In Paraasilan, Esmaar, a pair of roommates are about to break a rule that, compared to the one about running in the corridors or even the one about unlicensed teleportation, is there for a good reason.
In unison, they complete their shared spell.
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chalk
Adarin in Elcenia
A young man is brought into their summoning circle. He has a pen in his hand, though no paper - apparently that wasn't brought with him. With bewilderment, he looks around.
In a language they wouldn't understand, he turns to them and asks a question.
In a language they wouldn't understand, he turns to them and asks a question.
They don't understand him, of course. The darker (and smaller-eared) of the girls asks the blonder and more elvish one a question in a language that he likewise wouldn't understand; the blonde replies with a monosyllable ("Haan") and starts flipping through a book.
The man frowns. He looks at the circle in confusion - it's not something he recognizes. Some strange off-branch of a bloodline with weird chalk-based ideas? Where in the world has this brought him?
He tries to move outside of the circle, and finds he can't. Confusion turns to a bit of worry! He asks another question, in the same foreign language.
He tries to move outside of the circle, and finds he can't. Confusion turns to a bit of worry! He asks another question, in the same foreign language.
The browner girl makes a placating gesture at him and says some more things that he won't be able to understand.
The pale one - she also looks a little older than her friend - finds what she's looking for, and studies the page. She describes a gesture in the air with her free hand, and speaks several crisp syllables.
"Did it work?" inquires the brown one in perfectly intelligble - essence-of-native-language.
The pale one - she also looks a little older than her friend - finds what she's looking for, and studies the page. She describes a gesture in the air with her free hand, and speaks several crisp syllables.
"Did it work?" inquires the brown one in perfectly intelligble - essence-of-native-language.
He frowns at them both, then raises and eyebrow when they strangely switch languages. With bewilderment, he turns and stares at the pale, older girl. That was the simplest spell he's ever seen in his life, and he's absolutely certain that it's a spell.
"I can understand you, yes. Now please explain what's going on?" he says, confused and somewhat unnerved.
"I can understand you, yes. Now please explain what's going on?" he says, confused and somewhat unnerved.
"We summoned you!" exclaims younger/browner/rounder-eared. "It worked!"
"We can send you back after we've shown you to somebody," says older/paler/pointier.
"We can send you back after we've shown you to somebody," says older/paler/pointier.
That's actually kind of insulting. His life isn't- uprootable for the whims of other people. Because she's closer, he fixes younger/browner/rounder-eared with a cold glare. To further add to the message that he's not happy, his arms are then crossed. Goodness, he must mean business.
"And just why did you summon me?" demands the man. "I'm not a zoo animal, to parade around to your friends."
"And just why did you summon me?" demands the man. "I'm not a zoo animal, to parade around to your friends."
"Well, it's random, who we get," says the younger.
Her roommate nods. "The spell just grabs somebody, we don't tell it where from or who. We don't even know anybody from another world to summon specifically."
Her roommate nods. "The spell just grabs somebody, we don't tell it where from or who. We don't even know anybody from another world to summon specifically."
"Random. A random spell to summon other people," says the man, brushing aside his hair from his face in exasperation. What kind of insanity did he just walk into? Or, he supposes, get summoned into.
"You just said another- world. World? You just casually- There should be at least six of you, if not more," he muses, mostly to himself. "... What's your bloodline? Do you have one?"
"You just said another- world. World? You just casually- There should be at least six of you, if not more," he muses, mostly to himself. "... What's your bloodline? Do you have one?"
"...I'm a thudia?" volunteers older/blonder/pointier. "What does that have to do with anything?"
"Co-casting with six, wow, it's hard enough with two," says younger/darker/rounder. "Oh, we haven't introduced ourselves, I'm Saasnil and that's Korulen."
"Co-casting with six, wow, it's hard enough with two," says younger/darker/rounder. "Oh, we haven't introduced ourselves, I'm Saasnil and that's Korulen."
"That word didn't translate, I believe. I'm Adarin, of the third bloodline. I am second generation," replies, apparently, Adarin. He says this as if he expects them to understand and to act in a certain way!
"Your magic is so common that you don't need to- co-cast? With six," he states, flatly, stumbling a little over the foreign word that doesn't fit into his language.
"Your magic is so common that you don't need to- co-cast? With six," he states, flatly, stumbling a little over the foreign word that doesn't fit into his language.
"A thudia is a kind of half-dragon," says Korulen.
"But it doesn't have to do with being a wizard. I'm a wizard, too," pipes up Saasnil. "Wizards can cast spells, that's the point."
"But it doesn't have to do with being a wizard. I'm a wizard, too," pipes up Saasnil. "Wizards can cast spells, that's the point."
Adarin stares. Normally, it's rude, but in this case, he believes it's quite justified. "... Forgive me if this is rude, but you don't look to be half dragon."
Then, he needs to sit down. He does so. Taking a deep breath, he manages, "I do believe that I am very far from home. You don't need a bloodline to do- magic, yes? Is what I'm hearing correct? There's no error in recording them, or- or something?"
Then, he needs to sit down. He does so. Taking a deep breath, he manages, "I do believe that I am very far from home. You don't need a bloodline to do- magic, yes? Is what I'm hearing correct? There's no error in recording them, or- or something?"
"...What do you think half dragons look like?" Korulen inquires, sounding confused. "I mean, I could shift to my other form, but it'd probably knock over a chair, in here."
"All you need to be a wizard is a channeling capacity and everybody's got one, big or small," says Saasnil, sounding like she's paraphrasing somebody. "Oh, and you need hands, and the ability to speak, or at least they think you have to be able to speak but there might be something else you could do instead that would work, but the three established traditions of wizardry all involve it."
"All you need to be a wizard is a channeling capacity and everybody's got one, big or small," says Saasnil, sounding like she's paraphrasing somebody. "Oh, and you need hands, and the ability to speak, or at least they think you have to be able to speak but there might be something else you could do instead that would work, but the three established traditions of wizardry all involve it."
"Dragons as I've known them were fairy-tale creatures with scales, stag horns, fur, and could heal with their breath. They carried precious gems in their claws and posed riddles to any travelling passerby. You are- not that. At all," says the man, exasperated and out of his depth.
He needs a minute, just to think. Then, he's plotting. Adarin isn't sure what any of this is, but he's going to try and use it.
