1st of Spring, 510 AV
Her second season at the University, and yet already she was being tossed outside of her comfort zone by being switched around in the dorms. She missed Velia already if she were being perfectly honest, though the shorter girl did have a tendency to banter a little over much for her own good. Still Anna had grown fond of sharing the same space with her, though it wasn't as though they wouldn't see each other again. She looked towards the empty cot set up above her own, idly wondering who was going to be sharing this small space with her.
The Dorm itself was a simple affair, its only real furnishings were a bunk, a desk and a single chair. It was a very Spartan affair but Anna was not exactly overly concerned by it, hopefully her new dormmate would be amenable to reason and negotiation. Velia and her hadn't exactly hit it off wonderfully either, but who knew? Maybe this next person might be as good, or perhaps she'd be tearing out her long loose black hair.
As Anna had reached maturity she had found herself growing up more than she had grown out, now easily being able to stand eye to eye with her tall father. It amused her to some degree, though it did her no favors as most of the boys here at the University tended to favor more... petite women. No real loss as she was more in it for the learning and the act of uncovering more about the arcane. Her introductory courses had only lighted a thirst in her that would only grow most likely, her mind entirely consumed in learning all she could about the arcane.
Of course the going was slow, but she tended to learn concepts frighteningly quick and was already able to form coherent theories regarding Djed and its application in magic use. Highest marks in her introductory class, she had noted with pride though her parents were less than keen about her new interest. What they didn't seem to understand was that she was good at this, that she felt like this came naturally to her in ways nothing else seemed to. Perhaps her dormmate was a practitioner of the Arcane or at least a scholar of it.
Anna simply sighed and got up, moving to sit at the lone desk and start reading one of the books she'd been given to start this semester. It was titled Magic and I and from what Velia had said it was a very good read, funny at times and tragic at others. Vuld Shaik was apparently an extremely prolific author from the almost mystical days before the Valterrian. Anna opened to the introduction, figuring it might be best to get in some light reading before her new dormmate showed up.
Anna found herself snickering at some parts, though others raised an eyebrow. From the words he sounded so bitter about the idea of magic but seemed to deflect with somewhat humorous lines. When she read that he had lost the use of an arm and his best friend she felt her eyes widen a little bit. Nervously she stared at the introduction, swallowing slightly as she thought to the University and its education system.
Surely it was nothing like the academies of old? Professor Stonemiller stressed safety above all things in the College of Djed. Then again the Scholar's Asylum did exist for a reason, to hold those that couldn't control themselves and study how to prevent it. It was rather frightening to think about, so Anna slowly closed the book. She got the feeling that she and mister Shaik were going to get very well acquainted.
Her second season at the University, and yet already she was being tossed outside of her comfort zone by being switched around in the dorms. She missed Velia already if she were being perfectly honest, though the shorter girl did have a tendency to banter a little over much for her own good. Still Anna had grown fond of sharing the same space with her, though it wasn't as though they wouldn't see each other again. She looked towards the empty cot set up above her own, idly wondering who was going to be sharing this small space with her.
The Dorm itself was a simple affair, its only real furnishings were a bunk, a desk and a single chair. It was a very Spartan affair but Anna was not exactly overly concerned by it, hopefully her new dormmate would be amenable to reason and negotiation. Velia and her hadn't exactly hit it off wonderfully either, but who knew? Maybe this next person might be as good, or perhaps she'd be tearing out her long loose black hair.
As Anna had reached maturity she had found herself growing up more than she had grown out, now easily being able to stand eye to eye with her tall father. It amused her to some degree, though it did her no favors as most of the boys here at the University tended to favor more... petite women. No real loss as she was more in it for the learning and the act of uncovering more about the arcane. Her introductory courses had only lighted a thirst in her that would only grow most likely, her mind entirely consumed in learning all she could about the arcane.
