Ars Magica- Session 1

[Julius Aldoid]

A note was delivered to them all.

***
Meet me within the painted forest at 4:00. Eat no breakfast and bring no food. You will not be eating at any point today. Water will be supplied once. Should you fall ill, you will receive no treatment for your illness.

-Astor Kite
***

With its trees of so many colors, the Painted Forest was an apt title. Though in the dark, it was so hard to see there many colors Upon a swing set sat an unusual woman. Her blond hair was short, neat, and slicked back, with her eyes hidden by blackened tea shades. She wore a tweed jacket and brown slacks. Her clodhoppers swung in the air as she did, almost ready to loop the swing set. She had a picnic basket set just upon one of the legs, and it smelled delicious. To her right, sat a merry-go-round, and her left, a slide. Everything else was sandbox, and beyond it, just the sweeping paths of the Forrest. There was the occasional rustle of the more nocturnal of denizens, but all in all, just the sound of the swing set could be heard.

The air was humid, far more humid then usual, though a storm was likely coming on. It loomed as puffy clouds, forming as the face of a tired old man, trying to sleep. It was slowly crawling this way, if one could see it in the night sky.

Still, Astor swung upon her swing, waiting for her students. it was 3:58. They had two minutes, otherwise whoever wasn't standing there would be failed from the course. Astor did not mention this in the letter, and her students had no foreknowledge of such a likelihood. Nor did she mention her location, or if they were supposed to meet there at 4:00 am or 4:00 pm.

This was the first lesson.

[' La Trinité]

If there was one thing Isabella could not stand, it was fragments of information. When vital bits and pieces were missing—things were bound to go wrong and cause misunderstandings. Brow wrinkled with frustration, she could see that this teacher was one for trickery. It said to meet inside the Painted Forest and so she’d meet them there. Now, the vital bit that was missing from this piece of information was where they would be meeting in the Painted Forest. Shaking her head as she reflected over what all was written in the letter, she knew this course was going to be an interesting one. Trickery or laziness? Which was the reason behind this? Even so, the letter also stated to meet at four and again, more vital information was missing. There were two different times of the day in which the clock struck four—which one did they mean?

They mentioned skipping breakfast; maybe this would be the clue of what time she was apt to show? If the professor had intended them to meet in the evening, wouldn’t he or she have instructed them to skip lunch and possibly dinner also? Isabella thought so and with that, the mystery was solved or so she would hope. Hopefully she was right. Although she knew the time of day to show up, she still didn’t know exactly where to show up. Apparently arriving early would be needed and with that, Isabella turned in, her mind over flowing with thoughts of what to expect from a teacher so sloppy or fond of games. Unfortunately, Sleep didn’t come easily to the impostor and so when the time came to dress and find her instructor—she was, per say, sluggish. Isabella was never a morning person but to wake up when the sun had yet to shine made her irritable. With her female appendages bound, she dressed herself comfortably in a wine colored corseted vest, a white dress shirt, an undershirt, black slacks and brown wingtips.

However because of how humid the weather has been, she wouldn’t don her over coat or topper this morning. Although she wasn’t affected by extreme cold or heat, she didn’t want to dress too heavy for the occasion—she wasn’t sure what obstacles were going to be thrown her way. Clipping on her gold pocket watch before rolling up her sleeves, she’d tuck her gloves within the pocket of her slacks heading out the door. Treading in the direction of the painted forest with haste, her hands were tucked in her pocket as she fidgeted anxiously. Gentlemen, men, don’t fidget but she couldn’t help herself, she didn’t want to be late nor did she wish to be the last one to show. Rubbing her lips together, brown eyes lowered desperately trying to remember every detail of the letter searching for clues to where this teacher could be. Creak. The unnatural’s eyes narrowed; creak, she stopped. What in gaia could be making that noise in a place like this?

It was familiar yet alien all the same. There were no doors in a forest…so what could be creaking. ‘Doors, hinges, wood floors, springs.’ Everything that made that noised filled her thoughts and then it hit her. She was in the Painted Forest and in the painted forest was a playground and so what was making the noise was the ‘swing set.’ A confident smirk curled the ends of her lips as her shoulders squared, her head raised and her tail wagged whilst she trotted along triumphantly—she had figured it out and with that, she was pleased for now. Anxiety melted away as she pulled the pocket watch from her vest coming to a halt beside the merry-go-round. Isabella made it with just a minute to spare and before her was her professor…who seemed content as she or he swung? She wasn’t sure, after all she didn’t have night vision and she could only see so well in the dark. With that said, she wasn’t sure if she was in the company of her classmates but, she’d introduce herself anyways.

“Professor Astor? I’m Bishop Phoenix De’Armor the sixth and I hope I’m in the right location, if you are, Astor Kite, that is.”

[The Day is Mine]

A tall, slender outline wavered, like a flame against the wind, before emerging from behind a tree. He had stood watch in the Painted Forest since the hour after having received his instructions. After perusing the contents of the letter, from the material of the parchment to the style of the writing, he arrived at the same conclusion that his classmate had: the meeting should be taking place late into the night. But Lucifer took no risks. He arrived prior to schedule, and spent his time scouting the area, eliminating as many unknowns from the equation as possible.

