Roland: Journeyman Mysticism

[Roland Moonstar]

Roland decided that it was time to buckle down and get serious about his studies. Roland found himself a nice seat in what he hoped would be a quiet park in Nexus Prime. He sat down on the bench and opened his spell book. He spent the morning reviewing spells he already knew from his three previous classes (he had taken mana-shaping in preparation for this class) and then went to lunch. After he ate, he spent the afternoon in the park practicing spells on Looie. And fizzled most of them.

"Wow, you really stink at this," said the Lutran as a psionic orb missed his head completely and bounced off the bunk bed. "You may recall that it wasn't the Legion of Old Bearded Guys With Wands that we founded?"

Annoyed, Roland attempted to Terrify the Lutran, who appeared entranced for a moment and then burst into giggles. "Ohh... hehehe... that tickles!

Roland glanced down at his spell book, trying to figure out where he had gone wrong. Perhaps running around creating factions and ruling provinces had made him a bit rusty."Ok, Prime wasn't built in a day, old friend. I have let things slide in the past but no more. I have no politics to worry about, no religion, no faction, no provincial job. Just you, me, the books, and in a day or two the teacher. Let's stay optimistic, shall we?"

Roland stood up, and decided to make himself invisible. After a few candlemarks of intense concentration and meditation, using his most powerful mana-shaping techniques and his vast knowledge of Ara and Vis.... he flubbed again, and only succeeded in making his pants invisible.

Looie burst out laughing. "Oh my god, that is great! AHAHAHhah! You stink! You really do! HAHAHAHHA!"

Roland burst out laughing as well. "Yeah, right now I guess I do." He shrugged. "Oh well, tomorrow is another day. Let's see how it goes."

"Well, you're on your own, there. I can't go with you to your dorm room, and I'm sure they won't let me into class."

Roland nodded. "Well, that's all right. Take a vacation. Go hang out with Josephine or Eninia or Daviny, or any of our many other relatives in Arium."

Looie bursts into tears, and he hugged Roland around the leg. "All right. Call for me if you need a test subject for any more of your wacky mind-reading spells."

"I don't need to be a psychic to know that. All you ever think about is eating and fish, and usually, eating fish."

"Wow, you're good! Looie hugged Roland's knee, and went on his way.

* * *

That evening, Roland went to his assigned dorm. He perused the syllabus, then got a good night's sleep. He spent the next three days practicing his spells, trying to get back into the mystic swing of things. He felt it fortunate that in nearly every exchange or adventure he'd been in, he was constantly pranking around, reading minds or turning people invisible. He was in fact far more comfortable with magic than he was around weapons.

Three days passed quietly in room 508. Then he went to his assigned classroom and teacher. "This should be interesting," he said, knocking on the door. He opened it after a moment, the habit of a man used to being Justicar and Lt. Governor, and not a mere student, and he strode forcefully in. "Serale, I am Roland Moonstar, a private citizen of Arium, and an eager student of the mystic arts. Is this the right classroom?" He allowed as how the weepy woman had been a big vague as to where he was supposed to be, and he elaborated on his mystic past should the teacher not have already been given his name: Roland didn't want to end up accidentally learning arch-mage spells and blowing himself and the building up.

[Skay Ravendi]

The room was large, much larger than his Adept room. It had a few things and furniture in it. Mainly a bookcase, filled with just a few books and a lot of vials and pots. Then there was a pillow corner in one side of the room. And most importantly a desk and a comfortable armchair in which Thaddeus sat. He was human, middle or older age and was wearing a robe of the Mage's Guild. Though one of a better kind and apparently quite a bit more expensive, judgind from the materials and generally how it was made.

"Please come in." He nodded to Roland as he entered the classroom. There was no other chair in the room though. None that could be seen anyway. The man scribbled down something into the paper in front of him while listening to Roland and then raised an eyebrow. "Private citizen? What do you mean by that?" He looked up from the paper and waited for a reply. "Yes, the right classroom. I need you to tell me who your previous Masters were, where you studied and how long it took you." The human stated matter of factly, adjusting his new glasses better.

Then he waited, slowly turning a red colour quill between his fingers. Ever so slowly that it almost seemed to be not moving. And a fine quill it was. There was also a large window behind him, through which a rather cloudy sky could be seen. Many could bet that it was going to rain hard later in the brightening, thus the streets of Nexus Prime were rather busy and people were in a hurry that brightening. But then this was Nexus and life was never still here.

