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POOPHEAD189
Log it!
Mid morning, 6th of Midyear, 4E208
Gilane Coast, Hammerfell
@LadyTabris & @DearTrickster
The sun shone through a few clouds, rolling in off the coast were dark clouds but they were thankfully hours away at the very least. The waves lapped against the coast, no more energetic than what they usually saw. It was peaceful, the illusion and mask of peace was held even to the likes of a labelled pair of terrorists like the alteration mages that stood at the cliff wayside.
Much to Judena’s surprise, Anifaire approached her, always knowing the shy altmer mage to be kindly and polite. Rarely did she ever approach the Argonian for much of anything, it was not a matter of dislike but Judena fairly believed there was a level of discomfort underlying their relations. Jude felt she could never say as to why but Altmer prejudice was not far from her thoughts.
“This seems to be a reasonable space, nobody around,” Judena announced, it was a reasonable space to do what Anifaire asked.
Magicka lessons!
“I am truly quite surprised when you approached me, my dear.” Honest as per usual, “It pleases me greatly that you would ask for lessons! It is a wonderful honour to teach and mentor. It is not very often when someone will ask.” She grinned happily, scaly lips pressed a low hum.
Clapping her hands decisively, “Now. You are going to perform what you can do and I will decide what we can work on from there. Show me your most powerful spell.”
Anifaire, nervous after having asked the Argonian for help, but knowing she had skill in Alteration, was warmed by her words. After experiencing the mission in past days, she thought there must be some way she can better help the group she found herself with but didn’t feel her spells were practical. She considered what she has in her skillset.
“Well,” she paused. She didn’t think a demonstration would be polite. “I can paralyze. Or- breathe underwater!” But demonstrating that would entail a dip in the sea. She raised her hand and through telekinesis, raised a nearby rock into the air, about the size of a fist. “Or move things.”
Judena observed the rock and her telekinesis. “All very useful spells, excellent choice. Telekinesis, in particular, is an advanced spell, so - bravo! We can work on improving each of those spells, practical and consistent use will see your skills increase. That I can promise, Anifaire.” She said warmly. “Do you know any mage armour spells, something to protect your person directly. I simply cannot remember all the times a hardy armour has saved my life from falling debris, accidents or unavoidable combat.”
She demonstrated in the palm of her hand the blue diamond crystalline spell of Ironskin.
Anifaire watched in surprise as Judena channelled her magic. She shook her head. “No, I don’t know anything like that. It sounds useful.” Now that I don’t spend all my time behind a desk, she finished in her head. She never would have thought to learn something like that before.
“This is the perfect opportunity to learn then. Anifaire I say this next not to scare you nor to make you uncomfortable.” Judena said releasing the spell and the diamond disappeared in a blink. “You and I have been a part of this group for a long time now and to each new place we move onto the danger seems to increase. Now more than ever do we need to take time to learn how to defend not only ourselves but be prepared to defend each other. Alternation has always been seen… as a lesser school of magic compared to the likes of Destruction or Restoration.”
Judena certainly did not see it that way even when her magicka had always been applied in a more utility sense before offensive. It wasn’t in her nature to seek out ways to use it offensively but it was becoming clear creativity would be needed to protect themselves.
“Which is simply untrue, would you not agree? There is a great spectrum of use to be found in Alteration, we have the ability to change reality to how we see fit. Whether that is removing centuries worth of rust or being able to breathe water without gills.” Judena said. “I hope to inspire not only faith in our chosen school of magic but in your own abilities.”
Anifaire was surprised at Judena’s words. In the past, her mother had always seemed disappointed that her aptitude lied with such a useless school of magic, and how hard she struggled to learn others. The way of thinking had stuck with her.
“Do you really think it’s useful?” Anifaire asked quietly, urging the words out before considering them. Her words betrayed her insecurity; she cast her eyes downward, hands fidgeting with the fabric of her flowy, Redguard-style pants. “I didn’t really choose it. I’m not very good at anything else.”
