Darkened
Experienced.
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- Mar 1, 2014
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((Ick: Sorry for vanishing so suddenly. Assuming anyone's still interested, let's get this back on track.))
First thing's first, you need to return to Miss Gunson. She's simply too terrif.... It's not that you're scared at her of all. It's just that refusing to accept the consequences of your proclamation would be the same as denying that proclamation itself. Of course the world will try (and fail) to reject a splendid manly dark lord like you! If you can't even bear that degree of enmity then there's no meaning to your existence whatsoever.
Holding your head high, you stride back to the dorm. Without a word to the other girl, you stand next to Rothstein. Neither of you meets the other's eyes. It's not that you shouldn't spend time with Rothstein, she's made herself your (temporary) nemesis! It's just... how can you spend such awkward time with her? There's nothing epic about this confrontation, no grand battle of dark overcoming light. She's not desperately failing to stop any of your plans. You're just getting punished in the same room. It's intolerable!
Sadly Miss Gunson isn't here just yet. Having come you can't just leave. So you remain, standing quietly at these metaphorical gallows, waiting for the executioner to get back from other business. The moments drag on for at least a few infinities and the silence grows into a sorrowful menacing thing that demands it be filled. But you are proud enough to bear any menace. Whatever foolish dreams of heroism Chriselda Rothstein holds in her heart, she doesn't seem to be entirely lacking in pride herself.
The silence grows.
Finally, just before you open your mouth to deliver an ingenious taunt, Rothstein speaks. "I won't let you get away with this!"
You don't have the faintest clue what 'this' she means, but there's no way you could let her figure that out.
"Oh? And how do you plan to stop me little girl?"
"L... Little! I'm basically the same height as you!"
"Is that so. Well, there's more ways of being little than one's height you know." casually you put your hand to your heart, signaling clearly that your foe is surely small of spirit compared to you.
Chriselda stares at your chest for a moment, then quietly reaches down and places her hand to her heart.
"J-just because I'm not done growing, that's.... I mean...." Her expression darkens and she raises her hand, holding it palm up as a small flame appears above each fingertip.
Suppressing a twinge of anxiety you take a stance yourself.
"Fine then, if you can't stand the smallness of your own heart you fake hero, I'll face you any time!" No, there's something you have to say right now, before this kind of decisive battle, isn't there...
"Join me! I'm a magnanimous man, I'll even give you half the world."
Actually though, do you have any real means of fighting? Well there's always pushing through with just willpow...
"Ahem." The grim reaper's voice resounds behind you, snuffing Rothstein's flames with its frigid tone.
"I can see," Miss Gunson remarks, with weary determination, "That we'll be spending a substantial amount of time together. Rest assured that you are, despite your efforts, not the most unruly girls I have dealt with in the past."
She passes a broom to Chriselda and a mop to you. "For now, clean. I expect the dormitory to be spotless, and you will be here cleaning, promptly after classes, until I am satisfied. Is that understood?"
Reluctantly you nod. Truly, Gunson is a villain to admire...
------------------------
You trudge to Miss Anders' office, exhausted from both the work and dealing with Rothstein for so long. It's located in the magic studies building, though you don't know whether that's because the teachers are simply placed close to their classes or because it's important to have someone on hand if your less capable peers cause some accident. (It's not that you wouldn't cause an accident, but you're sure that any horrifying abominations you release would be far far beyond what a mere teacher might bottle up.)
Hesitantly you knock on the door. Your magic is a muscle you haven't trained at all yet so it's hard to tell for sure, but your reserves don't feel like they're anywhere near full. That's rather odd because you're sure you've read that a magician should restore almost all of their capacity in a mere few hours of rest. Mana's ultimately power drawn from somewhere (the church has some big explanation there but you couldn't be bothered to read into it much) and held. Generally being able to hold more also increases the rate at which you can draw mana, or it should.
The door swings open and you come face to face with your Mana Acquisition instructor.
"Good, you've come for testing then. Are your reserves full now?"
You hesitate for a moment. It grates you to admit weakness (even if that weakness is obviously tied to having some incredible power like almost bottomless mana reserves). Still, she is a teacher and there's no one around.
"They still feel more or less empty," You grin broadly, "I know a magician should recover in proportion to their reserves, but it seems like my ability simply crushes that logic!" You grin broadly as Miss Anders frowns and strokes her chin.
"That's unusual. I don't think I've heard of such a condition before. Still, the school's library is extensive. I'll begin to do some research. For now, can you simply produce your most draining spell?"
