Almalexia. (arithmeticks) wrote in emillion, @ 2014-01-23 12:35:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, !log, almalexia lliryn, peony min |
I wrote the textbook, I am the expert, I know what it took to find the answers.
Who: Lex & Peony.
What: Escorting a visitor around the library.
Where: Mages Tower.
When: Today.
Rating: Tame.
Status: Complete!
Even with all of her duties, Peony always found time to spend in the library. There was a massive cataloguing project in process (at her behest) regarding the older tomes and scrolls owned by the guild, but it would not be completed for months, if not years. There was so much more here than any one person could read in a lifetime. For now, there was still the opportunity to discover something new -- and with her recent conversations with Toku, it seemed additional research would once more be required of her. She could only hope she found something usable before the next time they faced something of the last beast’s stature… With classes letting out for the day and her papers signed, filed, and sent on their way, she made her way down via the waystone to once again peruse one of the as-yet uncatalogued older sections of the library. Her intent, however, changed when she arrived at the library entrance and spotted a familiar head of blonde hair from behind, engaged in conversation with the librarian. Approaching the desk, Peony nodded to her colleague and then the church amge, saying, “Good afternoon, Almalexia. Are you perhaps in need of an escort?” She could take the time to serve as such, as opposed to waiting for the librarian to summon someone else. She had not seen Almalexia as frequently these last months, and it would be a pleasant opportunity to catch up. Lex looked up at Peony in slight surprise. But it was not an unpleasant sort of shock, for as she did not know many of the guild mages personally, those she did were often held in high regard. Such as the experienced black mage now before her who, by quick initial observation, seemed to be doing rather well. “Good afternoon,” she said in reply. “I believe you are correct.” The promise of books and learning was quite the difficult call to ignore and, in her desire for self-improvement, she had attempted to gain access to the tomes kept in the Tower. “It has been suggested that I wait here until an appropriate party becomes available,” she added thoughtfully, wondering at the strict rules of access. Not that Lex had any particular notion of sneaking about through the library by herself, that her studies may go unhindered by the presence of any stranger, but the detail had certainly given her pause. “Many of the items contained here are rare or unique publications,” Peony said with a small smile. “Some areas contain books considered dangerous, others may prove so for magickal novices if not for more advanced scholars. As such, the guild feels the need to control outside access to some extent.” There was little worse than a powerful spell scroll in inexperienced hands, after all, and the restricted areas of the library, with their preserved tomes on dark magicks and their history and application… It was best to steer visitors away from such things. “I will serve as escort for you, if you are amenable,” she offered. “I have time this afternoon. Are you searching for something particular, or simply wandering?” “Oh?” Lex allowed her gaze to wander for a brief moment to those many books surrounding them, and perhaps it was then that her already adequate amount of curiosity doubled in size. She desired to inspect the collection rather thoroughly, in fact, but reminded herself of her humble position as guest and turned her focus carefully back on the other mage. “I would enjoy as much, of course,” she said mildly, her feelings remaining unbetrayed by her polite tone. “If it will not inconvenience you overmuch.” As for the matter of her purpose here, she brought into recollection the reasoning she had given the librarian. “I have begun a limited study of synergist magic, and as I am not myself well-versed in the subject, thought it would perhaps prove advantageous to search for such knowledge here.” Amongst a number of other places—Lex’s ventures in studying were quite thorough, after all. “It will be my pleasure,” Peony said, her expression similarly neutral. “I can assist you in navigating the stacks.” The librarian, quite familiar with the councilwoman, smiled and nodded them on their way as Peony steered them in the direction of the sections detailing various support magicks. “I have been involved -- in somewhat limited capacity -- in a project in cataloguing the items found here,” she said as they walked. “The library has been added on to for centuries, for as long as the tower has stood; at this juncture, we own books that everyone has quite forgotten. I did not fully realize the scope of the project when we started. Still, those volumes that are immediately relevant to class studies are simple enough to find.” They would be of little use to anyone otherwise. “I am glad to hear your studies are progressing. I hope you have settled well into your new duties?” She turned left between two tall shelves of books, tall enough that the top tiers would require a ladder to