[Roland Moonstar]

OOC: Continuing the same timestamp from here: Roland meets a sad receptionist, which is 4th week of Ioannes.

OOC: Ok, now I must tell you, I picture a bald guy with a Cone of Silence whenever I hear the name "Thaddeus." Your imagination may differ. Anyway, thanks for picking this up. I appreciate it.

IC:
Roland appraised the room carefully, with the caution of a politician who'd been kidnapped and teleported one too many times. The lack of excess furniture did not bother him: he was equally at home in the dirt farms of Mileswick as he had been in the golden estates of Diana. He noted the quill, the window, and so forth, his eyes scanning around out of habit of years of being a Prefect and Constable. It was only the disastrous events of last time that prevented him from immediately casting reveal on the man to make sure the fellow was on the level.

When the man spoke, however, Roland gave him his full attention. He was surprised the fellow did not offer his name. He was pleased that the man was asking him to answer outloud. Or perhaps he had already read Roland's mind and then cast Obscure? No way to tell, but for the moment Roland assumed the man was treating him with respect and dignity.
"To answer your first question first, I was born in a small town in Arium, have taken a sabbatical from work, and have a reserved and aloof nature." He shrugged; he was the way he was. On the plus side, the blank look on the teacher's face at his name might mean that this was the sort who spent all his time in books in ivory towers, and Roland would not have to answer any awkward questions about his various Herald articles. "If you have lived in Arium long, you may know my sister Eninia. She is an Aedile in Nexus Prime, by the way."

He paused for a moment and pulled out his journal; he offered the man any certificates and diplomas that might be required to verify his past. "I have taken three courses. Two were in Jaedaxia, Carmelyan Province, and one was in Imperia, Arakmat Province. In Jaedaxia I was unbound and learned my first spells from a mage named Murpgy, and then I learned Aracanomechanics with Rispierre. The classes went well-- I have some small aptitude for magic that I've never had for weapons or most anything else, including ruling. Then in Arakmat Province I was under Master Ulinde. How woud you like me to address you?" With academicians, sometimes the direct way was best.

Roland continued on: "Finally, when Aeri was incapacitated and I was acting as Governor, I also had a private tutor in Archadoon, but that was not a formal course: I have always loved the mystic arts and simply wanted to continue my studies and research while the day-to-day demands of political life kept me from pursuing further formal education." He remembered his arrogant decision to try and impress his Adept teacher by casting Awareness when first entering the room. That.... did not go well; the teacher took it as a personal insult and became incensed. The lack of an extra chair meant such a spell might now be expected. But how to cast it without stepping on the teacher's toes? He pondered the matter while he spoke.

Roland spent a candlemark or two giving Thaddeus the details of his past life and experience in and out of the classroom. For better or worse, the man from Mileswick was the sort of fellow who never passed up an opportunity to attempt to lob a Psionic Orb or Shock at someone, and who was forever casting Reveal and Awareness in new locations. Roland wanted to make sure he was good and seasoned at the first two tiers of spells before moving onwards and upwards, and after a few candlemarks Thaddeus would realize that Roland has almost as much field experience as someone going for a Master Class. As Roland explained it, his meteoric rise in law enforcement did not just come from good detective work: evidence was easy to find once you knew who was guilty and where to look.

Roland snapped his fingers. "Of course! Words are easy. But actions show the proof of where a man stands. You need to see my eagerness to learn as much as you need to see any proof of talent. For without eagerness and tenacity, nothing leads to fruition." He took a deep breath, and tried to keep the slight quaver of nervousness from creeping into his voice. "I will attempt to demonstrate an Awareness spell for your consideration. This is my first time learning in Arium, and frankly you may have some tips and suggestions on how I cast, which will be easier to observe if you're not simultaneous trying to teach me Beguile and what-not."

He waited for the teacher to give his permission for proceeding. Also, Roland found it easier to begin concentrating when he wasn't the one talking. And he wanted to make sure the man did not have any further questions about Roland or his past before they got down to it.