Jude noticed the slight shift in Anifaire’s body language, the disbelief in her words. Judena stepped up to Anifaire, behind the kind and polite Mer was a young woman lacking in confidence. Alteration may not have been her chosen field but the elder Argonian felt a swell of determination in her belly. “I truly think so!”
“Anifaire you have a very long life ahead of you and so you have that much more time to decide and learn new things. There is no race.” Jude replied sincerity ringing through and true. “I sometimes can only dream of returning to my days of a student where each new lesson was an adventure when I was able to absorb new things like that of a coastal sea sponge.” She sighed through her nose, nostalgia nearly overtaking her.
“I believe in you, my dear.” Bright gold reptilian eyes met the golden hue of Anifaire’s. “Let us get to lifting larger and heavier objects with your mind, you never know when some debris will block your path or a rock will fall onto your companion’s leg trapping them. A well placed mammoth bone to distract your assailant or gently lift an ancient piece of pottery. You simply must open your mind to opportunity, your environment is yours to discover.”
Standing at her side Judena peered across the cliffside seeing an abandoned large piece of driftwood hanging over near precariously close to the edge. “There, that is perfect. Much larger than a pebble but not as large as a full tree.”
“I want you to use your magicka to lift that a few inches above the ground. You can try as much as you like, take a breath to center yourself if you need to. But-”
She raised a clawed finger, “You must concentrate. Focus. Use the sound of the lapping waves, the salty sea breeze.”
Such words of comfort took Anifaire completely by surprise. They were kinder and more honest words than she had ever heard from an instructor growing up. Even her mother’s teaching had been strict and professional, disappointed each time Anifaire didn’t learn as quickly as her siblings or the other children. The Argonian spoke with a kindness and an intelligence that had surprised her each time since meeting her, though this was perhaps the most shocking time. Judena was confident in her abilities; she didn’t spend her time doubting if she would be of help to the group. She chose Alteration on her own. Anifaire decided to focus on learning what she could in this time.
The sounds of the waves reminded Anifaire of home. Her favourite memories were of time spent by the sea. Instead of losing herself in them, she focused her attention on the driftwood log. It didn’t look difficult to move. She could do this much, she resolved. The branch twitched, one end lifting an inch off the ground hesitantly before she reoriented herself and decisively pulled the log into the air by about two feet. Concentrating, she began twisting it about, raising it a bit higher, trying to flip it in different directions with precision. Her results were adequate.
“Excellent! Good job. Now, do not drop it instead, I want you to propel it straight up into the air. Work against gravity. Give it a mental ‘kick’. When it comes back down, you are to catch it.” Judena instructed. “If you do not succeed on the first time we will keep trying. There is much to learn in mistakes as there are in success. Remember that.” She spoke clearly, eyes on the driftwood.
Anifaire was surprised at the physical aspect of training, but she decided not to comment. It was different in every aspect to how she’d learned growing up, from the teacher to the lessons, but it was what she had signed up for, and perhaps, it would make her useful.
Nervous, she hefted the log into the air, and it went. Farther than expected. Soaring up, the log spun, and Anifaire squeaked, stepping out of the way instead of attempting to catch it.
Judena quickly employed her own telekinesis to stop the log dead in its tracks, stopping it a few feet before it hit the ground. “That was close!” Judena laughed heartily. “That was a strong ‘kick’ if I had ever seen one, wonderful! Let us try again.”
She smiled guiding the log back to the ground. “You are ready to go yes? Or do you need a quick break to catch your breath?” She patted at her chest.
“I’m ready,” Anifaire decided. She took a step away from the log, focusing instead on slowing the toss down. This time, she threw it up gently, barely gaining any air above her arms, but it flicked up into her arms and she fumbled to catch it, nearly dropping it. She stood victorious with the log in her arms, disappointed she hadn’t given it a better throw. She sighed.
Judena blinked tapping her chin in thought moving around the log and gently tapping the side of her head, “Oh! I do apologize Anifaire. I meant for you to catch it with telekinesis. But! You showed impressive control, you slowed the trajectory and made it safer for you to catch. Well done, well done!” She said happily patting her student on the back.
