"Tyrimond, it's good to be back."
Aideen announced to her home city, standing atop the footsteps of the teleportation circle station. Before her, the empire's capital stretched out as far as her eyes could see. A city of juxtaposition, she recalled someone called it, spires of polished marble and gleaming silver archways stood proudly beside weathered stone structures. Cobbled paths laid out centuries ago wounded through the heart of the metropolis, and buildings big and small, old and new, popping up along its path. All around Aideen were a cacophony of sounds: merchants shouting to attract customers, the rhythmic clink of hooves on stones as carriages passed, and the chatter of city folk going about their daily lives. High Esterian was enjoyable in how orderly it was, but oh how Aideen had missed these sounds.
In the distance, Aideen's gaze caught the statues of the four conquerors, standing as vigilant as ever. Three towering men and one woman carved from stone, sword-in-hand pointing toward the region they have each conquered, the monument serving as the centerpiece of the aptly named Four Conquerors Square. Aideen made note that they still hadn't added the fifth one yet, though she supposed changing the square's name to reflect it would be too much of a hassle.
Stepping aside as to not block the path to the building for others, Aideen's hand moved to feel her coin pouch. It had become significantly lighter after she had paid for the teleportation circle fee – Aideen was still of the opinion that 25 gold dragons, any luggage cost additional, was too tough of a price – but it made no matter, for if everything go well, she won't have any money trouble in the foreseeable future. So, with her leather suitcase in one hand, containing her psychologist equipment, and a travel trunk on the other, containing the rest of her worldly possessions, she stepped forth into Tyrimond.
Aideen walked along the bustling street in search of a dray, hurrying her pace as she noticed one stopping for passengers. "Will this one still get me to the Academy district?" She asked the fare collector who hanged precariously from the back of the carriage.
"Sure does, mam!" The dwarf replied, so Aideen fidgeted with her pocket, producing two copper pennies to pay for the fare before hopping onto the dray. Climbing up the small spiral staircases, she came onto the top of the carriage, which was currently devoid of other passengers, no doubt preferring the lower floor as to avoid the bright afternoon sun. No sooner did Aideen take a seat and set her luggage down would the coachman flicked his rein, sending the four great stallions into a trot, pulling the structure onward.
Floods of nostalgia rushed over Aideen as the dray slowly took to the street, remembering her time as a poor Iselma Academy student, having to take one of these vehicles to even get anywhere in the city. She had always preferred the top floor of the dray, the wind felt nice as it rushed through her hair, and though the sun could certainly prove an issue, her wide brim hat provided more than enough shade. The best part was the view though, with the little extra boost in height making it easier to see the city's other landmarks. From up here she could see the Grand Mathiras Cathedral, one of the biggest temples to Dovana in all of Tyrimane Empire, and if she turned around, she could see the Purple Palace, a castle on a hill that serves as the emperor's seat, and a testament of what magic could achieve in construction.
'It really has been too long.' Aideen thought as she rested her arm on the carriage's railing, and her head atop that, lazily gazing at the urban landscape passing her by. Four years she had been studying abroad, learning everything there was to know about the human's mind, all in the pursuit of her lofty aspiration. 'And now I'm home.' It was strange really, she spent approximately the same amount of her life here, yet she felt more connected to the city of Tyrimond than to High Esterian or even to her childhood town. Perhaps it was here where the person that was Aideen Curie take shape, her knowledge, her ideal, her dream.
The dray soon stopped to take on more passengers, and Aideen's peaceful world would suddenly be beset by the sharp wail of a child. Aideen blinked and turned toward the sound, to see a daughter and mother pair climbing onto the second floor of the carriage. The mother's hands were carrying a basket of recently purchased goods, while the daughter's were clutching on her mother's skirt, tears streaming down her face as her crying continued.
The mother was making her best attempt to sooth the girl, her voice filled with weary patience, "It's okay sweetheart. We're almost home, please stop crying, there's somebody here." Her effort, however, only fueled her child's tantrum, who shook her head furiously, squeezing her eyes shut as her wail grew. The mother glanced at Aideen to give her an apologetic smile.