"Do I have a channeling capacity?" inquires Adarin.
He needs a minute, just to think. Then, he's plotting. Adarin isn't sure what any of this is, but he's going to try and use it.
"Do I have a channeling capacity?" inquires Adarin.
"...Scales yes, horns not staglike, no fur, breath can involve fire but that's kind of the opposite of healing, why would you carry precious gems around all the time, the riddles I guess might be case-by-case depending on the dragon?" says Korulen.
"Probably not," Saasnil tells him. "Since you're not from our world."
"Probably not," Saasnil tells him. "Since you're not from our world."
Adarin makes an uncommitted 'Mm' sound, then goes back to thinking. He is not native to whatever magic they have, but perhaps he can explain his. Closing his eyes, he takes a deep breath and sort of- whispers an incantation. It's not in the same language he was speaking, but the translation spell will translate it all the same.
"False vision, come forth in light," he whispers, holding out his hands. A little dragon-as-he-knows-it appears on the floor next to him. He's in the habit of keeping his incantations in another language, to make counter-spelling difficult.
He looks at Korulen. "This is how I know dragons. It seemed polite to show you."
"False vision, come forth in light," he whispers, holding out his hands. A little dragon-as-he-knows-it appears on the floor next to him. He's in the habit of keeping his incantations in another language, to make counter-spelling difficult.
He looks at Korulen. "This is how I know dragons. It seemed polite to show you."
Korulen peers at it. "Well," she says, "that doesn't look like me or my mom, or for that matter any other kind of dragon besides jade ones."
"You did that without gesturing," observes Saasnil. "You must have an interesting kinda magic."
"You did that without gesturing," observes Saasnil. "You must have an interesting kinda magic."
"Apparently so. Mine is passed down through bloodlines, it's not... Automatically given to everyone," explains Adarin. "And it's not used quite so casually."
The light-dragon pokes its nose against the barrier, and makes no more headway than Adarin did. A subtle test, to see if his magic could get out, if he could defend himself. Since the answer's no, he's going to be a very nice visitor.
The light-dragon pokes its nose against the barrier, and makes no more headway than Adarin did. A subtle test, to see if his magic could get out, if he could defend himself. Since the answer's no, he's going to be a very nice visitor.
"There are some kinds of magic that aren't wizardry that you have to be the right species to do," says Korulen. "I have a few of the things dragons can do because of Mom, just not most of them. I think merfolk have a couple of kinds only they do. And vampires. Wolfriders, I guess, you could argue whether to count them..."
At last. Sanity. Something that makes sense. He nods, glad for a bit of normalcy, though he didn't understand what half of those words she used were.
"I see. Then- I suppose I am the first partial-Fae you've ever met. I do hope I've made a good impression," deadpans Adarin. "Are you planning to show me off to all of your friends?"
There's a hint of bitterness in that statement, he can't help it. He doesn't like being treated like a show animal.
"I see. Then- I suppose I am the first partial-Fae you've ever met. I do hope I've made a good impression," deadpans Adarin. "Are you planning to show me off to all of your friends?"
There's a hint of bitterness in that statement, he can't help it. He doesn't like being treated like a show animal.
"Just one. Someone was making fun of Saasnil earlier," says Korulen. She's starting to look sheepish, like maybe she has begun to notice that there are flaws in the plan of summoning a random person.
"But I can too do complicated old spells," says Saasnil, "he'll see."
"But I can too do complicated old spells," says Saasnil, "he'll see."
"I do believe that he will. You will return me, once he has? Or at the very least give me a place to sit, the floor is uncomfortable," says Adarin, flatly.
He waves at his illusionary not-the-right-kind-of-dragon, and it disappears. Adarin fixes Korulen with a somewhat judgmental look.
"Tell me. Is it common to summon 'random people' to show off to your peers?"
He waves at his illusionary not-the-right-kind-of-dragon, and it disappears. Adarin fixes Korulen with a somewhat judgmental look.
"Tell me. Is it common to summon 'random people' to show off to your peers?"
The door opens. It's an elf bearing a strong resemblance to Korulen, and he doesn't look happy.
"No," he says. "It is not common. Nor permissible nor wise."
"...Eeep," says Korulen.
"No," he says. "It is not common. Nor permissible nor wise."
"...Eeep," says Korulen.
"Then at least your society is somewhat sane," says the human in the circle. "Good day to you, sir."
Adarin inclines his head. Parental figures are good, and this one doesn't seem to have the same insanity his own mother caught.
"Will I be returned home in the same condition I left it?" he asks, reasonably. He's just a little bit nervous.
Adarin inclines his head. Parental figures are good, and this one doesn't seem to have the same insanity his own mother caught.
"Will I be returned home in the same condition I left it?" he asks, reasonably. He's just a little bit nervous.
"We may hope. However..." The newcomer inspects the chalk on the floor. "Korulen. Saasnil. Did you co-cast this?"
"Yes - and it didn't hit us in the face, either, we were careful -" begins Korulen.
"Did your teacher somehow omit to mention that you cannot co-cast a reversal?" snaps the older elf.
Korulen shrinks. Saasnil sits down, hard, on her bed.
"Yes - and it didn't hit us in the face, either, we were careful -" begins Korulen.
"Did your teacher somehow omit to mention that you cannot co-cast a reversal?" snaps the older elf.
Korulen shrinks. Saasnil sits down, hard, on her bed.
"Ah," says Adarin. "Is it possible one of them could do it?"
It seemed reasonable, even if he didn't understand all the rules at play. The spell might send one of them into mana deprivation, but that honestly wasn't his problem. They should have thought of that before they summoned a poor, unsuspecting random person.
It seemed reasonable, even if he didn't understand all the rules at play. The spell might send one of them into mana deprivation, but that honestly wasn't his problem. They should have thought of that before they summoned a poor, unsuspecting random person.
"One of them could, if either had the channeling capacity to do it alone," says the older elf. "I think the best we can do is accelerate Korulen obtaining a familiar and hope that does it. And even sped up a bit, it will take... some time."
The elf is joined by a human woman with jade-green hair, who gives the appearance of already knowing the situation.
"Hi, Mom," says Korulen quietly.
The elf is joined by a human woman with jade-green hair, who gives the appearance of already knowing the situation.
"Hi, Mom," says Korulen quietly.
