Cloudy with a chance of Magic [Thirteen]

Spring had come. The seasons on Manta Carlos forever fascinated Aurora, and how fast they could not only change, but in the amount of variance that they could show in any given moment. Yesterday, it was practically winter. Lows in the single digits, and slowly overnight, they had crept up and given way to a partly cloudy day that was perfect for visiting the lake.

And visit the lake Aurora had. Dressed in a dark long sleeve sport top and shorts, the mage had been running around the lake for only the better part of an hour, listening to student recitals that had been performed for a grade just a couple of nights earlier. Some were great, others could use a little push in a better direction.

What was not in season however, was the sudden appearance of purple water underneath Aurora's feet as she ran across the bridge. Needless to say, a few other students appeared to be spooked, causing a bit of a commotion before her legs stopped in place. Purple water was not a natural phenomenon. The stranger thing though was that the water had something of a resonance, the mark of a mage, or at least someone that was close to one.

The source was pretty easy to find; a masked man walking up the lake.

"Hey. HEY!"

Aurora ran to catch up. She wasn't sure if she was upset, or if she just wanted to talk, but at the very least, maybe he could get him or...her to get the water back to normal. It wasn't poisonous judging by the magic, but still.

"Do you mind not turning the water purple? It tends to ruin the view."

Not a great reason, nor a great start to a conversation, but at least she was truthful. Running around purple water was indeed very strange.

Good news number one: Aurora had managed to catch up to the masked man without much a problem.

Good news number two: The guy actually sounded like a reasonable human being, if he was a human that is.

"Yes yes, I know, water is boring. But we do rely on it to drink sometimes, and I'm not sure anybody, no matter how magical, will be willing to give purple water a chance. Or red for that matter."

Aurora rather wondered if this was a student or not. The man seemed too skilled to be honest. Sure, there were some gifted students, but he didn't seem to care much, which likely made him a mage of some power. Unfortunately, first impressions weren't looking too good; Aurora had always taught students that hubris would get them killed.

"Aurora Silivasi-Awren. The rules generally involve holding back visible magic from where students can see it unless a course is being taught on the matter."

Aurora had a bit of an upset look on her face.

"...Not that it's always possible to enforce, unfortunately. But I appreciate your cooperation at the very least. If I did interrupt something of the note, I am terribly sorry for doing so."

"Are you going to alter the perceptions of those people and wildlife that rely on this lake for their livelihood? I very much doubt the birds, deer and other creatures that drink from this lake will care for raspberry tea or another of your favorite drinks."

Aurora nearly snapped, slightly more than a little bit frustrated. Her older brother had been something like this too, and it had gotten him a knife in the back. Not a pleasant way to go. Aurora continued moving, stretching out with the intent that she would keep moving around the lake soon enough.

"You got it. Unless the ability is certain to only have an effect on you. Since it appears you've frightened not only students, but some wildlife, I don't think purple water is going to satisfy those rules."

Of course, there was always those that were going to break those rules, and Octain appeared to be one of them. Aurora wasn't always going to be there to stop him. Not that she needed to, but so long as he stopped toying with parts of the school that others relied on.

"As long as I'm only interrupting your good day, Octain. You're more than welcome to join me, but I'm afraid I am not going to walk through the lake."

Aurora retied her hair behind her head and started off, not quite caring if Octain was following or not. Of course she hoped so, but even if not, it wasn't as if the day was ruined.

"I'm the director of the music program. And the monster you speak of goes by Aurum. Talk to him sometime, he's quite fascinating. He's probably got stories that go well beyond what any human has ever encountered in our time."

"I hope you're not talking about me. I do not claim to know your magic at a glance, or even with an in-depth study."

Aurora was no longer running, nor was she nearly as upset as she was earlier. Although off on the wrong foot, the mage did not tend to hold a grudge or stay angry at any one thing for long unless the crime was especially grave. As a child, she had pulled pranks against her mentors, and occasionally had paid dearly for it, depending on who had dealt with her shenanigans.

"Well, I'm glad not everything is ruined. I'm not actually sure what Aurum has been up to as of late. We have not spoken in some time. Probably for the better; I'm sure he's finding his way on his own."

On that idea, Aurora made a mental note to go check up on him, and possibly run an idea or two by him for some new optional programs.

"Magic theory? That's a hugely broad topic. Are you teaching a variety of theories, or only one?"

Aurora was curious in what he might know, or if he subscribed to the same general principle that Tellurian mages abided by. Even Tellurian theories were scattered via the paradigms that everyone operated by, but even then, there were some fundamental magicks at work that everyone knew about, and used in different ways.

"Well, I suppose we agree on a few things then. If you haven't already, go to the fourth floor of the library. There's a large collection of magical artifacts you might have an interest in. Nothing destructive; those are away elsewhere."

Away elsewhere indeed. In a different plane of existence more like. The ones in the library were effectively harmless if not occasionally annoying for the librarians to deal with. Many of them wanted at least the harp gone, but as an ancient artifact, wanted to keep it around. A conundrum to be sure. Aurora giggled slightly.

"If he has found a mistress, it may be in his interest. He needs someone to keep him company I suppose."

Not that Aurora knew who it was, or if it was even true. If it was however, good for him. Aurum certainly needed it, although mistress was probably not the word that Aurora would have used. On theories of magic, it appeared to her that he subscribed to the many philosophies of magic; and not just a single one. There was something about that that was actually quite refreshing.

"I've been called both of those. It really depends on who you ask. Fateweavers, willworkers, etc. 'Mage' tends to be most accepted term however. It's probably what I would call you as well, unless you have a difference preference?"

The wonderful thing about the mage title was that it could effectively be attributed to most students at the school in some way, enough so that the term had to be curtailed to those who subscribed to the Tellurian theory of magic. In this case, Octain may not be a mage, but he was still probably just as enlightened.