as old as dirt. I’m only 29!” He snapped back, a slight shift in his voice’s pitch at the end. Compared to the deeper, more refined tone he used, it was higher and actually younger sounding. Was the voice he used with everyone else a trained act to seem more impressive than he was? Probably, he had a lot of habits like that.
Hang on a sec, as he cast another glance at her with a raised brow. “You questioned my student’s name and you know someone named ‘Wolverine?’” And yes, the lack of a cigar was going to make him a little grumpy, if only because the useful properties of his secret mystic code were going to dissipate and he wasn’t keen for something bothersome to happen upon them.
Continuation from TDM for:
harrythelizardHey, as long as Harry didn’t have some kind of eldritch monstrosity hiding inside him that would go on a rampage if something happened, then Lord El-Melloi II would count that as a step up from some of the more frustrating troublemakers he’d dealt with in his time. There were some magically inclined people that caused trouble that he could put up with, and some he wished to be a million miles away from if he heard they were in town.
But since he didn’t know that Harry was the one making the trouble, he simply offered a frown in return. “Ah, so that’s how it is. I can’t say I don’t understand it myself… Troublesome, when the universe keeps flinging unnecessary chaos caused by others your way.”
He eyed the front of the line again. The idea of having to cross the midway was not ideal. He wanted to get his food and get out of there, not go further in. That said, the indecisive man had begun asking more questions of the poor sod working the counter. Shoulders sagging, he let out a sigh. “Alright, probably for the best. Otherwise, we’ll be here all night.” He reluctantly stepped out of line to fall into step next to Harry. “Just warn me if you see any of that trouble flying by so I can sidestep out of the way.” He added. Was that a joke or a legitimate request? Hard to tell, given his deadpan delivery.
no subject
"We're at a popup carnival in another dimension, The Second. Anything could happen." He started off, though, confident the other man would follow.
no subject
"Why not both?" Surely it could actually be that he made a mess and was somewhat helpful. "Nothing in need of a hero happens." It'd actually be more accurate to say Illyana had never actually noticed him being heroic. Or anyone needing someone to be heroic. But that didn't seem like a fun thing to admit here. Nor did it seem like something important to admit, all things considered. It was more entertaining to go with the assumption he'd never done anything too heroic here because there was a lack of heroic things to do. "It's like a vacation compared to home." She wasn't going to admit she actually kinda liked it here.
"How many have been kicked out?" She leaned in with a curious looking expression. Had he actually failed any of his students? Or was that just a hypothetical 'they're out'? If it was truly that they were gone after this last chance with him that actually seemed kind of...harsh. Even mutant school was more generous than that. Actually, they gave a bit too many chances in most cases, including her own. The ease with which she'd been accepted back after all she'd done had been...rather foolish actually. At least they'd learned now.
"We pick odd codenames sometimes." Did that even count? Probably not as much since they actively picked them. Some were really dumb though. "I wouldn't suggest working with this one if you ever meet her." This Illyana was a lot less forgiving than other iterations of herself. Though, how did you really forgive the kind of damage that had caused? Especially considering the person damage it had caused to her?
"You went into debt for a lecture hall with sentimental value?" At least she managed to not laugh at him, it was an achievement for the day. "My brother would do something like that." He was overly sentimental in her opinion. "Fair enough. We all have our secrets." There was a sinister undertone to the statement that came out without her intending it to.
"See? Old." Okay, not really. But it seemed to annoy him and so she was going to go with it. "See? Codenames. His real name is Logan. He goes by Wolverine. I could tell you worse ones. My best friend went by Ariel and Sprite once. Settled on Shadowcat."
no subject
Danger he tried to keep directed on him unless it was something his students could handle (because they often stuck their noses in too, and Gray would simply step up when he knew she could handle it), but it didn’t always go how he wanted. At least he didn’t have a love life to worry about… He was too busy pining for the past, and actively turned people down when they expressed an interest. Foolish man, for all he’d grown, there were some things he couldn’t let go of.
Alright, that comment got a small bark of laughter from him. Good job, Harry. He hasn’t cracked a smile in a while. His students would say that was like seeing a shooting star or something. Well, Flat would. The teen was always saying weird stuff, in Lord El-Melloi II’s opinion. “Anything can and often does happen where I’m from. Would probably be damn foolish to expect any different when you put it like that.” He paused to hear ‘The Second,’ but it was far better than simply calling him Lord El-melloi or even just El-Melloi. That name wasn’t his, and it had too much weight attached to it. The second was better. Lighter.
He does quicken his pace as Harry starts off, not about to lose the man in the crowds. He had no desire to be stuck in the middle of a loud bunch of people he didn’t know. Not that Harry wasn’t a stranger, he still was, for the most part… But less so than everyone else.
no subject
His younger self would have practically preened and fluffed up proudly at such praise from this woman. So desperate for recognition of his intelligence and potential, it had been rather sad in hindsight… But he’d grown a lot since those days, had accepted certain truths and he was more humble even if a part of him appreciated the comment. So he simply focused on the point of the response. That they were stuck here and nothing they learned or worked out mattered outside this place. It would hold no bearing on their own lives when they returned to them. “So we’ve got our work cut out for us, then…” He let out a sigh, despite the small light in his eye to suddenly be confronted with a mystery so large that even those in charge couldn’t answer. What might have caused the details of the event to be forgotten entirely, he wondered…?
