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Metis
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2 hours ago, Metis said:

The Lion Seeking Fish, stage 2:

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Back at the ward Leon is still busy putting the girls' kitchen back exactly as it was before he made a mess of it, under Chi's watchful (and curious) eye. You take a seat over at the reading corner and wait for them to finish up, which they do in a minute. Afterwards they waste no time walking over to you, curious as to what you found out. With Leon translating for you, to make sure Chi understands you (and you understand her, in turn) you slowly start to explain what you've learned. "This description is definitely that of a 'carp', as they're called around here, but there's one problem I ran into - carp are usually only half has large as you described. Now in terms of getting Xu something to eat that's not a problem, if we can capture one we can capture a hundred, but I want to ask just to make sure: Chi, is this size difference going to be a problem? Local carp aren't a different kind of carp that Xu might get sick from if she eats it, or anything like that, right?"

Chi, after Leon translates your question, confidently shakes her head. "They're the same fish, I'm sure. Something that Xu forgot is that the fish we're both used to are indeed much bigger than normal. It's not wild ones we're used to, we're used to domesticated ones, aquaculture produce. They're raised as food, we got them as payment at our jobs."

"I am so glad that Professor Badcrumble stocked this reading corner with a copy of every dictionary she could find, you have no idea," Leon says as he puts down the book he needed to translate Chi's word for "aquaculture". On top of the pile it took for him to find a translation...so another mess for him to clean up afterwards. "But alright, that local carp are a smaller size doesn't matter. Like [PC FIRST NAME] said if we can capture one we can capture a hundred. So, what all do we have to do before we can start fishing? We need to know where carp can be found, we need a way to capture and transport them to the Academagia, find a recipe to cook them...anything I'm forgetting? I'm sure there's something, but I can't think of it right now."

"We'll need to butcher the carp, or whatever the term for fish is, before we're able to cook it," you add. Leon actually shudders when he realizes that's what he forgot. Seriously, the guy set a noble's estate on fire and cast Negative Alteration of Organic Matter on the people there, but butchering a fish makes him squirm? Sure, whatever. "Chi, is there anything more that you can think of?"

"Yes, actually. If your magic can do it you'll want to remove the 'pins', the small bits of bones from the carp's meat before cooking it. They're not poisonous, but you always have to be careful when eating carp because you don't want to get a pin stuck in your throat." Huh. Well, another entry to add to the list. Because Leon, of course, quickly confirms that he'd very much like to make sure that Xu can eat the carp without worry, but he does not know a spell that can do that. Nor do you, of course. It should be possible to do with magic, but you'll need to find the right spell to do it. You're not sure where you'd find a spell like that, though. "Aside from that I can actually butcher the carp myself, remove the skeleton and separate the edible meat from the rest. I've done it so many times before and I'm sure I haven't forgotten how to do it yet...but that said I'm not sure if I'll be able to do it alone. I, eh...I-I'm really not used to any of the tools in that kitchen over there, is the problem. Yeah, for one the knives are so much sharper that I'm afraid I might end up cutting my own fingers off, and I'd rather not."

Okay, that's actually really good news. That puts this plan back on track. Because butchering fish? So far outside your (and Leon's) wheelhouse it isn't funny. Good thing that's taken care of, or at least reduced to a problem that's actually manageable.

"I'm familiar enough with cooking to at least show Chi how to use all the kitchen's tools. And if I'm wrong about that than at least I know enough Revision to put a cut finger back on...probably," Leon says. Somehow, though, you just don't feel like you're very confident in his abilities. Chi looks downright terrified, but Leon remains confident. "Don't worry, I'll take care of it. [PC FIRST NAME], I don't want to blanketly say 'can you handle the rest' because I know that wouldn't be a fair share of tasks, but can you just work on the other stuff in the meantime? Find out where carp are, how to capture and transport them, find a recipe, just whatever you think is best?"

"Sure, but two things. First off, I think it's best if we made sure that we can butcher and cook a carp before we go out and capture any. I don't know about you, but I don't think it's a good idea to dump a dozen fish into that pool at let them float around in there while we try and figure out how to cook it." Leon and Chi both nod at that suggestion, Leon with more confidence than Chi appears to have in this whole plan. She really does not seem to trust Leon, so time to try suggesting an alternative. "Second, Leon, I think it'd be best if you spend time studying and working on improving your own cooking skills. Than when you're ready ask Chi to teach you how to butcher a carp, adapt her techniques to the tools that you're used to. That way you two can actually make progress without me being here, because after some practice you shouldn't be at risk of cutting your own fingers off. And Leon, remember that if you do cut into your own casting hand than you can't cast a spell to fix that. So no heavy practising with knives until I'm around, just in case, unless you fancy having to explain to Professor Badcrumble why either you or Chi had to get a professor to stitch a finger back on. Got it?"

"Ah...yes. Yes, let's do it that way instead," Leon decides after giving the matter less than two seconds of thought. Chi looks relieved, so crises averted. "We're going to need a carp - or something - to work with if Chi is to teach me her techniques, though. At least I'm assuming you'll need one?" Chi nervously nods, but you've got a solution to that problem.

"Use a Glamour, Leon, I know you only joined Hedi this year but you should be able to manage that much. There's books in the Venalicium that detail how carp look both inside and out, if you need one." Leon notes that he's going to have to find those books first, but agrees that that's probably the best idea otherwise. Of course a Glamour is honestly poor practice compared to the real thing, especially when cast by a novice, but no matter. Better they take some time to bridge that gap than you bridge the gap between one of Leon or Chi's fingers and the rest of their hand.

As for you, that gives you three tasks to focus on, at least for the moment - finding a recipe for cooking carp, finding where you can find carp out in Elumia Proper, and how to capture and transport them back to the Academagia. To start with, the recipe. How does one acquire a recipe for cooking carp, seeing as how fish are so rarely eaten these days?

[PC HAS Fish and the Ancient Cyvan Diet ITEM]-Actually, as a matter of fact...
--You quickly swing by your dorm room, find your copy of Fish and the Ancient Cyvan Diet, and flip through it until you find the page describing carp. There's some author's notes on various species of carp, some quoted historical documents suggesting how widespread carp were back on Cyve, some other stuff you don't care about right now...and, yes, a recipe for cooking carp. So...job done.

Gods, sometimes it's just awesome to be you.

-Recipes. You know enough of recipes to come up with one.
--You have to swing by the Venalicium again to look up exactly what kind of meat carp have, because yes, there are different kinds of fish meat which each requires a different kind of recipes to cook, but once you have that information it's no problem to throw together a basic recipe to cook one. Of course it'd be better if you could test the recipe first, but, eh, there's a distinct lack of carp to do that, so...you'll have to make do with what you have. Not that you aren't confident, it just would be better if you could test it.

--As far as you recall there isn't too much of a difference between fish meat and other kinds of meat, meaning you could just adapt an existing recipe to it. Quickly swinging by the Venalicium to make sure of that, however, proves that assumption wrong. Not only is fish meat very different and distinct from other kinds of meat, but different fish have different kinds of meat which, themselves, require different recipes to cook. And while you can look up books all day you're not going to find a carp with which to test an improvised recipe, so...

This problem require taking a different approach, you feel like.

-Minetan Swagger. Scour the Admiratio's bookstores. ALL of them.
--A quick check of the Admiratio, insofar that any search of the entirety of the Admiratio can be described as such, later and you're no closer to finding a recipe. There's cookbooks for sale that have recipes for cooking "fish", sure, but you're looking for a recipe that's specifically for carp, not any random fish. Because who knows whether those recipes apply to a carp? You don't think anyone in Mineta is that familiar with different kinds of fish, honestly.

So instead you start to hit up smaller neighbourhood stores, places that most students don't know about or care to find, because the Admiratio usually provides everything they need. Within one of those stores, however, you find what you're looking for - Fish and the Ancient Cyvan Diet! A cookbook that has a recipe specific to carp!

...Okay, so it's like two parts historical document, one part history lecture, one part biology lecture and only one fifth cookbook. Doesn't matter, it's got a recipe you need and therefore it is now a cookbook.

--You run up and down the Admiratio what feels like three times, but nowhere do you find a cookbook that has a recipe specifically for carp. Generic "fish" recipes, sure, but you've got no idea if those recipes are going to work with carp! You're starting to doubt that anyone in this city does, actually. Is carp usually eaten, actually? Supposedly they're common, but...you don't even know that.

Gods, why did it have to be fish? Why, of all things, fish? This would be so much easier otherwise...although you suppose that you're not going to find many farmers raising pigs underwater, huh? That'd be a bit difficult.

-Diplomacy. Ask Asmita Tidar if she has (or can devise) a recipe.
--You head over to Vernin campus and knock on Asmita's door. She has a neutral, maybe slightly curious look on her face when she opens it and sees you standing in the hallway. "[PC FIRST NAME]? Let me take a wild, random guess: You're here because you need help with something cooking related?"

"I'm afraid so. Sorry if it's tiresome, getting asked the same kind of stuff over and over again, but I do need help with finding a recipe for something a bit...obscure, let's say."

There's a flash of weariness on Asmita's face when you confirm that you are here for her cooking, although it's quickly replaced with curiosity when you mention that you need something obscure. "Obscure, huh? How obscure are we talking here?" Asmita asks, suddenly looking interested, and you quickly realize why - Asmita must have gotten tired of people asking her for simple things, she's looking for a challenge. Well, if that's what she wants you can provide.

"To keep a long story short, I need a recipe for cooked carp. Yes, specifically carp. It's for a sick friend, so I need a healthy recipe that's easy to prepare, if possible."

"Carp? What is that, a kind of fish?" Asmita asks. She looks intrigued when you nod in answer to her question. "A recipe for a specific fish, huh? Part of me wants to ask more questions about why you need a recipe like that, and who your sick friend is, but you know what, challenge accepted. I'll get you a healthy recipe for carp, just you wait. You're probably in no position to gossip anyway, huh?"

Indeed, no. You're willing to admit that Leon asked you for this recipe, but you can't say anything more. Asmita, as you suspected, already heard about how Leon came racing to you earlier, so that isn't news to her, and she doesn't much care about the rest. She's happy to finally have a proper challenge, and promises that you can pick up your recipe within an hour.

--You head over to Vernin campus and knock on Asmita's door. She has a neutral, maybe slightly curious look on her face when she opens it and sees you standing in the hallway. "[PC FIRST NAME]? Let me take a wild, random guess: You're here because you need help with something cooking related?"

"Y-yes, actually. Is now a bad time?"

Asmita nods, and for some reason you get the feeling that there's an overweight hyena laughing at your misfortune in the background. Well, there goes that idea. Time to hit up the Admiratio and hope that one of the bookstores there has something, because if you could do this yourself you likely wouldn't be knocking on Asmita's door in the first place.

This adventure is indeed not going to comply with students who have the Vegetarian background, FYI. Of course on the one side I don't want it to be randomly unavailable, but on the other side I also don't want to write basically a second side to this adventure just to accommodate a singular background.

Simply make one of its criteria that players' characters not have the Vegetarian trait.

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That'll likely be the case with the adventure as written, the problem is that I'd rather not deny such PCs access to the adventure because they chose to be a vegetarian during character creation. It's a positive background, not a negative one, so picking it should be rewarded, not punished. Present the player with an otherwise non-obstacle because they have to stick to their principles, acceptable, but outright denying them access to an adventure not so much.

Of course having a separate adventure for such a PC, for one singular background, is a lot of effort spend typing and thinking. Rest assured that the full extent to which vegetarians would object to this particular adventure goes all the way to stage...13, literally to the very end of it. So that's a lot that'd have to be redone and checked.

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The Lion Seeking Fish, stage 3:

Spoiler

You've got a recipe to cook a carp, but looking it over it calls for herbs and spices that you don't happen to have on hand. You're also not sure if they'd be worth getting - you have no idea how Xu might react to them. Usually they really enhance the flavor and are very healthy and everything, but you've got no idea whether Xu's taste would agree with the former or whether the rest of her body would agree with the latter. You decide to head over to the ward and see if Chi could possibly shed some light on this situation. It's a long shot, you feel like, but it can't hurt to ask.

Over at the ward Chi and Leon are both busy in the kitchen. Leon, looking like a bit of a nervous wreck, is busy trying to gut a crude Glamour of a carp as Chi instructs him to, with Leon having to put down his knife and wave around his wand to update the Glamour every step. You really hope those two are going to figure out what they're doing at some point in the near future, because unlike them you're making actual progress. Regardless, Chi (not to mention Leon) is more than happy to take a quick break and look over your recipe. "I think we might've had this exact seasoning before," Chi says. Leon still translates to make sure you understand her, but you feel like it's starting to become less and less necessary. You understood her just fine, you just needed Leon to confirm. "And even if we didn't I doubt Xu would care one way or another. She'll just eat anything, pretty much."

You nod and look at Leon, since this is pretty much his project and all. It doesn't take him any time to conclude that it's best to get the seasoning the recipe calls for. "I've got no real experience deviating from recipes or substituting ingredients or what have you. I can follow a recipe, assuming it's reasonably simple. That's it. I'm going to need everything a recipe calls for if I'm going to do that. Whether Xu likes it or not, who knows, but I'm sure it'd be better than whatever I'd come up with if I had to either skip steps or improvise."

That does sound like the better plan, yes, even if it means extra work for you. Of course you're a second year Academagia student, and at least a slightly exceptional one at that. Surely a task as simple as securing some common seasoning is not beyond your capabilities, right?

-Wilderness Survival. Harvest what you need out in the wild.
--Most students would probably frown upon you taking plants from the Imperial Reserve when you could just buy them in the Admiratio, but to them you say: "You first". Coughing up Pims for something you can get for free, that is.

Sneaking into the Imperial Reserve isn't really significant anymore. Honestly you've been doing this pretty casually ever since you were a first year, let stand now. As for finding what you're looking for, you know where to find edible plants. And how to tell the edible ones from the poisonous ones. Make no mistake, the Imperial Reserve is not a friendly place to find this kind of stuff, it's just a place where you can find this stuff. And only because you know how.

Indeed, it doesn't take long to find what you need and collect enough for a plate worth of cooked fish. Multiple, even. This will definitely be enough for Xu. And if not than you've got an entirely different problem on your hands anyway.

--You head out into the Imperial Reserve and start looking around for what you need. It takes some poking and prodding at various places, but once you get into the swing of things it's almost like you're shopping at the Admiratio. Except that out here you don't need a bag of Pims.

What you are going to need is a survival guide, because halfway through your expedition your hands start itching badly. Not long after that your hands are covered with red, irritated skin and a few blisters. Curses, you must have rooted around among poisonous plants without realizing. Well, great. You didn't even find what you came here for! What a grand waste of time...

-Negotiate. Buy it off the market for whatever Leon can afford to pay for it.
--You shake down Leon for however much he can afford to pay for seasoning, because you're not putting down your own money until Leon cooks for you, and head off to the Admiratio. There you quickly realize that Leon's allowance must have been reduced to nothing after the summer, because he's a few Pims short of a decent price. Still, that's merely a challenge for you to overcome, right?

It takes a desperate man and a promise of future business over at the Farmer's Market to get what you need for the price you've been given to afford, but at the end of the day you got what you came for and that's all that matters. You're just not going to tell the guy that Leon's business is worth about as much as an empty pocket, though. Don't want to needlessly break anyone's spirits...

--You run up and down the Admiratio multiple times, looking for a deal that's within your price range, but multiple merchants are not swayed by either your haggling or dramatic storytelling. Well, okay, one of them was impressed with your dramatic storytelling, but not impressed enough. Honestly he was probably only indulging you in the hopes that you'd buy something else.

Either Leon is going to have to wait on his next allowance (which, all things considered, you don't think he still has) or you're going to have to get better at working the markets, because you're not making any progress here and you're not putting down your own money until Leon promises to cook a plate of carp for you. Which, if his current attempts at butchering is any indication, you can honestly do without...

-Study Habits. Ask Professor Vickery about (cheaper) substitutes.
--You head off to the Academagia's greenhouse, where you find Professor Vickery closely examining the end term projects of a few senior Durand students. Thankfully he's not so busy with it that he can't lend you an ear, and after explaining the situation (as much as you can, at least) he nods appreciatively at your search for cheaper seasoning. "Too many students just ask me for a handout and consider the job done, uninterested in actually learning anything. But a student who's genuinely interested in learning, and to cook at that, I've got time for...cheaper seasoning for cooked fish, though, now there's a rare question. Still, it's one of those questions that tends to come up as a trivia question, so I'm sure I've got something for you. In fact, one moment..."

The professor quickly ducks into another section of the greenhouse and comes back with a thick root in his hand. He explains, in more detail than is strictly necessary, that the root he's holding is what you're looking for if you're looking for a cheap alternative for seasoning. Of course the reason they're cheaper is because they take actual effort to prepare to cook, but according to the professor it's a simple enough process. You ask exactly how they're prepared, and make sure you take detailed notes for Leon. You'll have to make sure to tell him about the root and give your notes to him later, but beyond that you don't think using this root will be a problem. Leon can prepare it. He better can if he can prepare a carp, at any rate.

As a rewards, or measure of thanks for actually paying attention and being interested in his craft, Professor Vickery even gives you his root to use. Score!

--You head to the Academagia's Greenhouse looking for Professor Vickery, and unfortunately you find him there grading senior Durand student projects. Needless to say that he doesn't have the time to lend your worries an ear. So instead you try asking the seniors. If they're seniors students you feel like they ought to at least know whether or not they can help you, and it can't hurt to ask.

All you get a bunch of nervous nods and requests to ask someone else. Write it down, this Class of Botany students is completely doomed. Guess you'll have to come back later.

If it seems as if these stages go by really quickly, they are. This is the victory lap portion of the adventure, so it's pretty much the point. Rest assured that unreasonable amounts of words will be back as soon as part two starts.

Edited by Metis
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The Lion Seeking Fish, stage 4:

Spoiler

That's the recipe and the seasoning secured. Next...right, finding where carp are are how to transport them to the Academagia. Capturing them isn't something you're concerned about, you should be able to do that easily enough with just a magical net. Oh, right, speaking of magic - the bone pins issue! Nearly forgot about that.

You should probably address that first. So...a spell to detect trace amounts of bone in meat, and extract said bone without ruining the meat in the process. Preferably Revision spells, as you've got no idea how difficult these spells will be to cast and Revision is definitely Leon's strength. Not that he's the best student, but...still. Either way that sounds like a tall order, and like the kind of spell you're not going to find in the Venalicium. Surely there must be a spell for it, though. At least you imagine that it's a common enough occurrence in cooking if not medical situations for someone to have devised a spell for it at some point. So where are you going to learn this spell?

-Library Knowledge. Check the Infirmary Library.
--Something that a surprising amount of students are not aware of is that the Infirmary actually has an attached library, albeit one that technically isn't open to students. The nurses don't particularly care about students going there to study their craft, however, they mostly only care about students getting in their way. So, to make sure that this goes as smoothly as possible, you flag down one of the nurses (thankfully the Infirmary seems to be mostly empty right now) and ask if she can help you find what you need. You're not sure that it's even located in the Infirmary Library, after all, so it can't hurt to ask.

"A spell to tell meat from bone, sure, that's one of the most basic chirurgery spells you can learn. You'll cast it whenever someone might have fractured something somewhere that's not easy to tell, and rest assured, that happens a lot more frequently than you'd think. A spell to remove bone fragments likewise. That one you don't cast as often, but it's an important spell to know whenever someone broke one of their bones. You don't want to leave fragments laying around in a patient's body, rest assured. I can show you where the relevant textbooks are in the library, so come along."

A better answer you could not have asked for. Needless to say that you make sure to quickly copy everything you need from these textbooks, enough to make sure that Leon can teach himself to learn these spells. They're even both Revision spells, and they seem simple enough for a reasonably trained first year to cast, so Leon should have no problem casting this stuff.

And if he does than you're going to have to ask Ana to teach him a lesson in humility, but that definitely won't be necessary. Probably...

--You swing by the infirmary and find that it appears to be quite busy. You're not sure what happened, but at a glance you see a lot of first years in mostly Morvidus uniforms, so maybe something went wrong during Zoology or Revision class? Eh, probably Revision, assuming that Professor Aventyrare is teaching that class again this year. Big and flashy she may prefer, but big and flashy the consequences of failure that makes...or something along those lines.

All told you decide that discretion is the better part of valor, and leave for now. You don't want to stick around in case whatever these students are here for turns out to be contagious, and with it being so busy you don't think you stand much of any chance at getting into the Infirmary Library without getting chased out by one of the Infirmary staff. You vaguely recall that it's not open to students, though it doesn't much matter because it definitely isn't open to students that end up in people's way, so...call this one a bust.

-Courage. Ask Gwendy Zuyder if she knows any spells like that.
--Another profession where being able to distinguish meat from bone would be useful, you imagine, is taxidermy. And that's something that, if you remember right, Gwendy has some experience with. Or at the very least she should be able to point you in the right direction, either works for you. So you head off to Godina campus and start asking around for her. Turns out, however, that you honestly needn't have bothered - Gwendy finds you before you find her. She asks what you want, and you explain, pretty directly, what you're looking for. There's a flash of recognition on Gwendy's face that, sadly, gets replaced by confusion all too quickly. "Wait, hang on, so you started out the year taking pity on Girars and putting him on his ill-fated path towards trying to push the staff to offer a vegetarian menu option, and now you're looking to stuff a few animals? What? You know, I've heard whispers of you being involved in some weird stuff, but I never thought those rumors were worth anything before. What happened?"

"Nothing, Gwendy-well, stuff happened, but nothing you need to worry about. Point is that I need a spell to remove small bone pins from carp meat before cooking it, without ruining the meat in the process, and I was hoping that you could help me. Oh, carp is a kind of fish, if you didn't know."

Gwendy, looking no less confused, slowly nods her head. "Ah-hah...alright. I mean I can help you with that, I've never used it for cooking before but I do know the spells you're looking for. That said, do you think you've got the guts to learn it? This isn't magic you can practice on your hands, to put it gently."

You roll your eyes. "Gwendy, I've seen far worse things than your family's trophy collection already. I'll be fine, don't worry about me."

Gwendy, with a thin smirk that she really shouldn't either have or at least show, nods and promises that she'll "take good care of you". And indeed, she does do her best to teach you the ins and outs of the spells she uses, as well as how you could possibly modify it to better suit your needs. They're both Revision spells, as you were hoping for, so Leon should be able to handle this no problem. Of course, you make sure to take detailed notes nevertheless. As much as you can handle Gwendy's approach to teaching it's still not something that you'd prefer to have to experience more than once if you can help it.

--Another profession where being able to distinguish meat from bone would be useful, you imagine, is taxidermy. And that's something that, if you remember right, Gwendy has some experience with. Or at the very least she should be able to point you in the right direction, either works for you. So you head off to Godina campus and start asking around for her. Turns out, however, that you honestly needn't have bothered - Gwendy finds you before you find her. She asks what you want, and you explain, pretty directly, what you're looking for. There's a flash of recognition on Gwendy's face that, sadly, gets replaced by confusion all too quickly. "Wait, hang on, so you started out the year taking pity on Girars and putting him on his ill-fated path towards trying to push the staff to offer a vegetarian menu option, and now you're looking to stuff a few animals? What? You know, I've heard whispers of you being involved in some weird stuff, but I never thought those rumors were worth anything before. What happened?"

"Nothing, Gwendy-well, stuff happened, but nothing you need to worry about. Point is that I need a spell to remove small bone pins from carp meat before cooking it, without ruining the meat in the process, and I was hoping that you could help me. Oh, carp is a kind of fish, if you didn't know."

Gwendy, looking no less confused, slowly nods her head. "Ah-hah...alright. I mean I can help you with that, I've never used it for cooking before but I do know the spells you're looking for. That said, do you think you've got the guts to learn it? This isn't magic you can practice on your hands, to put it gently."

...Oh. Oh. Eh...that's a complication you didn't foresee, actually. And given how Leon reacted to him gutting that Glamour of a carp you're not going to be able to send him in your stead, either. That's, eh...that's unfortunate. Gwendy, unsurprisingly, notices your nerves and pointedly remarks that she'd be happy to teach you a thing or two, but after you've proven that you can manage to keep a straight face around her hobby as well as you can tolerate Girars' frequent ramblings.

That, as they say, sounds like a challenge. Probably. Your priority is to find the spell you need, not prove yourself to your peers, though, so...ah, whatever. If Gwendy wants to throw a gauntlet down than the game is on!

I sure hope Wikipedia didn't lie to me about the characteristics of carp, because otherwise I'm about to look like a massive fool.

Edited by Metis
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The Lion Seeking Fish, stage 5:

Spoiler

With some significant progress under your belt you decide to head to the ward and see how things are progressing there. Also to store the seasoning you got, since there's no reason for you to hold on to it when it'll eventually get used in the ward's kitchen anyway.

From the looks of it Leon is getting a handle on Chi's techniques, as well as Glamour. He looks less like a nervous wreck than he did earlier. Walking up to the two of them to check their work up close only confirms that observation. "We've basically reached the point where we can't do anything more without actual carp to practice on," Leon notes, with Chi nodding suspiciously hard at that behind him. "How are things on your end? Did you find the seasoning we'll need?"

"Found that, as well as the spells to detect and remove the bits of bone from the carp's meat. Here's all the notes you'll need, I know you can't exactly test things too well without a carp to cook but get to practising anyway." Leon readily takes your notes and reads them over, but you already know that they're not beyond his skills.

"Is that everything?" Chi asks. "What else are we-well, you two missing to go out there and bring me-eh, to prepare, you know what I mean, a bunch of carp?"

Let it be known that an eyebrow was raised at that, but you decide to let it go for now. More important things to focus on for the moment. "Not quite. We still need to figure out where carp can be found, how to capture them, and how to deliver them to the Academagia. It might be a long trip to the nearest lake or river where carp are, and I don't know how long they'll stay outside the water."

"Generally not very long, according to the biologist' overview of fish I used for that carp Glamour," Leon notes as he continues reading, eyes glued to the parchment like they're never coming off. "If you dry them out and salt them, sure, but of course we don't want to do that. Especially since we're not exactly in the middle of the cold seasons anymore we're going to have to bring the lake - or the river, whichever - to the Academagia, pretty much."

"Surely it won't be that complicated. Can't we just get a big fish tank? Use magic to maintain a bubble of water, something?" Leon nods, but points out that you shouldn't underestimate how heavy water is - a fish tank large enough for "a bunch" of carp would be big and heavy, especially to carry around for an hour. Incantation he has no real experience with, but he imagines that juggling a bunch of carp in a massive water bubble and keeping them in there, across a large distance, is probably going to be more difficult than not. There's also the fact that this entire plan hasn't exactly been approved by any professor, so however you two are going to end up getting carp into the Academagia it's preferably going to be a way that's not going to attract attention. Which a giant bubble will. "Point taken, but by that logic it's not as if we can haul in a giant fish tank and have no one ask questions either. Especially if you are going to end up hauling the tank, since you're somewhat of a noticeable person as of late."

"Can either of you two magic your way through windows?" Chi suddenly asks a bit out of nowhere. Pointing at one of the many windows lining the top of the walls she adds, "If so, why not smuggle them in through those?"

...Where, exactly, is this ward located again? You know how to walk to it from inside, but where on the Academagia's Ground is it on the outside? You imagine you can figure that out, so going through the windows might be an option? You imagine this place is very well protected against any sort of intrusion, though. It's not just students that the professors, Badcrumble especially, are afraid of breaking in here...

"Going through the windows isn't an option, but come to think of it there is a back door we can use," Leon notes, surprising you a bit. Of course you immediately ask if anyone has tried to sneak into here through that door before, and if not why no one did. "Oh, people have tried. But what most don't realize is that that door has a similar spell cast on it as my Gaes. Basically anyone who manages to break the lock can go through, take in the deserted hallway that lies beyond, and draw their own conclusions as to why they thought it would lead to something interesting in the first place. That spell is hard to detect, too, since it's set up to look like the usual burglary detection spells that students don't trigger, and the few who even suspect there's something amiss will have a hard time doing something about it. It shouldn't trigger for either of us, though, since we're allowed to be here. And even if it did I'm pretty sure we wouldn't forget why we ended up there with a tank full of carp so easily. Hell, you've proven yourself capable of breaking through better spells before, so I'm sure we'll be fine."

True, but all the same you'd rather not have to repeat that trick if you can avoid it. Still, Leon's right, if nothing else a tank worth of carp should be sufficient reminder of what you were doing. So that solves that problem (that you didn't even realize existed before). Next, how to transport carp to that back door reasonably, and preferably without making a dozen trips?

-Negation. Levitating fish tank.
--You look around for the nearest heavy object, and your eyes land on one of the chairs in the reading corner. Would those be about as heavy as a large fish tank? You haven't the slightest clue, but it'll suffice for testing purposes anyway.

You tell Leon that carrying around a fish tank won't be that hard, and to prove your point use your wand to make one of the chairs levitate off the ground, all the way up to the window. Chi stares at your really basic and simple trick with wide eyes, like someone who's never seen magic before.

"Impressive," Leon says, nodding his head at the chair that suddenly took flight. "Can you really hold it in place like that for, what, an hour at least, though? And while moving across wilderness, albeit fairly tame wilderness? What do you think, are you up to test that theory?"

"Let's not, spend that time finding an actual fish tank instead because I don't happen to have one of those on hand, and say we did."

There's about two seconds of silence before Leon has an answer ready for you. "Deal. And don't worry about finding one, I happen to know a good place to look..."

--You look around for the nearest heavy object, and your eyes land on one of the chairs in the reading corner. Would those be about as heavy as a large fish tank? You haven't the slightest clue, but it'll suffice for testing purposes anyway.

You tell Leon that carrying around a fish tank won't be that hard, and to prove your point use your wand to make one of the chairs lift slightly into the air. It's, eh, a bit wobbly on it's non-existent surface, but hey, it's off the ground.

"It's a start, but we can't have a fish tank wobble so much. All the water would spill out," Leon notes as Chi walks over to the levitating, unintentional rocking chair and curiously looks it over, like a child would cautiously approach an animal she's never seen before. Either sadly or thankfully she doesn't take a seat in it, because that could have been fun.

As for using this as a solution, unfortunately Leon is right. You're going to have to put in more work before this is a viable option. Still, it's an option. And a bit of study shouldn't be an impossible task for a student...

-Incantation. Floating fish bubble.
--You take out your wand and conjure a floating bubble of water, which Chi ends up staring a bit amazed and bewildered at, while you try to explain to Leon that maintaining this bubble for an hour isn't difficult at all.

"Good to hear, but what about keeping the fish from swimming out? Isn't that going to be a problem?"

You shake your head and assure Leon that it won't. There's ways to add barriers to water bubbles, both physical and improvised ones, that will repel fish, and you know how to create such things. You can't exactly show off that you can, not without a fish to use as a test subject, but you're confident that you can manage.

Thankfully Leon is willing to believe you on that confidence, so the plan to use a magic water bubble to transport the fish is ready to go.

--You take out your wand and conjure a floating bubble of water, which Chi ends up staring a bit amazed and bewildered at, though Leon looks less than impressed. "Good start, but what about keeping the fish from swimming out? Is there a way to prevent them from doing that? Because I don't think putting them back by hand is a viable option, honestly."

"I, eh, was honestly counting on the fish not wanting to, you know, die to keep them in the water bubble. Is that not something we can count on?" Chi and Leon both nod their heads. Curses, your perfect plan ruined by the suicidal curiosity of a fish!

You'll have to figure out a way to keep the fish from swimming out, if you're going to use this plan...

-Revision. Temporarily shift the fish into smaller forms.
--It's curious, and slightly annoying, that you have to point this out to a former Morvidus student, but you pull out your wand and explain that you two could simply shift the fish into smaller, more easily carried forms temporarily. An opposite of Sergei's Timely Doorjam, basically.

"Of course I thought about that, the problem is that I have no idea if I could cast that spell properly and then maintain it for long enough. I've only ever used such spells on inanimate objects before, and needless to say I'm not as familiar with still living fish."

Okay, that's a fair concern, maintaining that spell for however long it takes to run back to the Academagia. You're confident you're skilled enough to pull it off, however, and in absence of a better plan Leon is willing to go along with it. You'd prove that you're able to do it, but unfortunately that'd require either an actual fish to test your spells on, or the closet substitute you're able to find, which would be Chi in her mermaid form.

Somehow you don't think Chi would approve of being a test subject, nor would you want to use a shapeshifter as a test subject for shapeshifting magic because that just sounds like it could go all kinds of wrong, so...not even going to bother asking.

It'll be fine, though. You know Revision, you know you can do this.

--You ask Leon if he can't simply use his Revision spells to turn the fish into amphibians, or at least smaller fish temporarily. Long enough to transport them to the Academagia. Sadly he shakes his head. "I thought about that, of course, the problem is that I don't know if I could cast such a spell and maintain it. I've only ever used such spells on inanimate objects before, and needless to say I'm not as familiar with still living fish..."

Yeah, fish aren't the most common things for students to try their Revision spells on. And maintaining those forms for however long it'd take to get back to the Academagia...yeah, you can see why Leon would be hesitant to try using his magic to solve this problem. You're no more confident in your Revision spells, either, as basic as an inverse Sergei's Timely Doorjam is you're less sure about maintaining a spell for that long. And on organisms you rarely have a chance to use them on, too.

It's doable, it's certainly doable, but this is going to take some research and practice to work...

Unfortunately no option to Gates the fish to the Academagia, because of course someone would notice that happening.

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The Lion Seeking Fish, stage 6:

Spoiler

Every piece that you can see (as well as several that you couldn't) are in place, all that's left is to find the carp and capture them. The latter problem you imagine can be solved by throwing a net, and if that doesn't work than you've got no idea what will without seeing what causes the net idea to fail, so...a problem you'll have to solve later, if it comes up. As for where to find them in the first place, that's a bit more tricky.

"That biologist's guide to fish only mentioned that carp exist 'on Elumia'. No specific lake or river was pointed out as far as I could find," Leon notes. "I don't suppose you've already come across a lake or river where we can find carp, by chance?"

Unfortunately not. They're definitely not in the Canal of Snows or Lake Ardica, you'd know if they were, and you don't recall seeing any fish in Ten Swans' Lake either. Hmm...seems like this is a situation where you're going to have to head out into the great, wide world and find yourself some carp. At least, you can't imagine that any of your Classmates would know the habitat of a specific fish. How to approach this problem, than? How to find where these fish are hiding?

-Explore. Just head out and look everywhere.
--The only way to find something is to look for it, and so you drag along a less confident than you'd like Leon with you into the great, wild unknown...insofar that a large patch of grass and dirt within view of the Academagia can be considered such...in search of a river or lake that houses the fish that you seek.

'Tis a long and...arguous? Argeous? What's that fancy word for "difficult" again? Whatever, it's an ar-something journey across plains, through forests and over mountains, none of which pose any sort of threat to your spellcasting capabilities, until you finally come across a lake that has what you seek.

--How else are you going to find something but by looking for it? So, dragging Leon along, you set out for what might be a long trek across the Elumian wilderness...insofar that the area around Mineta can be called such. Really more of an extended park with fewer than normal guarantees of not walking into something unsavory, but sometimes you'll take monsters over pickpockets. At least the former tend to announce their presence, giving you a fair chance of running away like the scared child you'd really rather not be, but not having your arms broken is nice too.

Unfortunately the long search turns out fruitless. Plenty of lakes and rivers around, what with the mountains nearby, but none of them seem to have carp in them. Perhaps you should try looking in a different area or perhaps you're just unlucky, but either way this is either going to take more stubborn looking or a more organized approach.

-Patrol. An organized search will work best.
--You grab a map of the nearby area and quickly section it off, work out a patrol pattern for you and Leon to follow to cover the maximum amount of distance, and head off. Leon seems entirely unfamiliar and uncomfortable with this sort of approach, as you'd expect from someone who's greatest claim to fame is an act that "desperation" does not begin to describe, but he'll do his best to follow along if it increases the chance of him finding his precious carp.

After a while spend searching across what is, by now, pretty familiar and safe territory, the bad news is that Leon doesn't find what you two are looking for. The good news, however...

--You quickly decide on a basic plan of action, and send a weary but willing to play along Leon out into the great wild as you go your own path. Admittedly that makes it a bit hard to get in contact with him, as you later realize, but so long as it ends up with someone finding a carp that's fine, right? And splitting up means covering more ground, so someone is bound to find a carp faster than you two would otherwise.

In theory.

In practice neither of you, after a long time spend searching around somewhat randomly and haphazardly, manage to locate the fish you're looking for. You really hope this speaks more about your ability to search and less of the age of the books in the Venalicium, because if it's the latter this is going to be a very long and very fruitless search indeed...

-Astrology. Apply some magic to this problem.
--Finding water is one of the oldest Astrology tricks in the book, and now that you're a second year you're able to adapt that spell to track carp instead. You'll freely admit that adapting it to a non-aquatic creature would take more effort, perhaps too much effort, but that's not a concern for you right now. What's a concern for you right now is following your wand-turned-dowsing rod and seeing where it'll lead you.

Because, if you're right, it'll lead you right to a...what's the term for a group of fish again, a flock? No, that's not it...whatever, it'll lead you to a multitude of carp, is the point.

--You try to use the tried and true Astrology method of finding stuff, but unfortunately you're not able to receive any visions that are distinct enough to make out. Just wilderness all around with no good reference point of where it actually is, not even one of the Academagia's tower sticking out in the background.

Either you're going to have to get really familiar with the outlying wilderness, in which case you can probably just look for carp with the two eyes you were born with rather than the third one that's not doing you a whole lot of good right now, or you're going to have to think of a different way to leverage your spellcasting into a solution to this problem...

Next stage is when the victory lap ends and things go back to being, for me, an ordinary adventure. I'm sure that I'll end up missing these really basic and simple to type stages sooner rather than later...

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The Lion seeking Fish, stage 7:

Spoiler

"Leon, over here!"

Less than two seconds after you call out to Leon you see dirt go flying in the corner of your eye. And upon seeing the (rightfully terrified) carp swimming away from him his expression lands on something that you don't think he's shown (or really felt) since basically the end of the last academic year - undisguised, genuine joy.

...It'd look more flattering if Leon didn't look half mad at the same time, admittedly. But hey, it's a step in the right direction.

"Fantastic! Let's get to catching, did you bring a net?"

"I assumed that we won't need one," you start to say as Leon, without any announcement or prompt, gleefully rips a giant fishing net out of his knapsack. What Gates magic he used to stuff that thing in there you've no idea, nor where he even got that thing in the first place, but at least he came prepared. "And never mind about the rest I suppose. So do you have any idea how to actually use that thing? Because if you think it's going to be as simple as 'just toss it in the water' I think you're going to be sorely disappointed."

"Don't need to," Leon confidently answers as he tosses the net straight into the water. Visibly it doesn't seem to do anything, so you start to wonder how you're going to tell this guy, who's a year older than you, that fishing doesn't work like that. But once again you're made to eat your words as out of nowhere you see a dozen-odd carp suddenly swim towards the net and catch themselves in it. From there Leon walks up to the net and happily tells you to get them ready to transport back to the Academagia. Which you will, but...some things deserve to be asked first.

"What the hell what that, Leon!? Fishing does not work that way!" is all your mind can make of that question. You'd be more polite about it, but seriously, what the hell.

"A magic fishing net. What, don't you have one of those?" If there's a joke in there than it's lost on you. Thankfully Leon picks up on that fact pretty quickly. "Fine, fine. Honestly one of the librarians over at the Venalicium let me borrow it. I needed help finding that biologist's guide to fish, and this net is one of those things collecting dust in the Venalicium most of the time. The librarian that helped me was happy to lend it to me so it'd finally see some actual use again, and I definitely wasn't turning that offer down."

You've heard stories about weird stuff that students manage to find or otherwise "acquire" from the Venalicium, but this...eh, could you really say this is more random than a violin? Or that it's the fifth-weirdest thing you've seen so far this year? Not really, in either case. And it's very much helpful right now, so...sure. Let's not look the gifted horse in the mouth, as much as it looks more like an elephant than a horse...

With the carp captured things proceed according to plan. You transport the carp you've caught as planned, get them to the girls without attracting undue attention by going through the back door, and Leon...well, no Gods can help the fist two fish he attempts to prepare, you feel like, but his third attempt onward is successful. A little bit of testing and fine-tuning was required, but beyond that he's fine. The spell you found to clear the fish' meat of the bone pins is successfully used as well, the meat is cooked according to the recipe you found, the necessary seasoning is right where you stashed it in the kitchen earlier...and eventually Leon, who looks like an absolute mess and a half, is ready with a plate of cooked fish. The smell is...something, alright. Not something that you're used too at all, but Chi stares at Leon's plate with a hungry look in her eyes and watering mouth. So you assume that it passes the test.

"Time to deliver this to Xu," Leon happily says as he looks over the fruits-or, rather, the fried fish of his labor. Again, it's none too flattering given the slightly half-mad look to it, but the little schemer just looks so happy right now. "[PC FIRST NAME], Chi, thanks for all the help, I couldn't have done it without you two. I don't know how or when I can pay back the favor, but I owe you two one."

You nod and tell Leon not to keep Xu waiting, which sends him running. Chi, however, mutters something underneath her breath that causes you to pause and stare curiously at the downcast girl looking glumly at the floor in front of her. Of course with Leon gone he isn't here to translate for you, but...you feel like you can hold your own in a conversation at this point. And it seems like one needs to be had here.

-Talk to Chi.
--Calling out Chi's name snaps her out of her slump and causes her to nervously look around. Until her eyes land on you, staring curiously at her. "Wh-what, [PC FIRST NAME]? D-don't...you have things you need to do?"

The question sounds neutral enough, but as you continue to stare curiously (or suspiciously) at Chi you notice her throwing a nervous glance over at the kitchen. The smell of cooked fish (and Leon's prior attempts to get to that point) still hangs in the air, it's so thick you can taste it. And as you realize that you realize something else - the hungry look in Chi's eyes is still there. You're getting the distinct impression that if you leave her alone that she's going to make off with some of the fish. Admittedly Leon brought too much for just Xu anyway, so that's really not a problem in that respect, but why this...deception? "Go and take a seat at the table, Chi. I'll get you a plate of cooked fish."

