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RESPITE LIBRARY - MORNING
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Narrator: The morning after her night out at the Minnow, Teis sneaks out of the house. In addition to wanting to explore some more, she frankly wants to avoid Della while she is still processing her thoughts from the night prior. One part in particular, being useful, weighs heavily on her mind. What better way to distract herself than checking out the local library? If she's lucky, there might be knowledge in there that entices her. She's taken her lesser mana lenses. Just in case. Soon, she is in the library, taking the time to gaze over the space and architecture of the place both outside and inside.
Narrator: The library was simple, nothing like the ones in the academy, or even back home, but it had a lot of the core books one needed to keep up learning, as well as some local histories. However, that's not the most interesting facet of the selection. There were a selection of texts that covered material that exactly began where her last classes left off, and they were placed right at the front of the Magical Theory section. There were a few patrons purusing the isles (Mostly in the fiction section. Aurelius had included an entire lane of thrashy romance, and thrashy adventure books. Bird don't judge taste). The mana goggles pick up something though. The walls, the bookcases, the furniture are all etched with little mana-runes, giving everything a fuzzy magic aura that seems very weak with the amount of raw magic being used. Too weak to be rightfully self sustaining. There's something going on there, since it seems to be continuing just fine on its own.
Aurelius himself is returning books to the shelves, somewhere in the history section.
Teis meanders her way through the library, in search of the sections that would draw her attention. Eventually, she locates the material related to her studies before moving out to Respite. It is a small miracle this location has the books. But, also of interest, is the omni-present auras visible through her mana lenses. Wards, perhaps? What other purpose would hiding the true nature of the runes have? Questions for later. Small as she is, uses her telekinesis to pull the books she wants from the shelves. Three books floating alongside her, Teis settles down at a table nearby and begins to dig through them, one eye shrouded in her lenses, the other left naked to read.
Narrator: Well, Teis quickly finds out the purpose of the wards! The magic she tries to use just..moves sluggishly, like its a thick sludge. She may, or may not be able to work through it, but she can get a sense of what's happening here, whatever the aura is doing, its making magic cast in here much, much more difficult. "No magic in the library" Aurelius comments brightly, motioning over, to ensure the books don't drop, and demonstrating to Teis the other side of what was going on. It wasn't 'Magic is harder to do' It was 'Magic was harder to do, unless you were one of those 'allowed'. "Some of the books are sensitive" He's not upset in the least, a little amused?
Teis indeed struggles. While she might be able to work through it, she is quickly interrupted by the stranger. She hasn't managed to get a book yet, left standing there looking at Aurelius. "... The books I am interested in are on a shelf that is twice as tall as I am." Teis points out.
Aurelius steps to the end of the shelf, and shows a ladder "You should use this instead" He demonstrates it extending, and able to hook into a little lip on each shelf "I need to provide for all the small fellows who can't magic things off the top shelf" He does reach up, and pick the books off she'd been going for, passing them down "You are the new academy mage? Amaryteis Bouquet?"
Teis cradles the books in her arms, seeming uncomfortable with holding the three of them physically. She's not used to having to hold heavy textbooks normally. "Excuse me... " Teis huffs in mild exertion. She moves to place them down at a table, taking in a slightly deeper breath as she does so. Then, she turns back to Aurelius. "Yes. Please, call me Teis." Teis politely insists. "... Who are you? How do you know me?"
Aurelius: "My name is Aurelius, and I'm the local Loremaster, and to answer your other question" He chuckles "My name is Aurelius, and I'm the local Loremaster" He helpfully takes the books, and puts them on the checkout desk "Teis" He corrects with a nod of his head "My apologies"
Teis: "That doesn't really answer my question." Teis skews her lip. "But that is neither here nor there. Please, forgive me. I will do my best not to use magic on your premises. It is a pleasure to meet you, Loremaster Aurelius." Teis formerly addresses, with a small bow. If Della were here, she might be proud of Teis' manners... Or infuriated that she doesn't use them elsewhere.
Aurelius: "To answer it more exactly, I made some inquiries when the estate at the edge of town was being established, and learned what I could of our newest residents. Why do you think our library is stocked so appropriately?" He taps the books on the desk "In any case, you're quite welcome, if you want to withdraw books, you'll need to fill out this form" He passes over a simple form, with name, address on it "Then I can get you a membership, and we can work from there"
Teis: "I appreciate your effort, Loremaster." Teis politely responds, thinking internally about the process of finding out about her, then contacting the academy about her classes... "However, I fail to understand why you would go through such effort?" Teis questions indirectly. "Regardless, I will make sure to fill out this form."
