23rd Magic Bullet

[drank_the_milk]

[Action; outside 2337 Stevens]

[The long-awaited day has finally come!  Yuna's magic lessons with Negi, Rin, and Blue have paid off, and with a little impromptu Al Bhed lesson from Rikku, she's got her spell key all ready to go too.  Today, Yuna graduates from apprentice to full-fledged mage.  She's standing out on the front lawn of 2237 Stevens Road with her wand at the ready, closing her eyes and doing some breathing exercises to get ready for her first attempt at a real spell.  After a minute or so, she nods to herself, tightening her grip on her wand and holding it out.]

Tytto tytto pycgadpymm!

[Her voice rings through the air loud and clear, full of confidence.  A small breeze kicks up around her, blowing her hair back and forth and rustling her clothing.  Definitely a good start!  Yuna grins before moving on, closing her eyes as she concentrates.]

Unum spiritus ignis... coèuntes, sagittent inimicum meam!

[A vaguely reddish aura begins to gather around Yuna as she continues chanting.]

Sagitta Magica, convergentia ignis!

[Yuna's eyes snap open as she finishes the spell, the red aura coalescing into the shape of an arrow, which fires forth from her wand and into the sky.  She stumbles back a step, watching it streak off into the distance in awe before jumping up and down, pumping her fist in the air in excitement.]

I did it!  I really did it!  My first real spell!

Comments

[mayitlastforeve]

Not just mana arts. Everything. If you can convince the instructors to teach you.

[drank_the_milk]

They don't just teach you anyway?

[mayitlastforeve]

It is not like the school here. Only certain introductory classes during the first five years are guaranteed. Everything else requires impressing the individual instructor suitably.

[drank_the_milk]

So it's like auditioning or something? Or sports tryouts, maybe?

[mayitlastforeve]

...I think it resembles what the lower classes experience attempting to join a clan. Not as difficult, but it isn't something we Val would know at all, otherwise.

[drank_the_milk]

So kind of like a rite of passage?

[mayitlastforeve]

It's not a ritual. I doubt if that lesson is intentional. Or if many learn it.

[drank_the_milk]

Sounds complicated.

[mayitlastforeve]

It is not. Getting along with the instructors is not difficult if you pay attention. [Or such is her opinion; she was kind of a star pupil.] It is the other students that present difficulties.

[drank_the_milk]

I guess it's probably pretty competitive, huh?

[mayitlastforeve]

Most of the students are Val or Vel of the Great Clans, which are on the edge of open warfare. For example my first roommate was of the Vel'Sharen, the ruling clan, to which mine is closely allied, but my second was of the Vel'Vloz'ress, which is home to many nether summoners and which my mother has attempted to destroy before.

I would not say violence is common, but a few disappear every year.

[drank_the_milk]

So it's all political too, huh? Must be tough.

[mayitlastforeve]

It was. I don't attend anymore.

[drank_the_milk]

Can't really blame you there.

[mayitlastforeve]

...it wasn't because of that. I did well there. Had good friends. There were other reasons.

[drank_the_milk]

Oh. Well, I won't ask if you don't want to talk about it.

[mayitlastforeve]

...I do not want or not but... it is probably better.

Is there no nether where you are from?

[drank_the_milk]

Nether? I don't think so. What's that?

[mayitlastforeve]

The otherworlds of the demons. Invisible things that dwell in the mana of fey and corrupt them.

[drank_the_milk]

Oh, those things live in the Magic World. There's barriers and stuff to keep them out of the towns.

[mayitlastforeve]

I'm glad there is another aware of them. I worry about what would happen if such things appeared here. All those who have no experience of them would be easy prey.

[drank_the_milk]

Well, it's not like Mayfield doesn't do stuff at least that dangerous most of the time anyway.