“Both is always possible, but not preferable.” He responded with a small shake of his head, but knowing most ‘heroic’ types, it was often one went hand in hand with the other. Still, if her words were to be believed… It might not be too chaotic, then. I nothing happened that required a hero’s intervention, then maybe things would be as downright boring as she suggested. “Not that I couldn’t use a vacation, but I’d have preferred one that was my choice.” He added with a frown. Really, his entire routine being upset was nothing new… But he really didn’t adjust well to it, no matter how often it happened. Made him cranky and irritable.
Yes, more so than usual.
Her question gets a shake of his head, and this time a small smile graced his lips for half a moment before his expression settled back as it had been before. “Oh, none as yet. I don’t let go of my students so easily, even if they’re pains. As I said… They end up with high ranks during their time with me.” Even if a few should be out of his class, they were challenges, and they deserved time and what little patience he could offer. He was a stubborn fool sometimes, and didn’t give up particularly easily. Probably because it was harsh to just cast them out. Mage society was honestly harsher than most… Especially where their own children were concerned, so he was an oddball by default. It was probably part of why, even with his prickly attitude, all of his students would gladly rally around him if need be. He gave them places they belonged, and an acceptance that they might not otherwise have.
“Codenames…? So I presume that was what you meant when you said ‘Magik’ then.” Flat would have adored that. It would have made the teenager insufferable to deal with, considering he already tried to give his professor a lot of weird and absurd names. Professor Charisma, Great Big Ben London Star, Master V, the list went on. The boy meant well, and he had the personality of a golden retriever puppy… But that was exhausting for someone like him. “This person got a name I should keep an eye out for, then?” He asked, because at least he’d keep that in the back of his mind. Someone who decided to take out nearly an entire race was not someone he’d likely want to deal with himself.
“Perhaps something like that…” He responded with a dry tone. It hadn’t been sentimentality for his professor. He’d detested the man. Sure, he had respected Kayneth to an extent, and he carried a lot of guilt over what happened to the man… But he also hadn’t liked the professor who had ridiculed him by name in front of an entire classroom regularly. “As I said, it wouldn’t be fair to students for the place to go into ruin or be left collecting dust.” He nodded, though, at her comment. “Undoubtedly, so thank you for allowing me to keep a few yet.”
His eye twitched. Yes, it was annoying to be called old. Sure he had a pathetic constitution and looked older than he was (ironic since he used to look younger than he was), but he didn’t quite have one foot in the grave just yet!… Maybe… Probably… He forced himself to bite back a response on the age topic, focusing on the more curious topic of code names again. “So wolverine was a code name..” How many people with code names did she know? “And you all chose these, then? Do they carry some significance for the individual?”
no subject
"A gnome handed me a key to my apartment, so yeah. Anything could happen. It might even snow later, who knows?"
Thankfully, Harry was tall enough that it was easy to follow him through the crowd, and the long trench coat he wore severed to help part the crowd even more.
no subject
“So he’s really the regular welcoming comity?” The man tsked. He had lost Raimon pretty soon after the keys and bag had been handed over. Not that he blamed the man in hindsight, even if it had been frustrating in the moment. Who wanted to answer dozens of questions every time someone new appeared? That would be a pain in the neck.
Part of him wondered if Harry was actually being honest about the snow thing. There was so very little he knew about this world as it was. Who knew what the weather patterns were, especially if this place had been through some kind of disaster? But considering the man’s tone and their conversation thus far, Harry seemed like a ‘funny guy’ in the sense that a joke or sarcasm were abundant.
“Don’t suppose you would have any helpful advice or tips about this place for the new guy, would you?” He asked with a wave, appreciating how easy it was to keep up with Harry. There was always something to be said for following people taller than you. He’d never lost Iskandar in a crowd back in Fuyuki, and it seemed pretty certain he wouldn’t lose Harry compared to the heights of everyone else.
no subject
"Your work," she said with a little shrug. Did she intend to actually work on much of anything here? Nah. Only if she got a bit more curious about what had happened to this place. "If you're curious about that mystery wait until you see the new places that appear. Natives act like they've always been here." If you cared enough it might even make you feel a tiny bit crazy. Luckily she never really cared that much.
"Wouldn't it always be preferred if it's your own choice?" Was it really that rare for people to prefer things on their own terms? Alas, so often things were completely out of everyone's control. "In the grand scheme of things out of my control, this isn't the worst." There was a long list of 'worse things' that came before coming to this place.
"Proud of that, huh?" she seemed amused at his pride in it. "As of yet though." So it could happen! "You must be an impressive teacher." Or just that darn stubborn. She hadn't decided which was more likely yet.
"Correct," she confirmed. "Scarlett Witch." Yes, some people did have two names to their codename. Honestly? Illyana just hoped she never showed up. It would definitely make things...awkward. Certainly more so if she came from a different time or universe than Illyana herself did. At least she hadn't really had to deal with any mutants while here. There were positives and negatives to that. In some ways she missed having others like her around and in others it was nice having a fresh start. No other mutants here meant there weren't people who knew about her past. Which meant she got to reveal what she wanted when she wanted. Still...it was different than what she was used to and she definitely missed the New Mutants and Kitty.
