"I dunno. He's got wings. Somebody told me once. Something that started with a C? I wasn't paying that much attention. I got distracted by something else more interesting."
"N-no, Sifu."
"No, thanks, Fei. You've been a real help. I appreciate it. You're amazingly efficient. You must be indispensible in Materials and Supplies." ^.^
Fei looks thoughtful for a moment as he replaces the lid on the bin and unlocks the wheels on the pallet.
"I...do my best to help, in gratitude for having a place here," he answers simply.
"May this new beginning...your new journey together...be as joyful and renewing as the dawn," he says with a warm smile and a deep bow to both of them. "And may your days be blessed." (^-^)
He turns the pallet around and makes his way back to the elevator.
Daiyu sits back, returning her hand to the inside of her sleeve. "Indeed. It has become something different. Before, it was a rock in a different state. Now it is many smaller rocks. It has become."
"..."
"Before me I see still Nasima. Perhaps in a different state; a state of learning. But still the same fundamental person. Khoda has taught you a lesson, but you have not become any of the things you say. They are a story you are telling yourself, an unbecoming litany for an audience of one."
Nasima's eyes are big. She bows deeply. "Shi."
The Sifu bows in return, then addresses Vai. "It is virtuous to help one's friends, especially those that help themselves. How will you assist her?"
Phaezeriel turns to Gustav with a very neutral look on his face almost like a mask, his body language showing that he is bracing himself for something, It is clear to me that you do not know what I am, and I would rather explain it to you than have someone else do so. I am a Quasit. A Quasit is a very minor type of Demon that is summoned by wizards and other arcane spellcasters to serve as a familiar. Usually Quasits are very much like their Demonic kin, evil and bent on corrupting their mortal masters. And so I was for 100 years. I do not know why, but I found in myself after about a century of serving my master the capacity for true compassion. Slowly at first, and then more quickly, like an avalanche starting, my concern for the welfare of others grew. Now I seek to atone for the evil I have caused in my early life. I seek to help, and harbor no ulterior motives for my aid. But I am what I am, and I am often judged by that quite harshly. To my knowledge I am the only Demon to turn aside from evil, so the harsh judgement is not unexpected.
"Yo-your-you're a demon?" Gustav stammered, looking Phaezeriel over, involuntarily taking a half-step back. The boy steeled himself, forcing himself to stand normal. "Well, if everyone else is giving you a pass, then I am not going to judge." he declared. He listened to the new guy and Phaezeriel talk about the teachers.
"I've met plenty of elementals, and creatures that dwell in mining caves. I usually helped the miners root them out, drive them away. They weren't too bad, just majorly annoying when they thought a mineshaft was their new home." Gustav explained. "They also tended to not like some of the sound effects I could set up, and exploding rock ore usually set them scurrying too."
Gustav asked the other guy "Which way to the dining hall? Is it open this time of day? I'm trying to find my way around."
The Sifu bows in return, then addresses Vai. "It is virtuous to help one's friends, especially those that help themselves. How will you assist her?"
Vai looks a little nervous to answer. She did not know the etiquette here. There seemed to be some words she was missing, and the bowing was also strange. Vai takes a moment to collect her thoughts under the piercing gaze of the Professor. "I.. I want to help her.. control Khoda. The gemstone in her forehead... Nasima said it was put there by Khoda. I noticed it seems to change colour whenever Khoda is trying to control Nasima. If you have an idea what is it, or how I can help, please let me know. Vai takes a breath, having said her peace rather quickly.
Vai sees Khoda's attacks on Nasima is much the same way as she views her own draconic powers. Something neither of them can fully control. It terrifies her.
"No, thanks, Fei. You've been a real help. I appreciate it. You're amazingly efficient. You must be indispensible in Materials and Supplies." ^.^Fei looks thoughtful for a moment as he replaces the lid on the bin and unlocks the wheels on the pallet.
"I...do my best to help, in gratitude for having a place here," he answers simply.
"May this new beginning...your new journey together...be as joyful and renewing as the dawn," he says with a warm smile and a deep bow to both of them. "And may your days be blessed." (^-^)
He turns the pallet around and makes his way back to the elevator.
"You are a good friend Fei, thank you."