Chi doesn't seem to believe you at first, but after telling her that Leon's first two catches would just go to waste otherwise she runs through a number of different emotions before eventually reigning herself in, and doing as you asked. And even than she's unable to stay still, like a little kid she's jumping off the walls in her seat while you're cooking the fish.

What is going on here?

That was a nice vacation while it lasted. Now, back to words. Many, many words...

Edited by Metis
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The Lion Seeking Fish, stage 8:

Spoiler

Over at the girls' kitchen you look past the sight of the trash bin topped with a layer of leftover fish bits, not to mention the smell thereof, and cook up your own plate of fish. It's honestly a simple task - the recipe isn't difficult to follow, there's oddly cut (but otherwise perfectly usable) slices of meat left over from Leon's failed attempts at butchering for you to cook, and the spell to remove the bits of bone isn't so hard that you're unable to cast it yourself. It's a slow process as you work carefully and meticulously to make sure you get everything right, removing the bits of bone especially, but beyond that the fish practically cooks itself. Actually, it sort of literally does. As it turns out this kitchen works on enchantments and magic, so the fish really does cook itself in a way. With everything proceeding smoothly you soon find yourself with a plate worth of cooked fish. Admittedly in the form of a larger number of more geometrically challenged slices than you should, but presentation isn't something you're concerned with here. It's perfectly fine to eat, that's what matters here. You put the cooked fish on a plate, grab a fork and knife, and bring everything over to Chi.

Once Chi's eyes land on the plate you're bringing over her gaze locks to it, from you walking over from the kitchen to you putting the plate down on the small table in front of her Chi is not paying any attention to anything else. Once the plate is put down Chi takes one whiff of the cooked fish before she turns her head and stares at you with a conflicted expression. What's going on in her mind you're not sure, but you tell her to dig in as you sit down next to her. Chi blushes, looks at the food for one silent moment, and then starts to digs in as her hunger seems to take control of her. The fork you brought actually ends up being knocked off the table and clattering on the ground, thankfully not landing in your foot in the process.

You patiently wait until Chi is fully and completely done eating, up to and including licking the plate clean in fact, and after that wait some more to give her a chance to start. She doesn't, however. She just stares lost, confused and disbelieving at the empty plate in front of her. Whatever just happened is something that took Chi by surprise as much as it did you, it seems like. Which is all the more reason for you to brave the language barrier and at least try to get an answer out of her. "Chi, what's wrong? Why are you starving? Does Professor Badcrumble not provide enough food for the two of you? Three of you, rather?"

Chi slowly turns her head and looks a bit lost and hopeless at you. At the mention of Professor Badcrumble, however, she twitches. "D-don't ask," she quietly answer, bitterness audible in her voice if not her words. "You wouldn't-" she starts to add, but her words end up stuck in her throat when her eyes wander and land on the empty plate of food you brought her. After that Chi falls eerily silent.

"I would if you tried your best to explain yourself, Chi," you say as reassuringly as you can. It seems to work too, because Chi's earlier blush quickly returns in full force. "What's going on here? Why are you starving? And what's going on between you and Professor Badcrumble?"

Chi looks between you and the empty plate of food several times, lost in her own thoughts, weighing things you can't even begin to fathom. But you give her time to think, and after a tense moment spend in silence Chi's tense body slowly relaxes. "I can't trust her," she quietly answers, glancing at you through the corner of her eye. "Do you understand why?" You shake your head, and ask Chi to explain why she doesn't. "Because she's powerless. Powerless to remove the one who had us kidnapped, and brought here. Who had Xu's egg - Fang - taken from her, and prepared to be served as an exotic delicacy to her guests. Powerless to stop Leon from running all over her supposed authority, even. Yet she continues to praise those 'New Gods' of hers without end. Those that overthrew and drove out the Dragons responsible for the Second Captivity and tyranny this place suffered under because of them, and replaced with their own rulership. Their own empire, with their own system of laws and order. That which grant the professor the authority she claims to have...but doesn't. She comes across like she's gone mad. Like she became the monster she once hunted. I can't trust her."

...You don't have a counter-argument for that. You know Professor Badcrumble isn't like that, doesn't intend to come across like that at the very least, but...yeah. You can't, with a straight face, say that she simply does not have the authority and power she wishes she did. Leon is proof enough of that. "And because of that you refuse to ask her for more food?" Chi nods, staring intently at you with a weary expression. You can tell that it's not easy for her to trust you, and she's afraid of you saying something that proves she shouldn't. Better choose your words carefully. "She provides you with shelter and clothes, and at least some amount of food already, though. What is so hard about asking her for more? If there's a reason, please, tell me."

"Food is more important to us than it is to landbound. Or 'humans', if you prefer..." Chi starts to explain. Though after she trails off she stares at you with narrowed eyes. She wants you to answer her unspoken question, as a test. Thankfully it's a very obvious and straightforward one. You shrug and tell Chi to use the terms she's comfortable with, and promise that you'll ask if you need any of them explained to you. Of which "landbound" is not one of, that one speaks for itself fairly well. Chi smirks at your answer, but it's not just a mischievous one. There's a hint of something else there as well, though you're not sure what. And right now you don't dare guess. "The reason why food is more important for us is because it's all we really need. Traditionally, at least. Landbound need food and water, shelter against rain and snow, clothes against sun and wind...they need a lot of things, constantly, to survive. We only need food, the water provides us the rest, and even than we don't need food every day like landbound do. So long as we've got enough in us we can keep going...or at least so things were in the past. We can't follow the water like we used to, follow the warmth when the seasons change, so these days we also need either magic or shelter to survive the cold. All the same, though, food is still more important to us than it is to landbound. Accepting something so important from someone you can't trust, especially when you really need it...it's a difficult thing to do."

Several questions flying around in your head right now, and you're not sure with which one to start. You suppose you'll go with the one that's the most basic and straightforward, and possibly bothering you the most right now even if it shouldn't. "Is there a word for your kind, like you call humans 'landbound'?" Chi nods and explains that there's a number of different terms, some considered more insulting than others, but the general one is "seabound". "Seaborn" is probably the second most common term used, although some take it to be a sign of ignorance, or worse, when used by a landbound, since they're insistent on the terminology that seabound aren't born, but hatched. Most don't care to make that distinction, though. "Mermaids" is also an acceptable term, if prone to confusion should a non-shapeshifter mermaid enter the conversation, so for that reason it's not preferred. "Alright. Than, forgive me if this is a rude thing to ask, or if I don't know how to ask it properly, but do you think of yourself as a human?"

"I know what you're referring to, but it's not something I ever think about. Or really know what to think about. I'll try to answer anyway, though: I see myself as a seabound, and people like you as a landbound. The same people, but different in that they have different places they call home. Does that answer your question?"

That does answer that question, yes. So as for the next one...perhaps a bit risky, but you should be fine so long as you watch what you say. "What was living in your home like? I've only heard hushed whispers and vague rumors about it, as I'm sure you've heard about this place, so...what was it really like?"

Chi, too hesitant to answer that question right away, first asks you if you can promise that you won't judge her for her answer. You nod, without any doubt or hesitation whatsoever. Chi blushes a bit at how quickly you agreed to that, and asks you to make good on that promise. Based on her relatively friendly tone, compared to the bitter undertone she started with at least, you'd guess that she's starting to trust you a bit. She seems eager to talk about her homeland, actually, like it's something she's been wanting to get off her chest. "To be honest, hushed whispers and vague rumors is all I've heard too. I never saw the world above the water until I was...brought here. I never had a chance to explore my home below the surface either. I had to help out at home every day, and work at a job as soon as I was able to." It's hard to believe that someone could be so ignorant about their own homeland, but in hindsight it makes sense. Of course the ones who'd get kidnapped and smuggled to a faraway place are those that no one significant would come looking for, so...someone from the town or city's slums. It's sad to think about, but it's what it is. "I heard about Dragons back home, the scaled creatures that the professor hates so much. That everyone here hates so much, even Leon. They're responsible for the seabound being able to live below the water, since their magic keeps the water warm during the cold seasons. We wouldn't be able to survive otherwise, since we can't follow the water like we used to. But I never saw one before, or met one. As far as I know they never come beneath the water, if there's something they need than their servants come to them, or they send one of their servants down to us. I overheard hushed whispers about them from my peers, though. Rumors about how apparently they're responsible for why our lives were so full of hardship, and why we never had anything to spare. As far as Leon told me, though, this city has places and people just like that too, and no Dragons ruling it. So I don't know whether they're really responsible or not."

"History doesn't paint a very pretty picture of them, needless to say. But than I guess you never went to any kind of school to study that sort of stuff, did you?" Chi slowly shakes her head and clarifies that schools like the Academagia don't exist in her old home town. She, like everyone else, received all the training she needed from her village, her family and at her job. That was the only form of education that anyone could ever get, or need. "That's why you see Professor Badcrumble as someone who went mad? Because she keeps trying to force you to believe that Dragons are irredeemable tyrants responsible for so much sorrow and hardship, in contrast to the New Gods that she props up as perfect figures of law and order, despite the fact that the one responsible for everything you and Xu went through wasn't a Dragon?"

Again Chi nods, and she lets out a sigh of what you can only assume is relief. "Yes, that's why. She, and Leon too told us time and time again how important it is that we follow those convictions, that we do our best to fit in. Because people are afraid of strangers that don't believe what they do. Which I can understand, I'm no less afraid of them than they are of me. But I'm more afraid of them that I'm sure they've ever been afraid of anything else in their lives. So trying to force that whole idea on us just makes everyone seem like the kind of mad cultist that the professor is afraid we'd be mistaken for. To believe so feverishly in something that so clearly isn't true, to continue to claim it's there when Leon rubs it's in her face that it's not, all because those that we are more afraid of than they ever could be of us would condemn us for it...she must be mad. All of them must be mad..."

That is...a problem, to say the least. It's clear that there's a lot more going on than just this lack of food, a lot more that you're going to need to do than just ask Professor Badcrumble to give the girls more food. A lot more. And given how much of Chi's trust you seem to have earned it seems like that's something only you, maybe Leon can do. You doubt that Chi would confide her feeling on this subject to Leon, though. It might just have to be you. That's not something you're going to be able to address before the end of this academic year, though. It might not be something you can address until after the Madame faces the law's judgement for her crimes, even. Until that point...the best you could do is do your best to earn Chi's, as well as Xu's trust. Professor Badcrumble is not going to be able to get a word in here, not until her delaying, and failing to achieve some manner of resolution to the girls' case is justified. And that is going to be a steep hill to climb, despite her having rescued the girls from their predicament in every other respect.

The best way for you to proceed here would be to properly, fully resolve this issue of Chi's lack of food. You understand that it's a more important, more delicate subject to her than it is to you. That she can go for days, weeks, maybe months even...? Probably not months, actually, but-some amount of time without eating, is the point. Longer than you could without magical assistance, and that she will attempt to rely on that before asking Professor Badcrumble for help. More than she should, and more than she can. That has to stop. But would asking Professor Badcrumble for more food really solve this issue completely? You're going to have to find out if that's the case, and then solve whatever problem comes up because it is not going to be that easy. Let's just be realistic here, it is not going to be that easy. So how to proceed from here...

-Empathy. Try to suss out how Chi is feeling.
--"Alright...I see the problem here, and honestly I can see where you're coming from too." That assurance confuses Chi, but you're confident that she believes you. She looks tense and you don't doubt that she's scared, because of the situation she's in as well as the fact that you're confronting her about it, but despite being driven into a corner she doesn't see you as an enemy. "So, about this lack of food issue, I take it that you'd prefer if I talk to Professor Badcrumble about it?" Chi nods, but from her expression you can tell there's more to this story than just that. As you expected. "Is there anything else you need my help with?"

Chi initially shakes her head, but you give her a look that makes it clear you know she's hiding something. It sends Chi back into her own thoughts, like before, but you give her time to think. And, like before, her tension slowly fades away. "Just to check...Leon didn't tell you anything about our social norms, did he?" Chi quietly asks, staring wearily at you. You shake your head and confirm that he didn't, but you're more than willing to listen. Curious, even, to the point where you ask Chi to explain herself. Once again she blushes, but this time there's a thin smile on her face too. Like she's embarrassed to discuss her feelings with a friend, and less like she's afraid to share it with a stranger, and possibly being rejected. You hope that's the case, at least. "R-right. Well, the truth is that we...really need someone to cook for us. Me especially."

It takes you a second to realize, but it makes sense that this is a big thing to ask for Chi. If food is more important to her than it follows that cooking for someone is as well. And a problem, come to think of it. "Neither you or Xu have any idea what all of the landbound vegetables, fruits and meats really are, or how to cook them?" Chi nods and explains that the only food she and Xu both ever had back home was seaweed and fish. That said they've figured a few things out since they first arrived here, they're not as ignorant as they once were, but even so they don't really know how to cook anything. Leon got them a cookbook a while back and translated it for them as best he could, and they've gotten everything out of it that they could, but it just isn't enough. Especially for Chi, which is a bit of information that you maybe shouldn't pounce on, but it needs to be asked. "Why is this matter especially important to you? I'd have assumed that Xu would be more concerned about it, considering that she's got Fang to feed. Do you get sick from certain landbound food?"

Chi shakes her head. "I wish that was it, honestly." You'll admit, not the answer you were expecting. "I don't get sick from any of it, I'm just a really picky eater. It's not just landbound food either, I've been crying and complaining about my food ever since I was old enough to eat seaweed. I don't know how Xu does it, eating anything and everything you give her, but I can't do it. My body just rejects certain things, I don't know why but I can't eat it. Digest it, yes, but I can't eat it. Not unless I force myself to."

Huh...part of you wants to say that must be because the girls don't know how to cook their food properly, that'd certainly do it, but if it's been the case since before Chi was taken here and Xu doesn't have any issues with her food, cooked improperly or not, than...yes, this would have to be a problem specific to Chi. It's a little hard to believe that she's "just" a picky eater, though. Refusing to eat something you don't like is one thing, you're no stranger to that yourself, but actively starving yourself is quite another...but than you suppose that might not be the case for someone who doesn't necessarily need to eat every day? It's a difficult thing to judge, and for now you think it'd be best if you put off those questions until later. "I see...and given that food is so important for you, especially now that you really need it, I take it that someone cooking for you is as well. In that case, how about I try to cook for you?"

--As far as you can tell Chi is roughly two parts embarrassed by you cooking for her, and three parts scared of this whole situation. Not to mention that she seems to be on the brink of starvation, which is weighing on her as well. Perhaps the best answer here is to take a break, give her time to process what all happened so far and give yourself the chance to cook for her again later. She clearly needs it, and you don't think one plate of cooked fish will keep her going for very long.

It's not really a long-term solution, you don't have infinite fish to cook for Chi or infinite time to do so, but if it'll end her ravenous hunger for a moment it should make it easier to talk to you.

-Character Study. Ask Chi for a solution.
--"That is quite the situation you're in...but, back to the food issue, what do you think should be done about it? How do you think it could be solved, exactly?" Chi responds that she doesn't know, which you can tell is a bold-faced lie. She stares at the empty plate before her, her answer to your question written all over her face. Or, rather, right in front of her. "Chi, whatever makes this situation so difficult for you, I'll understand if you try to explain. So please, if you're not going to share the answer that's written all over your face explain to me why it's so difficult for you to ask."

Chi slowly turns her head to look at you, and silently nods. It's a difficult thing for her, sharing her feelings and culture like this, but she genuinely wants to. Give her a listening ear, and she'll talk. "Food is more important to us than it is to landbound...and so is cooking. That's what we need right now, though. Me especially. We really need someone to cook for us."

Cook...? Oh, that's right - neither Chi or Xu have any idea what all of the landbound food that Professor Badcrumble is supplying them even is, much less how to cook them. And cook them in a magic kitchen, at that. So of course-now you get it! "Right, I see. Though, why is it especially important for you? Do you get sick from trying to eat certain food?"

Chi shakes her head. "I wish that was it, honestly." You'll admit, not the answer you were expecting. "I don't get sick from any of it, I'm just a really picky eater. It's not just landbound food either, I've been crying and complaining about my food ever since I was old enough to eat seaweed. I don't know how Xu does it, eating anything and everything you give her, but I can't do it. My body just rejects certain things, I don't know why but I can't eat it. Digest it, yes, but I can't eat it. Not unless I force myself to."

Huh...part of you wants to say that must be because the girls don't know how to cook their food properly, that'd certainly do it, but if it's been the case since before Chi was taken here and Xu doesn't have any issues with her food than...yes, this would have to be a problem specific to Chi. It's a little hard to believe that she's "just" a picky eater, though. Chi does seem to care about whether she likes her food, you're no stranger to that yourself, but actively starving yourself is something else...but than you suppose that might not be the case for someone who doesn't necessarily need to eat every day? It's a difficult thing to judge, and for now you think it'd be best if you put off those questions until later. "I see...so, in that case, how about I try to cook for you?"

--You ask Chi what she thinks should, and can be done to solve this food issue, but the only answer you get is a shrug, a shaking head and a distant stare at the empty plate of fish in front of her.

If you're interpreting this correctly Chi is too distracted by her hunger, which one plate of cooked fish probably isn't going to solve for very long if at all, to really think about this whole situation too much. If so you think it'd be best if you cooked for her again later, until she's got enough in her to think clearly. You'd honestly rather not, there's not that much time left before the end of the year and you've got no idea how long solving this problem will take otherwise, but it seems to be the best solution, for the moment.

-Logic. Solve this puzzle.
--The obvious solution to this problem is for you to talk to Professor Badcrumble on Chi's behalf, but you know that even if you do (or, more likely, when you do) that isn't going to be the end of it. It's simple logic, really, if one asks themselves an important question - why are these girls not getting enough food to begin with? Surely Professor Badcrumble wouldn't be supplying them with an insufficient amount of food, and she likewise wouldn't make the mistake or forgetting that Xu is effectively eating for herself as well as Fang, and adjust her supply accordingly. The professor wouldn't make such a mistake, you're sure of that. So why is Chi starving anyway? Where does her share of food go missing?

The likeliest answer, unfortunately, is the trash can. Because the real problem is that while Professor Badcrumble supplies them with enough food, that food is undoubtedly local food - common landbound stuff. Stuff you're not going to find growing beneath the water, or imported, so the girls have no idea what any of it is or how to cook it. And their only means of cooking is a kitchen that they're not going to have any experience with using, regardless. They have no idea how to cook things, and so it's just going to waste. As for why they don't ask for help, that's a simple problem to answer as well - if food is more important to them it stands to reason that the cooking of food is as well. And they don't trust Professor Badcrumble all that much anyway. Leon likewise if Chi hasn't brought this up with him at any point, and given his single-mindedness directed towards Xu you have to assume that she didn't.

So, with that in mind, you tell Chi that you could talk to Professor Badcrumble on her behalf...but also that you're not convinced it would really solve this problem. The latter part sends Chi back into her own thoughts, but she realizes quickly enough that it's useless to try and hide the truth from you. Not to mention actively harmful. Nevertheless, when she looks up again she wearily asks "Just to check...Leon didn't tell you anything about our social norms, did he?". You shake your head and say that you're more than willing to learn, if she's willing to try and explain. Once again Chi blushes, but this time there's a thin smile on her face too. "R-right. Well, the truth is that we...really need someone to cook for us. Me especially."

As you thought. Still, better confirm that you are right, just to be sure. "Neither you or Xu have any idea how to cook any of the landbound vegetables, fruits, meats, and...whatever else the professor provides, huh?" Chi nods and explains that the only food she and Xu both ever had back home was seaweed and fish. That said they've figured a few things out since they first arrived here, they're not as ignorant as they once were, but even so they don't really know how to cook anything. Leon got them a cookbook a while back and translated it for them as best he could, and they've gotten everything out of it that they could, but it just isn't enough. Especially for Chi. "Why is this matter especially important to you? I'd have assumed that Xu would be more concerned about it, considering she's got Fang to feed. Do you get sick from certain landbound food?"

Chi shakes her head. "I wish that was it, honestly." You'll admit, not the answer you were expecting. "I don't get sick from any of it, I'm just a really picky eater. It's not just landbound food either, I've been crying and complaining about my food ever since I was old enough to eat seaweed. I don't know how Xu does it, eating anything and everything you give her, but I can't do it. My body just rejects certain things, I don't know why but I can't eat it. Digest it, yes, but I can't eat it. Not unless I force myself to."

Huh...part of you wants to say that must be because the girls don't know how to cook their food properly, that'd certainly do it, but if it's been the case since before Chi was taken here and Xu doesn't have any issues with her food, cooked improperly or not, than...yes, this would have to be a problem specific to Chi. It's a little hard to believe that she's "just" a picky eater, though. Refusing to eat something you don't like is one thing, you're no stranger to that yourself, but actively starving yourself is quite another...but than you suppose that might not be the case for someone who doesn't necessarily need to eat every day? It's a difficult thing to judge, and for now you think it'd be best if you put off those questions until later. "I see...and given that food is so important for you, especially now that you really need it, I take it that someone cooking for you is as well. In that case, how about I try to cook for you?"

--Speaking as someone who had to solve one too many mysteries to get to this point in the first place, you have to admit that this one has you stumped. You know Professor Badcrumble wouldn't supply too little food for the girls, there's no way she'd do that. You've seen with your own eyes that Chi is at the point where she can't even control herself anymore when it comes to eating what food is put in front of her, so that can't be the issue...so what is? Where is this food going missing? Was Xu demanding too large a share because she's got Fang to feed? That seems unlikely, yet...you can't think of a better theory.

That's not a theory you're willing to even bring up without some reason to believe it might be true, though. So, for the moment, you think it'd be best if you continued to cook some fish for Chi, hopefully get something out of her, and if that theory is correct proceed from there. If it isn't, which you sincerely hope, than you can proceed from there instead. Either way it'll give you more time to think this mystery over, and it'll get Chi some more to eat, so it's not a bad idea in any respect. It's just less than ideal, since you'd like to get this done sooner rather than later...

And so it begins. Let's see if I manage to not mess this one up.

Edited by Metis
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The Lion Seeking Fish, stage 9:

Spoiler

Chi actually can't help but laugh at that question. You don't take offence, but it does make you wonder what all you just implied with it. "S-sorry, sorry. I know you didn't intend for it to come across like it did, I know landbound have a different view on it, just...cooking for someone is something that seabound only do for their family, traditionally. Or someone that you want to be part of your family, if they aren't already." Ah. Yeah, that'd probably do it. Makes you wonder how seabound restaurants work, though. Are there exceptions to that rule, or given that they don't need to eat every day do they not even have restaurants at all? That sounds unlikely, but...oh, and let's not forget Leon. Him cooking for Xu in that context...well, Xu's older than Chi and she understands that you're a landbound, so surely Xu understands that as well. "That said, if you could cook for us I'd actually really appreciate that. I don't know what's wrong with me, why I can't eat as easily as Xu can. I'd like to know, but right now I really just need to eat. I'm...W-wait, no, I-I mean..."

If only you knew what had Chi stumbling over her own words. It really would be better if she could just...ignore stuff like that, you feel like. At least with you. "I'll do my best. That said, could you please explain this situation you're in fully? Educate a landbound who doesn't know anything about it? The point that starving is bad I get, but there's a lot of gaps here that I'd like filled in. Not just for future reference or to make sure, although the latter probably isn't a bad idea in it's own right, but to try and understand."

Chi frowns at that question, and ponders it for a second before answering. "Could I ask you to explain things to me that I shouldn't be asking about in turn? Asking a girl about her fanyeng is a personal question to say the least, but than there's a few...sensitive things about your home and landbound in general that I'm still ignorant and curious about, too. Things that I don't dare ask of anyone else, even Leon." You nod and promise that you'll do your best to answer her questions, if she has any. Thankfully that puts a much-needed smile on Chi's face. "Okay, I'll hold you to that. That said this food situation needs to be addressed first. I'm-don't tell anyone about this, Xu and Leon especially, but I'm really close to running dry. M-my fanyeng, I mean, I'm really close to running out of fluid entirely. I-if I do, t-than..."

You're getting the impression that whatever Chi faces right now is something you'd be better off asking about after you pull her out of the danger zone. And your questions can wait until than - the point that starving is bad you get, and that's all you really need to know right this second. "It's alright, don't worry about it. Let's get this food situation under control first, than we can start asking each other about stuff. So what have you cooked before, and what can and can't you eat? Let's see if we can't narrow down what the problem is."

Chi mentions that the cookbook that Leon got them a while back should answer that question better than she could, and on the way to the kitchen to find it Chi clarifies that Xu handles all of the cooking. She further explains that (traditionally) every seabound is taught how to cook by their family, with children first being taught to help around in the kitchen and teenagers later being taught how to cook entirely on their own. But Chi's family actually never taught her how to cook. It's embarrassing for her to admit, but she nevertheless explains that cooks who make something that others won't eat are looked down upon, and someone who can't eat her own cooking even more so. So to try and avoid that stigma she was just never taught to cook. Which itself isn't an ideal situation either, but it's an easier one to deal with. Not that she could have been taught how a landbound kitchen that relies on magic works anyway. And to top it all off there's another problem with her trying to use the translated cookbook which Chi blurts out as soon as she finds it. "Here it is, I think. I can't read Tianyu any more than I can read Renaglian, but this looks like the book that Xu uses. You're going to have to tell me if it is, though."

"You don't know how to read?" you ask as you take the cookbook and quickly skim through it. It's an incomprehensible mess of symbols you've never seen before and a few familiar terms written in plain Renaglian. Come to think of it, since the girls didn't know anything about landbound food they wouldn't know the Tianyu terms for them either. So they're all left untranslated.

"Xu knows how to read and write, albeit only with a mallet and chisel. I'm sure it took some effort to write that cookbook. She used to engrave at a stone quarry, so she was taught how to read and write at her job," Chi explains, looking annoyed at herself and the kitchen. "I used to work at a seaweed farm, patrolling one of the fields and keeping out any fish that'd try to eat from it. I might not know how to read, but if you need someone to spear a fish from ten paces than I'm your girl...makes me wonder how someone who only barely knows how to swim managed to catch so many carp, though. Capture them alive, even. Feels like every time I hear about it magic seems more powerful than I last thought."

It's an amusing thought, but you really, really hope that catching a bunch of carp with a magic net isn't going to be the highlight of Leon's magical career. The one that he could actually somewhat discuss, that is. That'd just be sad. Regardless, for better or worse this cookbook is half-translated enough that you can make some sense of it, so it's time to narrow down exactly what makes Chi such a picky eater. Of course Chi can run you through what dishes she does and doesn't like, as well as a general idea why, but you'd like to confirm exactly what it is that triggers this picky taste of hers. The best way to do that would be...

-Cooking. Taste testing, of course.
--Running Chi through the cookbook quickly narrows her pickiness down to food that takes effort to chew through, as well as certain textures that make her feel like it does. Which...is mostly not the case, as far as you can tell? This cookbook isn't doing Xu any favors in terms of trying to cook something that Chi can tolerate, but it shouldn't be hurting her that much either. Is Chi that sensitive to hard foods? If so than you'd want stews, soups, pasta, stuff like that to cook for her. This cookbook has...not much in the way of any of that, if you're interpreting what little of it you can interpret correctly. Huh, so maybe that is it...? Well, that's what you're here for. First, confirming whether Chi's taste really is that sensitive. Checking the cookbook...the boiled carrot recipe seems like a good place to start. If you're interpreting this recipe correctly, and you know you are because there's barely anything to interpret, this would be inedible for someone who's very sensitive to hard foods. So if it's the recipe, not carrots in general, you've got a winner.

"Alright, let's give this a shot. You said that boiled carrot is something that your body doesn't like to eat, right?" you ask, showing Chi the recipe in question. Of course you still have to explain what recipe you're pointing at, since she can't read a word of it. In any case Chi nods, and although she doesn't do anything but stare blankly at the recipe she can't read she does twitch a bit and cast a weary glance at the kitchen at the mention of "carrot". This is going to be a tall order, you can tell already, but you're not giving up that easily. "Alright, than let's give this a test. I'll cook up some carrot and potato stew for you, differently than how Xu cooks it, and we'll see if you still can't eat it. If so, maybe you just don't like carrot. We'll move on from there. If not we'll know that it's definitely the way that it's cooked that you don't like, so we can figure out a way to cook it that you do like."

Chi nods, clearly not looking forward to this experiment, but you'll show her. Carrot and potato stew is not hard to cook, you can whip that up in...well, more than just a few minutes, since it takes longer to cook than that, but point is that you've got no problems with cooking up some carrot and potato stew. Now the slightly cluttered mess of fish everything that is the girl's kitchen right now, that's a different story, but you don't pay it too much mind. The important thing here is the texture, not the smell. Worst case Chi can just hold her nose.

After a bit of prep and cooking you end up with a plate of carrot and potato stew, which you bring over to Chi. She goes from looking apprehensive at you approaching to confused after you put the plate and fork down. "Wait, where's the carrot? And...what is this?"

"You've never seen stew before? The carrots and potatoes are there, just mashed and mixed together. Try it, I'm sure you'll be able to eat it. Just please use a fork this time, last time it nearly landed in my foot."

Somewhat embarrassed Chi nods, picks up the fork and takes a bite. You'll give her credit for at least knowing what a fork is, even though it should have been clear just from context, because she sure doesn't seem to know how to hold it. On the bright side she can swallow the stew without looking like it takes concentrated effort on her part. "This is...definitely better than how Xu usually cooks it," Chi says as she goes for another bite. Success!

"Fantastic, so you can eat this just fine? Despite it..." you start to ask, but you count Chi quickly wolfing down a total five bites before you start to trail off. "Eh, never mind, I can see the answer to that question. So, how's the taste? Better than how Xu cooks it, about the same, anything?" Chi stares at you questioningly, looking like she's unsure whether she wants to answer you, but you tell her to tell you the truth no matter how bad it might sound. Considering how quickly she's eating it it's not as if her answer can be that bad, anyway.

"Well...I really don't want to complain at all, but if you really need to know the taste is kind of bland. The fish smell that settled into it gives it more taste than the carrots or the potatoes do...n-not that I won't eat this, of course."

"No need to be so polite about it, Chi, being honest is more important. And that's good, anyway. Not that it tastes bland, I mean, that's not good, but that there's more I can add to it while improving the dish. What do you think, would a slice of cooked fish improve it?" Chi nods heartily as she eagerly continues eating. Though come to think of it Xu can't cast that bone pin detection spell, huh? Not to mention how much effort it takes to get a steady supply of fish. You'll need to think of another kind of meat to add to this dish. But what would be easy to get, relatively affordable at least, and appeal to Chi's narrow tastes...?

--Running Chi through the cookbook quickly narrows her pickiness down to food that takes effort to chew through, as well as certain textures that make her feel like it does. Whether the cookbook Xu uses actually has many recipes along those lines, though...eh, honestly you've got no idea. You're not familiar enough with cooking in general to make sense of these recipes. Which is a bad omen, you think, but you're not giving up that easily.

So, undeterred, you decide to see about cooking something that can be used to test whether Chi really just hates certain textures or whether she just hates the taste of things...only to come up empty-handed, in terms of ideas of what to cook. You're also feeling less than confident about this whole "magical kitchen" thing all of a sudden. Sure, you cooked a plate of carp just fine, but you did also see Leon do it first and all, for your own recipe you'd have to improvise, and...yeah, you're not confident about jumping right into this mess. You're going to need a better foundation in cooking, first.

And that after you told Leon to do the same not too long ago. What an embarrassment...

-Natural Philosophy. Consider what Chi's anatomy and biology would see as inedible.
--You go through the cookbook with Chi, just to see if it'll give you any ideas, and slowly but surely it leads you to the solution. Thank you magical kitchen covered in fish bits, because that is the answer to this mystery: Bone. You're not overly familiar with seabound biology and you're not any more familiar with living underwater either, but based on your studies it makes sense - Chi mentioned earlier that in her old home carp are raised basically as pigs are here, and eaten as a source of food. Likely carp is a meal that goes back a long way, with them being hunted before they were domesticated. However, unlike pigs, carp have those small bone pins dotted around their meat. Obviously not a good thing to get stuck in your throat, and hard if not impossible to remove without magic, so unless you've got a [PC FIRST NAME]-backed Leon around you're going to risk them if you eat carp. Some seabound must have developed a fear or other kind of aversion to these bone pins over time, and in Chi's case this must have turned into a hypersensitivity. Not quite an allergy, but something reasonably close to it.

Of course testing that theory is unfortunately going to require Chi to taste a bone. Yuck. At least with the kitchen in the state that it is there's no issue of supply, thank the Gods, so...time to get to work. Chi stares curiously at you as take a large bone from the trash can and thoroughly wash it with boiling water, because that's something this magical kitchen can just produce with the turn of a dial. Very convenient. Once you're convinced that the bone (and your hands) are clean, you turn to Chi and explain your theory. She listens intently, but nervously eyes the bone in your hand the entire time. In hindsight you probably should have talked to her first, but...you did things in the order that you did. "I know it's not fun, but this is to confirm whether or not this is why you're not able to eat things as easily as Xu can. Whether something can be done about it I've got no idea, but at least you'll know where it comes from. You said you wanted to know, right?"

Chi slowly nods as she takes the bone from your hand. It's as clean as anything is ever going to be, you made sure of that, but she still hesitates. Not so much that she doesn't raise the bone to her lips, opens her mouth, and does her best to bite into it, though.

As soon as Chi's teeth meet the bone her entire body twitches, and with a shudder she takes a step back and drops the bone from her hand. Causing it, too, to clatter on the ground. You bend over and pick it up. "T-that thing's just disgusting," Chi notes as her body still continues to shake a bit, but you shake your head as you turn on the boiling water and clean the bone again.

"It's not the taste, Chi, though I'm sure it doesn't taste good. Your body is afraid of bones, to the point where it's afraid of other things that it mistakes for bone. Watch." You bite into the bone yourself to prove your point, and while it does not taste like anything you ever want to taste again it doesn't cause you to freak out either. Chi silently stares at you, annoyedly looking herself over as you toss the bone back into the trash. "Isn't this a common thing in your homeland, Chi? Something you've heard about before, at least?"

"I've heard of people that are afraid of choking on a bone pin, everyone experiences that sooner or later, but...I've never heard of someone's body being terrified of eating bones before. Is that really it? Is that what's wrong with me?"

"Obviously I'm no expert, but I have to assume so. For now, though, how about another plate of cooked carp to cleanse the palette? I can cast the bone pin detection spell, so you don't have to worry about that at all. One plate of delicious cooked fish, nothing more."

"Apology accepted," Chi says with a friendly smile as she turns around and walks back to the dinner table. You can imagine that biting into that bone..."traumatized" is far too strong a word you think, but that it shook her more than it didn't. Basically facing her body's biggest fear like that. Nothing that a plate of cooked fish isn't going to clear up, though, but that does bring you to the next step along this plan: You've established that Chi can't eat anything that her body mistakes for bone, she's hypersensitive to hard food. Whether or not she can be cured of this is something you can't even make an educated (as educated as you can consider yourself, at any rate) guess at. Whether she's got a personal phobia or whether it's more akin to an allergy in that respect you have no idea. One could try to read into the fact that apparently it's relatively unheard of among her peers and the like, you'd assume that an allergy would be more well known, but than you'd assume that a phobia wouldn't be unknown either, so...you're at a loss there.

Whatever the case may be, in order to resolve the issue of Chi's lack of food at least for now you're just going to have to appease her narrowed palette. Which means that Xu is going to need to learn to cook things for Chi that she can tolerate, which would be stews, soups, pasta, anything that's soft and completely devoid of any bone. Which unfortunately means that carp is off the table, because getting a steady supply of it aside you doubt that Xu could cast the bone detention spell to remove the bone pins. Ideally what you want is something that's local, easy and relatively cheap to acquire, and that appeals to Chi's tastes. But what would that be...?

--Good question. You have no idea what to make of seabound biology, or even just mermaid biology in general, and you definitely aren't familiar with their anatomy at all beyond the bare minimum required to know that whatever knowledge you have of human anatomy isn't going to apply here, necessarily. You're completely in the dark, with no clue on where to even begin.

You don't think this is an impossible task, just...where to even begin? What could you possible say, and based on that conclude, that won't just be a string of glorified random guesses? You don't even know Chi well enough to guess if this is really some kind of allergy or other aversion, or whether she's just that headstrong and picky. Who knows? The assumption is that she isn't, but you can't really say for sure that she's not, can you?

This is going to take some more study. Preferably you'd just fetch a professor to help you, frankly, but that's off the table unless you want to knock on Professor Badcrumble's door, and you get the distinct impression that you're going to end up sliced and served on a plate yourself if you randomly drop in her office and ask her about Chi's anatomy and biology.

Well, time to hit the books, as many a student has said before...

Sure hope this whole idea actually works. Although that's a ship that set sail a long time ago anyway.

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The Lion Seeking Fish, stage 10:

Spoiler

"Hey, [PC FIRST NAME], do you know of any spells to clean an entire kitchen at once?" Leon suddenly asks a bit out of nowhere as he walks out of the back area with a stack of empty plates. "I can clean everything individually just fine, but I'd rather not spend several minutes here repeatedly casting spells if I don't have to."

...Speak of a soft and fluffy Minetan pork meatball, and he shall appear. Or a Dragon, but this time it's a soft and fluffy pork meatball.

"W-what? What's that look for?" Leon asks, clearly unsure as to whether he should be worried about you running up to him with a smug look on your face. He gets no less confused when you ask him, completely out of nowhere, whether he can teach you his mother's meatball recipe. "My...what? Why do you..." Leon starts to say, but than his eyes land on Chi finishing what you just cooked for her in the background. Then it's his turn to give you a smug smirk, but you quietly tell him not to get any ideas. "Sure. Anyway, if you want to know my mother's recipe you'll have to ask her, I'm afraid. I know what ingredients go into it, but I don't know exactly how to cook it. I live right in the Upper City though, near the Piazza Verus. I take it you're familiar with that area?" You nod and write down both the list of ingredients you'll need as well as the directions to Leon's home. As for Chi, Leon can believe whatever he wants. It honestly works out in your favor anyway, since Chi doesn't want him to know the truth. At least just yet.

With the list of required ingredients and directions in hand you leave Leon to the task of cleaning the kitchen, one dish one at a time because you're not at the point of cleaning an entire kitchen at once any more than he is, and quickly head out into Mineta to see if you can convince Leon's mother to teach you her recipe. The quickest way to get there would likely be through the Canal Gate and the Via Canale, but should you maybe do ingredient shopping first? Probably not, you'll have to walk some extra distance to go to Leon's home first and then swing by the Farmer's Market to get ingredients...but it's extra distance to go through the Great Gate and swing by the Farmer's Market before heading to Piazza Verus by crossing the Ponte Roscius anyway. So...actually, no, you'll definitely swing by the market first regardless. You want to actually test this meatball, taste it and see how soft and fluffy it really is. You are dealing with someone who's got a hypersensitivity to hard food here, it's worth checking. For that you'll need ingredients, so swinging by the market first will save you an extra trip. Alright, to the market first than.

Going to the Admiratio is definitely old hat by now, and while you don't go to the Farmer's Market specifically that often it's not exactly out of your way or unfamiliar territory. That said you don't go there right away. First, since you're at the Admiratio anyway, you decide to swing by a few bookstores and see if there's any useful cookbooks that are available on the cheap. The one the girls have just is not doing Chi any favors, if you're going to solve this issue with Chi's eating habits you're basically going to need to make your own. That'd be a lot easier if you didn't have to figure out, write down and compile the recipes yourself, though, so a quick shopping trip it is.

In the bargain bin of the third bookstore (since the first time you lost count) you finally find what you're looking for. Entries of a collection of a pocket-sized series of cookbooks, with each entry focussing on a different type of dish. According to the back of the cover, which lists all the other entries, there's...about two dozen-odd in total? Yikes, that's a lot of cooking. Full-blown feasts, home-made candy, camping meals that can be prepared with just a campfire? Okay, you'll admit that's impressively thorough. Of course right now you're only interested in two entries - stews and soups - and both of those entries...are right here! You give them both a quick skim to see if they've got what you're looking for, and it seems that they do. Better than you starting from absolutely nothing, at any rate. Excellent, took long enough but you're glad you made the detour. Time to buy them and head to the Farmer's Market.

As you turn towards the shop's proprietor to buy them you notice that the man is in a heated conversation with someone wearing a guild uniform. You don't want to interrupt them, but on the flipside you don't want to stand here and wait for their conversation to end either...forget it. This has taken long enough already, those two can debate on their own time. You approach the proprietor, both cookbooks visible in your hands.

"...don't care how long it takes, the Captain has every right to-oh! My apologies, I wasn't paying attention. Those two books, from the bargain bin I take it?" the proprietor asks as he notices you approach, which he thankfully does sooner rather than later. You nod and put both on the counter. "Excellent choice, let me just confirm real quick-"

"Hey, why not ask [him/her]?" the guildsman suddenly suggests. You are, needless to say, not a fan of the suggestion. "[S/he] ought to have an informed opinion on whether the guards can justify delaying a case involving Proscribed magic, as an Academagia student."

...Wait, what? You weren't paying attention, what are these two talking about?

"I'd prefer if you didn't drag my customers into this," the proprietor sternly says. You don't think the guildsman cares though. He doesn't seem moved, at any rate.

"It won't even take a minute," the guildsman counters. And pointed ignoring the frown he gets from the proprietor he turns his attention to you. "So what is your opinion? If you don't mind me asking."

You consider excusing yourself and leaving, but what are these two talking about? You're just too curious, you must know. "My opinion on what? Sorry, I didn't catch what you were discussing."

