Hop skip and a jump

[Ivar]

123 Glade 24th

A particular courtyard of the college was one of Ivar’s favorite spot. He loved it here, away from all the noise and the constant busy-ness of the rest of the college. Plus, it was a nice break from all the heart-racing sneaky stuff he did as an info broker.

It was a night time but the area was illuminated. It was the kind of night that makes people want to just chill and maybe have a cold snack. But Ivar was there in the courtyard with his game face on. He had a few things around him: a hoop, a big stone pillar, an old bucket that was starting to rust, and a branch from a tree that was pretty high up. They were his targets, his checkpoints for practicing teleportation.

He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, trying to feel the magic vibes in the air. It was like a tugging feeling in his chest, letting him know he was good to go. With a quick thought, he focused on the hoop not too far from him and poof! Next thing you know, he's standing right there, as if he had just taken a step forward.

Again and again, he did this, teleporting from the hoop to the pillar, then to the bucket, and finally, up onto the tree branch. It was like a super fast game of hopscotch, but without the hopping. Every time he nailed a teleport, it felt awesome. He knew he had to get it just right each time because messing up could be bad news.

To him, this wasn't just some drill. It was a cool way to really feel the magic of teleporting, like he could feel the energy rushing around inside him. He would totally lose track of time, just focusing on his targets and his teleport jumps.

Doing this gave Ivar a chill, peaceful feeling, totally different from the rush he got from his nighttime adventures.

[Luna Freya]

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As Luna wandered into the courtyard, she reveled in the fact that it was night time when she could practice her magic. She was on her way to practice summoning, in fact, though nerves fluttered in her belly like an unruly spirit. She came to a halt when she spotted Ivar in the middle of the courtyard, his focus centered on an assortment of peculiar objects. She watched with awe as he effortlessly teleported from one object to the other, from a hoop to a stone pillar, to a rusting bucket, and then onto a lofty tree branch. The ease with which he manipulated his magic was impressive, and Luna felt a touch envious.

With a casual stride, she approached him, waiting for him to finish his practice session. "Hey, nice seeing you again," she greeted, offering a warm smile. "I had been wondering what magic you practiced, other than scrivening. Now I see it's Traversion. That's quite impressive."

As she spoke, she pulled some notes from her pocket, its cold weight familiar in her palm. "I'm here to practice Summoning. Wanted to try my hand at summoning a minor spirit today, actually." A slight quiver in her voice betrayed her nervousness. The first step to summoning was to know the name of the summon. Thankfully there were many weak spirits at there that literally any summoner could call upon without putting themselves in much risk. She’d jotted down the names of a few along with some notes on negotiation that she’d picked up at today’s lesson. If she could just get a spirit to listen just once she would be happy. Hell, she’d be happy if her rune worked properly.

Luan looked back to Ivar and said, “you don’t mind if I just, take a seat here do you? I’ll try not to be a bother.” She smiled at him and tried to get a grasp of his age. He was definitely older than her, at least in his twenties.

Created by Moop!

[Ivar]

Ivar watched Luna wander into the courtyard. He followed her with his eyes as she stopped and stared at his teleportation practice. When he was finished, he landed back on the ground, shaking off a bit of the dizziness that sometimes followed a lot of teleporting. He gave her a small grin as he brushed his hair out of his eyes.

"Hey, Luna. Yeah, I'm all about Traversion magic. It's kind of fun, like playing a super-fast game of tag with yourself."

He listened as Luna talked about her Summoning practice, hearing that her voice a little shaky. He remembered what it was like when he was just starting out, how nerve-wracking it could be to try a new kind of magic.

"Hey, no worries. Summoning's a cool magic to learn."

He did not know how it all worked. He did know that it was a strong thing and it was diverse. When Luna asked if she could sit down, Ivar shrugged and gestured to a nearby patch of grass.

"Sure, no problem. I could use a break anyway. And don't worry about bothering me. I'm just doing my regular practice here."

Ivar looked his age. He was not somebody who cared much about his looks but his hair was neat and his beard was shaven. He guessed she thought he was pretty old, which made him chuckle a bit.

"Let’s see you do your summon. Unless that would make you too nervous."

Ivar remembered how much it sucked for someone watching him first teleport. Some people liked being watched and some didn’t. Ivar lost himself in a moment of remembrance. It was a vivid memory from his early days of magic practice. He recalled the feeling of the raw magic coursing through him for the first time. It had been amazing.

[Luna Freya]

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Luna looked over at Ivar with a small smile, watching as he dismissed the lingering dizziness from his teleportation practice. His casual confidence about his magic was comforting in a way, making her feel a bit less nervous about showing her summoning abilities. "Thank you, Ivar. I'm trying to get the hang of it," she replied, taking the invitation to sit on the patch of grass. At his invitation to perform her summon, Luna's smile widened slightly. "Well, it's just a minor spirit... but, yeah, I'd appreciate if you could watch. It's a little different than your Traversion, though."

