"Like this?" I asked the teacher while blue lightning left my hands, their individual arcs shooting straight back into my arm not long after leaving. Meanwhile, a set of measuring devices I had been hooked up to were keeping an eye on how I was casting this magic and they had been a great help. Because with these devices the teachers could point out and explain in detail what I was doing wrong and despite how short a time I had been at this place... I had already learned so much!
Once I would lose control of my body after using magic or just parts of it so long as I kept the spell localised. But now? All I had to worry about was a loss of sensation rather than any spasms or unresponsive and twitching limbs. So as such, I was very happy with my progress.
I had even managed to make a small group of friends who were also from my homeland. So, because of them, I was able to get a more intimate and local opinion of how I was doing. Which, in all likelihood, made my efforts go along a lot more smoothly as despite this Oddity House being equipped and staffed by trained individuals. They still did not seem to have a full grasp on foreign magics and tended to speak and act in terms of how wind works.
Yet, sometimes these descriptions by them would work, for it was wind driving the clouds that lead to lightning. So, provided I was able to translate the context in my head or in writing, I could work with it, but it wasn't a guarantee. Which is why I was very happy to have made friends from my land and people, they could fill in the gaps the teachers could not. I was also quite surprised to know many of them came from lesser nobility within the borders of land owned by my family!
"Yes, you are doing wonderful work right now, Student Einervaene. How much longer do you think you can keep it up for?" the teacher complimented which left me smiling before I moved on to thinking about his question. It was a bit hard to tell, I was not feeling like I was losing control nor was this taxing on my external-magic flow so I could not tell. But, it was very uncomfortable to be casting like this, it was like a constant pins and needles sensation.
"Probably about... Now?" I say to him, stopping my magic right then and there as I finished the sentence. The sound of notes being written filling my ears shortly after as I waited there, still hooked up to the machines. Soon getting out of them as one of the assistants took it all off of me and directed me away from the machine. My eyes looking over at the teacher as he came over and handed me something.
"What I have just given you is a copy of all my notes with annotations on what you could do to improve. And the other one is regarding that uniform request."
"They accepted it?" I asked him in excitement as I began to think about the fact I might be able to get something useful done to my clothes. Well, rather, I would be getting clothes that looked like the ones I had grown to like which I borrowed from Rossie-chira.
"Yes and no, the Council of Student Refurbishment turned it down, but, an individual within Mechanical House has shown interest in making it."
"Oh," I let out, slightly disappointed I would have to put a little more legwork than expected into it, "Is there a reason it was rejected? You did say I had a valid enough reason to make the request as we had outlined."
"I know, I know, but, according to the Council of Student Refurbishment, they felt it would be too short term to justify."
"Too short term? There's no telling how long I will be stuck casting and using my external-magic in a sacrificial manner!"
"The notes I have compiled and your progress seems to have convinced them otherwise. Which, I can understand, you have made some exceptional progress these past few weeks even with your stated time of how long you have been doing this."
I smiled again, slightly embarrassed by the praise, "So who in Mechanical House will I be looking for?"
"The document I have given you gives you all the necessary details, Student Einervaene. But, I will encourage you to get to it as soon as possible, being a fellow student, they might not be so patient regarding it. Mechanical House can be very easily distracted at times with their projects, collective or individual."
"I think I have time today, so would that be a good time?"
"As I said, the sooner the better."
"Noted, but, out of curiosity, do you know of any collective projects Mechanical House does?" I then asked him as I readjusted my grip on the tablets I was handed. What he just said having caught my eye, or rather, ear. Soon moving for the exit but lingering so he could answer.
"Sorry, I don't pay much attention, but, I know about now they are working on this year's Inter-House Talent Conflict arena. It should be very interesting to see that."
"Inter-House Talent Conflict?" I repeated in confusion, having not heard of it.
"While we, the Suhurlodst Academy of Arcane Learning and Understanding do not have a dedicated timetable for terms and so on with it entirely being unique to each student, we do have one exception. That being the Inter-House Talent Conflict which happens about two to three weeks after the end of the exam period dedicated to the main bulk of our student influx. You'll hear more about it later in the year, but, essentially, it's a rather violent sporting event where all our up and coming witches can test how skilled they have gotten if they want."