"You haven't heard about it? Strange, I had assumed that the entire Academagia was talking about it...well, regardless, we're discussing the bounty that the guards recently posted on a black market trader who stands accused of selling Proscribed magic from one of the lands beyond the Wall - Dragon-controlled territories - on the black market here in Mineta. Personally I feel like such a bounty should have been posted much sooner, as soon as possible in fact. How are we citizens supposed to feel safe if our law enforcement thinks they can drag their heels bringing in someone who has connections to places like that? Under no circumstances should it have taken so many months to find out about it and assemble a case against him. The mere existence of such magic right here in Mineta should have been proof enough to bring the man in, not to mention the noblewoman that agreed to become a witness, if you ask me."

Somehow, you suspect that you know exactly what Proscribed magic case these two are talking about.

"How do you expect the guards to assemble a case if they're not given the time they need to do their jobs?" the proprietor counters. The guildsman prepares to say something, but stops himself and instead turns his attention to you, asking you for your opinion.

Factually speaking the guildsman is in the wrong here - he doesn't seem to be aware, but the guards needed that time to build a case against the person who directly sold Laroche that magic, to coerce him to become a witness for them since his alternative at that point was to be found guilty and executed. That way they could go after the person who (presumably) smuggled that magic into Mineta in the first place, or at least get one step closer to whoever did. The guy that Laroche knew and could testify against was just a contact, an inconsequential middleman. That said this still isn't a simple question to answer, since the bigger question here is one that's been weighing on your mind for a while now. You know a lot more about it than these two do, after all...

Is it right for the girls and Leon's Clique to be made to wait for resolution and justice? Is it right that their pleas are ignored, and the Madame left a prisoner in her own home until the situation is thoroughly investigated from all angles? There's no telling what more there might or might not be to this situation, like the guildsman who seems ignorant about the whole chain of black market traders you could just as easily be ignorant of someone pulling the Madame's strings. Of course there could also be nothing more to it, and all this time spend "investigating" is really just time spend on drawing out the nightmare that the Madame's victims are stuck in. Time that the Madame can spend on trying to cushion her inevitable downfall, if that anti-shapeshifter flyer business was any indication, and maybe even hatch a plot to frame someone else for her crimes or otherwise escape justice once the Legate finally makes a move.

You suppose it's time to answer this question for yourself, once and for all. Which is right? Bringing the Madame to justice immediately and to hell with whatever consequences and irrecoverable truths that might create, or investigate the situation thoroughly until as much of the truth as possible has been brought to light, even if that prolongs the nightmare the girls and Leon are stuck in, and possibly worse, if the Madame is given enough time to hatch a(nother) devious plot?

-Stick to the facts you know, that's the only opinion you need.
--The problem with telling what's right and wrong in this case is that there's too many unknowns. It's wrong to draw out the nightmare if there is no more to be found, it's wrong to take action against the Madame if there if more to be found, maybe, depending on what there is to be found, but at the end of the day no one knows the answer to that question at this point. Not Professor Badcrumble-or, hell, even the Madame herself. Since if Astrology could reliable predict the future than the Madame sure wouldn't have gotten caught in the first place, now would she? She'd have figured out that her cook was going to be her downfall, but she didn't. She could not predict the future then any more than anyone else could now. Of course that line of thought leads you to another question: If you assume that it's wrong to act in ignorance, which this whole "stick to the facts" idea certainly sounds like, wouldn't it follow that acting while ignorant of all the possible consequences is also wrong? One could say that, but the problem there is that there's no way to always know the consequences of one's actions ahead of time either. Will investigating this matter further lead to the Madame managing to throw the blame on someone else, meaning action should be taken against her now, or not, meaning that investigating and confirming all the facts of the case would be preferred, even if that would mostly give you hindsight about the situation rather than information to act on right away? There's no way to tell either which way, and acting based on either assumption would be wrong. There's just no clear answer to this, either which way.

Maybe Professor Sido can shed some light on this, actually. You'd honestly like to discuss this at some point with someone who's really knowledgeable on the subject of philosophy, and preferably law as well, but there's few people you can discuss the situation with the girls with in the first place. And fewer still who have studied philosophy and law. Nevertheless, right now your answer to the guildsman's question is simply "I'm not sure". Only time will tell which answer is right, and even then only because of how things turned out, not because either option is any more inherently right or wrong than the other.

The guildsman and the proprietor both aren't sure whether to take that answer as confirmation that you're wise beyond your years or lazy beyond your years, but either way that's your answer. Only time will tell...

-There is no justice in delaying action against the Madame, her guilt is not in question.
--Any situation in which a Dragon's former slave, assuming that's what Chi and Xu were back in their homeland (and every history book you're ever read would indeed insist that they unquestionably must have been), can be smuggled to Mineta and end up genuinely convinced that their homeland is less of a tyrannical cult is a situation in which everything the New Gods tried to achieve on this side of the Wall has failed utterly. Any situation in which someone wealthy and respected, with a title of nobility, makes themselves guilty of a crime that Dragons have been reviled and hated for since the beginning of humanity's history and to this very day, and not get punished for it because "it's complicated" as Professor Badcrumble put it, is a situation in which everything the New Gods tried to achieve failed utterly. Not to mention, had it been the other way around you don't think things would have turned out this way. Had it been the Captain who made himself guilty of slavery, or one of his lieutenants, you don't think that the Guards as a whole would have turned a blind eye and spend their time "investigating" because the situation would be considered politically delicate. You definitely don't think that the Chards would have agreed with that and accepted anyone's request that they bide their time and not do their actual jobs in governing and maintaining order in the city, as the Captain as things currently are is forced to do. How is this whole situation supposed to be "investigated" if the guards are not told anything about it, anyway? They did good work on the Laroche case, as far as even you, well-informed of the situation as you are, can tell. Is no one going to give them any credit for that? Yes, you admit that there's a political aspect to it that the Captain would likely try to use to his advantage, but on the flipside he'd also be a fool not to. Because is that not literally his job? To find and root out crime and corruption in this city, be it in the slums or the Golden Council? What else is an officer of the law supposed to do when faced with that level of crime and corruption? Turn a blind eye, because nobility is involved?

All in all you actually end up siding with the proprietor as far as the guildsman's question is concerned - you don't think it's right for the guards to be prevented from doing their jobs, whether that job ends up taking more time than one would like or not. Factually speaking the guildsman is wrong about his assumption that the guards didn't need that time to build a case against Laroche's contact, which you happily inform him of when he asks you why you choose to stand on the opinion that you do. Even the proprietor is impressed that you actually do know so much about the case, and naturally he feels vindicated. The guildsman can do no more than admit defeat, too.

Despite that you don't feel like a winner, though. This whole idea is inevitably going to put you at odds with Professor Badcrumble, and a fair few other people most likely. And while the girls and Leon's Clique are in the right, you feel like, they're unfortunately not the strongest allies that one could ask for. Still, you're not worried about that. The difference between you and Leon is that you're smart enough to know that reckless acts are not going to serve anyone's purpose, even his, and you're not that pressed for time. You running to the guards yourself right now is suicide, nothing more. What you should do is try to convince Professor Badcrumble that the ones who should have any say on the matter is the girls and Leon's Clique, since they're the victims in this mess, and their wishes should be respected. It might take time-hell it will take time, and effort, but that's the only reasonable course of action. You're going to stick to what you believe in, but within reason. You'll just need to be careful, and make sure that you keep your friends close...and your enemies closer...

-As the case of the black market trader showed, thorough investigations are critical.
--You have encountered far too many ridiculous and unbelievable things that you were completely ignorant of previously, far too many times this year, to even entertain the idea that there can't be anything more to this case than what you already know of it. And as if you needed another example of it there the guildsman is, right there in front of you, ignorant as to the whole situation and what the guards were actually doing. It's undeniable that the Madame is not just sitting on her laurels while everyone around her is slowly working to tighten the noose around her neck, those anti-shapeshifting flyers were a good example of that, but what other option is there? The guys the guards are now after fled because he's not an idiot and realized which way the wind was blowing when Laroche was turned, and when the attempt to steal her ring and destroy any evidence in her lair failed. What's going to happen if the same happens to the Madame? The only way that anyone will ever know who all might have been involved in this mess is to look through the missing person reports.

So, as for the guildsman's question, you agree with the proprietor - investigations cannot be done halfway or rushed if all the facts of a case, or at the very least enough of them are going to come to light, and so if they need time they must be given it. Naturally the guildsman is less than pleased at your answer, not that he openly admits it, but you're more than happy to inform him of the little details about this case that he completely missed. By the end of it he can do no more than admit defeat, and of course the proprietor looks happy that he was vindicated.

As good as it'd normally feel to put adults in their place, though, you don't really feel good about this situation at all. How in the name of every God, New and Old, out there are you supposed to convince the girls and Leon's Clique, the actual victims of this case, that they're just going to have to wait for those that they have been given no reason to trust to do their jobs? All the while their enemy, their nightmare, shamelessly abuses the time and opportunity that she's given to spread baseless slander so that maybe, hopefully, when all is said and done her downfall won't be as bad as it otherwise would have been? You don't think it's right to take action against her until this whole mess is investigated, but at the same time it's a situation that's just impossible to explain. Especially if the girls just don't care. You assume that they would, if there's someone behind the Madame pulling strings, but...that's an assumption on your part. Not a certainty.

In any case, you feel like you're going to have to do your best to support the girls, as well as Leon if he ends up needing it, throughout this whole mess as best you can. There's very few others that could, and you're not sure how well you could look at this city if someone doesn't. Hopefully this case can get closed sooner rather than later. You don't know how long everyone that's suffering because of it can wait...

Rest assured that this will come up again later. Maybe. In theory.

Edited by Metis
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The Lion Seeking Fish, stage 11:

Spoiler

It took a lot more time to get here than you intended or wanted, but finally you've reached Leon's home. It's not an impressive looking building on the outside, it's got the same style as the rest of the buildings along this street. A few potted plants, but aside from that nothing about it stands out. Nevertheless you're sure this is the right address, so you walk up to the front door and knock on it.

"Oh, coming!" a female voice from inside cries out. Leon's mother, you have to assume. And indeed, after some loud, frantic-sounding movement the door is opened by a middle-aged woman who bears a clear family resemblance to Leon. She initially looks excited, but upon seeing you her expression changes to confusion. "Oh, eh...sorry, I was expecting someone else. Or were you send to deliver a message to me? My name is Cloe Chevalier, if that helps."

...Why would you be send to deliver a message to Leon's mother? What about you makes that a likely possibility, in her eyes? Because as far as you know this woman doesn't know you, by name or otherwise...a mystery to ponder another time, perhaps. You're here for different reasons. Very different reasons, as it turns out. "I'm afraid not, no. I'm [PC FULL NAME], and I'm here because...I'm sorry if this sounds ridiculous, but I heard about your - as your son described them - 'soft and fluffy' pork meatballs. I'm here to ask if you could please teach me your recipe. I already brought the necessary ingredients for it, at least as far as Leon could recall them."

The woman's confusion quickly gives way to a wave of disappointment. She lets out a sigh and says, "My son, huh? Gods only know how and why you ended up getting his advice, but yes, you did actually come to the right place. Though I should ask: My recipe aside, did he tell you anything weird? Give you any ideas he shouldn't have, by chance?"

Yikes, talk about disillusioned parent. She doesn't know the truth behind what Leon did at all, does she? Does she believe that her son is just a violently crazy nutjob? That's...that's just depressing, honestly. And not something you can address either. You, too, are just going to have to bite your tongue and ignore it for now. "N-no, nothing of the sort. One of my friends is hypersensitive to hard food and in desperate need of recipes for things that she otherwise wouldn't eat. Hence me being interested in the recipe and getting the ingredients for it beforehand - I'm going to need to test it."

Cloe looks at you questioningly for a moment, but after that the confusion fades and she nods. It's good that she believes you on your word and doesn't question it at all - not that you were lying to her in the first place, mind - since this isn't something you're too comfortable trying to explain in any sort of detail. "The Academagia really does attract all types, doesn't it? Very well, come on in than. My recipe is honestly a bit famous, but I'm not one to keep good knowledge to myself." Gods, the effort it takes you to politely nod instead of rolling your eyes out of their sockets. "Attracts all types", yes, that's one way to put it. And you're sure that her recipe will indeed be famous once all is said and done...albeit for completely different reasons than she thinks. Nevertheless, despite the effort it takes you manage to not act like a clown and follow the woman to her kitchen, where you lay out the food you bought off the Farmer's Market for her to inspect. "Hmm-hmm, that's everything. Although that's everything for a family of three, not just one person. I'll show you how much you need for smaller portions, so you can cook the rest later at your leisure. I take it you're already familiar with the basics of cooking? If not I can show you that too, but don't expect any mercy. I've learned my lesson about being too soft of a parent, or a teacher."

Heh, oh boy...poor Leon. So, are you going to take her up on that offer?

[PC Cooking SKILL HIGH]-Cooking. No need, you're familiar with the basics already.
--"I'm well familiar with the basics, unless there's something special I need to know to follow this recipe," you confidently answer. Cloe gives you a look that's (hopefully) more playful than not as she, no doubt as a test, asks you to pick out all the right tools to cook a meatball. You ask if you'll need anything special to cook her recipe, and she assures you that you won't. So you quickly look through her kitchen for everything you need, and lay it out. Cloe nods approvingly.

From there things are honestly pretty straightforward. Cloe's recipe indeed has no unusual or difficult parts to them, at least for normal people. You are noticeably less comfortable with the point where you're required to crack an egg than you once were, but that aside following her recipe is a routine affair even for you. So much so that you're comfortably able to take notes as you go, and Cloe is able to pass the time with small talk in between pointing out steps for you to write down. For better or worse, however, she assumes that you don't really know Leon at all beyond having taken his advice in coming here. And so her small talk is mostly dedicated to her explaining (or venting) her frustrations with her "miscreant" son. Most of it you already know about, in fact most of it you know more about than Cloe does. But one part does catch you by surprise - the reason why Cloe was initially expecting you to have been given a message to deliver to her, as you suspected, is because you're clearly an Academagia student. Cloe and her husband have been in touch with Professor Piaxenza about the possibility of having Leon stay at the Academagia over the next summer. Both as a disciplinary punishment for his crimes and continued misbehaviour, as well as to help him catch up with his new core classes.

The more you realize the sheer reach that this whole situation has the more you feel like you understand what makes Leon tick. He seems to be less on edge now than he did when you first met him, or rather, when you were investigating Sigalis' lead though. You didn't manage to get a good read off of him when he thanked you for your part in the anti-shapeshifting flyer debacle, in hindsight. Especially now that Leon has managed to cook up some fish for Xu, that definitely put a smile on his face, so at least things do seem to be improving. You just hope that Xu understands where Leon is coming from.

In less gloomy news, however: Meatball! It's ready, and Cloe happily drops it on a plate and gives you a fork and knife to give it a try. Time to give it a taste, and put it's recipe that you've got well written down to good use if it manages to live up to it's reputation.

The knife cuts a chunk off of the meatball more easily than you were expecting, which you take as a good sign. Not as easily as the cooked fish that you know Chi can eat, but more easily than most other kinds of meat. Tasting it confirms that it's not just the knife making things look easy, your teeth have just as little trouble biting through this. You're not sure if Chi will like the taste, which is honestly fairly powerful due to the seasoning, but this should definitely be something that she can eat. It may take some fine-tuning to get the taste right, but it's a great start. And hey, since you've already gone out and bought enough to have left over for two people after cooking this one, why not give it a shot and see if she likes it? Might as well head back to the Academagia and give it a try, see if either of them like it. Honestly you're going to be doing that a lot in the near future anyway, trying recipes from the cookbooks you bought and seeing if Chi and Xu like them. Once that's done you can put together that information for Leon and Xu, so they can translate themselves a bigger, better cookbook for themselves. One that Chi will eat everything from. Than with Professor Badcrumble supplying the ingredients, which shouldn't be hard to do at all since local ingredients are not expensive or hard to get by any stretch, this whole lack of food situation will be fully resolved.

In any case you thank Cloe for all her help and start to make your way back to the Academagia, wondering if you should drop by the girls or by Professor Badcrumble first. You were fine with buying the ingredients you needed yourself in this case, since everything was local produce and that is just not expensive compared to, say, how much you seem to spend on ink and parchment, but you'd rather not go through two cookbooks worth of food on your own pocket money if you can help it. If you can convince Professor Badcrumble to support you that'd be great, but than you'd have to explain the situation to her too. Of course you're going to have to explain it to her sooner or later anyway, so you might as well do so sooner. Especially if it'll end up saving you a bunch of money you'd have to spend out of pocket otherwise.

...Yeah, there's really no arguing with that logic. Time to head to Professor Badcrumble's office and explain the situation. You're going to have to sooner or later anyway, might as well explain it sooner.

[PC Cooking SKILL LOW]-Cooking. You're confident in your natural talents.
--You might not be overly familiar with cooking, but you're not completely ignorant about it either. You ask Cloe to take things one step at a time, assuring her that so long as you can get a minute to think you'll be fine. She nods, and so the cooking starts.

From there the entire recipe, start to finish, is honestly pretty straightforward. Many series of smaller steps, ultimately culminating in one cooked dish, than you're used to, but other than that you don't think you were required to do anything you haven't done before. You make sure to write down detailed instructions for yourself whenever you have to chance, for future reference, and...honestly that's all you think you'll need. You can manage this.

Cloe likewise approves of your "progress", if it can be called such, and despite her threat to not spare the whip earlier she doesn't really make good on it. Instead she fills the time with small talk about her "miscreant" son. Most of it you already know about, in fact most of it you know more about than Cloe does, but one part does catch you by surprise - the reason why Cloe was initially expecting you to have been given a message to deliver to her, as you suspected, is because you're clearly an Academagia student. Cloe and her husband have been in touch with Professor Piaxenza about the possibility of having Leon stay at the Academagia over the next summer. Both as a disciplinary punishment for his crimes and continued misbehaviour, as well as to help him catch up with his new core classes.

The more you realize the sheer reach that this whole situation has the more you feel like you understand what makes Leon tick. He seems to be less on edge now than he did when you first met him, or rather, when you were investigating Sigalis' lead though. You didn't manage to get a good read off of him when he thanked you for your part in the anti-shapeshifting flyer debacle, in hindsight. Especially now that Leon has managed to cook up some fish for Xu, that definitely put a smile on his face, so at least things do seem to be improving. You just hope that Xu understands where Leon is coming from.

In less gloomy news, however: Meatball! After far too long it's finally ready, and Cloe happily drops it on a plate and gives you a fork and knife to give it a try. Time to give it a taste, and put it's recipe that you've got well written down to good use if it manages to live up to it's reputation.

The knife cuts a chunk off of the meatball more easily than you were expecting, which you take as a good sign. Not as easily as the cooked fish that you know Chi can eat, but more easily than most other kinds of meat. Tasting it confirms that it's not just the knife making things look easy, your teeth have just as little trouble biting through this. You're not sure if Chi will like the taste, which is honestly fairly powerful due to the seasoning, but this should definitely be something that she can eat. It may take some fine-tuning to get the taste right, but it's a great start. And hey, since you've already gone out and bought enough to have left over for two people after cooking this one, why not give it a shot and see if she likes it? Might as well head back to the Academagia and give it a try, see if either of them like it. Honestly you're going to be doing that a lot in the near future anyway, trying recipes from the cookbooks you bought and seeing if Chi and Xu like them. Once that's done you can put together that information for Leon and Xu, so they can translate themselves a bigger, better cookbook for themselves. One that Chi will eat everything from. Than with Professor Badcrumble supplying the ingredients, which shouldn't be hard to do at all since local ingredients are not expensive or hard to get by any stretch, this whole lack of food situation will be fully resolved.

In any case you thank Cloe for all her help and start to make your way back to the Academagia, wondering if you should drop by the girls or by Professor Badcrumble first. You were fine with buying the ingredients you needed yourself in this case, since everything was local produce and that is just not expensive compared to, say, how much you seem to spend on ink and parchment, but you'd rather not go through two cookbooks worth of food on your own pocket money if you can help it. If you can convince Professor Badcrumble to support you that'd be great, but than you'd have to explain the situation to her too. Of course you're going to have to explain it to her sooner or later anyway, so you might as well do so sooner. Especially if it'll end up saving you a bunch of money you'd have to spend out of pocket otherwise.

...Yeah, there's really no arguing with that logic. Time to head to Professor Badcrumble's office and explain the situation. You're going to have to sooner or later anyway, might as well explain it sooner.

--You might not be overly familiar with cooking, but you're not completely ignorant about it either. Not to mention, you cooked for Chi twice before. Surely this can't be that hard, right?

What you should have remembered is what people say comes before the fall, because it turns out that the magical kitchen the girls have is a lot more convenient than you gave it credit for. It's not until you try to cook without it, where you have to do every little step yourself, that you even notice.

Needless to say that Cloe is not impressed, and with your confidence in shattered pieces on the floor you don't really get anything worth noting done. Gods, you feel like this is going to take weeks to recover from, but you don't exactly have time to spare, do you? Going to have to pick yourself up and try again...

[PC Cooking SKILL LOW]-Confidence. You'll be fine, just don't let this woman get to you.
--You managed to cook fish for Chi before, surely a pork meatball can't be that much of a challenge, right?

So you would think. And, in fairness, to a point you're right. But you also underestimated the degree to which the girl's magical kitchen did a surprising amount of the work for you. It's subtle stuff for the most part, not something you'd notice unless you tried to cook without it right after. But that happens to be exactly what you're doing. And so you can tell, from experience, that the difference is definitely noticeable.

It's not just you, either - Cloe can tell exactly which steps the magical kitchen did for you earlier. And true to her word she does her best to drill those steps into your head...but with every success it becomes more clear that this whole "strict parent" thing is just not her thing. Pretty soon she slips back into her usual habits, and starts gossiping with you about Leon. For better or worse, however, she assumes that you don't know Leon at all beyond having taken his advice in coming here. And so her "gossip" is mostly dedicated to her explaining (or venting) her frustrations with her "miscreant" son. Most of it you already know about, in fact most of it you know more about than Cloe does. But one part does catch you by surprise - the reason why Cloe was initially expecting you to have been given a message to deliver to her, as you suspected, is because you're clearly an Academagia student. Cloe and her husband have been in touch with Professor Piaxenza about the possibility of having Leon stay at the Academagia over the next summer. Both as a disciplinary punishment for his crimes and continued misbehaviour, as well as to help him catch up with his new core classes.

The more you realize the sheer reach that this whole situation has the more you feel like you understand what makes Leon tick. He seems to be less on edge now than he did when you first met him, or rather when you were investigating Sigalis' lead though. You didn't manage to get a good read off of him when he thanked you for your part in the anti-shapeshifting flyer debacle. But especially now that Leon has managed to cook up some fish for Xu, he definitely has a smile on his face at times. So at least things do seem to be improving. You just hope that Xu understands where Leon is coming from.

In less gloomy news, however: Meatball! It was a trial to cook it, more than it needed to be, but it's ready. Cloe happily drops it on a plate and gives you a fork and knife to give it a try. Time to give it a taste, and put it's recipe to good use if it manages to live up to it's reputation. Probably should have taken notes in hindsight, you can do that afterwards.

The knife cuts a chunk off of the meatball more easily than you were expecting, which you take as a good sign. Not as easily as the cooked fish that you know Chi can eat, but more easily than most other kinds of meat. Tasting it confirms that it's not just the knife making things look easy, your teeth have just as little trouble biting through this. You're not sure if Chi will like the taste, which is honestly fairly powerful due to the seasoning, but this should definitely be something that she can eat. It may take some fine-tuning to get the taste right, but it's a great start. And hey, since you've already gone out and bought enough to have left over for two people after cooking this one, why not give it a shot and see if she likes it? Might as well head back to the Academagia and give it a try, see if either of them like it. Honestly you're going to be doing that a lot in the near future anyway, trying recipes from the cookbooks you bought and seeing if Chi and Xu like them. Once that's done you can put together that information for Leon and Xu, so they can translate themselves a bigger, better cookbook for themselves. One that Chi will eat everything from. Than with Professor Badcrumble supplying the ingredients, which shouldn't be hard to do at all since local ingredients are not expensive or hard to get by any stretch, this whole lack of food situation will be fully resolved.

In any case you write down the recipe just to make sure you won't forget any steps, thank Cloe for all her help, and start to make your way back to the Academagia, wondering if you should drop by the girls or by Professor Badcrumble first. You were fine with buying the ingredients you needed yourself in this case, since everything was local produce and that is just not expensive compared to, say, how much you seem to spend on ink and parchment, but you'd rather not go through two cookbooks worth of food on your own pocket money if you can help it. If you can convince Professor Badcrumble to support you that'd be great, but than you'd have to explain the situation to her too. Of course you're going to have to explain it to her sooner or later anyway, so you might as well do so sooner. Especially if it'll end up saving you a bunch of money you'd have to spend out of pocket otherwise.

...Yeah, there's really no arguing with that logic. Time to head to Professor Badcrumble's office and explain the situation. You're going to have to sooner or later anyway, might as well explain it sooner.

--You might not be overly familiar with cooking, but you're not completely ignorant about it either. Not to mention, you cooked for Chi twice before. Surely this can't be that hard, right?

What you should have remembered is what people say comes before the fall, because it turns out that the magical kitchen the girls have is a lot more convenient than you gave it credit for. It's not until you try to cook without it, where you have to do every little step yourself, that you even notice.

Needless to say that Cloe is not impressed, and with your confidence in shattered pieces on the floor you don't really get anything worth noting done. Gods, you feel like this is going to take weeks to recover from, but you don't exactly have time to spare, do you? Going to have to pick yourself up and try again...

[PC Cooking SKILL LOW]-Conversation. Remind Cloe that you are NOT Leon and needn't be treated as such.
--It doesn't take much effort to convince Cloe to not treat you like her son. She's a social gossip at heart, not a strict mentor, and giving her the chance to be herself is as much more fun for her as it is for you. And gossip she does, talking a bunch about Leon and why she's so disappointed in him. It's honestly heartbreaking to listen to, since of course Cloe has no idea why her son did what he did, and because of that he's being written off as just a rebellious miscreant. She even talks about how she's expecting a message from Professor Piaxenza, since she and her husband have been in touch with him about the possibility of making Leon stay at the Academagia during the summer, both as a disciplinary measure and to help him catch up with his new core classes. It makes you think about how far this whole situation really reached, although of course you don't say anything. You can't say anything, unfortunately.

As for the cooking side of things...well, there's plenty of time for the two of you to engage in small talk, but you don't set anything unnecessary on fire. You really underestimated just how much that magical kitchen the girls have can really do, if you put it to use. And of course you did, even if you didn't realize it, since you did your cooking before Leon cleaned up. Thankfully Cloe's recipe isn't difficult to cook, in the grand scheme of things, it's just a bit of a rude awakening for you that there's so much you completely missed earlier. Still, after much longer than it should have taken (although that's partially because you made sure to take notes as you went), you have a prize to show for it: One cooked meatball! It's finally ready, and Cloe happily drops it on a plate and gives you a fork and knife to give it a try. Time to give it a taste, and put it's recipe that you've got well written down to good use if it manages to live up to it's reputation.

The knife cuts a chunk off of the meatball more easily than you were expecting, which you take as a good sign. Not as easily as the cooked fish that you know Chi can eat, but more easily than most other kinds of meat. Tasting it confirms that it's not just the knife making things look easy, your teeth have just as little trouble biting through this. You're not sure if Chi will like the taste, which is honestly fairly powerful due to the seasoning, but this should definitely be something that she can eat. It may take some fine-tuning to get the taste right, but it's a great start. And hey, since you've already gone out and bought enough to have left over for two people after cooking this one, why not give it a shot and see if she likes it? Might as well head back to the Academagia and give it a try, see if either of them like it. Honestly you're going to be doing that a lot in the near future anyway, trying recipes from the cookbooks you bought and seeing if Chi and Xu like them. Once that's done you can put together that information for Leon and Xu, so they can translate themselves a bigger, better cookbook for themselves. One that Chi will eat everything from. Than with Professor Badcrumble supplying the ingredients, which shouldn't be hard to do at all since local ingredients are not expensive or hard to get by any stretch, this whole lack of food situation will be fully resolved.

In any case you thank Cloe for all her help and start to make your way back to the Academagia, wondering if you should drop by the girls or by Professor Badcrumble first. You were fine with buying the ingredients you needed yourself in this case, since everything was local produce and that is just not expensive compared to, say, how much you seem to spend on ink and parchment, but you'd rather not go through two cookbooks worth of food on your own pocket money if you can help it. If you can convince Professor Badcrumble to support you that'd be great, but than you'd have to explain the situation to her too. Of course you're going to have to explain it to her sooner or later anyway, so you might as well do so sooner. Especially if it'll end up saving you a bunch of money you'd have to spend out of pocket otherwise.

...Yeah, there's really no arguing with that logic. Time to head to Professor Badcrumble's office and explain the situation. You're going to have to sooner or later anyway, might as well explain it sooner.

--You attempt to convince Cloe that you're not Leon, but the slight mess you make of the cooking side of things does nothing to help your case. You might not be overly familiar with cooking, but you're not completely ignorant about it either. Not to mention, you cooked for Chi twice before. So surely you couldn't possibly mess up that badly, right?

What you should have remembered is what people say comes before the fall, because it turns out that the magical kitchen the girls have is a lot more convenient than you gave it credit for. It's not until you try to cook without it, where you have to do every little step yourself, that you even notice.

Needless to say that Cloe is not impressed, and with your confidence in shattered pieces on the floor you don't really get anything worth noting done. Gods, you feel like this is going to take weeks to recover from, but you don't exactly have time to spare, do you? Going to have to pick yourself up and try again...

This is indeed the stage where effort went to die, yes.

Edited by Metis
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The Lion Seeking Fish, stage 12:

Spoiler

You find Professor Badcrumble in her office, holding another of her detention sessions. This time the topic seems to be all about cutlery, from the correct sides of a plate that forks, knives and spoons should be placed at (depending on whether the person using it is left- or right-handed) to how one properly holds each of them in which hand. The students here, none of which you recognize, don't seem to have been expecting anyone to show up. In fact most of them seem confused that the professor's door wasn't locked. Professor Badcrumble herself, however, doesn't look the least bit surprised. "Ah, good afternoon [PC FIRST NAME]. I take it your message can't wait?" she calmly asks. You're not sure if you'd call what you're here for a message, but than Chi did ask you to talk about the food issue on her behalf, so...close enough, you suppose? You don't feel like it can wait, regardless, so you shake your head. Professor Badcrumble doesn't even question you at all, she just nods and turns to address the other students here. "Than that'll be all for today. Those here for detention, return to your respective dorms and stay out of trouble for the rest of today. And preferably every day thereafter. If I don't receive any complaints from your respective dorm masters or other faculty members I'll consider your detention over."

There's a number of students that stare curiously at you out of the corner of their eyes, no doubt wondering what your "message" is all about, but all of them then cast a meaningful glance at Professor Badcrumble and quickly come to the conclusion that this particular gifted horse is not worth looking in the mouth. No doubt that there'll be some rumors spreading around, but Rikildis can handle those easily. You've stopped worrying about that a while ago, in fact. In any case it doesn't take more than a minute for every student to leave, and for you to sit down in one of the seats. There's more than enough to choose from.

"First off I would like to ask: Was Leon's attempt to cook some carp for Xu successful?" Professor Badcrumble asks completely out of nowhere, at least from your perspective. She knows about that? You didn't think she did, or that she'd approve of it. "Surprised I know about that, [PC FIRST NAME]? Don't tell you me actually believed that one of the Venalicium's librarians just happened to have a magical fishing net collecting dust underneath her desk."

"Actually, yes. I mean in hindsight in does make more sense that you had a hand in it, but...I mean, I've been convinced of far less believable-sounding things this year already," you point out. Professor Badcrumble thankfully nods at that. "So...you knew about Leon's plan the entire time, and even secretly helped him with it? Why? If it was something you thought needed to be done why didn't you take over for him?"

"I would have if he hadn't asked you to help him out, rest assured. You I can trust to not set everything and everyone on fire in your attempts to accomplish something. Leon, not so much. I was counting on you to keep him in check, and it appears that you've done just that," Professor Badcrumble explains. Brow settling into a deep frown she adds, "That, and I'm afraid to admit that Leon is in a better position to assist the girls than I am these days. Considering how long it took you to come here since you smuggled in Leon's bounty through the ward's backdoor I'm hoping that from today forward I'll have someone other than that uncontrollable firestarter to rely on, however." Huh. Maybe you shouldn't be so surprised, but Professor Badcrumble knows. She knows. You weren't expecting that. "Did you get a chance to talk to the girls, [PC FIRST NAME]? Were you able to learn about anything I should know about, that they refuse to share with someone they can't trust?"

"Y-yes, actually," you admit. There's no point even trying to lie to Professor Badcrumble. Especially when she basically already knows about what's going on anyway, to say nothing of the fact that explaining the situation is why you came to see the regent in her office in the first place. "Chi wanted me to talk to you about the fact that you're not supplying them enough food. Well, she said that, but talking with her I figured out that the real problem is that Chi can't eat most of it because she's hypersensitive to hard food. That neither her or Xu really know how to cook landbound food at all doesn't help, either. Leon got them a cookbook at one point and helped Xu translate it as best they could, and that seemed to have worked to a point, but it's just not doing them any favors as far as Chi's...situation is concerned. Sorry, I'm still not sure whether to call it an allergy or something else."

Professor Badcrumble slowly nods along at what you're telling her, but she does raise an eyebrow midway through "Sorry, 'landbound'?" You nod, and explain that that's Chi's term for humans...though if the professor wants to discuss that in detail she'd be better off asking a Dialectic professor to help her out. You're less comfortable with the subject. "I understand the implications, don't worry about that. As for the food situation...I can't believe that they'd refuse to tell me about this. Xu's infection must have brought both of them literally to the brink of starvation. And even than I only hear about it through a messenger," Professor Badcrumble says with a tired sigh. You wonder if you should interject, and...decide that you should.

"I know why they didn't, actually," you suddenly say. Professor Badcrumble, for the first time since you just stepped into her office, looks genuinely surprised. "It's a cultural thing - food and cooking are very important and personal matters to them, so it's just not a problem that they are willing to share with someone they can't trust. And as absurd as it sounds it wasn't a problem they needed to immediately address, either. Since they can store food they can choose to coast on that until they run out. Or their bodies get infected, as happened to Xu, but obviously neither of them intended to let this situation get so far out of hand like this." Your revelation leads to an awkward moment as Professor Badcrumble silently lets that information sink in. It leaves you wondering whether you just tied a noose around your neck, which...isn't the best feeling.

"[PC FIRST NAME], please do your best to continue to earn the girls' trust. I need someone who they can talk to, someone who can understand where they're coming from and act in a manner that's respectful in their culture. As important as it is that they learn to adapt to Mineta's society they're going to need someone they can trust in order to accept those rules. Someone who's sum total academic record in that field isn't 'set a noble's estate that used to house an art gallery on fire', preferably." Yeah, eh, you think you can manage that. Leon does not a high bar for you to cross, at any rate. "But regarding this shortage of food situation, have you thought of any solutions to it? I'd happily cook for the girls myself if I had to...or, more likely, teach them how to cook themselves. That'd be a far more practical solution for my busy schedule, and for the girls themselves from the sound of it. But...obviously I'll need a different solution, regardless."

Well, you've got the ingredients for Leon's pork meatballs and two cookbooks on you right now. You'd call that a solution-in-progress, so...

[PC NOT ON Leon/girls' SIDE]-"Yes, I just need someone to supply ingredients."
--Again the regent looks surprised. It's an expression that remains on her face as you pull out the two cookbooks you bought and explain your plan to cook meals for the girls and see what all they like, note down which recipes work for them both, and at the end of it compile everything into one big bundle of information for Leon and Xu to translate into a cookbook that even chi will eat everything from. Once you finish explaining Professor Badcrumble looks impressed. "I'll admit, I wasn't expecting you to be so on top of this. I suppose there's a good reason why you delayed brining this matter to my attention, than. As for your ingredients I can definitely get them, assuming they're reasonable of course, but one question I'd like to ask: If food and cooking are, culturally, personal matters to the girls, isn't you cooking for them going to be a problem? And for that matter, how am I supposed to interpret Leon cooking those carp for Xu, in this context? How would Xu interpret it, rather?"

"You don't have to worry about that. I've cooked for Chi twice already, and she understands that landbound have a different view of it than they do. Not to mention that with them on the brink of starvation they don't have much of a choice either, regrettably. I have to assume that Xu recognized that as well, she is older than Chi after all."

That puts the regent at ease, thankfully to the point where she doesn't ask any more questions because she would not like the answer to how Xu would otherwise interpret Leon's little plot, you suspect. In any case you're done here. You've gotten your supply of ingredients, now it's time to put them (including the meatball ingredients) to use.

...Gods, you have so much cooking to do before all is said and done...but it's good practice, right? And for a good cause? It'll be worth it, eventually, but...this is going to take a while...

[PC ON Leon/girls' SIDE]-"Yes, but...about delaying taking action against the Madame..."
--The regent lets out a weary sigh. She knows full well what conversation you two are about to have. "[PC FIRST NAME], did Leon convince you to take his side, or is that a conclusion you came to on your own?" You recount what happened in the bookstore for Professor Badcrumble, as well as what line of thinking lead you to give the guildsman, and now the regent, the answer that you did, and ask if it really matters whether you got the idea from Leon or not. The regent nods. "It matters insofar that I cannot afford to have him start any more fires while this situation is still unstable, and him 'recruiting' younger, impressionable students to join his cause could be interpreted...poorly, in that respect. I hope, sincerely hope, [PC FIRST NAME], that you understand the severity of the situation. No matter how much you might disagree with how it's being handled."

"I know full well that setting fires isn't going to do anyone any good, professor. It's just...how am I supposed to justify this situation to the girls? How am I supposed to tell them that our history, our view of things-everything you've tried to convince them to follow is right? When it wasn't a Dragon that had them kidnapped, smuggled, and Xu's child nearly turned into an omelette? How am I supposed to earn their trust if I can't agree with them on that point? Or with Leon, for that matter. I met Leon's mother earlier, and as far as I can tell she's completely written off her son as a delinquent. How long is he going to have to endure that undeserved scorn, of his own family, before they can be told that Leon had a reason to do what he did? I'm not denying that what he did was extreme, but he had his reasons, and no other options as far as I know."

As you feared, Professor Badcrumble doesn't have an answer ready for that. Honestly, you get the impression that she isn't a fan of the whole mess any more than the girls are, but her hands are tied. "We don't know that for sure, [PC FIRST NAME]. Who or what convinced the Madame to do what she did? One doesn't end up with black market connections to the other side of the Wall simply for want of money. At least I don't believe so. I know it's not the answer that you or the girls want to hear, but I'm afraid that's the only answer I have to give, for now. We have to make sure that we understand the full scope of this mess. Only then can we take action against the Madame, and who- or whatever stood behind her. And still does, possibly."

"And if she spends that time spreading another wave of anti-shapeshifter flyers around Mineta, trying to turn public opinion against the girls? Or pulling off some other ploy to try and save her skin, maybe even escape justice entirely, while the girls are stuck here unable to do anything about it?" you counter.

"Don't assume that nothing was done in response to the anti-shapeshifting flyer incident, it's just been kept under wraps since the guards turned Laroche and we cannot allow this situation to escalate just yet. And don't assume that I would sit around and watch if the Madame truly made a move against the girls, for that matter. I've made it clear to her, on no uncertain terms, that if she attempts to capture or otherwise harm them again that there will be violent reprisal. I can accept the situation as it currently is because I cannot say for sure whether the Madame is truly guilty of everything that Leon has accused her of. Not for certain. If her actions convinced me otherwise, however, that stance would change. And as much of a firestarter as Leon and the rest of his Clique is, they're mere students. Professors can cause far more damage than students, which is another reason why I have to be careful."

That is interesting, useful, and potentially dangerous information. What you're taking from this is that there are options here, angles that you could try to leverage...that'll be important to keep in mind. "So what about those anti-shapeshifting flyers? Isn't that enough?"

"Until I can say for sure that those flyers were the Madame's idea and hers alone, no. She is involved in this whole mess, of that there is no doubt, but her guilt, whether she alone was the one behind everything, still is. And in either case, we have to question what would convince her to do such a thing. As I've said, money alone does not explain this. Nothing can explain this, and yet there must be a greater reason or purpose to it. One that I have to understand, in full, before I can pass judgement on the Madame." That all sounds reasonable enough, even if you're still hesitant to call it right when Chi or Xu's opinions weren't asked for at all. And is that really feasible? Obviously there's black market contacts that trace a line all the way to the other side of the Wall, the Madame didn't go on a ship and kidnap the girls personally, so that there's other people involved besides her is not in question. But could she be anyone but the mastermind behind the whole plot? Could anyone else have convinced her to dip her toes into outright slavery? If so, how? You guess those questions are exactly what Professor Badcrumble is wanting to answer, why she's willing to be patient, but if so why not get answers straight from the Madame? There's ways to force people to confess, so why not try to turn her, as the guards did Laroche? You ask the professor about it, and this time she's got an answer ready. "Setting aside the fact that the spells to compel truth you're referring to are by no means flawless, if the Madame was arrested and turned, as Laroche was, than every black market contact that she ever met would go into hiding. As, not coincidentally, happened to the contact that smuggled Laroche's illegal magic into the city, or at least the one who informed the contact that ended up selling it to Laroche. With the Madame still 'clear', however, people will be less inclined to hide. No one would do any business with her after what happened at her estate, but they wouldn't necessarily flee either. If we are to capture them, and bring them to justice, we need to figure out who they are and start looking for them before we make it clear that we're on their trail. And that, unfortunately, requires leaving the Madame to her own devices. For now."

Again, that sounds reasonable, especially with actual examples set in Laroche's case, but...you're going to have to earn the girls' trust, as much as is required, and see if you can have a frank talk with them about this whole situation. You'd like to know what their opinions are about this whole mess.

First, however, cooking. Lots, and lots of cooking...

Here's to hoping this whole "taking sides" thing actually fits with Y2's intended theme(?), even if it comes too late to really do much of anything with until Y3.