reach. “We should start here,” she suggested. “I hope we can find what you seek.” “Yes, of course,” Lex said. “It is under Father Luscini’s tutelage that I am attempting to learn any such magic. Synergy, however, possesses elements of quite a significant difference to the spells that I am familiar with.” Their lessons regarding Bravery had been something of a unique challenge, she admitted to herself. The mage followed dutifully behind her escort, but she could not quite help her gaze from slipping from one row of books to another, wondering on their age and the usefulness of their content. A cataloging project seemed rather exciting, by her own standards, though she was part of no such things herself. Had she ever decided to become a Tower mage, Lex wondered whether or not she would’ve been allowed to include herself in such a challenging task. “Has the guild been doing well of late?” The question was broached with some hesitance. Would it be proper for her to inquire on such things, she wondered? Peony took a few moments before answering the question, not because she did not wish to do so but rather because she had to consider what the best answer might be. “We have risen to the challenges presented to the best of our ability,” she said at last. “There has been much trouble, of late.” The guild had persevered -- first with the plague, then with keeping the Tower safe during the attack that had leveled buildings around it. Still, she could not say that they were doing well; such troubled times made such a simple word into a lie. “The scholars are doing well in their studies; we have had a small influx of new members recently, and they too seem to be settling. I am thankful for our perseverance, as a guild.” She offered Almalexia a small, thoughtful smile and added, “I think you, too, are likely to have felt the press of current events upon your everyday life.” Lex nodded in agreement. She rather wished to avoid discussing certain recent events, or more specifically, the difficulties surrounding the plague which had spread quickly and severely throughout much of the city. Though a solution was eventually brought to light, and a cure for those afflicted thankfully found, neither could fully alleviate all the effects of what had transpired. “Of course,” she said, her voice solemn. “Although admittedly I was not present during the most recent disturbance.” There was a sense of conflict regarding how she might approach this particular topic (although perhaps a smaller reason in visiting had been to unearth some secrets of the conflict she had only heard grave whisperings about through the past number of weeks). Lex looked away from the books and over to Peony. “From the information I’ve gathered thus far, I do have cause to believe the conflict must have been rather severe.” Certainly, the partitioned segment of the nearby street and buildings that were still in obvious reconstruction gave hint to it as well. “Yes,” Peony agreed. “It was indeed rather severe. Many were injured in the altercation.” There was a great deal of conversation about this occurrence happening in the ninth floor offices, but of course this was not the place to share her conjecture. The next time, she suspected, would not be too long in coming. Still, it was time, perhaps, to change the subject. Almalexia, while a person she liked and respected (and, on occasion, felt protective of), was not one with whom she could discuss these worries. “Which synergistic spells currently hold your interest?” Peony asked, examining the spines of the books before them. It was a gently but firm way of implying that she had little else that she could say on the subject. “Bravery,” Lex afforded promptly, allowing the careful shift in conversation without any notable objection (nor any visible signs of her disappointment). Peony, as she recalled to herself, held high authority in her guild, and certainly whatever had transpired here, as an outsider, Lex was not meant to be privy to. (Which did not mean she would not choose to investigate the matter further, of course. But these efforts would be saved for a later time.) “Only the one,” she added, hands held behind her back and maintaining the patient and dutiful expression Lex offered Father Luscini and the other senior church mages while conversing over duties. “However, I would like to observe the collection on arithmeticks as well, if I am also allowed. My studies on the subject do take a great deal more precedence.” “Yes,” Peony said, “of course. Before we go, perhaps this may aid you.” A book was selected off the shelf, a compendium of writings on basic synergistic theory. She recalled that it was recommended rather highly; its name appeared in the class information she occasionally reviewed from the older, more advanced students. “The texts on arithmeticks are not housed in this section, but of course, I will gladly escort you, once you are finished here. They are also available to the public. If you like something, you may check it out for further study.” “Thank you for your assistance,” Lex said politely. She took the book carefully in her hands and allowed Peony to guide her further into the library, that she might yet discover even more materials useful in her current studies. |