TheHangedMan

Mana-Script Academy For The 'Gifted'

@Shikaru

Meruin huffed, relieved of the weight of the book. "That's good to know. Well, just consider my earlier demonstration as a challenge to myself," she replied without missing a beat.

"I will read it later, preferably while you're working on it. I'll be able to sublimate information much quicker that way."

Meruin placed the book on her newly created shrub stool, and tapped it a few times with her index finger. A small explosion of black miasma and magic energy erupted from the tip of where her finger touched the book. Meruin drew her hand back in a snap.

"Well, at least I know your family put adequate defenses on it, your own not withstanding," her expression was even, and she looked seemingly unpeturbed bu the fact that her finger was smoking. Meruin had just attempted to forcibly transfer random bits of information between her and the book, bypassing and even breaking right through a few enchantments before hitting a defense too powerful to overcome. That was completely within the bounds of her expectations, of course.

"As for the secrets of your Grimoire, I had thought that that was a given? Naturally, I would never be so rude as to simply divulge its secrets to those unrelated to it; 'The power of magic lies in its mystery' - that was one of the first teachings of my master. It was a lesson that will stick to me for quite a long time yet. Quite literally in fact."

Suddenly, Meruin began to take off the blouse she was wearing, exposing the pale pink skin underneath. With an unconcerned expression, the tiny mage pulled down a bit of her bra, revealing the flesh above her heart to Arcadius.

"Keeping secrets is something expected of us Mages to do. In fact, had you not asked me, I would have reminded you right after slapping you for being an utter fool."

At the spot of her exposed skin, a strange symbol rested. It was a rune that constantly shifted and changed shape - looking at it was absolute torture for the eyes, with humans unable of being capable of even processing what they were looking at, and clenched the heart with fear: Fear of the unknown, and fear of being confronted with an overwhelming power.

"My master placed this curse on me to ensure that I never divulged her secrets to anyone - correction, to anything. Had I done so, my very existence would have been split apart and thrown into different dimensions, preventing me from reincarnating and even wiping out any memory anyone ever had of me. To be honest, I had expected you to do much the same."

Satisfied with her explanation, the still stoic Meruin drew back. The point she had wanted to make was simply this:

"This is only between us. Your secrets are safe with me."

Protagonist Drop

Wow that got a lot more interest than I expected. In any case, I'll be making th OOC soon.

Mana-Script Academy For The 'Gifted'

@Shikaru

"No offense taken," said Meruin. She really was on the weaker side of the physical spectrum. There was a reason for that, but it was uneccessary to be mentioned at this point. In any case, Meruin took the book in her hands and gripped it tightly. She had no idea why he wanted her to try lifting the enermous tome, but it was his request . . .

Meruin took the book from his hands, and was consequently nearly thrown into the floor. The little mage's face turned slightly red with the effort, but nonetheless, she managed to keep the book close to her chest.

"As - wheeze - you can see, I am completely - wheeze - capable of holding up - uuurgh - okay nevermind. A moment - wheeze - if you please," she groaned, her arms shaking a bit.

The little mage tapped the floor five times with her left foot, muttering a few hurried spells in intervals under her breath, and in response, an overgrowth of vines and plants sprung up under her, forming the shape of a hand. Meruin fell back into it, letting the new construct of nature support her weight and that of the books.

"There, no strengthening - huff - magic on myself, from you or from me," she said with a succint look. It was loophole, but whatever. She could do without details for now.

Mana-Script Academy For The 'Gifted'

@Shikaru

Meruin smiled. It was a twisted sort of smile; like that of a gleeful child that had just been given permission to pick any toy she wanted, mixed with the maniacal joy of a mad scientist given free reign to experiment on whatever she wished.

Nodding, Meruin shook as Arcadius outlined his terms. What she was hearing was unbelievable to her ears. She had to physically restrain herself from giggling like a child.

Her one thought was: "That's it?"