Edited by Metis
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The Lion Seeking Fish, stage 13:

Spoiler

The sound of crackling cooking oil and thunderous steps pounding on the floor in the distance rings in your ears, but it isn't enough to drown out the kitchen's magical hourglass informing you that the meat is done. You quickly turn the heat on that down with just the turn of a dial, Gods this magical kitchen is so easy and convenient it's basically cheating, and mentally prepare yourself for the inevitable yell of "food!" seconds before-

"Food's ready!"

...Before that. Not long after Chi comes rushing out of the back area and flies over to the dinner table, eagerly sitting down at her seat and grabbing her fork and knife. The plates are still empty, though, much to Chi's disappointment. You've had some good success cooking for the girls, and nowhere does that success show more than Chi rushing to the table as soon as it's dinnertime. "What're we having today?" she excitedly asks, though you wait for Xu to show up before answering Chi's question. Given how often you've tried this particular dish and how familiar she's getting with landbound food she can probably already guess from the smell anyway.

"Today we're having carrot and union stew. I've come across a recipe that gives the stew a distinct, more varied taste without making the union part overpowering. It's honestly a very nice recipe, because peeling and cutting an union is kind of a pain if you can't cast spells, and this recipe doesn't require that. And as for meat we're having an extra large pork meatball, per Chi's totally professional and completely unbiased opinion," you answer as soon as Xu drags herself through into what passes for their living room. She politely nods at you as she slowly walks over to her dinner table and slumps down in her chair. You, with Chi staring holes through your back the entire time, fill up the girls' plates and bring them over to the table. Chi doesn't wait, once the food is in front of her she forgets all about your earlier comment and happily digs right in. Xu, in contrast, politely waits for you to come back from grabbing your own plate before she starts eating. "Are you feeling alright, Xu?" you ask as you sit down. "You look pretty out of it."

"Blame that gluttonous leech over there keeping me awake all night," Xu answers, casting a quick venomous glance over at Fang. She's happily playing with a toy in her crib, not paying attention to you guys right now. "I really wish she'd just fall asleep in bed, but no, she insists on only falling asleep in the bath. As comfortable as it is to relax in it is not designed to sleep in, but of course she just refuses to understand that." The trials and tribulations of having a roommate that's not even half a year old. Nevertheless you ask Xu why the bath isn't comfortable to sleep in. She spend years sleeping underwater, so you're not sure why it wouldn't be comfortable. "I see someone has never had to spend a night lying on a bed of seaweed," Xu answers a bit dismissively.

"Not seaweed, but I've spend the night in a makeshift bed of thatch once." Xu looks confused, and you explain that one time many years back you stayed over at your "aunt" and "uncle" - not blood relatives, but old family friends who live nearby - and instead of sleeping in the guest room (like you should have) you snuck out and decided to try and make a bed out of a bunch of thatch they had laying around. There was enough to fill a bed's worth, as least a bed that'd fit as small a child as you were back than, because they had a section of the roof they needed to fix after the Academagia's students visited Mineta's Weather Institute that year. That was not a good year for the people in Mineta, all things told. Or your back. "I honestly don't remember it at all myself. I was only...two and a half years old? Maybe three? Something around that, but my 'aunt' and 'uncle' like to tell me the story every time I visit them."

Despite how tired she is you can see Xu internally debating whether or not to share what's obviously weighing on her mind right now. You've noticed that she's fairly cagey, moreso than Chi is, especially when a subject is actually personal to her. Still, slowly but surely you seem to be earning their trust. "The, eh, 'bed' of the bath, for lack of a better term, is honestly fine. It's the lack of weight to the water that's the problem," Xu eventually says in answer to your earlier question. "It isn't as noticeable in the pool, not the same as back home but not that different. But in the bath it's very noticeable. Or at least it should be..."

Lack of "weight"...? You ask, and Xu explains that the pressure of the weight of a lake worth of water above you (or the lack thereof, in this case) is noticeable when you're used to it being there. Or not being there, in your case. That's understandable, not something you'd ever consider as a problem but you can understand how it would be. How to solve the problem, though? Seems like the obvious solution is for Xu to spend her night with Fang in the pool, but maybe there's a better solution? Hmm...if Xu were to leave the water running it might help? That would be far from an ideal solution, though, but...actually, maybe that can work. "You know, it's possible to enchant showers to conjure water through Incantation rather than using water tapped from a source. If one of them is installed here you might be able to achieve a 'river at the foot of a waterfall' effect in the bath, if you leave it running all night. Not sure if that's an ideal solution, or a solution in general really, but...maybe?"

"Wait, really? Why does this place even have regular water ran to it if you can just conjure it through magic?" Xu asks, perplexed. Chi likewise looks at you perplexed for about two seconds...and than resumes wolfing down her food. Credit where credit is due, she might be a picky eater but if you cook something she likes you'll know you cooked something she likes.

"At the risk of oversimplifying, conjured water can't be used for everything that regular water can be. I should work for a running bath as far as I know, though. Worst case you could ask Professor Badcrumble about it. If nothing else Professor di Lucca Alazzo needs more opportunities to flex his crafting muscles anyhow, if it is a harder project than I think it would be." Xu twitches at the mention of Professor Badcrumble, but than she also pointedly glances over in Fang's direction with a contemplative look on her face. It may take some convincing, but you think you can get that talk to happen. You hope you can, at least.

"I'woud luoike oh ronning bwath," Chi attempts to add while continuing to stuff her mouth full of stew. Xu scolds her for her lack of table manners, but that's honestly a fairly hypocritical statement coming from someone who's holding her knife and fork like a mallet and chisel. She says that's how she's comfortable holding them, though, and she doesn't see the point in following tableware etiquette if it doesn't help her at all. More than anything you feel like that is a sad reminder of the fact that Professor Badcrumble has never so much as seen these two eat, much less sat at a dinner table with them. Because she'd have a heart attack if she saw how much Chi out-pigs the pigs she loves to eat so much...which honestly makes you wonder if they'd take her table manners as an insult or a compliment, actually...

"Fine. I'll ask [PC FIRST NAME] to ask the professor about it," Xu tells Chi. Which sounds like a rather indirect way to get things done to you, but sure. You know where she's coming from. "Though speaking of the professor and things you want, Chi, do you mind if I ask how you're eating so much?" Chi suddenly stops dead in her tracks, and looks down at her food with something between a nervous and guilty look on her face. Xu frowns, but that's all she does as far as you can see. "I recently recovered from a fanyeng infection and have been feeding a baby the entire time, yet with the seconds you usually take you've been eating as much as I have since [PC FIRST NAME] started cooking for us. I know you haven't eaten much ever since we were taken here, but just how do you still have space for so much?"

An awkward silence falls over the dinner table, during which Xu casts a curious glance over at you. You just shrug and motion towards Chi, though. Not to hit her from all sides, but you're not saying anything if she doesn't. "I, eh...I'm close to full now," Chi silently admits, but Xu calls her out on trying to dodge the actual question and asks it again. Chi gives one sad look at Xu, who is not moved by it in the slightest, and lets out a sigh. "I was close to ravenous - was ravenous, actually. But [PC FIRST NAME] cooked a few things for me, some of the fish that Leon didn't manage to butcher correctly, and that kept me going until [s/he] started cooking for both of us."

"Ravenous...did you actually lose control?" Xu asks, actually looking at Chi with some slight measure of sympathy hidden within her surprise, and in response Chi slowly nods her head. Xu then quickly turns her attention towards you again, and asks if what Chi said is right. You recall, out loud to make sure that either of the girls can correct you if you don't recall correctly, that "ravenous" is the term for when a seabound's fanyeng is (basically) completely empty. It's called such because at that point they start to suffer from both physical and mental issues as a result of their hunger, the most common (or at least infamous) of which is a lapse of self-control when confronted with food. Which you did indeed see with Chi - she definitely lost control of herself when you gave her that plate of cooked fish, although that's the only thing you saw. Admittedly it's also one of the few things you possibly could have seen right then and there, but still. You look at Xu after your (somewhat lengthy) explanation, silently asking if you're correct, and she nods. "So that's why," she says as she slowly turn her attention back to Chi. "You let yourself run that low? Why?"

"I didn't intent to," Chi clarifies. She doesn't answer Xu's second question, though, and unlike before she doesn't try asking it again.

"I suppose I gave up too soon on forcing you to eat, but you are one picky eater usually. Are [PC FIRST NAME]'s recipes really so much better?" Chi, either intentionally or coincidentally, answer's Xu's question by showing you her empty plate and asking if there's more. You snort and point her towards the kitchen, where she eagerly goes to pick up her second helping. You've done this song and dance before, you've learned to be prepared. Xu, for her part, rolls her eyes. "I suppose that answers that question..." she mutters underneath her breath.

"It's not your fault, Xu. Chi really is far more sensitive to hard food than you are, and the entire situation of trying to cook unfamiliar ingredients using an unfamiliar kitchen into a recipe that wasn't going to do Chi any favors regardless...I don't think anyone could have pulled that off. Even my wand couldn't have managed that," you try and gently tell her. You remember what Chi told you about cooks who's dishes people refuse to eat. Thankfully Xu seems to understand that as well, as she slowly nods.

"I know. But even so I still feel like I got asked to leave the kitchen. Which actually brings me to the summer that's fast approaching - what are we going to do when [PC FIRST NAME] leaves the Academagia, at least until the next academic year? Because I don't know about you, Chi, but I can't hold out for two months without eating. Not unless you want me to eat Fang for a change." Chi, looking and no doubt feeling rather nervous now that that issue has been put on the table, notes that even she doesn't even want to try to go without regularly eating again. Not after she recently ran out to the point of becoming ravenous. "Right. So how do you propose that we solve that problem?"

You vaguely recall that you were going to teach Chi how to cook while working on these recipes, at least you're pretty sure that was the plan at some point, but you didn't want to deal with cooking new recipes and figuring out the ins and outs of the girls' magical kitchen and trying to teach Chi how to cook (using said kitchen you had to get a feel for yourself first) all at the same time. So if that indeed was the plan at any point it fell through. Which now present the girls with a rather large problem. Of course you remember all too well that cooking is a big deal for the girls, culturally. So what would be the best answer to suggest here...

-Teach Chi how to cook before the Academic year ends.
--You weren't too confident trying to teach Chi how to cook while you were experimenting with recipes and figuring out how their magical kitchen works, but you're done with both of those things now. Though the end of the academic year quickly approaches there's still time left, time enough to teach Chi how to cook you think. It's not that hard, and the kitchen itself does most of the work anyway. So you suggest that you could teach Chi how to cook, using what time you've got left before summer comes.

When the response you get is a stunned silent look from Chi and a curious frown from Xu you realize that you may have chosen your words poorly. Worse, Xu's frown gets directed towards Chi instead when Xu notices her rather strong reaction. "Is there something going on that I should know about, Chi?" Xu asks like a viper that's about to pounce.

"Eh..." is all Chi can manage to say in response before she buries her head in her hands. That's not something you usually want to see, nor is the knowing look on Xu's face...

"Your silence is noted. For now, though, [PC FIRST NAME], do you know the significance of a stranger teaching a seabound how to cook?" Xu asks. And you'll admit, being called a "stranger" like that? Not a good feeling.

"Yes, Xu, I do know. I also know why it'd be more significant for Chi than it would be for you, but I can't just sit here watching this problem repeating itself all over again and I just don't have a better alternative to suggest. I do have an alternative to suggest, but I don't think it's one that either of you would be more comfortable with - Leon, I've heard, will be staying at the Academagia over the summer rather than going back home until Juvenalia. So I could teach him to cook for the two of you during the summer instead, if you'd prefer." The distant, slightly twitchy look in Xu's eyes confirms that that would indeed be the greater of two evils for her. Chi likewise doesn't seem overly thrilled by the idea of Leon cooking for them, but not as apprehensive towards it either.

"Okay...point taken," Xu slowly starts as she casts a meaningful look over at Chi. You've pulled yourself out of this one, you feel like. "So, hang on, you said that it'd be more significant for Chi than it would be for me? Why?"

...Out of the frying pan, into the fire. Lovely. How are you going to talk your way out of this one!?

"I can't cook," Chi suddenly blurts out, staring sadly at her empty plate. The confession takes Xu by surprise, who asks Chi if she's talking about not knowing how to use the kitchen. "No, in general. My parents never taught me how to cook. Y-you're not the only one who had trouble cooking something I could eat, you know..."

It takes a(n awkward) minute for Xu to let that information sink in. During which time Chi tries to stifle a few sobs, and you're anxiously shifting in your seat unsure as to whether you should move over to try and comfort her or not. It's kind of your fault, after all. "Is that all that's bothering you, Chi? That you were never taught how to cook?" Xu asks, like an older sister trying to console her sibling. Chi slowly nods as you wonder what else Xu thought you two were talking about. Perhaps it's best that you never know, though. "Alright. Stop crying, Chi, it's alright. In that case I have to agree that it'd be best if [PC FIRST NAME] taught you how to cook," Xu eventually says. It causes Chi, slightly teary-eyed, to look up surprised at Xu. "Practically speaking we can't reasonably expect me to be able to cook at all times anyway. I don't doubt that I'll eventually learn how to cook [PC FIRST NAME]'s recipes, either," Xu neutrally states, almost like a professor giving a lecture. "What if I get sick again? When I'll inevitably get sick again. We can't assume that Leon or [PC FIRST NAME] will be there to cook for us every single time. We can avoid eating for some time, sure, but I'm on a tight budget with that gluttonous leech to feed, and being full doesn't matter if either of us get a fanyeng infection anyway. So it'd certainly be best if you learned how to cook. That way either of us can cook, even if the other is sick." That sounds sensible enough, but you have to wonder about the, eh, implications of you teaching Chi how to cook. So naturally, as if in answer to your unspoken questions, Xu turns her attention to you after Chi nods at her advice. "Considering we're already sharing a dinner table I don't see any reason why you shouldn't be allowed to teach Chi. So, [PC FIRST NAME], please do your best to teach Chi how to cook. This isn't just a skill for us, even ignoring this...unusual situation we're in. Make sure she learns to eat what you have her cook. You wouldn't be doing right by her if she couldn't."

...Of course. Food in general is more important to them, so of course sharing food would be as well. You can't believe you completely forgot about that.

In any case that should be the final thing before the end of this academic year that you'll need to make sure to get done with the girls. After that it's back to business as usual, summer vacation, and who knows what'll happen than. So much about the girls' case is still out there, and still up in the air, but you're one step closer to winning the girls' trust. One step closer to earning the chance to either guide them on the path to greatness, or happiness, whatever they'd prefer...or complete and total ruin.

Hopefully it won't end up being the last one...

-Suggest that Leon cook for the girls.
--The idea that Leon's parents had, letting Leon stay at the Academagia over the summer, was approved by Professor Piaxenza and the Legate last you heard. And you're sure you did, because boy was Leon not a fan of that idea. You hope that when this case is finally solved that there will still be a bridge left to repair, between him and his parents, but for now the important thing is that you know that he won't be going home this summer. And you know that he's at least not a completely klutz in the kitchen, so you suggest that you could teach him how to cook.

The response you get is a stunned silent, confused look from Chi, and a revolted shudder from Xu. Perhaps not the best suggestion you're ever made, than.

"[PC FIRST NAME]," Xu starts, ready to lay down some fire, but she suddenly falls silent. And a second later she slowly nods to herself. "Wait, that's right, you're a landbound. And landbound don't value cooking at all, do they?"

"Not especially so," you say, biting your tongue when it comes to your dislike at being called that. Not that Xu's wrong, but it makes you feel like the girls are more distant from you than you'd like them to be. So much so that you're going to try and drag yourself out of this hole you dug for yourself. "I do recall that cooking is significant to you two, for the record, I just don't really understand that situation all too well. I also don't have anything else to suggest, but really don't want to see the two of you go starving yourselves again, so...even if it's not a great idea, I have to try."

Chi seems unsure about what to make of your defence. Xu, in contrast, frowns. "I suppose, but wouldn't a better idea be you teaching Chi how to cook your recipes? Because it sounds like you'd have to first teach Leon how to cook in general before teaching him your recipes, the carp he managed to prepare - admittedly with your help - notwithstanding, so I assume you'll have to time to teach Chi your recipes instead."

Leon actually does know the basics of cooking already, showing him how to use the magical kitchen wouldn't be an issue at all, and of course there's one slight issue with the idea of you teaching Chi how to cook your recipes. One that causes you to look a bit concerned at Chi, who's shifting nervously in her seat. Xu, confused, asks Chi what's wrong with her suggestion, though she doesn't get an answer. So instead she asks you what's going on. "I, eh..." is all you can manage to say, because you genuinely have no idea how bad of an idea it'd be to blurt out Chi's secret, and you can't very well ask her about that right now either. So nothing to do but fall silently and have Xu glares holes through you...

"I-I can't cook!" Chi suddenly blurts out, staring sadly at her empty plate. The confession takes Xu by surprise, who asks Chi if she's talking about not knowing how to use the kitchen. "No, in general. My parents never taught me how to cook. Y-you're not the only one who had trouble cooking something I could eat, you know..."

It takes a(n awkward) minute for Xu to let that information sink in. During which time Chi tries to stifle a few sobs, and you're anxiously shifting in your seat unsure as to whether you should move over to try and comfort her or not. You wouldn't call it your fault, but you feel for her all the same. "[PC FIRST NAME]," Xu quietly asks as she slowly turns to face you. You're either about to be saved or killed, one or the other. "Did you know about this?" You nervously eye Chi, who nods at you, and you nod at Xu in turn. You admit that Chi did tell you about it and asked you to keep it a secret, so you did. Or tried to, at least. You further explain that you don't really understand the significance of being taught how to cook all too well, so the promise you made to Chi aside, you have no idea if you teaching her how to cook is at all a reasonable suggestion. Hence why you suggested Leon instead, but...perhaps that was in error. Xu, in answer to your unspoken question, nods her head. Looks like you're off the hook, at least for the moment. "To explain, being taught how to cook is considered your first step into adulthood. Seabound children can't coast on their fanyeng in the way that teens and adults can, partially because their bodies simply can't store as much and partially because they spend so much on just growing up, so one of the noticeable signs that someone has grown up is their ability to go for longer without eating. And since the only thing a seabound needs to survive is food, traditionally, being taught how to cook is considered the point where you achieved your first measure of independence, your first step into becoming an adult." You nod at that, and ask what you ought to make of you teaching Chi how to cook. And what Chi is supposed to make of it, for that matter. That question takes Xu a moment to think over, but quickly enough she answers, "I don't think either of you should feel embarrassed about it. [PC FIRST NAME], you've cooked for both of us so often, even sat with us at our dinner table that I don't feel like we ought to treat you as a stranger. Understand that cooking isn't just a skill to us, and that Chi learning to cook something she can eat means a lot more to her than it does to you, but that aside I see no reason why you shouldn't be allowed to teach Chi how to cook. Particularly when we don't really have much of a choice, anyway."

...Of course. Food in general is more important to them, so of course sharing food would be as well. You can't believe you completely forgot about that. But, in any case, success! Hole successfully dragged out of! Admittedly it'd feel more like a victory if Chi wasn't staring at you with a scared and confused tear-soaked face, but...eh, gotta take the victories where you can, right? You'll do your best in teaching her how to cook, that won't be an issue. You're done with trying out recipes and figuring out that magical kitchen, you can show Chi how to work it.

"Xu...are you really okay with this?" Chi asks, to which Xu deftly nods.

"We can't reasonably expect me to be able to cook at all times anyway, nor that [PC FIRST NAME] or, worst case, Leon will always be around to cook for us either. What if I get sick again? When I'll get sick again. We can avoid eating for some time, sure, but I'm on a tight budget with that gluttonous leech to feed, and being full doesn't matter if either of us get a fanyeng infection anyway. So it'd certainly be best if you learned how to cook. That way either of us can cook, even if the other is sick." That certainly sounds like a logical enough argument, even if Chi doesn't seem particularly moved by it. You'll do your best to talk to her, though. Something is swimming around in her mind, causing her to feel fear and doubt, but you'll do your best to figure it out, and support her.

In any case, that should be the final thing before the end of this academic year that you'll need to make sure to get done with the girls. After that it's back to business as usual, assuming there's time left for that, summer vacation for sure, and who knows what'll happen after that. So much about the girls' case is still out there, and still up in the air, but you're one step closer to winning the girls' trust. One step closer to earning the chance to either guide them on the path to greatness, or happiness, whatever they'd prefer...or complete and total ruin.

Hopefully it won't end up being the last one...

-Show Xu how to cook your recipes.
--You don't think there's enough time left in the academic year to teach Chi how to cook, and you feel like Xu could use a share of the undisguised appreciation that you've gotten from Chi since you started cooking for the girls. She deserves it, if nothing else. So you suggest that you could teach Xu to cook your recipes, perhaps work together on translating a cookbook for her in the process.

She frowns at the suggestion, but you can tell that she doesn't hate the idea. You can read her expressions well enough to tell the difference by now. Xu lets out a sigh and says, "I do want to learn your recipes eventually, just so that I can cook for Chi if I have to. All the same, though, I feel like it's her turn to do the cooking. So, please, teach her your recipes for now. I'll get the chance to study it when we put together the cookbook anyway, since I'll be the one to write everything down." That...makes sense, it's a logical plan, but there's a slight problem with the whole idea - Chi doesn't know how to cook. You wouldn't be teaching her your recipes, you'd be teaching her how to cook in general. Something that Xu clues into, as she notices the awkward silence that falls over the dinner table, as well as the nervous look on Chi's face. "Is there a problem with that plan?" Xu asks, pointedly looking between you and Chi.

"Eh..." is all Chi can manage to say in response before she loses her cool and buries her head in her hands. Xu, not that Chi can see it, looks confused at that response.

"Chi..." you slowly start to say, but all too quickly you fall silent as you can't bring yourself to even ask Chi whether she wants to tell Xu herself or whether she wants you to inform Xu about her secret. She might want to try and keep it a secret, after all, as futile as that seems right now.

Xu, for her part, lets out a tired sigh. "Chi, did your parents refuse to teach you how to cook?" she asks, as directly as it sounds. Chi looks up at Xu, surprised that she knew, and after a moment slowly nods. "I was afraid of that. Were they that embarrassed by your narrow taste?" Again Chi slowly nods, tears silently streaming down her face. Xu nods in turn, while you're anxiously shifting in your seat unsure as to whether you should move over to try and comfort Chi or not. It may not be your fault that she's crying, but you still feel for her. "Very well. In that case, [PC FIRST NAME], please teach Chi how to cook. She needs to know, and it's well past time that someone teaches her." Both you and Chi looks surprised at Xu at that, in your case because you've got no idea whether you're not supposed to be surprised by that. Given that Chi reacts the exact same way you have to assume you guessed right. Xu, however, has a neutral look on her face. "Practically speaking, we can't reasonably expect me to be able to cook at all times. What if I get sick again? When I'll get sick again. We can't assume that [PC FIRST NAME] or Leon will be there to cook for us every single time, either. We can avoid eating for some time, sure, but I'm on a tight budget with that gluttonous leech to feed, and being full doesn't matter if either of us get a fanyeng infection anyway. So it'd certainly be best if Chi learned how to cook. That way either of us can cook, even if the other is sick." That sounds sensible enough, but you're still unsure as to the, eh, implications of you teaching Chi how to cook. It can't be that bad regardless, otherwise Xu wouldn't be arguing in favor of it, but still. You're a bit confused, and curious. And Chi, for her part, has much the same expression on her face as well. Xu glares at Chi with a stern expression, but you she gives a more neutral look. "You're curious about how cooking and teaching others how to cook fits into our culture, I take it?" Xu asks. You nod, and she calmly explains that being taught how to cook is considered a step into adulthood. Seabound children can't coast on their fanyeng in the way that teens and adults can, partially because their bodies simply can't store as much and partially because they spend so much on growing up, so one of the noticeable signs that someone has grown up is their ability to go for longer without eating. And since the only thing a seabound needs to survive is food, traditionally, being taught how to cook is considered the point where you achieved your first measure of independence, your first step into becoming an adult. Which is...certainly something, for you to teach Chi how to cook in that respect, but Xu insists that you shouldn't worry about it. "We've shared a dinner table many times before now, you've cooked for both of us many times, I see no reason why we should be shy about letting you teach Chi how to cook. Though, [PC FIRST NAME], make sure that Chi learns to eat what you teach her to cook. It would not be good for her to continue to be held back by this whole situation clawing at her. And you wouldn't be doing right by her, besides."

...Of course. Food in general is more important to them, so of course sharing food would be as well. You can't believe you completely forgot about that.

In any case, if that's the best solution than you suppose you'll have to try and find the time to get that done before the end of this academic year. After that it'll be summer again, two months away from the Academagia, and who knows what'll happen then. So much about the girls' case is still out there, and still up in the air, but you're one step closer to winning the girls' trust. One step closer to earning the chance to either guide them on the path to greatness, or happiness, whatever they'd prefer...or complete and total ruin.

Hopefully it won't end up being the last one...

If it wasn't clear by now, I'm relying on players filling in the time they spend off-screen to fill in the gaps that the adventures don't cover. Although maybe I should work on a series of applicable REs to fill in those gaps a bit more? Hmm...that'd be an easier question to answer after I see what Y2 really looks like, as well as this whole adventure chain. Assuming it even gets added in the first place and everything.

In any case, that's the extent of it you'll (likely) see in Y2. More is of course planned, and decisively not planned (bonus points to anything who manages to suss that out, as I belatedly did) but part of the whole thing anyway, maybe. Possibly. We'll see...eventually...

Edited by Metis
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  • 1 year later...

Posting this here now in the hopes that it will maybe, possibly, potentially, probably not convince me to actually finish it. Big Dreams of the Small Familiar, stage 0:

Spoiler

You're out in what is technically considered the Elumian wilderness - it's hard to say you're in the middle of it when you can still see the Academagia's many towers reaching high above the trees in the distance - when you stumble across an odd sight. A small pack of what you assume are either wolves or wild dogs, it's hard to tell, are circling around a fallen over tree like vultures eagerly waiting for a meal. They don't appear to have any concerns beyond the log, whatever makes it so interesting, so you're sure you could easily just walk away if you wanted to. But a part of you can't help but wonder whatever might be hidden in that log. Of course another part of you can't help but wonder why you should care. You don't expect you'll get much in the way of thanks if you end up saving a rabbit from a pack of hungry canines. Than again, there could be something like a pixie stuck in that log too, and they tend to be more appreciative. Although mischievous, too...

The pack of hounds hasn't caught your scent yet, so you can either strike from afar or walk away unnoticed. Yeah, using a wand against animals like that is kinda one-sided, but you didn't come here to prove you're a powerful hunter capable of doing stuff in a fair fight, you came here for brewing ingredients and have nothing to prove to all of the nothing and no one around you. So the tools you have available, be that your wand or your legs, it is.

-Walk away.
--What are the odds that interfering here is going to get you anything of merit? Probably very low, and beyond that you shouldn't underestimate the potential danger that those wolves can pose. Yes, you're a wizard with a wand who hasn't been spotted yet, but therein lies the catch - you haven't been spotted yet. If these dogs do spot you you're going to have four opponents closing distance fast, and that is not only a situation that unprepared wizards shouldn't be throwing themselves into willingly in any case, but perhaps more importantly that is a situation that can become reality far too easily. All it takes is one gust of wind travelling the wrong direction for those wolves to get a face full of your scent, and by the time you realize that it might already be too late.

You decide to make a stealthy exit before the wolves catch your scent, one way or another, and manage to get away scot-free. It really doesn't feel like this should be considered an achievement, especially for a second year magic student, but any fight you can walk away from...

-Inspect the log, see what's so interesting about it.
--It's a trivial matter to drive the canines off using the spells you prefer for these situations. So, with a bit of a smug smirk and a spring in your step you walk over to the scene of the crime - exactly what crime was committed here you're not entirely sure, but it definitely sounds cooler that way so you're willing to not question it too much this time - and see just what caught that pack's attention anyway...

And Stage 1:

Spoiler

Nothing pokes a head out of the log as you walk over, and when you look inside you...don't see anything at all. Strange. You're sure that those canines were drawn to this thing for a reason, but there's nothing here. You didn't see anything make a quick escape as you were walking over, either. Very odd indeed. But, in any case, you kneel down and get ready to inspect the log more closely when your eyes notice something...off. Shimmering, like a Glamour. Light seems to bend around the inside of this log in ways it shouldn't. Maybe this will prove to be interesting after all.

"Please don't kidnap me," a weary, slightly haggard-sounding voice suddenly calls out from the log as you prepare to dispel the Glamour. A second later the voice adds, "Um...actually I would prefer to be kidnapped over being eaten, so if you were planning to eat me I guess please kidnap me instead?"

With a curious, slightly perplexed frown you dispel the Glamour on the creature and watch in equal parts confusion and awe as what you can only describe as a child shrunk down to the size of a large hand curiously looks you over before slowly shuffling out of the log. She(?) tries her best to wipe the dirt and bits of wood off of her tiny clothes before turning her attention to you, bowing as best as her tiny frame can, and thanking you for your help in fending off those wolves. "Eh...yeah. Sure," you say as you sit down and try to get a better look at this...creature. You've seen pixies before, but this girl doesn't look like one. Distinctly human-style clothes (tiny as they are), no wings, different size from pixies that you've seen before too...you're at a loss. What doesn't help is that this girl is just unnerving to look at. Not that she's ugly or repulsive, there's something...off about her. Definitely not a Fey, they usually have the opposite aura to them. "So...wha-eh, who are you?"

"My name is Astrid," the tiny girl answers. You'd say she looks disappointed, for some reason you don't dare to start guessing at, but you're not willing to bet money on your ability to interpret this creature's expressions. Despite the confusion you introduce yourself in turn, albeit with that same curious expression frozen on your face the entire time. "Is my frame really that off?" Astrid asks with crossed arms and a frown on her tiny face, difficult as the latter is to see. Her mannerisms are human enough, as least. In response to her question you shrug and ask what she's talking about. "My frame-eh, right: My body, as you would say. Sorry, I'm not used to talking with people other than my master very well. I want to know if my body really looks that different from yours." A second later Astrid quickly adds, "Size aside, obviously."

You think that question over, but obvious as it seems you don't feel like you understand what she wants to know, let stand how to answer her. So...now what?

-Just admit that you're clueless.
--It's not the response you wanted to go with, but all you have on offer in this instance is a confused shrug. Astrid, unsurprisingly, does not look impressed. "Really? I thought normal people knew how to communicate. Or did your master never get the opportunity to teach you either?" she asks, and rather rudely you might add. Of course you can imagine why Astrid hasn't had much opportunity to learn this whole "social" thing, leaving you wondering as to what your excuse is supposed to be...

"Thanks. And no, my 'master', whoever you're referring to with that, just didn't tell me anything about...what are you, exactly?" That question sends Astrid deep in thought, which is surprising on two fronts. One, she doesn't know herself? And two, her mannerisms are so close to human that you're able to read her expression (insofar that you can see it) like any regular person's? And yet she doesn't classify herself as "normal people"...weird, weird, weird. When are you going to encounter something completely bizarre and off the wall that you just know about? That'd be a real breath of fresh air right about now...

Suddenly Astrid snaps her (tiny) fingers, and without drawing or waving around a wand (as far as you can see) she casts what you can only assume is a Sergei's Timely Doorjam on herself. Within moments the tiny girl grows to the size of a mostly normal-looking teenager, and staring at you with a pair of absurdly oversized eyes she asks, "Is that better? How do I look now?"

It takes you a few seconds to find the right words to describe this...this. Whatever Astrid is. "Eh, well, 'better' insofar that I don't have to strain my neck to look at you, yes. But what is going on with your eyes? Did you miscast your size-changing spell?"

Astrid frowns, which looks even more ridiculous, and seemingly out of nowhere conjures a small mirror into her hand to take a closer look at your face. She then proceeds to completely ignore your perplexed look as she casually goes back and forth between looking at you and looking at herself using her magical mirror a few times, nodding to herself as she notices the rather large pair of problems adorning her face. "Hmm...I'm sure I cast my spell correctly, but this clearly isn't right. One moment, let me see if I can fix this," Astrid casually says as, checking herself in her little magic mirror in one hand, she uses her other hand to just carefully resize her eyes, like some kind of paining brought to life. What in Octavius' name is this girl!? You've heard of shapeshifters before, but this is just ridiculous!

Your continued exasperation at this situation aside, though, yes, you have to admit that with normal sized eyes Astrid indeed does look a lot more normal. If you can ignore the road you had to travel to get here, which...no, but other than that it's a vast improvement. Of course Astrid happily nods at your observation, but after she cancels her Sergei's Timely Doorjam her now normal sized eyes prove to be all but invisible from where you're standing, so...that just ended up trading one problem for another, it seems like. And she still looks unnerving even without her oversized eyes anyway, likely because humans were not meant to be that small. Yet at the same time those huge eyes serving such a clever purpose cannot be anything but design, you feel like. So...just what is this girl?

"You look like you have some difficult questions of your own to ask," Astrid notes a bit too cheerfully for your liking, as she cancels her other spell (at least you assume that was a spell of some description) and brings back her huge eyes. It's the lesser of two evils, but you don't think that Astrid will be satisfied with that. "If you want I could bring you to my master. I'm sure he can help answer your questions, and maybe even give you some pointers about how to communicate. I, eh, also would appreciate it if I could catch a ride on your shoulder. I've had my fill of walking through the wilderness for one day."

You are never going to live that down, are you? Great. In any case you are indeed very curious about this girl's "master", and you do have a shoulder available, so...why not? You're close enough to the Academagia and the most well-rounded failure of a student it has to offer, you feel like, so what could possibly go wrong? Worst case people can just not miss you if you end up being boiled into stew or something...

-Confidence. You can figure this out.
--The more bizarre and left field a situation you find yourself in - and this situation all but flew over from whatever other country is located in whatever direction is currently to your left in that respect - the more important it is to not doubt yourself overly much. The girl's question is straightforward enough, it's only if you keep looking down at her and wondering whether you can take her question at face value that you end up stuck like this. And you've dealt with worse before, right? You got this.

"I...can't say that it does," you eventually answer, after looking Astrid's 'frame' - or whatever she wants to call it - over a few times. "That said...I can't figure out why but it feels like there's something off about it. It's not your height, it's...I don't know."

You bend over trying to get a better look at Astrid, determined to answer her question for yourself if not for her, although Astrid takes a step back when you do. "Wait, hold on, I have an idea. One moment," the tiny girl says as she - without any sort of wand that you can see - casts a spell on herself to increase her body's size up to a more normal level. Kinda disappointed you didn't think of that one first admittedly, but whatever. It'll do, because looking at Astrid's more normal-sized form it's clear why her frame unnerves you so much - her eyes are gigantic! They're so oversized you're not sure whether they were always that disproportionate or whether Astrid miscast her spell, or whatever she just did. You calmly point out as much, at least as calmly as you can manage to be in this situation, and Astrid slowly nods to herself. "Yeah, they do feel...one second, is this better?" Astrid notes and asks, as she casts another spell to bring her eyes down to a normal level. And yes, with that she definitely looks like a normal, average human. Minus the fact that she didn't reach up to your knee a minute ago.

"Much better," you note, nevertheless still staring curiously at Astrid. "How'd you end up with those huge eyes, though? Did your spell miscast? I assume not since you just cast it again and it worked, but-"

"No, I didn't miscast anything, that's just part of my frame," Astrid interrupts as she cancels her first spell and goes back down to her normal small size. At which point you actually get an answer to your first question, which you point out to Astrid - her eyes are likely so large because now that they're normal you can't see her eyes clearly from where you're standing. Astrid nods, cancels her other spell to bring back her huge eyes and asks if that looks better. It does, but the out of proportion eyes are nevertheless unnerving to look at. Being able to see her eyes is good, of course, but they still look...well, weird. So strange, though...who designed that? Who-hell, just what is this girl?

"Hey, Astrid, you mentioned having a 'master', right?" Astrid nods, and asks if you'd like to meet him. You nod. "Yeah. I have questions, and frankly I don't think this is a good place for it. Out in the middle of the woods and all."

Astrid definitely nods heartily at that, and taking a ride on your shoulder as she (understandably) has had her fill of going through a forest for one day, she ends up leading you to her master's home. Wise? Maybe not, but you're so close to the Academagia you don't feel like you're putting yourself in danger.

--You stare awkwardly at Astrid for about a minute trying to figure out what all this girl could possibly mean with her straightforward-seeming question, but can you really take the words of someone obviously bizarre at face value? It might be mean to say "no" to that, but you remember a few instances where that theory worked out in the end, so...

"Is there a problem?" Astrid eventually asks. And you actually nod in response, still staring her up and down curiously. It is weird that looking at her...unnerves you like it does, especially because you can't tell why it does even though it does. Very bizarre. "Well, than what's the problem? Do you not understand what I asked? If you don't you can just ask me to clarify, you know."

...You're going to pointedly ignore that that was an option this entire time and you just completely forgot. Maybe there's a reason you're not entirely confident in your social skills, though. At least you feel that way now. "W-well, I'm just not sure - what do you want to know? Whether your body-or 'frame', whichever term you prefer, is different from mine? Size aside?"

Astrid nods. Really, so it was the obvious answer this whole time? Leave it to you to encounter the strangest things with the most straightforward answers sometimes, no one ever expects the straightforward answer in these situations! "Actually, that gives me an idea. One moment," Astrid suddenly says, and within a few seconds she suddenly rises up to your height. Magic, clearly, but you sure didn't see her wave any wands around. In any case her spell if not her casting of it must have gone wrong at some point, because by the time Astrid is done rising up to your face and looks at you you're suddenly staring at a girl with eyes that seem to go from her nose to the edges of her face and beyond. It's unnerving enough that you take a step back, trip and fall flat on your backside, so here's to continue believing that you're not a parade of failures.

"Could you tell me before you go botching spells like that?" you say as you pick your sorry self back up.

"I didn't fail to cast," Astrid insists, and you point out that her eyes tell a different story. Not figuratively, but literally in this case. After looking over your own face Astrid conjures a small magic mirror into her hand, again not wand waving that you could see, and after checking her eyes actually nods to herself. "Actually, you're right, that is odd. One moment, tell me if this looks better," Astrid says before she begins to draw her eyes down a few sizes with just her fingers. How does she do that, exactly? Regardless of how she does it the effect is clear enough, because within moments her eyes are shrunk down to a normal size, and were it not for your sore backside you couldn't even tell that Astrid wasn't a normal girl. So, yes, that is definitely a major improvement, and you tell Astrid as much. She takes that as her cue to cancel her first spell (whatever she just did with her eyes must be magic of some kind) and return to her normal size, which sadly does nothing to help the many questions flying around in your head right now.

Actually, with her normal-sized eyes and small (normal?) sized Astrid you can't see her eyes at all. That's no good, and probably why her eyes are so huge in the first place, but...how? Who designed that? Who planned that? Just...what is this girl!?

"Thank you for helping me figure out the large eyes. That said but you look like you have some questions of your own to ask right about now," an all but eye-less, from your perspective, Astrid playfully notes as she thankfully cancels her other spell and brings back her (relatively) huge eyes. It's an improvement over no eyes at all for sure, but it still looks off. You mention as much to Astrid, and she nods to herself (for whatever reason). "If you want I could bring you to my master," Astrid offers. "You did rescue me from those wolves, so...honestly I think I'd feel more comfortable taking a ride on your shoulder than going back home on my own. I've had my fill of walking through the forest for the rest of today."

"You'd take a ride on the shoulder of someone who can't seem to stay on their own two feet?" you drily ask.

"Better than tempting the wolves again, and worst comes to worst I can cast a slowfall spell," Astrid answers. And if that's her answer, than, sure. You've got a shoulder free and you are curious to meet this girl's master, so why not? You're still pretty close to the Academagia, this probably won't get you horribly killed.

And if it does...well, at least you've an educated guess as to the most likely reason why you wouldn't be able to run away successfully. So yay for being prepared you supposed...

-Concentration. Focus, figure out why Astrid's appearance unnerves you so much.
--The sound of chased-off wolves howling in admission of their defeat (at least that's what they should be doing) in the distance doesn't stop you from giving this girl a careful once-over, and after admittedly multiple tries you finally end up narrowing down what about this girl (or...whatever she is) unnerves you so much - her eyes. It's difficult to tell, but the girl's eyes look fairly normal compared to her decidedly smaller than usual self. That's why it unnerves you, because it just looks off - her eyes are way bigger than they should be, relatively speaking.

You explain as much to Astrid, who happily nods along with your observation. "Hmm-hmm, that sounds about right. One moment, let me confirm that this is really the problem," she says as she, without waving around any wand that you can see, casts a Sergei's Timely Doorjam on herself to rise herself up to roughly your height.

The resulting...person, if you're willing to describe her as such, is so unapologetically uncanny-looking that you have to catch yourself before you take a step back and fall flat on the ground in the process. Yikes, do those eyes not look flattering when they're brought up to your size.

Astrid, for her part, just nods her head at your reaction. And near-failure to keep yourself upright. "That bad...okay, one second," she merrily goes, no concern in the world, as she casts another spell to shrink her eyes down to normal size. And yes, you have to agree that with normal eyes she looks...well, normal.

The effect doesn't last, though. After Astrid returns herself back to her normal size her now-miniscule eyes are all but impossible to see, which makes you think that her oversized eyes were designed that way for that purpose. Who designed such a thing, though? You point out the issue you've noticed, and afterwards can't help but ask Astrid about who or what she is, again.

"My master will be better able to explain that, I think," Astrid notes as she cancels her own spell and brings back her huge eyes. Definitely by design, you feel like, that her eyes are oversized just enough that a normal person can see them even when Astrid is looking up at your knees is just...too perfect, you feel like. "If you want I could bring you to my master. You did rescue me from those wolves, so...honestly I think I'd feel more comfortable taking a ride on your shoulder than going back home on my own. I've had my fill of walking through the forest for the rest of today."