I backed away slightly, "I think I will probably just watch if I am honest." I tell him before gesturing goodbye and heading out. Pondering it in my head as I left the building I had been in for the duration of that session. I know magic training often led to people becoming fighters, but it was not an inherent and pre-determined outcome. Some did it for leisure and others wanted specific skills tailored.
I, for example, was training in my magic so I could be more respectable when I went on home and so I could exert more authority. Because being skilled in magic ultimately meant more respect directed towards you due to it being such a hard thing to master. Even though the scale of this school might contribute to one becoming divorced from reality. Witches were rare, and frankly, it was amazing I got to travel with a small group of them of various skill levels.
But, speaking of that, I should also find some time to speak to Urtuoi-kischu again! I had not had the time recently and while it was cowardly of me, I did not want to be involved in his... Issues within the confines of this place. I know it wasn't right of me but I needed this education to go smoothly and being with him in public might ruin that...
So, even with these issues, I wanted to make sure I could be there for him from time to time. Even if it is a sudden drop from what we did before, but, a decline was to be expected. We were freely travelling before, so one should not have come here expecting the same amount of hanging out and such. Yet, that did not excuse me from the idea of spending time with him and having fun and all that.
He was my friend after all and I was his so as such we had a responsibility to each other. I just hoped I could get back to the dorm at a time he was there for a long while. At the very least long enough for us to share a meal together so we could catch up. Or, maybe, I could take advantage of the fact a lot of this school revolved around the student self-determining if they took part.
I could just skip a day of work and so on, relax for a day and just spend it with him? That would be something I would like to do, I would even like Rossie-chira to be there. It could be just like our mealtimes back in that town with the Thurnaimarhos of it who I also hope was fine. We did leave on quite messy terms after all.
But, now that I thought of her, I was left worried somewhat for Rossie-chira as I had seen her spending a lot of time on her own. Something she did not normally do, normally she went along with Urtuoi-kischu whenever possible and was very clingy with him. Something I got a full lesson in several times over as she was very protective of him. But now...?
She seemed a little different, I myself may not have seen Urtuoi-kischu enough these past few weeks but she seems to have not either. Had they had a falling out? No, that couldn't have been it, even when either of them got angry with the other it smoothed out quickly. Rossie-chira was easily pushed around like that, not in the bad way, though.
She was just quick to relent or quick to accept apologies from Urtuoi-kischu. Yet, one thing I found a little funny was how now that I did not have her constantly trying to ward me away from Urtuoi-kischu, he came up in my thoughts less often. So I managed to succeed in doing what she told me to do! But maybe that was the point, to go away from him so I would not think on him often?
Yet, that seemed to have backfired as now I was thinking about him a lot and the smile and brief laugh I just produced proved it. I had good reason to think about him this time, however, a lot has happened since we had gotten here. A lot of stuff I could not imagine being good for him. And with those thoughts I found my smile disappearing as I remembered how I felt when he was revealed to the entire Academy.
Even now I don't think I could describe it, it was just so much to take in, all that noise, all those curses and all those screams. Even being in the privacy of our dorms did not let us escape from it all as we were all given personal rundowns on how Urtuoi-kischu was to be treated. How he was meant to be locked into his room at night, signs to keep an eye out for... It was all so draining to have to deal with it.
And that was just me, someone who was not the target of it all!
"Maybe it would not be a good idea to get too blunt with my questions then? Keep it as off-topic to these problems as much as possible?" I found myself vocally thinking as I turned a corner. A short sigh of exhaustion leaving me as I focused on how much longer I still had to go before I got to the part of the Academy with Mechanical House in it. And upon doing that sigh, I found the topic of Urtuoi-kischu being put aside so I could just quietly complain about all the walking. Then, I looked up, into the sky and then focusing on all the students that were flying.
"Maybe I could do that at some point, figure out how to fly like they do? Rather than how I used to do it." I commented while watching someone recline comfortably on a solid gust of wind that carried her about. Smiling once again as I tried to imagine how comfortable that might be. But then I found myself thinking on how I would use my magic to fly. Flying after all was considered both a badge of honour and a badge of skill.
It was by no means an easy to learn or basic skill, but, it was seen as the benchmark for all those who wanted to be called 'witch.' And there was some irony to such a type of spell being a benchmark achievement needed to really advance in this life. Depending on how you learned your magic and what influenced you as you learnt it all... You could end up completely locking yourself out of the ability to fly as your mind might not be able to process a means...