A curse to seal her lips when trying to talk about his Grimoire and its secrets; a rune to prevent her from being able to even think about stealing the book; a magical contract that would turn her into a sheep if she tried to hurt him; a brand on her that causes instant death the moment she touches the book without permission - all of these and worse were the very least of what Meruin expected. In comparison, Arcadius terms were practically a giveaway!

"Your . . ." with shaky breaths, Meruin regained her composure. Grace and control at all times were the core of her Masters teachings, and even if she couldn't follow through with it all the time, she would be never fail to do so in front of her peers.

Outwardly anyway.

"Your terms are acceptable. Very, very acceptable. It's perfectly natural to be wary over your research of course. Perfectly natural."

Meruin returned Arcadius smile with her own; a so estatic it bordered on radiant.

Mana-Script Academy For The 'Gifted'

@Shikaru

So that was it. Not even other family members could completely read the Grimoire. If that was the case, theneruin guessed it was the doing of one of its previous owners, or that it had been made like that since the beginning. In any casr, all that meant was that there were mechanisms in place to ensure that the book was not completely open to anyone.

Meruin shivered in delight. Her eyes werr spinning as her attention was fully on the Grimoire. With mechanism like that, it was impossible to imagine just what kind of mysteries were held within. The small mage could only dream of the results should the day come that all the pages could be unlocked.

"Would you like me to help you with it?" With an earnest look, Meruin's emerald green eyes stared intensely back at Arcadius's own. "I want to help you unlock more pages of the Grimoire, if you'll allow me."

Meruin didn't even care if she was unable to learn a spell from the book. So long as Arcadius was able to and showed her the results. In the end, so long as she discovered something new, it will have been worth it.

Mana-Script Academy For The 'Gifted'

@Shikaru

With a nod, Meruin agreed. It never did hurt to learn more. All knowledge gained was knowledge worth knowing. Reina had taught her that knowledge for the sake of knowledge was extreme and dangerous path, but similarly had also taught her than the danger can be curbed so long as one had a goal in mind. It was because of this that Meruin aimed to learn all she possibly could, but always reminded herself that there were things that she needed to learn and things she didn't.

"Yes, similarly, I took all of the magic classes. It's not as though I would be doing much else, in any case."

Meruin looked at his Grimoire. "By deciphering old texts, do you mean your Grimoire?"

The small mage raised a brow as her curiosity took hold. The fact that he had incomplete access to a family Grimoire meant that he could be lacking a core aspect of himself to do so. Of course, Grimoire's were fickle and complex creations, so Meruin was simply working on a conjucture.

Mana-Script Academy For The 'Gifted'

@Shikaru Haha, not really. Or not yet. It depends on the circumstances. Generally, Meruin may be an intense bibliophile, but she's no thief.

Unfortunately, both Masters eho taught her magic were, so some tendencies stuck xD

Replied by the way.

Mana-Script Academy For The 'Gifted'

Meruin tilted her head. He seemed a bit tense. It was probably because of the book he was reading. It must have been a good one to hold his attention as it did. It must have also been due to then fact that the book was leaking magic - only slightly so, but enough that Meruin felt it.

"Hello Arcadius, it's nice to meet you. As for my classes, I signed up for most them."

"Oh wait, that's your Grimoire."

Meruin paused. The things she thinking and the thing she was supposed to say reversed in her head. That was embarrassing, not to mention not very good for conversation. Naturally, Meruin decided to ignire it happened.

"Sorry, I meant it's good to see you. I'm indeed Meruin, and you are Arcadius, right?"

The small mage pulled a seat in front of Arcadius, and leaned back into it with a stifled yawn.

Mana-Script Academy For The 'Gifted'

@WittyWolf about three times including this one actually. The first two were continuations of each other, while this one is a whole new thing :)

Mana-Script Academy For The 'Gifted'

Intense bibliophile is an understatement. As Eklispe, floodtalon, and anybody who was here for the first RP can testify xD