Will there ever be a day where you'll no longer end up in these bizarre situations? Maybe. It's the life of a wizard, you suppose. In any case you are indeed very curious about this girl's "master", and you do have a shoulder available, so...why not? You're close enough to the Academagia, this couldn't possibly end poorly.

Hopefully.

--You strain your eyes looking over...whatever Astrid is time and time again, but you're not able to figure out what's so unnerving about this girl. The sound of distant howls doesn't help, but if those wolves want to go for round two you're ready for them. Ready to stop playing nice, that is.

"Actually, one moment, I think I have an idea," Astrid notes while you're off staring into the distance again, looking out for any unexpected company, and when you look back at Astrid she's used magic to increase her overall size up to that of a normal teenager. Good idea, unfortunately she either miscast the spell or something else went wrong because what you're looking at isn't a person so much as a monster. It startles you enough that without thinking you reflexively cast the quick two-Pheme spell at her which you were keeping in the back of your head for those wolves, nothing that's more bite than bark, but even so it's enough to trigger whatever magical protections this girl has cast on her. And that lashing out at you is enough to send you to the ground. Not too painfully, the surprise was worse than the fall honestly, but still. Not something you were waiting for either.

"Glad to know you're well prepared to deal with wild animals," you sarcastically note as you pick yourself back up. You're just going to...edit this part of the story if you ever end up telling anyone about it, you feel like.

"Eh, I'm actually not. That shield only works against magic, not teeth. And sorry for the, well...everything," Astrid awkwardly explains while you use your wand to clean your dirt-covered robes. "Still, if you don't mind me asking: What made you freak out there? I can cast Sergei's Timely Doorjams with both hands tied behind my back, so I'm sure I cast it correctly."

"Than explain those two things," you say, pointing your wand at the girl's ridiculously oversized eyes. Seriously, if that is not the result of magic gone awry than you don't want to know what that girl will look like when it does. You feel like you've hurt yourself enough for one day. Both physically and mentally, even. The girl, in response, conjures a quick mirror using nothing but a wave of her hand and casually examines her eyes. What is she? Weird looks are one thing, now she's casting magic without a wand?

"Hmm..." Astrid goes, alternating between looking her magic mirror and your face a few times. "You're right, these eyes really are too large. One moment, let's see if this looks better." Again the girl uses magic without doing anything to visibly cast said magic, this time either a Revision or a Glamour to bring her eyes to a normal size. And yes, now she looks like a normal person. Minus all of the weirdness you've seen already, of course. Sadly it doesn't last. After Astrid cancels her Sergei's Timely Doorjam spell and returns herself to her normal size a new problem shows up - you can't see her normal-sized eyes on this tiny (normal?) version of herself at all. You point this out to her, while mentally going over the oddity that her large eyes must be their oversized size normally for that very reason. But who designed that? That just seems far too...perfect.

"Thank you for helping me figure out the large eyes situation, but you look like you have some questions of your own to ask right about now," Astrid playfully notes as she cancels her other spell and brings back her (relatively) huge eyes. It's an improvement when she's her current size, but still...it just looks off. And difficult to put into words, unsurprisingly. This is not a question you ask yourself all too often, needless to say. "If you want I could bring you to my master," Astrid offers. "You did rescue me from those wolves, so...honestly I think I'd feel more comfortable taking a ride on your shoulder than going back home on my own. I've had my fill of walking through the forest for the rest of today."

"Are you sure your magical shield thing isn't going to take offence to that?" you drily ask.

"It should only lash out against spells cast at me, so unless your robe is enchanted to cast magic you should be fine," Astrid answers. A second later, with what you can only interpret as a smug tone no matter how neutrally she actually say it, Astrid adds, "and worst comes to worst I can just cast a slowfall spell to spare myself the unexpected fall."

You know what? Sure. You've got a shoulder free and you are curious to meet this girl's master, so why not? You're still pretty close to the Academagia, this couldn't possibly hurt you any more than you hurt yourself.

Hopefully...

-Revision Spells. Perhaps a Sergei's Timely Doorjam will help here.
--If Astrid's unusual size shouldn't be a factor than maybe bringing the two of you to the same level, size-wise, will help answer her question? That seems like a reasonable idea to you, but do you want to make yourself smaller or her bigger? Well, as simple as this spell is it's easier to cast magic on yourself than it is to cast magic on someone else, and faster since you don't need to ask yourself for permission. So you take out your wand and cast an inverted Segrei's Timely Doorjam on yourself, carefully making sure that you end up as close to Astrid's tiny size as you can manage. Which, considering you end up just a strand of hair taller than her, you manage quite well.

From down here it quickly becomes apparent what Astrid was asking you about, and why her 'frame', as she called it, unnerves you so much - her eyes are gigantic compared to the rest of her body, at least assuming she was going for a human look. It wasn't as noticeable when you were looking down at her, but staring at her face-to-face like this she looks like a first year who failed to cast multiple Revision spells before stubbornly deciding that visiting the infirmary is for people who are capable of admitting defeat. Astrid calmly nods at your observations and actually uses her own magic (not that you see her draw and wave around a wand to cast her spells) to temporarily change the size of her eyes to a more natural-looking shape, or at least create a Glamour illusion thereof. And you have to admit that it does look much better, more natural. Of course after you cancel your own spell and return to your normal size the uncanny nature of Astrid's appearance quickly rears it's ugly head again, as not only are you looking at an unnaturally tiny human again, but you're looking at an unnaturally tiny human who's eyes are so small you can't see them clearly. That must be the reason why Astrid has such huge eyes in the first place, come to think of it, but...how'd she end up with them? And why is she as small as she is, for that matter? What is she?

"You look like you have some questions of your own," Astrid playfully notes as she cancels her own spell and brings back her huge eyes. It kinda looks better from where you stand, but...not really at the same time. It's difficult to put into words, other than that there's still room for improvement. "If you want I could bring you to my master. You did rescue me from those wolves, so...honestly I think I'd feel more comfortable taking a ride on your shoulder than going back home on my own. I've had my fill of walking through the forest for the rest of today."

Will there ever be a day where you'll no longer end up in these bizarre situations? Maybe. It's the life of a wizard, you suppose. In any case you are indeed very curious about this girl's "master", and you do have a shoulder available, so...why not? You're close enough to the Academagia, this couldn't possibly end poorly.

Hopefully.

--If Astrid's unusual size shouldn't be a factor than maybe bringing the two of you to the same level, size-wise, will help answer her question? Seems reasonable, and you happen to be someone who's quite familiar with Sergei's Timely Doorjam, so just a quick flick of the wand and...nothing happens.

"I've got some protective spells cast on me," Astrid notes as you stare perplexed at the miserable heap of Phemes piling up around your feet. "Not that they help against those wolves, mind you, but...still, what are you trying to do?" You explain your idea, and Astrid readily nods at the suggestion. "Yes, that should work just fine. One moment, let me just cast that spell myself."

She says that, but you don't see her take out a wand and wave it around. Nevertheless Astrid does cast a Sergei's Timely Doorjam on herself, a successful one this time, and within a few second she rises up to roughly your size, half a head or so shorter than you.

Afterwards it quickly becomes obvious why Astrid's "frame", as she called it, unnerves you so much - her eyes are absolutely enormous! It's uncanny enough that it causes you to take a step back, only to lose your footing on a rock and fall down unceremoniously. How you managed to save this girl - or whatever she is - from those wolves is something that, in hindsight, you're less sure of now. Not when you make clumsy moves like that.

Thankfully Astrid herself seems to have noticed what's off, as by the time you look at her again after picking your sorry self back up she's casts another spell to either shrink her eyes down to normal size or create an illusion thereof. You'll happily take either at this point. "Sorry, I wasn't aware that my frame was that off," Astrid says with a neutral tone. Note to self: Research spells to cushion unexpected falls. They might save you trouble down the line. "Is this better? The eyes, I mean?"

You look at Astrid again, who has normal-sized eyes now, and yes, this definitely is a significant improvement. That answer pleases Astrid, but after she cancels her Segrei's Timely Doorjam and reverts back to her normal form the issue of her eyes comes right back as they're now too small to clearly see on her tiny frame. That's probably why there were so oversized to begin with, but...who thought that through? Who designed that? What is this girl?

"You look like you have some questions of your own," Astrid playfully notes as she cancels her other spell and brings back her (relatively) huge eyes. It looks better when she's small, you'll admit, but...it just doesn't look right no matter how you look at her. It's honestly difficult to put into words, predictably enough as this is not a situation you find yourself in too frequently. "If you want I could bring you to my master," Astrid suddenly suggests. "You did rescue me from those wolves, so...honestly I think I'd feel more comfortable taking a ride on your shoulder than going back home on my own. I've had my fill of walking through the forest for the rest of today."

"You'd take a ride on the shoulder of someone who can't seem to stay on their own two feet?" you drily ask.

"Better than tempting the wolves again, and worst comes to worst I can cast a slowfall spell," Astrid answers. And if that's her answer, than, sure. You've got a shoulder free and you are curious to meet this girl's master, so why not? You're still pretty close to the Academagia, this probably won't get you horribly killed.

Hopefully...

This is one of those ideas that ended up picking up speed here and there until it shot off the rails and started flying off into the sunset. So...basically like all the others, really.

Edited by Metis
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Big Dreams of the Small Familiar, stage 2:

Spoiler

You follow Astrid's directions until you end up reaching a cabin out in the middle of the woods, far from any path or other signs of people coming and going through this area. From the outside the cabin looks like someone just carved a house out of a big boulder and called it a day, there's nothing pretty or flattering to say about it other than that it looks robust. From the inside...well, apparently this is Astrid's home, so who knows what strange and bizarre things await you beyond that plain-looking, unassuming front door...

"Aren't you going to come in?" Astrid asks before she jumps off your shoulder and falls down to the ground with a slow speed that clearly isn't natural. How is she casting magic without a wand? You don't see anything on her that looks like it's enchanted...what is she? Regardless she runs up to the front door, motions for you to come closer, and in a strange turn of events ducks through a pet door and disappears inside. You're left to wonder if you should even knock before you hear Astrid's voice from inside. "Master, you have a visitor!"

Why did that have to send a chill up your spine?

A few moments later a well-kept man who clearly cares about his appearance even in this middle of nowhere, looks to be in his early thirties (very late twenties at best), opens the door and quickly looks you over. "An Academagia student? Hmm, I take it one of your professors send you here to deliver a message of some sort?" the man asks with a neutral tone.

"No, [s/he] rescued me from a pack of wolves that wanted to eat me," Astrid clarifies from somewhere within the house. You can't see her from here, despite the fact that it looks like this house doesn't have much in the way of walls. Just one big collection of open corners filled with whatever furniture it needs to function from what you can tell. "Also I'm afraid my frame didn't impress [him/her], so I was hoping that maybe [s/he] could be of some help with that."

You quirk an eyebrow at that. Thankfully the man seems to understand your confusion (and concerns, hopefully). "Don't worry about Astrid," he calmly says. "She...lacks experience, in terms of her social skills. And I'm afraid that is something that's difficult to teach without proper examples. But, please, come in. If you've brought Astrid back safely than the least I could do is offer you a cup of tea."

"Already on it!" you hear Astrid cry out as you slowly nod and follow the man inside. He seems polite enough, he's well-spoken, he clearly knows how to present himself properly and cares about doing so, Astrid doesn't seem like the bad sort either, but...all of that also only begs ever more questions.

"Just take a seat in the living room, tea will be served shortly," the man says, and per his advice you take a seat in what amounts to this house's living room. In sharp contrast to his own well-kept appearance the house's furniture mostly looks like a random mishmash of whatever cheap, albeit comfortable pieces the man managed to collect over the years. There's no style or consistency at all, just stuff that works. What amounts to the man's kitchen, where Astrid is busy magically juggling a number of things in order to prepare tea, does at least make you realize that for as messy as the house looks in terms of aesthetics it at least is kept well clean by the looks of it. Beyond that in the back of the house there's what you presume is this man's workshop, which to you looks like an organized mess of brewing equipment, a chirurgery table that seems to be surrounded by an awful lot of knives and other assorted tools of the chirurgery trade, and as if that wasn't unsettling enough, a suspicious amount of plumbing, water taps and drains for cleaning up far, far bigger messes than you ever want to be a part of. There's more of the house that you could be looking at but the workshop has drawn every last piece of attention you have to give. Like, what does this man do with that heavily engraved cauldron hiding out in the back? You're not the dinner this man is going to serve alongside his tea, are you? "I take it you're curious about Astrid?" the man asks, looking slightly amused at your discomfort. Whatever the man is doing here he doesn't seem concerned about you looking around the place like a rabbit stuck in a trap. "I'd expect an Academagia student to have heard about the cauldron, at least. It's a rare practice, to be sure, but not one that can't be spoken of in polite company last I checked."

You can't help but glance over at the operation table and assorted collection of knives when the man says that...

"Tea is ready!" Astrid shouts as she, impressively, lifts a tray with two empty cups and a teapot over her head and slowly, one tiny step at a time, walks on over to the living room. It's a bizarre sight. The man happily takes the tray from Astrid, puts it on the table and pours you both of a cup of tea. You check it before you drink any of it, but it neither smells or tastes like it's been poisoned. It's actually quite pleasant, refreshing after walking through the woods and encountering one bizarre, unsettling thing after another. The man, for his part, likewise seems to enjoy his cup of tea. "So..." you slowly start, both nervous and still casting the occasional glance over at the workshop. "What do you, eh, do here, mister, eh...?"

"Just call me Keith. I'm not one who enjoys formalities," the man answers. Which leads you to a very important question - is not dissecting people who don't want to be dissected a 'formality'? Just curious. Hadn't thought about that one before. "As for what I do, I study. Study and experiment, to advance and establish a new field that, one day, I hope to be the first practitioner of. Of course some would dispute that assessment and merely call it a new direction of an existing trade, or worse. Honestly, the difference doesn't really matter to me. So long as I can advance and, one day, earn an appropriately wealthy living practicing my new trade those around me can call it whatever they wish."

"Ah-hah..." you intelligently observe. Thankfully Keith just seems amused by your awkwardness. "So...what do you do? What trade are you trying to...well..."

"Most would say chirurgery, but personally I think my work lies within a different field entirely. A similar one with much the same roots, certainly, but it's goals and principles are completely different. Even if it's textbooks and tools aren't," Keith calmly explains. "Chirurgery is a field of healing the sick, of repairing broken bodies and restoring what was injured, what was changed, to it's natural form. My focus is the exact opposite. I seek a way to leverage, to use those very same injuries to change one's natural form into better, more pleasing permanent shapes. In that respect I see myself more as a sculptor than a chirurgeon, though obviously working with living flesh and bone is quite different from working with simple stone or clay."

"That sounds...incredibly shady. And evil," you straight-up admit. Really though, there's no sugar-coating this. And thankfully Keith seems aware of that.

"Yes, well, rest assured that the practice is much more benign and minor than the philosophical principle makes it out to be," he confidently states. As you figured he's more amused by your straightforwardness than anything else. "To give you a practical example, you've met an older woman who wished she could be rid of the wrinkles on her face before, right?" Sure, plenty of them. Not that most of them admitted it, but still. "Well, the field I'm developing involves figuring out functional, safe, and ideally painless ways to trim off the excess skin that causes those wrinkles. Technically this could be seen as permanently injuring the older woman, but my intent would be to restore the youthful, smooth look of her face. Change her shape in a way that she will be happier with. And in a way that is not illusionary or temporary in it's magical nature, nor subject to the laws of Negation. That, in essence, is what I'm hoping to achieve."

Okay, that does sound a lot less out there. Still shady, but you suppose that comes with the territory? You hope it does. "And, eh, Astrid? What, or...who is she?"

"You really have never heard of Waldram's cauldron before?" Keith asks with a curious, perhaps slightly disappointed look on his face. "Surely a student of the Academagia itself has heard of it, or at least the Hangman's Bath. I wouldn't dare imagine that the craft has died out that much in my short absence." You shrug and admit that you are just completely out of ideas. If anyone has brought this up before this point you don't remember it. "Hmm...more likely they didn't discuss it in enough detail for you to remember it," Keith notes, disapproving of how this "craft" of his is seemingly treated. "I suppose in that case I'd better step in for your failing professors and educate you myself. Though fair warning: My craft, especially the ends I put it towards, is decidedly unpleasant and unnerving. Rest assured I don't live in this stone hut by choice. I do because it's the only way to advance, to practice my studies without getting half the city on my case for allegedly contributing to an ugly neighbourhood." With a smug smirk Keith adds, "Of course, just wait until I'm ready to open a clinic that can offer permanent cosmetic improvements to those same people's bodies. They'll change their tune about who contributes to an ugly neighborhood really quickly after that, I'm sure."

Eh...right. So do you want (and dare to hear) any answers to your many questions, or should you just finish your tea and leave?

-You're not *that* curious, but thank the man for the offer.
--The man had you at "Hangman's Bath" and "decidedly unpleasant", quite frankly. You're good without getting nightmares for several weeks, as a matter of fact.

As expected Keith takes no offence to you shaking your head - as he said he's here for a reason, and he can respect a child (one time you definitely don't object to being treated as one!) not wanting to be a part of that - but you can't help but notice Astrid giving you a curious, longing state as you say you're good with not hearing more. Does she want something from you? Or does she just want to eat you...

You maybe shouldn't risk it in case it's the latter, huh? Yeah, let's not. Any strange situation you can still walk away from is a good situation, for you at least, and you'd prefer to keep it that way...

[Family: Graverobbers]-"I doubt you've got any stories to tell that are worse than what my parents have or have had said about them."
--Keith quirks an eyebrow and curiously asks what your parents do, that you would say something like that. So you give him the short version of the same old story you've told so many others so many times by now - they're natural philosophers who made the mistake of being indiscreet about their profession once, and that quickly escalated into them being painted as the most evil, uncivilized people this side of the Wall has to offer. Of course in truth your parents are, and always have been, pretty boring people. The most interesting thing you can say about them is their highly irregular sense of what they should discuss during dinner, but even that is hardly a story worth telling. Or at least a story that you're well used to, by this point. Keith, of course, seems to understand your predicament (as well as the predicament of your parents) quite well. "Hah, I hadn't thought you'd be in the same boat as me in that regard. Well, rest assured your parents are not the only ones who face the scorn of a society that is simply too scared to move forward with them. I'd say the same thing about my own position here, but...even I don't envy the path I have to take in order to get to my destination. Though, if that's the house you grew up in I'm sure you'll be able to understand my methods and position."

You sure hope so, but you feel confident that you will. Keith doesn't seem like a bad person and you have been accustomed to quite a bit growing up, so you can't imagine that whatever Keith is talking about will be that bad.

-Courage. You're not squeamish.
--You point out that you're only asking for an explanation, not a demonstration, and go on to insist that you're not the sort to shy away from "the usual horror story stuff" in any case. Keith seems amused by that, for reasons that you perhaps shouldn't wish to know the answer to, but in any event you're sure you can handle the explanation if you had to. And, thankfully, so does Keith.

--You open your mouth to say that you can take it, only for your eyes to shoot over at the operating table and have your words get caught in your throat. It's just...that operating table is clean, but there's a bunch of pipes and water surrounding it so one has to assume that those are these for when it's not clean. And if you're judging the amount of plumping correctly you don't want to know how this looks like when it's not clean!

Ultimately you can't bring yourself to say anything. Keith thankfully seems more amused than anything else, but you're not feeling so great right now. Some might call it wisdom to not stick your head into a beartrap like this, but how are you supposed to walk through a forest if you're afraid of stepping into one? You don't plan to live out the rest of your live living in a library, thank you very much.

After shaking your head you suggest coming back later, after you've prepared yourself a bit better, and Keith seems open to the idea. So...that'll be that. One trip to wherever you need to go to brace yourself for whatever is going on in this house - it can't really be that bad, can it? - and it'll be time to tear down the curtain and reveal the mystery.

-Anatomy. You're sure you can take it.
--Speaking as someone who's no stranger to dissecting you're confident that you can handle whatever "experiments" a self-studied chirurgeon is performing. More to the point, you're curious - how do you self-study chirurgery without a teacher? Without bodies to dissect and examine, without something to practice on? Your "answer" to Keith's question comes out as a series of questions, and needless to say that the broadly grinning man takes that as confirmation that you're more than able to handle his knowledge.

--You open your mouth to say that you can take it, only for your eyes to shoot over at the operating table and have your words get caught in your throat. It's just...that operating table is clean, but there's a bunch of pipes and water surrounding it so one has to assume that those are these for when it's not clean. And if you're judging the amount of plumping correctly you don't want to know how this looks like when it's not clean!

Ultimately you can't bring yourself to say anything. Keith thankfully seems more amused than anything else, but you're not feeling so great right now. Some might call it wisdom to not stick your head into a beartrap like this, but how are you supposed to walk through a forest if you're afraid of stepping into one? You don't plan to live out the rest of your live living in a library, thank you very much.

After shaking your head you suggest coming back later, after you've prepared yourself a bit better, and Keith seems open to the idea. So...that'll be that. One trip to wherever you need to go to brace yourself for whatever is going on in this house - it can't really be that bad, can it? - and it'll be time to tear down the curtain and reveal the mystery.

I've only just now realized that the adventure title might give away what Astrid is a little bit, huh? Whoops...

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5 hours ago, Metis said:

Big Dreams of the Small Familiar, stage 2:

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You follow Astrid's directions until you end up reaching a cabin out in the middle of the woods, far from any path or other signs of people coming and going through this area. From the outside the cabin looks like someone just carved a house out of a big boulder and called it a day, there's nothing pretty or flattering to say about it other than that it looks robust. From the inside...well, apparently this is Astrid's home, so who knows what strange and bizarre things await you beyond that plain-looking, unassuming front door...

"Aren't you going to come in?" Astrid asks before she jumps off your shoulder and falls down to the ground with a slow speed that clearly isn't natural. How is she casting magic without a wand? You don't see anything on her that looks like it's enchanted...what is she? Regardless she runs up to the front door, motions for you to come closer, and in a strange turn of events ducks through a pet door and disappears inside. You're left to wonder if you should even knock before you hear Astrid's voice from inside. "Master, you have a visitor!"

Why did that have to send a chill up your spine?

A few moments later a well-kept man who clearly cares about his appearance even in this middle of nowhere, looks to be in his early thirties (very late twenties at best), opens the door and quickly looks you over. "An Academagia student? Hmm, I take it one of your professors send you here to deliver a message?" the man asks with a neutral tone.

"No, [s/he] rescued me from a pack of wolves that wanted to eat me," Astrid clarifies from somewhere within the house. You can't see her from here, despite the fact that it looks like this house doesn't have much in the way of walls. Just one big collection of open corners filled with whatever furniture it needs to function from what you can tell. "Also I'm afraid my frame didn't impress [him/her], so I was hoping that maybe [s/he] could be of some help with that."

You quirk an eyebrow at that. Thankfully the man seems to understand your confusion (and concerns, hopefully). "Don't worry about Astrid," he calmly says. "She...lacks experience, in terms of her social skills. And I'm afraid that is something that's difficult to teach without proper examples. But, please, come in. If you've brought Astrid back safely than the least I could do is offer you a cup of tea."

"Already on it!" you hear Astrid cry out as you slowly nod and follow the man inside. He seems polite enough, he's well-spoken, he clearly knows how to present himself properly and cares about doing so, Astrid doesn't seem like the bad sort either, but...all of that also only begs ever more questions.

"Just take a seat in the living room, tea will be served shortly," the man says, and per his advice you take a seat in what amounts to this house's living room. In sharp contrast to his own well-kept appearance the house's furniture mostly looks like a random mishmash of whatever cheap, albeit comfortable pieces the man managed to collect over the years. There's no style or consistency at all, just stuff that works. What amounts to the man's kitchen, where Astrid is busy magically juggling a number of things in order to prepare tea, does at least make you realise that for as messy as the house looks in terms of aesthetics it at least is kept well clean by the looks of it. Beyond that in the back of the house there's what you presume is this man's workshop, which to you looks like an organized mess of brewing equipment, a chirurgery table that seems to be surrounded by an awful lot of knives and other assorted tools of the chirurgery trade, and as if that wasn't unsettling enough, a suspicious amount of plumbing, water taps and drains for cleaning up far, far bigger messes than you ever want to be a part of. There's more of the house that you could be looking at but the workshop has drawn every last piece of attention you have to give. Like, what does this man do with that heavily engraved cauldron hiding out in the back? You're not the dinner this man is going to serve alongside his tea, are you? "I take it you're curious about Astrid?" the man asks, looking slightly amused at your discomfort. Whatever the man is doing here he doesn't seem concerned about you looking around the place like a rabbit stuck in a trap. "I'd expect an Academagia student to have heard about the cauldron, at least. It's a rare practice, to be sure, but not one that can't be spoken of in polite company last I checked."

You can't help but glance over at the operation table and assorted collection of knives when the man says that...

"Tea is ready!" Astrid shouts as she, impressively, lifts a tray with two empty cups and a teapot over her head and slowly, one tiny step at a time, walks on over to the living room. It's a bizarre sight. The man happily takes the tray from Astrid, puts it on the table and pours you both of a cup of tea. You check it before you drink any of it, but it neither smells or tastes like it's been poisoned. It's actually quite pleasant, refreshing after walking through the woods and encountering one bizarre, unsettling thing after another. The man, for his part, likewise seems to enjoy his cup of tea. "So..." you slowly start, both nervous and still casting the occasional glance over at the workshop. "What do you, eh, do here, mister, eh...?"

"Just call me Keith. I'm not one who enjoys formalities," the man answers. Which leads you to a very important question - is not dissecting people who don't want to be dissected a 'formality'? Just curious. Hadn't thought about that one before. "As for what I do, I study. Study and experiment, to advance and establish a new field that, one day, I hope to be the first practitioner of. Of course some would dispute that assessment and merely call it a new direction of an existing trade, or worse. Honestly, the difference doesn't really matter to me. So long as I can advance and, one day, earn an appropriately wealthy living practising my new trade those around me can call it whatever they wish."

"Ah-hah..." you intelligently observe. Thankfully Keith just seems amused by your awkwardness. "So...what do you do? What trade are you trying to...well..."

"Most would say chirurgery, but personally I think my work lies within a different field entirely. A similar one with much the same roots, certainly, but it's goals and principles are completely different even if it's textbooks and tools aren't," Keith calmly explains. "Chirurgery is a field of healing the sick, of repairing broken bodies and restoring what was injured, what was changed, to it's natural form. My focus is the exact opposite. I seek a way to leverage, to use those very same injuries to change one's natural form into better, more pleasing permanent shapes. In that respect I see myself more as a sculptor than a chirurgeon, though obviously working with living flesh and bone is quite different from working with simple stone or clay."

"That sounds...incredibly shady. And evil," you straight-up admit. Really though, there's no sugar-coating this. And thankfully Keith seems aware of that.

"Yes, well, rest assured that the practice is much more benign and minor than the philosophical principle makes it out to be," he confidently states. As you figured he's more amused by your straightforwardness than anything else. "To give you a practical example, you've met an older woman who wished she could be rid of the wrinkles on her face before, right?" Sure, plenty of them. Not that most of them admitted it, but still. "Well, the field I'm developing involves figuring out functional, safe, and ideally painless ways to trim off the excess skin that causes those wrinkles. Technically this could be seen as permanently injuring the older woman, but my intent would be to restore the youthful, smooth look of her face. Change her shape in a way that she will be happier with. And in a way that is not illusionary or temporary in it's magical nature, nor subject to the laws of Negation. That, in essence, is what I'm hoping to achieve."

Okay, that does sound a lot less out there. Still shady, but you suppose that comes with the territory? You hope it does. "And, eh, Astrid? What, or...who is she?"

"You really have never heard of Waldram's cauldron before?" Keith asks with a curious, perhaps slightly disappointed look on his face. "Surely a student of the Academagia itself has heard of it, or at least the Hangman's Bath. I wouldn't dare imagine that the craft has died out that much in my short absence." You shrug and admit that you are just completely out of ideas. If anyone has brought this up before this point you don't remember it. "Hmm...more likely they didn't discuss it in enough detail for you to remember it," Keith notes, disapproving of how this "craft" of his is seemingly treated. "I suppose in that case I'd better step in for your failing professors and educate you myself. Though fair warning: My craft, especially the ends I use put it towards, is decidedly unpleasant and unnerving. Rest assured I don't live in this stone hut by choice. I do because it's the only way to advance, to practice my studies without getting half the city on my case for allegedly contributing to an ugly neighbourhood." With a smug smirk Keith adds, "Of course, just wait until I'm ready to open a clinic that can offer permanent cosmetic improvements to those same people's bodies. They'll change their tune about who contributes to an ugly neighborhood really quickly after that, I'm sure."

Eh...right. So do you want (and dare to hear) any answers to your many questions, or should you just finish your tea and leave?

-You're not *that* curious, but thank the man for the offer.
--The man had you at "Hangman's Bath" and "decidedly unpleasant", quite frankly. You're good without getting nightmares for several weeks, as a matter of fact.

As expected Keith takes no offence to you shaking your head - as he said he's here for a reason, and he can respect a child (one time you definitely don't object to being treated as one!) not wanting to be a part of that - but you can't help but notice Astrid giving you a curious, longing state as you say you're good with not hearing more. Does she want something from you? Or does she just want to eat you...

You maybe shouldn't risk it in case it's the latter, huh? Yeah, let's not. Any strange situation you can still walk away from is a good situation, for you at least, and you'd prefer to keep it that way...

[Family: Graverobbers]-"I doubt you've got any stories to tell that are worse than what my parents have or have had said about them."
--Keith quirks an eyebrow and curiously asks what your parents do, that you would say something like that. So you give him the short version of the same old story you've told so many others so many times by now - they're natural philosophers who made the mistake of being indiscreet about their profession once, and that quickly escalated into them being painted as the most evil, uncivilized people this side of the Wall has to offer. Of course in truth your parents are, and always have been, pretty boring people. The most interesting thing you can say about them is their highly irregular sense of what they should discuss during dinner, but even that is hardly a story worth telling. Or at least a story that you're well used to, by this point. Keith, of course, seems to understand your predicament (as well as the predicament of your parents) quite well. "Hah, I hadn't thought you'd be in the same boat as me in that regard. Well, rest assured your parents are not the only ones who face the scorn of a society that is simply too scared to move forward with them. I'd say the same thing about my own position here, but...even I don't envy the path I have to take in order to get to my destination. Though, if that's the house you grew up in I'm sure you'll be able to understand my methods and position."

You sure hope so, but you feel confident that you will. Keith doesn't seem like a bad person and you have been accustomed to quite a bit growing up, so you can't imagine that whatever Keith is talking about will be that bad.

-Courage. You're not squeamish.
--You point out that you're only asking for an explanation, not a demonstration, and go on to insist that you're not the sort to shy away from "the usual horror story stuff" in any case. Keith seems amused by that, for reasons that you perhaps shouldn't wish to know the answer to, but in any event you're sure you can handle the explanation if you had to. And, thankfully, so does Keith.

--You open your mouth to say that you can take it, only for your eyes to shoot over at the operating table and have your words get caught in your throat. It's just...that operating table is clean, but there's a bunch of pipes and water surrounding it so one has to assume that those are these for when it's not clean. And if you're judging the amount of plumping correctly you don't want to know how this looks like when it's not clean!

Ultimately you can't bring yourself to say anything. Keith thankfully seems more amused than anything else, but you're not feeling so great right now. Some might call it wisdom to not stick your head into a beartrap like this, but how are you supposed to walk through a forest if you're afraid of stepping into one? You don't plan to live out the rest of your live living in a library, thank you very much.

After shaking your head you suggest coming back later, after you've prepared yourself a bit better, and Keith seems open to the idea. So...that'll be that. One trip to wherever you need to go to brace yourself for whatever is going on in this house - it can't really be that bad, can it? - and it'll be time to tear down the curtain and reveal the mystery.

-Anatomy. You're sure you can take it.
--Speaking as someone who's no stranger to dissecting you're confident that you can handle whatever "experiments" a self-studied chirurgeon is performing. More to the point, you're curious - how do you self-study chirgury without a teacher? Without bodies to dissect and examine, without something to practice on? Your "answer" to Keith's question comes out as a series of questions, and needless to say that the broadly grinning man takes that as confirmation that you're more than able to handle his knowledge.

--You open your mouth to say that you can take it, only for your eyes to shoot over at the operating table and have your words get caught in your throat. It's just...that operating table is clean, but there's a bunch of pipes and water surrounding it so one has to assume that those are these for when it's not clean. And if you're judging the amount of plumping correctly you don't want to know how this looks like when it's not clean!

Ultimately you can't bring yourself to say anything. Keith thankfully seems more amused than anything else, but you're not feeling so great right now. Some might call it wisdom to not stick your head into a beartrap like this, but how are you supposed to walk through a forest if you're afraid of stepping into one? You don't plan to live out the rest of your live living in a library, thank you very much.

After shaking your head you suggest coming back later, after you've prepared yourself a bit better, and Keith seems open to the idea. So...that'll be that. One trip to wherever you need to go to brace yourself for whatever is going on in this house - it can't really be that bad, can it? - and it'll be time to tear down the curtain and reveal the mystery.

I've only just now realized that the adventure title might give away what Astrid is a little bit, huh? Whoops...

Well, the team can give a new name to it if they accept it.

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Big Dreams of the Small Familiar, stage 3:

Spoiler

Keith casts a curious, inquisitive glance over at Astrid, who is busy cleaning the kitchen. Honestly it seems like a cruel task to give her - she's so small compared to the kitchen that cleaning it will take her ages! Keith doesn't seem bothered by that, though. He's thinking about how to explain to you what she even is. "Astrid, in addition to my Familiar, is a homunculus," he slowly starts, mentally going over every word he says before actually speaking it. "In simple terms, she's an artificial lifeform. A construct, created through magic and alchemy."

...Huh. You'd ask why she's so small if, presumably, she could simply be crafted(?) with a normal size, but there's a somewhat more important question gnawing at you in the back of your mind you decide to ask first. "Eh...is that legal? I mean, no offence, but that sounds kinda...Gates-y."

"There are places, outskirts and backwater sorts which don't receive any appreciable degree of magical education that mistake them as such, yes," Keith admits with all the respect towards said "outskirts and backwater sorts" as one would expect. Namely, zero. "Mineta can recognize them for what they are, thankfully, although even here you won't find many who'd give one a warm welcome. Well, I suppose homunculi are usually more unsettling than Astrid is. I've tried my best to make her appearance as palatable as possible...though based on what she said earlier I'm afraid I apparently didn't succeed." You nod and bring up the fact that her eyes are far too large compared to her face. Keith nods in turn, understanding your point. "That was to make sure that people could better see her eyes, and thus would connect with her better. But yes, they are indeed unnaturally large relative to the rest of her frame. I'll have to adjust them later."

"Wait, what do you mean 'adjust'? Are you talking about adjusting her eyes, like...cut them down a size?" you ask, nervously glancing at the field of knives in the background.

"No, no. Astrid thankfully doesn't require such methods," Keith corrects as reassuringly as he can. "I won't bore you with the details, I don't think a student of your age could fully grasp the theory behind it anyway, but the short version is that since Astrid is my Familiar I can change her shape...not easily, I'd say, but it can be done. And no, it doesn't require any sharp tools to do so." A second later, right as you begin to hope that this is the worst you're going to hear today, Keith suddenly adds, "I just wish the others were that lucky."

You're about to open your mouth to ask what "others" Keith is talking about there, but (ironically) the answer comes to you before the question does - Keith must have more of these creatures like Astrid here in his workshop, as test subjects for his chirurgery experiments. It makes sense, since that way he can test different techniques and operations on what are technically "humans" without...well, using actual humans. And the trouble that would bring. It's a disturbing thought, but it makes sense. Even so you ask Keith if you're on the right track, just to make sure. And although you didn't intend to you can't help but notice that you ask your questions quietly, since you don't want Astrid to hear you. Even though she probably already knows about everything anyway.

"Indeed, that is the gist of it," Keith notes as casually as most people talk about the weather. Well, he looks more pleased at your insight than most people would be at your ability to observe the presence of dark clouds, but close enough. You're also starting to see why he needed to hide himself here in this forest cabin. How much would the people in Mineta not be happy having to live within the same neighbourhood as his experiments? Frankly you don't want to know. "Of course, the homunculi I use for my experiments aren't like Astrid," Keith eagerly continues. "She is just plain special in that regard, as she's also my Familiar. The others aren't sentient, can't feel pain any more than a plant can. They're living puppets made to advance my future craft as best I can manage. And considering that I intend to use these techniques on actual, living humans, I indeed better make sure that I study and perfect these techniques as best I can. And not just that, perhaps even more importantly I need to study it's failings and downfalls. Learn to identify it's limitations and obstacles, the symptoms of it's failures, so that I will know how to respond to a patient of mine who's operation wasn't a success." Disturbing a thought as this whole idea is you can't help but nod at Keith's reasoning here. Though you also have to wonder whether there's any sort of alternative...well, using actual humans obviously, but how would that be any better?

While you ponder this mystery Keith looks quite proud of himself, not to mention (over)confident, as he goes on to talk about his plans for his future business. From how beautiful it'll look to how he intends to handle payment options since he doesn't expect many to be able to simply drop off "mere" piles of Pims. You'd say something about counting chickens before they hatch, but if the man's workshop is any indication it's not like the guy isn't doing his homework. You can't help but want to test Keith a little, though. Throw a question at him just to see how he responds. "Out of curiosity, do you have a venue in mind? Starting capital, a way to spread the word about this new business, all of that stuff? I, eh, I heard someone complain about how difficult it apparently is to start a business in Mineta recently, so I was curious if it's really that hard."

"I don't know about 'hard', but than I don't intend to fill in all of those details myself, admittedly," Keith answers after thinking your barrage of (really basic) questions over for a second. "The short version is that an old academic-I dare say family friend of mine works for a brewing guild here in Mineta. He's the one who made Astrid and taught me how to create homunculi, and when I'm ready the two of us will collaborate to start this new business together. We also intent to court the help of the brewing guild he's a member of in order to get this idea off the ground, and naturally we have plans drawn for how to convince the guild to sponsor our little enterprise. Although as far as that goes it's simply in their best interest in any case. It'll be a source of both income and exposure for them, being at the forefront of a new practice that relies on them for material support. My friend is still working on the recipe, but I will need a powerful, local and ideally affordable anaesthetic in order to do my work. The patent to that recipe is all the convincing that guild will need in order to shell out a budget for us, I'm sure. If it will ever come to that."

Part of you want to say that sounds overly hopeful, another part of you feels like someone here must know what they're talking about, so you have to assume that one of them has the right idea. And in any case it, again, sounds like Keith hasn't been skipping out on his homework. Rather like some might say you are doing right now, in fact. "Sounds like you've got it all handled. That said I'm, eh, not interested in visiting your patient ward and I should be getting back the Academagia right around now, so..."

Keith nods and wishes you a safe trip. Although you don't get very far, lost in thought as you are, before a familiar wide-eyed (tall-eyed?) Familiar runs up to you and gets your attention. Your initial thought is that you must have forgotten your knapsack or something, but no, it's right there slung over your shoulder where it should be. "Sorry, eh, [PC FIRST NAME], but...if it's not too much to ask, could you please help me with something?" You're honestly not in the mood to escort this girl...actually, given that she's a construct is it fair to call Astrid a-you know what, you hereby declare that by the powers of no longer caring that have been vested unto...into? Whatever you by the stars who decreed ever so long ago that at this point in time you would be a slightly rebellious, mentally worn out teenager that you no longer care...or something. Truthfully you feel like you lost your trail of thought in there somewhere at least twice but whatever. You understand, that's all that matters. "Eh, hello? [PC FIRST NAME], are you still there?" Astrid asks, looking a bit concerned...well, as best as her small frame can express that. You shake yourself out of your mental fatigue and ask Astrid what she wants. You figure that it can't hurt to hear her out, even if you're not going to help her. "Well, I'm not really sure if you can help me with this, but the short version is that I'd like to have a body your size. You know, something that makes it easier for me to help my master, that makes me not a treat for half the wildlife in this forest and makes me use magic to even talk to you from down here...you get the idea."

"Sure, but what makes you think that I can help you with that? Isn't that your master's business, what he does to you? Or 'for you', rather."

"I asked before, but he always says he's too busy to make it happen. I understand that, he does work hard to fulfil his dream and all it takes to keep working towards that, but that also makes me want to do more to help him. And I simply can't do that with this tiny frame. I know homunculi aren't your specialty, but you are an Academagia student, so I was hoping that maybe you would be able to help me realize this dream."

...Could you do that? How would you even do that? That sounds like something that's way beyond your bridges here, but...you suppose Astrid is right on one point: You are an Academagia student. Maybe you could be of help? You figure that it can't hurt to do some research and at the end of the day you are at least a little bit curious, so you tell Astrid that you'll see about doing what reading on it you can and head back towards the Academagia at last. Finding out more about homunculi, though...where are you even going to begin to try and figure out more about that?

-Filing. Look through the Venalicium, maybe it'll have answers for you.
--You hadn't expected to find much (if any) information about homunculi within the Venalicium, but glancing through the library's registry you quickly find a dozen-odd promising titles. Huh. Well, okay, most of them seem to be either historical in nature or too advanced for you to understand textbooks of some variety, not what you need if you're looking for some apparently esoteric information that you'd like to actually recognize if not fully understand, but you keep looking until you find a few truly promising books and head off to where they're located. One instructional tract on the usage of Revision magic to create long lasting effects on Familiars in the Revision section, a book in the Enchant section that'll serve as a nice reference book for the basics in case you need it, quick stop by the Zoology section for another book before you swing by the Arithmetic section...needless to say that you end up with plenty of reading material by the end of it.

It takes you long enough to read and puzzle through all the material you find that you definitely won't be able to deliver this information to Astrid (or Keith) before curfew, so that'll have to wait for another day, but at least you were able to dig up plenty of information about what it would take to create a human-sized homunculus. Insofar that you can begin to pretend to understand it.