"I dunno. He's got wings. Somebody told me once. Something that started with a C? I wasn't paying that much attention. I got distracted by something else more interesting."
"I'll see you first thing in the morning for Advanced PE," she said, smiling as she handed him a copy of his schedule.
"I dunno. He's got wings. Somebody told me once. Something that started with a C? I wasn't paying that much attention. I got distracted by something else more interesting."
...thoughts under the piercing gaze of the Professor.
"You are very perceptive, sifu." Daiyu smiles softly and her eyes crinkle up the tiniest bit, revealing the first clue as to what might be her actual age, for there is nothing else about her to suggest how old she might be. "The stone is a sign. I do not know what it is, but perhaps you know people with expertise in gems who could tell you? Khoda is a god of storm, of destruction. A gem is a thing of precision and refinement and care. It is not made in a flash of hate and fire, but over careful time."
"Hey Asch...haven't seen you around, been busy testing the new champion's powers?" he says with a smirk, in reference to Amada's new role...
"You could say that..." [I]Awful says with a toothy grin as he creates a small flame in the palm of his hand that seems to pull the surounding heat into it dropping the temperature in the room drastically. Frost forming along his arm. He closes his hand causing the flame to extinguish.[/] "Been working on my own abilities, as well as helping Amada...all for the sake of control scouts honor."
Nasima's brows knit in thought. "...yyyeah. Where would he get a stone like this? It's so tiny, and so well-made. Unless...unless he didn't make it, maybe? Or if he did, it was so important to him that he controlled himself enough to make it...I don't know which possibility is scarier."
"Ooh, neat. That's almost the opposite of what I do," she said, examining the flame carefully and from a distance before Asch put it out. "Control....control is hard," she admitted reluctantly. "I'm guessing in a lot of ways even harder for you."
"Control sucks..." Asch admits as he kicks a stray pair of socks across the floor.
"Heh...socks. Mammals and their clothing..." he says with a teasing smile
stuff about Sifu Daiyu
Try as she might, Vai can't think of anyone who expressed an outright knowledge of gemstones... and why did she just call her Sifu? Wasn't that her name? A little confused, but intent, Vai says: "...Is it possible that someone would want Khoda to be free?"
"Heh...socks. Mammals and their clothing..." he says with a teasing smile
"Says the guy whose decision to stick with being a kobold in public was based in large part on a desire to not have to wear pants," she said, laughing as she rescued her socks and put them away.
"..."
"I...I dunno, Vai. Khoda doesn't have any followers or worshippers, necessarily, or at least not like, you know, a church or anything organized. That's what dad said, anyway. I never looked it up myself. The only thing I can think is if someone just wants to destroy...everything, I guess. I think...I think maybe we need to find Aananda and ask about this gem, see if she can determine what it is. Maybe that will give us a hint. After that...I dunno. This might take a while." 'Sima gives her friend a rueful sideways smile.
"...Is it possible that someone would want Khoda to be free?"
"Heh...socks. Mammals and their clothing..." he says with a teasing smile"Says the guy whose decision to stick with being a kobold in public was based in large part on a desire to not have to wear pants," she said, laughing as she rescued her socks and put them away.
"If I recall, you were on board with me not wearing pants..."
"If I recall, you were on board with me not wearing pants..."
"If I recall, you were on board with me not wearing pants...""Heh...socks. Mammals and their clothing..." he says with a teasing smile"Says the guy whose decision to stick with being a kobold in public was based in large part on a desire to not have to wear pants," she said, laughing as she rescued her socks and put them away.
"Less to take off later," she agreed, grinning impishly.
"Speaking of later....I know I said it was our room and I could learn to live with the jars of reagents and stuff....but we need to at least get a cover for the jar of eyes. It's watching me...and that's going to be a problem...."
"...Is it possible that someone would want Khoda to be free?"
"...Is it possible that someone would want Khoda to be free?"
Vai smiles at Nasima. "Well, I have a class with her tomorrow. Should I ask her then or do you want to go now?" Vai's legs were starting to cramp. This position was painful.
"It...can probably wait? I mean I feel fine right now. I think if I just concentrate on not calling Khoda's powers or anything, I'll be alright. We can go, if you want." Nasima turns and bows to Daiyu. "Thank you, Sifu. I'll see you in class tomorrow!"
*bows*
"Shi."