"Something like that?" she tilted her head curiously. "How was it not fair? Is that place so important to potential students?" Now she was mildly curious about what could be so important about a classroom of all things.
Everyone. Everyone she knew had a codename or two. "We choose them. Sometimes they have significance."
no subject
“You say that like you’re more or less the sort to stand by and watch.” He commented with another glance, folding his arms lightly as he started walking again. Either she followed or she didn’t, but now that his cigar was gone, he didn’t intend to linger in this area for too much longer, given the reason he’d lit it in the first place. “And yet you’ve also told me about cleaning up this world’s magic academy with the intent of taking on students. Isn’t that doing something?” Or was she just doing it for the fun and amusement of whatever might come of it…? Well, that wouldn’t be surprising, really.
“It would, but I don’t seem to end up with that luxury often, and certainly not now.” Everything was always out of his control these days, the last span of time he’d had off from work was after a brief hospital stay after getting in over his head dealing with a mage who seemed to think their research should be placed above the lives of others. “I’ll reserve my judgment of this place till after I’ve been here for longer than a few hours, myself.” He added to her comment, he could think of worse places based on the first impression, but… Well, Waver wasn’t good with sudden changes in his daily life. This was a pretty big one. With none of the people who he was used to having around. That took time to build up with people, really.
“Of course, I’m always proud of my students when they do well.” Even if there was a slight bittersweetness to it, given they always surpassed him and he had the reminder that this was as far as he could expect to go as a mage himself. “Anything is possible, but if I’m going to see someone out, I’d rather it be with their graduating out of my class than the alternative.” If the Clock Tower threw them out for not lasting in any department’s classes, then it was hard to say where they’d end up. A failure in a mage family was not treated kindly if they weren’t disowned altogether. “Some think I am. I do my best to live up to expectations.” Stuffy lords didn’t think much of his class, but that was more to do with his lineage than his teaching skills. That and Modern Magecraft Theories was considered a joke compared to other departments… Which was almost funny since it had shown better results than a lot of other departments in recent years.
“The Clock Tower is a complicated mess, if I’m being honest. Most departments would have snapped up the resources, and either repurposed the hall or left it to collect dust.” It had been a struggle even when he bought the lecture hall to keep it afloat at first. “No one replaced the person in charge of that hall. So students would have to reshuffle to other departments, and not everyone fits certain boxes particularly well. So one less option would potentially make things difficult for certain individuals.” And why was that his concern or responsibility? Because he was a stubborn, guilty fool. Even if he’d shifted his teaching focus to modern magecraft instead of Kayneth’s, it had been after most of the remaining students graduated out of the class or switched themselves. Neither department had a head at the time, so it had been an easy jump.
“I’ll remember that if I hear her name here at some point.” He responded, assuming that they weren’t here but knowing that it could happen in a place like this. It seemed like people just randomly arriving was normal if the reception to arriving himself was anything to go by. It was normal, which was also worrying… And… a little appealing… A small, sad part of his mind couldn’t help but wonder if that meant certain individuals could appear as easily as he had. “Makes some sense. Names often carry power, after all.” Protecting your identity, warding off certain magics that revolved around using someone’s name… Carrying weight that one’s given name might not. Even his title, as much as he didn’t want it, commanded a certain respect that ‘Waver Velvet’ was not afforded, at least from those who didn’t know his history. “I presume these codenames were taken for a reason, then?”
no subject
"If I had to make a recommendation? Sure. Watch everything, even if you don't talk to the people, keep an eye on the network, there's tons of information out there waiting for you to grab it. Listen to the people who live here, too. Sometimes their perspectives change and it usually means something's changing in Aterat. The city does change, by the way. Sometimes things appear randomly, or new streets form. It's like the place is constantly growing, and you should keep an eye out for it. Otherwise, keep a hold of your coins in the harbor district, the guards don't get down there often and it attracts the shadier people. There are monsters in the sewers and in the forest outside of town."
no subject
“Maybe he’s the last one, if the whole ‘world ended’ thing they told us is anything to go by... Or he’s been created by someone to fill a roll.” Waver was not unfamiliar with such things, though they weren’t as common as they used to be... There were still mage families like the Einzberns that created such things. “Or perhaps pulled from another plane where they’re more plentiful and tied here.” He tabbed his chin lightly, the lines between his brow deepening with thought. He realized belatedly he was just hypothesizing out loud, and fell silent and let the hand drop. “Regardless, strange would still fit.”
The run down on this world was appreciated. He already intended to keep an eye on the network. It seemed fairly public and frequently used, it would be a good way to keep an eye on things without going to the trouble of getting a few familiars for eyes out right away. The news on the city and its people? That was interesting. “So the world is essentially rebuilding itself with or without our effort?” Or was it their very presences that prompted it somehow? That was a concern. “Must make it hard to anticipate complications.” That was going to be an annoyance...
“So avoid the harbor, the sewers and the forest.” Or maybe not the harbor... If it was less travelled, maybe that would make a decent place to find a place to set up his workshop. Not that he counted among ‘shady’ people, but shady parts of the city would be less bothered by the average person. “That’s a lot of helpful information, thank you.” He added with a late, absentminded tone. It was at least genuine, but his manners came and went when he was distracted and taking in new information.