"I see. That is time I don't have, I'm afraid," states Adarin, standing and brushing himself off. He looks between the two authority figures in the room.
"Please let me out of this circle. My magic might suffice," he says, reasonably. Trans-dimensional magic is something he does possess.
Of course, it required a knowledge of where he was in the planarscape, and how far it was away from his home. Too far, and it would either send him into mana deprivation or kill him. Cheerful thought.
"Please let me out of this circle. My magic might suffice," he says, reasonably. Trans-dimensional magic is something he does possess.
Of course, it required a knowledge of where he was in the planarscape, and how far it was away from his home. Too far, and it would either send him into mana deprivation or kill him. Cheerful thought.
"Unfortunately," says the green-haired woman, "the fact that you've been inconvenienced through no fault of your own doesn't guarantee that it would be safe to release you from the circle. Do you object if I perform a minimally invasive mental scan to check?"
"... Are you going to change any of it or use anything in my head against me?" asks the politician, immediately on edge. His head was one of his few safe places, there were dangerous things in there, things he didn't dare say out loud.
"I won't change anything unless you ask me to. If I don't like what I find, you'll have to stay in the circle, but that will be the worst of it," she says.
"Then you may," he warily replies. He's not comfortable with this at all, but it seems he has little choice.
She nods.
Nothing happens, at least not that he can detect.
After a short while, she steps forward and smudges the chalk circle with her foot.
Nothing happens, at least not that he can detect.
After a short while, she steps forward and smudges the chalk circle with her foot.
Adarin's even more uneasy at how it feels like nothing. Someone in his head feels like nothing at all. If there are things in the world that he fears more, he definitely doesn't know what they are.
He will be on his very best behavior. Oh yes.
Tentatively, he touches where the barrier used to be, and finds it's not there anymore. He steps forward, looking around.
"Thank you. Now - do you mind if I attempt to see if I can get home through my own power?" asks Adarin, reasonably.
He will be on his very best behavior. Oh yes.
Tentatively, he touches where the barrier used to be, and finds it's not there anymore. He steps forward, looking around.
"Thank you. Now - do you mind if I attempt to see if I can get home through my own power?" asks Adarin, reasonably.
"What do you need to do it with?" the green-haired woman inquires.
"A mirror would help, though I don't need one. I need to find it, before I can attempt to get back," explains the guest. "If you're feeling traditional we could find a clear basin of water, but I find a mirror works just as well."
Korulen scrambles to get a hand mirror out of her desk drawer. "Will this do?"
"Yes, thank you," he says, moving to take it.
Exhaling, he begins the incantation! It's way more complicated than the last, and the translation spell honestly butchers what he's saying. It names out pivotal points in the known 'map' of planes. Keo might be able to make sense of it, but no one else in the room would have a clue.
He finishes the spell, and looks at the mirror. He stares, for just a minute. Then he blinks, very, very slowly.
In a distant voice, quiet and rather frightened, "I do not believe I could get home under my own power."
Exhaling, he begins the incantation! It's way more complicated than the last, and the translation spell honestly butchers what he's saying. It names out pivotal points in the known 'map' of planes. Keo might be able to make sense of it, but no one else in the room would have a clue.
He finishes the spell, and looks at the mirror. He stares, for just a minute. Then he blinks, very, very slowly.
In a distant voice, quiet and rather frightened, "I do not believe I could get home under my own power."
Korulen draws her knees up to her chest and drops her face onto them.
"Am I expelled?" whimpers Saasnil.
"No," says the green-haired woman. "But only because if Korulen getting a familiar doesn't net her sufficient channeling capacity, you being able to do so is the next available way to send this gentleman home."
"Am I expelled?" whimpers Saasnil.
"No," says the green-haired woman. "But only because if Korulen getting a familiar doesn't net her sufficient channeling capacity, you being able to do so is the next available way to send this gentleman home."
Adarin needs a minute to sit down. He does so, for the second time. The mirror is returned to a nearby table. Before, Adarin didn't quite understand how random the spell was.
The answer is, quite random. It would take him several lifetimes, just to get home. Several of his lifetimes, to get home, if he never stopped for a break between plane-hopping, if he never got tired, if he jumped as far as his magic would let him every time. He is very, very far away from home.
"Is there some place I could stay in the meanwhile?" asks Adarin, in a small voice.
The answer is, quite random. It would take him several lifetimes, just to get home. Several of his lifetimes, to get home, if he never stopped for a break between plane-hopping, if he never got tired, if he jumped as far as his magic would let him every time. He is very, very far away from home.
"Is there some place I could stay in the meanwhile?" asks Adarin, in a small voice.
"The school can take responsibility for you. There are empty dormitory rooms, we can get you a cafeteria pass," sighs the green-haired woman.
"Thank you. That would be appreciated," replies the man who's looking like he's now realized that he's a very small fish in a very big pond.
"Can you- send letters, to where I came from?" he asks, suddenly, thinking of the fallout back at home. Another of his family, disappearing without a trace? All of his work would go up in smoke in an instant.
"Can you- send letters, to where I came from?" he asks, suddenly, thinking of the fallout back at home. Another of his family, disappearing without a trace? All of his work would go up in smoke in an instant.
"Oh, goodness, yes, of course," says the green-haired woman. "As many as you like to any location you can specify. The girls can learn the sending spell and do it for you for part of their detention."
"I will need to write several," sighs the man, getting up to retrieve his pen. It's a nice pen, and he likes it. It'd be a pity to lose it just because he's far, far from home.
"May I also surmise that you can summon objects here, just as easily as send them?" he asks.
"May I also surmise that you can summon objects here, just as easily as send them?" he asks.
"Yes. Even people, if they want to come, with a less problematic spell," says the woman with a sharp look at her daughter, "cast by competent graduated wizards who will in fact be able to undo it when your visitors are done here."
"That is quite fortunate, then. Your magic is very convenient," replies Adarin. "In most circumstances."
Lenora was the obvious candidate to summon, though to be honest he didn't want to put up with the annoying woman. Maybe a couple letters would suffice. His sister, though - she was much more difficult to send a letter to. He would have to have her summoned, just to explain the situation.
"I do believe that I'll need visitors from my world. At least one," he explains. "She isn't known to answer letters."
Lenora was the obvious candidate to summon, though to be honest he didn't want to put up with the annoying woman. Maybe a couple letters would suffice. His sister, though - she was much more difficult to send a letter to. He would have to have her summoned, just to explain the situation.