You nod and focus your energy, unleashing the terrifying power of destruction lurking within your soul. You can feel the emptiness in the world around you, a palpable lack that can't be described in relation to any mundane sensation.
1MP spent on Corrosion
You're left devoid of power once more after a mere minute, unable to maintain that dreadful aura. Miss Anders nods thoughtfully, watching you.
"And, compared to your full capacity, how much was that do you think?"
It's hard to judge, but...
"Less than a quarter probably?"
The teacher nods, all business.
"For now then, we'll forget a goal in actual improving your capacity. It's hard to compare one magician to another, but it's unlikely that a magic which doesn't do anything obvious when used would be particularly draining compared to a normal beginner's spells..."
She hesitates, as if deciding whether or not to tell you something, then moves on.
"Right now the important thing is to learn to recover mana more quickly. Most of the students will work on this some in class, but you should make that the goal of your training before anything else. It's almost impossible to really improve your capacity unless you can constantly push your reserves to their limits."
Her tone is kind, but you understand the bitter truths lurking behind her words. To put it simply, your current condition is pathetic. Your reserves don't seem to be unusually large for a beginner, and might even be smaller than expected, while your regeneration is slow enough to make training those reserves almost impossible, forget normal training.
No matter what other powers they have, a dark lord needs magic strong enough that it seems like a dark miracle. And the root of that power is always going to be energy, the raw ability to push out more, to fight off more and more mages, to battle constantly without ever knowing a moment's peace. This laughable condition of yours is little better than the world telling you to give up here.
Smiling broadly you face Miss Anders. She steps back, staring at your reaction, wondering whether you understand or you're just too stupid. It won't do to be underestimated.
"It's interesting then!" You grin savagely, "Being talented, having things come easily, wouldn't that just be boring?" Anders' eyes widen, staring at you, "But, you've never heard of a talentless dark lord have you? Doesn't that just make it even more exciting! This kind of handicap is just what's needed to make the experience interesting. After all, this just means I need to train even harder, doesn't it?"
You fade to silence, grinning stubbornly, even as you clench your hands into fists. For a moment Miss Anders stares at you, unsure of how to react. Finally she trembles, tosses her head back and starts laughing.
"I don't think I've had many students with that kind of attitude. I almost belived you could do it for a second, but..." she reaches forward and tussles your hair in some misbegotten gesture of affection, "Don't write us teachers off just yet. It's my job to train your capacity, and if you're willing to work to you puke blood then I'm sure I can get you past whatever this is. Alright?"
Your mouth opens involuntarily. You're used to people laughing at your ideals or virtuous fools trying to stop your dark crusade, but... has anyone ever put their faith in you like this before?
It's a strange feeling, one you're not quite sure how to describe.
--------------------
You're tired enough that you have no problem collapsing on the school's gentle lawn to watch the sun slowly descend rather than returning straight to your room. So, you're really that weak aren't you? Reduced to a maid for your own dorm, told that you have no potential, that you lack the talent to achieve your dreams. But... Someone believed in your horror, really accepted that you might just do it for once. Well, what kind of man could falter while supporting someone else's faith on her back?
This world's so big. Of course you're not talented enough! Of course there's someone standing above you at the start. If the world was the kind of place you could knock over that easily then it wouldn't be worth conquering would it?
You won't build your dark empire in a day, so it's fine to take your time, to work toward it step by step until no one can remember that you started off so pathetic, cleaning your own dormitory. No, you'll just go far enough that no one could possibly believe their own memory!
For now though, you lie on the lawn and drift, counting the clouds and dreaming of the future.
It's growing dark by the time you rise and make your way back to the dorm; but you still feel surprisingly energetic, as if the stress from the day has just melted away.
The evening isn't particularly eventful.
It is the 5th day of the seventh month. You have recovered 2 MP overnight. You are no longer well rested.
You don't wake up so early this morning, making it downstairs just in time to quickly have breakfast and dash to class.
Today's mandatory classes are:
[X] Continental Philosophy 1
[X] Algebra
[X] Introduction to Proper Etiquette
And (Choose one elective for today):
[ ] Physical Education
[ ]Swimming
[ ]Dance
[ ]Fencing
[ ]Practical Magic:
[ ]Glyphcrafting
[ ] Quickcasting
[ ]Science:
[ ]Chemistry
[ ]Physical Sciences
[ ]Life Sciences
[ ] The Arts
[ ] Poetry Appreciation
[ ] World Literature
[ ] Painting
[ ] Sculpture
[ ] Music
[ ]Other
[ ]Self-Study (a free period)
[ ]Work-Study (earn spending money by doing work around campus, not an actual class)
First thing's first, you need to return to Miss Gunson. She's simply too terrif.... It's not that you're scared at her of all. It's just that refusing to accept the consequences of your proclamation would be the same as denying that proclamation itself. Of course the world will try (and fail) to reject a splendid manly dark lord like you! If you can't even bear that degree of enmity then there's no meaning to your existence whatsoever.
