Test Drive #3

[magicademymods]

Test Drive #3



Lightning Crash

The weather over the floating island of Ascelion during spring months is best described as "hellacious"; its elevation puts it right among the worst of stormclouds and fuels their thunderous fire as they sweep past it and electrically scrape against its sides. Rain is frequent, but lightning is almost constant, along with thunderous rumbles that roll across the city and the open spaces of the Magicademy like waves.

But today is particularly bad. Webs of electricity crackle through the sky, jumping from cloud to cloud or grounding themselves on towers of the Magicademy angrily. None of them seem to endanger the students, but there's a first time for everything, isn't there? As titanic fury threatens to tear the sky in half, do you risk stepping into the outside? Does the infrasonic rumbling trigger fear or terror in your gut, as such deep waves are known to do? Perhaps you've learned a spell that will protect you. Or perhaps you've poorly learned a spell that may or may not protect you...

Wand Wrong Way

The rumors around campus speak of a small and musty store deep in the Merchant District, on a side road to a side road, where only those in-know go to find items that would surely draw too much notice if displayed publicly. Powdered dragon tail, eye of sphinx, swords Forged with magic-cutting spells, and most valuable of all, the Gateway Wand. Surely this legendary wand, in which the full power of Sundering hums, could get you and your friends back home.

Rumors are pretty lousy with directions, though. The Merchant District offers ample chance to get lost, to get distracted, or to stumble down the wrong alley and find hoodlums all too eager to extract "tolls" from the lost and seemingly helpless. Does your adventure become disaster? Does this rumored shop even exist?

Pantalones Giganticus

At its heart, Modification seems like the most simple of schools. What could be more simple than arithmetic? Therefore, Modification also has the steepest and most shocking learning curve of all, as it rapidly balloons to more complicated mathematical expressions, more variables in the formulae, and above all more chance for error.

So really, the mistake is an honest one. Any hurried student, probably in their third or fourth year of study, could accidentally introduce an unnecessary factor into their equation. That is probably why your pants are now sized for someone four times large than you. (Not four sizes. Four times.) Worse, this has happened to EVERYONE -- the entire population of the Magicademy, student and staff and faculty alike, are trundling around in blown-up bloomers, too-large trousers, not-conveniently-sized knickers... you get the idea.

Now the bad news: to fix the error in formula and restore your pants to normal size, someone else has to get in them with you.

Labwork

Not every magical disaster is caused by some wayward student you don't know. Many of them are caused by you instead. To wit: you're on the spot in one of the magical labs, being called on to demonstrate a technique more advanced than others you've mastered so far. Failure is expected, and the wards should prevent any injury to others from a miscast spell. But will the sparks of your magic just sputter out and die? Or will you inadvertently mispronounce, misform, misshape, or miscalculate in a way that brings chaos to you and your lab partner?

(You could also manage to succeed in casting the spell, but that isn't very fun.)

Comments

Kuja | Final Fantasy 9/Dissidia

[treno_nobleman]

Lightning Crash
Beyond the windows, the storm rages on, but Kuja can't help taking time away from his studies to admire the fury of the skies. Arms folded loosely over his chest, he stands comfortably leaned against one of the thick pillars in the library, watching rain pelt the land while lightning flashes brilliantly over everything.

"Such rage, such power. Only the heavens know what angers the gods on days like these, while down below we wait in wonder. For it to end. For it to claim another life. For the sun to appear again."

Apparently the energy of the storm has left an impression.


Labwork
Kuja is not one to fail at anything, if he can absolutely help it. This time, he intends not to do wrong, and he has prepared thoroughly for this performance. The wand is ridiculous, he thinks. In his own world, he would need but a thought and a bit of strength and the magic would be at his command. Now there are words, now there are wands to focus the words.

But it is as it must be, and he'll do whatever he has to to get ahead in this world. So, with the proper application of words and tools, he manages... to set alight the wick of a candle. How very... disappointingly... meager.

Labwork

[hyperdrivemonalisa]

Isabel certainly was impressed, to judge by her expression, but she still sighed. "You know...there was a movie back in my world that kind of summarizes all this. How things used to be, and then how they are now. 'Phenomenal cosmic power!!---itty bitty living space.' I used to be able to throw fundamental forces around at will, and now?"

She gestured at the candle and its lit flame. "I can't even do that! At least you make it look good!"

