29th of Sifdras - 5th Emder
I look forward to Relics class now as I feel it is something I can excel in, but admittedly, I have no clue what I’m doing. When I arrive to the workshop-styled classroom, Professor Lighthammer takes me aside proffering a small trinket that fits in his palm neatly. It looks like some kind of beetle made of intricate metal pieces, the likes of which I have only seen in Miss Candy’s beautiful timepiece.
“I have something special for you today.” He gives me a rare smile as he speaks in his usual soft tones. “Last class I think you showed some real promise in enchantment and I know you said you are new to this type of magic. So I have an exercise for you to help us both gage how proficient your instincts are.”
He must see the worry crease my brow as he tries to wave away my doubts with a subtle gesture. “Don’t think about it too much. The task is fairly simple and I’ve broken it down into parts.”
He gestures toward my work desk and we make our way to it as he explains this new assignment. “First, I would like you to ascertain the magical properties of this relic.” He shows me the bronzed beetle with dull, jade colored jewels for eyes. “Write down everything you can about the magic in and on this relic and give an estimation about what its intended purpose is.”
He sets the beetle down on my work desk. “If that is too easy for you, I would like you to replicate the enchantment into another relic.” The professor hides a chuckle behind a hand and I can only assume that he can see the disbelief in me at this statement.
The professor wishes me luck before heading to his desk at the front of the class and my focus turns to the beetle. Picking it up delicately, I begin my assessment. It is heavier than I expected, even though I know that it is made from metal parts primarily. It has thin spindly legs which are also metallic and filled with joints as if they were used for some purpose. They should bend easily, but they are rigid in place, likely from rust or disuse, when I test the theory.
I stare into its jeweled eyes for long moments, pondering how and where to start on the inside. As my mind drifts, there is no familiar tugging like with the now imbued flat stone.
The professor told me last week that I had actually made a dowsing stone from that dull flat stone that wished for the sea. He told me how remarkable it was that I had achieved it and with a stone no less as, generally, this only happens in nature with fallen tree limbs. I smiled at this news, though, I did not tell him that it was because I was happy for the stone, that it will always find its way back to water as it wished so fervently. I wonder what the beetle wished for before it was enchanted…?
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Setting it down again, I run my fingers along the dull bronze carapace. It is pocked with age and disuse. I frown at the thought of it in some long forgotten cupboard, collecting dust and tarnish. Gingerly, I weave a bit of air around it, testing cautiously to try and ascertain any bit of arcane information from the item. This proves successful, if only faintly, as I sense a weak response of earth and air, like an echo drifting back through my threads. I try to delve deeper with my probing tendrils of air, but there is a resistance from somewhere that I am not seeing clearly. All I can see are those same notes of earth and air within, all tangled in a knot.
Frustrated, I move my little airy feelers within the shell of the beetle, gently and am rewarded with a loud snap, as if someone clapped their hands right next to my ears. My weaving crumbles as I am startled off my seat. As I get up slowly, hands at my ears, I try to massage out the ringing sound reverberating through my skull.
I notice several scribes have stopped their own work to stare at me with bewildered expressions. I feel all their eyes on me in a new way after Natsumi told me all the rumors circling around Court about me. All except one; a pale skinned, dark haired elf by the name of Narin, who is usually sleeping at his desk through most of class. Today seems to be no different for him as he doesn’t move a muscle through my outburst. While I normally abhor this kind of behavior in class, it brings me a sense of comfort this time.
Vesa comes up beside me from her own work desk, helping me steady myself back into my seat. “That was quite the reaction.” She says with her fanged, toothy grin, but I can almost barely hear her over the ringing in my ears. “Are you alright?”
“Yes. I’m fine.” Based on her reaction to my words, I might have over-projected my voice at her.
“Okay.” I can hear her a bit better this time, though the ringing is still loud. “Let me know if you want to go to the clinic!” Her words are slower, more deliberate and while I am a bit embarrassed that we must be shouting at each other so close, I am thankful for her pace and offer.
I nod my thanks, acknowledging that I understand her and she points to her seat before she follows that direction, leaving me and the beetle together once more.
I frown at it, eyes narrowed, and get out a sheet of parchment to begin my notes.
I title the page “Stupid Rusty Beetle” and feel a bit better as I write what I have done up to now. For the rest of the class, I only weave around the beetle and come up with the traces of a vague knot of earth, air, and hints of water that surround it. Stupid beetle.
