chalk

[alicornucopia]

In Paraasilan, Esmaar, a pair of roommates are about to break a rule that, compared to the one about running in the corridors or even the one about unlicensed teleportation, is there for a good reason.

In unison, they complete their shared spell.

~~~

with Adarin (Aestrix)

with Ekador (kappa)

with Brilliance (kappa)

with the admin (kappa)

with Teah (kappa)

with Katran (lambda)

with Hall (kappa)

with Joy (kappa)

with Kalinda (Christy Hotwater)

Comments

[aestrix]

"Then at least your society is somewhat sane," says the human in the circle. "Good day to you, sir."

Adarin inclines his head. Parental figures are good, and this one doesn't seem to have the same insanity his own mother caught.

"Will I be returned home in the same condition I left it?" he asks, reasonably. He's just a little bit nervous.

[alicornucopia]

"We may hope. However..." The newcomer inspects the chalk on the floor. "Korulen. Saasnil. Did you co-cast this?"

"Yes - and it didn't hit us in the face, either, we were careful -" begins Korulen.

"Did your teacher somehow omit to mention that you cannot co-cast a reversal?" snaps the older elf.

Korulen shrinks. Saasnil sits down, hard, on her bed.

[aestrix]

"Ah," says Adarin. "Is it possible one of them could do it?"

It seemed reasonable, even if he didn't understand all the rules at play. The spell might send one of them into mana deprivation, but that honestly wasn't his problem. They should have thought of that before they summoned a poor, unsuspecting random person.

[alicornucopia]

"One of them could, if either had the channeling capacity to do it alone," says the older elf. "I think the best we can do is accelerate Korulen obtaining a familiar and hope that does it. And even sped up a bit, it will take... some time."

The elf is joined by a human woman with jade-green hair, who gives the appearance of already knowing the situation.

"Hi, Mom," says Korulen quietly.

[aestrix]

"I see. That is time I don't have, I'm afraid," states Adarin, standing and brushing himself off. He looks between the two authority figures in the room.

"Please let me out of this circle. My magic might suffice," he says, reasonably. Trans-dimensional magic is something he does possess.

Of course, it required a knowledge of where he was in the planarscape, and how far it was away from his home. Too far, and it would either send him into mana deprivation or kill him. Cheerful thought.

[alicornucopia]

"Unfortunately," says the green-haired woman, "the fact that you've been inconvenienced through no fault of your own doesn't guarantee that it would be safe to release you from the circle. Do you object if I perform a minimally invasive mental scan to check?"

[aestrix]

"... Are you going to change any of it or use anything in my head against me?" asks the politician, immediately on edge. His head was one of his few safe places, there were dangerous things in there, things he didn't dare say out loud.

[alicornucopia]

"I won't change anything unless you ask me to. If I don't like what I find, you'll have to stay in the circle, but that will be the worst of it," she says.

[aestrix]

"Then you may," he warily replies. He's not comfortable with this at all, but it seems he has little choice.

[alicornucopia]

She nods.

Nothing happens, at least not that he can detect.

After a short while, she steps forward and smudges the chalk circle with her foot.

[aestrix]

Adarin's even more uneasy at how it feels like nothing. Someone in his head feels like nothing at all. If there are things in the world that he fears more, he definitely doesn't know what they are.

He will be on his very best behavior. Oh yes.

Tentatively, he touches where the barrier used to be, and finds it's not there anymore. He steps forward, looking around.

"Thank you. Now - do you mind if I attempt to see if I can get home through my own power?" asks Adarin, reasonably.

[alicornucopia]

"What do you need to do it with?" the green-haired woman inquires.

[aestrix]

"A mirror would help, though I don't need one. I need to find it, before I can attempt to get back," explains the guest. "If you're feeling traditional we could find a clear basin of water, but I find a mirror works just as well."

[alicornucopia]

Korulen scrambles to get a hand mirror out of her desk drawer. "Will this do?"

[aestrix]

"Yes, thank you," he says, moving to take it.

Exhaling, he begins the incantation! It's way more complicated than the last, and the translation spell honestly butchers what he's saying. It names out pivotal points in the known 'map' of planes. Keo might be able to make sense of it, but no one else in the room would have a clue.

He finishes the spell, and looks at the mirror. He stares, for just a minute. Then he blinks, very, very slowly.

In a distant voice, quiet and rather frightened, "I do not believe I could get home under my own power."

[alicornucopia]

Korulen draws her knees up to her chest and drops her face onto them.

"Am I expelled?" whimpers Saasnil.

"No," says the green-haired woman. "But only because if Korulen getting a familiar doesn't net her sufficient channeling capacity, you being able to do so is the next available way to send this gentleman home."

[aestrix]

Adarin needs a minute to sit down. He does so, for the second time. The mirror is returned to a nearby table. Before, Adarin didn't quite understand how random the spell was.

The answer is, quite random. It would take him several lifetimes, just to get home. Several of his lifetimes, to get home, if he never stopped for a break between plane-hopping, if he never got tired, if he jumped as far as his magic would let him every time. He is very, very far away from home.

"Is there some place I could stay in the meanwhile?" asks Adarin, in a small voice.

[alicornucopia]

"The school can take responsibility for you. There are empty dormitory rooms, we can get you a cafeteria pass," sighs the green-haired woman.

[aestrix]

"Thank you. That would be appreciated," replies the man who's looking like he's now realized that he's a very small fish in a very big pond.

"Can you- send letters, to where I came from?" he asks, suddenly, thinking of the fallout back at home. Another of his family, disappearing without a trace? All of his work would go up in smoke in an instant.

[alicornucopia]

"Oh, goodness, yes, of course," says the green-haired woman. "As many as you like to any location you can specify. The girls can learn the sending spell and do it for you for part of their detention."

[aestrix]

"I will need to write several," sighs the man, getting up to retrieve his pen. It's a nice pen, and he likes it. It'd be a pity to lose it just because he's far, far from home.

"May I also surmise that you can summon objects here, just as easily as send them?" he asks.

[alicornucopia]

"Yes. Even people, if they want to come, with a less problematic spell," says the woman with a sharp look at her daughter, "cast by competent graduated wizards who will in fact be able to undo it when your visitors are done here."

[aestrix]

"That is quite fortunate, then. Your magic is very convenient," replies Adarin. "In most circumstances."

Lenora was the obvious candidate to summon, though to be honest he didn't want to put up with the annoying woman. Maybe a couple letters would suffice. His sister, though - she was much more difficult to send a letter to. He would have to have her summoned, just to explain the situation.

"I do believe that I'll need visitors from my world. At least one," he explains. "She isn't known to answer letters."

[alicornucopia]

"If she doesn't answer letters it would be somewhat difficult to determine if she wishes to come, wouldn't it?" points out the green-haired woman.

[aestrix]

"Yes. My sister's unlikely to want to come, if only because I'm involved," sighs Adarin. "But I would like her to know where I am all the same."

He sounds very tired, like there's some bad-blood between him and his mysterious sister. A sad look's come over his face, like he wishes there was a better way.