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 Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 11:43 am
Scyeth closed his eyes and looked away. Temper, temper. He covered his ears, suddenly so much more aware of them and took a deep breath. Easy, Scyeth.
"...sorry," he muttered. It was just so easy to get riled up these days, especially when those other students were involved. Why did he have so much trouble getting along with them? He always got along with others back in Australia. All be it, not happily, but he wasn't thinking of ways to get rid of them, either.
"It's okay," the student said resignedly. He wasn't really sure what else there was to say. Nat really did hate him, and he wasn't entirely sure about Weiyuan. And as for the teacher's prejudices? Well, who's he to judge.
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Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 1:19 pm
Dante shook his head. "Don't worry about it. I presume that's why you're here - to help figure out how to get past that. I'm not sure how much help I can be, but I am your professor and your instructor, and I must do my best to ensure that I help you to the best of my abilities."
He licked his lips again, ducking into his desk to collect a handful of birdseed and holding it out to Glornuir; the bird feasted greedily, pecking seeds out of his hands.
"When someone is different, people will sense that, I think. People will be drawn to you, either in a good or a bad way - and I'd like to think that how one acts influences that a bit.
"Finding a balance between who you are as an individual and who you must be as a leader...that is where the difficulty lies, Scyeth." He turned his gaze from the crow back to Scyeth. "And while that's all I can tell you, I'll be more than happy to listen to anything you wish to talk about...I'll listen and I'll be honest with you, because sometimes that's all a person can offer."
I only hope that it will be enough for you.
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Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 3:41 pm
Scyeth nodded slowly, looking back to Dante. He brushed some hair away from his face, tucking the loose strands of hair behind an ear. "Well, no one said it would be easy," he finally relented, finding it somewhere in himself to offer the professor a smile. A real smile, even. "I..."
He stopped himself, not sure what he was trying to say. The demon shook his head and smiled to himself, looking back up at the adviser. He understood, a little bit. At least, he thought he did. And, at the very, very least, he was not alone. And that, in and of itself, was very important.
"Thank you."
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Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 4:00 pm
Dante nodded, his own expression distant. "You're welcome."
He paused, blinked as though realizing something, and shook his head as though to clear it. "I'm...sorry. I'm not used to being...this open with my students." With anyone beyond his family and village, come that, but Scyeth didn't need to know that. Probably already knew, anyway.
"Now then. Is there anything else you wanted to discuss with me? Anything at all? Questions or problems in regards to class? Anything I can do to ease the tension between you and your peers?"
Because Dante knew they both knew that being alone, that feeling helpless at people's hatred of you was the worst feeling in the world, or one of them at any rate; and that sometimes you couldn't solve something alone, that you needed help.
He'd learned to offer help where he thought it was needed, not ask people to come to him.
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Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 5:19 pm
Scyeth finally relaxed, slowly shifting back into that smart-a** attitude of his without totally realizing it. Dante just felt like someone he could be himself with. There was no explanation. But, did there really need to be?
"You can expel Nat," he snarked, chuckling softly. He shook his head, only joking. (Though he certainly wouldn't complain if Nathaniel was sent far, far away never to bother him again.) "Seriously, though. I'm in the school of science, and I really want to be, but...I need practice with my...magic." He hesitated to call it that. It was more like raw, unmanaged power.
"You know. Like you saw."
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Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 10:32 am
Dante allowed himself a little chuckle - well, more like a whiff of air, actually, not anything significant, but clearly amused. "I'm afraid that's playing to 'favoritism of a student'," he said, the corners of his mouth twitching upwards ever-so-slightly.
Dante nodded. "I understand."
And then his expression became troubled as Scyeth continued on.
"...I see."
He looked up at Scyeth. "I will help you as much as I can...but I'm afraid that until we know the true nature of the mana you command - the mana that awakened in your demonic blood - what we can do together might be...limited."
Here Dante looked a little guilty, shifting in his seat. "...The mana that controls the type of magic demons wield was just recently awakened...and I'm afraid I'm not quite as adept with Luna's magic as I am with the Mother Goddess's."
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Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 11:13 am
Scyeth rumbled quietly, pleased he could amuse the Adviser. It was one of two things Scyeth liked best, amusing people. The other was harassing them, if they rubbed him the wrong way. It was really too bad they couldn't have been friends. Well, maybe the could, but he was a teacher and Scyeth was a student, and very little could be done the change the level of professionalism that had to be involved. "But I am your favorite, aren't I?" he teased, raising his eyebrows. Really, what wasn't there to love?
Scyeth tipped his head. "Recently awakened?" he parroted, looking a little confused. He didn't seem as agitated as he had before. The joking around had done much to settle the volatile blond. "Um. Well. Okay." He shrugged and offered a grin. "I can guarantee you are better than I am," he promised. He had never been taught a thing at home. He was...he was raised to fit into human society. For political reasons. And his dad was never really around much, so. Well. Scyeth was just without.
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Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 7:01 am
Dante smirked again at Scyeth's comment, quick and efficient, before his expression fell into seriousness again. "Yes. Recently awakened." He paused, steepled his fingers, thought deep and hard about what he was going to say and do.
"...Each goddess commands a certain type of magic, a certain type of mana that the race they rule is proficient in. Our atara anin - our mother goddess, so to speak, I believe you call her Maya - commands healing magic that helps life grow and nourish. She also is our Elven goddess of light. Hence, why I can cast light spells."
He began to fiddle with his hair as he continued. "You also remember the trip to China, correct? At least, hearing about it. Two trips were made - and it was on the second trip that Luna awoke. Luna is the goddess that commands dark mana, which is used in casting what humans would call 'black magic.'" Dante's eyes flickered up into Scyeth's. "I was proficient in all spells until we were sealed away. When we were awakened again...I found I could only cast spells that were under the dominion of Maya."