And while I did not want to inflate my ego or come across as arrogant, even in my own head, I was certain of one thing. Flying would be an achievable goal for me for I was of a people whose magic came from the sky. And even in my inexperienced state, I had developed a spell that would let me ascend to the sky! A spell that I must have surely improved upon since learning new casting techniques?
"I should actually see how close to being able to fly I actually am!" I soon beamed out with an open-mouth smile. Quickly setting aside my former goal as I went off towards an empty stretch of grass. Nearly collapsing due to the amount of breath I needed to take in again once I had finished running to this field of green. And even with a red face and strained set of lungs, I kept looking up with a smile.
Then, once I had recovered enough, I stood up again and flicked my wrists about. Setting aside everything I had been carrying a short distance away just in case this became a messy attempt to fly. And once it was all sorted, I closed my eyes and took in a few calming breaths. Making sure I was focusing entirely on what I had been taught before I even attempted anything.
"Just like usual, you know how to do this..." I said to myself nervously, even though it was meant to reaffirm my thoughts with confidence. A contradiction that had me looking about with a frown before I got back into the determined mindset. Then, I began to feel it all, my body warping and transmuting and the sudden lightness that followed. Yet, a problem soon arose in that I felt myself being pulled apart!
So, in a panic, I cancelled the spell and fell to the slightly singed ground before flailing about. Soon calming down as I took many, many breaths to calm myself down before getting up and crawling over to where I had put my notes down. Stuttering out a sigh as control returned to my body before I began to write down what I had experienced. Staring intently at it while trying to think about what went wrong.
The answer I felt like was most correct was that this spell of mine was built around ascending to the clouds. Something I could not do here as there were no clouds unless you went to the edge of the plateau and headed down the mountainside or the spiralling road. But, as I sat there pondering, I felt the tug on my magical aura which I had briefly lost control of. Perhaps the machines within this place and the neighbouring city had interfered with it?
If that was the case then I was left even more impressed by those that were flying overhead as that meant they beat the pull of an entire city! They had such mastery over their own internal, external-magic and subsequent aura that they could win against the machines of this place! Yet, now that I was made more keenly aware of the magic-hungry city we were so close to. I found myself writing down a note regarding the teachers, that I should ask them for more details.
Maybe I could get insight into how the city's magic systems worked or maybe I could get tools to help me against it. Personally, I would prefer the first option as tools can sometimes be curses that kept you from developing. But, if it came to it, I think I would be willing to set aside any ambition so I could learn to fly. Flying in of itself was so prestigious a spell-type that it would hardly be a sore spot.
Assuming I never met anyone who had learned to fly despite all the challenges, but, to meet such an individual would have been an honour! A witch of such skill and prestige could be tolerated to some extent. Like how it was easier to forgive the arrogance of a higher noble back home. Or the lack of manners from a commoner.
You just learned to accept common problems without fail after a certain point.
And soon, I got up from my spot on the ground, having decided to give it just one more go out here before carrying on with my day. Maybe, just maybe, I would do better this time as I had a better idea of what to expect from it all. Or maybe I should have just stopped here and now before I seriously hurt myself trying to contend with the magic-swallowing city near us? And despite this counter-thought that warned me, I moved on with it anyway.
I could just imagine everyone's faces if I came to them saying I had been able to fly for just a moment!
So, with a smile back on my face, I gave it another go and turned myself into lightning with the usual sounds accompanying it. Nothing good came from it, though, I just ended up repeating what had happened earlier. And once I was back into my actual body, I lay on the ground and clicked my tongue. A shake of the head following the moments of silence that followed but preceding my return to the real reason I was out here.
"I hope that did not cost me my chance with Mechanical House." I commented as I went back to where I was going after grabbing my stuff. Holding a finger up as I walked so I could inspect how the lighting arced off of it outside with a weak will controlling it. I had not used much magic outside since arriving here, so it was interesting to watch it head to the city. And when I concentrated on it, the lightning straightened out and headed roughly where I wanted it to go but with some pullback.
Having just seen this, a new thought came up in my head. Could I use this as a means to measure my progress? To see how well my magic could stand against the city that tried to take control of it? I was not sure how I could document it, but I felt like it was a good way to measure my finesse and so on.
Perhaps I could even push some extra stuff from this individual in Mechanical House in order to do so? Like, maybe use my body to influence him or just my personality? I felt more comfortable with the latter if I was honest. Using my body seemed more like something Rossie-chira would do.