[treno_nobleman]

Oh, flattery may get her... somewhere with this one. The concept of movies still baffles him - don't they have something similar in his world that relies on magic? - but what she's referring to eludes him completely. Still, he recognizes a compliment when he hears one and he's not one to turn away a stroke to his ego.

"Where I'm from, the idea of throwing around fundamental forces at will is commonplace. Something like this little light in the dark here should be simple enough that a child can create it, but here in this world, even the educated seem to struggle. It's stunning, really."

He isn't insulting her. The people of this world and their ways amaze him with how complicated they must make everything to accomplish something so elementary.

[hyperdrivemonalisa]

She nodded in agreement with him--not just acquiescing to go along, either. "Maybe not a child, where I'm from, but certainly an initiate could do..." Isabel waved a hand at the lit candle. "That. No foci necessary! No wands, or anything else, either! Intonations, invocations, what have you!"

She huffs in frustration, and if she could read his thoughts, she'd be in complete agreement with the sentiment, too. "All this categorization...it's like they sent me to study with the Order of Hermes as punishment. Even though they're back on my world, too."

[treno_nobleman]

Finally, someone else who gets it. And here he thought he'd been surrounded by fools this whole time. "It seems your world and mine are not so different in that. Some magic in my world requires a word or two, but only for those who need it said. None of it is truly necessary, if you possess the right level of skill."

He turns his attention back to the candle, briefly, and holds out a hand over it, calling forth his own Flare magic to attempt to make the flame burn brighter. But, alas, no luck. He isn't above a frown for all of his effort. "All for our own safety, they told us, to save us from the magic gone awry from their world and their wrongdoing. Were it not for their sorry performance, we might have something to teach them about how to properly use these powers."

[hyperdrivemonalisa]

"Well, it depends on one's skill, where I'm from--the initiates still need the trappings of their particular art, but if they devote themselves..." The intimation is that said trappings fall away pretty fast, if they work hard. She's the type to work hard, so magic was just another thing that came without too much difficulty.

If his magic doesn't work, hers certainly wouldn't, which earns the candle a pout. "Maybe, but it isn't as if they're not enduring punishment for their mistakes, you know? They've found a way to house us, a way to at least try to fix what they've done, for all that we don't like it. They're trying to restore what balance they can. I'm not sure I'll commend them until it actually works, but I mean, an attempt has been made. I'll note that, at least."

[treno_nobleman]

Tired of looking at the flame, as small as it is, he tries his hand at a flame slightly bigger than the one he created before. It works, of course, but the candle's wick wasn't made to maintain a fire of that size, and it fizzles back to its smaller shape shortly thereafter. Kuja shakes his head at it and sets the wand down, not thrilled in the least.

"You would do well with the mages from my world. Perhaps you might make your acquaintance with them if one should happen to be dragged along to this place. Or maybe we'll be back in our own worlds by then. I have every intention of learning the magic of this world and, if I must do so myself, learn the spells that brought us here and find a way to return." There's a sly sort of smile from him as he considers it. Oh, won't it be fun?

[hyperdrivemonalisa]

"You don't seem too happy to be here--I'm not entirely sure I'd want a mage from your world to come here and be just as upset." But Isabel gave the guy a sympathetic smile. Half of her didn't mind being here--but the other half was more than a little annoyed by it all, too.

His next statement had her grinning widely at him though, eyes bright. "Well, you're not the only one, you know! I mean, I'm curious about the magic here, sure, but I do want to get back to my world at some point!"

Isabel isn't really trying for a rivalry, but she can't help getting fired up. Fun, indeed!

[treno_nobleman]

It's better than being dead, he'll admit, though not aloud. But no, he isn't truly happy to be here. The truth of it is, he isn't sure he knows what it means to be happy. "I confess, this isn't the first time I've been whisked away to some unknown world against my will. This one hasn't forced me to fight battle after battle, over and over, without end, without rest, at least, but I won't be content with the knowledge that now I'm forced to study a foreign magic to save my own life."

He sighs dramatically and plants hands on his hips, staring down at the candle with no real want to return the flame to it again. Even so small a victory as it is, he isn't pleased at his progress. "The mages of my world wouldn't want anything to do with me; the feeling is mutual. If any do appear here, you would do better with them than I would, but I don't need them." After a moment of silence, he turns his glance to her. "What is it that you want out of this world? Surely you're enjoying this more than I am."