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"Yeah, it is, at least that's what I can gather from what we've been told and what I've seen, and yeah, it does, but a wizard prepares for everything, so I do what I can."
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"I'm the type to do what I want," she replied a bit defiantly. Having it pointed out that she actually was doing something to try to help this place didn't sit well with her. "I'm doing it for myself." She did follow, though she made it a point to walk by his side and not behind him or anything like that. "I wanted something to do." And that was all there was to it! She just wanted something to do. There were no further motives than that, she just wanted something entertaining to do. Teaching people here seemed at least vaguely entertaining and the Academy might hold information she didn't have. Maybe there were books here with spells she didn't know. Belasco's library housed things from throughout time and different realms, but they were realms in her universe. This was the potential to learn things in another universe. That's all it was about. At least that's what she'd keep insisting.
"Neither do I." And it was one of the few things out there that truly irritated her. She had her choices taken from her so often that even small ones made her angry at this point. Not that she would be open to admitting that to someone she just met. But she could at least offer a small bit of agreement to him. "Nothing wrong with making a quick judgement or two." She said with a smirk. "Unless you're bad at it." Was he good at making snap judgments? She liked to think she was.At the very least she was often told she unnerved people with her judgements.
"And slap them with an F if they don't do well, right?" Or whatever he graded with. "What sort of degree does someone graduate with at your place?" There was a certain curiosity to be found in wondering what sort of degree they'd be presented with and what sort of work they'd do with it. It sounded kind of...interesting in an odd way. All she was used to doing was using her magic for battle and her own needs. The idea that it might work as an entire career was...curious.
"How generous of you to be so concerned for those that don't fit into boxes." There was a slight hint of sarcasm in her tone, mostly that came from her being curious about this man's motives. He seemed to act like someone who didn't care that much about things, and yet he seemed to have gone to great lengths to keep a place for those misfits of his world. "Do you relate to the misfits?" That was the only thing that really made sense to her: he related to misfits and wanted to give them a place. Maybe she was being too generous with that assessment though.
"Do tell me if you ever do." Though what she'd do with the knowledge was something even she didn't know. Probably just avoid her. What could be done about what was already done? Especially in a place like this. "When we join a team, we use them to protect our identities. Most humans don't like our kind and some go to great lengths to harm us. Sometimes codenames are useful to protect families." Though it hadn't worked out so well for hers. "And they're names to reclaim pride in what we can do."
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So the guy was a wizard, that explained it… At least the knowledge of magic and how trouble found him. “A wizard? In your world, would that just be a general title for practitioners of magic, or is it a particular rank for one?” In his world, the general name for what they were would be mages. Wizards, or ‘Wizard Marshals’, were a more militant position within the clock tower’s organization. So it didn’t hurt to ask what the title meant in other worlds. It would be silly to think things were the same everywhere.
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He didn’t like making snap judgments or decisions anymore, even if he had to make them now and again. His experience with them varied. And usually badly made ones were quite sizable. “It depends on the day, and considering how much is unknown to me at this point? I’d rather know the place better.” Deciding now would just set himself up for extra disappointment later if a wrench was thrown in the works and he found himself off balance again.
“That is how grades work, if it comes to it.” He responded with a raised brow. So it was at least a similar grading system. Though most of his students tended to get decent grades… Even if Flat needed a little more attention at times because he was easily distracted and didn’t think things through, even when he should damn well know better… A certain incident involving pyrite and a nearly exploded bounded field coming to mind. “It’s more of a ranked system, actually. Mages with higher ranks have more doors open for them, higher standing and chances for funding and support. Most are expected to carry on their families particular avenue of magic study and whatever business endeavors go with it, often in attempts to reach the ‘root’ as it’s called. The original source of magic.” He responded, though, as she continued to ask how graduating out of his class worked. He’d had most of his students since they were quite young, after all. Ironically, he’d never technically graduated himself and his rank was a special one, granted because of his teaching abilities and temporary Lordship.
Admittedly, it might have been a little messed up when your teacher and the annoying nerd you bully disappear for a few months and then the annoying nerd comes back to become your teacher instead.
That was to say, yes, he did identify with his students in his own way. Though they were all infinitely more powerful and skilled with magic than he was, they all faced their individual difficulties otherwise. The question gets a vague shrug. “You sound like you already have an idea of the answer already.” Really, Illyana had hit a nail on the head with the observation. He acted like he didn’t care, because he had to. Caring was not typically a good look on a mage or a lord of the clock tower, it made him stranger than he already was in their eyes. But… He cared too much about too many things. Reines took great delight in pointing it out now and again when it suited her. Though even she benefited from it, and he’d endeared himself to her without meaning to. He was practically a father figure to some of his students, and a ‘dear older brother’ to Reines even if they weren’t really related.
“You have my word.” He responded, though he couldn’t help but wonder what she would do in that situation. Something to think about, he supposed, should it ever occur. Two mages at odds were never good for the environment in his experience.
But the explanation on codenames was interesting… “So they have a dual importance, then. I see… And you and your friends have been made to feel something other than pride for your abilities?” That was unfortunate, but… not surprising.