"I do believe that I'll need visitors from my world. At least one," he explains. "She isn't known to answer letters."
"If she doesn't answer letters it would be somewhat difficult to determine if she wishes to come, wouldn't it?" points out the green-haired woman.
"Yes. My sister's unlikely to want to come, if only because I'm involved," sighs Adarin. "But I would like her to know where I am all the same."
He sounds very tired, like there's some bad-blood between him and his mysterious sister. A sad look's come over his face, like he wishes there was a better way.
He sounds very tired, like there's some bad-blood between him and his mysterious sister. A sad look's come over his face, like he wishes there was a better way.
"We can't condone summoning anyone who isn't willing to be summoned. As I hope you've gathered, the girls were acting in contravention of a number of rules - laws, in fact."
"Am I gonna be arrested?" whimpers Saasnil.
"Probably not. Certainly not in a way that renders you unable to make up for what you've done as best you can," says the woman.
"Am I gonna be arrested?" whimpers Saasnil.
"Probably not. Certainly not in a way that renders you unable to make up for what you've done as best you can," says the woman.
"Fair enough," he sighs, looking a teensy bit miserable. "Then I suppose she'll just have to find out some other way."
He rubs his face, a bit. Then he looks at the green-haired woman, then her husband. "I do apologize for the bad introduction. My name is Adarin. It would be a pleasure to meet you both, under different circumstances. You seem like pleasant people."
He rubs his face, a bit. Then he looks at the green-haired woman, then her husband. "I do apologize for the bad introduction. My name is Adarin. It would be a pleasure to meet you both, under different circumstances. You seem like pleasant people."
"I'm Keo," says the woman, "and this is my husband Kanaat, who is the headmaster of the school. And we do apologize for the circumstances."
Nodding, Adarin properly composes himself. He seems to be recovering! Hurrah.
"Thank you. I haven't asked yet, but I probably should have - where exactly am I? Aside from... Absurdly far from home," asks Adarin. A name of his new... Temporary home would help him settle. Probably.
"Thank you. I haven't asked yet, but I probably should have - where exactly am I? Aside from... Absurdly far from home," asks Adarin. A name of his new... Temporary home would help him settle. Probably.
"Binaaralav Academy, in the city of Paraasilan, in the nation of Esmaar, in the world of Elcenia," says Keo.
Deadpan, Adarin says, "It's fortunate that I've spent most of my life practicing how to say things, isn't it? How in the world do you say- 'Binah-ralav?'? Binaralav-"
He sighs. "... The entire language is like that, isn't it."
He sighs. "... The entire language is like that, isn't it."
"It does contain a vowel that non-natives have some trouble with, yes," says Keo. "You'll have an accent."
"Marvelous," he says. "Well. I- could I trouble you for an explanation of the country I'm in? You have sane laws of consent, and powerful magic that doesn't require a bloodline, but I know little else."
He pauses. "Aside from the fact that you are a dragon? I... Don't understand how that works, I'm afraid. You don't look like a dragon. Er- no offense."
He pauses. "Aside from the fact that you are a dragon? I... Don't understand how that works, I'm afraid. You don't look like a dragon. Er- no offense."
"Yes, I do," says Keo, fluffing her hair. "I look like a dragon in human form. I'd show you my natural form, but it wouldn't do the architecture any good. Esmaar is a magocracy with popular referenda and an extreme policy of pacifism; is that the kind of thing you wanted to know?"
"It will do, thank you. You can... Casually change shapes, then?" asks Adarin. He's still really, really unnerved. "I do hope it isn't painful."
His magic has something like that, but it was only used by some back-water offshoot of the first bloodline. Extremely painful, unable to change the amount of mass in an object or person, and had the high chance of going horrifically wrong. It fell out of style very, very quickly. Adarin knows of its existence, but little else about it.
His magic has something like that, but it was only used by some back-water offshoot of the first bloodline. Extremely painful, unable to change the amount of mass in an object or person, and had the high chance of going horrifically wrong. It fell out of style very, very quickly. Adarin knows of its existence, but little else about it.
"It doesn't hurt at all," says Korulen. "Why would it?"
"Because changing your body involves moving around all sorts of nerves and muscles? Every book I've read on the subject says that pain is a given," replies Adarin. "But I suppose the writers have never met dragons."
"It doesn't change it like that," Korulen says. "I have two bodies. I can just - swap."
Adarin opens his mouth. Then, he closes it. It takes him a little while to reply, but he manages, "Two... Bodies. Alright. I don't understand how that works, that breaks every law of magic I've ever heard of."
"Well, you're from another world, which no doubt has other rules," says Keo. "Now. Why don't I show you to one of the empty rooms available, and Kanaat will talk to the girls about what's next for them."
She turns and heads out of the room, apparently expecting Adarin to follow her.
She turns and heads out of the room, apparently expecting Adarin to follow her.
The expectation is correct! He follows, still reeling a little. He's so very, very far from home.
"I've been away from my world before, but the same rules applied. I suppose that's why the scry said I was such a long way away," he muses, mostly to himself. Do his rules of magic apply here, to his magic? He's going to have to test that out.
"I've been away from my world before, but the same rules applied. I suppose that's why the scry said I was such a long way away," he muses, mostly to himself. Do his rules of magic apply here, to his magic? He's going to have to test that out.
"It's frankly lucky that your magic works here at all. Wizardry most likely wouldn't work in yours, comments Keo. She opens a door at the end of the hall, which leads to a small windowless room with no other door, and gestures him into it.
"Then I'll consider myself lucky," he says, peering at the... Room. "Is- that my room? It seems to be missing key elements."
"No, this is a lift. It will take us to a different hall. Your room will look more like the girls'."
"Oh. You don't use your teleportation magic? It seems plentiful," comments Adarin, stepping into the lift.
"Ataan Hall," Keo tells the lift. It starts to descend. "I can teleport, but this is a school; many of the students haven't learned to do it yet, so there are lifts. I use them, as long as they're there."
"You can't create portals?" he asks, stumbling a little from the lift's movement - it's a sensation he's not used to.
"True, no one at home bothers with them either when stairs don't carry the cost, but- it seems obvious."
"True, no one at home bothers with them either when stairs don't carry the cost, but- it seems obvious."