Flicking a single rainbow colored leaf from his shoulder, he adjusted the collars of his white dress shirt. He acknowledged his classmate with a nod of his head, and his teacher with a full-bodied bow. Shaking his blonde hair loose of any leaves that might’ve gotten into it, he turned to the sky. In the dimness of the forest, his startlingly bright blue eyes glowed eerily, but there was a marked coldness to his gaze, as though his eyes were actually made of crystal, and not flesh.

“If I am correct, you have already formed your judgments of us, miss Kite."

He flipped his wrist over and glanced at his watch. 3:59.

"Lucifer, at your service."

[soulbrand]

A few steps he found himself just outside the dorms, his gaze seeking out the window of the one he so hastily tackled and absentmindedly felt up, yet to his dismay they all looked similar and it was near impossible to locate his crush! Such turmoil could only come to a growing boy while he slept, as Esben drowsily rolled about the mangled display of sheets and pillows, before finally sitting up to catch in full the sun as it broke through his window.

Alone.

Rolling out of bed he would slip his feet into as set of slippers, yawning as he fumbled for the pocket watch he had ‘accidently’ forgot to return to his father, smirking as a thumb flipped the face open and he watched as the hands clicked into a stillness. 3:50. Yawning he would toss the watch back on an end table, a parchment fluttered and descended upon the floor only to be scooped up with a curious lift of this brow. Reading:

Meet me within the painted forest at 4:00. Eat no breakfast and bring no food. You will not be eating at any point today. Water will be supplied once. Should you fall ill, you will receive no treatment for your illness.

-Astor Kite

Tossing it on the table next to the watch he would flop backwards with a loud, roar like yawn, such a pleasant day ahead of time plenty of time—sitting up he would shake his head, picking up the watch, and then picking up the parchment he scanned both with a single eye, distracted by the concept of time, he gasped and leapt from his slippers. Hastening he tossed on the now wrinkled uniform, slipped his shoes on before scooping up the pocket watch and the parchment.

3:53, it was in an almost eldritch manner did he sprint, following behind students, cutting others off and finally escaping the gateway of the school ground, making a sharp left turn he would scamper the distance and it was upon the horizon did he see another student enter the Painted Woods. A classmate? Good, he would make it on time then! It was true, as his clock struck the time, 4:00 he would stumble in behind Lucifer, with a smile and not a moment to spare.

[Julius Aldoid]

Astor ceased to swing, slowly drawing to a halt, turning to mind the Bishop.

"Yes," leaning in her seat, "I am she," she mentioned as she smiled to Phoenix. She had a few wrinkles, but smile lines were not present.

She turned to regard the second student in turn. She seemed quite pleased, but the face quickly grew static. She spat as she said his name, and to make the point clear,she spat upon hearing his name. Her eyes drew to Estaben, but returned so to Lucifer, and then so to Phoenix.

She looked as though she wished to say something, but then instead looked down and turned away from them. The air was actually quite muggy, particularly for this time of year, even the breeze tired from it. She went to her picnic basket, and removed her picnic cloth. She very neatly unfolded it, and then closed it. There was much room to sit, thought the turf was in no danger of ruining the seat of one's pants.

She yawned, covering her mouth, and sat down quite carefully, making sure to preserve the pleat of her suit. She then removed a lace handkerchief from her inside pocket, which was flecked with red droplets, and removed her tea-shades to clean them.

She did so in absolute silence.

[' La Trinité]

Rolling her neck to the left, the unnatural’s eyes rolled to peer at all the individuals in her midst’s, looking them over the best she could as she slipped her pocket watch into her pocket and rubbed her neck. Brows lifted, eyes narrowed, Isabella resisted the urge to chuckle—it seems like the young lad she had met in the library had been correct. They did have a class together and it would also seem like their professor didn’t like the taste of his name ‘pon her tongue once it graced it. Nonetheless, when she felt Astor’s gaze back upon her features she blinked before analyzing her expression.

After all, now that the woman was stationary—Isabella could actually make out her features and when her eyes lowered, so did Isabella’s before she’d blink again. Feeling her nose wrinkle, her curiosity was aroused when Astor turned around. ‘What could she be doing?’ Watching her take a seat and move about, she could take it no more. Clearing her throat, she rolled her head to the right sliding her hands into her pockets as she treaded toward the woman. Moving diagonally, Isabella drifted toward Astor’s right to get a better view of what she could be doing before taking a seat a couple of feet away from her.

“Are we being quiet for a reason?” Whispered Isabella as she mulled over her words before speaking again as she watched her clean her shades.

“Because if we are—I’m gonna have to continue speaking out anyways because I’m ignorant of it and I’m curious about what exactly you have planned for today’s period, professor.”