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"Well," she tilted her head and smirked. "I hope you can learn quickly." Not that she really thought he'd find out too much about this place. Quite a lot of it remained a mystery in a way that might frustrate her. She wouldn't readily admit to being frustrated by it though, that would admit being easily frustrated. Which she definitely wasn't.
"So you don't even get a degree? You just get a higher level of mage knowledge?" That was interesting. "How many ranks are there?" Or was it even more random then just having fixed ranks? "Ah. There must be fierce competition for finding something like the source of all magic." A part of her wondered how close anyone had gotten to actually finding that. She could only imagine demons in her world being eager to chase that down.
"Oh no, no idea about an answer," she said with a smile. "Just had a tiny guess." Which she clearly was right about. Was she smug about that? Just a bit. But she was always smug about being correct. There wasn't a time when she wasn't at least a tiny itty bitty bit smug about being correct about an assumption.
"They have tried to make us feel things other than pride. It's never worked for me." She felt shame for her demonic side and for the things she'd done without a soul. She felt shame for some of the choices she'd made beyond that. But she'd never felt any sort of shame over being a mutant.
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“Oh, I intend to be. Not fond of leaving puzzles unsolved.” He responded with a small huff. Even if he had the distinct feeling he’d be lucky to at least get the basics of life here figured out, there would undoubtedly be a few extra wrinkles added to his brow in his attempt to figure out more than that. He couldn’t leave well enough alone, and made things that much harder for himself. At least it meant entertainment for those watching, as he floundered through one mess and into another with enough frowns and pretend grace as he could manage. So Illyana would at least get a show of it if she happened to be around.
Mages did tend to operate a little differently from the rest of society, moving alongside in their complicated, largely unknown way from the rest of the world. Raising a hand, he almost proceeded as he would in class or when explaining the way of something to Gray. He did at least give Illyana a slightly more abridged version. “There are seven ranks that mages can achieve. From bottom to top they would be: Frame, Count, Cause, Fes, Pride, Brand and then finally Grand. The last is rarest, although more people would hold it if it was worth the trouble.” He counted them off on fingers, before continuing as he lowered his hands. “Then there are the colour ranks, although they’re more like additional titles for mages who have proved to be of particularly exceptional talents.”
Waver had long given up the idea of reaching the root himself. He’d come to terms with his abilities for one… And for another, he had more important goals for himself that he would rather focus on than wasting time on a pointless endeavor. “The competition is often quite fierce, each mage guards their family’s magic secrets quite heavily in their pursuit… It’s not uncommon for the disownment of children who either prove early that they can’t make the cut or decide to pursue other endeavors.”
Her smug grin is met with an annoyed frown in return, like he knows she was pleased with herself for figuring out the answer to the question either before or soon after she posed it. Regardless, it was another expression he was used to having directed at him. He tried to not be obvious, but some people were good at reading him… And it didn’t help when he tended to be a bit (sometimes a lot) reactive. The frown loses it’s edge though as she continued to explain how people had tried to make her feel shame for her abilities, but hadn’t succeeded. “A thicker skin for such things than most, I presume.” That’s a compliment, really. He knows how easy it is to let words affect one, and he’d seen it often enough even among his students.
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He rolled his shoulder at the thought, though, as he approached the stand, ordering two funnel cakes, one for himself and one for his new friend here, and moved aside to a rudimentary table set up for patrons to eat their newly acquired treats. He slid the plates atop it and had a seat, folding his long legs under the table with only a slight amount of discomfort.
"Every world's different, but in mine, there are people born with the ability to tap into magic. Some of them are just sensitive, able to sense things others can't. Some can weave a few spells. Only those with enough power to bend a lot of different forces to their will and shape them can attain the rank of Wizard. It's...sort of like graduating from college."
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“A memory of what once was, called forth with a particular purpose in mind… That’s a good theory. It would make sense as to why there is only one gnome in the city, and if the memory of him in particular was strong enough, it would stand to reason that he’d be the easiest to put in place than something that was vaguely known to exist, but with less of a substantial presence in one’s mind to pull from.” A more firm mental image in the mind of those who’d put him here, to create something with a defined personality… Easier if you had a base to build on, than a whole new personality. Which he would know, at least from helping Reines improve the Mercury Maid to give her a personality and a higher level of intelligence… Made challenging by another student who’d exposed her to some very strange pop culture. That had been a nightmare, and one that continued giving.
He took a place at the table himself, with a little more ease than his companion, as he settled in place. Waver took a moment to stare at the funnel cake, slid in front of him as though trying to decide how to tackle it. The food would do his stomach some good, settling it and his nerves some. “I’m sure it must be quite different in some worlds… It’s an interesting opportunity to learn about how different things may be from other places when I think about it.” He looked forward to learning more about such things over time, certainly.
Finally, picking a piece off the funnel cake, he takes a moment to eat before he continued. “In mine, depending on where you are, those who can practice magic are called mages or magi. Our ranked system is certainly different, as wizards are more of a specific role outside the general ranks. But a ranked system is not entirely dissimilar, in that the various levels coincide with moving forward towards graduation out of whatever department of the clock tower one pursued their education with.” Although often he had his students from a younger age and continued with them into adulthood until they were to be graduated out of his class and the clock tower.