[Skay Ravendi]

"And uh... being born in a small town... makes you a private citizen? Or taking vacation or shut-in temper? I'm sorry... I don't follow." The man voiced out with his eyebrow raised and clearly still completely confused about the answer to his question. It didn't make any sense to him and he was a mystic and a scholar. "And your sister... she's studying in our towers? Can't seem to remember a student by such a name. Maybe she's in another tower then? Sorcery perhaps?" The man was just as confused about the remark of Roland's sister.

"Master Thaddeus is fine." The mage told Roland when asked and continued listening. Though there was no candlemark or two given to chat. The master wasn't interested in that, nor had he asked for this, nor was this a time for listening to various ramblings abour a life of a politician. So in fact Roland was interrupted after the first minute into his past life of in and out of the classroom. "Right, right... clearly an interesting life of a politician. However, that is no concern of mine, I would not like to know any government secrets and such. Right right." The man nodded, adjusting his glasses and really wanted to roll his eyes.

Though when Roland spoke the next the Master just looked at him, just as confused as before and waved his hand in a 'go on' fashion. "If... eh... that's what you wish to do." He told him and snapped into Clara himself in a few seconds. He had never had a student so strange before. It was a variaty. Usually students simply wanted to learn and spoke as little as possible, simply waiting for instructions and devouring all the knowledge. However, this one was eager to talk and show off, so the Master waited for him to cast the spell.

[Roland Moonstar]

For a moment, Roland looked as confused as Thaddeus. Had his sister taken a course in magic? Well, it wasn't Mysticism Maybe it was Sorcery. Roland nodded at the comment about Eninia. "Yes, I think Sorcery. I believe so. I'll check with her later. I didn't mean to confuse you. Sorry about that, Master Thaddeus."

Roland was not used to anyone cutting him off. It was a very, very difficult thing to do. First of all, he was as passionate as he was garrulous and long-winded. Secondly, for many eras, patterns and seasons prior to this, he had had some provincial title or other. So even those who had wanted him to shut up had kept quiet about it.

So this was new.

Roland stood for a moment, mouth open, jaw down to his throat, as Master Thaddeus abruptly announced that not only was he not interested in hearing him speak, he had no idea who he was or what he was talking about. Looie would burst into tears if he ever learned he had missed this wondrous moment.

Roland was more stunned than if Thaddeus had fired a Psionic Shock at him. Well, perhaps 'more stunned' is a bit of an exaggeration as one must assume that if Thaddeus was of sufficient ability to teach Roland, then he could do quite a great deal of damage to the man from Mileswick. So perhaps it is just best to say that Roland was astonished to realize that Thaddeus did not need magic to stun him.

Roland's mouth opened and closed, as he worked through various stages of shock, denial, and negotiation. It would do the man a disservice to deny that for a moment, impulses inherited from cavemen made him consider flinging a Psionic Orb and/or fleeing for the door. This was indeed the measure of how much Master Thaddeus had cut him to the quick!

Then Thaddeus agreed to see him demonstrate a spell. It was as close as Roland was ever going to get to a successful negotiation. Clearly the Master had no interest in Arium, Politics or perhaps Roland as a person. But Roland was a student of magic, and so this demonstration at least Thaddeus had apparently agreed to glance at, even if only grudgingly.

Roland nodded. All right. He would keep his mouth shut about extraneous stuff and stick to the magic. He and Odyleon had discovered some interesting uses of the 'Sentinel' spell and in a purely academic sense Thaddeus might be curious about that. Or not. But that speech would come later, if at all. Roland was a politician born, even if not currently elected or appointed anywhere, and he was politic enough to sense that Master Thaddeus demanded that he be treated as a Master, with the attention, respect, and obedience that were his due.

All right, Roland could do that. He had treated Aeri as such. He changed his approach. Instead of adding some self-congratulatory or crowd-pleasing patter, he merely went through the steps mechanically, just fast enough to assure Master Thaddeus that Roland was technically proficient enough to be taught and not a total git who had bribed the weeping woman into being here today. Well, Thaddeus might think the later anyway, but at least he'd hopefully concede to the former, too.

Roland went into Clara, going through the various steps of focus and meditation. As always, he saw the Ara and Vis in his own unique way-- the Ara was red-gold leaves swirling around him, and his Vis was like a fish-net used to scoop the Ara up. He went through the various stages, not boring Thaddeus with the details, then attempted to cast an Awareness spell on the room, using the standard sweepng-grid approach he'd perfected with the Legion. He lacked the skill of the Master, and he did not have the sheer love of theory as in the Collegio... but he had needed this spell. It had shown him that cache in Jaedaxia. It had revealed that Dracon Mystic in Centripax. By the Divine, it had even saved his life in the Arakmat desert.