Of course the going was slow, but she tended to learn concepts frighteningly quick and was already able to form coherent theories regarding Djed and its application in magic use. Highest marks in her introductory class, she had noted with pride though her parents were less than keen about her new interest. What they didn't seem to understand was that she was good at this, that she felt like this came naturally to her in ways nothing else seemed to. Perhaps her dormmate was a practitioner of the Arcane or at least a scholar of it.
Anna simply sighed and got up, moving to sit at the lone desk and start reading one of the books she'd been given to start this semester. It was titled Magic and I and from what Velia had said it was a very good read, funny at times and tragic at others. Vuld Shaik was apparently an extremely prolific author from the almost mystical days before the Valterrian. Anna opened to the introduction, figuring it might be best to get in some light reading before her new dormmate showed up.
So you have always wanted to be a wizard. Congratulations! So did I, and so do a few million children in our country. What's not to like? You get to harness The Power Of The Universe, don't you? Fame, respect, social standing, money and early retirement - the world is your oyster, isn't it? You know the great wizards of our time: you read about them in the papers and it seems like they are wherever the cool people hang out. The lifeblood of our country, they are also the life of the classiest parties in Treval. Sure, they may be a little 'eccentric' (which would equate to 'raving lunatics' if not for their Djed), but everyone loves them. If they take to wearing woolen scarves in the middle of summer, watch scarves become the next big fashion hit. Life as a famous wizard is sweet, dear reader!
Read that again. Life as a famous wizard. How many of them are there in our country? Five hundred maybe? And several thousands semi-famous ones. Great. Now I will gently remind you that, according to statistics, enrollment in our magic academies is in the tens of thousands per year. That many. I will count myself among those, though just barely, as I have retained precious little of what I was taught at the Academy. Speaking of which, our Academies are not that selective. They may pretend to be, but they will let almost anyone in, on the simple basis that it is difficult to tell who would make a good wizard until they start trying.
Have you ever wondered what happens to those wizards who don't get to be famous or semi-famous? I will tell you, and you aren't going to like the answer. You will be in good company, mind you. This little book was self-published out of my own pockets, as no publishing house in the realm was willing to send this to their presses. I am moderately rich from my other writings, however, and above all I am compelled to tell the truth. I don't know magic, but I know my magic, and that I will tell truthfully.
Magic and I have a long history. I will admit. I always wanted to be a wizard. I mean it. I wanted to be a wizard. I wanted to change the world with the power of my magic formulas! I wanted to be a hero. I wanted to be special. I probably just wanted someone to take notice of me. I was just a fool with a dream. Now the dream is gone, but the fool is still here. Will you listen to a fool? Make of it what you will. Put down this book and do whatever you want with it (except ask for a refund). I am sure you have a table in need of some balancing. Wood for the hearth is terribly expensive these days. And I will not be offended should you decide to rip the pages and hook them near your toilet seat. I won't mind.
But then your kid comes back from the Royal Academy of Magic on all fours, foaming at the mouth, and you have to forever keep his disgrace locked away in a dark room of your home. It can't happen, you say? How do you know? If that happens, you will not want it to be known. They say such failures are a symptom of inherited weaknesses. If you are too loud about it, people will imagine you frothing at the mouth, as well.
I consider myself lucky. I only lost the use of my left arm and my best friend. If you lack the talent this is near the milder end of the spectrum. Problem is, you don't know if you have the talent until you try.
Happy reading, wannabe wizard!
- Vuld Shaik, in the fifth year of Queen Kova's reign
Anna found herself snickering at some parts, though others raised an eyebrow. From the words he sounded so bitter about the idea of magic but seemed to deflect with somewhat humorous lines. When she read that he had lost the use of an arm and his best friend she felt her eyes widen a little bit. Nervously she stared at the introduction, swallowing slightly as she thought to the University and its education system.
Surely it was nothing like the academies of old? Professor Stonemiller stressed safety above all things in the College of Djed. Then again the Scholar's Asylum did exist for a reason, to hold those that couldn't control themselves and study how to prevent it. It was rather frightening to think about, so Anna slowly closed the book. She got the feeling that she and mister Shaik were going to get very well acquainted.