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"You may find yourself frustrated here then." It seemed like there were some mysteries here that had no actual answers. She tilted her head as they walked, turning to look at him as he explained the different classes. "I see, Professor." Just the tiniest hint of teasing came into her tone with that. It wasn't malicious, but she couldn't help but poke fun at how much he seemed like he was given a classroom lecture to her. Her amusement only grew as she thought about the names he was giving. "Those are real?" She laughed. "Who came up with a system like that? Colors make more sense than Cause and Pride." What sort of ridiculous titles were those? It was almost like they were purposely trying to be confusing.
"Wouldn't it be better to combine family secrets for a better chance to find it?" Seemed counterproductive to guard secrets and compete with each other like that. "Your world sounds like it's full of demons." That was exactly how they worked. They guarded their knowledge and constantly vied for positions of power. Those who didn't make it, were often treated to something worse than just being disowned. That was the way of demons though, the weak died while the strong were used.
She let out a chuckle and nodded. "Much thicker. I got used to people hating me. It's easier." There was truth in that, though in the very back of her mind there was some sadness to it all. It did make it easier though, that was definitely true. The more people hated her, the easier it was to make the difficult decisions that nobody else would. That was something she came to terms with long ago.
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The tone in which she called him professor gets a sidelong glance. She meant it to be teasing, but… Little did she know, Waver actually preferred just about anything to his lordship title. Even if it was a habit to use and afforded him certain consideration from the right people who didn’t know him and his life story. So, teasing or not, he seemed to take to it easily enough. Less of a tired, harassed expression on his face. At least until she started laughing, and the aggrieved tension returned. “Not me, if that’s what you’re asking. It’s been like that as long as I can remember, but I presume it was some stuffy aristocratic mages involved with the founder.” The prior lords put in charge of each department, heads of each of the main families. Most of whom would be having fits if they knew a nobody like him was sitting in one of their seats, even temporarily. The current lords barely tolerated him as it was, even as they delighted in making him jump through hoops or tried to push him to choose sides.
“You would think, and I’ve certainly seen success in tackling something by utilizing the strengths of a group… But mages have always been a solitary, cagey lot when it comes to being the first to reach the root.” While he had come to understand the problems with his original theory… He hadn’t given it up entirely, and on top of that? The old ways that mages clung to were going to eventually stagnate and choke off progress if they couldn’t adapt to the changing world. The time of the gods had ended. The time of the fairies had ended. And their time, undoubtedly, would also fade one day. It was why, of course, his department attracted a lot of new thinking and new mages, or those young enough to see the merit in the idea. “Considering some of the things I’ve seen… That’s probably not entirely inaccurate as observations go.” Maybe that was a little insulting to mage society to admit, but it wasn’t wrong where many were concerned.
Waver listened to her as she continued, and let a breath out through his nose at the statement. Easier to be hated, huh? “You know, the more you talk the more you remind me of someone.” He commented thoughtfully, adding to the list in his head. He wondered how Illyana saw herself beneath all the teasing and quick, intelligent words.
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"I wonder if he's actually even a gnome." The idea itself was more than a little disturbing, and Harry was more keen on focusing on magic practitioners instead. It was something he understood and something that didn't baffle the mind.
"So, are you a part of the hierarchy then, the Second? Are you a magus?" If so, Harry didn't sense much of a magical signature on him, which meant he either wasn't powerful or moved an energy so alien, Harry couldn't sense it. That thought was scary.
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She hadn't expected him to take the teasing so well and a tiny part of her was disappointed. Luckily (or unluckily depending on perspective) he seemed irritated by her laughter. Was he sensitive to things related to magic specifically then? Maybe that was the angle she should take when teasing him. Sometimes it took time to find that exact thing one needed to tease properly with. "I wonder if they had a board meeting to decide it. Maybe it was all voted on! Imagine all these mages in a room while someone suggests Fes and Brand as possible names for our ranks." It was actually a hilarious thought. Now she was actually picturing the various demonic mages in her world sitting around a board table discussing adding ranks to their number. "The ones in my world do have board meetings. I think I was a topic once or twice." Someone really hadn't liked her hostile takeover of a demonic dimension.
"Magic can do that to a person." At least in her world. The type of magic one used could have a huge influence on someone's inner nature. In particular dark magic could leave a stain on someone if one practiced it too much in the improper ways. Even if one was careful there was always some sort of risk involved in casting too dark of a spell. "The more power one acquires, the more they fear that knowledge being taken by someone else." Paranoia seemed to run deep with sorcerers as well. "Several of the demons I know were once simple human sorcerers." Who had decided they wanted more power than a human could handle.
"Someone talented and wise?"
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Part of him wondered if the gnome could lay hands on his relic that had been stolen, but something smaller scale and less likely to upset him if there was something off about it.
“Appearances can be deceiving, I suppose… Met more than one Homunculus in my time with their own magic and abilities by design.” Raimon could be anything where magic was concerned. Someone had a position that needed filling and whether he was a gnome or something else, had been put in place to fill it… It was an interesting puzzle, though.
The question gets a slight tilt of his head in a nod. There’s no harm in sharing from one mage to another… Or wizard, he supposes, was probably Harry’s preferred title. Sharing meant a potential exchange, and it would be interesting to hear more about magic in other worlds. “I am, yes. I hold the fourth rank ‘Fes’ currently due to my position as the head professor of Modern Magecraft Theories.”
