Aliester looks away from the large, panelled window and sees a young man walking toward him. Much like Aliester, he wears a white, hooded robe bordered with a distinctive pattern of red triangles. However, they have little else in common. Though tall in his own right, the young man is dwarfed by Aliester's broadly built, six-foot four-inch frame. His blue eyes and sapphire hair stand in marked contrast to Aliester's emerald eyes and reddish brown locks. While Aliester's chin bears the growth of a thin beard he has never bothered to shave, the approaching man's face is free of any hair.
There are other differences hidden by their robes. The young man's hood obscures his rounded human ears. Aliester's covers two triangular feline ears, as well as the scar at the base of his spine from where a tail once extended.
"What's out there?" the young man presses, as he pushes past Aliester and peers out the window. Beyond the pane of glass, both can see a lovely view of the Val'Ri sea as the sun prepares to sink below the horizon for the night. Small fishing boats scramble to get to port and unload their catches for the day. People line the docks, buying supper for the night. Both Aliester and his friend know that men and women in white robes like their own are among that crowd, buying tonight's dinner.
"I don't see anything," says the man after a few moments. "It's just people swarming to get the catch of the day."
"That's because your not lookin' in the right place, Valenti," replies Aliester. "Past the docks; you'll see it."
"The sea?" Valemti asks, "Is there something swimming out there? Maybe we should warn the Headmaster..."
"Nah, nothing like that," Aliester replies, stifling a chuckle. "You let your imagination run away with you too much. Tis just the sea. Look at it, Valenti. Isn't it beautiful?"
"Yeah, in it's own way," Valenti admits, glancing out the window. Then he looks back at Aliester, smiling. "But not nearly so beautiful as finally graduating from here! I still can't believe we're almost done with it all!"
"Aye," Aliester agrees, as he scratches at the thin traces of a beard running along his jawline. "Been here for at least seven years now; never thought I would be done with it all."
"Indeed," Valenti agrees, "And in just one week, We'll finally be inducted into the Order of White Magic! We'll finally be full-fledged White Mages, Aliester! Travelling the world and helping those in need! I'll bet you're even more excited than I am! I've heard that you'll make Valedictorian!"
Aliester snorts in derision. "Me, Valedictorian?" He says, "Hardly."
"I bet you will!" Valenti presses, "You successfully cast Fade for your final test!"
"Heh, true," agrees Aliester, "But that spell hardly had enough power to knock over a kitten. Look at Alexandra; she managed to cast Wall, and held it against a Fire spell!"
"Yeah, but she told me that the Fire Spell nearly shattered it," Valenti points out.
"What about Richard?" Aliester presses, "While we were trying to impress the Headmaster by tossing the biggest spells we could, he comes in and casts a simple Harm just as pretty as you please. He's likely the smartest one among the lot of us for that."
"You do have a point there," Valenti admits. "Still, who would have expected a poor peasant boy from a no-name fishing village like you to come here and surpass us scions of wealthy merchants and nobles? You have got to be the best 'foundling' that Everbright Academy has ever had!"
"Best of the poor folks?" Aliester replies, chuckling, "Not hardly. Tis fun to rub it in the blueblood's faces, though."
"Oh, quit being so modest!" Valenti says, his voice full of friendly chiding, "By Ishtar! You're hellbound to demean yourself into the mud!"
"Just realistic, friend," Aliester answers.
"Bah," Valenti says with a dismissing motion, "You've full of it. Anyway, has the Order told you were they are going to send you yet?"
"No," Aliester answers simply.
"Maybe they want to keep you here to research new magic," Valenti says, "I've heard that the Order has almost created a version of the Life spell that can cancel out the negative energy that animates undead! Think of what we could do with that! I'll bet they'll want you to help research it!"
"You're letting your imagination run away with you again," Aliester chides. "Besides, to tell you the truth, I don't want them to send me anywhere."
