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How To Train A Human (DragonSong)

Started by Elrond, August 04, 2017, 05:16:23 AM

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Elrond

Cailan sat next to the ornate fountain in the middle of the park. He whistled as he reached for a small loaf of broad from his pocket, causing many pigeons to flock near him. He tore of each piece delicately and tossed it out in front of him, where the pigeons then competed for the tribute. He looked up at the sky. It was a cloudy day, however the noon sun at its apex found a small opening to beat down on Cailan's face. They should be getting here soon.

Cailan's thoughts turned to a conversation he had earlier with a colleague of his. She had received an odd letter and brought it to the attention of Cailan. The letter asked for help in dealing with a dragon, and had asked for a meeting in a park several blocks away from the Wardens headquarters. It was signed simply with "Ally", and could not tell if it was a name or an instance that they were a friendly figure. Nonetheless, Cailan decided to take this request on himself.

Because the meeting was to be held in broad daylight, Cailan did not think it could be an ambush. However, the vague and peculiarly written request did have him on edge. Even so, he decided to come to the fountain alone, albeit amidst several commoners going for a post-lunch walk.

He looked down at the cobblestone floor that encircled the fountain. The pigeons patiently waited for each bread toss. Their talons made rhythmic clicks on the cobblestone as they fought for each piece of bread. Eventually, Cailan grew tired and threw the entire loaf into the pigeon crowd. He placed his walking stick on his lap and extended his arms slightly behind him to rest on the fountain. He cocked his head backwards and began to relax when he heard footsteps approach him.

DragonSong

Ally straightened her tunic a bit as she picked her way through the park, glancing around furtively. It would be just her luck if her brother had poked his nose out of the house long enough to find her here.

She wasn't ready to face her family yet. She had to get a handle on this problem first.

She'd never actually seen the man she was supposed to be meeting here, but there were few enough people around the fountain that she could take a fairly well-educated guess.

Clearing her throat, she approached cautiously. "Um, excuse me? Mister Oberon?"

Elrond

Cailan looked at the girl who had correctly called his name. He gently smiled at the girl as he opened his mouth. "Yes that is me." He tapped the open space on the fountain to his right, beckoning her with his eyes to sit next to him. "Tell me more about this request you have."

Cailan rested his hands on his walking stick which stood upright between his legs. He retained the polite smile, inviting her to express all that she wished to express.

DragonSong

The alchemist gave a nervous tug on a lock of hair and settled herself warily on the lip of the fountain. "Well...I've heard a bit about your organization," she said slowly. "And- and I happen to be in a situation that requires a...great deal of research. I would ask to use the materials at your disposal."

Rather proud of the fact that she'd managed to get through all that without stumbling too badly, she twisted quickly and dragged the satchel that had been resting at her hip into her lap. "I can pay for the privilege, of course."

Elrond

Cailan let out a snort of amusement as he leaned forward. "I'm afraid use of our laboratories is open only to certified professors and scholars within the Wardens." He looked at the girl, who seemed quite shy. She must have took a big risk coming here. "But very well, I can make an exception for you. Under my supervision of course."

He leaped up and twirled his walking stick like a baton. "As for payment, that can wait. Suns aren't the only form of compensation." Cailan let out a cheeky smirk. "But tell me, if you require the use of our materials, surely you must have expertise in a certain field?"

DragonSong

Ally's heart sank. She supposed she'd been expecting that answer, but she had to ask-

Her head snapped up, eyes wide. "Wait- really? You'll let me- oh, thank you!" She leaped to her feet and had an odd impulse to throw her arms around him but managed to quell it- gods knew that would've been awkward.

Beaming, she stammered out a grateful, "Truly, thank you so much." She nodded at his question and hurried to add, "I'm an alchemist, ser, by training and practice."

Elrond

Cailan grinned with his eyes closed. He was happy to help, and happy to see when people were enthused and inspired about studying. Upon her revelation as an alchemist, Cailan raised his brows with intrigue. There were a few members of the Wardens who were advanced alchemists, and he was eager to see how her experience and skill would compare.

"Very impressive, Ally." He had figured this was her name, after all, and felt slightly embarrassed that he thought at one point it wasn't. "Let me show you the way. Oh! And you can call me Cailan." He beckoned forward with his walking stick, and proceeded to exit the cobblestone steps and onto the gravel pathway wedge between finely cut, emerald green grass. Above him, the small and expertly trimmed oak trees hovered over the pathway. They looked like guardians, with the foliage protecting the rays of the sun from hitting the gravel pathway like a shield.

"So tell me more about your research," Cailan said to the girl as they exited the park and into the busy streets of Arca, "I'd love to help." Of course, he had other motives in mind. Though earnest in his desire to help a student of alchemy in their quest, he was still a man of ambition and guile. An innocent, third party would be the perfect fall person should his plans go awry.