It would not be surprising to Waver that Harry didn’t sense much from him, given his abilities rain more along the lines of a third rank at most… He had a low magic output given the magic circuits he’d been born with, so much so that he started growing his hair out specifically because it naturally held mana and he could cut it if needed in a pinch. Which he recently had given the uneven strand along one side.
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He would almost find her disappointment in a failed teasing, almost like scoring a point, or at least blocking one, if there was a score at all. He huffed, half an undignified snort at the question. “Oh, I can most certainly assure you there was probably something like a board meeting in my world too, even all the way back then. Most of them cling to the ‘old ways.’ They love their meetings, all twelve lords sitting around a table making decisions and passive aggressively baiting each other to see if they can’t win the lesser lords into choosing a different side.” Yes, he is speaking from bitter experience. He hated most of them, and at least tolerated others. “Being the subject of a bunch of mages’ discussion… Not something I would count as good for the subject.”
“It can… Changes people, in more ways than some expect.” He responded with a frown, the amount of cases he got called in on where a mage had crossed certain lines were not small by any means… Put him on the wrong side of the policy department more often than not, though Adashino always seemed to think it entertaining to indulge the ‘great detective’s’ theories and insistence on not jumping the gun. “Oh, they certainly do… And they hate if you happen to figure it all out without their permission.” He smiled wryly. It was a bad habit of his. More than one mage hated him for it, though he only did it on purpose sometimes… “The lengths I’ve seen some go to in order to hide their secrets were truly foolish.” And nearly their own undoing in at least one case he’d been a part of.
That got a chuckle, a rare sound from the man. “Something like that, yes.” Intelligent, talented, and quite sure her personality made her something horrible for having been raised the way she was. Not that many mage children grew up without some form of trauma or warped personality. It was practically a club jacket. But she found it easier to be disliked than loved by everyone… A pain in his ass, but also someone he found himself concerned for on more than one occasion.
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"I can't. There's an academy north of town that wasn't there a few weeks ago. If you can believe the person who was trapped in this...other dimension with it, and I don't have a reason to doubt her, they were experimenting with a shard of something she called the 'Voidcryst'. She said it remade things, and that this world, Aterat, had been remade several times, and I can only assume it's using this Voidcryst's power. Athony and Halcyn have never mentioned it, which tells me they either don't know about it or...it created them, so they can't. I don't know. They seem pretty clueless, all in all. They know their purpose and that's about it."
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He listened carefully instead of continuing as Harry spoke. The information was important, after all. Harry had been here longer, which meant valuable details he wouldn’t have been granted yet as a newcomer. Instead, he picked at the funnel cake for a while longer and stored details away to re-examine later. His brow creased again at the information on the ‘Voidcryst’ and the people in charge, who Harry described as clueless.
“What a mess…” He muttered and slid the funnel cake away finally. “So there’s a catalyst for remaking a world that was the subject of an experiment… Is it still at the academy, or is it gone due to the experiment you mentioned?” He wanted to ask more about the academy himself, but right now his focus was on the potential ‘thing that destroys and remakes worlds’ subject.
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"Are board meetings old ways?" It made sense if they were. "I always thought the old ways was involved sitting around an altar plotting who to sacrifice." If she was kidding she didn't actually show it with an expression. Her face was completely neutral with no hint of smile or amusement. "Oh! They do sound like demons. They all sit around like that too." She shrugged rather nonchalantly. "I didn't mind."
Which was the truth. It was irritating more than anything to have to deal with them. Beyond that she hardly cared who talked about her or when. "Experience with it then?" It was unsurprising to hear that he did. Magic was probably similar in most worlds. Or at the very least it had to have at least vaguely similar rules. "That seems to be a consistent. People will always go to extreme lengths to keep their secrets hidden."
She tilted her head and smiled. "Good. For a second I thought you might be trying to insult me."
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He assumed the scholars at the Academy hadn't trifled, either. From what he'd heard of first-hand accounts, the laboratory where experiments had taken place was painstakingly organized if in disarray after the failure.
"I think if we could find it, the Cryst itself, we might get some answers." But finding it was easier said than done. "Though it might not even be in this reality completely."
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“Whether it was called a board meeting or a ‘council’ of some sort, it’s still a bunch of self-important people sitting around deciding the way things are ‘supposed to be.’” He responded with a small rise of his shoulders, knowing full well he’d be inviting a curse on himself for mocking the Lords and their way of doing things if he were heard. Oh well. They couldn’t know and curses probably didn’t reach this far… Probably. A circle of demons also probably wasn’t a stretch for a descriptor either, given their conversation thus far.
He couldn’t imagine not minding being the subject of conversation when it came to a bunch of powerful mages… It usually meant bad things in his experience. She either was too powerful a person to worry about it, or like the idea of being ‘hated’, she just didn’t care. At her question concerning his experience with magic changing a person, he considered the last ten or so years with a nod. “I do, seen it in a few different ways, for better or worse.” He offered a slight shrug. “They do, though they fail to have thought of the inevitable day that it gets figured out, or when the over-complicated plans to keep something secret blows up in their face.” The Iselma case still made him shudder.