"We have teleportation circles, but those are very hard and unpleasant to cast, so there's usually not more than one per major city."
The lift starts moving left.
The lift starts moving left.
"Unpleasa-?" he begins, then the lift goes left. Adarin nearly falls, and then proceeds to brace himself to the wall, trying to regain composure.
"... Ahem. Yes. Unpleasant? I was under the impression that your magic was painless," says the man trying not to look like he nearly fell over. "Or it wouldn't be used so casually?"
"... Ahem. Yes. Unpleasant? I was under the impression that your magic was painless," says the man trying not to look like he nearly fell over. "Or it wouldn't be used so casually?"
"Small spells are. Not so if you go over half your channeling capacity," says Keo.
"I see. I could create a pair of smaller portals reasonably close together with little trouble, though I would need to rest in between making them," replies Adarin conversationally.
He's wondering if he doesn't need to have his fortune summoned at all, if he could just... Make portals for people for pocket money. Not the most pleasant job, but it's better than going without another set of clothes.
He's wondering if he doesn't need to have his fortune summoned at all, if he could just... Make portals for people for pocket money. Not the most pleasant job, but it's better than going without another set of clothes.
"And people do what with them - just walk through from one to the other? Do they have fixed pairedness, so you can only use one to go to the second portal, or can you go from any to any other?"
"They come in fixed pairs, though I suppose theoretically creating a portal that could travel to a set is possible. No one has been able to figure out a way to specify which of the portals it would send you to, though. It always defaults to the closest that matches its signature," explains Adarin.
"There'd be a tremendous market for that, if it interests you," says Keo. "The existing teleportation circles are always under heavy load."
Adarin grins, then replies, "It does indeed interest me. It'd be nice to have a source of income, though I'd have to mind my scheduling to make sure I don't hurt myself."
The lift stops; its door opens on another hall. Keo steps out and opens the first dorm on the left. It's furnished like the girls' room, only without any of the lived-in accoutrements. "Will this suit?" she inquires.
He looks it over, and finds no issue with it. "Just fine, thank you very much."
Sitting on the bed, he looks at her curiously. "Do you know whom I could speak to in order to offer my portal-creation services? "
Sitting on the bed, he looks at her curiously. "Do you know whom I could speak to in order to offer my portal-creation services? "
"I can get in touch with the Esmaarlan parliament and I'm sure you'll be flooded with municipal bids inside of a week," she assures him.
"That would be fantastic, thank you," he says, smiling a little. "It gives me something to do, though I might have to find someone to question about your magic's workings to see if there are any other things I could do with it that you can't do yourself. I wouldn't have thought that you would have issue creating portals. I might be mistaken about other things, as well."
"Well, this is a school, and Korulen's translation spell on you will keep indefinitely; you can visit the library if you like."
"Will the translation spell I'm under apply to the books?"
"It depends on which version she used, but probably; most versions in modern circulation do. If not I can oblige her to look up one that will and replace it."
Adarin nods, then replies, "I'll have to test it by going to the library. Thank you very much for your help."
He's pleasantly surprised by the friendliness of the powerful dragon-woman that could break his mind with a mere thought. Perhaps he can calm down a bit, now. This entire adventure could be turned around to be a good thing, if portal creation is that lucrative - if the money's transferable, it's more to throw around at home.
He's pleasantly surprised by the friendliness of the powerful dragon-woman that could break his mind with a mere thought. Perhaps he can calm down a bit, now. This entire adventure could be turned around to be a good thing, if portal creation is that lucrative - if the money's transferable, it's more to throw around at home.
"The lift will take you to the library or Ataan Hall or the cafeteria if you just tell it those locations," Keo says. "If you need anything else, just think my name clearly and firmly and I'll answer. Korulen's going to escort you into town for a cursory shopping trip at her and Saasnil's expense, since this room obviously doesn't have sheets or a change of clothes or whatever. At your convenience; just let me know and I'll send her to you."
"That would be fantastic. I'd like to write my letters, first but- how long are shops here open? If I'm on a deadline then they can be postponed," he replies.
"Your selection will decrease after roughly sunset, but if you'd prefer to shop at twenty-third-and-naught she will still be able to find you something."
Adarin pauses. He realizes the obvious. He has absolutely no idea how any measurements of time work here. "Do you have a clock that could tell me the time? And how long the measurements are."
"Clock, no, time-telling abilities yes." Keo casts a quick spell, and there, floating in the air at convenient eye-level, is the time. "If you can read those numbers, Korulen used a spell that does literacy as well as spoken language," she adds. (The numbers are perfectly legible.)
"I can read them just fine," he says, pleasantly surprised. "I'll make a trip to the library in my future, then. But judging by the time... A shopping trip sooner rather than later would be best, I think."
"All right. The library has paper, for your letters," Keo adds. "And the time comes in angles, degrees, ticks, and splits - dawn is naught, noon is about sixth-and-naught, sunset about twelfth-and-same, midnight ninteenth-and-naught."
"I'll... Try to remember that, but I have another solution to help," states Adarin.
Adarin has a decent memory, but there is no way he's going to be able to remember all of that. Instead he peers at the magic time-teller, then begins a spell. A short minute later and there's a nicely decorated illusionary clock, floating on the wall, matching the time of the time-teller. It has a pleasant little background to it that has a very basic illusion of the weather and time outside.
"There. That should work," he says, rather pleased with himself. Even if the time-telling spell is dismissed, the clock will tell time as normal. "I'll put off my portal-creation a little while to make sure I'm comfortable."
Adarin has a decent memory, but there is no way he's going to be able to remember all of that. Instead he peers at the magic time-teller, then begins a spell. A short minute later and there's a nicely decorated illusionary clock, floating on the wall, matching the time of the time-teller. It has a pleasant little background to it that has a very basic illusion of the weather and time outside.
"There. That should work," he says, rather pleased with himself. Even if the time-telling spell is dismissed, the clock will tell time as normal. "I'll put off my portal-creation a little while to make sure I'm comfortable."
Keo dismisses her illusion of the time when she sees it's been made redundant. "All right. Do you need anything else from me right now?"
"No, thank you. But if you could send either Korulen or Saasnil, I'd like to go shopping," he says.
"Before you write your letters?" Keo confirms.