--You spend a while looking through multiple sections of the Venalicium and end up gathering a few bits and pieces here and there, but nothing that you could call a clear answer. Maybe the Venalicium doesn't have this information in it? Maybe it's in the Restricted section? Though why it would be is beyond you. Either way you spend a while diving through books and have nothing to show for it, so after a long day spend amidst the shelves you eventually call it quits for now.

-Theory of Enchantment. Asking a professor seems like the best bet.
--A quick check of your knowledge of the Academagia professors you know of causes Professor Leith's name to rise to the surface - he's got a reputation as the Academagia's potion expert, and is willing to talk theory with students who are able to discuss the subject on his level. You're not interested in trying to help Astrid yourself in any event, so that's probably your best option. It's also your only option that you can think of at the moment, admittedly, but either way you decide to swing by the man's office and start asking questions.

The professor is willing to indulge your bizarre questions and you're able to intuit (or just correctly guess) enough to keep the professor's interest, and although it takes a while you ultimately manage to walk away with a fairly comprehensive - if, at times, complex - collection of what it would take to create a homunculus that's the size that Astrid wants to be. Hopefully that'll be helpful for her, because otherwise you're not sure whether you can justify how long it took to get that information. Yes, it's interesting, but that took the rest of your day pretty much. You'll have to deliver it to Astrid another day. Hopefully it'll be worth it...

--Thinking about it you're not even sure whether whatever process made Astrid is considered a separate field from whatever the students here learn in terms of brewing potions. One would assume so as no matter how similar the tools the results are wildly different, but...where does that leave you, in terms of asking for advice? Are you going to have to poke a head in the faculty's office and just throw questions at everyone who happens to be there? That sounds like a bad idea. It also sounds like your only idea, barring flagging down random professors, so...if you're going to flag down random professors anyway might as well go to a place where there's a lot of them? This idea sounds so dumb...so prone to all kinds of reprimand-shaped disasters...

Ultimately you don't even dare to try out your plan even if it could have worked, which you don't think it would have. You instead spend your time reading up on the theory of Enchantment in the Venalicium, hoping that a (more) solid foundation will prove helpful if you ever end up trying this angle again. Or if you end up thinking of a better idea instead, preferably...

-Social Skills. See if there's any students you can ask for help.
--You quickly rule out the idea that any student from your year would be able to really help you with this, so you head off to the practice rooms that are set up for brewing practice and poke your head around in the hopes of finding a senior student who's able (and willing) to help you.

Needless to say that the by and large busy students are less than willing to indulge a second year with questions that largely go over your head figuratively as much as literally in this case, but you're persistent enough to eventually weasel some decent information out of what feels like the Academagia's entire upper classes worth of students.

Too bad none of it is good news for Astrid, though. Still, lessons learned, you guess. You'll have to make a point of going back to the cabin and informing her about what you've learned later, it might not be what she wants to hear but you should make sure to give her what answers you did find regardless.

--You spend an inordinate amount of time going from one College's Common Room to the next looking for just about anyone who's face you can put a name to in the vain, desperate hope that one of them, miracle of miracles, would actually be able to help you.

They can't.

Disappointing as that is you at least feel good about yourself having made a serious attempt at trying to help Astrid, putting aside the fact that realistically you're probably just wasting your time. Still, you are here at the Academagia to learn things, and you feel like there's things you can learn from trying to help Astrid.

You just wish that being able to better find the right people, or failing that how to convince yourself of the futility of attempting to find them, would be one of them sooner rather than later, though...

Just for the record I haven't actually finished the back half of this adventure yet, at least to the extent that I usually do before I start posting stages, so if updates suddenly stop showing up chances are it's because I'm working on it.

And yes, those latter stages at barren indeed. Lots of work to do...

Edited by Metis
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Big Dreams of the Small Familiar, stage 4:

Spoiler

It takes a bit of searching to find Keith's cabin again, unfortunately it's not near any sort of landmark or path and you weren't really paying that much attention to how you got there before, but thankfully you're able to find it eventually. You knock on the door and not long after Astrid pokes her head through the pet door below. "[PC FIRST NAME]? Come in, come in!" she goes, ducking back inside to open the front door before giving you a chance to react. "Did you find out what my master needs?" you hear her add, undoubtedly loud enough for Keith to hear, as you open the door and walk inside.

"Yes and...eh..." you say, but you stop when you see that Keith is, eh, busy in the back of the house. You recall what he told you earlier, but nevertheless, the sight of a man wearing a bloody apron holding a bloody knife is...kinda disturbing. You're just glad you don't have a view of the, eh, patient he's working on from where you're standing, even if that gives the man an even better position from which to glare curiously at you.

"Just take a seat, I'll be done here shortly," Keith says, questions written all over his face and tone. You, perhaps against your better judgement, do as he asks and take a seat where you did before. Astrid wastes no time setting another cup of tea for you, and you feel like you'll need it. Keith, for his part, indeed quickly finishes whatever he was doing and, after cleaning his workshop, tools, scrubs and hands with what seems like practised ease, walks over to you. "So what is this all about? Something that I apparently 'need', if I heard that correctly?" Keith asks, more curious than annoyed.

"It's, eh...it's a long story. The short version is I'm here because Astrid asked me to look up some stuff for her," you unwillingly blurt out, not giving the answer much more thought than whatever is necessary to give Keith an answer quickly.

Keith frowns, though he directs that frown towards Astrid, who quickly comes walking over with a pair of cups and a kettle of tea on a plate. Again, it looks utterly ridiculous. You can really see why she'd prefer to have a normal-sized body. "It's impolite to meddle with the affairs of a wizard's Familiar without the knowledge of said wizard, you know," Keith says as he nevertheless pours you a cup of tea.

"Y-yeah, I know that and-I mean, I'm sorry. B-but I was curious about what Astrid asked about. And...well, I kind of feel like I know where she's coming from, so I wanted to see if I could possibly help her."

"Young and wanting to help, huh? I shouldn't discourage that, I suppose," Keith notes as he takes a sip of his tea. You don't think he's angry with you, and good thing too because, eh, yeah. You're going to have nightmares about this man tonight, you just know it. "So, just out of curiosity, what did you find out about how to turn Astrid into a real girl? Or whatever closest approximation thereof alchemy could possibly manage."

You can't help but cast a nervous glance over at Astrid before answering that question. Keith seems to know the answer already, as well as what Astrid wants, so you're not sure what to make of Astrid asking you about it. And that's kinda worrying. Well, no reason to hold back. "In terms of alchemical solutions, nothing. At least nothing I could even attempt to explain because so much of it goes right over my head, putting all this homunculi creation stuff into practice is at least senior material. That said it should be possible to modify the process to create a homunculus, to create one the size of a regular human, but I don't understand the specifics of it. Something to do with modifying the cauldron and doing something to or with the alchemical base, but..." With a shrug you add, "You can explain this better than I can, no doubt."

"Unfortunately true. Through for the record, I'd be impressed if an Academagia senior successfully created a homunculus no matter how rough the frame turned out," Keith notes. Whether that comment was merely intended to spare your feelings or something else you can't tell. "To try and fill in the details, creating a homunculus the size of a regular human being would require modifications to the cauldron used to create the homunculi, and a special base. The cauldron is honestly fairly simple, at least in theory: You simply need a bigger cauldron with the same number of engraved runes circling the base, so it'll take a bit of math to figure out how to space the runes out properly. Even you could do that easily. The real problem is the modified base. Most homunculi, at least the ones I create, use runed mandrake roots as a base. The problem is that giant mandrake roots - natural giant mandrake roots, mind you, ones grown or made large by Revision magic wouldn't work - aren't something you can find for sale in the Admiratio." Yeah, you'd remember if you saw one of those. "Now of course there are ways to acquire such an unnaturally large base, through Alchemy itself in fact, but the theory of such changed bases actually working as bases has never been proven. And, unfortunately, none of that could help Astrid. All of that would only useful for creating a new homunculus, not changing Astrid's shape. I'm not sure whether it's possible to give her a more normal-sized form, given the simple limitation of her frame's base."

Damn...that's one point you didn't think about. All your research, for what that was and could have been worth, went into how to create a new homunculus. With that it definitely sounds like Keith means that in a "and that's that" way, but glancing over at Astrid busily cleaning the workshop area with a pitiful, defeated look on her face you decide to brave questions perhaps best left unsaid. You don't think Keith would mind correcting if not educating you, at any rate. "Sorry if this is just me showing ignorance, but would it be at all possible to create a new homunculus and transfer Astrid's...consciousness, or whatever you'd call it, to it?"

"You can tell me whether that's possible!" Keith answers with a surprised look on his face. Hopes dashed again. "I've no idea whether or not it is, frankly it sounds like it'd be proscribed magic to me so obviously I'm not sure. Though given that Astrid is my Familiar I wouldn't be inclined to try any such magic on her in any case. Familiar Bonds don't like to be manipulated, as far as I understand. So if doing so - trying to, at any rate - could put Astrid at risk I'm not going to try." At this point even you are looking a bit defeated, and Keith seems aware that Astrid feels the same as he does spare her a quick glance. Despite all the hopes that are being dashed here Keith does seem to care for Astrid...though he doesn't seem too upset about being unable to help her. He's probably already accepted that it's not possible. "I'm not saying I wouldn't be willing to try something if I knew it was legal and someone could convince me that the process would succeed, but as it so happens I've yet to meet someone like that. I don't know if anyone like that exists in Mineta in the first place, for that matter. I don't get many solicitors out here in this neck of the literal woods, as I'm sure you can imagine."

Hmm...if Keith's brewing friend could help him he'd undoubtedly have gotten his help already, and the best professor you can think of to ask for advice is infamous for "not being Old Vernin material", as you believe one student (Lambert?) once put it. Maybe you could ask the Legate to help? Even if he doesn't know himself he might know someone who does. He could have connections like that, right? You'd have to convince him to help you, of course, but that's honestly the easiest part - just offer to do his office work for him for however long. He'll bite. Than again, what if this is proscribed magic after all? Or just impossible? You'd like to help Astrid, you can understand the pain of not growing up (even if that feeling is like a distant memory already), but...

"And what might you be scheming this time, [PC FIRST NAME]?" Keith suddenly asks with a jovial tone, snapping you out of your thoughts. You explain that you'd like to help Astrid and are hoping that asking the Legate might work, but you're not sure if you should. "I would not object to you furthering your own education in any event, but as for Astrid...all of these problems aside I would like to help her, yes. Having her be a more normal size would ease her workload as much as it would mine, and to this day I still don't have an answer for how Astrid is supposed to take on the role of chief nurse in my future clinic. I will need her help one way or another to run that place, that's not in question. But I don't know if her current frame can work for that purpose. It wouldn't be good for her to unsettle my clients, and what work she can do with her current size is limited, so a normal body would probably be best. If nothing else I'd at least like for her eyes to match her face without them being too small for anyone taller than an infant pixie to see."

You glance over at Astrid, who got so distracted from her cleaning duties from you and Keith talking about her that she's turned into a statue staring longingly at the two of you. It's honestly cute...if you ignore the oversized eyes. Those look a bit creepy. "In that case I guess I'll go and ask the Legate about it, or another professor. Though if the Legate can't help me I doubt anyone could. Are you okay with that, uh...I forget if you said not to be formal so just in case, are you okay with that, mister Keith?"

Keith, more jokingly than not, chides you for your lack of attention and wishes you good luck getting anything useful out of the Legate. Which you feel you might need. First off, you're going to have to find him...

-Astrology. Divine the man's current hideout.
--You cast a spell to turn your wand into a dowsing rod, tune it to the Legate as best you can, and prepare to go on a grand, bogus journey through the most obscure, random and incomprehensible parts of the Academagia looking for this famously elusive man.

Instead you find yourself standing in front of the man's actual office after a grand total of, what, maybe five minutes or so.

Did your spell fail? Did it lead you to the man's office rather than the man itself? You'd very much like to believe that you're actually getting better at this "casting magic" deal, but finding the Legate inside the Legate's office is like...well, you suppose this fits the "incomprehensible" part of your expected trip at least. Because this, indeed, is the last place you'd expect to find the Legate.

Frustrated that things aren't going according to plan, and expecting that they didn't go according to your wishes either, you try the handle on the Legate's door, just to see if it's locked. And it isn't, the handle works just fine. Unbelievable, all of that and the man is just sitting in his office like a normal person? Well, fine. Your magic worked, that's good, and it seems like you've created your own invitation in a way, so nothing to do but step through the door and see what your impatience has earned you...

--You get out a star map and attempt a number of spells, charms and assorted Astrology goodness, but all your effort gets you in the end is a mess of conflicting information and a mild headache. Could it be that the Legate set up some sort of trick, some sort of protection against divination so that people can't simply figure out where he is at any given point? You can't say you remember ever having this issue before, but than it might be a recent thing? Or maybe you're just not having a good day? Hmm...difficult questions indeed. Unfortunately you didn't think to bring your Marat deck...

In the end you decide to just call this a wash and move on with your life. You'll track that man down eventually, somehow. You've got to run into him eventually, right...?

-Pure Luck. Try the Legate's actual office, see if he's in.
--Sooner or later the Legate is going to end up in his office, whether by choice (unlikely) or by way of another professor dragging him there (less unlikely). If you're lucky enough to try his office when he's there, well, case closed.

You head off to the Legate's office and thoughtlessly try the handle before doing anything else. Should have tried listening for anyone inside first, but, well, too late for regrets. The handle works, so if nothing else the Legate should be in at least...

--Sooner or later the Legate is going to end up in his office, whether by choice (unlikely) or by way of another professor dragging him there (less unlikely). If you're lucky enough to try his office when he's there, well, case closed.

You head off to the Legate's office, press an ear against the door to hear if anyone is in, and...nothing. Nothing at all. Huh. You try knocking on the door as well, but nope, no response. Unless the man is playing hide-and-seek in his own office and not responding to people who won't just open his door, but requiring people to barge into his office in order to find him? That'd just be cheating.

So much for that plan, in any case. Time to scour the Academagia the old-fashioned way and hope you run across the man sooner or late...

-Logic. Suss out the most likely place for the Legate to be.
--Hmm...trick question, really. The most likely place for the Legate to be, given his tendency to skip as much of his office work as possible, would be whatever location he can think of to not be found and dragged off to his office. So, in that respect, you should turn over every stone and shine light into every nook and cranny the Academagia has to offer. Yet, when you think about it, it's inevitable that the man will get caught no matter how well he's hidden and dragged back to his office to oversee whatever-or-another. So while the most likely place for the Legate to be is anywhere but his office, the most guaranteed place where you could find the man sooner or later would actually be his office.

You decide to put your theory to the test and try the Legate's office. If nothing else it's a solid choice of hiding spot as well - anyone who knows the Legate knows that the last place he'd want to be is his office, so if he doesn't want to be found a good spot to hide from his office is, ironically, his office. Though if he is trying to hide in there he's not going to respond to someone knocking on his door, is he? No, obviously not...you'll just try the handle. If the door opens the Legate must be in, and if not he's clearly not. Unless the man literally locked himself in his office, but you're pretty sure you'll see pigs fly before that happens. Like, literally, you're in the Academagia. It can't be that unlikely. Though that makes you wonder how much magic you'll need to learn before you can Revise (or Incant?) a pig functional wings. A combination of Glamour and Negation would probably be easier, Glamour to create illusionary wings and Negation for a levitation or even outright flight effect, but how much would it take to give a pig functional wings?

In the middle of your internal debate you end up reaching the Legate's office and, per your earlier suggestion, end up trying the handle before anything else. And, eh, it works. Well...that's awkward. Might as well go in now, though. Wouldn't want to be mistaken for a prankster, or worse, someone who thoughtlessly barges into people's offices because they're daydreaming about using magic to create a flying pig...

--The real question here is where the Legate is least likely to be discovered and dragged back to his office, as that is the most likely place for him to be. And the answer to that must be somewhere populated. One would think the opposite, but a place where there's no people is a place where a person cannot hide. As the saying goes: If you want to hide a tree, use a forest. Genius!

And so the self-proclaimed genius ends up running up and down multiple areas where people tend to gather, including the Venalicium, both of the Academagia's theatres, the Great Hall, Garden Gallery, and a few others, only to come up completely empty. And out of breath. And covered in sweat. Honestly the hours spend fruitlessly looking around everywhere amounted to a decent bit of physical training, at least, but if you wanted that you'd have just gone to the Athletics Field...

Here's to hoping this attempt at foreshadowing without calling forth a total eclipse proves to be a bit more successful.

Edited by Metis
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Big Dreams of the Small Familiar, stage 5:

Spoiler

When you enter the Legate's office you're surprised to see that the man has visitors. Someone's parents if you had to guess, but whoever the two are you don't recognize them. Which is strange as they sure seem to recognize you, at least you've never seen frowns that deep without something personal behind it. Needless to say that it only makes you feel even more awkward about barging in here. "Speak up, [PC FIRST NAME]. Don't worry about these two, I assume your message can't wait," the Legate, sounding impatient, suddenly says.

Thankfully for him you can see what he's going for here. And, naturally, you're more than happy to play along with him. You better if you expect to get his help. "Ah, alright, if you say so. Professor di Lucca Alazzo is requesting your assistance on a crafting commission that his client can only interpret as requiring proscribed magic, and unfortunately the regent doesn't fully understand the theory behind the idea himself so he's having trouble talking his way through the mess - needless to say that it's quite the odd project. He-both of them, really, need your knowledge base and academic authority to mediate the situation. I was told to add that the regent is especially worried about students overhearing the odd bits and pieces about the request and someone - which is to say Rikildis - going crazy with the rumor mill. As she is want to do."

The Legate's response to your little kinda-sorta-technically a complete and utter lie is favorable, he seems impressed by your "acting" skills. The two people he's with, unfortunately, are not. "What exactly is this 'crafting commission' you're talking about?" the man, glaring at you with a decidedly unfriendly gaze, asks. The woman next to him, for that matter, doesn't look any more convinced. Both look like they have more to say too, but thankfully you've got an answer ready before either can finish thinking of more questions.

"Transferring the...life? That or the consciousness, whichever is the better term, of a Familiar homunculus over to a different body," you answer without missing a beat. And, of course, that part is completely truthful. "Alternatively figuring out a way to modify the Familiar's existing body beyond what her alchemical base was designed for on a permanent basis, preferably through alchemical means, but the client is stuck on the idea that the latter option isn't possible. Hence the idea-fear, really, that proscribed magic is required. Unfortunately the regent can't dissuade him-the client, sorry, I wasn't supposed to reveal any personal information...a-anyway, since the regent lacks the expertise to say what can and cannot be done with sufficient certainty and authority he's requesting for the Legate's input."

Neither the man or the woman have anything to say in response to that beyond a blank, perplexed stare. Seems like you've won. "A homunculus Familiar seeking alchemical means to modify her body beyond what her alchemical base was designed for?" the Legate, either looking genuinely curious at your explanation or expertly faking such a look, asks. You nod and "confirm" that that is the gist of the "client's" request. "I can see why di Lucca Alazzo would struggle with that. There's plenty of people who mistake homunculi as being the product of proscribed magic as is, and while attempting to transfer the Familiar's essence is an ordeal on a different order of magnitude than I'd be willing to poke with a forty foot wand I could certainly see conventional magical means being a viable option, depending. Alchemical means, though...and if the client doesn't understand that and di Lucca Alazzo is stuck thinking along the lines of which Tranfixative could possibly accomplish such a feat...right, I can see why this needs my help. Mister and Miss Wizma, I apologize for cutting our meeting short but I need to go and mediate that situation. Even Vernin's regent would have trouble with a request like that, understandably, and the last thing I want is for people's - or a Familiar's - wishes to be buried under false headings."

Gods alive! Obviously you don't say anything, but yikes! That man, who just said that with a straight face, had better appreciate the hypocrisy if not the irony!

The two adults, whoever they are (the last name "Wizma" means exactly nothing to you), are sufficiently cowed and/or wowed by the situation to agree to "continue discussing the matter another day". Goody, that means lots of work in your future, doesn't it? In any case the Legate goes through the whole nine yards of seeing the two out of his office, locking up and "following you" to where Professor di Lucca Alazzo's "meeting" is taking place...or however the Legate would justify why he'd need you to walk him anywhere. Or the other way around, as this case actually ends up being. But, eventually, once the two of you have reached Professor di Lucca Alazzo's actual office the Legate steps in, ushers you inside as well and finally explains himself. Needless to say that Professor di Lucca Alazzo, who's sitting behind his desk with a stack of some kind of tests or homework next to him, looks a bit confused at the unannounced visit. "Finally free from those two overprotective housewives," the Legate happily says. Somewhat bizarrely Professor di Lucca Alazzo nods to himself in response, as if that just perfectly explains everything. "Ah, pardon the interruption di Lucca Alazzo, but I have to maintain appearances. I assume Polisena will be looking for me as soon as those two swing by her office and complain about me walking out on them again. It's like they can't appreciate how busy I am."

"Oh, of course. In any case have you considered simply addressing their concerns, however petty they may be, instead of literally playing hide-and-seek with both them and Professor Briardi? In my office, at that?" Professor di Lucca Alazzo drily suggests. The Legate, naturally, shakes his head.

"If only that were possible. Those two can try and bait me with their sunk-cost fallacies until Mineta's pork industry flies itself over to Meril, I know full well they won't be satisfied until I build a literal wall from floor to ceiling to keep the boys and girls separated in the Great Hall and beyond. I'm aware I was the one who pushed for the dating ban, but that had a good reason for it. I can't neatly split the entire Academagia in two and expect either the school or it's students to remain functional."

You'd comment, but you're not really sure if you're actually a part of this conversation or not. Professor di Lucca Alazzo, for what it's worth, indeed doesn't seem to notice you. "Still a better long-term solution than hide-and-seek, I would hope. In any case was there a reason you decided to use my office as your new temporary hideout, or am I merely the lucky owner of this hour's short straw?"

You nod, but again, you don't think the Legate noticed you. "I don't hide in other people's offices that often," the Legate jokingly notes...but even than you can't help but think there's just that slightly defensive tone to it. Because, yes, that is something the Legate can genuinely be defensive about given his track record. "And I suspect there's a reason, yes. [PC FIRST NAME], not to discredit your acting skills, but it didn't sound like you pulled all you said of an invisible wizard's hat on the spot. Not to mention I assume there's a reason you came to my office in the first place." You nod again, and this time the Legate and Professor di Lucca Alazzo notice. They listen intently to your explanation of Astrid's situation, Keith's take on it, as well as how you managed to meet those two in the first place. The professors seem unnerved by your story and overall dismissive of Keith's chosen (idea of a future) profession, not surprising that a pair of mages wouldn't think too much of someone seeking a solution outside the fields of magic, but the Legate nevertheless appears to be interested in Astrid's plight. Or, at least, interested in picking up a more long-term excuse as to why he "needs" to avoid his office work for a little bit. Admittedly that's not a very high bar to cross, one buried beneath several layers of dirt and the Maelstrom some might say, but either way you'll take it. "That's certainly a situation that man and his Familiar find themselves in. Di Lucca Alazzo, what's your take on this?"

The regent shrugs. "Do you really expect me to have an answer to that? I have heard about successful efforts to create human-sized homunculi, at least, but when the exact process is no less a mystery for me than it is for this Familiar-and when creating a new homunculus wouldn't even solve anything in any event, come to think of it...alchemy is not my field, Orsi. If you want brewing assistance I suggest you talk to Professor Leith."

"Are you sure you don't want to make it your field?" the Legate asks, practically dripping schemes and hidden intentions from every word. He really doesn't want to go back to dealing with those two parents. "We both know your crafting reputation could use some work, and this seems like a great opportunity to get some experience under your belt that isn't going to end up becoming a major thing. We are professors of the Academagia, if homunculi Familiars were at all common we'd surely know about it."

"You're just desperate to skip out on your office work," Professor di Lucca Alazzo accuses. The Legate, for better or worse, doesn't deny it. "Could you please at least try to maintain some manner of professional appearance, especially right in front of a student? Besides which, I don't see what fame there is to be gained from picking up an odd job for a hermit seeking to obsolete at least two schools of magic. Not to mention what the job actually entails, I can't imagine too many people being impressed if I tried to boast about my ability to create constructs that look like human teenagers."

Yeah...you suppose that's one (less than flattering) way of putting it. You came here expecting to have to convince the Legate to play along, but it seems like it's Professor di Lucca Alazzo that actually needs convincing. Unfortunate, since you don't have the easy angle of offering to do his office work, but on the bright side you do think this is a good opportunity nevertheless. After all, if you can convince him you've pretty much made it, right? How could you possibly convince the regent to lend his aid, though?

-Negotiate. Broker a deal between the regent and Keith's upcoming business.
--It takes a second to think of an angle, but you recall Keith mentioning that he and his friend are planning on getting one of Mineta's brewing guilds to assist them with getting their new business off the ground once everything is in place. And in order to secure that assistance, if necessary, they were going to sell the patent to some kind of new anaesthetic they're developing. Perhaps the regent would be interested in that? Enough to broker a deal of some sort? You decide to bring it up and ask, seeing as how you've got no idea how valuable such a recipe really would (or wouldn't) be.

"Without knowing the specifics it's impossible to say. But I can say that the patent to an anaesthetic that is the right balance of effective, focused and cheap to produce would be worth a great deal. More than the effort it will take to assist Orsi with his newfound quest to avoid the Wizmas, for sure." You're actually quite surprised by that answer. Not even pleasantly surprised so much as just plain surprised, you didn't expect something that simple to be that valuable. Again you ask Professor di Lucca Alazzo for an explanation, one because you're genuinely curious but also because the regent seems to enjoy explaining his reasoning. Trade is a subject that the man is genuinely well versed in, and he doesn't encounter those often enough as Vernin's regent. "Broadly speaking Glamour and Revision can easily cover all the anaesthetic work you need in a city as magically educated and populated as Mineta, but there are an awful lot of places, even on this island, that don't have access to such mages. Their education and professional services are very expensive, as you should well know, and by no means should you assume that every single magical cram school graduate could safely induce someone into a temporary coma either. Brewing-based anaesthetics do exist, but they tend to have their own share of problems - they're usually expensive to purchase if not produce, skilled brewers are not necessarily easy to come by, patents can be an issue in some circumstances, to say nothing of other issues like shipping problems causing ingredient shortages that a mage waving a wand simply will never have - and anaesthetic brews are overall less advanced than magical methods besides. Unless a well-trained mage happens to be around few have access to anaesthetics more sophisticated than a bottle of strong alcohol. It's a field where there's a lot of room for improvement, and given the right circumstances that means room for potential commerce as well."

"Could you make the most of that recipe, assuming that this Keith individual would be willing to trade it for our assistance in transforming his Familiar?" the Legate asks. He tries to sound as neutral as possible, but there's that slight tinge of "please just say 'yes' I don't want to go back to my office" to his question that you'd have to be deaf to miss.

Okay, maybe a little more than just a slight tinge...

"Not just him!" you hastily add. Not to drop your arrow in your own foot here, but you don't want to make false promises. That's never a good long-term business strategy. "I'm sure his friend would have to be included in that deal, he's the one working on the recipe after all. That said Keith told me they're planning to sell the patent to a brewer's guild in order to help get their new business off the ground once all the pieces are in place, so unless they already sold that patent there should be an angle to negotiate there."

Professor di Lucca Alazzo doesn't look pleased with this bit of news, exactly, but it takes him all of one second to recover from whatever he needed recovery from. "Funds to start a new business in Mineta? Hmm...will probably need some guild contacts and contracts as well, new businesses always find themselves in need of something from an unexpected field, and perhaps even a venue...no matter. Either way I can manage that, if the price is right. And if this anaesthetic passes muster, which by no means takes Stellular Keys to do in this field...I'd like to meet this Keith, him and his brewing friend. Depending on what they have to say and offer I might be interested in acquiring that patent for myself, and if it's financial support they want in return I can most definitely talk price." You off-handedly mention that you don't really know how skilled Keith's alchemy friend is, all you have to go on in that respect is that he apparently taught Keith so you have to assume he's an older (and hopefully more experienced) person in that regard, but if Keith himself is any indication he should have no qualms about using unorthodox methods to get the best results he possibly could. And as Sabinu Nos showed, as unpleasant as human (or homunculi) experimentation can be it sure can deliver impressive results too. The regent, known for his skill with Revision to maintain an impeccable appearance at all times, nods at that.

--The gears in your head feel like the end up spinning out of control, both literally and figuratively, trying to figure out a possible way to get the regent interested in this whole idea. That's not to say you can't think of things, but somewhere along the line you encounter a problem with it that you cannot think of a way to solve, so...in the end you stare awkwardly at the floor, both professors looking at you disappointedly (the Legate moreso than the regent, needless to say).

"I'm not saying I couldn't be convinced to make room in my own busy schedule, one that I take somewhat more seriously than others might I add, if there's a reason why I should," the regent notes. Although whether that was to try and spare your feelings or take another shot at the Legate you can't tell. "If not than I believe it's time for someone to return to his own office and ponder long-term solutions..."

Rats...so close, and yet so far. Not that you've lost the war or anything, but still...feels bad to pick up momentum only to have it slam against a brick wall.

"I'll be swinging by the Venalicium and doing some research into this matter," the Legate says as the two of you step outside of the regent's office. "I might not fully understand this Familiar's situation, but there cannot be less merit in looking into her case than there will be in trying to entertain the Wizmas. Even if I stand to gain nothing more than a fun anecdote to tell at a social gathering it'll be worth it. You do your best to figure out a way to get di Lucca Alazzo on board, chances are we'll need his resources if alchemy gets involved."

You nod, feeling a lot better knowing that the Legate is already on your side. Convincing the regent, though...you'll have to think about that one...

-Anatomy. Stress the importance that Keith's research, unsettling as it is, is to further the Academagia's own knowledge on the subject.
--You can't help but feel like this is a complete shot in the dark, since anatomy is by no means College Vernin's field nor is it something you'd casually associate with Professor di Lucca Alazzo himself, but the man does have a reputation for maintaining an impeccable appearance at all times through his mastery of Revision magic. You know that Morvidus students are required to learn Zoology to form a basis for future advanced Revision studies, so perhaps the regent could actually benefit from, essentially, Keith's study of the anatomical effects of his chirurgical beautification techniques? There's enough logic to that thought that you're willing to give it a shot. You bring up the research that Keith has been doing in his forest home, describing both his methods as well as stressing what Keith himself said about the importance of him learning from his mistakes before using his techniques on actual people, and plainly ask Professor di Lucca Alazzo whether that research would have any value to him. And if so, whether it'd be enough to convince him that there's merit in assisting the Legate with helping Astrid - or escaping his office work, whichever the man prefers.

It takes an uncomfortably long time, during which the regent actually takes a(n enchanted?) mirror out of his desk and gives his face a very careful, thorough look over, before you get an answer to your question. "I'm honestly not sure...it's difficult to say. Were it just a hermit refining mundane chirurgery techniques in his forest home than I'd certainly have no more use for his 'research' than the paper it was written on. But an actual, careful study of the effects that bones, muscle, all of that stuff has on the different aspects of a person's looks? Particularly detailed studies of how changing those things can go wrong or create unintended effects, that is indeed especially important...I'm not sure. I'd have to see the research for myself in order to make sure it's of value to me, but if the research is as you described it might be worth assisting the Legate to acquire it. Or attempt to convince the man to donate it to the Academagia, either or. There's arguments to be made in favor of that suggestion."

That sounds rocky, but it's better than nothing, so you'll consider it a win.

--You do your best to sell the value of Keith's research, but Professor di Lucca Alazzo doesn't seem impressed in the slightest. Apparently an academy dedicated to the study and teaching of magic doesn't have much use for a bunch of instructions on how to do stuff without magic. Who knew?

"I'm not saying I couldn't be convinced to make room in my own busy schedule, one that I take somewhat more seriously than others might I add, if there's a reason why I should," the regent notes after what feels like a long, drawn-out and most thorough defeat. Although whether that was to try and spare your feelings or take another shot at the Legate you can't tell. "If not than I believe it's time for someone to return to his own office and ponder long-term solutions. Perhaps of the more magical, less 'playing hide-and-seek' kind, if you wish to stay true to the spirit of the institution you're supposed to be the legate of."

Rats...so close, and yet so far. Not that you've lost the war or anything, but still...feels bad to pick up momentum only to have it slam against a brick wall.

"I'll be swinging by the Venalicium and doing some research into this matter," the Legate says as the two of you step outside of the regent's office. "I might not fully understand this Familiar's situation, but there cannot be less merit in looking into her case than there will be in trying to entertain the Wizmas. Even if I stand to gain nothing more than a fun anecdote to tell at a social gathering it'll be worth it. You do your best to figure out a way to get di Lucca Alazzo on board, chances are we'll need his resources if alchemy gets involved."

You nod, feeling a lot better knowing that the Legate is already on your side. Convincing the regent, though...you'll have to think about that one...

-Awareness. Does the Legate even need Professor di Lucca Alazzo's help?
--In terms of crafting assistance, doubtful. You're pretty sure that Professor Leith could alchemy the regent into the ground without trying. But in terms of securing any necessary funds, getting other parties interested and brokering deals to make all the moving parts work together? Few are as capable of accomplishing that task as Professor di Lucca Alazzo. And, honestly, it seems like fulfilling Astrid's wish is going to be an expensive group project if it's going to be anything at all. High level research, undoubtedly rare and expensive ingredients needed for difficult and long processes requiring expert hands and care...this sounds like it's going to end up being a big project. And it takes more than just two well-made wheels to get a cart moving anywhere other than tumbling down a hill...

--The guy who's famous for being a pretty-looking mover and shaker of unreasonable amounts of funds, and not much else, particularly in the way of actual crafting? Maybe, maybe not. It's hard to tell what value the regent's actual skills will have here, if any. You just know that he's an obstacle right in front of your face that'd be more useful as a tailwind, however light a breeze he might be worth.

I will never tire of pointing out Professor di Lucca Alazzo's lack of qualifications.

Edited by Metis
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Big Dreams of the Small Familiar, stage 6:

Spoiler

The Legate gets halfway through pointing out that you know where Keith lives and asking you to lead the way when Professor Briardi, completely unannounced, walks into Professor di Lucca Alazzo's office as well. Right, the Legate did mention that she'd come looking for him the moment that those two parents started complaining to her or something, right? If so the fact that she looks surprised that the Legate is actually here, along with Professor di Lucca Alazzo, must say something about how often the Legate actually had a legitimate reason to bail on his prior meetings. "I had a feeling that you'd try hiding in the very location where they'd say you'd be, Orso, but I wasn't expecting you to be in something that at least looks like an actual meeting. Of course I don't see a client anywhere, so is this just a slightly more elaborate ruse or-"

"It isn't," the Legate clarifies a bit too quickly. Professor Briardi, naturally, looks suspiciously at the poor Legate. "The client isn't here, true, but that's...well, we were still discussing possibilities, mainly potential payment. Before deciding on whether to commit to the job."

Professor Briardi looks decidedly unconvinced by that. Rightfully so, as the Legate is, at best, only mostly telling her the truth there. "Right. As if you require any payment beyond an excuse to not sit in your office for one more day," the regent pointedly notes. The Legate, for what it's worth, doesn't deny it. His admission can generously be described as "sheepish", but he doesn't deny it. "So what's your stake in this deal, di Lucca Alazzo? Assuming there actually is one, of course."

"Call it barter, if [PC FIRST NAME]'s assessment of Keith's resources is correct," he confidently answers. It takes Professor Briardi by surprise, especially because only now does she even notice that you're also standing in this office. You decide to just cut to the chase and quickly summarize the story you told the Legate and Professor di Lucca Alazzo earlier, about Astrid and Keith, what Astrid wants, and how that ended in this situation. Professor Briardi looks nothing short of perplexed at the end of it.

"Transfer the...what? I'm sorry, who's hare-brained scheme was that?" Thinking back you're actually pretty sure it was yours, a desperate attempt to figure out some way to help Astrid. Keith didn't seem too impressed by it either, and probably for good reason. You keep silent, but you suspect that Professor Briardi can read her answer from your expression. "Right. I'll just pretend that no one ever thought to suggest something that reckless and stupid." Ouch. Deserved, but still. "So, Orso, do you really think you can help this man's Familiar? Because rest assured, if you want me to tell your favorite parents that you are actually doing something important this time I'll be giving your little homework project a harsher review than I do the end term projects of my senior students. I'll expect effort if you're going to want my help in avoiding your office work."

Since when does the Legate need help with that? All the same that's another regent on board with this plan...kinda. Sorta. If you squint a little. Better than nothing, right?

After an awkward, silent moment the Legate finally answers, "You know as well as I do that nothing good will ever come from trying to appease those two harpies, Polisena. Astrid might ask for things that are impossible or beyond even the Academagia's means, Keith might not have anything substantial to offer in return for the assistance of it's faculty, but even so...do you really think that there's less to be gained from at least trying this than trying to convince those two overprotective hawks that splitting the Academagia in two is neither practical or beneficial for the students?"

Professor Briardi opens her mouth, but no words come out. She wants to say something, but she knows that there's nothing she can say against the Legate's points. As for you, you're starting to get curious about these two parents. Why do they have such a chip on their shoulder about separating the boys and girls anyhow? Even Professor Badcrumble isn't this crazy about it, so surely there has to be some sort of reason. "Fine, I'll come along as well," Professor Briardi eventually says, once she finds her words again. "Of course having said that I do have to ask one important question: Who is going to deal with the Wizmas? Someone is going to have to deal with-or, at least, entertain them if we're to have any freedom to pursue this...extra-curricular activity, let's say."

Good point. Of course the Legate's solution to that problem is to pointedly look at you, followed by Professor Briardi and Professor di Lucca Alazzo doing much the same. Well, if this is what you need to do in order to clear these professors' schedules enough to help Astrid...pretty much what you signed yourself up for in the first place when you entered the Legate's office, huh? Yeah. So, a pair of parents with a chip on their shoulder...how to resolve this problem?

-Diplomacy. Hear out these two parents yourself.
--Ultimately this is a problem that needs to be addressed at it's source, so you decide to track down the two parents yourself and resolve to figure out just what their deal is come hell or high water.

You find the two sitting outside of Professor Briardi's office, discussing things with each other until they see you walk up to them. After that their lively debate falls eerily silent. You don't let it stop you, though. You walk up to them, properly introduce yourself (since you didn't do that earlier), and quickly explain that the Legate will need to help Professor di Lucca Alazzo with the crafting request directly, as will Professor Briardi, so the three of them will be unavailable for a while. Hence why you've been given the task of lending their worries and ear, and you've come here to do just that.

The two parents share a curious look when you mention that the two regents and the Legate will be working together on this project. "What'd you say it was about again? Something...eh, something about a 'homunculus', if I remember right?"

You nod, briefly explain the concept of a homunculus and the complications with achieving what Astrid is looking to achieve (not that you mention Astrid by name, only that her being a Familiar makes this even more complicated), and that it'll take the professors' attention to do all the necessary research and preparations. Assuming something can even be done, of course. The two parents react to that exactly as you expected them to - like they have no idea what you're talking about. Understandably - even you had to spend a day in the Academagia figuring this much out. "Regardless, that's the current situation with the Legate. As for you two, I'd like to know what it is that brings you to the Legate's office again and again trying to...well, honestly I don't even know what you're trying to achieve. What the Legate had to say on the matter makes little sense to me. Mind that he seems to have interpreted it as something that's a bit of a...personal, not to mention controversial matter to him, so please understand if he's being cagey about it."

Again the two parents look confused. Are you making headway here or are you just digging your own grave sideways? It's hard to tell at this point. "How's that any of your business?" the man asks. Sideways it is, it seems.

"Because I'm a student here myself. What matters to them matters to me," you answer. Both parents frown at that, like what you just said is wrong. Strange. Didn't these two want to separate the boys and girls? As one of those two that would very much be your business, you feel like, so you're curious as to why these two seem to feel differently. Of course there's only one way to figure that out, which you happily choose to deploy - asking them. Directly, pointedly, you ask why these two don't seem to think that being allowed near the opposite gender isn't any of your business.

"Ah...wait-what?" is the response you get. As expected.

"I think it'd be best for the two of you to explain this situation to me, why you're seeing the Legate and all, from the very beginning," you say, slowly shaking your head. Of course it'd be something like this. "I don't know what's going on or how it happened, yet, but if you'll give me a hand I'll try my best to figure out where it all went sideways."

It takes a few uncomfortable seconds for the two parents to agree to give you a try, needless to say that they're pretty worn down from harassing the Legate themselves, but slowly they end up telling you their story: They're a pair of low class, poor parents from far away who's youngest son, unexpectedly, was send an invitation to attend the Academagia. Great news, of course, since magical training would improve their situation (and station) by leaps and bounds, but unfortunately the poor kid was initially too timid and scared of leaving his home behind to actually go. His parents tried to convince him, again and again, but ultimately they had no choice but to send a letter back to the Academagia explaining the situation. That situation obviously looked very bleak for a while, but the response they eventually got back from the Academagia contained a second invitation - one for the boy's closest friend, a local orphan who "doesn't need magic to become a proper wizard of a housewife" as the parents describe her. The two of them have been trying to get answers ever since, because they have no idea how to interpret that situation even remotely. And, speaking as a student who's heard a few stories about unlikely students and their invitations, you, too, have to admit that this is indeed a very unusual situation. It's all but unthinkable that this second invitation was send solely to convince this son to actually attend the Academagia, but than why did it only show up after, not before?

"That's what we've been asking about for I don't know how long now!" the man says, more happy about someone finally understanding his position than any person ought to be. "I mean...alright, so truth is we're really worried about our boy, too. Sending him all the way out here on his own might have been too much, but he needs to grow up and learn to live on his own eventually. And right now he's staying in his friend's shadow like a lost pup. Don't get me wrong, girl's a catch and a half if you're not looking for gold to dig, but he's never going to grow up at this rate."

