"It's better to have something simple that works than something complicated that doesn't," Lacroix says gently. "Especially when you're starting out."
The wisdom that comes with age and experience. (Never mind the fact that Ryza is probably 2-3 times his age, even if we don't count the time she was asleep in a vault.)
"The animals have been dead for a thousand years," Duchess Callista says bluntly, turning to him. "The Emperor saw to that. Surely whatever little baubles and fables you and your friends are cooking up can wait until the truly important events of the moment are settled."
You are forced to struggle with the wave of rage that crashes over you. How dare she?! How dare she!?
Yeah, um, good job finding the one place in the world where that kind of talk could get you mauled by an extinct creature.
As you study it, you glance at Lacroix. "So… is this something humans can do?" you ask. "This spell works by tying into someone's natural defenses, and humans don't have natural magic."
The mage smiles. "Correction, we have weaker natural magic,"
And sheep have weaker natural intelligence than humans.
"We're not that far from a town, and there might be patrols around. I think it would be best for everyone if we avoided having to answer awkward questions from Imperial soldiers until after you've been accredited."
"Sorry, Lieutenant, my friend's apprentice got a little
enthusiastic with her last-minute training."
"Got into a fight with a stuck-up noble girl who was talking down to one of the newer boys like he was one of her servants," Fillia says, jerking her head towards her friend. "I won, of course, and Calta held off her whole prissy posse while I rubbed her face in the dirt."
[...]
Fillia blinks a few times before cocking her head. "Ryza… that's a weird name," she says. "Where do you come from?" She then winces as Calta kicks her in the shin.
Fillia's lucky to have a friend like Calta. Someone who'll support her when she's right, no matter who stands against them, and who'll kick her in the shin when she's wrong, no matter how seemingly petty her mistake.
Master Blitzbolt raises an eyebrow. "I had not heard of any real mages living there…" he says. "Is that why you brought her, Skyfire? To ensure she gets a proper education so that her potential does not go to waste under the inept tutelage of hedge-mages?"
Welp. Every Hogwarts needs a Snape, I guess...especially since Ryza is literally the
Dragon Girl Who Lived.
"You can't be considering this!"
You flinch as Master Blitzbolt snarls, genuinely snarls. His eyes are no longer contemptuous as he looks at you… but the sheer, boiling hate in his gaze makes you cringe away and wish you'd put a Barrier on yourself before coming in. "You cannot be considering sullying the reputation of this Hall by letting this Fell-sworn animal wear one of our cloaks!? Archmage Thundercrier fought to exterminate these monsters, not make a haven for them!"
I see what Lacroix meant when he said it could have been worse.
The man who strides in nearly floors you. The last time you'd seen, you'd sensed, such a powerful and controlled collection of Yellow magic was when Father had been putting you to sleep.
Oh, geez. Is he even casting a spell? This guy's a bigger deal than I expected.
Also, we got Barrier and Arcthunder, and we can use Elthunder without our Tablet as long as Ryza isn't interrupted.
Of course, I would expect interruption risks in most scenarios when we'd need Elthunder.
[x] Find Apollo. Artemis has said so much about him, you want to meet him in person.
[x] Try to find some of the revisionists Lacroix mentioned.
[x] Try to study for the test Archmage Stormspeaker's going to give you.
[x] Make a start on figuring out what humans know about spirits: they are your best path to making humans able to use magic without dragonstones.
[x] See if you can find any books about human runewrighting.
[x] Try to sit in on some of the classes you've seen around: some of them seem really cool.
[x] Get the lay of the Marble Hall; the more you know of where everything is, the better.
Yes, I'm greedy and I'm surprised no one else is.
You're basically just voting against taking a break. That's all your greed gets you.
[X] Find Apollo. Artemis has said so much about him, you want to meet him in person.
[Q] Find Apollo. Artemis has said so much about him, you want to meet him in person. This is important enough that I'm voting for it twice.
-[Q] Okay, I should probably un-X this joke so it doesn't mess with the actual vote. But still. Important. Ryza needs to deliver a letter and make a friend.
[X] Try to sit in on some of the classes you've seen around: some of them seem really cool.
[X] Get the lay of the Marble Hall; the more you know of where everything is, the better.
Basic things. Not as restful as taking a break, but more informative. Also, better odds of making new friends!
Part of me wants to get started on long-term tasks, especially once I saw how many people picked this exact trio of actions, but we need to be focused on the short term for now.