Rising to her feet, Luna took a deep breath, calming her nerves. She moved her hands to her thigh where her rune was located. The energy tingled against her fingertips, a spark of magic that made her heart flutter with anticipation. She spoke the spirit's name, a whisper barely audible in the quiet courtyard, and channeled energy into her rune.

In response, a small, red wisp materialized in the air. It was no larger than her hand, but it pulsated with an otherworldly light that seemed to pulsate in rhythm with Luna's heart. The spirit's voice, a hushed, almost indistinguishable whisper, barely reached her ears. But Luna nodded at its words, feeling a small surge of satisfaction.

"There, that was it," Luna said, trying to touch the spirit with a wave of her hand. She looked back at Ivar, a little proud, a little apprehensive. "What do you think?" she asked, eager to hear his thoughts.

The spirit moved to her ear and whispered into it. It was a demonic spirit, that much was clear based on how it urged Luna to chop off Ivar’s head. She frowned at it and said, “ew, no.” To which it got angry and started swirling around and eventually poofed away.

Created by Moop!

[Ivar]

Ivar watched like real close as Luna got ready to summon her spirit. He could tell she was all jittery, but also kinda excited, which was totally how he felt when he started doing magic. And wow, when she called up that red wisp thing, it was so cool. He thought it was cool but not very impressive which was what he had expected.

He couldn't stop staring at the spirit as it floated around, all glowy and stuff. It was like Luna and the spirit were really getting each other, and Ivar kinda wished he could do that too. His magic was super fun and all, but he never really got to chat with anything. When Luna looked back at him, he gave her a big smile.

But then, the spirit started freaking out and then it was gone, just like that. Luna looked grossed out and Ivar was curious about what the spirit said. He was surprised that a little floating ball of energy even had the ability to communicate in a manner that a human could understand.

"Wow, Luna, that's just amazing. What did it say? I heard that spirits can be strange. But don't let it bug you. I think every magic has bad parts about it."

Ivar held up a finger and then blipped around with his teleportation magic a handful of times, doing another circuit before stopping again to rest. He panted and twirled his hand to say that she could now respond. He did not want to simply chat when there was training to do. After she gave her answer he would do it again. Ivar was more focused on navigating the slip space quickly rather than trying to push his distance out very far. He did not see the point in going very far for his current interests.

[Luna Freya]

Luna watched Ivar as he resumed his teleportation practice, a small smile playing on her lips. His dedication was evident and admirable. When he finished, panting and twirling his hand, she chuckled lightly, shaking her head. "I see your dedication to your magic, Ivar. It's inspiring," she stated sincerely. At his question about what the spirit had said, Luna hesitated briefly. It wasn't the sort of thing she usually discussed, especially given the... peculiar demand of the spirit. But she trusted Ivar, at least enough to share a general idea.

"It suggested something unsavory," she began cautiously, her gaze dropping to her hands folded in her lap. "Something violent. I suppose some spirits might have strange ideas about what constitutes a reasonable request. But I have no intention of following such advice."

She met his gaze again, her expression serious. "I think you're right. Every magic has its darker side. It's part of the process of learning to control it, to use it responsibly." She turned back to her summoning practice. She read from her notes and this time, a golden ball of light appeared, floating in the air between them. She found it easier to focus, the previous encounter with the red wisp serving as a reminder that not every summon would be pleasant. This spirit was different, its nature lighter and more inquisitive. It seemed more interested in her life outside of magic, prompting Luna to share something about herself.

The spirit disappeared the moment she whispered her secret occupation, leaving Luna staring at the space it had occupied moments ago. Her expression hardened slightly, the surprise fading into an almost resigned acceptance. "Well... I suppose not every spirit is ready to hear that," she muttered, mostly to herself. But then she turned to Ivar, her eyes clear and focused. "I'm okay, really. Don't let me hold you up. We've both got training to do."

[Ivar]

Ivar kept his eyes on Luna as he continued with his teleportation exercise, her gentle smile acting as a soothing balm to his mild fatigue. It was her chuckle, light and uplifting, that had him pause, a grin spreading across his own face.

"Thank you, Luna. Practice makes perfect, right?"

His tone light despite the weariness. Her description of the spirit's message gave him pause. Ivar wasn't unfamiliar with the darker aspects of magic, but he hadn't imagined it to be as vivid as Luna's experience. He could feel himself get tired. He knew he ought to stop using magic soon. He did not know how draining summoning was. Maybe Luna was getting tired too.

"That... sounds tough. But it's commendable that you're standing your ground. I do not need you breaking any school rules in plain sight."