Deflection. Always his friend.

[hyperdrivemonalisa]

"That sounds like it sucks. I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm young and relatively strong and in good shape, and in my chosen martial arts, I enjoy a friendly sparring match. But to be made to fight over and over? I don't even think I'd enjoy that, much. I'm sorry that it happened to you. I mean, I don't pity you, but it sure sucks that it happened."

Isabel can't really relate to that, and she knows it. His next words bring something of a frown as she considers why that might be--especially with his statement that he doesn't need them. Curious.

"If I have to be stuck here learning magic again, I want to be the best--" Though a thoughtful look passes over her face, and she laughs. "Okay, I might take second fiddle to you, 'cause it'd be worth it. I want to learn enough to get home, too. I've only been to another world once, so I'd like to do some sightseeing before I leave. I don't know if 'enjoy' is the right word, but..." She shrugs. She'll give him that.

Lightning

[knightofcosmos]

Having avoided the lightning strikes, Warrior of Light made his way through the halls. He was unsure of his path at this point, but maybe he'd been sent to this strange place by Materia's will. Mayhaps there was something here that she needed in order to keep her home world intact.

His eyes constantly moved and then his ears caught the sound of someone speaking. The warrior paused for a moment because the voice sounded familiar. Turning the corner, he caught the sight of a familiar warrior and he approached Kuja.

"Did Spiritus send you here?"

[treno_nobleman]

It takes an effort and then some not to groan, but not just from hearing a voice he hadn't expected. No, there is confrontation in the words, a silent challenge, and Kuja knows why. They've been staring each other down on the battlefield longer than he wishes to recall, though by now the memories are firmly rooted in his being.

Without moving from his post, Kuja spares the nameless warrior a glance, then gazes back out the window, watching after another flash of lightning off in the distance. "That god? Oh, I'm quite done with his bidding. The last thing I want is to become a puppet for another reckless deity concerned only with dragging fighters from every corner of the universes to battle on their behalf. It's such a shame they can't lift a finger to help themselves, no?"

[knightofcosmos]

Having just left Materia's side with a truce, Warrior of Light hadn't expected to run into a new place, let alone Kuja. But with the planesgorger threatening Materia and Spiritus' world and now he was here (wherever here was> he had wondered if Kuja was on a similar quest.

Apparently not but that didn't sway him from asking his next question.

"Were you not there for the agreement between Spiritus and Materia?"

[treno_nobleman]

Thoughts slide back to their last battle on that world. It had been something alright, too grand for what it was, but he had been fueled then not only by the chance to bring an end to the war, for once, but by the thought that after it all, when their powers were no longer needed, he might get to go home.

"Yes. One final, glorious battle to lure out and destroy Shinryu and save their crumbling world. I was there; I even participated willingly that time. And then, I thought I was to be sent home. No need to fight anymore if the planesgorgers are gone." And yet, here he is, in this place. This certainly isn't home, and if he's completely honest with himself, he doesn't even know what home is anymore.

[knightofcosmos]

He hadn't gotten to that point, but that was something that was going to happen. And try as he might, the warrior cannot recall that battle. He had been enroute certainly, but hadn't gotten there.

So he looks at Kuja for long moments, pondering. If he had gone to the battle, wouldn't it be right that they would be sent home?

His thoughts were interrupted by an almost blinding flash of lightning outside that lit up the library. And for just a moment, Warrior of Light had seen the books in endless shelves here.

Could he have been sent here mistakenly then instead of participating in the battle? Or had he been there and forgotten? No, that could not be. He would most certainly remember a glorious battle such as Kuja described.

"So you ended up here in a library instead."

[treno_nobleman]

Outside, the storm continues on, oblivious to their conversation, but with the Warrior here, Kuja finds his mood suffering. He would like to enjoy the moment a little longer, just between him and mother nature beyond, but suddenly, he would rather be elsewhere, avoiding the scuffle the two of them may end up in, if out of nothing more than pure habit. Such a waste of an otherwise soothing evening.