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Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 6:18 pm
"Oh. I see...I think." Scyeth frowned again, tipping his head sideways again. He ran a hand through his hair, fluffing blond locks as he thought quietly. Why had his father never told him any of this? Tcht. Stupid question. The Aussie shook his head before tipping it the other way. What? Didn't you know? It was far easier to think sideways.
"And, um, about that China thing. No one wants to tell me anything," he added after a few moments of silence. The youth frowned. He kept trying to dig up information on the trip -well, the second one, he hadn't realized there had been two expeditions- and kept coming up with nothing. The more he thought about it, the more it bothered him...but he couldn't help but wondering...did he really want to know?
Anyways. "Well. I guess the questions remains: where should I go from here?"
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Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 12:22 pm
Dante watched the student and tried not to smirk. The motion was...endearing? Cute? Very human, for certain, but he couldn't put a finger on what defined the warm fondness welling up in his chest.
Dante rubbed his chin, eyebrows narrowed in thought. "...What I can tell you is that there were two separate expeditions; the first dealt with curing a malignant virus, and the second was...a very gruesome ordeal. People...missing essential...parts." He waved his hand vaguely, not quite sure how to convey his horror. "You don't want to know. You...probably shouldn't beyond the fact that Luna was unsealed - and with her, the Demons." He frowned thoughtfully again. "If you're more curious, though, I can try to ask for further clearance and permission to inform you. I can't promise anything, but I can try."
He paused at the boy's last question, then stood, turning to the bookcase behind him and rifling through the books. "I've been working on translating these so that they'd eventually be used in classes. In regards to black magic, though, this is the only volume I feel safe with translating at the moment."
He placed a nondescript dark blue book in front of Scyeth. "This book was written by a member of a neighboring Elven clan. It contains theory and notes on black magic, but no spells. I...don't want students using spells until I feel they're ready. But if you promise me that you will not attempt anything on your own until you and I agree on your readiness, I think I can let you look through this book. Maybe you'll find something useful in it." He punctuated his small speech with a smile betraying more confidence than he felt.
"If all else fails, you could try asking Professor Lovinghal." The sad thing was, he was only half-serious.
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Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 4:22 pm
They got along. Scyeth wasn't sure why, and if they were really supposed to. (Aside from the professor, student deal, they were an elf and a demon. And apparently, Scyeth didn't know much about being a proper demon.) But quite frankly, the youth didn't really care. There was just something about Dante...well. It made him happy.
"I'd like to know," the blond admitted, trying not to let himself get too lost in his own thoughts, "but you don't have to." The notion that he'd even try made Scyeth that much happier. That, however, paled in comparison when Dante starting explaining the book and the demon started to get a sneaking suspicion why he might even need an explanation. Dante was giving him the book. (Or lending. But it was the same idea.)
Scyeth's entire being brightened. If it were at all possible, the boy would be glowing. "Th-thank you," the boy said breathlessly, reaching out to brush his fingers over the cover. He took the book slowly, half-expecting Dante to suddenly change his mind. He paused and looked up at the elf. "For everything."
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Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 9:50 am
Dante shook his head. "You deserve to know," Dante said. "You are...directly involved in this. As is Miss Lina...and countless others like you." He fixed Scyeth with a hard, but not unkind, glare. "As I said before, you and the others here are to be leaders when the time comes. I am here to make sure you have the tools and information you need to make sure this world and its inhabitants are safe."
He blinked as the boy seemed to brighten - such a contrast from before - and found himself responding to it, eyes shining with a fondness he'd show only in the sanctity of his study. "Of course, Scyeth. It will take a while for you to understand." He frowned, not angrily, but still serious. "I don't think I need to remind you, however, that magic is EXTREMELY dangerous if used wrongly. I have faith that you will use this knowledge well."
He paused, then looked upon his shoulder, stroking Gelnuir's feather's absently. "Is there anything else I can help you with?"
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Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2008 5:19 am
Scyeth didn't really respond to Dante's 'serious face', somewhere on the equivalent of Cloud Nine. He didn't exactly pick up on the comment about Miss Lina, either. (But don't worry. It would come back to him randomly at some point.) "Of course, Professor! I will use it well!" He hugged the book close to his chest, protective. Truly, probably the only book he'd ever cared about all his life.
The blond paused after, forcing himself to settle down a little. "No. No, this is plenty," Scyeth said, bobbing his head in some sort of short bow. Another first. Why, Dante was bringing out all sorts of quirks in the youth! "I should probably get going. But. I can come visit, sometime?" He paused again, looking at the bird on the Adviser's shoulder. "I'll bring him something," he added.
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Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 10:10 am
Dante raised his eyebrows in amusement as the boy started acting...differently. Much different from before. But as it was, he found the actions endearing, and found that when approached the right way - truthful, serious, moving with his moods rather than against them - that Scyeth could be very pleasant. "Good. See to it that you do."
He nodded in response to Scyeth's statement. "Probably. You are, however, welcome to come and visit at any time, as are other students." He paused, thought a bit, and smiled. "And I'm certain that Gelnuir would love that."
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Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 3:25 pm
Scyeth flashed Dante one of his rare, disarming smiles. He didn't usually use it; he didn't usually have to. Scyeth always got his way, and besides that, he wasn't used to using charm to have his way. But when he was genuinely happy? That was a moment to remember. Who knew when he'd be so cheerful again.
"Thanks. For everything."
Scyeth bowed again, a real bow, and wheeled on his heel, uniform flourishing behind him. It had been a good visit, a good visit indeed. He'd have to come visit Dante again soon.
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