It was why he was here, his love for both the theoretical and practical uses of magic. And so he focused on that, on the spell, and on Thaddeus. He kept his mouth shut, and prepared to listen to anything the Master had to say, especially in regards to the syllabus and what they would be doing and when.

[Skay Ravendi]

The Master eyed Roland a bit longer than he usually did. The man just totally skipped his question and did not explain his first confusion. Oh well. He could deal with it so far. Though the Master wondered why his possible student allowed himself such liberties? Was it because he had been an ex politician? High ranked and all of course, but right now he was in a place which had other kind of politics and had literally no voice here. These were the proud towers. With three Masters. And a title of a master didn't hold just power.

So perhaps that was why Thaddeus eyed Roland curiously. Trying to piece him together. Though he found him to be more as a reckless teenager rather than a respected ex governor. Perhaps he'd be proven wrong though. And still he was confused about the mentioning of that woman. Why would he care? Had he mentioned some adept perhaps maybe then. Or some extremely talented student in general. But now it was just a drop in the ocean and a simple and unordinary drop at that. Moreover not even in his tower. The master was confused, though he simply adjusted his glasses.

Roland did manage to work the spell out. Eventually. A good two minutes of good concentration and then a few more seconds till he shaped and cast the Awarness spell. And then the spell worked and... revealed absolutely nothing new. As Roland snapped out of Clara after casting the spell he could see the room exactly as it was before. No chairs appeared. No hidden doors. No unicorns. The room was the same.

"Alright. Well you've cast the spell well, I suppose. Though it's hard to tell, seeing as it was a rather strange spell to choose. I could judge illusion or animation much easier. As those would actually have a purpose and be visible now, rather than, eh... that..." The master glanced through the window again. It was almost as if he was expecting something to turn up there. But no dragons flew by and no lightning struck down.

"Now you've said you've been taught Arcanomechanics. What exactly did you learn? Tell me what you know and what you've been taught about Arcanomechanics." The master sat in his armchair and looked more than ready to listen to Roland now. Now he also looked much more curious compared to when Roland started ranting on about his personal life. This was arcana and this was the Rainbow Towers.

[Roland Moonstar]

Roland shrugged. He felt the spell had accomplished its purpose, regardless of whether or not Thaddeus thought so. Because it got Thaddeus back on track and away from ruminating about Eninia. And now Thaddeus appeared to Roland to be more focused on the matter at hand.

Roland listened as Thaddeus asked him about Arcanomechanics. He nodded. "I can do that. I can tell you what I know. In addition to the actual spells that I have learned in my classes, I have gone to the library and read up on magic, Mysticism, Arcanomechanics, and so forth. I have also taken a class with Master Rispierre at the Collegio of Jaedaxia." Roland paused for a moment, in case Thaddeus had a question or comment about the Collegio. He then rapidly continued on: "It was his goal to keep me on as a student from beginning to end, and so he purposely taught me as much magic as possible. Even though I could not yet shape mana or cast spells, he wanted me to have a full working theoretical knowledge of the principles of magic. And so he taught me about mana-shaping techniques, about alteration, evocation, abjuration, conjuration and divination. He lent me a book on the subject from his own personal library, he had me write a paper on it, and we discussed the best use of different techniques."

Unless Thaddeus cut him off, Roland would then give a verbatim accounting of everything Rispierre taught him as it related to magic and arcanomechanics, everything from the why of how it was harder for apprentices to meditate than for masters, to such things as the correct order for how to cast a spell and the reason why wands were useful. Listening to Roland describe the man, it was obvious that Rispierre had a tendency to ramble, rant, and use many personal examples of his own life, and so two mysteries would be cleared up for Thaddeus for the price of one: while on the one hand learning what Roland knew about magic, on the other hand he now knew the origins of Roland's unique (for Arium) approach to magic: this was evidently the way the Collegio, or at least Rispierre, molded his students. Perhaps one reason why the Collegio had such a bad reputation, and why students flocked from all over the Empire to study at the Rainbow Towers.