"Yes. They could take a while; I have a bit of explaining to do, and since I'm on a timetable to have more shops open..." says Adarin, then he shrugs. "I can have time to think and organize what I'll say while looking at sheets."
"All right." Keo tilts her head, and says, "Korulen's on her way."
Off she goes.
Korulen emerges from the lift door a half-degree later, looking nervous.
Off she goes.
Korulen emerges from the lift door a half-degree later, looking nervous.
Adarin attempts a little smile at her. He is still firmly on the side of 'Be as friendly as possible and prevent horrific mind-trauma,' but this falls more on the side of general courtesy. Obviously the girl regrets it, and realized the gravity of the situation fairly quickly. Her companion, he might take more offense to, though.
"Hello again," he says, not sounding cross with her.
"Hello again," he says, not sounding cross with her.
"...Hi. I'm supposed to take you into Paraasilan and buy you sheets and clothes and whatever else you need."
"Yes, please, though if the idea bothers you I could ask Keo to contact Saasnil instead?"
"I'm... fine. Saasnil's not really old enough to wander around town unsupervised - by someone who knows the world, I mean - anyway."
"True, but- I'm trying very hard not to assume? I don't know how any of your various species and pointy ears affect your lifespans. She could just look young and be a hundred years old," points out Adarin. "I, for example, am 46. Most people think I'm 18 or 19."
"Oh, no, Saasnil's a human, she's twelve," Korulen says. "I'm forty-two, but that's fourteen in human equivalency."
"Aha. Then humans are a convenient measuring point," replies Adarin. He's starting to get something of a hang of this world! Sort of. "But you see, that's the sort of thing that I wouldn't have known. I wouldn't have guessed you were nearly my age."
"...For that matter, how long are years in your world?" asks Korulen.
"That would depend on which of 'my' two worlds you're speaking of. The original that we still measure by is about four-hundred days long. Four-hundred and thirteen, if you want to be truly specific. The other, we're still not entirely sure. We have yet to measure even how long a day is."
"Ours are four hundred twelve days. Do you have a sense of how long a day here is?" Korulen asks, heading for the lift.
"I haven't the slightest idea. I made a clock, but I haven't spent long enough studying it in order to know how long each measurement is," he replies, following. He's only a little wary about the lift, and moves to put a hand on the wall for bracing. He is determined to not almost fall over again.
"Front hall," Korulen tells the lift. It moves backwards. "Our years are broken up into eight months," she adds.
"We have sixteen. Weeks are measured in fives. The thirteen extra days technically don't fall under a month and are a time all of their own. It's customary to throw huge, lavish parties during this time," he explains, smiling a little. He's surprised when the lift moves backwards, but he handles it reasonably well enough. These people seriously need stairs.
"We have seven-day weeks. And eight days that aren't in months but are in weeks, between each pair of months. They're sort of low-level holidays, but not huge lavish party type holidays." The lift descends.
Adarin snickers, just a little. "Apparently someone on my world decided not to break up the parties. They wanted all of them, all at once."
"It sounds like fun," offers Korulen with a tentative smile. The lift door opens to a large hall, and Korulen steps out to cross it.
"It can be, but it can also get tiring. It's supposed to be a time of forgiveness towards enemies, new renewals, new chances - and so on. But the parties do grate after a while. Usually everyone's glad when it's over and they can just relax for a little while," explains Adarin, following after her. He has no idea where the shops are, so he's happy to follow her.
"You can't fly, can you?" she asks.
"No, I can't. Perhaps for extremely short distances, but I would over-exert myself soon enough, after the scrying spell and the clock. Neither were particularly small," explains Adarin.
"And I probably can't carry you either. Okay, I guess we're walking." She lets them out of the building. The surrounding area is flat, grassy, and marked with a flagstone path from them to a metropolis with a well-defined border perhaps a mile ahead.
"It... Seems like it would be insulting for you to carry me? Even in your other form. To you, I mean. You're not a beast of burden or something," says Adarin, heading along the path.
"Well, I can't anyway, I'm too little. Mom could. And you can't fly, so it would be faster that way; I don't see how wasting time walking is less insulting."
"True. I suppose my perspective's strange. I'm used to everyone being extremely concerned about never lowering themselves to less than what they deserve, even if it would be more practical for everyone."
"I mean, I'll say no if a toddler goes up to me in the street and asks for a ride, sometime when I'm more obviously a thudia than I am right now. But that's mostly because I don't have a saddle and it'd be a distraction from whatever I was doing."
"That makes sense. It's a nice change, is what I meant," he says, somewhat amused. "This is a surprisingly nice place. If it were more viable and not... Potentially problematic, I'd try and get people from my home to move here."
"What would be problematic about it?" asks Korulen. "I mean on your end - it'd be hard to scale up the summonings on our end, and if there were more of you I bet it'd get legally complicated, but it sounds like you had another problem in mind."
"Honestly? Most of them would probably get together and then proceed to try to take over a country," explains Adarin. This is maybe a problem he's dealing with at home! Yay. "Not all of them, mind you, but many. They're in something of a desperate place right now and anything looks better than where they are."
"Oh. Well, they wouldn't get far in Esmaar," she remarks. "There's wards on everything and tons of wizards. Plus, you know, Mom."
"I never said it was a decision I supported. I doubt they would get far past 'wards.' If one of those was what was keeping me in the circle, then they wouldn't get anywhere," muses Adarin.
"Yeah, that was a ward. The ones around the buildings are obviously not up all the time or nobody could go anywhere, but they'd activate if anybody got spooked."
"Makes sense. We have shields, but someone needs to keep them up or they'll dissipate. For a larger shield, and keeping it up longer, you'll need more people to help. So it's not really viable unless you're directly in a fight or desperate," he explains.
"Your magic sounds really complicated."
"Yours, too," says Adarin with a bit of a smile. "I think I prefer yours, though, even if mine can make portals. It seems to be friendlier."
"Portals?" asks Korulen.
"Ah, right. It's a way of teleporting from one place to another. You can see through to the other side, and just walk through with no trouble at all at any time. The further the distance you travel the more difficult it is to cast, but I have an easier time of it than this world seems to do with your version," explains Adarin. "Shape of the portal isn't as big of a deal as the distance, so if I wanted to make a really big one on both sides it wouldn't matter much."
"You're going to be rich," says Korulen. "My uncle's one of a handful of wizards who can do teleportation circles and he's rich. Well, mostly for something else, but it's still worth his time to do them, they're that expensive."