Holding your head high, you stride back to the dorm. Without a word to the other girl, you stand next to Rothstein. Neither of you meets the other's eyes. It's not that you shouldn't spend time with Rothstein, she's made herself your (temporary) nemesis! It's just... how can you spend such awkward time with her? There's nothing epic about this confrontation, no grand battle of dark overcoming light. She's not desperately failing to stop any of your plans. You're just getting punished in the same room. It's intolerable!
Sadly Miss Gunson isn't here just yet. Having come you can't just leave. So you remain, standing quietly at these metaphorical gallows, waiting for the executioner to get back from other business. The moments drag on for at least a few infinities and the silence grows into a sorrowful menacing thing that demands it be filled. But you are proud enough to bear any menace. Whatever foolish dreams of heroism Chriselda Rothstein holds in her heart, she doesn't seem to be entirely lacking in pride herself.
The silence grows.
Finally, just before you open your mouth to deliver an ingenious taunt, Rothstein speaks. "I won't let you get away with this!"
You don't have the faintest clue what 'this' she means, but there's no way you could let her figure that out.
"Oh? And how do you plan to stop me little girl?"
"L... Little! I'm basically the same height as you!"
"Is that so. Well, there's more ways of being little than one's height you know." casually you put your hand to your heart, signaling clearly that your foe is surely small of spirit compared to you.
Chriselda stares at your chest for a moment, then quietly reaches down and places her hand to her heart.
"J-just because I'm not done growing, that's.... I mean...." Her expression darkens and she raises her hand, holding it palm up as a small flame appears above each fingertip.
Suppressing a twinge of anxiety you take a stance yourself.
"Fine then, if you can't stand the smallness of your own heart you fake hero, I'll face you any time!" No, there's something you have to say right now, before this kind of decisive battle, isn't there...
"Join me! I'm a magnanimous man, I'll even give you half the world."
Actually though, do you have any real means of fighting? Well there's always pushing through with just willpow...
"Ahem." The grim reaper's voice resounds behind you, snuffing Rothstein's flames with its frigid tone.
"I can see," Miss Gunson remarks, with weary determination, "That we'll be spending a substantial amount of time together. Rest assured that you are, despite your efforts, not the most unruly girls I have dealt with in the past."
She passes a broom to Chriselda and a mop to you. "For now, clean. I expect the dormitory to be spotless, and you will be here cleaning, promptly after classes, until I am satisfied. Is that understood?"
Reluctantly you nod. Truly, Gunson is a villain to admire...
------------------------
You trudge to Miss Anders' office, exhausted from both the work and dealing with Rothstein for so long. It's located in the magic studies building, though you don't know whether that's because the teachers are simply placed close to their classes or because it's important to have someone on hand if your less capable peers cause some accident. (It's not that you wouldn't cause an accident, but you're sure that any horrifying abominations you release would be far far beyond what a mere teacher might bottle up.)
Hesitantly you knock on the door. Your magic is a muscle you haven't trained at all yet so it's hard to tell for sure, but your reserves don't feel like they're anywhere near full. That's rather odd because you're sure you've read that a magician should restore almost all of their capacity in a mere few hours of rest. Mana's ultimately power drawn from somewhere (the church has some big explanation there but you couldn't be bothered to read into it much) and held. Generally being able to hold more also increases the rate at which you can draw mana, or it should.
The door swings open and you come face to face with your Mana Acquisition instructor.
"Good, you've come for testing then. Are your reserves full now?"
You hesitate for a moment. It grates you to admit weakness (even if that weakness is obviously tied to having some incredible power like almost bottomless mana reserves). Still, she is a teacher and there's no one around.
"They still feel more or less empty," You grin broadly, "I know a magician should recover in proportion to their reserves, but it seems like my ability simply crushes that logic!" You grin broadly as Miss Anders frowns and strokes her chin.
"That's unusual. I don't think I've heard of such a condition before. Still, the school's library is extensive. I'll begin to do some research. For now, can you simply produce your most draining spell?"
You nod and focus your energy, unleashing the terrifying power of destruction lurking within your soul. You can feel the emptiness in the world around you, a palpable lack that can't be described in relation to any mundane sensation.
