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"Gloom is shadows." Certainty. "Shadows raised Gloom." The Gloom school of magic was different that other kinds but that was because Gloom himself was different.

Once the dark light was gone, Gloom was growing once more and settling onto Algie's shoulder. There was almost a sense of mirth that Algie would feel from the shadows now, a silent acknowledgement of him.

Perhaps there was sentience to the shadows or maybe it was just the creature on his shoulders.

"Y'still not max level?" Gloom seemed to squint at Algernon even as he stretched for the scritches. "Gloom can take y'back and find y'later for more ... lessons."

Leave it to a shadow creature to somehow manage to scrunch up his nose as if he was not quite sure he liked the idea of lessons. His claws held on quite firmly as Algie stood, Gloom settling firmly on his shoulders. The dark light that he had made still lit the room.

"Keep a hand on Gloom," he told him.

"Gloom isn't max level but one day Gloom will be," he intoned with all the seriousness of a child who would one day be a grown-up. Of course Algie's question about there being a level cap-

"Don't know," a quiet chitter, "but there's always something more powerful than y'are." Not just Algie but Gloom as well. Once the professor's hand was on his body the shadow marten was tucking his head once more under his chin. The air suddenly felt heavy, the shadows darkening, and the dark light that was in the room flickered out.

Darkness took over everything. Nothing could be seen and Algie would not be able to see anything at all until he blinked. When he did that, the shadows had receded and they were in the basement of Bibliophile back in Ashdown.

Gloom was a far more solid weight on Algie's shoulder, fur warmer and black as pitch. His eyes were still eerily white, almost as if he should have been blind here but was not.

"Gloom is fine." He stretched briefly, under the professor's hand, as if he was adjusting to the differences of his body here. There was a slight n** to the tip of one of Algie's fingers, though it was more affectionate than anything else.

Since the professor showed concern for him and all.

Gloom still balanced carefully as he rode on the professor's shoulders, peering around in the basement as the man walked around it. His tail swished slowly, as if in consideration, before he spoke.

"Gloom likes quests," he replied, "and leveling up." Which meant now he was very much curious about whatever it was that Algie was looking for.

Gloom was not sure what was going on, though the professor was clearly doing magics that much he could tell. When a he was pulling out a tome, he was sliding down the man's front a little to nose at it.

"... and ... that's how y'learn things from stuff like that?" As he had watched things in the magic box just pick things up and know them. "Gloom learns the symbols and levels up?"

Speaking of paw swipes, Gloom did swipe at the page to turn it and look at the next one. "Gloom can do that ..." His ears pricked when Algie asked if he had anything he should practice and the marten was clambering back up to his shoulders delicately.

"Talk more with the shadows. Y'can do that, y'know." His tail swished along Algie's back, fluffy and a little warm. "Practice with the dark light."

Gloom's head shook from side to side slowly. "They're not the same, they're quite. Sleeping. Gloom can hear them whisper to him but they don't always respond."

Then, in a softer voice. "Gloom hurts here if Gloom tries too much magics. Y'do too, don't ya Professor friend?"