Learning From A Student [Elem Bree]

[Nira'lia]

20th of Winter, 511 AV From the seventeen years that Nira'lia has stayed in Zeltiva, one of the places that has never ceased to amaze her was its University. When passing by the university, she often found herself starting at its fine buildings, watching the students come and go with pleased looks on their faces. Nira'lia often thought to herself that it would probably be an amazing experience to study there; however, just the suggestion would make her mother and sisters smile. It wasn't her place, they would say. There was nothing a University could teach a thirty-two year old Konti that she couldn't learn on her own. 'But, in human years, I'd be roughly sixteen... and I could learn A LOT from a university.' Nira'lia sighed to herself, ignoring the curious looks of the people as she passed by them. She was an odd sight everywhere she went, with her pale hair and skin, and the scales that ran down her body. To those who didn't know what a Konti was, she really was a spectacle to behold. She looked up to the sky and saw that the sun was starting to set. Earlier that day, Nira'lia had been tasked by her mother to fetch some candles, and now she was on her way back. She mused that there was probably no one home yet, which meant a few hours of silence. The Konti were quiet in nature, but being alone still had its merits. Nira'lia went back on her way. Suddenly, her mind still astray in random musings, she carelessly hit a student, their shoulders bumping strongly. Gasping, Nira'lia found herself thrown back, her bottom landing flatly on the streets of Zeltiva. She frowned to herself -- because of her small stature, she could easily be overpowered by anyone, without them even trying. Cautiously, she stood up and brushed off the dirt on her dress. Nira’lia looked up at the person and gave a sweet smile. "I apologize, that was my fault."

[Elem Bree]

Metacarpals, phalanges, radius, ulna. Elem looked at his own wrist, flexing and turning it, attempting to identify each bump and turn of bone and flesh as the class had done at Anatomy class. Although it had been an interesting lecture, the majority of the time Elem had been staring out of the window, watching the periphery of winter gloom blow in from the sea. He knew he would have to hurry out of class in order to make it to the market before it got too wet and blustery.

So once the class had been dismissed and he had collected his things, he began the brisk pace to market, maneuvering through the storied halls of the University first, finding it to open up and thin out, which left him looking at his wrist and not where he had been heading. His mind was set on the items he would need for his attempt at indoor gardening throughout the winter. This year it would be herbs, as their failure would not mean starvation.

His general lack of awareness was brought home with a thump of shoulders. He saw a white shape half spin and go down to the ground. Instinctively, he checked his mizas to be sure they were where he had put them. Being bumped in Zeltiva was a common occurrence with the rabble that came off the ships sometimes. Turning to look down, he spotted a lovely young Konti on the ground, apologizing. "Oh no," he replied, smiling. "Purely my fault. I was not looking where I was going either." His arm and hand extended downward to the lovely pale girl. "Elem Bree, student of medicine."

[Nira'lia]

The man had a tall and stocky stature, but he had a kind face that Nira'lia found welcoming. She hadn't expected him to answer her in such a friendly way. He had evidently checked to see if anything was taken off him, and Nira'lia didn't blame him for that. "Hello, Elem Bree," said Nira'lia. "My name is Nira'lia." She didn't know why introductions were fit. More common reactions would be a look of contempt, or maybe a quick helping hand, and everything would be forgotten. However, Nira'lia liked that he had introduced himself, because then and there she found out he was learning medicine. A sweet smile spread on Nira'lia's lips, and she didn't hide the fact that her eyes wandered all over him, searching for any signs a student of medicine would carry. Did he have books? Did he have uncommon herbs with him? It was rude, but Nira'lia was socially awkward by nature, and her curiosity towards the man didn't stop by her stares. "I don't study in a university, but I'm also interested in medicine!" she said in an excited tone as she looked him in the eye. The Konti woman had a habit of chattering to total strangers in the hopes of picking up something new. "What exactly do they teach you? My mother is the only one who can teach me, but it's been decades since she's learned something new. Tell me, please, what do they teach in the Univeristy that you can't pick up elsewhere?" Her eyes were sparkling with hope, her lips still spread into an expression of delight. Around them, people went on their business, just like Elem Bree probably would be if Nira'lia wasn't preventing him from doing so.

[Elem Bree]

"Hello, Elem Bree. My name is Nira'lia."