He tilted his head slightly at that. “I shudder to think what you might have done if I was. But no. It’s not an insult.” Just an observation, even if both were excellent at getting under his skin with teasing, it didn’t merit an insult or dislike exactly… Just an occasional tired sigh and the odd snappy come back if he thought of one when something was said.
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Frowning lightly, he wondered if it even could be found if it had been thrown into another reality altogether. Something like this that had apparently remade this world a couple of times? It sounded like a cycle, one that had been interrupted by the event that had destroyed it. The comment, though, gets a nod. “Answers would be ideal, and if it was meant to be here… Well, seems like something that should be found.” This was outside his usual realm of mystery though, this was new territory. “Were there any traces of mana or a signature energy connected to it found in the academy when it returned?” He only asked because had some alchemic compounds to detect traces of magical energy, which tended to be where he started when looking for something.
More powerful mages mocked the method, but it often proved useful.
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"For better?" Now she found herself curious on how things may have gotten better for someone. Would she even consider her own magic as something that had improved her life for the better? Perhaps in the grand scheme of things it had. If she hadn't learned how to harness her magic she would have never achieved her freedom. But magic was what had gotten her into that world in the first place. It had also corrupted her a considerable amount which had led to numerous problems. She rolled her shoulders in a shrug finally. "Those kind of people always fail to think of some aspect of the plan."
She let out a laugh at that. "Good. You should shudder. It's safer that way."
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“Sometimes, not all experiences are bad… They can be good for growth in a roundabout way.” That was how he’d describe his younger self’s foolish act of hubris in taking part in the Grail ritual in Fuyuki… It set him on the path he was on now, and while it was not a comfortable or easy one? He was better for having made the mistakes he made, regrets or not. And the regrets would only continue to haunt him if he didn’t succeed in the future.
Her laughter aside, Waver had a feeling that there was a little truth in her comment… He was used to dealing with those more powerful than him, and most of them didn’t take being insulted lightly. “That has been my experience in the past, so I’ll continue to keep it in mind.”
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She tilted her head curiously. "Do you have experience with a bad experience that spurred growth then?" He couldn't just say such ominous things and leave her guessing like that. It was rude.
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Mostly.
Which, on that note, gets a rise of his brow at the curiosity in Illyana’s tone. He still doesn’t think they have the time to go through the whole… Absconding with his teacher’s relic in an act of rebellion and participating in the holy grail war story…
But she was asking, and his shoulders sank a bit with a small frown. “To put it plainly, yes. I was an upstart, naïve little brat when I was younger. An act of hubris concerning forces beyond my abilities taught me a valuable lesson and I suppose you could say it set me on the path I’m on now.” Waver really did look back at his younger self with a particular disdain, though not many liked who they’d been as a teenager. But meeting who he had, surviving what he had… It had made him want to reach for something more, and to grow and change. He wasn’t always sure if he’d come that far, but he liked to think he was still better than he had been.
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"Must have been quite the lesson. Maybe you can tell the story someday."
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"Maybe it doesn't want to be found. If it's sentient, which it sounds like it is, maybe...I don't know. Maybe it wanted to be free." Because Melloi was on to something with the cycle idea, and maybe it hadn't had a choice in the matter.
He shook his head. "None that I could see, but then again, the Academy was a center of magical study. Who even knows what was it and what was some other experiment over the centuries?"
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But he gave her a sidelong glance, considering the suggestion. “Perhaps I can, one day. You did say we have nothing but time around here, after all. Just see if you can catch me in the right mood.” He added with a wry tone. He wasn’t sure how true that was, but he had a feeling he was going to be seeing Illyana around enough, if their discussion tonight and the thoughts on the Academy were anything to go by.
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Sentient… Waver runs a hand through his hair, mussing it some as he pondered over that potential complication. A sentient magic… The minute you had something that had thoughts and feelings of its own, and desires, it meant unpredictability. “If that’s the case? Depending on the unknowns concerning its existence, and its treatment, then it very well may have wanted a way out...” But cycles weren’t exactly something that could be stopped easily, sometimes they were necessary… Or the magic needed to be carefully dismantled in his experience.
He let out a breath, not quite a sigh, but something to accompany the nod of understanding as Harry continued. “And on that note, would I be correct to guess that records of the experiments and studies being conducted did not survive what happened?” Not having a reference, or a means to narrow things down definitely made it quite the challenge… But the young Lord had gotten interested now, between the concern and the overall intrigue behind the situation.
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Hey, some of what she’d offered was useful in its own way… And it had been good to get to know at least one person in this weird place. She had even given him a starting point for getting settled, which was more than he expected for day one.
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That, of course, didn't mean it didn't exist, only that it was either misplaced or hidden, and that would mean there was someone around who still knew better than to let people see it. It implied motive.
"You know, the contact at the Academy mentioned her mentor was the one who did the experiments, but she's never given us a name."
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“That so…?” His fingers stopped tapping on the table and he folded his arms with a curious hum. “Then if the records exist, her mentor would probably have been the one to have secured them if they did. Wonder why she hasn’t given a name, though…” That seemed like an important detail, though perhaps she didn’t remember. It also was not weird for magi to protect themselves and their secrets with a little memory loss. Pain in the ass that it was for everyone else when it blew up in their faces, if what had happened with Touko Aozaki was any indication. It was enough to make the man rub his temple slightly.