"Where I ended up was through no direction of my own. How tragic that I should seek so determinedly to master my own fate when in the end, I have so little control over it at all, no matter what I do." He turns his gaze back on the agent of Materia, or whatever deity the Warrior of Light plays slave to now. Time to deflect. "What about you? Are you pulling your own strings here, or has some new or old god of unknown origin given you your orders?"

lightning (i'm so sorry for him)

[scourgingstars]

"Ever fickle are the whims of the gods; capricious are their actions and indifference their nature."

A violet-haired man in black replaced a book on the shelf in front of him, gold eyes drifting to the window and then to Kuja. Quite the talent for dramatics, this one. Not that Ardyn was one to talk on that front.

"I've heard it said that days such as this once came from the Fulgurian's judgment being leveled upon the unworthy--criminals, heretics, and the blasphemous alike."

aaaaa!

[treno_nobleman]

Someone is speaking his language. Intrigued, he turns his head to tilt eyes at the stranger, drawn from the storm for a time. How long? He can't say, but he's willing to give this person a minute of his time.

"I'm not familiar with your reference, but I like their taste. To be one of those gods, not slave to their whims, taking out divine retribution on the wrongs of this world. Hmm." He had come close, once upon a time, for those same reasons, and not caring one way or another what happened to the ones unfortunate or foolish enough to get in his way. But now, having walked in those same shoes...

[scourgingstars]

"The wrongs of the world..." Ardyn repeated thoughtfully, a thin smile crossing his face. "Oh, to be so revered and uncontested in deciding matters of right and wrong."

Apparently, he didn't hold much faith in divine judgment.

[treno_nobleman]

"Why should anyone have that power? Why should anyone suffer so that such a power is needed?" He lifts a hand, gesturing elegantly to the window again where the storm rolls on. Somewhere in the forest, he's sure a tree just took the full force of that last bolt, clear as day to them even through the streams of rain trailing down the glass. His eyes widen in awe at it, thrilled.

Only for a second. "When everything is at your fingertips and nothing left for wanting, how long could it last before boredom strikes? If nothing in the world is left to you but agony, why live at all?"

[scourgingstars]

"And that is just the question, is it not?" Ardyn tilted his head in something resembling interest, watching Kuja in much the same way a cat might have regarded a glass of water on the edge of a table. "What manner of gods would craft a world full of the suffering of those who pray to them?"

A slight sound that might almost have resembled an amused laugh left him, hands dropped to his hips.

"And what value would there ever be in such life eternal and naught left to do with it?"

[treno_nobleman]

"With so much power, so many lives destroyed or blessed with a thought, the troubles that press upon so burdened a mind must only compare to those of the suffering as an ant caught adrift in the flow of a raging river. Unless..." Caught in his own thoughts, he tilts his head, one hand raised to a cheek, almost as if admiring the fantasy.

"Unless worlds bend, and the vastness of the universe can be brought to but a speck of dust, drawn along on the back of the ant for all its life, the weak carrying the strong to see."

[scourgingstars]

"Of that I've little doubt at all."

But he paused at the elaboration as if giving it more careful consideration of his own. It was certainly an interesting mental image, if not his particular style.

"I find myself contemplating, on some rare occasions, what the state of things would be like without the ant at all. The river left to rage at naught but the empty air surrounding it, with none to observe its power and fury. That is to say, what measure is a god lacking the faithful so painstakingly crafted in their image?"

[treno_nobleman]

Kuja sighs airily, letting his hand curl back around his midsection with the other. "Two sides of the same world, opposites in all ways, loathing each other from dusk til dawn. Yet, without each other, what would the one be? Where is the universe without the dust to hold it together? Where is the dust without the universe to spread it so far and wide?"

In all of this, he feels something lift, lightening his mood all the while dragging it down at the same time. It isn't just the world at large in his story - it's the story of his own life. But he isn't speaking it to Ardyn. In a way, the confession is to himself. There's something to be said for having lived the tale and recalling it. "They would be nothing at all, not even a memory."

[scourgingstars]

Ardyn was oddly silent as he looked back to the window, something briefly very distant in his eyes. Something about what Kuja said struck a chord he didn't like in the slightest--it was familiarity, and heavens knew Ardyn hated being reminded of what he knew far too well. Black and white, night and day--burning light and night sky. Equals that couldn't exist without the other, and yet existed in opposition.

But the thought was dismissed in an instant, a smile coming to Ardyn's face that didn't reach cold yellow eyes.

"Something of utterly no consequence." he said with a vague wave of his hand.