Elem noticed that she did not return the handshake, but that made perfect sense in a port. Everyone was a stranger and apparently liked it that way. Had he more free time than study time, he might have also enjoyed socializing with people like the lovely Konti before him. "Elem is fine. Bree is my surname. A pleasure to meet you, Nira'lia." It surely was. He was certainly no slobbering sycophant, but he did have a pulse that was strengthening with the company of the girl. Her infectious smile and her flittering eyes made him wonder if he had a dirt clod in his hair, though he did his best not to run his fingers through it to check. He merely kept his focus on her, which was easy enough.

"I don't study in a university, but I'm also interested in medicine!"

Her presence outside the University now neatly explained, Elem nodded and smiled, his eyebrows raised. "Oh? I know that your people are healers and seers, or that is the rumor anyway. Having not been born with any special powers, I stick with study and hard work.

"What exactly do they teach you? My mother is the only one who can teach me, but it's been decades since she's learned something new. Tell me, please, what do they teach in the University that you can't pick up elsewhere?"

Folding his hands neatly behind him, his eyebrows furrowed as he thought. "Well, I have been learning human anatomy currently. I suppose the best part about the University is that they have plenty of reference materials whereas one in the field, such as yourself, would only have experience to guide. Why haven't you enrolled at the University?" His eyes briefly left the shining young face before him and watched the sky further. It definitely was darkening as they spoke. " Would you mind terribly to walk with me as we discuss it? I desperately need to go to the Market before it starts raining."

[Nira'lia]

Nira'lia saw how Elem brought his hand back down. She had not noticed it before, probably because she was too excited about what they were speaking about. The Konti didn't tell him, but she was glad she had not shaken it -- her Gift worked when she touched another's skin, and she did not like using it when not needed. "We are healers, but we still have to study and work hard," replied Nira'lia. She seemed to take a moment to think about how to answer his question. "I haven't enrolled because my mother sees no reason to... and aside from that, I have devoted myself to other things." She nodded at his suggestion and started to walk towards the market. The Konti woman quickened her pace, struggling to keep up with the man. "You have no need to worry, the skies are dark, but it will not rain until late tonight," Nira'lia told him. She had no reason to go to the market, but she wanted to speak to him. She knew it was not going to rain because she had read the stones with her mother that morning, and one of the trivial questions a customer asked was how the weather that day would be. "What will you be buying today? Perhaps... something to do with medicine?" Her tone was hopeful, but he could very much be going to the market to buy something which didn't concern his studies. Nira'lia wanted to know though -- because medicine really did touch her interests.

[Elem Bree]

OOCSorry for the delay. Been terribly busy at work.

As the pair walked toward the market, Elem wondered if he had sounded insulting with his remark about healing. It just made little sense to him why anyone should bother with schooling if they could just magically heal wounds. It wasn't as if there was a place where a Deity's influence could not go. While he was aware of the presence of Gods and Goddesses and their Alvina in the world, there was just something about having hard earned knowledge which made him feel better.

He listened to her words about rain and slowed his pace, seeing that her shorter legs were getting a workout in keeping pace with him. "Well, that kind of knowledge is quite helpful, I imagine. You would make quite a farmer, surely. I was not going to the market for medicine, but I am happy to speak to you of it." He stopped at a bench and took a seat, unsure of whether she would join him or not. His hands on his knees, he continued. " I was actually going to pick up the things I need to grow an indoor garden this winter. My mother is a herbalist and I thought it would be a good project to work on when the port is covered in snow before long."

[Nira'lia]

"A farmer?" repeated Nira'lia in a puzzled tone. She had never heard that suggestion before. The girl watched as he took a seat on a bench. She looked at odds about what she should do, bot not wanting to be rude, the girl took a seat beside him. It was quite evident that she tried to sit as far as possible, her hands flat on her lap. Nira'lia looked at Elem Bree, studying his features. He spoke of his mother and his plans about his indoor garden. It was a fascinating topic to Nira'lia. "My mother has some herbs at home as well, but I wouldn't call it anything special... rather, I have minimal knowledge about it," she explained. Without really thinking about it, she took a glance at his chavi when he spoke about his past. She saw quick images of their family garden, and a face of woman who must be his mother. "That was a nice garden, indeed!" she said, referring to the garden his mother grew back then. Blinking, she put a hand up to her mouth as she realized what she had one. Fortune telling came so naturally to her, and while the images of the past were not so vivid, she understood the gist of what she saw. "I apologize... I wanted to see what your mother could do. I looked into your past without your permission," she explained, hoping he would not take it against her. She faced his direction and quickly bowed her head in apology. "I only wanted to know what a herbal garden would look like, and I should have just asked."