It could not have been a lack of confidence, though, I knew very well I was beautiful and I had a high opinion of my looks and wished to maintain them. Yet, despite this, I was unnerved by the idea of say, placing an arm between my breasts or accentuating certain body parts. My clothes would certainly help that as they were otherwise designed for it going by Rossie-chira's personality. But, one core idea stuck with me, maybe it was because I was raised to be more refined?
Being a refined woman tended to not encourage lechery such as taking advantage of a gap in my clothes to let a headrest on my bare underboob. I was even becoming redfaced from just the thought of it alone! A thought was all it took to embarrass me. So how would I ever go through with it for real!?
"Let alone what Urtuoi-kischu might thi-" I began to say before stopping myself so I could frown. Why did I just think of him, why? He was just my friend, he wasn't my parent or a guardian of mine, he did not raise me. So why was I concerned about what he might think alone?
Either way, I soon rubbed my face with a gloved palm before huffing out a laugh. This wasn't the first time he appeared in my thoughts at the most random of times and I had no idea why. He wasn't a human so it could not have been the fact I was attracted to him or falling for him. Yet, I had to be honest, being near him had this strange presence to it, like something compelled me to be near him.
I even have vague memories of a moment when I was near him and he suddenly seemed less... I did not know the correct word at all. I did not want to say attractive or handsome or anything like that. But, all I know is I took off a bracelet while drunk or tipsy, rather, noblewomen should never be drunk!
"I guess I can enquire about it here, I suppose." I then said with a shrug as I finally arrived at the section of the Academy dedicated to Mechanical House. And it was, well, it smelled, it smelled of strong mixtures of oils and other chemicals. A very harsh set of smells all in all now that I was here. The place was even more developed in general!
Lots of metal pathways and painted on guidelines and the amount of wall-mounted medical kits and other forms of health and safety were abundant. And I really wish I had something to block my ears with too, it was very noisy here. Bangs, clangs and booms just kept vibrating throughout the air and I had to keep a loose jaw there were that many strong shakes! So, having taken it all in, I was very glad to have made it into the building I should be at.
And when those doors closed behind me it became very peaceful. The smells were suddenly clean and the noises were dulled or gone. I even found myself quietly laughing at the idea of bringing a scented candle next time if I ever had to return here. Would certainly make it so I wasn't rushing through the factory-like area of the Academy!
"Hey! Who are you?" someone called out to me from a chair on wheels as the group he was with stopped playing some kind of game on them. Some kind of game involving a stick, balls and what I assumed was a net of some description? But, it looked more like an overturned bin now that I got a better look at it.
"I am Einervaene, I am here regarding someone taking interest in something I submitted to the uniform people?" I recall with some confusion as I could not remember the name right now. Too many distractions overwhelming my mind and senses.
"Einervaene... Uniform... You lot got any ideas?"
"Einervaene!? Hold on!" someone called out from a little further on before they stumbled out of a room. A room that spat out several coils of wire and tubes wrapped in various colours of thread.
"Are you the one I am meant to go to?" I ask as I stepped around the people playing the game. Slightly unsure of how to react when I heard a sudden wave of comments regarding my legs and rear. One even sounding smug about the fact I had walked past his sitting form which gave him a pleasant upwards view. It felt like I was embarrassed from being praised, to be honest, like how I felt with the teacher before when they complimented my learning speed.
"Yes, yeah..." he said as he began to kick everything back into the room. Soon going along with where he was pushing me before he closed the door shut with a loud bang. And I wasn't sure what to do after, I was just standing here and he was scurrying about. An item or two in hand before he got up to put it away before he repeated the process.
"So what is it you wanted me to speak about? I know you stated interest in my request but the teacher mentioned other details."
"Yeah, I showed interest in it. Wanted to do a little work on it as practice for other things I am making." he said as he gave up tidying this place, kicking a barrel away with a huff before he sat down. His wheeled chair not getting far before he had to kick more items out of the way.
"Thank you for doing this, then." I say to him as I stepped a little closer with what I had before putting it by him just in case. His hands soon going over them before he stopped on the tablet with the details regarding him.
"Alright, I have one condition."
I frowned, I was hoping to get it as I wanted it, "What is it?"
"I want to do it in black, not white."
I tilted my head slightly, "Is there a reason for that? I wanted it to look as similar to this as possible." I explained to him. Gesturing to the outfit I had gotten from Rossie-chira back in that town we left.