"I see...you know, the Legate actually pushed for a blanket ban on students dating recently, and although it met with enough resistance to have the rule relaxed for the upper classes it was still pushed through. I think that's probably why he's not willing to hear any questions or suggestions along those lines. You'd be surprised how often that comes up, actually." You personally wouldn't describe the reaction of the two parents to that bit of news as "understanding", but still. At least you got the chance to say your piece. "As for what the deal is with this second invitation, and maybe even what to do with your son, I think we should take this matter to Professor Badcrumble. I'm sure that if anyone she'd have something to say about this invitation business, and if you're looking for advise on your son's timidness...well, I'm not sure about that one. But she'd be a better person to ask about it than the Legate, at any rate."

The two parents reluctantly agree to give your suggestion a try, but you're confident that if nothing else they'll leave the Legate alone for the foreseeable future, and ultimately that's all you were after here. So that, hopefully, is done. You'll have to track down the Legate later and tell him about it.

--You head off to Professor Briardi's office and find the two parents sitting outside, their lively discussion coming to an abrupt halt when they see you walk up to them. Of course you hold up your arms as a gesture of peace and explain, succinctly, that the Legate really is busy right now, but if they have any concerns about the accommodations of the Academagia students - which you feel like you should have something to say about considering you're one of them - you're willing to hear them out, talk to them, see if there's anything you can do on your end to get less busy movers and shakers interested. Frankly you feel like you could move a mountain with that trick right now, so you're definitely not lacking confidence. The two parents even notice that fact, and happily agree to take you up on that offer.

Two hours of uninterrupted talking about the Academagia's students, none of which you're able to make heads or tails of even if you could bring yourself to remember more than half of it, later and you feel like your brain has been left on a grill for too long and someone's turned you into a walking corpse. The two parents, for their part? They tell you they appreciate the listening ear and that they'll be happy to discuss "the details" later, suggesting that this particular session was just the start.

You are going to need a plan B here, because you think you'll fling yourself off the island before stringing these two along for however long it takes for the Legate and friends to help Astrid. Assuming they even can...

-Etiquette. Ask Professor Badcrumble for help.
--You have to admit that you're feeling a bit lost in this situation. Two out of control parents, some sort of situation that you can't even begin to attempt to pretend to grasp, and it's your job to sort things out? This sounds like it's time to ask for help. Not just any help either, it's time to pull out the big cannon...although you suspect Professor Badcrumble would not appreciate that metaphor.

You swing by her office, run through multiple classrooms and even poke your head into the Avila Common Room before finally tracking down the regent making rounds in the Venalicium. Fair enough, you quietly get her attention and drag her somewhere out of the way enough to talk without getting hunted down and murdered by any of the librarians. Because yes, those are still scarier than those two parents and Keith combined if push came to shove.

"Is this something Astrology related?" Professor Badcrumble curtly asks, clearly not having a lot of time on her hands herself (sadly), to which you shake your head. You quickly explain that you found something you needed the Legate's help to do, and that in order to free his schedule - more literally than figuratively in this case - you've been tasked to take care of the two parents. But you're just completely at a loss as to how to even approach them, much less broach the subject of whatever has made them so obsessed. The Legate mentioned something about "building a wall from floor to ceiling to keep the boys and girls separated", but beyond that you have no clue what their deal is. Professor Badcrumble slowly nods along as you explain all of that. "I do know who you're talking about, though I haven't had the time to talk to the Wizmas myself. If lord-sorry, if the Legate has truly found something genuine to invest his time into I might have to make time myself, honestly. What did you find that caught the man's interest, if I may ask?"

A bit reluctantly you briefly explain how you met Keith and Astrid, and the latter's dream of inhabiting a body more suited to helping out her mage. Professor Badcrumble looks nothing short of perplexed afterwards, presumably because she was not expecting the Legate to have found anything serious at all. Much less something as left field as that.

"Okay..." Professor Badcrumble eventually says, slowly nodding to herself with that same perplexed look. "I'll...right, I'll set up a meeting with the Wizmas and clear up this matter. Please, inform the Legate that he needn't worry about them any longer...and that I'll be keeping an eye on him as well. To make sure he's not setting a bad example for the school."

You actually can't help but thank the regent after hearing that bit of good news. That, genuinely, feels like a weight being picked off your shoulders. Seriously, mission accomplished! Wizmas taken care of, time to go tell the Legate the good news! Once you figure out where to find him at any rate...

--You spend a while looking fruitlessly for Professor Badcrumble, and your, shall we say, less than perfectly patient attempts to get information on where she is don't end up finding purchase among the students you picked out as probably knowing where she could be, if anyone does.

Great. Spend a while accomplishing nothing and got nothing but a sour mood to show for it. Wonderful...

-Gossip. Who are these two the parents *of*, anyway?
--It's a trivial matter to look through the student roll and find the one student who shares the same last name as the two people from the Legate's office - Leonardo Wizma. First year, College Morvidus. Truthfully that comes as a surprise, you were fully expecting this kid to be a girl. That's usually how these things go, isn't it? Two parents trying way too hard to protect their precious, delicate (or secretly not so delicate, 'bout a fifty-fifty chance of that one you'd say) daughter from the evil, corrupting influence of boys? But no, the kid's a boy. And still a first year, too. You're not sure how to interpret this situation...not sure how it ended up being a situation in the first place, either. You assume those two parents are bugging the Legate because of their son, you don't think they'd be this stubborn if it was just a pet peeve of theirs, so...how does this add up? Weird. Well, time to do some digging and hopefully find out. Starting with the Great Hall!

You run around several areas of the Academagia for about an hour collecting various pieces of gossip about Leonardo, as it's a surprisingly difficult task to collect and compile all of the information into a coherent, straight line. Mainly this is because there's conflicting stories going around about the boy. Some people say that he's a prankster who doesn't much care for anything else, basically Rui da Casga's lost long brother. Other people paint him as a shy and reserved kid who had a hell of a time trying to adjust to living in an academy dorm, and that the few pranks he did pull on people weren't intended as anything but (failed) attempts to get attention as the kid felt lost and didn't know how (or dare) to ask for help. Yet others agree on the "shy and reserved" part, even the "his pranks were attempts to get attention" part, but those pranks were definitely to try and get the attention of the girl the boy is crushing on - the leader of the Clique he's a part of, specifically. You try to get some information on this clique as well, the lead girl especially, but if there's much to say about them they've been careful to keep people in the dark about it. All you can figure out is that the lead girl has a reputation for being more of a "team mom" than Cinzia and Irene combined, but in a good way. Beyond that there's either too much conjecture to draw information from or there's nothing at all.

Without talking to the boy yourself, or doing a lot of Astrology, you're not confident in guessing what the actual truth is. Though good money is that it's buried somewhere in the middle of this giant mess. Still, even if you're a little fuzzy on the finer details you nevertheless feel like you know enough to answer the question that's immediately relevant to you: Why are Leonardo's parents obsessing over separating the boys and girls? Probably to break up that clique he's a part of. Exactly what's going on with that clique, who knows, but you have to assume that's where the boy's parents are coming from. If it isn't than you have no idea...maybe something home-related? Why would that be an issue in the Academagia, though? No, that clique is clearly the better theory.

In any case, if you can either clear up whatever misunderstanding is going on between Leonardo and his parents about his part in this clique - or, if his parents have the right of it, convince Leonardo to leave the clique himself - his parents will likely cease bothering the Legate so much. You imagine they won't give up that easily, not entirely, but hopefully it'll be enough to give the Legate enough space to help out Astrid.

--Finding a student who's last name is listed as "Wizma" in the student roll is easy. Finding out anything about the guy - you assume he's a guy based on his first name at least - is relatively much harder. You do manage to collect a few snippets about how he's apparently some kind of prankster and troublemaker (albeit not one on the same level as, say, Rui da Casga), but nothing that would even begin to explain why his parents have such a chip on their shoulders about wanting to separate the boys and the girls. Especially when their child is, by all accounts, an outgoing and lively young boy rather than some kind of fragile (or secretly less fragile) teenage girl who's parents are going a bit overboard with trying to protect. Unfortunately without that information you can't really get anything more out of this angle, but it is at least nice to be a little less in the dark. And who knows, maybe Professor Badcrumble could shed some further light on this odd situation...even if she doesn't actually, you know, care about it all that much...

--Awareness. Convince Leonardo to stand up to his parents.
---You're not entirely sure what's going on with the clique Leonardo is a part of, but you're confident that you know enough to...well, "confront" is perhaps too strong a word, but you feel like you'll be able to discuss the matter with the guy. And the other three girls that clique consists of. Whether they'll give you the time of day is another matter, but you'll do your best to convince them.

You manage to track down the entire clique to one of the Academagia's practice rooms, the door to which isn't locked. All four first years look up from what they're doing - turning this place into some kind of sewing workshop - as you step in and give the situation a once-over. You can't put a name to any of the girls and whoever is the leader of their clique isn't apparent either, so that's a bust, but you can identify Leonardo. And you can't help but notice that while all four are sharing the same collection of tables they've pushed together to create one large workspace, two of the girls are seated some distance from each other, presumably to give each other enough space to work. Leonardo and the third (first?) girl, however, are seated close to each other, despite the fact that Leonardo currently looks like a bit of a dishevelled mess who just stepped out of the shower - his hair's still wet. What's more, he's actually not wearing his student uniform. That is currently in front of the girl next to him, apparently in the process of being patched up. It's difficult to tell from where you're standing, but either this kid went through hell recently or this isn't the first time his uniform is being patched up. Lots of information, but you'll reserve judgement until you've actually talked to these four. It wouldn't be the first time you made that mistake...

"Eh, do you need something from us?" the girl sitting next to Leonardo, looking somewhere between confused and annoyed, asks after a while. So it took you a second to observe the scene, it happens. "Who are you, anyway?"

She sounds pretty confrontational, you have to say. The two other girls keep their silence, staring at you with a confused and slightly nervous look on their faces, whereas Leonardo seems downright worried as he stares you up and down. Probably because he's not wearing his uniform, if a professor saw him like that he could get reprimanded for breaking dress code. Actually, glancing at said uniform you remember the guy's in College Morvidus. Professor Storey would be very displeased if he saw one of his students not in proper uniform, thank you very much. Right up there with Professor Badcrumble, albeit on different principles. "Relax, I'm not here because Professor Storey send me," you say, hoping it'll ease the tension a bit. It doesn't really work, but you feel like trying still works out better than doing nothing.

"Well, that's nice to know. That you're not here to tie a noose around our necks, I mean," the girl points out. Spicy one, isn't she? "So why are you here? You're one of the second years, right?"

You nod in answer to the girl's latter question. "Second year, yes. And I'm here because..." Thinking about it you're here because the homunculus Familiar of a man living out in the woods you recently met wants to inhabit a different body and you've taken it upon yourself to try and get the Legate's help on that matter, who is all too happy to take every chance presented to him to get him out of his office that's currently being besieged by Leonardo's parents, who are doing so for reasons that you don't think make any sort of sense to anyone involved. So...in short you're here for some really bizarre and convoluted reasons, huh? Well, no need to drown these four in needless detail, no matter how curiously (and, in one case, impatiently) you're being stared at. "Eh, sorry about that. Honestly the reason I'm here is a very long and, come to think of it, pretty ridiculous story, but I won't bore you with needless details you probably wouldn't believe anyway. Point is that I need the Legate's help with the mess I'm in, but Leonardo's parents are bugging him too much to give him the necessary space, so I'm here trying to put a stop to that."

"W-wait, my parents are bugging who? T-the Legate?" Leonardo asks, to which you nod. It also sends the gears in your head spinning, because he really doesn't know about that? Two overprotective parents trying to pull a stunt like that behind their kid's back...that can't be good news. In any case, for anyone involved, that can't be good news. "W-what? Why are they-I-I don't know anything about that!" Leonardo sputters out, shifting in his seat.

"Leo, stop. Please, just stop," the girl next to Leonardo suddenly commands. Quickly the boy's storm of emotion dies down as suddenly as it started, and without further prompt (or surprise coming from either of the other two girls, you note) he shifts closer to the girl next to him. She wordlessly throws an arm around him and starts gently stroking his hair, and soon after he throws his arms around her. Huh. If there was any doubt left as to whether their relationship is positive or not that's gone now...although you are still missing an awful lot of detail, you feel like. "What's this about Leo's parents?" the girl curtly asks, while Leonardo rests a weary head on the girl's shoulder. Despite the girl's question you can't help but continue trying to analyse how Leonardo and the girl are interacting, how they react to each other with practically no words shared between them. You just don't get it - they clearly seem to be much more than just friends, but just exactly what are they? No matter what theory you cobble together it just falls apart as soon as you start thinking about it. "I asked you a question, eh...second year. Is there something wrong?"

You feel like keeping the girl waiting would only upset her if not Leonardo, and you're not getting anywhere yourself anyway. Nothing to do but just ask, you suppose. "[PC FIRST NAME]. And no, there's nothing wrong, it's just...what's the deal between you two?" The girl frowns, clearly not interested in answering that question, but even so she does ask you what her "deal" has to do with anything. You slowly explain what Leonardo's parents have been bugging the Legate about, and how you figure that their antics must be out of some kind of concern for their son, but standing where you are you just cannot figure out what their angle is at all. And considering that getting them to back off, at least enough to give the Legate some space to hopefully help Astrid, is what you were asked to do that is, in fact, rather important to you. Leonardo silently listens to - "endures", it almost feels like - your whole spiel with a look that's so close to tears you're not sure why he's even bothering trying to hide them. The girl, for her part, listens intently to every word you say with a look of determination that you're not sure where to place - whether she's thinking about cursing Leonardo's parents into toads for their insolence or whether she wants to wrap the boy around her arms until he's all cried out. Or both.

This time it takes the first years a second to collect their thoughts, but you're patient enough to wait. Honestly, they deserve a moment to reflect. "I'll go and talk to them," the girl eventually says. "Don't worry about the Legate, I'll get them off his back."

That sounds great, but at the same time not like mission successful. You know it doesn't matter to you whether it's Leonardo or the girl who talks the boy's parents down, so long as someone manages to convince them you win, but...this just doesn't feel like a victory. The girl doesn't look like she's optimistic herself, in fact she looks like she's about to do something she doesn't want to. Leonardo obviously doesn't look any happier himself, either. You don't want to leave it at that. "Sounds like you're offering to throw yourself to the wolves here," you point out. Hearing that Leonardo can't help but let out a low sob, and the girl grimly nods in a way that someone her age shouldn't have to do off of a stage. You definitely feel like you made the right choice not letting this one go that easily. "What's going on between you two, anyway?" you ask, still fascinated by how they act like close siblings despite not being related. At least if the student roll you checked is any indication they're not.

"The short version is that the two of us grew up in the same area," the girl eventually, after some thought and pitiful looks cast at Leonardo, explains. "Leo in his home, and me in the area's orphanage. Despite that we became closer friends than some siblings, but...his parents never liked me all that much." Oh. Can't help but notice the girl doesn't sound particularly bitter until she mentions Leonardo's parents not liking her, too. "When Leo was invited to the Academagia he initially refused to go. Too scared to leave behind his home. I did my best to convince him otherwise, everyone did, but I could only get him to agree if I could go with him." Hmm...it's true that going from living with your parents to living in an academy dorm, possibly on a different island altogether, is quite the stark difference. Every first year spends some time letting that sink in, adjusting to it. Few would be so afraid of it that they'd outright refuse an invitation from the Academagia, though. You'd also like to question exactly what Leonardo really refused to leave behind, because you feel like "his parents" is neither the first or second answer to that. "His parents all but gave up on him attending the Academagia for some time after that," the girl continues. "But the reply we got to the letter they send to the Academagia explaining Leo's...disposition instead came with a second invitation. Mine."

A second invitation. Very curious. It's all but unthinkable that this girl was invited purely to lure Leonardo here, you don't want to imagine what it'd take for the Praetexta Court to resort to that sort of stunt, yet at the same time she only received her invitation after, not before. Would Professor Badcrumble know more about this situation? Very curious indeed...and speaking of curious, Leonardo. It seems obvious that his parents are doing what they're doing (or making the Legate play hide-and-seek in a failed attempt thereof, rather) in order to try and separate these two, either because they dislike this girl that much or...because they want Leonardo to grow up a bit, stand up for himself more and learn to rely on himself rather than his friend, and with her right here at the Academagia that simply won't happen. Which it is ultimately doesn't matter as Leonardo's parents are going about this the wrong way regardless...but the question does cause you to take another look at Leonardo's uniform. A number of stitched cuts and remnants of stains that apparently haven't come out sporadically dot the full length of the thing, and glancing over at what Leonardo is wearing it seems like some of that damage is recent, as it also damaged his clothes underneath. You imagine the same is - or at least was - true for some of the stains, if his still wet hair is any indication. But how does that add up? Someone who spends all their time indoors reading books doesn't end up with a uniform that rough, yet someone so scared of leaving home wouldn't be going out adventuring in the great outdoors time and time again either. So what's the deal here? You point out your observations to the girl (and Leonardo) and ask for clarification.

"Hoping to one day become a detective, [PC FIRST NAME]?" the girl half-jokingly asks. You don't give her an answer beyond a feigned shrug and a coy smile. "Well, you should. Leo here..." the girl pauses for a second, seemingly lost in thought as she flashes a comforting smile at the boy's tear-soaked face. He blushes, and beneath the tears seems to smile himself a little. You can see where that "crush" theory came from. "Heh, sorry. About the bad first impression, I mean. You're right, Leo isn't one to sit around a library all day every day. Most days, sure, but he'll drag me and my friends along some ill-fated adventure out into the wide open world to find some kind of rare plant or look at some pretty pile of collapsed rubble every now and then. Usually we end up having a sewing session afterwards to clean and fix up our uniforms. They're the only ones we have, or in Leo's case the only one he has left, so we have to take good care of them." That explains why Leonardo isn't wearing a uniform right now, but...hmm...sounds like he isn't that much better off than the girl, financially. Wasn't expecting that considering the fact his parents apparently can afford to bug the Legate day after day. Odd. "By the way, I know we should be using our wands to do this sort of work, but none of us can use our wands as well as a needle and threat yet. And this way we don't have to worry about stitches coming loose or disappearing on us. We've had that happen before."

Makes sense. All three of the girls are wearing Hedi robes anyway, so it's not as if them sewing would make them stand out in a bad way. In any case that's about all the information you think you're going to need out of these kids, so you decide to cut to the chase. "Sounds like Leonardo isn't as...hopeless as his parents think he is," you point out. The girl nods, but you note that Leonardo doesn't. That's going to make this harder. "Even so I think he's going to have to be the one to talk to his parents about this mess. At least, I don't think they'd be convinced to back down if that request - or demand, whichever would work better - didn't come directly from him." Leonardo, somewhat understandably, looks mortified at this suggestion. The girl rolls her eyes in a "tell me something I don't know" kind of way. "I know. But the thing is that one way or another they think they're doing this for your sake, and as such convincing them otherwise should come from you. Approach them as a clique if you have to, show them you've made friends that have your back, but one way or another you're the one who's going to have to talk them down."

Leonardo hangs his head and stays silent, but from his expression you can tell that he knows you're telling the truth. He's just afraid of confronting his parents (something you can't really blame him for when, by all accounts, the Legate himself prefers playing hide-and-seek over trying to do the same), but confront them he must. "I'll get in touch with them and force a...meeting," the girl says, catching and correcting herself before she nearly said something other than "meeting". "Go ahead and tell the Legate not to worry about this mess anymore, [PC FIRST NAME]. I'll take care of it. Well, rather, one way or another I'll find a way to throw Leo at it. Same difference, though."

Considering how the girl and Leonardo interacted before you've no doubt that she has the boy's best interest at heart, even if it takes a share of tough love to get him to learn. Very well, you'll inform the Legate of what you've learned and what he should expect in the near future at least. Whether these two will succeed...honestly, given enough time you're sure they will.

---You're not entirely sure what's going on with the clique Leonardo is a part of, but you're confident that you know enough to...well, "confront" is perhaps too strong a word, but you feel like you'll be able to discuss the matter with the guy. And the other three girls that clique consists of. Whether they'll give you the time of day is another matter, but you'll do your best to convince them.

Of course it would help if you were actually able to, you know, find this clique. Before trying to talk things through with them. That might indeed help.

You end up running through the Great Hall, Garden Gallery, multiple Common Rooms, the Venalicium and even the practice rooms but no matter where you look there's no sight of your new friends. Eventually, after far too long spend running back and forth, you think to just ask people where they're located, and the short version thereof is that you're told they're probably somewhere out in the wilderness beyond the Academagia's Grounds, although likely still well within range of the Academagia itself. Apparently Leonardo has either an adventurer's or "my room isn't isolated enough to cry" streak, whichever, and so he's known to disappear every now and again. Would be really nice if someone told you that earlier, not going to lie...

Either way you decide to just call this day a bust and look for them another time. You are not setting foot in that damned forest again until Astrid's situation is resolved, because Gods know you'd end up encountering a wandering minstrel hoping to turn his lute into a Dragon or what have you and you just want no part of that right now, thanks.

I don't expect the details of this stage to ever come up again, mind. So given my track record it'll be about half a year to a year before I type out another entire adventure about it :rolleyes:.

Edited by Metis
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Big Dreams of the Small Familiar, stage 7:

Spoiler

After over half an hour of hunting around the Academagia you finally, finally, have managed to track down the current hiding spot of the Legate, to deliver the news about the parents that should no longer be laying siege to the man's office...for what that's worth, given how much time he doesn't seem to spend there. Certainly not today, oh boy most certainly not today. It took intelligence to figure out where he's hiding this time. Well, that and a bit of common sense. Seems fairly obvious in hindsight...

You knock on the door, and predictably it doesn't take more than a few seconds for a wide-eyed...actually she's always wide-eyed, so that doesn't really say anything. For a normal-looking Astrid to poke a head through the pet door and run out when she sees you standing there. The energetic expression on her face likewise suggests good news, and you hope that'll continue. "[PC FIRST NAME]! Thank you so much for-come in, come in! Master said he wishes to see you!"

Yeah, you'll bet he has a few words for you. Good ones, hopefully. But regardless of what hesitation and dread you might feel - the mental image of Keith...at work, so to speak, is still all too fresh in your head - you follow Astrid into Keith's cabin home, where the man himself is currently engaged in some manner of (likely lengthy) discussion with the Legate and Professor di Lucca Alazzo. That just recently these two didn't even know this hut existed, and now all because of your antics they're here is something that hasn't settled in yet. You don't think Keith has quite realized it yet either, if his expression is any indication. "[PC FIRST NAME], I was wondering who Astrid opened the door for," Keith notes as he gestures for you to sit down as well. Meanwhile, as expected, Astrid comes running from the kitchen with a teacup held proudly above her head. "I'll freely admit that I vastly underestimated what an Academagia student - and an underclassmen at that - could manage to set in motion. Not to mention how far it's faculty is willing to reach out. Rest assured, this is a completely different experience than I had back home." You ask where Keith is from, but he dismisses the question with a shaking head. Seems he doesn't want to talk about that. "We've been discussing the situation with Astrid's frame, me and your professors. And as it turns out it is, in fact, possible to permanently change Astrid's frame to that of the form she wants, magically, well beyond what her alchemical base was designed for."

"To a point," the Legate clarifies. "The few very minor changes Keith has made to Astrid before were so insignificant and in-line with her...well, her being, for lack of an easier term, that they were effectively permanent. At least enough so to make the distinction between permanent and temporary entirely academic."

"Obviously," Keith interjects. "If I believed in temporary solutions than I wouldn't be pursuing this new business of mine. Magic could take care of it well enough, otherwise. For a time."

"All changes made to a human's appearance are, by that very human's nature, temporary," Professor di Lucca Alazzo points out. Keith doesn't seem impressed with the technicality. "Not to discredit your work," the regent adds right after, "just clarifying that even a permanent solution will only last for so long when applied to a temporary problem. Or to a state of being that, by it's very nature, is temporary."

"The point of this discussion is that we've reached a bit of an impasse with regards to Astrid's 'frame', as Keith prefers to call it," the Legate clarifies. Suddenly you feel like a wave of dark clouds rolled over the horizon. "To...okay, to try and explain it in terms you'd understand, since Astrid is Keith's Familiar her frame can be modified beyond what her alchemical base was intended for. And in a manner that wouldn't be temporary. At least, no more temporary than any living being, homunculus Familiar or otherwise, is by nature." Okay...sounds like good news so far. "The problems we're facing are, first, that enacting such a change is...difficult, to say the least, again because she is a Familiar. Not impossible, but it'll take my full, undivided attention. As well as the full, undivided attention of multiple others - Astrid herself, Keith as well as Professor di Lucca Alazzo included."

"In that case - and in any case I imagine - you'll be happy to know that the unreasonable parents problem has been resolved," you proudly state, though even so you can't help but notice a slight hint of hesitation - worry - in your voice. The Legate, based on his expression, notices as well.

"That's one issue crossed off the list, and I can handle the rest of my schedule clearing," the Legate states with the kind of professional tone that makes it sound like him "clearing his schedule" isn't just a euphemism for "tossing my appointment book out the window". "The second problem," the Legate continues, "is that we're limited in what we can accomplish, and what we can accomplish won't solve every problem that Astrid has with her frame. Again, using terms you'd understand, we cannot choose how Astrid's frame will look if we don't want it to be very temporary in nature. She'd require regular maintenance that Keith doesn't have the spellcasting knowledge to perform, and alchemical solutions...well, if they exist there's no one in this room who knows how to work it." Keith nods in affirmation of the Legate's point, which makes you wonder if he couldn't simply be taught such spells if he needed to. Than again, it's Keith you're talking about. The guy's obsession with permanence is something you feel like you could feasibly learn before the man's name at this point...actually you did! You still don't know the man's last name! "The one who will decide how Astrid's frame will look is ultimately going to be Astrid herself," the Legate continues, "though I can't say that she'll have real control over that decision either. As you can probably imagine it's a very complicated story."

"The simple version is that she will look the way she wants to look, how she feels and thinks she should look. And...that's that," Keith adds. "Truthfully it'd be better, more convenient for me if I could make that decision for her and choose what she'd look like, fully tailor her appearance to my needs, but such luxuries are at best a secondary concern. Astrid is going to be writing this one, and I don't have any problem with that. I'll find ways to compensate for the rest, especially in this city. Frankly I'm not even sure if there'll be much compensating that needs to be done. Experiments aside the people here really have seen everything and anything already."

Given the confident smirk on Keith's face as he says that, as well as the proud, almost loving smile on Astrid you have to assume that this second "problem" is one that has already been resolved. Or, at least, talked down into becoming something less than a true obstacle. "The third and final issue-well, for the moment the final issue is one that we've yet to find an answer for. But, now that you're here, I do believe that I can think of a fitting answer."

...You? Oh dear, your work is just never done is it?

"Don't look so apprehensive, I won't ask you to do my research while I focus on this matter with Astrid." Okay, that's reassuring. You're still confused mind you, but all the same that's reassuring. "To explain, in my spare time I work as a...honestly I'm not sure exactly what to call it. As mundane as it is I personally find it more bizarre if not incomprehensible at times than my personal studies." And just like that the confidence is gone. Wonderful. "Basically, I'm a part-time writer...sort of, I guess. Me and a friend of mine collaborate together to publish entries for a series of books he's created, and I don't wish to face any distractions while this situation is going on. Unfortunately he's preparing for the next big entry in the series, and expecting my share of the work to be delivered to him relatively soon. That is where you'll come in."

Alright, that's not what you were expecting. Not sure if you'd call that good or bad just yet, not sure if you can really help with that either. But...if this is the final obstacle to help Astrid it's worth trying, right? "Okay...not what I was expecting, but okay. So what is this series, exactly?"

For what must be the first time Keith looks genuinely lost before the almighty basic question you've put in front of him. "Eh...honestly I have no idea. I never spend much time in the 'fiction' section of any library, and it doesn't help that the main premise of the series was changed as early as the first book's prologue." Oh, great, this is starting to sound like a right literary disaster. You don't want your name attached to that if you can help it. "I've personally always described it the fantasy world I somehow use to support my real world existence here. Strangest thing, but that's life sometimes. What someone more knowledgeable on the subject would call the books I've no idea."

"It might be faster if you just give [PC FIRST NAME] a list of titles, maybe even a signed copy or two given how much [s/he]'s gone out of [his/her] way to help Astrid, and let [him/her] draw [his/her] own conclusions," the Legate, looking a bit...eh, not "impatient" you'd say, he doesn't look annoyed at the situation, but something along the lines of "how and why are these two still talking about this?", mentions.

"I don't have any copies here, signed or otherwise-" Keith begins to say, but he doesn't get much further before he's interrupted by Astrid poking him with a small pile of books stacked like that one tower puzzle. You have to admit that it really is so easy to lose track of the Familiar when she's just the size of a large hand, you didn't even notice her moving around at all. Keith likewise looks perplexed. Again. "O-okay, I thought I didn't but apparently never mind that. Where'd you get these, Astrid?"

"They're my copies," she answers. "Matteo always brings me one when he comes over to celebrate a new release, as a reward for the hard work I put in."

"Eh...I wasn't aware you liked to read them," Keith says with a look that's probably as close as he'll ever get to the face of a man that's just spotted an angry bear. Pretty sure he's just trying to hide his embarrassment, too. "Well, I suppose that solves that question, at least insofar as giving you a list of titles because that I also wouldn't have on hand otherwise. I don't suppose that you, too, are a surprise fan of the series, [PC FIRST NAME]?"

Good question, actually. Astrid walks over with the stack of books to give you a look at their titles and covers, and based on that you have to say...

-You've never heard of these books before.
--You take a few of the books and check the backsides for any summaries or other things that might jog your memory, but nope, nothing about this pile seems even remotely recognizable. "Can't say that any of these ring any bells. Are these new books, by chance? Recently released and all?" After scratching his head for a second Keith slowly recounts that he started "assisting" with them shortly before he moved out into the forest, which was a "surprising amount" of years ago, but after that it didn't take too long for ideas to turn into drafts to turn into manuscripts and eventually into published books. Apparently the main writer is also the owner of the series' publisher, so things usually run like clockwork when the man's own projects are on the table. "Huh...actually, are they only released in Mineta, in Reneglian? Or are translations on the markets elsewhere?"

Again Keith shrugs. "At least a few are, yes. Matteo was really proud when he landed a contract with a Merillien translator and publisher not too long after the first main entry was released, and if I remember right after some disagreement on how to publish the side stories the lot of them managed to be taken at least that far north." You ask for clarification, and Keith explains that Matteo's modus operandi is to push out one big, grand novel - which fans refer to as a main series entry - before pumping out a number of shorter stories - either side stories or side entries for the fans - following side characters, background elements, and whatever else strikes Matteo's fancy in terms of expanding his little world. The latter have been fairly polarizing so far, which is why their translation and foreign publishing is currently still in question in a few places where the main series has already landed. Astrid further clarifies that's because they're very different from the main entries: Different characters, different perspectives, different structure, different tone, the whole nine yards. Apparently they read like stories written by entirely different authors taking place in the same setting, and some (most, really) appreciate that less than others. And Keith wanted your help on a main series entry, he said? Great, because that doesn't sound like an awful lot of work. "The main entries, for what it's worth, fared much better as far as I've heard," Keith eventually continues. "I think you should be able to find translations of them for at least most major nearby languages at this point. Mind you, I don't speak any languages beyond Merillien and Reneglian anyway, so I can't say it matters a great deal to me personally."

Fair enough. "So when's the deadline for this new main series entry? How long will I have to...do what, exactly?"

"The deadline, insofar that Matteo pays attention to such things, is actually meaningless right now because of mechanical issues he's having with his printing press. Meaning he's not publishing anything until things get repaired and caught up," Keith explains. Which sounds kinda good, but also kinda bad. Once that press is fixed they'll likely run extra shifts to catch up, so once that gets going again it's likely going to be running day and night for a while. So no pressure. "As for exactly what you need to do, the best way I can describe it is to figure out Matteo's insane puzzle. He creates a fancy-sounding world with interesting pieces and only afterwards figures out ways to actually put those pieces together, which is normally what we'd collaborate on, but in this case I'm going to have to pass that torch on to you. And don't worry yourself, it's nothing overly insane, illegal or immoral. Matteo's eccentric, but harmless aside from that. The worst is when he's pretending to be a philosopher. And failing to notice that he's not succeeding."

Oh, joy. What have you gotten yourself into?

-What kind of books are these, exactly? Keith wasn't very clear on that point.
--"Alternate history fiction" is the best way to describe the initial draft of the setting these books take place in. What Keith mentioned about the series changing course very early is correct, however, as the setting was switched to an outright alternate universe by the time the first entry was published. The idea is that the books were originally supposed to take place on Cyve, post-Exile. Basically a "what if?" scenario where the Dragons were exterminated by whoever was left behind after the islands were raised beyond the clouds, although them dying out managed to take their magic with them. And with no New Gods to advance the field of Astrology the only magic left was that of brewing and alchemy - drawing out what (relatively puny) power existed in the natural world, with brewers needing to bend over backwards to get anything to go according to their whims. But, for the better according to most, this was changed to the alternate universe setting the series uses to this day. One where neither Dragons or their magic ever existed and where Cyve itself was never a thing either. There is actually a nod to this whole mess in the setting's origin story, namely that of some kind of mass-migration millennia ago to a island continent from some vaguely described "old mainland" place, which many fans like to speculate is Cyve, but that's it. It's a question that likely won't ever be answered in the story itself, because the books very much prefer to play around in their own little corner of the world than explore the lands (or seas) beyond it's borders. Just as well, really - there's plenty of that "little" corner left to explore in it's own right.

As for the books themselves, the main entries tell the story of one or two characters and their (sometimes bogus) journey through their corner of the setting. Over the course of said story the protagonists go from ignorant, uneducated teenagers to true and proper adults ready to take over the reigns for their ageing parents and/or grandparents...or, more accurately, teenagers who've matured enough to know that they still have a lot to learn. As one might expect from writers in their thirties people like Keith aren't interested in writing the characters that are around their own age as being old, wizened mentors ready for retirement. The man himself certainly doesn't feel that way. After a main entry book is released - either to further develop the setting, attempt to plug whatever plot holes fans inevitably discover after the fact, or just to shake whatever little bit of extra cash the author can from it's fans with the minimum amount of effort required to do so, depending on who one asks - a number of separate short stories are published that focus on side characters, loose ends, background elements, basically things that further flesh out the overarching story and setting. So far there's only been two main stories published, Keith would have you help with the third, but between the two there've been over a dozen side stories published.

The biggest point of contention with the series is exactly who they're intended for. As one might expect from the premise of the main entries one could easily argue that they're aimed towards people your age: Younger teens reading stories about kids just a few years older than them growing up, coming of age, learning a thing or two about adulthood and the cruel, uncaring nature of bla bla bla, all of that usual rot and rubbish. In theory. In practice the book's (thirties) author doesn't take that angle even remotely seriously, and his teenage characters don't either - ironically acting like actual teenagers in the process. But this is most definitely not true of the side stories. Those tend to focus on unquestionably adult, sometimes even venerable characters as they try and pick up the pieces left behind by a main series entry. Although none of them touch on subjects that would be considered inappropriate for a young teen to read about, necessarily, they're not light reading material either. And as the perspective and goals of the main character changes the book's structure and tone tends to change as well, leading to a wildly different experience. It's not that the side stories are necessarily bad, but the phrase "like it's written by a different person" is a common thing to hear when comparing them to the main entries. It's unusual to find someone who enjoys both in equal measure, though such people do exist.

As for your part in this whole mess...
---[LOCK OPTION ONE, UNLOCK BELOW OPTIONS]

--You've never read any of these books yourself, but you've heard a few things about them.
---You shrug in response to Keith's question. "I've heard of this series before, lots of discussion about it between two fans in one of the bookstores I frequent in the Admiratio, but I can't say I've ever read one. So when's the deadline for this new main series entry? How long will I have to...do what, exactly?"

"The deadline, insofar that Matteo pays attention to such things, is actually meaningless right now because of mechanical issues he's having with his printing press. Meaning he's not publishing anything until things get repaired and caught up," Keith explains. Which actually rings a bit of a bell in the back of your head - wasn't...someone really disappointed that the latest side story was delayed, or something? You vaguely recall hearing something along those lines...somewhere before. Maybe the Academagia, but you can't clearly remember. Either way this news doesn't put you at ease, because once that printing press is repaired that deadline is probably going to be moved to somewhere within the near future measured in minutes. "As for exactly what you need to do, the best way I can describe it is to figure out Matteo's insane puzzle. He creates a fancy-sounding world with interesting pieces and only afterwards figures out ways to actually put those pieces together, which is normally what we'd collaborate on, but in this case I'm going to have to pass that torch on to you. And don't worry yourself, it's nothing overly insane, illegal or immoral. Matteo's eccentric, but harmless aside from that. The worst is when he's pretending to be a philosopher. And failing to notice that he's not succeeding."

A crazy author for his crazy fans, that sounds like. Wonderful...what have you gotten yourself into?

--You've actually read the main series entries. Never was a fan of the side stories though.
---You give a kind of vague, slow nod in response to Keith's question as you explain that you have actually read the main series entries, though the side stories never managed to hold your attention. You recall one of them being about this mid-sixties politician or something and man did that convince you not to make that mistake again. "That'd be the side story covering senior senator Agon, right?" Astrid asks without missing a beat. Of course she's the kind of fan who reads and knows everything about that series. Although to be fair if anyone you would expect an actual homunculus to do so. Though whether to call that irony or merely fitting you're not sure. "That's really bad luck if that was your first side story, his is definitely the most 'side story' of the bunch. Also one of the most important, though, if you're following along the senate's part in the story."

"No spoilers, Astrid," Keith says with such a defeated sigh you'd forgive someone for mistaking it as the man's last words. The poor Familiar is not sure how to respond to that. "In any case, if you're at least broadly familiar with the setting I'm sure you'll be able to work out the next main entry issues just fine. And if not, well, you're an Academagia student. I'm sure you've faced worse puzzles, riddles or essays already."

Not filled with confidence right now, gotta be honest about that. "Hopefully. So what, exactly, do I need to do? And when will Matteo be expecting your-or my, I guess, share of the work?"

"The deadline, insofar that Matteo pays attention to such things, is actually meaningless right now because of mechanical issues he's having with his printing press. Meaning he's not publishing anything until things get repaired and caught up," Keith explains. Right, that did happen. Actually delayed one of the side stories if you remember right, but, well...that wasn't something that you were too concerned about needless to say. Either way this news doesn't put you at ease, because once that printing press is repaired that deadline is probably going to be moved to somewhere within the near future measured in minutes. "As for exactly what you need to do, the best way I can describe it is to figure out Matteo's insane puzzle. You should be familiar with his fancy-sounding world and the interesting pieces that populate it. Well, fact is that only afterwards does he try and figure out ways to actually put those pieces together, which is normally what we'd collaborate on. But in this case I'm going to have to pass that torch on to you. Don't worry about it too much, if I could figure it out I'm sure you can do the same."

Not sure what to make of that comparison. Either way, as hesitant as you are you are an Academagia student for a reason, right? You should be able to figure this out, hopefully...

--Astrid seems to own a release that you completely missed, and you want to read it!
---You carefully pick up the copy you don't recognize and look it over, just to make sure that you're not just forgetting anything. But nope, definitely never read of this one before. "Hey Astrid, when did this one come out? I haven't read this one yet." Astrid, with a superior smirk, informs you that particular entry's public release was delayed because the printing press Matteo uses suffered a "minor complete breakdown" and had to be replaced, something you actually heard about which made that particular day no better than it was before, but apparently he did manage to print a few copies before that problem occurred and so he was able to get Astrid her early copy. Of course she's not saying that with a superior smirk in order to make you (more...) jealous, Astrid is far too nice a girl to do something like that. No, she's smirking because without looking she knows full well that Keith, at this point, is staring at this exchange with a look on his face that most adults would follow up with a bottle of hard liquor.

"Matteo's new printing press should be finished and operational relatively soon, mind you," Astrid adds, perfectly pretending as if she doesn't know full well how Keith is staring at this whole situation. "I don't know how long it'll take from there for the book to hit the stores, but it shouldn't take too long. The old press actually caused a lot more delays than Matteo ever admitted to, and once it's been replaced things should run like clockwork."

That's actually great news, all you heard about it was that "it'll be fixed when this twice-cursed pile of metal decides it wants to work again". Never understood why people couldn't just wand the thing back into working order, but chances are that's exactly what they did for so long that the thing just wasn't able to be repaired anymore. Even devices made of metal and maintained with magic aren't permanent, given enough wear and tear eventually even they die. Of course only now do you think to look at Keith again, you were kinda in the middle of something and all, and he is shaking his head in a daze of disbelief right now. "Right," he says once he's noticed that you've decided to pay attention to the actual conversation again. "Saves me an explanation I suppose. So, short version: Matteo wanted my help to flesh out the broad strokes of the next main entry, I'm busy with Astrid, your job will be to fill in the details. Please do a good job and keep it quiet for Octavius' sake. Matteo will put me on a jousting arena without a lance or a horse if things go...not according to his designs. He can be rather protective of his little world, in that way."

Of course you'll do a good job! You didn't come this far to trip over the easiest step! Of course Keith is still hesitant, but he's willing to give it a try for Astrid's sake. You'll show him - by your own hands the next main entry is going to be the best one yet!

If this adventure feels a little all over the place it's because it kinda is.

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Big Dreams of the Small Familiar, stage 8:

Spoiler

You've returned to your dorm room to read over all the documents that Keith gave you regarding his (now your) "homework". Basically a pile of correspondence between him and Keith's publisher friend, Matteo, talking about the setting and a few rough early drafts of key moments already taking shape in said publisher's head. You have to say that you're a bit lost on some points and very lost on a few others, based on what you're reading the publisher's writing style can most generously be described as "eccentric"...reading through some of the more absurd ideas your heart goes out to this man's editor, quite frankly...but this is what you've been given and what you have to make work. Your task isn't that complicated or difficult, in theory: You've basically been given the literary equivalent of a few puzzle pieces, and your job is putting them together to form the correct picture. The problem is that you don't have all the pieces on hand, most you have to create yourself, so there's no guarantee that what pieces you create will end up forming the right picture. And, of course, the exact form of that picture itself is only partially clear at this point. Even those early drafts of key moments are probably not going to make it to the printing press looking anything like they do currently, that's just the nature of this kind of thing.