Having taken the measure of Thaddeus, he did not talk about how the Siege of Jaedaxia had meant Rispierre had only been able to teach him the one class instead of all of them. He spoke briefly about how his other teachers had taught him the spells, meditation, clara, focus, and what he knew about circles and activating objects.

If (and only if-- he was learning fast) asked, Roland would allow as how he had no idea how to bind or unbind someone, or how to imbue or create a spell. Thanks to his courses and to Rispierre he theoretically understood these concepts and that they existed, but he had up until now lacked both the experience and skill to fathom and understand them the way he would from now on once Thaddeus imparted them to him.

[Skay Ravendi]

OOC: We'll have to cut down on the "behind the scenes talking/explaining" simply because that way I won't know what I need to teach you and what not

The Master did not interupt him, he listened and waited. When Roland was done, the Master spoke up. "So if that was his intent, to keep you as his student from beginning to end, then I must ask why you've quit? Or rather why you came here to learn, rather than with you old Master?" The master pushed his glasses up again. "If he taught you well about those things, then he must be a good master. So I'm curious."

When Roland was done with the explanation, Thaddeus gave more questions. "If he taught you well, then I shall give you a first test. You have learned the technique which is simply called Reshape Mana, yes? I'd like you to show me an example of this. Your best please, so better take time and make it right, rather than rush it." And that was the first test to be accepted. There the master gave time, to prepare or ask questions for that matter.

"Have you ever used a Wand by the way?" The master asked when Roland only began to go into Clara. It was a simple question and an answer was probably going to be noted down, but other than that nothing. No wands were going to be given no matter the answer. Though there was a very high chance that there was at least one or quite possibly even three wands in this room. Most likely on the crowded bookshelf with all the other interesting things.

[Roland Moonstar]

Now it was Roland's turn to look puzzled. "I beg your pardon, Master Thaddeus, but with all due respect I would prefer if you made up your mind. Either you desire to hear about politics, or you do not. There are state secrets involved in the story of how Rispierre and the Collegio rebelled against the Empire in the Battle of Jaedaxia and committed High Treason." Roland shrugged. "He was a good master, but he was not a good and loyal subject of the Empire. I did not quit my studies... he did. He was Jaedaxian born, and felt his nationality was more important than discussing Arcana. As a telepath, you can read my mind and know the truth of this." Roland paused a moment in case Master Thaddeus did indeed want to cast some variant of Reveal on him, perhaps some high-level spell that bent time and memory to his whim.

At the next comment, he then looked even more confused. Master Thaddeus had just scolded him for wanting to demonstrate a spell, making it clear that he preferred that Roland shut up and listen. Now he was reversing course both on wanting to know about politics, and on wanting to have Roland discourse on magic, when not a candlemark past, Thaddeus had indicated the opposite on both counts.

"I'll simply remind that you already indicated that you did not think Rispierre taught me well-- you were rather unimpressed with the Animation spell, and considered it a rather poor choice all around. Perhaps if I had been training with you all along, I wouldn't have picked such an inept choice now." Though Roland highly doubted it: he had not yet seen Thaddeus perform any magic or do anything yet except quiz him, look dubious, and act astonished. He so far did not see anything in the man he could admire or would desire to emulate.

Still, perhaps that was why Thaddeus was a Master mystic. Perhaps there was some flaw in his personality and he was not the outgoing, gregarious sort. With time on his hands and only books as friends, he would indeed have the time to become a Master or Archmage. Sadly, this would be the last magic class Roland ever took; his was the temperment to be a jack of all skills, arms, and trades, but a master of none.

Or, at least, if he had one true calling, he had never found it.

He thought about the last question, about wands. "No. Never seen one. Never used one. If I learned anything about them at all, it is forgotten. Beyond knowing what is common knowledge, that help mages cast spells, I know no specifics, sorry. If you wish to tell me something about them at some point, I'll be happy to listen."
He noted that Thaddeus said nothing in answer to any of this, and merely waited for Roland to go into Clara. Thaddeus was apparently rather used to being obeyed, and had already shown he would get petulant if Roland acted in an unusual way.

Shrugging, Roland let out a deep sigh, and decided he had no choice but to go along with the disagreeable Master if he wanted to learn anything. As Thaddeus would have seen if he'd indeed probed Roland, it was Rispierre who had galvanized Roland into forming the Legion. "You can not stop me, monsieur, you barely know a single spell. My compatriots and I shall rule Jaedaxia. You... you are only one man." As all Telath knew, Roland had replied: "No man is an army. But some men are Legion." Roland pondered this as he thought about Thaddeus' final request.