He grins. "When I realized that I asked your mother to let the parliament know I was available for portal creation. It might be possible to buy a proper home here."
Korulen nods. "Well, it's sort of hard for single individuals to find housing of the right size in Esmaar. Mostly it's huge extended families all sharing. But if you do a few of those you can probably buy a house regardless."
"Really? That's interesting. I'll keep an eye out, the dormitory will probably be fine for now. Though I might get sick of the lift," teases Adarin, just a little. "So I might get annoyed one day and just put portals everywhere in your school."
Korulen laughs. "I like the lift. We have stairs, they're just - they were badly enchanted and we can't break the enchantment so if you go in them you get lost."
"Badly enchanted? How do you get lost in stairs?" He snickers, just a little. "Do they spiral into themselves and you just keep climbing forever, or...?"
"They're not a spiral staircase, but you could easily keep climbing forever," says Korulen.
"That is an interesting way to get exercise. I'll avoid the stairs."
"Good plan. They'd just tear them out, but we have to have a staircase to comply with fire codes and there hasn't been budget to outright replace them."
"Ahhh... I understand. Though, having badly enchanted stairs sounds like a recipe for disaster if an actual fire breaks out and something happens to the lifts."
"What would happen to the lifts? Anyway, conjuring water is basic. Everybody in the building except kids in their first term could put out a fire. The fire codes aren't designed for a wizard school."
"... I wasn't aware you could conjure water. That is incredibly useful. That's something I can't do, sadly enough," he explains. Adarin's in a good mood, so he jokes a little. "Having my magic compared to yours is going to give me a complex about inadequacy."
"Well, not everybody's a wizard. Plenty of people can't do spells beyond telling time and dusting their living rooms."
He grins. "Okay, that makes it better."
They're approaching the border of the city at this point. It doesn't slope up with small buildings on the outskirts shading into denser, taller ones; it goes from grassland to four and ten and twenty-story buildings. The flagstone path flows into a network of cobbled streets. "What do you need besides clothes and sheets?"
"Toiletries, things for personal hygiene and the like. Probably a mirror pair, for easy communication - nothing fancy, just something small. Oh, and if the cafeteria doesn't serve tea, I'd like some," he says, looking at the buildings curiously. They're much, much taller than he's used to, but he doesn't comment. "For non-necessities I'd like to pay you back in the future, after I've started making portals. It seems wrong otherwise."
"I'm not actually sure if there's tea; I don't drink it. And I'm supposed to buy you anything not-ridiculous that you want because it's my and Saasnil's fault that you need it."
"I understand, and do agree with the practice, but I'd prefer to avoid taking financial advantage of you both. As I said, it seems wrong," he points out, shrugging a little. "Besides, I'm technically already rich and money isn't a high-priority factor."
"Well - I guess that will come up later. I'm not sure Mom will let us take the money if you try to give it to us."
"Then I suppose that's out of my hands. I'll try not to bankrupt you, if it's any consolation."
Korulen nods. "There's a clothes shop that does shoes, too, and has men's clothes, up ahead." She points. All of the stores appear to be named after people, so it's not easy to determine from a distance which is a clothes shop.
Adarin looks. He has a bit of trouble picking out which shop is for what, due to the naming scheme. "I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to lead me to the shop. None of them are named after what they sell."
"Right, that's the plan," Korulen says, "is me escorting you so I can pay for it, I just meant it's not far. Why would they be named after what they sell? Then you'd have a dozen shops with nothing to do with each other all called 'Sandwiches' or 'Stationery'."
"The shops I've seen at home weren't named that uncreatively, they just lean towards what they do in the name. For example, there's a clothing and tailoring shop that's called Snips and Stiches. I don't think that pun translated, but it's... Clever, in my language," he explains. "That kind of thing."
"Huh. Here you just have to learn who runs which kind of store. You still get redundancies - there's a Kithen's that's haircuts and a Kithen's that's a publisher, off the top of my head - but not that many."
"Hm. Well, if it works for you then by all means."
They reach the clothes store, the function of which is somewhat more obvious when they're close enough to see through the glass storefront. "Okay, tell me what kind of things you like, is what you're wearing a good place to start or was it - I don't know, something your grandmother bought you that you had to wear because she was going to visit?"
Adarin snickers. "No, these are a good place to start."
Shopping trip for clothes ensues. Clothes are picked out, and then bought. It's all very exciting and the two of them will probably be able to shop reasonably well together. Korulen knows fashion in Elcenia better than Adarin would, but of course he has a good idea of his own taste.
The end result is a modest wardrobe, with culture-appropriate looking clothes. Adarin tends towards the practical in basic clothing, but likes somewhat fancier jackets. These kinds of things are bought, though he does very obviously avoid bankrupting Korulen. He can always come back later and buy more things once his portal-empire has taken root.
Soon enough, clothes shopping would be finished. A sense of accomplishment is felt by all.
Shopping trip for clothes ensues. Clothes are picked out, and then bought. It's all very exciting and the two of them will probably be able to shop reasonably well together. Korulen knows fashion in Elcenia better than Adarin would, but of course he has a good idea of his own taste.
The end result is a modest wardrobe, with culture-appropriate looking clothes. Adarin tends towards the practical in basic clothing, but likes somewhat fancier jackets. These kinds of things are bought, though he does very obviously avoid bankrupting Korulen. He can always come back later and buy more things once his portal-empire has taken root.
Soon enough, clothes shopping would be finished. A sense of accomplishment is felt by all.
After this, Korulen finds a store that has both sheets and miscellaneous toiletries. The latter vary in recognizability and she does her best to explain the intended function of the bottled potions and magical implements.
Her companion is confused by lots of these unfamiliar toiletry things! But he gets on board with the program soon enough, once they're explained. His world's not as advanced on that note, but he supports this change completely. Cleanliness, hurray!
Sheets and toiletries are bought. The sense of accomplishment would strengthen, along with the load of things they're carrying.
Sheets and toiletries are bought. The sense of accomplishment would strengthen, along with the load of things they're carrying.
And then they locate his pair of mirrors, and then they go to a grocery store where there is a variety of tea to select from. (The same store will also supply a 'hot waterspout', which will conjure water when twisted open in a state of hot, rather than water in a state of cold, as is typical for waterspouts. This water can be used to make tea.)