"Huh?" Valenti asks, shooting Aliester an incredulous look. "Why not? You and I both know they'll be insane not to send you back home. Your village needs a healer desperately, and they know you there better than anyone."
"Doesn't it get to you?" Asks the nekojin. "Think about it; they're trying to tell us where to go, and how to live. For the rest of our lives, we'll be working for the Order. Whenever they say jump, we hafta jump."
"Well, it's not like they are the Rivan Dragoons," Valenti answers, shaking his head. "The Order of White Magic seldom, if ever, tells us what to do. We're pretty much free to do what we please after being assigned. Personally, I'd like to travel a bit after they send me to Nekonia."
"Val, doesn't grate against your nerves?" Aliester presses. "I mean, if someone in white robes flashes a pendant at you, or you get a letter with the Order's Seal on it, you have to drop your whole damn life and dance for them. Simply because they said to. You aren't... bothered by that at all?"
"It's life," Valenti answers with a shrug, "If the Royal Guard comes, or you get a letter with the Chancellor's seal, the same thing happens. At least with the Order, you know it is your brother and sister White Mages who are asking for you to do something."
"True, I suppose," admits the taller man, as his gaze returns to the sea.
"Don't worry about it, Aliester" Valenti says, giving his friend a hearty and rather unaristocratic pat on the shoulder. "I gotta go meet Alexandra now. She and I are going to have dinner down at the village inn and talk about what we're going to do when we get to Nekonia."
"Have fun, Val," answers the nekojin, "Good to see the Order had enough sense not to seperate you two lovebirds."
"Indeed," Valenti agrees, "I might just propose to her once we reach Fickle."
"Do that, Val," Aliester says, as the blue-haired man resumes his course down the rather empty hall. "I know you two'll be very happy together. Trust me on that one!"
Valenti waves as he departs, and leaves Aliester alone to stare at the distant sea. The young nekojin watches as the sun sets, admiring it. Ever since he could walk, he had loved the sea. Simply looking at the waves begins back so many happy memories. Learning to swim, helping his father bring in the day's haul, rowing out in his own little boat... On the sea, Aliester was on his own. It was his own wit and courage that kept him afloat. His, and no one else's.
Aliester's thoughts begin to turn circles upon themselves as he watches the water turn golden, and the sky pink and purple. At the heart of this turmoil is a simple letter stashed in his pocket. It reads:
Dear Aliester Purvis
After considering your phenominal progress as a practioner of the Art of White Magic, we believe it is best to send you to the City of Doma. There, your skills shall be invalauble in combatting the occasional outbreaks of disease such a crowded city suffers from, as well as the unfortunate damage done by crime.
May Ishtar's blessings be upon you,
Nathaniel Serdias, Order of White Magic.
That letter burns like a hot coal in his pocket. Ever since he came to the University of Everbright, all Aliester has wanted to do was become a White Mage and join the Order. With his talents, he knew he could help relieve so much suffering in the world. With the Order's backing, he knows that he can do just that and be as effective as possible.
Yet, it galls him to his very core to be at their beck and call! All they need to is whistle, and he has no choice but to dance and sing.
Why live? He wonders, Why live if I cannot live as I desire? What good is helping the world, if I do not do it by my own will? Why should I live how they want me to? Are they better than me? Why should I to Doma and not home? Why should I go home, even?
As the sun sets, the nekojin continues to watch the sea. Even though it is too dark to see the waves any longer, the simple presense of the sea helps bring him a measure of peace. <p><table align="center" cellpadding=2><tr><td>
</td><td align="center">Rum, White Magic, an' Cabbits.
That's th' life fer me.
Seig No-Pants!</td><td>
</tr></table></p>Edited by: [url=http://pub30.ezboard.com/brpgww60462.showLocalUserPublicProfile?login=unclepervy>Uncle] at: 7/18/02 5:31:28 am
I bend minds with my spoon. </center></p>
<p><table align="center" cellpadding=2><tr><td>
at: 6/10/05 16:52
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