Sapherian Tutelage
For what felt like the dozenth time Teclis resisted the urge to groan.
He had been told that the High Loremaster had taken a liking to him. Teclis' progress in his studies had apparently been exemplary, far above that of other students of his age, something which by now had become more then obvious to Teclis himself. As such, in addition to his normal studies, Teclis would now be receiving the privilege of one on one instruction from some of the towers' more experienced acolytes. Whereas other students would have to group together in classes of dozens to practically fight for their teachers' attention Teclis would receive the benefit of private instruction so that his supposedly "amazing talent" not "wither away" as well as to gauge his so called "true potential".
Truthfully Teclis wished that the High Loremaster hadn't bothered.
Since coming to the White Tower Teclis had found himself, for the first time in his life, to be a subject of envy rather then the one experiencing its green eyed touch. Whatever positive attention his accomplishments had gotten from his peers, in age and stature though not in talent, was shortlived as his classmates soon realized that it's meaning was to see to it that they could never fight for more then second place as first always belonged to Teclis. Such was a bitter pill to swallow for many who had previously been the resident star pupils and "geniuses" of their homes, only to now constantly find themselves overshadowed by Teclis. Most expressed their discontent through the occassional angry glance or whispered contempt whenever Teclis was nearby. A few were also guilty of wasting his time by asking him if they could perhaps study together or if Teclis could help them with a subject they had been having difficulty with, perhaps hoping to gleam some genius study method he had invented, before being curtly refused.
One was even a Cothiquian whom Teclis had known prior to his arrival in the White Tower. In their childhood Teclis had heard him referring to himself more then once as a half elf when the former had thought Teclis not listening, such subtlety doubtlessly owing itself to what Tyrion had done to the last elf to call Teclis that outloud.
Teclis made a point to ask him his class ranking in every class that they had shared. The fact that he had ranked nothing short of second, beneath only Teclis himself, in so many of them seemed to only add to his umbrage rather then decrease it.
While the faces changed as Teclis moved up in the years the same experience hadn't. Older students were, if anything, even more vexed at being upstaged by someone their junior.
Worst of all however were the tutors.
Whereas his fellow students often had no choice but to accept Teclis' superior understanding of the material at hand, their grades making it undeniable, the tutors were often far less willing to accept that their understanding of what they thought they could teach Teclis was far less then that of Teclis' own. Heated arguments were common and more then one of his tutors had simply quit the role. The last had looked so enraged after Teclis' had questioned how could he have possibly earned his credentials as a mage of the tower while being so incompetent that for a moment Teclis had thought he would strike him. Instead the tutor had simply rose from his seat and headed out the door. Yet his muttering of the term "half elf" had not gone unnoticed by Teclis, and it had been all that Teclis could do to hold himself from not setting the former tutor's garnments on fire with his mind for the insult.
At least this one at least seemed willing to listen and learn, even if her ability to understand the material still left much to be desired.
"So you see, that is how one many more easily draw upon a source's non cardinal winds. Lesser mages may struggle to draw Hysh from a candle's fire or Ghyran from stone, but that is a matter of ability, not a matter of possibility."
The senior arcanist looked up from the parchment and at him before smiling
"Impressive. How have you not been promoted a year again already?"
Teclis sighed, knowing that starting a tirade about the incompetence of his previous tutors would avail him little here.
"It is of no matter. The High Loremaster will have me promoted when he deems me ready. No sooner and no later."
The arcanist frowned
"Well I'll definitely be writing a recommendation for your promotion at the end of this course. Your ability with the material is commendable but frankly at this level your talents are being wasted. You could already teach people of my year this material."
The senior arcanist then looked back at the parchment before laughing
"In fact you already are!"
Teclis kept himself from reacting outwardly even as he inwardly preened. Finally, a tutor that saw reason!
Momentarily his mind wandered back to his introduction to this particular tutor as well as half forgotten genealogy lessons. Could this one possibly understand becau-
No! The curse had no meaning here. Teclis could achieve here anything that he set his mind to, and no disability or curse could stop him from doing so.
Eventually he answered.
"Please do."
The senior arcanist then got up, Teclis following suit shortly after.
"I believe that this is it for today. We only have a few lessons left and then you'll have two weeks to prepare for the test by yourself. Though judging from our classes so far I doubt you'd have much more work to do in order to get another perfect grade."
For a moment Teclis saw the arcanist's arm twitch as if moving for a handshake before she thought better of it. Doubtlessly her thought had been to spare him the embarrasment of having a giantess such as herself near crushing his fragile hand.
Teclis kept himself from sneering at the arcanist for providing him with yet another reminder of his emanciated state.
Instead the senior arcanist settled for merely nodding at him
"Good night arcanist Teclis."
Teclis returned the nod.
"Good night arcanist Fanriel."