As the dray resumed its movement and the pair struggled to walk down the narrow pathway between seats, Aideen would shuffle toward them before catching the mother's eye. "May I?" Aideen asked softly, permission was always important.
The woman hesitated for a moment, looking at her daughter's tear-streaked face, before nodding gratefully, "Please, she's been like this all day…"
Aideen nodded in understanding, rising from her seat and kneeling beside the child, who retracted away slightly at her presence. Still, Aideen smiled at her, her face reflecting nothing but kindness "Hello there." She told her with a gentle tone "I know you're upset, but everything's going to be okay, I promise."
Aideen reached into her coat pocket to produce her pocket watch; an intricately design device, attached to a golden chain "I'm going to help you feel better, so just trust me."
The child blinked through her tears, staring at Aideen with wide eyes, her sobs slowing just enough for her to catch a breath. Seeing that, Aideen let her pocket watch dangled from its chain, gently swinging it back and forth before the girl's eyes, the golden surface catch against the midnoon sun with every pass. As it moved, Aideen whispered a soft incarnation, arcane glyph spelling 'sooth' appearing on the watch's face. 'A simple charm should work, to guide her toward calm.' She decided.
With a soft twirl that put the watch back into her palm, Aideen finished the spell, and gentle golden light began to envelop the little girl's body, "Breath with me." She told her in a whisper, guiding her through the motion "In through your nose, then out your mouth, it helps the spell take effect."
The child's sobs began to slowly die down, her body shaking slightly as the tension in her small frame started to ease. All the while, Aideen remained by her side, soothing her with kind words and warm presence. Soon enough, the girl's tear stopped entirely, and she tried to wipe her face on her mother's skirt, getting a kind chuckle out of Aideen.
"I don't know what you did, but thank you." The mother told her, her visage perplexed, but her smile offered appreciation.
"It's my pleasure." Aideen replied, patting the little girl on the head before returning to her seat. In truth, her training in did not really include soothing children in distress, but she learned to adapt.
The entire dray shook slightly as it came upon Elayn bridge, which served as the connection point between the city and Aideen's destination, Tyrimond's famed Academy district. Its peculiar name, came from when the great archmage Iselma Kanesith was granted a then abandoned island in the middle of Calloway River, and there, she established Tyrimane Empire's first ever mage school, or at least certainly the most famous one, calling it Iselma Academy. As time passed, her students began settling down across the island, turning this particular part of Tyrimond into the center of magical trade across the empire, perhaps even all of Astarius. Here one could find anything from alchemical ingredients harvested from prehistoric herbs, magical artifacts capable of falling a giant, and even a tavern entirely operated by animated household objects. She made a mental note to give that last one a visit when she had the time.
But her destination was not the academy, nor was it the marketplaces where one might find those curiosity. In fact, when she was dropped off the dray, waving goodbye to the mother and daughter, she had to walk for a few more minutes in order to reach it. Soon, before her stood a four stories' stone building, its towering wall adorned with intricate carvings of mythical creatures and arcane symbols, worn smooth by years of winds and rains. Carved arches framed tall, narrow windows that let in just enough light to illuminate the polished marble steps leading up to the grand double doors. Above the entrance sat the organization's crest, a pair of crossed silver wands over a teal emblem.
Tyrimond Mage Guild.
But even before Aideen could take one step up the marble stairs, she would be accosted by something. "Aidy!" The blur of white and gold declared as it rushed down from the guild entrance, and she was given barely enough time to put down her belonging and enveloped the creature as it ran headfirst into her chest.
"Missed you too Rylia." Aideen managed to say between light laughter, her hand moved to grasp the smaller woman's shoulders.
"Not enough to be on time, apparently." Her assailer said with a pout, releasing Aideen and placing her hand on her hips "You say you are arriving at noon; I been waiting by the entrance for at least an hour!"
