[X] Plan 3DS
Morning:
[X] Picking classes (Mandatory Choice)
-[X] Nervous Girl Encounter
[X] Explore the College (Random Encounter)
Afternoon
[X] Dimensional Science TA's Class (Mandatory Choice)
[X] Class on the elements
[X] Tutoring with the TA
Night
[X] Tutoring with the TA
[X] The Library
The morning dawns bright and early. You roll over on your bed with a groan before remembering where exactly you are and startling to full wakefulness. You practically leap out of bed and get dressed; no way are you being late on the first day, you can't even imagine what the professors would do. Fifteen minutes later, you're once more outside the main auditorium. Looking in, you see the chairs and benches have been cleared to the sides of the large room to be replaced with a number of small booths. You linger a bit on the edge of the doorway, not many people are in there yet, and you're not really sure-
A throat clears behind you. You turn around, and there's nervous girl, or whatever her actual name is. Her clothes today are not nearly so fancy. They're still high quality, but the gem covered dress has been replaced with a black shirt and trousers and her hair is in a ponytail instead of complicated braids. And, now that she's no longer wearing clothes with such a high neck, you can see a very slim golden collar around it. The word 'Ruby' is engraved in curly letters on it. It's at this point that you realize you've probably been staring for a bit longer than is socially acceptable, and with an embarrassed cough step all the way through the entryway into the auditorium.
Both of you then simultaneously head off towards the dimensional science booth.
"So you're going to be studying dimensional science as well?" You ask immediately in an effort to avoid an awkward silence as you both walk practically in lock step.
"Not really."
"Oh? What are you studying then?"
"Magic."
You're a bit confused by that one, but if she doesn't want to elaborate.... A few seconds pass in silence before she apparently decides to relent.
"You must find be able to find magic's beating heart to be able to rip it out of it's chest."
"And that means?"
"I'm here so I can better learn how to rip apart spells and enchantments. Countermagic."
"I saw some books referencing it, but they all seemed to view it as impractical."
She nods.
"It's often viewed that way, yes. 'Finding magic's beating heart' is why countermagic is so difficult. Every spell is different, even the same spell cast again seconds later under very similar conditions probably won't be exactly the same. And that's not even getting into the things that can be done to make a spell resistant to countermagic. So if you wish to tear apart a spell, you must know it intimately in all it's variations."
"That sounds... Basically impossible."
"Well, I'm making it sound more difficult than it really is. It's about intuition- knowing magic intimately, feeling a spell and knowing it even if you haven't seen anything like it before in your entire life. Magic is magic, and if you know magic, you don't need to know the spells."
You nod along, the topic fascinating you. You'll have to ask the TA about it later, it definitely sounds like it might be something worth studying. Neither of you is speaking now, but you've managed to avoid an awkward silence for the rest of the walk to the dimensional science booth, you thoughtful, her; well, you assume she's not feeling awkward.
When you finally reach the booth, you see the TA isn't there yet. Once more you have to dig deep to avoid an uncomfortable silence as you both wait. This is honestly wearing on you a bit. You wish you had had the opportunity to grab a book from the library, they were always your go to choice to avoid these kinds of things. Regardless, you turn to face her and hold out your hand.
"I'm Saphira. Nice to meet you."
You're a bit startled by the despairing groan you get in response.
"Oh god, is it really? Please never say your name around me again."
"Uh..."
She points at her collar. "See here? My name's Ruby, and Diana will absolutely decide she wants a matching pair if she finds out your name. She loves that kind of thing. Uhg, just my luck."
"Diana?"
She makes a face.
"The Dragon of Wealth. She's not a fan of her title."
You both return to silence as you wait for the TA.
Ruby speaks up a moment later. "Still, nice to meet to you."
You nod. "And you. Countermagic sounds very interesting, it's definitely something I'll have to look into."
You would say more, but it's at that point that the TA appears in the chair at the booth with a stack of papers. A copy is held out to both of you.
"This is the schedule for Introduction to Dimensional Science. Please pay special attention to the 'important dates' section under which is listed the days where we are either not having class or will be having a class outside of the regular schedule. Further questions can be addressed in the first class."
She notes down your names on a sheet of paper then vanishes again, apparently having no time to stick around and chat.
With that, you're left to pick up the schedule for Finius's history class and the schedule for the smaller elemental class being taught by one of that department's TAs.
First years didn't really have much choice in terms of what classes they picked; it looked like this big auditorium filled with booths was mostly for the benefit of the students in later years. Exploring around the maze of booths though you did find what looked to be a section of student run clubs however. You don't really have time to talk to them right now though, you want to get breakfast and a shower so you're not a total mess. You note down the dates and times they meet for later to check them out.
