Slippin'

[Cloud Caelum Garr]

Frost 7 122

Despite being a Traversion mage, Garr had never actually used his abilities before. In fact, he had little knowledge of the techniques, processes, or mechanics of his magical abilities whatsoever. All he knew was that these kinds of mages had the ability to travel very fast. The thought of this power both intrigued and frightened him, as he had never attempted anything of this magnitude before. However, his curiosity and eagerness to learn drove him to seek out the knowledge and training he needed to unlock the full potential of his abilities. Hence, he’d signed up for lessons at the Academy.

Garr's father, a high-ranking noble in Solunarium, had always been strict with his expectations for his son's education. While Garr's father himself was non-magical, he valued the importance of magical education and had made sure that Garr attended school after paying to have him initiated. However, as Garr struggled with his classes, his father's patience had worn thin. In a stern conversation, his father had told him that if he failed to demonstrated the ability to do the basics, there would be consequences. Garr knew better than to ask what those consequences might be, but the look in his father's eyes told him that they would not be pleasant. The weight of his father's expectations hung heavily over Garr, causing him to feel an immense pressure to succeed.

Garr sat in his spatial magic class, his eyes drooping as the professor droned on about the intricacies of spatial mapping. He had always struggled to wrap his mind around this particular ability, which sucked because it was supposedly the most basic thing ever. The idea of attuning to the pathways of the Slipspace was just too overwhelming.

"Garr," the professor called, interrupting his thoughts. "Would you care to recite how to perform a basic spatial map?"

Garr gulped, feeling a pit form in his stomach. He knew he was going to mess this up, and embarrass himself in front of the entire class. But he couldn't back down now, not when he had already spent weeks studying and practicing for this very moment. He regurgitated the basic info, which was basically a textbook answer.

“Good, now let’s see a demonstration,” said the professor.

Garr took another deep breath, trying to clear his mind of any distractions. It was imperative that he focused solely on the task at hand. The pathways of the Slipspace were complex, twisting and turning in a seemingly endless maze of possibilities. He tried to recall the professor's words, the way he had described the different pathways and their corresponding destinations. It was a lot to remember, but Garr was determined to master the art of Slipspace travel.

He felt a sense of anticipation building within him as he delved deeper into his thoughts. The idea of traveling to distant places and exploring uncharted territories was an exhilarating prospect, but he knew that he needed to start small. The professor had warned them about the dangers of overreaching, of trying to process too many pathways at once. Garr had to be patient, to take things one step at a time.

As he focused on the pathways, he could feel them pulsating in his mind, like glowing threads of energy that stretched out into infinity. He reached out tentatively, trying to grasp onto one of the threads and follow it to its destination. It was like trying to navigate a maze blindfolded, but Garr refused to give up. He was determined to make this work. His mind began to fill with images, flashes of light and color that hinted at the destinations he was trying to reach. He thought to himself, “how hard can it be just to go to the other side of the room?”

It was a difficult process for him, and he could feel his muscles tensing as he concentrated harder and harder. He could hear the sounds of his classmates around him, their breathing and shuffling feet fading away as he lost himself in the meditation.

And then, suddenly, he felt it. A spark of energy in his fingertips, like a small electrical charge. He knew he had made the right connection. He didn’t know how he knew, it was just pure instinct. Slowly, he began to trace the path in his mind, mapping out the route he wanted to take. It was difficult at first, but the more he focused, the clearer the path became. As he traced the path, he could feel the energy pulsing through his body, growing stronger and more focused. And then, with a sudden jolt, he was there. He had transported himself across the room in an instant, his feet landing softly on the floor.

Garr looked to the professor who nodded approvingly. “Very good, Garr," he said, a hint of pride in his voice. "It seems you have finally grasped the basics of spatial mapping."

Garr grinned, feeling a surge of pride. He had done it! He had finally learned how to do spatial mapping. But his triumph was short-lived as he blinked back to his desk, only to find that he had miscalculated the distance. His feet missed the ground and he went tumbling down, crashing onto the hard classroom floor. The impact shook his body, and he winced in pain as he felt a sharp jolt shoot up his arm. His head throbbed, though he didn’t see any blood when he wiped his head with his arm. The entire class erupted into laughter, and Garr felt his face flush with embarrassment.

The professor said, “I think that’s enough for today Garr. And remember, it’s draining to blink repeatedly. Do care not to get carried away.”

Garr felt a flush of embarrassment as he picked himself up off the ground. He couldn't believe he had missed his mark, even though he had been so focused just moments before. He could feel the eyes of the other students on him, some of them laughing and pointing, while others looked on with curiosity or pity. Garr tried to shake it off, telling himself that it was just a small setback. He had made progress today, and that was what mattered. Still, he couldn't help but feel a little disappointed in himself.

He listened as the professor dismissed the class, once again reminding them of the dangers of overusing spatial magic. Garr knew he needed to be careful, to avoid pushing himself too hard. He didn't want to end up like some of the horror stories he had heard about, burned out and unable to use their magic for fear of severe overstepping penalties. As the room emptied, Garr gathered his things and made his way towards the door. He could still hear the snickers and whispers of some of the other students, but he tried to ignore them. He knew he still had much to learn, but he was determined to master this new skill.

Outside the classroom, Garr took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He needed to clear his head, to focus on something else for a while. He decided to take a walk around campus while thinking about making a trip above ground. He could do with some fresh air. Garr eventually made his way to some open space on campus, his heart pounding with excitement as he thought about the possibilities of what he could do with his newfound ability.

He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, focusing his mind on the pathways of the Slipspace once more. He imagined the destination in his mind and felt a spark of energy in his fingertips. With a sudden jolt, he blinked and found himself a few feet away from where he was standing. The thrill of the successful blink made him grin from ear to ear. He repeated the process once more, this time focusing on a point farther away. The blink was a bit wobbly, but he managed to land safely. He figured that four blinks in a day was probably enough so sighed and decided to call it a day.

Garr walked through the ornate entrance of his family's estate, his heart racing with excitement. He couldn't wait to tell his father about his latest accomplishment in Traversion magic. As he made his way to the study, he rehearsed in his head how he would present the news. When he finally entered the room, his father was seated behind his desk, surrounded by papers and books.

"Father," Garr began, "I learned how to teleport today!"

His father looked up, his expression neutral. "Ah, finally," he said flatly.

Garr's enthusiasm deflated a bit at his father's lack of excitement. "Yes, it took a lot of practice, but I can blink a short distance now."

His father leaned back in his chair, clasping his hands together. "That's all well and good, son, but how does that benefit the business?"

Garr paused, feeling a pang of disappointment. He hadn't thought about how teleportation could be useful in their family's business. Surely it would be useful eventually, but it wasn’t now so Garr was speechless. He sighed then left to go brood alone in his room.

[Hilana Chenzira]

Review

Name: Garr

XP: 8 Points, can be used for Traversion
Lore: 6 Lores
Injuries/Ailments: None
Loot: None

Notes: If Garr's father is a Patrician of some status, then he would certainly have a Rune of some sort, so you may want to reconsider that he is mundane.