He decided he would show Thaddeus what he had shown Rispierre, that even a rank novice could do something. He would use a mana shaping technique on Invisiblity, just as he had done so long ago, when he had to escape Jaedaxia and alert the authorities. Through luck and bravery and the will of the gods he had done it, but the strain had nearly caused him to subconsciously bind himself all over again. Now he should be able to amplify and improve on what he had done, and cast it so as not to totally meet with Thaddeus' disapproval.

Roland went through the usual steps of grounding and centering himself, focusing on his breathing and going into medidation, then focused on the essence of Psionics, read to channel it to the Material Plane as Mana. He started with a basic Invisiblity cast, which he cast on himself so that Thaddeus would have something to look at. Roland could have chosen to try Spell Nullify or some other spell with no visual component, but Thaddeus had already complained vociferously about not being able to judge the Awareness spell. Here at least he could see-- or not see-- roland, and so be able to quickly judge the man from Mileswick.

As Thaddeus would be able to tell, Roland started off by using Evocation as the first shaping technique for Invisibility. Putting it bluntly, he simply summoned the mana and threw it all over himself as if it was mud, spreading a goopy layer of mana all over his body so that he would seem to disappear from the human eye. Once he saw Thaddeus blink or turn his head, Roland continued on. Taking a deep breath, he concentrated as hard as he could, for this would be the tricky part. Another minute or two passed as he again went through the mental checklist, seeing once more the swirling red-gold leaves of Ara around him. However, after he was finished, he would try to Reshape the mana, 'peeling' it off the film in order to reduce its thickness, creating a criss-cross of mana tendrils around him. This time, he was going to use Alteration. It was the dfference between the invisibility of the chameleon where the eye simply failed to see you, and the invisibilty of the man who suddenly found himself made of glass, but either way, the end result was the same. He attempted to collect a sizeable quantity of excess Mana. That substance was far too precious to allow it to go to waste – Roland was far below Thaddeus in his mastery over the arcane, and that was also why he did not attempt Divination: using the technique to mesmerize Thaddeus into simply not seeing Roland might not work on a Master who might so easily, and subconsciously, save against it. At any rate, Thaddeus had been clear in his request and so Roland took the meaning of 'Reshaping' quite literally, and so finished up what he was attempting to do by attaching the invisible mass of unused mana to the gloppy film already on him by means of a thin tendril. The meaning of this act was simple: the excess mana would act as a reserve. It was notorious that the mana film would decay over time, and the Invisibility effect would eventually wane; but that excess mana would make excellent fuel to replace the natural tendency for mana to disperse and collapse. This way, with the same quantity of Essence, effectiveness had been been traded for duration. He could have of course attempted the same thing with Abjuration, but he wasn't trying to dazzle Thaddeus-- the master had made it clear he didn't like show-offs, and so Roland simply went with showing he had the technical prowess requested of him. If Thaddeus thought it a poor choice, or a weak display... that was all right. Roland was here to learn, and he was ready to listen to whatever comments and critiques the Master had.

__________________

[Skay Ravendi]

Going in that kind of tone against a man who could literally destroy a whole city in a few blinks of an eyes was most likely not the best idea. And the way Roland kept the conversation was not missed by that man. It was long since he had abandoned his youth adventures and searches and now was by all means a scholarly mage. Though even back then, when he had more youth and speed in his veins, Thaddeus never thought of Mysticism as a sphere to invade into the minds of others on the whim, or practise spells on others like that either. Arcana was no joke to him. So perhaps that was why his eyebrows narrowed now.

The Master wanted to say a lot in response, but he decided to keep quiet a little bit longer. Perhaps Roland would show a trully impressive Mana Reshaping, in that case he could somehow deal with it. So he waited for those few minutes till Roland got Clara and began shaping a spell. Evocation, the master noticed it while observing in Clara. He knew his sphere and his essence well, though considered Evocation to be an interesting choice. What kind of spell would this be? And then Roland spread the Evoked Mana all over himself instead of casting it in a ball of sorts or anything like that.

