[center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/190120/b458a81531631a6916fa9413063c5f80.png[/img][/center][right][sub]Interacting with: [@Scribe of Thoth] and kinda [@Trainerblue192][/sub][/right]
Salem seemed relieved when he read Lucan’s message, much to Aaron’s own relief, and the two fell silent as Salem read the note and Aaron wrote his reply to Lucan, the tension between them seeming to have lifted. It wasn’t long before the bell rang, and Aaron was interested to see that Salem offered no reply to the note, instead holding on to it as they gathered their things and left the classroom. Mr. Martin seemed busy speaking with some other students at the end of class, so Aaron made a mental note to speak to him tomorrow to see if his suspicions about his name were true. 

The walk to Vilbrek hall was uneventful, Aaron keeping pace with Salem even though the two walked in relative silence. When they reached the lecture hall, Aaron was interested to see how many students had made it there before them; briefly he scanned the room for a head of white hair, but came up empty once again. She [i]did[/i] say she had class in that hall at that time, so she must not have arrived yet. 

He opted for a seat near the middle-back, reasoning that there were students who actually needed to pay attention more than he did who would benefit more from the seats up front. Truthfully, though, the lecture hall setting was bizarre; the room was filled with the low buzz of hushed conversation before the lecture started, and the very presence of so many people was unnerving. Aaron didn’t have any particular problem with crowds, but wouldn’t learning in such a packed room be distracting? Or was this the norm, and he’d just been spoiled by one-on-one tutelage all his life?

Finding a spot with a few open seats in a row, Aaron chose the middle one, hanging his messenger bag off the back of the chair. Before he sat, however, he noticed someone familiar in the seat directly behind him. That was the guy Sariel had introduced him to, right? That scowl of his was pretty unmistakable, after all. 

Nonetheless, Aaron offered the sulking man a friendly smile. [color=f0d705]“Hey, Max, right? Any luck with your control this evening?”[/color]

Max returned his smile with a glare that could curdle milk, replying with an annoyed, [color=8585AD]“What do you think?”[/color]

Aaron’s eyebrows shot up at Max’s tone. What was this, ‘yell at Aaron’ night? Or had he just struck a nerve? Recovering quickly, he chuckled a bit to diffuse the tension and cleared his throat, not particularly gunning for [i]another[/i] confrontation tonight. 

[color=f0d705]“Well you have my number, let me know if you want any help,”[/color] he replied neutrally, taking his seat and turning his attention to the syllabus before him. He skimmed over the assignments, making a mental note to mark them in his calendar later, before skipping straight to the house assignments, mood immediately improving when he saw that he’d been grouped up with Lucan. Excellent! He wasn’t at all worried about their grades - they both knew the Treaty back to front, though it was the one thing in the world that Aaron actually knew better than Lucan - but getting a guaranteed chance to see Lucan was a great relief. Aaron didn’t recognize the other name in their group, but he was confident that whoever it was, with both him and Lucan on their team, they’d do just fine. 

A sharp jolt to the back of his chair pulled Aaron’s attention from the syllabus, the man turning curiously to find Max addressing him again. [color=8585AD]“It’s not a basic affinity, apparently. And no one can seem to give me any tips that don’t sound like a corny line from a self-help book.”[/color]

Hm, Aaron hadn’t expected any more out of Max after that glare, but he was content to look past it. He thought for a moment about what Sariel had taught him after his Awakening before replying, [color=f0d705]“Well, if it's a complex affinity you'll need a casting focus. Did you do the crystal exercise? Could you establish any kind of connection?”[/color]

[color=8585AD]“It was there, but it’s... stubborn. There was like a wall blocking it from entering the crystal efficiently, and it definitely didn’t want to move once inside either.”[/color]

Aaron paused again to consider, spinning his ring and thinking back to what Sariel and other mages in his life had told him over the years about their own experiences. [color=f0d705]“Well, ideally your magic is an extension of yourself. It might help to think of what motivates you and try to apply that to your magic to convince it to get moving.”[/color] He paused, remembering something Clara had told him once, then chuckled, shrugging. [color=f0d705]“It might just need a kick in the ass.”[/color]

Max leaned forward curiously. [color=8585AD]“Okay, and how do I kick my magic’s ass?”[/color] He asked, more genuine this time. 

Aaron shrugged again, gesturing lazily. [color=f0d705]“For some people it works like a reflex, but if you have a weak connection to start with, it might need to be more of a conscious effort.”[/color] He finally stopped spinning his ring, opting instead to gently tap his fingers on the desk. [color=f0d705]“How do you get yourself going when you have to do something you don't want to do?”[/color]

[color=8585AD]“I don’t do it.”[/color] Max replied flatly, then sighed, [color=8585AD]“Do it out of spite? I don’t know.”[/color]

Aaron smirked. Cheerful-sounding guy. [color=f0d705]“That might be your problem, then,”[/color] he replied, glancing back to the front when Varis started speaking. 

[color=f0d705]“Contact me later,”[/color] he added quickly, voice hushed, [color=f0d705]“I might be able to help.”[/color] With that he turned his attention hastily to the front, loath for Varis to perceive some disrespect.