1MP spent on Corrosion
You're left devoid of power once more after a mere minute, unable to maintain that dreadful aura. Miss Anders nods thoughtfully, watching you.
"And, compared to your full capacity, how much was that do you think?"
It's hard to judge, but...
"Less than a quarter probably?"
The teacher nods, all business.
"For now then, we'll forget a goal in actual improving your capacity. It's hard to compare one magician to another, but it's unlikely that a magic which doesn't do anything obvious when used would be particularly draining compared to a normal beginner's spells..."
She hesitates, as if deciding whether or not to tell you something, then moves on.
"Right now the important thing is to learn to recover mana more quickly. Most of the students will work on this some in class, but you should make that the goal of your training before anything else. It's almost impossible to really improve your capacity unless you can constantly push your reserves to their limits."
Her tone is kind, but you understand the bitter truths lurking behind her words. To put it simply, your current condition is pathetic. Your reserves don't seem to be unusually large for a beginner, and might even be smaller than expected, while your regeneration is slow enough to make training those reserves almost impossible, forget normal training.
No matter what other powers they have, a dark lord needs magic strong enough that it seems like a dark miracle. And the root of that power is always going to be energy, the raw ability to push out more, to fight off more and more mages, to battle constantly without ever knowing a moment's peace. This laughable condition of yours is little better than the world telling you to give up here.
Smiling broadly you face Miss Anders. She steps back, staring at your reaction, wondering whether you understand or you're just too stupid. It won't do to be underestimated.
"It's interesting then!" You grin savagely, "Being talented, having things come easily, wouldn't that just be boring?" Anders' eyes widen, staring at you, "But, you've never heard of a talentless dark lord have you? Doesn't that just make it even more exciting! This kind of handicap is just what's needed to make the experience interesting. After all, this just means I need to train even harder, doesn't it?"
You fade to silence, grinning stubbornly, even as you clench your hands into fists. For a moment Miss Anders stares at you, unsure of how to react. Finally she trembles, tosses her head back and starts laughing.
"I don't think I've had many students with that kind of attitude. I almost belived you could do it for a second, but..." she reaches forward and tussles your hair in some misbegotten gesture of affection, "Don't write us teachers off just yet. It's my job to train your capacity, and if you're willing to work to you puke blood then I'm sure I can get you past whatever this is. Alright?"
Your mouth opens involuntarily. You're used to people laughing at your ideals or virtuous fools trying to stop your dark crusade, but... has anyone ever put their faith in you like this before?
It's a strange feeling, one you're not quite sure how to describe.
--------------------
You're tired enough that you have no problem collapsing on the school's gentle lawn to watch the sun slowly descend rather than returning straight to your room. So, you're really that weak aren't you? Reduced to a maid for your own dorm, told that you have no potential, that you lack the talent to achieve your dreams. But... Someone believed in your horror, really accepted that you might just do it for once. Well, what kind of man could falter while supporting someone else's faith on her back?
This world's so big. Of course you're not talented enough! Of course there's someone standing above you at the start. If the world was the kind of place you could knock over that easily then it wouldn't be worth conquering would it?
You won't build your dark empire in a day, so it's fine to take your time, to work toward it step by step until no one can remember that you started off so pathetic, cleaning your own dormitory. No, you'll just go far enough that no one could possibly believe their own memory!
For now though, you lie on the lawn and drift, counting the clouds and dreaming of the future.
It's growing dark by the time you rise and make your way back to the dorm; but you still feel surprisingly energetic, as if the stress from the day has just melted away.
The evening isn't particularly eventful.
It is the 5th day of the seventh month. You have recovered 2 MP overnight. You are no longer well rested.
You don't wake up so early this morning, making it downstairs just in time to quickly have breakfast and dash to class.
Today's mandatory classes are:
[X] Continental Philosophy 1
[X] Algebra
[X] Introduction to Proper Etiquette
And (Choose one elective for today):
[ ] Physical Education
[ ]Swimming
[ ]Dance
[ ]Fencing
[ ]Practical Magic:
[ ]Glyphcrafting
[ ] Quickcasting
[ ]Science:
[ ]Chemistry
[ ]Physical Sciences
[ ]Life Sciences
[ ] The Arts
[ ] Poetry Appreciation
[ ] World Literature
[ ] Painting
[ ] Sculpture
[ ] Music
[ ]Other
[ ]Self-Study (a free period)
[ ]Work-Study (earn spending money by doing work around campus, not an actual class)
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