by Liminal on April 6th, 2010, 4:42 pm
Professor Stonemiller examined the schematics carefully, if quickly. After a lifetime of studying magic, he was able to analyze a diagram nearly in the blink of an eye.
"The dowsing stone is well enough in theory, but it's beyond your ability at the moment -- the power is a particularly difficult issue, and adding the reimancy is almost more dangerous than it's worth. Imagine if you found, say, an underground river -- the backflow might kill you before you were able to throttle down the effects. You know my mantra, Hadrian -- never make it more complicated than is strictly necessary."
He paused. "As for studying elsewhere, I think that's an excellent idea. As Kenabelle Wright once said, 'Perhaps the only real difference between one place and another is the view from the eyes of the people who are standing there.' I can only teach you from my own point of view, after all." The quotation was Professor Stonemiller's personal favorite, and Hadrian would have heard it dozens of times during his studies.
"But at any rate, with an Academic Mastership from the University, you should find the doors open wide to you. I could refer you to a mage in Syliras, or in Lisnar, or even in Sahova if that struck you as interesting. We have a reputation for being careful here, and that carries a good deal of weight."
He shifted a bit in his chair. "You're certainly a bright enough student to win a fellowship. What I'd like you to do, I think, is spend the next days working on a design for a project that could do some real, practical good. Something, as you said, that isn't purely academic. Give yourself time to think it all the way through, and focus yourself on one thing. When you have one good design, bring it back to me, and we'll take it from there."
The professor had in effect returned Hadrian's own question to him, which also was not uncommon. He was more than happy to be helpful, but he wanted to be sure that the student had done all he could before he would step in to assist.