[The Day is Mine]

Lucifer acknowledged the newcomer with an absent-minded nod. His eyes fixed, no, bore, so deeply into their professor that it was almost disquieting. When Astor smiled at Bishop, he noticed that the expression didn't make her face glow with the radiance of joy. In fact, it was an act of pure courtesy. On the other hand, when Astor greeted him, she spat at his name, and he smiled, as though amused by her antics, before crossing an arm over his torso and bowing again. Another act of pure courtesy.

Whereas Bishop moved forward, Lucifer slipped back. He glided between two tall and tenuous trees that trembled lightly against the wind, until the multi-colored leaves nearly masked his body. Only his eyes, two bright blue points hovering in mid-air, were visible. He glanced from the speckled handkerchief to the picnic basket, back and forth, back and forth, until his eyes grew distant and his lips grew tight.

It seems their professor has a knack for the unconventional and subtle.

[soulbrand]

A nod was placed in return, while it was the Professor’s current nature that went without formal note, Esben was presently seeking a means to loosen his uniform, to stretch and pull upon the seams as if it would make it easier for him to regain a lost composure. It was of course a failing effort but it wouldn’t stop him for finding some way to cool down.

In moments that followed he found it far easier to breath when he removed the panic and effort, allowing his classmates to for the first time be studied and consumed in length, he would twist and step and bob as they spoke and paid special attention to the taciturn teacher. Taking a kneel, before finally collapsing upon his bottom, Esben would grant his senior a similar concern yet, he opted to likewise share the hushed nature, though it was by his own admission the reasons were likely different.

“Uh. . .” He would start but instead, allow the mitreless Bishop to hold firm and guide the conversation, perhaps his classmate would be able to spark a voice in Astor.

[Julius Aldoid]

Astor sat, minding the spots upon her shades, and afterward, set them down plainly. Her head turned, and eyes met Phoenix as 'he' walked and sat a ways away from her. Her face was still, and only turned to glance at Estaben as he plopped down, but otherwise did not break as she listened to her student. At the end of Phoenix's inquiry, she turned, staring at Lucifer as he apparently hid amid the many colorful leaves. She opened her mouth to say something to him, but then closed it again, going back to that vicious smile of hers. a single 'tisk' escaped her, and he, in the faintest of gestures, waved her head at him, her face going placid again.

She looked to Esben for a moment, and there was another faint gesture, this time turning to him as he sat, as though asking him a question. She turned back to her glasses again, but then sharply returned to his gaze, tilting her head back to him, but then returned to her shades. She returned them promptly to her face, well aware of the darkness that surrounded her.

She sighed.

As she did, the darkness around them seemed to grow. The moon still glowed, but it was as though filtered though the very same shades that covered her eyes. The other two students would so too be covered in that shade, but only Astor and the student whom looked upon her would be in normal light.

"Why did you come here?" She asked.

Students are to submit reply posts via PM. Once all posts have been submitted, I shall post them all at once, along with individual reply. The class shall continue on in such a manner until the dialogue is complete. No student is aware of any conversation other then their own.

[Julius Aldoid]

Within the shade, Astor listened with all the focus she was want to give, and once the students had given their replies, the shade would fade, and the glow of the moon would again be upon their clearing.

"One of you," drawing a sliver case outside, "failed to answer." And as she said, only Ebsen and Lucifer sat there. "Personally," Drawing a cigarette to her lips and lighting it, taking a long drag as she looked at them both, "I disliked both your answers." Her statement was punctuated by a dragon's exhale, it trailing out her nostrils as she raised her brow.

"But do not fret, there is no right answer. And I do mean that litterally. Neither of you could have said anything I would have liked. But that is the point. I disliked your answers so much, now I absolutely have to apprentice you both, otherwise you might get good at the art and one day I would have to cut you down like dead trees for perverting the art."

She just sat there a moment after, savoring her cigarette, looking upon it as though she had just discovered it. She was looking into the flame deeply, entirely causal about the fact that she had threatened their lives.

"The question now becomes... What do you want to learn... my dear aspirants?"

[soulbrand]

It was with mixed feelings would the youth—Esben—shift about his crossed legged position before Astor; his answer as dismissed as the pupil that suddenly wasn’t there. Adjusting himself as to sit with less of a slouch he would give the teacher his upmost attention.

Yet in the same moment she broke apart his answer, his thought out and delicate response to a question had wrongly presumed to be easy, she restored his faith in the class and in himself. So poor was the answer that she has no choice but to take me under her wing?

A smile shielded by the hand that came to wipe his face in an attempt at remaining indifferent—she would know better though.

What do I want to learn? Everything!
Can I say everything? I don’t know, is that wrong too?

Second guesses clouded his mind before finally, after much debate and careful reworking of what he again assumed to be an easy question with an obvious answer, he came to an answer:

“I don’t have an answer, at least, not one that is lost to being vague.” A pause, his smile faded slightly yet joy was found in his voice, “I want to learn everything, and of course everything that explains this presence I can feel on my face, a force— lost to some but so strong to me. It is how I can change the world into something new.”

And with that, Esben would wait.