“I… oh,” Anifaire muttered. Pink lit up her cheeks and she tossed the log to the ground. She ran her hand through her hair, turning back to the log. She’d misunderstood entirely. “I think I can do that,” she said, on the bright side.
The log zipped into the air again. If she wasn’t to catch it with her hands, she could put more of a spin on it. Jerkily, she tossed the log up again. It tumbled down towards the ground in front of her, slowing a bit late, but stopping about a foot from the ground.
“Good, try again. We are going to keep tossing it and catching it. Until you can catch it right in its tracks.” Spreading a hand out before them, “Consistency and practice!”
And again, Anifaire practiced. Guided each time as she tossed the poor, an abused bit of driftwood high into the air, occasionally missing, improving her reaction speed with each throw. Her magicka reservoir was impressively large, Judena knew she personally would have needed a break earlier.
Anifaire finally let the roughly beaten branch drop to the ground. Her magical reserves were low, but not depleted, though she couldn’t remember depleting them in their entirety since some more reckless things she had done when first learning magic.
Without thinking about it, she turned to Judena with an open, hopeful expression, looking for feedback on her progress. Her respect for the Argonian’s wisdom and skill had grown throughout the morning, to her surprise, as she had never expected a lizard to show such a disposition. Judena smiled proudly, pleased with the improvement.
The branch came slowly to the ground with a bare minimum of guidance from Judena’s hand and she nodded with affirmation. “Time for a break I think, give your mind a moment to catch up and breathe. It is essential to know your limits. You never want to lose consciousness when performing high profile spells such as these.”
She said and let out a small laugh, “I am sure you were taught as much. I would like a moment to write down what we have gone over.” She tracked over to her small pack then beckoned the Altmer to join her by the cliffside to sit and eat, gently laying out a cloth bound of some bread and cheese she had sliced earlier along with a skin of water. Judena removed her logbook and began to diligently note what they worked on and the results. She spoke while she wrote, multitasking. “Your reaction timing has improved even after the short while we have been practicing. Aiming for these spells to come to as a second nature, an…”
Judena thought, searching for the correct word - translating what she knew what it was in Jel. “Extension of self. As natural as it is to blink without a thought.”
Anifaire sat, feeling a comfortable tiredness in her limbs as she relaxed on the blanket. The practice had given her an appetite that says of travel in Cyrodiil could have contended with, and she readily ate the bread picnic. She listened intently as Judena spoke, feeling an unfamiliar warmth of satisfaction with herself inside. Patiently, she waited, eating several slices of bread before stopping herself in case the Argonian would like some as well. She wondered if Argonians ate bread. Did they eat bugs?
Judena instead pulled free a jar of pickled slices of fish.
“With your increased reflex and timing, your ‘grip’ upon the object has increased as well. You are fast to learn and have a large reservoir of magicka. Mental stamina, as it were. I feel like with more practice you will see visible improvement, Anifaire.” Judena said spearing a slice of fish and eating it vigorously. Beaming she continued to write her notes, “We will work on more than just telekinesis, we will work on paralyze and water breathing! Perhaps you can teach me in turn how to use those spells. Breathing underwater is a natural talent for my people.”
She gestured to the sea, “I quite like diving and swimming. Feels the most natural place compared to landstriders. I take comfort in the dark depths of a lakebed or the ferocious speed of a rushing river. Strange as it may be.” Her writing slowed as she stared out across the horizon and bay. “I am glad you came to ask for help from me. Nothing inspires the mind as a student to share your experience with.”
“Truly.”
“I always loved the water in Alinor. That’s why I wanted to learn that spell. I worked very hard on it when my mother taught me,” Anifaire said. “And thank you for helping me, Judena. I want to be more of use to the group.”
Judena nodded solemnly, “You will find your purpose, Anifaire.”
Jude bumped her elbow against Anifaire’s, “You have time.”
“That is true,” Anifaire replied. She had many years left in her life to figure out what she wanted. “Thank you.”