"Because one of your statements was you wanted runed metal attached to this new set of clothes and as you elaborated that... Lig... Lightning was your magic, copper would be best and copper does not work with white."
"Can't you just paint over the copper? Electroplate it or something?" I then asked him as this just struck me as a very strange change. There were ways to get past this annoyance of his so why did he not move to take them?
He suddenly looked frustrated, "Look, do you want my help or not?" he then said to me. Something that made me want to frown as it was little better than a threat. A minor, insignificant threat, but a threat nonetheless.
"No, it's fine, it's fine. Is that all the changes you wanted to make?"
"Yeah, I can find everything else by just going to the necessary places. Are your measurements included?" he said before asking.
"Yes, I made sure to measure them with a friend."
"All measurements?" he then asked as his eyes stared intently at my chest. A chest I soon moved to cover with an item that I was fiddling with.
"Yes, we made sure all possible measurements were written down."
"Good," was what he said before he ploughed his chair through the mess of this room, "Copper... Lightning magic guiding... Black fabric... Uh... Yeah..." he then mumbled as he pressed several buttons. A few moments marked by clicks and taps filling the room before the main event. Then, it soon all came alive with a sudden magic flow as he went back to cleaning. But, it was mostly around this single machine.
I assume he was clearing the space around it so he could get to it. But, I really wished this place was just clean, to begin with as the mess was really annoying me. Maybe it was just my upbringing and the lessons that came with it. But I just did not want to be here in such a filthy place.
The room then suddenly became silent and he perked up with a smile, his hands soon opening up a machine. Soon after coming out of that machine with several pieces of black clothing rimmed with decorated copper plating and wires. Then, the items were in my hands and he looked at me expectingly. I looked back at him intensely.
"Well, put it on."
I blinked, "Excuse me?"
"Put it on, I need to see if it fits fine."
I blinked again as my grip tightened, "Excuse me?"
"You deaf? I just spoke clearly."
I started glaring at him, "Get out." I ordered.
He moved his head back, "You can't just kick me out of my own workshop." he grumbled.
"I can when you suddenly want me to get changed in front of you!" I nearly shouted at him as I grabbed him and shoved him out. Shocking him on the way out before locking the door behind me with a sigh. My eyes soon looking about uncomfortably as I was completely unaware if any surveillance equipment was in here. But, as I wanted to be done with this room, I took in a deep breath and got to it.
Making sure I did not let my exposed body linger as such for long and going about it methodically. Taking off what I could and replacing it before going on to other pieces of clothing and switching over to it. Slightly panicking when I got to my lower body and upper chest as my body shape had to be contested with. Yet soon, despite my rush and mistakes, I got dressed again in the new outfit.
A small smile on my face as I felt the warmth of the freshly sorted out fabric. But, before I opened the door again, I looked for a mirror while holding my newest clothing addition. A prideful grin soon appearing on my face as I put a wide-brimmed hat on my head. Tilting it down slightly as I stuck a hip out and rubbed a leg before this room's mirror.
"Can't wait to show the others!" I said with lots of giddiness before moving about in the outfit. Making sure it was all to the proper standards before then picking up my older outfit. A smile on my face as I looked on at it before my lips tightened a little. I really did not want to give it back to Rossie-chira...
I just had gotten so used to it and had learned to really enjoy this outfit and it was very special to me! I hadn't had it for long, granted, but a lot had happened in this outfit and it held a lot of meaning. As such, even though I really should have returned it, I did not want to. Maybe Rossie-chira would not notice, but only time would tell.
"Thank you for your help and by the gods... Clean up that place!" I said in thanks first before letting out my annoyance. Leaving behind the one who had just helped me with a smile on my lips and greater bounce in my step.
"We have changing rooms you know!" he then called out to me, but I just ignored him as my eyes widened. A sudden flow of air leaving my nose as I got rid of that embarrassment. Suddenly looking down to make sure I had everything before nodding as I left through the door. Going back into the noise and stink of Mechanical House.
"God of Air, please safe me from being a potential carrier of smells from here..." I prayed in worry, marching off quickly to escape the industrial landscape. I did not want my show-off moment to be ruined by the smell of oil! But, I might have been willing to ruin it with the smell and sight of dirt now that I thought about it... This outfit was designed to help me guide my magic after all, maybe it would help me do what I tried before?
I hope it did!