---------------------------------------------------
The first Dimensional Science Class is unremarkable given that it mostly consisted of the TA going over the expectations for the class and reading through all the dates extra carefully to make sure no one had any reasonable excuse for not knowing about a special class. Still, there were two interesting things- the first is that the midterm project would be done with partners and would involve some minor enchanting this year so there were going to be even more special classes than usual to make sure we had the very basics of enchanting down. The second was the demonstration of basic dimensional spells the TA did. The sheer ease with which she could fold space and open portals really gave you ideas.
You stay after the class to talk to the TA about them and end up staying for about an hour and a half as you discuss your ideas and why certain ones did or did not work. She ends up recommending some books on theory to you before you both run out of time. You run off to the elemental class and just barely make it on time. That class was apparently all interesting all the time. The TA there, Brand, is a man in vibrant red and green robes who spends about two seconds saying that the class would be held at the same time every day and you could always show up whenever before moving on to demonstrating basic elemental spells once and telling everyone to practice them while he went around and gave pointers. You end up with minor burns on your fingers, (You think the entire class does actually. You're lucky your hair didn't catch on fire. You like your hair.) but feel like you have a basic understanding of elemental magic now.
---------------------------------------------------
After Brand passes out some bandages and ointment to the class, you head to the library. Along the way you catch a lot of the upperclassmen snickering at you. You're pretty sure getting your fingers burnt after your first bit of elemental magic is some kind of rite of passage. The library is definitely an interesting place what with all the books being chained to the shelves and the sightlines to the exit so absurdly long that it had to be intentional. They definitely don't want anyone sneaking off with the books. You look around for the librarian. The TA had said you should talk to them about getting those books she had recommended.
You halt your search when a mist appears in front of you before forming into a ghostly figure about three meters high in armor so spiky you're pretty sure running your hand along it would make you bleed out if it were physical. The voice is surprisingly high and feminine when it speaks.
"Library Card?"
"Ah, no. I'm a new student."
"Follow me."
You don't really feel like saying no to the giant ghostly tower of metal spikes.
"Name."
"Saphira."
"Current focus of study?"
"Dimensional Science."
"Unusual Authorizations?"
"Ah, my TA gave me this..."
You hold out a small scrap of paper with the signature 'Dishevel Vino' and a list of books on it.
The figure bends down to look at it.
"Well, this all seems to be in order. Have a nice day."
The figure hands you a card with your information and picture on it, and you nod back, not terribly sure what else to do.
You grab the books from where the figure directs you to them on the shelves and carefully place them Somewhere in a pocket dimension before heading off to get dinner. You eat fast, no time to talk to anyone or really enjoy the food; the TA had said you could go over some of the books with her but that she didn't have a lot of time so you would have to eat quickly. Two hours later, you really feel like you're on the edge of a breakthrough. The TA had left half an hour ago, but you had kept going. You really think that with just a bit of practice you'll be able to do something new. Before she left you asked her about the ghost in the library. Her reply had been interesting.
"Hah, I suppose she does look a bit intimidating doesn't she? Still, Sammy's just the librarian now. You should talk to her sometime, she has a lot of interesting stories."
Monday 1 Complete
+ 1 point to Elemental magic
+ 3 points to Dimensional Science
+ 1 point to Dimensional Science from library bonus
+ Social Link- Ruby
+ Option Unlocked- Talk to Ruby
+ Option Unlocked- Talk to Sammy
+ Option Unlocked- Tutoring with the TA- Countermagic
Tuesday 1 Schedule:
Morning (2 Choices)
[] Find a Club
-[] Writein topic
[] Talk to Ruby
[] The Library
-[] Talk to Sammy
-[] Books
[] Explore the College (Random Encounter)
[] Tutoring with the TA
-[] Dimensional Science
-[] Countermagic
[] Practice (May spend accumulated points)
Afternoon (3 Choices)
[X] Finius's History Class (Mandatory Choice)
[] Dimensional Science TA's Class
[] Class on the elements
[] Explore the College (Random Encounter)
[] Tutoring with the TA
-[] Dimensional Science
-[] Countermagic
[] The Library
-[] Talk to Sammy
-[] Books
[] Find a Club
-[] Writein topic
[] Talk to Ruby
[] Practice (May spend accumulated points)
Night (2 Choices)
[] Explore the College (Random Encounter)
[] Tutoring with the TA
-[] Dimensional Science
-[] Countermagic
[] The Burning Earth's Arena
[] The Library
-[] Talk to Sammy
-[] Books
[] Find a Club
-[] Writein topic
[] Talk to Ruby
[] Practice (May spend accumulated points)