Watching Luna bring forth another spirit, a golden orb this time, he felt better. This spirit seemed much more positive, its aura more inviting. Luna's interaction with it left him curious, making him wonder about her life beyond the magical realm. Yet, when the spirit disappeared, he felt a brief wave of concern. He did not bring it up. However, her reassurances put his worry at bay. Luna was stronger than she gave herself credit for.

"Alright, just remember, we're all students here and we’re here for each other. If you need to talk about anything, I'm here."

With that, he resumed his own practice, taking comfort in the rhythm of his spells. Yet, he couldn't ignore the glimpse of Luna's world he had seen today. It was a reminder of the many facets of magic, its darkness and light, and the strength required to navigate through it all. He was inspired by Luna's perseverance, and it spurred him on in his own journey.

[Luna Freya]

"Thanks," she said to Ivar, her voice soft. "I think I will try summoning a few more times and then call it a night. They warned us about doing too much in one day. I need to make sure I’m in good shape for my next lesson."

She let out a soft chuckle, her gaze wandering to the distance as she contemplated her words. Luna was no stranger to the risks of overstepping one's magical limits. She had learned that lesson the hard way, through grueling training sessions that left her physically and mentally drained. But despite the warning, Luna couldn't help but be drawn to the thrill of magic, the way it coursed through her veins and made her feel alive. Magic was demanding, but it was also intoxicating, and she had fallen under its spell since the day her father taught her about Masquerade.

Regaining her focus, Luna took a deep, steadying breath, her hands coming together as she prepared to summon another spirit. As she focused energy into her rune, a warm golden light emanating from her hands. The spirit that appeared this time was another golden orb. "Hello, spirit," she greeted the orb, her voice steady and inviting. The golden orb pulsed in response, as if acknowledging her greeting.

"You're a new face," the spirit spoke, its voice soft and light, much like the whisper of a summer breeze. "What drives you to push beyond your limits?"

"I..." Luna paused, searching for the right words. She hadn’t expected that kind of question. "I believe in reaching my potential. I don't want to settle for mediocrity. I want to be the best I can be."

"Even if it risks your wellbeing?"

The spirit's question hung in the air, causing Luna to falter for a moment. But she gathered her thoughts quickly, replying, "Even then. I've learned to take care of myself. I know my limits, and I respect them."

[Ivar]

As the day of training was about to end, Ivar felt really, really tired. Teleporting was super fun but also made him super tired. It was like playing a whole day of playing games but with magic. But hey, it was cool to see how he got better every time he tried. He was sure he would make a great teleportation mage eventually.

He looked over at Luna. She was still working on her summoning. Ivar thought it was cool how she kept going even though it was hard. It was like they were on the same team, trying to get better at their own kind of magic.

He started picking up his stuff and cleaning up the place they were practicing. He kept looking at Luna, though. She seemed really focused on a new spirit. That picture of Luna working hard on her magic would stick with him until he saw her again.

He walked up to her and waved a bit to get her to look up. If she didn’t he would still talk to her anyway. He had to get some rest and he had totally forgotten about even eating dinner today. He needed to get going if he was going quick.

"Hey Luna, I'm gonna head out now. It was awesome seeing you working on your magic. It's kinda inspiring."

He stepped back, his mind already beginning to weave together the complex tendrils of magic necessary for teleportation. The familiar feeling of energy gathering in his fingertips was like a welcoming beacon, the promise of the familiar comfort of his own room only a small number of short range teleports away. But then, he paused. He would walk. He wondered when he'd see Luna again. He really liked practicing magic with her and he hoped they could do it again soon.

[Luna Freya]

Date

Luna watched as Ivar finally finished his teleportation practice, his face reflected his exertion but she was sure that he was happy that he had gotten a lot of work done. She had long since concluded her summoning practice, yet had stayed back, quietly observing him as she mulled over her thoughts. Raising her hand in farewell, she offered him a warm smile, her gratitude for his company evident. "I'll see you later, Ivar. Great job today," she called out and then he walked off.

She was not alone in the quiet courtyard. There were plenty of other students sitting around, some practicing, some just relaxing. Luna sat in contemplative silence, the cool evening breeze tousling her hair. She looked up at the sky, seeing some stars in the distance, their soft light illuminating the grounds. Her mind wandered to the golden orbs and red wisp she had summoned earlier, and what those spirits represented for her. Summoning was a complex art, a delicate dance between the summoner and the summoned. Each spirit had unique abilities, and choosing to specialize would mean focusing on a specific set of skills. But Luna was drawn to the prospect of variety, the freedom to adapt and learn from multiple spirits.

The idea of being a generalist, of summoning an array of spirits each with their own unique traits, appealed to her. It was akin to learning multiple languages, each with its own nuances and quirks. As she sat there, under the canvas of the sky, Luna knew she had much to consider. Her professor had made sure to put the idea of specialization in their minds early on. Luna didn’t know why, but she suspected that if they told her it was important then she ought to start thinking about it early on.