Searing 70th, 121. The Greater Institute, Zaichaer
Jane flipped through one of the books she had recently found, Beasts of the Skies, idly admiring the aerodynamic diagrams of various winged animals. She had not yet taken to reading the text, but she was familiar with its concepts and knew that it contained information that Stefan would find pertinent. It was somewhat surprising for her that the Dornkirk heir had such a fascination with the natural sciences. Being an airship engineer she would have assumed that his attention would have stayed with machines, though it was not unreasonable that he would be curious about biology. Different scientific fields often overlapped, creating a synchronous exchange of theories and applications that never failed to amaze her.
The library at the Greater Institute was very accommodating for its students, providing secluded alcoves within the library that were conducive to research. They usually contained a table with a couple chairs and modest decor, simulating a miniature study. Jane had reserved the use of one such area, the threshold above it labeled with a brass number. She hoped that Stefan would not have trouble finding it and considered sitting out in the open so he might see her, but decided that he was familiar enough with the library that it wouldn't be an issue. How often had they must have passed each other here without a thought, she reflected, and how strange that a seemingly frivolous Gala would have been what introduced the other to their interests. She smiled to herself, organizing her notes from this semester and retrieving writing materials from her purse.
A small, glass vial found it's way into her hands and Jane furrowed her brow, initially puzzled. Pulling it out she realized that it was a souvenir from her most recent lab: the extracted eye of a squealmouse. She gave a short laugh, reflecting on the absurdity of a Lady absentmindedly keeping a dissected rodent eye in her purse. It turned within the clear preservation fluid, a white, shimmering nerve trailing from the back of the pearlescent optic disk that hid behind a pure black sclera. Fascinating how something so strange could hide within a seemingly mundane creature, but that was the affect that Aether had on the world. The breadth of its influence was become ever clearer as she continued her studies it felt like she always had more questions than answers. It was a vexing predicament, but one she knew she could overcome with the proper research and discernment. Jane set the vial aside and opened where she had left off in The Purities of Aether, reading to occupy her mind as she eagerly awaited Lord Dornkirk's arrival.
Jane flipped through one of the books she had recently found, Beasts of the Skies, idly admiring the aerodynamic diagrams of various winged animals. She had not yet taken to reading the text, but she was familiar with its concepts and knew that it contained information that Stefan would find pertinent. It was somewhat surprising for her that the Dornkirk heir had such a fascination with the natural sciences. Being an airship engineer she would have assumed that his attention would have stayed with machines, though it was not unreasonable that he would be curious about biology. Different scientific fields often overlapped, creating a synchronous exchange of theories and applications that never failed to amaze her.
The library at the Greater Institute was very accommodating for its students, providing secluded alcoves within the library that were conducive to research. They usually contained a table with a couple chairs and modest decor, simulating a miniature study. Jane had reserved the use of one such area, the threshold above it labeled with a brass number. She hoped that Stefan would not have trouble finding it and considered sitting out in the open so he might see her, but decided that he was familiar enough with the library that it wouldn't be an issue. How often had they must have passed each other here without a thought, she reflected, and how strange that a seemingly frivolous Gala would have been what introduced the other to their interests. She smiled to herself, organizing her notes from this semester and retrieving writing materials from her purse.
A small, glass vial found it's way into her hands and Jane furrowed her brow, initially puzzled. Pulling it out she realized that it was a souvenir from her most recent lab: the extracted eye of a squealmouse. She gave a short laugh, reflecting on the absurdity of a Lady absentmindedly keeping a dissected rodent eye in her purse. It turned within the clear preservation fluid, a white, shimmering nerve trailing from the back of the pearlescent optic disk that hid behind a pure black sclera. Fascinating how something so strange could hide within a seemingly mundane creature, but that was the affect that Aether had on the world. The breadth of its influence was become ever clearer as she continued her studies it felt like she always had more questions than answers. It was a vexing predicament, but one she knew she could overcome with the proper research and discernment. Jane set the vial aside and opened where she had left off in The Purities of Aether, reading to occupy her mind as she eagerly awaited Lord Dornkirk's arrival.