From a philosopher's point of view you have to say that it's fascinating to see how Keith handles, and at times fails to handle, trying to assist in putting together this fantasy world. The man really has an obsession with permanence and, unsurprisingly, a contentious relationship with the temporary nature of magic, even though you find references to Keith having been a regular student of magic at one point. No confirmation about exactly where he studied, though, which is annoying because you also find pretty clear references to Keith having issues with "unreasonable authority figures". Exactly what he'd classify as such isn't made clear, though a lot could probably be read into how the man reacts to various parts of the setting, and what their (often times rough at best) real world inspirations are. You're sure Professor Sido would love to sit down and talk with Keith if they ever had the chance (and, you know, the desire). Those two could probably keep talking for hours if neither felt the urge to murder the other at any point.

Enough idle wondering, though. Right now it's time to roll up your proverbial sleeves and get to work. First off, reading through the correspondence you notice that Keith and Matteo both are (were, in Keith's case?) having serious trouble figuring out the grand city that this new book opens with. An indescribably beautiful place that will be tragically razed in a paranoid border skirmish turned all-out war...which is supposedly held by a group of people that are not only so weary of outsiders and culturally rooted in tribal lifestyles that they're the ones who will start said war, but who - for reasons that are completely beyond your ability to even guess at - are supposed to be a nation made up entirely out of woman. Yes, apparently this city is an oversized gate on the one (relatively) traversable part of the border of their country. The rest is blocked off by a steep mountain range filled with wild monsters, apparently. So that city controls entry into their otherwise inaccessible land, and unless you're a local or a girl in good standing therewith you're not getting in. As for how these woman manage to survive in these conditions, both short- and long-term? That is discussed and speculated about until kingdom come. And you'll admit that the back-and-forth between Keith and Matteo trying to figure out the ins and outs of how such a country could possibly work is genuinely interesting. It's oddly satisfying to see the two argue over the most mundane of details that end up being critically important to defining this bizarre place, how the people born and raised within it would(n't) be different in how they see the world from those born and raised on the outside. For as bizarre as Matteo's ideas are he seems to be genuinely interested in exploring them thoroughly, examining every possible angle that could (and often does) shape this little corner of his crazy little world until it all works. And yes, that is indeed the only reason why you can take this idea of an all-female country even remotely seriously.

For all the man's enthusiasm his logic clearly isn't cut from the same cloth, though. Or perhaps he puts these seemingly impossible puzzles in front of himself on purpose. An easy one wouldn't be interesting, you will (reluctantly, in this case) admit, and this gateway city? Not an easy puzzle. It's supposed to be exceptionally beautiful in it's design and architecture, which clearly wasn't made that way for the sake of the locals, but simultaneously the locals would prefer outsiders to stay away. So who was it all for? This is what Keith and Matteo got stuck on.

So how to resolve this contradiction? How to create this missing piece of the story's puzzle?

-Beguile. Consider how this city would be looked at from (by?) the outside.
--You're really not sure. Presumably as confused as you are right now. Hell, technically you, yourself, are an "outsider"...or sorts...looking at this city from the outside, in this instance. And you're a bit clueless as to why these tribal people would build it, have it, what they'd use it for...you're clueless. Your best guess would be some kind of capital, some kind of grand place for the tribe's leaders, but that's just completely not the case on multiple points. For one the country's actual royalty (or their rough equivalent thereof) lives inland, and for another it's a city right on the border. You'd think the capital would be more, you know, central. Inland. Although maybe that's the entire idea-no, that can't be it either. That doesn't work with the rest of the story...

What a problem this is turning out to be. If it was just the city that'd be one thing, but there's a lot more to the story you have to keep in mind at the same time. Either way you're not giving up that easily, you should be able to find some kind of answer or inspiration looking through existing books. Whether those are history textbooks or something else. Surely this kind of situation has been thought of before if not outright happened before. It's just a question of finding an answer.

You start to walk over to the Venalicium, lost in thought as you go over all the details Matteo outlined in the correspondence again and again. For just being some rough ideas on pieces of paper it manages to paint a fairly complex picture. Or maybe that's just because after two large books and who knows how many side stories he's refined his skill at challenging himself to the level of an art form. Makes you wonder why he hasn't refined his skill at solving his own mysteries, quite frankly...

That line of thought is unfortunately cut short when, in your less than attentive state, you end up bumping right into someone in the hallways. Thankfully it's not Joana you ended up walking right into, rather you look up and see Miya Hikari staring at you with a bemused, mischievous smile on her face...not really what you'd expect from someone you just walked into, though, is it? Huh. "You seem to have a lot on your mind there, [PC FIRST NAME]," Miya playfully notes as she gives you a careful once-over, like you've got what's on your mind written all over your uniform. What's her deal, anyway? Okay, she's not wrong necessarily, but that's not the reaction you were expecting.

"Y-yeah, you're not wrong," is all you can think of saying in response to Miya's question. "Though I don't suppose I'm the only one, am I? You seem really curious yourself, Miya...and please stop circling me like that, if you want to look at my back you can just ask."

Miya, who returns to face you like a normal person after completing her weird dance, nods. "Hmm-hmm, I'll remember that. And to answer your question, I'm curious why you're walking through the hallways like you're dragging along the weigh of a cart with you. If there's something on your mind maybe you should share."

Because "share" is a word that you can trust Miya to have an accurate understanding of, especially when you're weighed down by something you don't want others to know about. That all said maybe there's merit in asking Miya for advice - she's travelled to all sorts of places who were perhaps not the most welcoming of places for a (self-proclaimed) "sky pirate princess", and while at least half of what Miya says is complete bogus you don't need it to be true. If it works, it works, that's all you care about right now. Huh...you know, you'll give this a shot. Might regret it, but you don't think Miya is so much of a bully that she'd go out of her way to stab you in the back either...as easy as that might be for someone who-you know what never mind about that. It's asking time! "Maybe. So, Miya, have you ever been to a place kind of like..."

Miya listens intently as you describe the gateway city as carefully as you can manage, making sure not to even come close to mentioning any unnecessary details, and the problem you face insofar that you're not sure how to make such a city work. Miya lets a slightly curious look through her jovial expression at times, but for the most part she remains as upbeat and energetic as she usually is. "Quite the story you've got there, [PC FIRST NAME]," Miya mentions once you're done explaining. You can't help but nod at that, a bit sheepishly as it's still something you'd rather not discuss in any more detail than you just did. "As for why this tribe of yours build the place, clearly because they wanted to be seen as a tribe by choice. If other people thought they were nothing but barbaric savages they'd eventually come in to either conquer or civilize them, whichever term you'd prefer, and obviously they wouldn't want either. So they build their grand city to show the world that they are proper and civilized, that they understand such concepts just fine, they just choose to live the way they do."

"Really? An entire city build just for that?"

Miya nods. "Of course. At least I was told as much last time I was there myself, you know."

...Really. Miya claims to have been to the entirely fictional city you're trying to-okay, sure. That's a good one. Admittedly Miya has been places you've never seen and it's theoretically possible she's been to a similar place before, but...come on. You wouldn't believe a word of this if it came from Sheary, let stand Miya!

Of course what was it you said about Miya not needing to be truthful, in this case? And hell, you can't help but want to tease Miya here, see how far she's willing (and able) to take this deception. "Really now, I wasn't aware that city really existed. Please, do tell me all about it."

Miya obviously notices the fact that you clearly don't believe a word she said. And she seems to take that as a challenge. "Sure thing, I've got time and a lot of memories of that place. It's called the Ivory Gate, though obviously the city is more marble than actual ivory, and..."

Miya, over the course of the next few hours, proceeds to paint a scarily accurate picture of everything Matteo has ever wanted (and failed) to grasp, leaving you wondering if the girl ever made off with the man's dreams. How she would have accomplished such a feat you've no idea, but that's the impression you're getting. Of course you're more than happy to take it off her hands regardless. You know Miya wouldn't object to her "sharing" her stories, in this case...

--Other than a mishmash mess of ill-thought through concepts? You're out of ideas, honestly. Well, you can think of one or two things that could work, sort of, but there's a lot more to this city's role in Matteo's book than just "it exists". Somewhere along the line you run into a problem that you're not sure how to resolve. You decide to go through the correspondence again, hoping there's an answer hidden somewhere within it if not the already published books, but again you run into the same problem - answers that can work, but not the whole way.

Not a great sign if you trip over the first step, huh? Maybe you just picked a difficult detail to start with, but given the city's importance it seemed prudent. Well, whatever. You'll figure it out sooner or later, hopefully. At least you'd be right embarrassed if you attended the Academagia and couldn't figure out some kind of functional solution...

-Economy. Look at this city from an economic perspective.
--You decide to go to the Venalicium and do some research into old cities that ended up looking like the city that Matteo fails to fully describe. It strikes you as odd that these tribal people supposedly build it in the first place. Why would they? Why so much effort when it's just not necessary to put a roof over their head? That's all these tribal people need to survive ultimately, and apparently they're more at home in a hut than a large stone box anyway. Where there's no demand, why is there effort spend into generating a supply? It's a mystery, and from that angle you think you might be able to crack it.

One small stack of books later and you find at least a dozen examples of small communities that, over time, grow into sprawling cities even more beautiful than the last, but all of these examples have one thing in common: They grew when times were peaceful and there was plenty to offer to the outsiders they welcomed, and they stagnated when times got rougher and people became more insular, less able to share. This tribe doesn't share or welcome regardless, so...how can this work?

"Can I interest you in a tutor, [PC FIRST NAME]?" Milena di Montors, sliding herself next to you, quietly asks with the biggest smile. Why she seems to be in so good a mood you can't tell, but you're not complaining either. "Just saying, there's easier ways to get through that pile of books next to you."

"Is there, now?" you say with a coy smile on your face. "Do tell me than: What am I studying, exactly?"

Milena happily takes you up on that challenge, but as you were confident would happen she fails to find a clear connection between all the books you've stacked next to you. That some of them are history books and others are more tourist guides probably doesn't help her any. "Eh..." is all Milena is able to say in the end, staring a bit perplexed at your smug, slightly tired smile. "Alright, you win that round. Still, you're clearly in need of some help and I'm sure I can hook you up with someone able to do just that for the right price. So..." Milena actually interrupts her own spiel in order to take another, closer look at your stack of books, but she's not able to find any clear connection between them any more than she did a moment ago. "Okay seriously, what are you even studying here? I see history books, tourist guides, two architecture books and one exterior decorating catalogue that went stale back during the Middle Empire of all things. What is all of this?"

"Call it an odd homework project," you say, not really interested in telling Milena the truth. It'd be a really long story anyway. "I'm supposed to figure out how a modern...relatively modern city filled with tribal warrior-types is supposed to...I'unno, make sense in general. It's a right mess, and I've yet to make any progress it feels like."

Milena looks confused. Confused and intrigued. That is a good direction, you feel like. "Okay...studying Dialectic, I guess, should have figured really. Anyway, I'm game. This city of yours? I'll figure it out. Give me the details and I'll show you how to make it work, than we'll call it even." It actually takes you a second to remember that you "beat" Milena a second ago, so the two of you being "even" is referring to that. Frankly? You'll take that offer. If she can figure this mess out than yeah, you'll happily agree to call it a draw. You slowly, being careful to make sure not to mention any unnecessary or otherwise unfortunate details, start to describe Matteo's little city as best you can recall. Your memory is frankly nothing to be impressed with, blame the fact that you're feeling pretty tired after all the time spend among the books you suppose, but you're able to tell Milena the general gist and what you're having trouble figuring out. She nods along with your explanation, and for some reason her face all but lights up when you mention the fact this theoretical city is build in a mountain pass. "Got it: It's a trade hub," Milena proudly answers. "I mean, obviously. You sure you couldn't figure that out?"

"The idea is that these people live a more tribal lifestyle, though," you point out. But Milena doesn't seem concerned.

"Sure, I understand that. But can these tribal people arrange for everything themselves?" You shrug and suggest that if they survived for long enough to build this city in the first place they would have to. "Even variety?"

"Eh..." is your answer to that. Feels less good when the shoe is on the other foot, you'll admit.

"Basically, let's say that these tribal people raise sheep. Just sheep, nothing but sheep. Eventually they'd get sick of mutton and every piece of cloth being made of wool, right?" Milena asks. You admit that makes sense, but you don't think it's a very likely scenario. "I'm just talking hypotheticals here. Surely there's something in the great, big open world your city is supposed to exist in that these tribal people don't have ready access to, right?"

Thinking about it, yes, that is most definitely true. Most significantly the country where the second main entry takes place (which has sheep as the livestock of choice due to the local climate, ironically) is the only one mentioned to have active volcanoes off of the coast of it's territory. That ends up being a very important point because that means that they have plentiful sources of sulphur, which is used to create sulphuric acid. In a setting in which the only existing form of magic is alchemy, which (at least in that setting) is heavily reliant on acid, which that tribe is heavily reliant on...this feels like it's starting to come together.

"And do these tribal people perhaps have something that's plentiful in their area, some kind of plant or animal or what have you, that they can offer in exchange?" Milena, smug smirk deservedly plastered all over her face, asks.

Not that you can recall off-hand, actually, but..."One second, let me grab my notes and I'll see if I can't trip you up with some finer details."

Milena is more than happy to accept your challenge of round three, and you're more than happy to let her win that round because seriously she turns out to be a waterfall of information in that regard. A trading hub where outsiders can come to trade their wares for local specialities, why didn't that thought ever occur to you!? Well, it did, you just got stuck on the idea that these tribal people had no need for other goods if they're able to live their lives and content with what they have - no demand. But if there is demand, and supply to support it, than of course some form of trade would spring up somewhere. Eventually someone would try that idea, and more than likely, so someone did. Really, this idea is just too bizarre for you to think it through clearly. It's so off that you can just accept something without thinking about it. You'll have to work on that.

In the meantime Milena is more than happy to display her "genius", and you're able to get more than enough information and possibilities that even if the idea doesn't end up working in the long run you should be able to find a way to make it work. That is a load off your shoulders, and what feels like significant progress towards finishing up this little project.

--It wouldn't be the first time that a pretty, rich and well developed locale ended up in the hands of a group of barbarians. Unfortunately you're not able to find many examples where said barbarians managed to hold their capture long-term, and none at all where said capture ended up thriving (or at least being maintained) in the hands of said barbarians. Generally, if something gets captured it gets looted, plundered and left behind a broken shell of it's former self.

Frustrating as it is you can't help but be fascinated by this problem at the same time. This city of Matteo's seems to defy any and all logical explanation, to say nothing of the whole "all woman tribe" angle. It doesn't help you any, you're still as clueless as when you started to look into this, but...well, at least it's proving somewhat interesting?

It'd be nicer if you didn't need to spend as much time on it as it seems like you'll need to, though...

-History. Go to the Venalicium, see if you can find some inspiration.
--One quick trip to the history section later you look for any and all history books describing important locales, both still standing and not, hoping to find inspiration. A grand city that no one is allowed to visit, yet that is maintained by people who'd be more at home in wooden huts in an open plain than a stone mansion build into a mountain pass...you're doubtful that such a place ever existed in real life, but you never know. Stranger things have happened, as a student of history you know that.

You go through multiple books and end up creating a neat pile of them next to you when, after staring at your current attempt with nothing short of despair in your eyes, someone suddenly sits down next to you. You look up thinking that it must be Durand, or someone else looking for one of the books you've yet to return back to their shelf, but instead it's Antonio...de Reyez e Irizarry-Vargas. Probably. There will never be a day where you'll be confident that you memorized that entire last name, you're pretty sure. "You look like you're about to pass out," Antonio quietly points out, staring at your pile of books. "What's going on, big homework project?"

"No-I mean not really...sorta," you blurt out trying to find your words again. Too long spend with your nose between the pages, definitely. "Sorry, it's been a long day. I'm trying to figure out the answer to a riddle, basically, and despite the pages I'm no closer to an answer."

Antonio casually inspects the pile of books you've brought, fails to find any clear connection between them, and shrugs. "Must be a tough one if you're going through this random collection. What's the riddle, any chance I could join in on the fun?"

Eh...there really is no problem with that, is there? If Antonio manages to help you with this you'll happily take it, and so long as he doesn't find out what you're doing because that'd be bad now if not later, than why not? Antonio doesn't strike you as the type who'd read the kind of novels that Matteo is writing anyway, so what are the odds he'll find out afterwards? Not high, you feel like. "Well, suppose that there is a city, a grand city with stone roads, houses, everything, held and maintained by a group of tribal warriors more at home in huts and tents than anything more urban. Why would that be?"

"Strange riddle," Antonio notes with a raised eyebrow, and you don't deny it. "Strange" isn't even half of how you'd describe some of the ideas that Matteo came up with at any rate, and this isn't exactly your standard wordplay or lateral (or literal) thinking exercise. "Grand city held by tribal people, though...I don't suppose you were given any hints, any clues or limitations?" You shake your head and ask Antonio if he has any ideas, because frankly you can see the gears in his head spin and they're doing a much better job than your poor brain right now. "Well, without more information I couldn't tell you for sure if it's the right answer, but my first thought would be to assume that the city is a military conquest of some sort. I don't suppose this 'grand' city of yours has any strategic value?" Actually, if this city is build in the only traversable pass between otherwise impassible mountains blocking off the country's access to the rest of the land, and visa versa...than, yes, that would very much qualify as "strategically important" in your books. You nod in response to Antonio's question, and he seems happy to have solved your riddle on the first try. "Well, than I guess there's your answer. The city was build by someone else initially, conquered by these tribal warriors or whatever at a later date, and they maintain the city not because it's a beautiful city but because it's a functional military fortress."

"The idea is that they maintained it as a beautiful city, though," you note, recalling some of the details of Keith and Matteo's correspondence. "Not that it couldn't be used as a military place, but to the casual observer it should look, feel, even function like a city. Not a fortress."

"Are these tribal warriors still at war? Or planning on going to war anytime soon, by chance?" Antonio asks. It takes an unreasonable amount of restraint to not dump off the rest of Keith's homework project right on top of him right here and now, you'll admit. "Because if so they could be maintaining it simply because they don't have time to figure out what does and doesn't have real strategic value, depending on how primitive and tribal they are. Or if they're planning on going to war, spending resources on maintaining their conquest could be a feint to try and fake out their enemies into thinking that they're going to consolidate rather than continue the warring."

"That makes sense, but...hang on, let me go grab some notes real quick," you say before rushing off to quickly review the correspondence again and milk Antonio's genius for all he's worth. So the grand city was a military capture, and maintained to create the illusion of peaceful days ahead? You're sure that won't exactly fit into Matteo's vision, if not the timing than somewhere else along the line that idea is going to create a problem. But hey, you've found a font of inspiration apparently so you're just going to draw answers from it until you get something that works!

--One quick trip to the history section later you look for any and all history books describing important locales, both still standing and not, hoping to find inspiration. A grand city that no one is allowed to visit, yet that is maintained by people who'd be more at home in wooden huts in an open plain than a stone mansion build into a mountain pass...you're doubtful that such a place ever existed in real life, but you never know. Stranger things have happened, as a student of history you should know that.

"Should" being the key word here. You go through multiple books and end up creating a haphazard pile of them next to you until, after staring at your poorly copied tower puzzle with nothing short of despair in your eyes, you finally come to terms with the fact that there is just nothing out there that comes close enough to answer your many questions. Thinks of something first and only figures out how it could possibly work later, huh? Yeah, that's definitely something you can feel weighing down your eyelids right now...

How did Keith ever deal with this garbage? How did he figure this stuff out? Maybe you need a different strategy? Or hope there's descriptions of an unlikely fort hidden within the Arithmetic section because the person who wrote it didn't think that was more important than some clever way to easily count the number of stones that make up the place? Whichever, you'll have to come back to this later. After getting a good night's sleep.

-Research. What is this country based off of?
--A broad search into both old warrior cultures and notable female members thereof doesn't yield anything that clearly served as inspiration, much less a basis. That said during your search you do encounter one oddity which may be relevant in some form or fashion: the Raven Woman. Supposedly they were some kind of divine or otherwise otherworldly messengers of destiny, appearing over battlefield which would, in some way, shape or form, prove decisive. Unfortunately it seems that at some point these people (creatures?) came to be associated with Gates magic, and while you're not able to find any explanation beyond that (for reasons that are hopefully obvious) you can find enough references in ancient, barely edited plays and other stories that you're able to piece somewhat of a coherent picture together.

It seems like a stretch to say that Matteo's inspiration for this country came from these Raven Woman, but than "a stretch" is Matteo's MO if not his entire raison d'être if his writings is anything to go by. You think it'd be best to just quietly forget about it, associated with Gates magic and all, but still...you're sure there's something completely innocent in here that you'll be able to use as inspiration yourself, quite frankly...

--As far as you can tell, after much effort spend finding not that many books on so ridiculous a subject, the country is based on Matteo's own insanity. Maybe there's something to be said about the man being in dire need of a girlfriend or some such, but you've no idea. And frankly no energy to keep trying to figure it out...

This stage was brought to you by at least four yawns. Yeah, I might need to reconsider my schedule a bit...

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Big Dreams of the Small Familiar, stage 9:

Spoiler

Once you finish writing down all the details about the gateway city that Keith and Matteo need to make it work you return to Keith's pile of correspondence to figure out what to tackle next. Might want to organize those a bit better, actually, come to think of it...well, you can work on that later. Right now you want to figure out the next piece that's missing and get started on that one. And going through the pile again you quickly find something that both Keith and Matteo aren't comfortable with, yet that is quite critical to the overall story - the border skirmish turned war between the two nations. It's clear that neither of the guys are historians or military generals, because their suggestions for how to make that war go the way their story needs it to are filled with more questions than answers. You figure that it'd be best to read up on these two nations, the history between them and how this war is intended to go, before continuing. Thankfully Keith and Matteo frequently summarize the lot of it in their various correspondence, so finding that context takes no time at all.

In short, the nation that instigates the war is the paranoid tribal country you mentioned before, no real world equivalent that you know of. The nation that gets attacked (although will ultimately come out victorious) seems to be a pretty straightforward Mineta analogue: Former seat of a world-spanning empire since divided into separate independent countries and assorted areas, Golden Council equivalent as the current ruling power, the works. Basically all that's missing is an Academagia stand-in...although reading through the correspondence it seems like that idea was intentionally axed. Keith suggested that given enough time such an institution would inevitably spring up, but Matteo wanted his book's magic-equivalent to be rare, more difficult to learn. A giant academy dedicated to it thus didn't fit his vision of the setting, and that lead to some back-and-forth between him and Keith about why such a school never got off the ground. Interesting, but something that can serve as a basis for a short story. You've got bigger fish to fry right now. And, to make sure you know exactly what fish you're dealing with, as you go through the relevant correspondence again you slowly compile as much of a timeline of this war as you can at this point. It doesn't amount to much since all that's set in stone (insofar that anything is) right now are just a few key moments that Matteo vaguely described, but you're sure you'll be referring to this little chart many times before all will be said and done. And re-write it completely at least once. But it'll help, either way.

Preparations are done, so time to get to work. The first (of no doubt many) concrete question that Keith and Matteo got stuck on is how no one else gets involved in this war. According to the correspondence Not-Mineta has a reputation among foreign countries that's more reminiscent of how real-world Pievre is viewed by the various counties it borders in Meril, and Keith and Matteo both find it odd that no one would strike Not-Mineta while it's occupied on the other side of it's borders. Both also conclude that a two-front war would quickly spell "inevitable doom" for Not-Mineta, so something must prevent others from intervening if Matteo's story is to proceed as he envisions it. Thankfully the seclusive tribal country has as many political allies as that description would suggest - namely, zero - so that part is neatly covered already. And Not-Mineta likewise has around as many allies laying around, which is good, although a lot more potential enemies as well...

How to solve this? How could this war proceed as Matteo envisions it, at least broadly speaking?

-Diplomacy. Mineta's "Senate" probably has some good pointers for you.
--You decide to look up the closest person available to you for high-level diplomacy advice, even if the girl herself is unlikely to use it on her peers - Catherine Chard. You find her in Vernin's Common Room entertaining a few of her fellow Vernin first year sycophants, and seeing as you are not one of those she's obviously less inclined to give you her time of day. Of course you don't stop walking up to her, so when Catherine figures out her gaze didn't work she tries words instead. "Can't you see I'm busy, [PC FIRST NAME]? If you need something I'm sure there's someone else who has time to help you. If no one else I know Corradin isn't doing anything important right this moment."

Catherine's sycophants naturally mimic her attitude perfectly, minus the one with the thought to instead act as she thinks Catherine would want her to. Clever, or foolish? The world may never know. "I'm afraid that Corradin won't be able to help me, Catherine. I'm going to need your personal expertise here."

As expected the flattery worked, but only barely. Sad to say that Catherine is quite used to it by now (and full of it from her company, no doubt). "Really? Moi, personally? I'll admit to being curious: Do tell what your problem is. I'll be interested in hearing if it, indeed, demands my personal touch."

"Figuring out the detailed ins and out of...let's say a theoretical war between Mineta and Pievre," you start, just drop that right on the table like it's nothing. Catherine, as expected, looks perplexed. "Odd homework project, I know, but it is what it is and I can't afford to fail it. Hence why I decided to ask you, Catherine, since I imagine you know the possible movements of the Golden Council in that situation better than most."

Catherine slowly nods, obviously taken by surprise. In this case that's a good thing, because of course she wouldn't take even a second look at anything less. Her sycophants, for their part, likewise look confused. "I, eh...y-yeah, I suppose you've got the right of me this time, [PC FIRST NAME]. Well done. So, tell me, what's this...homework project of yours? What do you need to know?"

After a careful explanation that doesn't mention any unnecessary details, not that you think Catherine would have ever heard of Matteo (or his books) before or care about them at any point thereafter, you spend a long time discussing various possibilities, angles, circumstances, all kinds of things that confirm that this is as broad and complicated a subject as you had feared. But, not impossible. With Catherine's help you're able to make great strides in figuring out how events could reasonably unfold, and most importantly figure out what could make them unfold per Matteo's vision: Diplomacy. If Mineta were to want to wage it's own private war against Pievre (for "whatever incomprehensible reason", as Catherine puts it) the Golden Council would attempt to use diplomacy to keep every other power out of the conflict, either against Pievre or obviously against themselves. The same would have to be true for Not-Mineta, and while the intricacies of such diplomacy is a complex topic Catherine is able to give you enough pointers to help complete this part of your homework project and give you more than enough material to fill in whatever inevitable holes show up at a later date. Side story? Probably, knowing Matteo...

At this rate you'll be done with this "homework" project in record time, you feel like. Knock on wood so that things will continue to run like clockwork, of course, but for the moment you're feeling positive that this might not be as bad as you thought it might be.

--You decide to look up the closest person available to you for high-level diplomacy advice, even if the girl herself is unlikely to use it on her peers - Catherine Chard. You find her in Vernin's Common Room entertaining a few of her fellow Vernin first year sycophants, and seeing as you are not one of those she's obviously less inclined to give you her time of day. You also really don't feel like competing with them for Catherine's attention. Just trying to talk to her often times takes enough effort as is, when she's clearly not interested...no. Forget it, you'll find something else to do while you wait for Catherine to relieve herself of her walking conversational bear traps...

-Strategy. Though it's no substitute for the real thing a few war games will likely inspire you.
--You end up finding Tabin in the Great Hall and convince him to join you in a few rounds of games. The games being one player against another player gives you a good sense of what it is to be either Not-Mineta or the tribal country, depending on whether you're going on the offensive or forced onto the defensive, but it's not helping you figure out the situation with the multiple third parties. Eventually, after you score one more win following a string of losses, you decide to ask Tabin about it. Using the game board you quickly create the situation you're facing - one army out of position to defend the homestead while they're fighting off a guerilla force on the other side of their country. And, eventually, trying to make headway into said country's heartland despite the absolutely awful strategic positioning that puts them in. Seeing it laid out in front of you like this really drives home just how suicidal that planned offensive campaign really is, especially when looking at the two armies poised to strike the unguarded flank. "Quite a specific situation," Tabin notes with a curious smile on his face.

"Y-yeah, well...it's a long story. Call it a homework project I guess," you answer, none too interested in answering unnecessary questions. "Point is I cannot figure out how to make this situation play out the way I need it to - these two armies need to stand there and do nothing. But why? What could possibly convince them to not abuse this Dragon-sized opening?"

"Well, for starters, do they have armies watching their backs?" Tabin suggests, but unfortunately that's not an answer for you. The land behind the two armies is where the second main entry takes place, and that place is not a fan of Not-Mineta either. Not to the point where you can't see why they wouldn't join in on the fun, you can see them not (directly) interfering with that war considering the distances involved, but yeah. It's not much of a reason for the other two to not blow the horns, unfortunately. "In that case, what about the two armies themselves? Can they trust each other not to backstab one another?" You nod, staring daggers at the game board as you try to think of an answer. Tabin joins you for but a moment before he pulls his wand out. "In that case, how about this?"

On the board Tabin creates a crude Glamour of more Not-Mineta units defending the homestead, but it's enough to get his point across - what if Not-Mineta is able to pretend that they're well defended? "I can't imagine that people wouldn't figure out the deception, honestly," you say, looking at the three sides that Not-Mineta is surrounded by.

"I don't mean a feint, necessarily, though that's also an option. I meant bodies. Mercenaries, conscription, whatever it takes to get people on the field. I guess the feint would be that they're not necessarily the most loyal or professional, at least compared to the regular army, but could that get the job done?"

Hmm...thinking back to the backstory of the books you recall that Not-Mineta initially conquered the known world by raising an army of old, ancient and forgotten homunculi, long before their opponents had any real hope of countering either the quality or quantity that added to the then-tribe's army. You don't think Matteo would agree with history repeating itself like that, story-wise that feels like it clashes with some of the other details this war will have, but you're going to need some kind of reason. And if this works, perfect solution or not, it at least works. "I...I'm not sure. Maybe, but...why not throw the disposable bodies at the actual fighting, if they're available?"

"Aside from the 'not necessarily the most loyal or professional' bit I mentioned before?" Tabin asks, not knowing that the homunculi army would be both better and more loyal than any human soldier. Although...

"Kind of. I was thinking something along the lines off..."

You end up spending a while with Tabin running through possibilities, and you have to say that although you're not entirely confident you do, for sure, have a much better grasp on the problem than you did before. In fact you're confident that you've got enough information to come up with a solution, since you already know what twists this war will take, so you're able to get Tabin to run you through those situations and adjust the potential answers as necessary. This...this was a good day. You feel like you got a lot done. Hopefully this pace will keep up, you might get it done before you're old and decrepit.

--You spend a while looking around for someone to play a few games with, only to find no one who is both willing to play a few games and able to put up much of a fight. You're going to need a few good sets to get any inspiration from them, if you even get anything at all. Chances are this is just a bad time for this sort of stuff, maybe a big test is just around the corner or something, but regardless you can work around this problem. How? Simple: If there's no takers in the Academagia, looks outside of it! A game of strategy over some freshly baked pie in Alice's Tavern? That sounds like a great plan to you, honestly.

Unfortunately as great a plan as it seemed it didn't end up working out the way you planned. For one it took a while for you to find someone willing to play a game, for another you got completely trounced in the one game you did manage to play (challenging a former mercenary captain might have been not the wisest choice you've ever made, in hindsight), and to top it all off you didn't dare to discuss your real reason for wanting to "learn" the game with the man at all, so in the end you couldn't even bring yourself to ask for advise.

Perhaps a review of how this day went so utterly off track (and poorly) will help inspire something else that's more immediately useful to you, it feels like. Well, at least the pie was lovely. Can't complain too much when your failure involves sitting down with freshly baked pie.

-Famous Battles. Drawing inspiration from past battles will certainly help.
--You mentally sift through your knowledge of past battles trying to find a starting point, but there are surprisingly few wars - at least that you recall - which only had two participants while others stood by and watched. Frankly that sounds less like a war and more like a duel of some sort. Yeah, thinking about it if you were looking into famous duels than this would be easy. But that doesn't make any sense within Matteo's story. Why wouldn't people take advantage of such a situation when they could? "Honor" just sounds like a flimsy excuse, especially when the country who'd cry foul is both the one who'd get slaughtered and the one who's not well liked enough for people to care about their opinion so much anyway. You suppose there could be codes of honor among the various countries and all, but none of that has ever come up within the story or even outside of it, so introducing it right as it becomes necessary is just...hmm....you might need to try a different approach here. Ultimately, you were not asked to write a history book. You were asked to write a story. Those are two completely different things, even if one could serve as a solid basis for the other that's not necessarily required, is it? You could introduce some kind of honor code to take care of this problem, just because it's new doesn't mean it's invalid, you just need to make it work.

With newfound energy you head off to Durand campus and look for Honors Plafox. She's as close to a writer as you're going to find in your Class, at least that you recall, so it seems prudent to get her advice. Fortunately she's in the Durand Common room, so you walk up to her and politely ask if she can help you with a writing project. "Oh, sure, I've got time," Honors answers as she motions for you to take a seat. You do. "So what's this writing project? I didn't know you wrote things, [PC FIRST NAME]."

"Eh...c-call it an odd bit of homework," you say a bit...well, like you couldn't convince Philippe to believe a word of that. Thankfully Honors is too nice to call you out on it, and instead tells you not to let "the hesitation" get to you. How that ended up working in your favor you've no idea, but you'll take it. "T-thanks, I'll try not to. Anyway, I've gotten stuck on one particular point that I can't seem to make work. So..."

Honors listens intently as you do your best to explain your situation in as little actual detail as possible, and you're pleased to see that she doesn't seem daunted by it. "I think you're just worrying too much, [PC FIRST NAME]. Your idea of an 'honor code' specifically, well, why wouldn't it exist? Do these countries go to war frequently? If not, why couldn't it be an honor code that keeps the peace? Even better, isn't that what peace treaties are, ultimately? Promises that people won't attack each other? Otherwise a treaty really isn't anything more than just words written on a piece of paper, you know."

You feel like Honors is making some good points, but knowing what turns that war will eventually take you're sure it won't work in the long run...well, parts of it would work perfectly but others not so much, so it's a bit of a wash. Either way you give Honors a bit more information, a bit more detail, and ask how she thinks things could be made to work. Honors has some words for you about first choosing a destination rather than a direction and just enjoying the journey, but beyond that she's happy to help you make what feels like enormous amounts of progress without even asking any unfortunate and uncomfortable questions.

Knock on wood, but at this rate you'll be done with this "homework" project in record time, you feel like. It's unlikely that things will continue to run like clockwork, admittedly, but for the moment you're feeling positive that this "homework" might not be as bad as you thought it might be.

--You head off to the Venalicium and start digging through history books, but you encounter the most bizarre problem of there being surprisingly few books written about battles that ultimately weren't fought. Battles that were fought you can usually find described in excessive detail complete with historic overviews and multiple viewpoints and the whole nine yards, but battles that were avoided? Nope. None of those to be found here, at least where you looked.

You feel like it says something about human history, and how said history is treated, when you can find mountains of information about past battles both glorious and not. But the times those battles were avoided? Nothing. Not one off-hand mention in any of the many books before you, it feels like. Weird. Well, if there ever is a major war within your lifetime you'll know who to blame.

There is a reason behind these stages, or at least an intended method behind the madness. Per usual we'll see if it works out ;).

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Big Dreams of the Small Familiar, stage 10:

Spoiler

You've got the broad strokes of Matteo's puzzle figured out, and have even managed to turn your bundle of humble notes into an outright clear timeline. Are you trying too hard, perhaps? Would Matteo prefer free reign to carve his own path or would he prefer a path to be handed to him? You don't know. Frankly, you don't really care either. You've come this far, you're going to finish what you started and make damn sure that Keith is not going to face any of these bizarre questions while he's focused on helping Astrid. So you dive back into the correspondence and see what else Keith and Matteo were having serious trouble with. Well, that you're willing to try and figure out. That all-female country of Matteo he can figure out himself, thank you very much...though the back-and-forth discussion about it between Matteo and Keith is actually kind of-nope, no more, you're not doing this. The man can figure that out himself and that's final.

That kinda leaves you a little lost on what puzzle to solve next, though. That country is definitely the biggest question remaining and in general, not in the least because the book's actual protagonist is - for lack of a better term - that place's princess and easily three quarters of the story actually takes place in it. Not to mention that most of the overarching plot revolves around it in some way, shape or form. All told it's kinda important! So...you suppose you don't really have a choice here, really. Even if there's other pieces missing none of them come even close to the tribal country in terms of their overall importance. So time to roll up your sleeves and get to work.

Carefully reading through the correspondence you encounter an interesting and, more importantly, respectable problem which Matteo ran into that you could probably help him with - surface geography. One issue with stories set on a surface world is that how the land acts and reacts to certain terrain types and features - primarily oceans, and around half of this tribal country is indeed coastal - isn't necessarily the same as they appear and behave on the sky islands, which can lead to anything from inconsistencies to outright nonsensical environments unless proper research is done. Of course doing proper research on something that hasn't been around for thousands of years is slightly tricky at times. But, as an Academagia student, you should be able to find the answer to those questions pretty easily. Time to draw a map of this island or continent or whatever you'd call the landmass that this story takes place on and see if it actually works. And how to make it work, if it doesn't.

So, drawing a map...all the reference material you could ever need are right next to you and you're well familiar with it all after having gone through it so many times, so how to turn that information into a map?

-Applications of Arithmetic. Rely on numbers to make this work.
--It, as is so often the case when writers end up having to do math, takes a serious amount of reading comprehension and memory for off-hand details in order to gather all of the right numbers. From there it's an absolutely trivial task to figure out exactly how this continent (the numbers would exclude calling this place anything less than a "large island", frankly) should look like, roughly, and although you don't draw anything more than a few rough lines as far as "drawing a map" is concerned you don't need to do more right now. This is to determine whether this continent actually works, after all, and a few lines and notes on a piece of parchment is all you need in order to check that.

With that said it's off to the Venalicium in order to see about verifying whether this continent checks out. You definitely have enough time to do so.

--You take the time to crunch some numbers before trying to draw anything resembling a map, but the curse of all mathematics strikes you hard as none of your numbers add up in the end. Evidently you didn't memorize the material as much as you through, since you keep running into issues that change the numbers in ways you don't account for, and so in the end everything just fails to work. Your biggest mistake was the distance between the city the first main entry takes place in and the countryside that the second main entry takes place in - the main characters from the first book took a long time to travel there, which you interpreted as the two places being quite a distance from each other, but you completely forgot that at that point in the story said characters were wanted fugitives on the lam. So of course they wouldn't travel across the main roads in a chariot, they travelled across dirt paths from one tiny farming community to the next on foot, when there was an option to walk across so much as a dirt path at all. Needless to say that changes the time it takes to travel somewhere quite a bit!

So all that your effort got you in the end is a lesson in humility and a reminder that you either work the numbers perfectly or you might as well have been taking a nap the entire time for all the good an imperfect calculation will do for you. Great. Can't say that was how you expected this part of the project to start. Hopefully it's not a sign of how it'll go until the end...

-Cartography. Draw a proper map.
--It takes multiple attempts and a fair bit of parchment, but after a fair bit of trial and error, experimentation and far more hard work than you intended to put into this you end up with a proper landscape map of the setting's island!

Well, mostly. You've yet to color it in, but you'll leave that for after checking whether all of the details on this map actually work. Chances are you'll have to redo this map, parts of it at least, but this is as good reference material as anyone could ask for and after you correct any problems and color it in it'll look downright beautiful. Frankly Matteo if not Keith had better give you a bonus for this amount of work after all is said and done.

"After", though. For right now you've enough time left to head to the Venalicium and see about making sure that this map works as it currently is.

--You get to work on drawing a proper landscape map, not just a glorified list of lines and directions but an actual, honest-to-goodness map, only to run into a rather major issue that you're not sure how to solve - scale. How large is is island, or continent, or what have you exactly? How large should you draw the various landmarks like major cities and main trade routes, should you attempt to include things like farming communities and their dirt roads or just leave that all up to the imagination? Even though those farming communities are, from what you recall, actually pretty well established in the actual books, so it'd feel like a job half finished if you didn't include them...

All told you're not able to get a map drawn that you'd be anything but embarrassed to present. Just too many details adding up one after another that leave you scratching your head on how to revolve them...

-Illustration. Layer sketches until you've got a map.
--You get to work and make a rough first sketch, follow that up with a less rough second sketch, and by the time you've finished with your third sketch you have what you're going to call a "good enough" drawing of this island or continent or...whatever. Really should tell Matteo to make a decision on that so you can stop stumbling over those two words, frankly. That can wait, though. For right now you've got a solid reference point to work with, so off to the Venalicium and see if it actually works!

--You get to work and make a rough first sketch, follow that up with a less rough second sketch, and by the time you've finished with your third sketch you realize that you actually have no idea what you're doing. These lines are all just...what is this? This doesn't feel like you're drawing a map so much as you're doodling on a piece of parchment, how are you supposed to know if any of this is anywhere close to correct? Sure, you can intuit a fair bit based on what's written in the correspondence, but there's far too much empty space that leaves to give you any sort of idea or starting point. And if you can draw thirty maps that are technically all correct than how are you supposed to choose?

Maybe this needs a different approach. A more careful look at the correspondence, more careful interpretation of what's written between the lines, anything to get a better grip on how this place is supposed to look. As is you feel like you don't have enough information, and you're weary of making things up yourself because that could easily result in problems down the line. Not to mention that this is supposed to be the prepwork for checking whether this map actually works! Gods, this is going to be a right mess...

Quick filler stage to help set up the next one, which is, eh...not finished yet. Honestly at this point we're reaching the part of the adventure that is, shall we say, not finalized yet, so updates may slow down at this point.

(Also because I may or may not have internet/notes access next week, for Reasons, but...details...)

Edited by Metis
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