DragonSong

Ally hesitated a moment, then hurried to fall into step beside him. "Well, it's...rather complicated. And a bit personal," she mumbled after a few moments, ducking her head a bit. "I- I don't want you to think I'm being rude, but it might be hard to explain to someone without a background in alchemy."

Not to mention she'd learned it wasn't always a great idea to lead with "By the way, if I freak out I turn into a dragon. It's no big thing."

Elrond

"Understandable," he chuckled softly with his mouth closed, "In the same way I wouldn't delve into the intricacies of pre-Ansgaran society agriculture and trade in Sirantil Valley." Cailan ducked and dodged the pedestrian traffic that tended to plague the walk from the park to the headquarters of the Wardens. After weaving through merchants, beggars, and common folk for several blocks, they arrived to their destination.

"Aha! Here we are. Shall we?" Cailan glanced at Ally and nudged his head forward. In front of them was a large marble building that resembled a cathedral. It had--in fact--been a cathedral at one point in Arca's history, dedicated to Fyarion. However, the church's leader sold the property for a large sum of money to the founder of the Wardens, Professor Harkon. Undergoing several renovations, the white marble building stood impressive upon a small hill. Stone steps led to the main entrance, which sat in between stained glass windows the augmented the appearance of the banners above it that contained the insignia of the Wardens.

DragonSong

Ally followed quietly, having that strange feeling of being a stranger in your own home. She knew this city, knew these street, but it had been nearly a year since she walked them.

It felt...disjointed.

She managed to muster up a, "It's a lovely building," when they arrived at the repurposed cathedral though, trying for a smile.

Elrond

"It is." Cailan looked up at the building in admiration as he walked up the stone steps that he had practically committed to muscle memory. He pushed open the large, double door wooden entrance and escorted the woman through.

In the lobby, several researchers and fledglings alike were pacing back and forth, all immersed into their own work. "This way." Cailan head through the western corridor, until reaching steps that lead to the cellar of the building.

DragonSong

She continued to follow in silence, looking around curiously but keeping any opinions she may have held to herself.

She did pause when they reached the stairs though, balking a bit. She's always been a little claustrophobic, but as of late it had become...a more serious problem. "Ah...how far down is it?"

Elrond

"Once we enter the cellar we take an immediate right through the door that leads to the eastern laboratory," Cailan said as he carefully put a foot on the first step of the rickety, old staircase. As one of the only parts of the building that needed to be renovated, the staircase leading into the cellar was steep and narrow, made with wood that become rotted with its atrophy.

"Down here is our Alchemical Ward. Since it's one of the newer wings it has not been refurbished yet, but I assure we have the finest ingredients and equipment in all of Arca," Cailan reached for the wooden railing that, too, had become rotted. However, it moved in the most uncomfortable way indicating that perhaps it shouldn't be touched. "The southeastern lab is the one you'll be using, named after our deceased colleague Faynriel." The old cellar contained five laboratories, all dedicated to alchemical studies. When entering, there were two adjacent to one another on each side that were all of equal size, and a larger lab to the north of the room.

DragonSong

Ally looked around with some combination of curiosity and nervousness as she followed him down.

Good thing she wasn't a dragon, or she had a feeling those stairs would have broken apart beneath her.

"Well, this is all...lovely," she murmured. "Do- do you happen to have an alchemical reference section of a library, somewhere?"

Elrond

"Oh! Of course." Cailan pointed upwards with his walking stick and tilted his head, indistinctly gesturing to where she can find it.

"Up the stairs and back into the lobby, go through the northern corridor until you see the eastern and western staircases. Take those two levels and you will reach the Arcaneum Ward--our library."

DragonSong

"Oh, thank you." She smiled, blushing a bit, and nodded. Then paused. "Um...do I need some sort of special permission to get in there?"

Elrond

"To be frank, it's unlikely they'll even notice you." After all, most of the members of the Wardens were engrossed in their own business to even notice her rummaging through a library. "But go on and hurry! The books you are looking for might be captured by another student."

DragonSong

Ally nodded quickly and turned to make her way back up the stairs, quick, careful steps.

She followed the man's directions to the library, where she hesitated. Was she supposed to just...walk it? Take what she needed?

Elrond

While the girl went to search for her reference material, Cailan went to rummage through his own work. Months of correspondences through letters and coded messages were stowed away in his bedroom on the second level of the building. As he swiftly made way to his chambers, he bumped into several fledglings and researches alike who were too busy in their own work to take offense.

Cailan entered his room, laden with marble and stone. Red cloth draped over a window that arched over his bed, which contained the same design as the rugs on the ground. It bore the insignia of the Wardens, but was slightly worn due to attrition. Cailan reached for the underside a pillow, where a small crack contained a small, rolled up piece of parchment. He checked around the room to quickly see if anyone was watching, and made his way back to the basement to meet the girl.

DragonSong

Nervous and unsure exactly what she was looking for, Ally grabbed a few promising titles before hurrying back to meet Cailan.

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