Legend of Ransera

123 18th of Glade

The library was like a secret hideout for Ivar, a cool place crammed full of books, scrolls, and old papers where he could just chill and forget about the noise of the city and all the crazy stuff going on. This was his quiet spot away from the whispers, rumors, and the exciting, but kinda scary, parts of his scrivening job.

Today, Ivar was sitting at this super old desk that had seen better days, under the light of this lonely oil lamp. It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, except for the sounds of pages flipping and the odd whisper from someone far off.

His practice tools were all laid out in front of him: a shiny, black inkwell, some wicked sharp quills, and a bunch of really nice paper. Ivar liked to keep things tidy when he worked.

He picked up one of the quills and studied it real close in the light before dipping it into the ink. You could tell he was really focused, and the lamp made his eyes look sorta mystical. He moved his lips like he was saying some secret spell or something.

With his other hand, he kept the paper steady and then he started to write. His hand moved smoothly and confidently, like a pro, leaving behind a bunch of symbols that looked really intricate and pretty.

Each symbol was super important and had its own power. Ivar had to make sure each one was perfect because even the smallest mistake could totally mess everything up.

To Ivar, this wasn't just homework, it was like a way to connect with the art of scrivening, to feel the magic flowing through him. He would get so lost in his work, totally focused on the paper in front of him and the symbols he was creating.

When he was working like this, Ivar felt a kind of peace that was really different from the buzz he got from his nighttime jobs. This was his safe space, where he was not just a scrivener, but a part of this really old tradition that had been passed down through time.

"Hey there."

Ivar greeted her when she spoke, taking a moment to cap his inkwell and set his quill down. He was about to start on a new symbol when Luna joined him. He did not mind company. New people could be useful because passing on knowledge was a good way to learn. He was also drawn to how she looked. She was young. Ivar liked his women around 20 years old.

His eyes flicked over to Luna's notes as she pulled them out. They were a bit messy, full of scribbles and sketches, but he remembered his own notes looking like that when he first started. Pictography was hard, and everyone struggled at first.

"Yeah, it’s pretty intense. All those little symbols, they're like, super important and stuff. If you get one little line wrong, the whole thing could go wrong. I’m doing scrivening… what kind of pictography does your magic use? It doesn’t look all that familiar to me so it’s hard to be sure."

He leaned back in his chair and thought for a moment, trying to figure out how to explain it.

"I guess, for me, it helps to take it slow. Like, really slow. And I try to think about what each symbol means, not just what it looks like. That way, when I draw it, it's like I'm telling a story with my pen."

He shrugged a little, hoping that made sense.

"And practice, lots and lots of practice. You gotta mess up a bunch of times before you get it right. But don't worry, you'll get it. We all do eventually. My name is Ivar by the way, what's yours?"

Ivar offered Luna a comforting smile, hoping to reassure her. It was tough being a new student, especially with something as complex as magic. But they were all in the same boat, just trying to figure it out as they went along.

Ivar watched as Luna traced the round symbols of her necromancy notes. He kinda leaned in closer to see what she was doodling. Her symbols were so different from his. His were all straight and sharp, and hers were round and swirly.

"Hey, you're right, it's like learning a new language."

He liked how Luna talked about how tricky the symbols were. It reminded him about how hard it had been and how foreign it all still was. He had been in school for years and was still very much a learner. He chuckled when she said necromancy was all about death and control.

"I bet there's more to it. Just like my scrivening, it'll make more sense with time and practice."

When Luna offered her hand, he shook it and smiled.

"Hey luna, that’s a nice name. I wish I had a nice name… Ivar seems so… ick… Bleh.”

He grinned. He always wanted to change his name but never got around to it. He did not want to upset his parents. Luna asked about scrivening and Ivar thought about it for a second.

"Scrivening, well, yeah, it's about controlling how energy moves. You could store a spell in a scroll for instance or even redirect aether elsewhere."

He glanced at his own notes. They did not help him formulate an answer but he took the time to gather his thoughts. He thought back to his first lessons.

"But it's not just about drawing. You gotta understand each symbol and how they work together. It's like talking to the magic and getting it to do what you want."

It was much more complicated than that. He did not even know how to put into words how complicated it could get. He didn’t think that it was his place to be teaching anyone so he left things vague.

As Luna laughed at his joking comment about his name, Ivar couldn’t help but feel a warmth spreading through him. It was a simple compliment, but coming from Luna, it meant more.

“Well, thank you, Luna. I appreciate that.”

Seeing Luna’s captivation as he discussed scrivening had Ivar feeling smug. It wasn’t often that he got to share the intricacies of his craft, and Luna’s interest was a welcomed surprise. Her comparisons between necromancy and scrivening further piqued his curiosity about her own magic.

When she moved on to her pictography practice, Ivar watched with keen interest. The sight of Luna diligently working on her symbols was strangely calming. He admired the careful attention she paid to every stroke, her concentration palpable. It was a stark contrast to the rapid flitting of his own teleportation magic, but equally engrossing in its own right.

Ivar thought she was beautiful and could tell that she was underage. If she looked older he would have hit on her. He told himself that he would give it a shot in the future, if she stuck around. Then he berated himself for even thinking a younger woman looked good. Luna was right on the edge of what was considered an adult so it was a difficult thing for him to think about.

When Luna finally looked up from her work, her silent gaze met his. There was a sense of tranquility in her eyes that had him feeling oddly at ease. It was clear that she had found a sense of peace in her work, a sign that she was indeed on the right path. Ivar took a deep breath, ready to plunge back into his own studies. But not before acknowledging Luna's progress.

“You're doing good."

He had no idea how good it was. The handwriting looked like it was done by a novice, then again it was not that much worse than his own. With a final encouraging smile, Ivar returned his attention to his scrivening, knowing that he had to get his assignment done on time.

Ivar went for a bathroom break. When he came back he started taking slow steps. He wandered over to where Luna was sitting. As he got closer, he couldn't help but peek at what she was doing. Her fingers were moving in quick, confident strokes, making cool designs on that wooden bowl thingy. He thought it looked really neat, and kinda wished he could do that too.

He wasn't sure how to get her attention without interrupting her, so he just kinda hovered for a bit. But then he decided he should at least say bye, right? So, he raised his hand and gave a small, kinda awkward wave in her direction, then sat down. Not long after he sat, Luna talked to him.

“Oh you’re tired? Me too. I just need to finish my notes. Half an hour for that then I have other work to do. Sometimes I spend all day in the library and get really hungry. I will probably stay here for another few hours. If you’re tired you should get some rest.”

Being in the library was cool and all, but it wasn't always about hitting the books and learning stuff. Sure, he got some serious studying done, but it wasn't all work and no play, right? There were times when he'd just kinda space out, let his brain go on a mini-vacation while his eyes skimmed over the pages.

Most times when his brain checked out from the library, it checked into his other gig. Yeah, the one where he was an information broker, dealing in secrets and whispers instead of books and parchments. He'd imagine all sorts of stuff like chasing down leads. It was way cooler than some dusty old book, that's for sure. Then, when his brain was done goofing off he would get back to work.