Adarin picks out a variety of tea that sounds vaguely familiar, along with a few others that look interesting, and is then completely charmed by the hot waterspout. Korulen might be a little amused by his delight when he finds out that conjuring water can be done with a variety of temperatures.
He is quietly making plans of buying fifty waterspouts and then making even more money back home with them. He's not even sure what he'd even do with all of this potential money, but he's certain he'll think of something. Eventually. As soon as he's stopped being incredibly charmed by self-heating water conjurers.
He is quietly making plans of buying fifty waterspouts and then making even more money back home with them. He's not even sure what he'd even do with all of this potential money, but he's certain he'll think of something. Eventually. As soon as he's stopped being incredibly charmed by self-heating water conjurers.
If he were making these plans less quietly Korulen would be apologetic about the non-portability of wizardry.
At any rate, once they have all of his things they begin heading back to the school.
At any rate, once they have all of his things they begin heading back to the school.
It's a good thing he's not saying them out loud, then, because it would dampen his mood to have a plan foiled. He'll connect the dots later when he remembers how Keo mentioned that wizardry doesn't like to transport to other worlds. Best to leave him in blissful ignorance until then.
Them heading back to the school occurs. On the way back, Adarin asks for an explanation of how dragons work, in more depth. He's curious.
Them heading back to the school occurs. On the way back, Adarin asks for an explanation of how dragons work, in more depth. He's curious.
"You mean, the differences between dragons and humans?" clarifies Korulen.
"Well. That seems as good a comparison as any, really. Can they only shape-shift into humans, or is it... Literally anything?" he asks.
"It can be any species. Well, any single species - most dragons can't turn into half-human half-elves. But it can't be any number of things. They pick things permanently. For most dragons they get five learned shapes after their natural form and they don't get to pick exactly what it looks like, except it's predictable in some ways - Mom in human form looks exactly like Grandma in human form, for instance."
"Ah- that's an interesting set of rules to work with. Family reunions must get confusing if you don't wear different styles of clothes. Do all dragons have your mother's mental abilities, or is she a special case?"
"Oh, Mom is special. There's only one of her right now. There was overlap for a while when she was little."
Adarin's confused by this statement! "... Pardon, she- had a metaphorical twin, or a dragon with the same skills?"
It comes as a relief to hear that not all dragons could break his mind easily. Not much of one in that there is someone in the world that could break his mind, and he knows her personally, but every little thing counts.
It comes as a relief to hear that not all dragons could break his mind easily. Not much of one in that there is someone in the world that could break his mind, and he knows her personally, but every little thing counts.
"A dragon with the same skills," clarifies Korulen. "He died when she was in her - thirties, I think? It's random when they happen but it averages to about one per color group at a time being alive."
Considering this, Adarin says, "So lots of these special dragons wouldn't be able to have any training from a predecessor? That sounds inconvenient."
"It's pretty intuitive how their powers work, I think. Mom's are harder to handle, but considering what they actually are, he didn't have to wait for her to grow up enough to understand - he could just sort of stamp them on her mind."
The thought of having something stamped into his mind puts an involuntary shiver down Adarin's spine. Even if it was helpful, the idea that something like that exists is terrifying. "Well. That's... Somewhat more convenient."
Subject change from Korulen's scary, scary mother is necessary. Adarin gets to making that happen.
"I'm not sure if you'd like to learn more about how my magic works or not. Would you like me to tell you about it?"
Subject change from Korulen's scary, scary mother is necessary. Adarin gets to making that happen.
"I'm not sure if you'd like to learn more about how my magic works or not. Would you like me to tell you about it?"
"Why - could I learn it?" inquires Korulen.
"Er. No, sorry," he says, with a wince. "It's not the sort of thing that's casually transferable."
"I'm sort of curious anyway. What's the general idea?"
"Well. Sometimes, in our world there are special individuals born with magic. The reason I mentioned bloodlines when I first arrived is because that's how they magic is passed on," he explains, kindly removing some of the more horrifying parts of his world's magic system for her sake. She's the equivalent of fourteen, the basic explanation will do.
"If I ever have children, they're overwhelmingly likely to have the same type of magic I do. It dilutes, though, so there's... Less magic in them as bloodlines continue."
"If I ever have children, they're overwhelmingly likely to have the same type of magic I do. It dilutes, though, so there's... Less magic in them as bloodlines continue."
"Huh. There's nothing here that quite works like that. Dragons don't so much dilute as they do have an entire separate sort of dragon-like thing that they can produce if they have half-dragon kids. Thudias like me. But my sister's a parunia, which just means that she is exactly and entirely a dragon even though her dad is an elf."
"That sounds rather fortunate for parunias, honestly. Sometimes a bloodline's child will have the same level of power as their parent, but it doesn't happen very often. Usually it consistently gets weaker."
"Most half-dragons are thudias. You can't bet on a parunia. But it's pretty lucky for her in some ways. She does take more than three times longer than me to grow up, though."
"Ah. Well, that part does sound incredibly problematic," he says with a wince. It seems to be a rather sad thing that a little sister will stay that way for years and years while her older sister ages and becomes an adult. Not that either option's a bad thing, it's just together it seems unfortunate.
"Yeah. I mean, I'll probably get to see her grow up. If I were a human thudia instead of an elf one I wouldn't even get that."
Another wince. "That's also unfortunate. I'm sorry. I hope you get to see her grow up."
"Me too. She's pretty cute now, though. It's nice in some ways that she'll be a baby for twenty years."
Adarin laughs, just a little, trying to lighten the mood. "I think my sister and I would get along much more if she were a baby for twenty years. Or maybe even worse, if I didn't play with her enough, I'm not sure which."
"It probably helps a lot that she'll be able to talk in a few weeks. Dragons pick up language by magic, they don't have to learn it the long way around."
"I get the feeling that dragons are just fantastic at everything. Is it just their first language, or a certain type of language, ooor...?"
"All of the languages that there are anywhere. Translation spells don't even work on dragons," laughs Korulen.
"W-.. All languages? Everywhere? That's... Do they just know every language that ever existed on any plane, or do they hear one and just pick it up by magic?" says Adarin, taken by surprise.
"Well, in all the worlds and throughout all time there are so many languages that I doubt Mom or whoever could have found yours without hearing you talk, but the understood theory is that she did already know it."