[Elem Bree]

"Yes, a farmer. If you knew when it would rain, it would be invaluable to deciding when and where to plant crops."

Elem surely wished he had such a talent. Humans lacked most of the wonders of other races, but what could he do about it? He listened as she spoke of her own mother and an herb garden, smiling as he was happy to have a kindred spirit in that department. When she spoke of the garden, he had assumed she meant the one at her own home, but when she seemed to have stepped on her own words by accident, it was clear to Elem that it wasn't quite so innocent.


"I apologize... I wanted to see what your mother could do. I looked into your past without your permission."

Elem's eyebrows raised quizzically, but he wasn't upset about the intrusion. He found it fascinating that such a scrying was possible at all. He watched as she turned toward him on the bench, a serious tone in her features.

"I only wanted to know what a herbal garden would look like, and I should have just asked."

He chuckled a bit and waved his hand dismissively. "No, no. It's fine. I have nothing to hide. I think it is fascinating that you are able to do such a thing. You really should consider taking up Spring classes at the University, however. We might even see each other there and could study together." He was pleasant without being intimidating. He could never remember seeing an ugly Konti, though. It was easy to watch her.

"I'm not sure what I alone could teach you that you don't already know, however. What did you have in mind?"

[Nira'lia]

Nira'lia tilted her head to the side. She had never thought of the correlation of farming and fortune telling before. "Oh, but I’m not very good at reading the future... it's my mother who's excellent at it. But... maybe in the future, if I get better at reading cards, or if Avalis decides to bless me further," she said, smiling in delight. Just to explain what she meant, she put her hand up to show Avalis's gnosis mark on the back of it. "Since I did a terrible thing of looking into your past without your permission, you should just know, it is Avalis's power who lets me do so." She put her hand back down on her hand. Nira'lia listened intently as he spoke of the University. As she listened, she felt herself become more engrossed in the idea of enrolling. Perhaps... if she set aside enough money, then she would be able to afford it on her own? It was a splendid idea to her. "Studying and meeting other people would be so much fun..." said Nira'lia softly, dreaming of it. "If one day I do decide to do so, and hopefully that will be soon, I will seek you out," she grinned at him widely. "Oh, and please, I am sure you know much more than me when it comes to herbalism! You are a student after all, and I only have minimal knowledge about it." Thinking about it, she wondered what would be a good question. She didn't want to come off as silly, and she was afraid she would ask something absurd. "I... I don't know what to ask... perhaps you can just give me some simply tips? Tell me, what's the first thing they tell you in class?" she giggled, all thoughts about asking a silly question going out the window. "I'm sorry, I can't think of anything better to ask!"

[Elem Bree]

Elem felt like there was something he was missing. The story and the faux pas that had occurred seemed legitimate from the fair skinned lass, but nonetheless, he felt out of the loop. Looking at the ephemeral glow of the mark on her hand, he asked, "Avalis is a Goddess then? I don't really have much of a religious background." He guessed that she might have something to do with fortune telling from the context of the conversation. " Feel free to look into my past anytime. I have nothing to hide." He beamed and continued to listen to her, his eyes generally following her eyes and lips, but occasionally wandering to the silver scales she wore.

Her enthusiasm and exuberance was infectious. Elem found himself excited as well, with no real reason to be. " Herbalism is alright, but it doesn't excite me as much as medicine. I know the two are related, but herbs are not always available when someone needs help. Skill and knowledge are eternal, however." It didn't make much sense to him why she would just try to get information and not go to school herself, but she was beautiful and the chance to be interesting to someone like that was rare. No reason to squash it with logic."

Folding his leg over and pondering, he added, "Well, let's see. Usually Madame Allis explains that the most useful herbs for anyone to learn about and gather are local ones. There may be some exotic or potent species of plant that cures many things, but if it grows several weeks away to the North, it really doesn't do much for the patient who is in front of you." He tried to think about something more specific, but his mind kept going back to the obvious question. "Why don't you just enroll for a season and find out for yourself? It isn't too terribly expensive."