That action alone threw the Master off guard and sent him in the most puzzled looked. He could not piece down a single spell which could be cast over the mage with Evocation in the sphere of Mysticism. The spell... the spell shaped with Evocation took action immediately and sent Roland into spasms, into a painful shock. It felt as if his whole body was striked down with constant meditation. As if Psionic Orb had been cast all throughout his body. It wasn't hard enough to kill him, however it was painful enough to send him to the ground.

It was just a few moments of this psionic energy flowing throught his body and then Roland felt the pain receeding, the spasming energy no longer flowing through him. The master stood over him and had just finished the most simplest, yet sometimes extremely useful thing - Dispel. The Master's eyes were wide in shock and worry as he stood there. At least the pain was disappearing, though Roland felt too tired to get up from the ground now. Not in an instant at least.

"You say you have learnt Arcanomechanics?! That you had them taught to you seperately? That you learnt all about Mana Shaping techniques? Evocation?! Well, Evocation is the technique which is usually used for hurting and damaging, releasing the mana in the sheer force of the Essence. And this wasn't some thaumaturgic mana Evoked into a Heal spell either. This is Mysticism. Do you know what Evocation does in Mysticism? It does the damaging effect, Psionic Shock, Psionic Orb, the sheer mind and body shocking psionic energy."

The Master seemed to be enraged. He also held a large white staff in his hands. The first guess was that this was the Staff of Arcana. Perhaps he had used it to Dispel as fast as he could without risking anything, without risking the student's life in front of him. "And now to refresh your memory. I was unimpressed with the choice of the spell. Not with its casting. You have cast Awareness, not Animation. You have spoken just minutes ago about the reason why wands are useful and then you tell me if you learned anything about them at all, it is forgotten."

Somehow the Master looked much more like a man who could really destroy a city rather than sit in his armchair and drink tea all brightening. "You expect to be Promoted to Adept, when you don't know the first thing about manners. Do not try to act like an Emperor in front of me. I have dealt business with many important men and all of them have shown respect as I have returned the same to them. Do not try to lecture me, when you don't know much more. If you have been taught Arcanomechanics, you'd know not to cast Evoked Mana on yourself. But most of all, you need to understand that Arcana is not a tool to amuse yourself. It is not a tool to make fun of people on your random whim. It's not a tool to read other people's minds. Learn some manners and grow up. Arcana is not a toy. It is a very dangerous thing."

The Master went to the door and opened it. In just a moment he yelled out to two passing students in the corridor and they ran towards him, worried what might have happened or what they might have done wrong to be caught. "You shall not be Promoted. And you'll be glad I am not Binding you. You're a danger to others and yourself. Serale, Roland Moonstar." With that the Master turned to the two Adept students. "Lead him out of the towers and get him a doctor. I don't know how much that spell has hurt him."

The two students obeyed and helped Roland stand up, holding him by his arms, supporting his weight. After the spell that Roland had cast over himself he felt too tired to struggle. He could walk, though barely. He wasn't hurt badly though. It did tire him immensely, both physically and mentally. Such was the caustic nature of psionics. He wasn't wounded at least, just the muscles felt tired and strained. Eventually, in a couple of candlemarks with rest he was bound to get better. In the mean time though, the two students helped as much as possible to lead the man out and call for a healer should one be really needed. And they didn't ask any questions.

As they reached the bottom, Susan Marie came rushing to the entrance to the Tower of Mind. "I.. I was sent a message to... refund you, sir." She spoke out panting from the running and gave the banknotes to Roland, the exact sum that he had paid to the Towers not too long ago. And with terrified eyes Susan was soon to get back to her reception, afraid that some client might come when she was not there.

EDIT: added the last paragraph.

[Roland Moonstar]

OOC: Yes, for anyone reading along, this was my idea. I decided Roland needed to be humbled, which is what the comment in #8 referred to. Magic can be learned and re-learned... but if Roland's gonna get anywhere in life, the stuff that keeps him on the front page of the Herald has to end.

IC:
Roland did not mind that he had miscast the spell or blown the demonstration: it had been a season since he'd used magic, and so he was clearly a bit rusty and needed practice. Perhaps he might need a remedial course, perhaps some study. That was all right. So long as he lived and breathed, he could learn.

But the reaction of Master Thaddeus bothered him, because he realized the man was right. Roland was acting very arrogant.