"Wait a sec Nas'" Vai says, not having gotten up yet. "Professor.... what is this place?" Vai motions to the view, the mountains in the distance. "Is it.. safe?"
"Less to take off later," she agreed, grinning impishly.
"Speaking of later....I know I said it was our room and I could learn to live with the jars of reagents and stuff....but we need to at least get a cover for the jar of eyes. It's watching me...and that's going to be a problem...."
Laughs
"And that is exactly what I was talking about earlier. The eyes creep everybody out. Was hard to find these after EJ borrowed my last set.I'll put them in my reagent cabinet."
Picks up the jar, and takes it over to a upright wooden cabinet, opens in up, and places the jar on a shelf before closing it again.
"There. Better?"
"Yes, much. I was starting to feel very self-conscious."
"You really keep your room very neat and clean don't you? ....Guess I'll have to get back to the habit of cleaning myself or I'll end up feeling bad for making you deal with my mess. It's nothing compared to what Jimmy can do to a room, but still..." she kept talking as she put things away at high speed.
When all her clothes were put away she moved on to the desk, hanging a poster of a painting of ballerinas warming up for practice on the wall above her desk.
"Okay, that's it...well, as long as you don't mind the picture. I'll take it down if you do."
"Asch, as much as we like hanging out with you....We'll see you tomorrow," she said smiling as she held the door open for him in an obvious hint.
Gustav asked the other guy "Which way to the dining hall? Is it open this time of day? I'm trying to find my way around."
I can show you the way to the dining hall if you would like.
"I don't ind it at all. As far as keeping clean, not wearing pants has its advantages, like not ending up in piles on the floor. I really keep the middle of the floor open, becasue I often find myself sleeping in dragon form..."
"I don't ind it at all. As far as keeping clean, not wearing pants has its advantages, like not ending up in piles on the floor. I really keep the middle of the floor open, becasue I often find myself sleeping in dragon form..."
"Huh....well, the placement of the bed could be a problem with that, but I don't know where else we'd put it...I guess we'll hope it's a really strong bed?" she said, closing the door behind Asch, and then smiled. "I guess now would be a good time to test that...." ;P
*fade to black*
"This place is my home." Daiyu pauses for a moment, and then gives Vai a thoroughly puzzled look. "Safe? Forgive me sifu, but I do not understand."
Gustav asked the other guy "Which way to the dining hall? Is it open this time of day? I'm trying to find my way around."I can show you the way to the dining hall if you would like.
----------------------------
Later that night, when Gustav was finished unpacking and storing items in his room, as well as trying on the uniform given to him , a slight tapping was heard on his window pane. Going to the window, Gustav opened it, and a levitating gemstone flew slowly into the room, resting on his desk. "About time you finished. What's this place like?" the boy demanded. Unnecessarily complex. the psicrystal replied. There are multiple roofs on both the third and fourth floors; I sensed at least two underground chambers in the main open area; illusion spells cover most of the campus, changing the architecture; and there is possible underground water access from the nearby water source. This does not include any extradimensional space, of course.
Gustav paced back and forth as the psicrystal described the Academy campus. "So if I want to leave my everlasting mark on Avalon Academy, carving frescoes on the walls won't be nearly enough." he summarized, his ego showing. Impossible. Even a statue-filled garden maze would only be a minor addition to the overall superstructure. Inspiration said, almost sneering in its' artistic evaluation. The amethyst grew ectoplasmic spiderly legs, and began poking at items on Gustav's desk. I could sense a plan, a method to the madness of the construction, but without detailed study the goal of this campus is still a mystery. However, given the stories about this place... "Several outside forces either want to destroy it, or control it. Not just national concerns, but demonic ones as well." Gustav stated. Precisely. the gemstone replied. "So why aren't there more defensive armaments, dead-end corridors, or false construction to deceive invaders?" Gustav asked, pacing again. Unknown. But Avalon Academy cannot be called a work of art, it is more of an enigma. the psicrystal sniffed.
"Well, it will certainly make the teachers more interesting, if each one is also a defender. I still want to find their art section, tomorrow. I will leave them in awe with my sculpting." Gustav said, boasting at the end. Form follows function; art goes beyond function. Inspiration reminded its' master. Nodding absently, Gustav prepared for bed.