Aurelius: "It is what I do" He replies simply "And that would be excellent, I can work on your log for book withdrawals" He opens up a large book, and flips to an empty page "Now, you can also make book requests if you wish. It takes quite a while to get any books out this far, but its a good service, particularly if you are to continue your studies"
Teis: With the limited explanation given, Teis simply assumes that Aurelius expected Teis to visit the library in time. She'll have to settle for that. "Requests? I will be certain to keep that in mind. And yes, I certainly planned on continuing my education, though I was unsure how I was going to do that without The Academy. This has been a most pleasant discovery."
Aurelius: "I can indeed arrange coursework, and the like. The loremasters can manage distance learning courses. While I am not learned in the details, it is a good reason to educate myself" He finishes his entry in the log book "I will contact my colleagues in the Academy again, and get things moving there"
Narrator nods. While the coursework itself doesn't thrill her... She can't bring herself to simply shun it. "Thank you, Loremaster. Ah... Forgive me for asking. But are there any... Strings attached?" Teis questions.
Aurelius: "I have no control over what the Academy themselves might require, but Loremasters don't charge for their services. Our funding comes wholly from voluntary donations. I would also personally request that you keep your experiments to such things that are of benefit to the world, but I don't believe that should be an issue"
Teis nods. "I'll try." No promises on that one - She does whatever it is she finds exciting. But she's not about to admit that to the Loremaster's face. Also, donations... Something she might have to bring up with Sis, if these Loremaster folk are continuing to provide her with educational material.
Aurelius: "All I ever ask is you do your best" He appears to have confidence in her at least! "Have you any thoughts of what you wish to do with your studies going forth?"
Teis: "I... Don't know, really. All I really have is a dream... I don't... Just want to follow in the footsteps of others. I want to forge my own path, exploring the unknown expanse of the infinite arcanium... And catalogue it." Teis shares. "I've... Already got a sizable collection of notes. But... Most of it is just treading old ground. And the stuff that's new... Well, Papa and Sis won't let me share... On account of it, y'know... Being profitable, I guess. But I don't really care for the profit. I'd rather the world know. I mean, I love Della... And I owe her and Papa everything... But I don't know how to... Follow my own dream while fulfilling hers." Teis sighs, taking a moment. "Sorry... That... Got a little heavy."
Aurelius listens, and nods, leaning back in his chair thoughtfully "When I was young, I wished to be a magus. Much like yourself. Big dreams, I could be a windcaller, directing the breeze to take me to new lands, and explore them all, but" He snaps his fingers, and a measely spark of mana jumped out "I couldn't. I don't have the mana, and my mother didn't want me going to the wilds, where it was dangerous. Everyone's dreams eventually have to meet the real world, and..adjust. Not abandoned. I am in 'civilisation' still, but on the edges, where I'll learn of lots of stories of adventure from the people themselves, and..of course, in the library I actually can cast real spells" He chuckles a moment, before settling back again "You're a creative soul, I'm confident you can find a path to do what you want to do, and what needs to be done"
Teis listens closely to the Loremaster, trying to take his words to heart, though all they really do is cause Teis to deflate. "Yeah... I suppose. I just... I don't know. I'd hoped moving with Sis would've changed things, but... It's like the stress of home has only come with us." Teis sighs. Maybe she just needs her own adventure. But does she have the heart to leave Della? No... She supposes not. "Sorry. I appreciate your wisdom, and if I were in a better state of mind I would be more receptive to it. I don't want to be rude, but... I think for now I would prefer to drop this topic and simply distract myself with some studies, if you wouldn't mind, Loremaster."
Aurelius: "Of course" He pushes the books towards her "I merely hope that you find your truths, before they find you" He notes down the books she is withdrawing in his log.
Teis: "Thank you, Loremaster." Teis smiles, opening up the first of her books. She'll study here for a bit, at least, before figuring out what to do with the rest of her day...
Aurelius hmm as he watches her go, to make a note to speak to the sister. He feels that this will become something he'll need to know more about in the future...