Aideen smiled, warm but apologetic. "I know, I'm sorry. Packing up took longer than I expected. I should've sent words."
Aideen gazed upon the small figure before her. Her old academy roommate was the spitting image of herself when Aideen last seen her 4 years ago. She still remained four feet ten, still wore her light blonde hair in the same flowy style that frame her soft pinchable face, though Aideen noticed a subtle shadow under her sharp blue eyes…sleep must not have been kind to her as of late. The biggest different, however, was her attire, instead of the Iselma Academy's uniform she used to see Rylia in, she now wore a flowing white dress decorated with sea green ribbons, a leather belt tied around her hips to give the outfit some shape. On her chest, a pin of crossing quills indicated her as a junior mage of the guild.
"So the great Aidy had returned to us at last." Rylia declared, walking up the stairs alongside her "I suppose I should be calling you Doctor Curie now, hmm?"
"Technically yes, though I'm still unlicensed." Aideen adjusted her glasses "But only because getting one will take another century of study under the elves."
Ryley snorted, letting out a giggle "Cutting corners, that's unlike you~"
"As long as I know the essential, I can develop my own theory from there." Aideen replied easily. Then, with a note of curiosity, she added, "Is Kingsley and the others still working at the guild?" She remembers there were many of the commoner students of their years who signed up to become a junior mage.
Rylia let out a sigh, shaking her head, "Nope, they all either quit or got picked up by some other place. It's slave work here, I tell you. I'm the only one left."
Aideen's expression softened, and she rested a reassuring hand on Rylia's shoulder. "I'm sorry to hear that. Hang in there." Even after all this time, her friend was still pursuing her own dream, saving money for that shop of hers.
Rylia shrugged, though the gesture felt half-hearted. "It is what it is. Not everyone gets lucky like you…sponsored study abroad and guarantee guild membership the moment you graduated? Hello?"
Aideen's grip on her shoulder tightened ever so slightly. Not in reprimand, but in understanding. "It's not like I went on a vacation, Rylia, I have my own share of troubles. But if there's anything I can do to help you now, just say the word."
Rylia gave an appreciative nod "Yeah, yeah~"
"That does remind me, I've been planning to meet with Madam Arcania and discuss funding for my research. Did she come to the guild building today?" That was why she asked to meet Rylia here, after all.
Upon hearing that however, her friend would give pause "Oh right…I guess no one told you…" Rylia muttered, looking up at Aideen.
"Arcania retired, Aidy." She informed her. "She's not been a guildmaster for like a year now…"
Aideen would take a few moments to process the new. She supposed she should have expected it, Madam Arcania was closer to seventy than sixty the last time Aideen had seen her, after all. "Karner still around though, correct?" Aideen asked her friend "I will meet him then."
Rylia nodded, though there was a bit of worry on her face "Good luck."
They parted way then, with Rylia returning back to her work, while Aideen headed to the guild's reception. When she asked for a meeting with the guildmaster, the clerk, another junior mage, cast a message spell, saying something to the other end, before gesturing Aideen to take a seat on a nearby bench and waited to be called.
'This development is certainly troubling.' Aideen thought to herself as she took a seat. It had been Madam Arcania who listened intently to her academy project, who showed genuine interest in her idea of mental healing through magic. It was Madam Arcania who had suggested she first learn psychology before applying spells to them, and who financed her studies in High Esterian. It was also Madam Arcania who promised to sponsor her research upon her return, but now, with her gone...
Unlike other guilds within the capital, Tyrimond Mage Guild was unique in that, as per tradition, two people act as guildmasters at any given time, in order to prevent any one mage from wielding too much power, to prevent one ideal from dominating. Aideen had only known Karner Borchard only by reputation and a few brief encounters, a hardworking man…some say to a fault…who hail from a long line of mages. As Aideen was yet to inform who Madam Arcania's replacement was, Karner, who had served alongside Arcania for many years, appeared to be her best bet.
Deciding that there was no use getting worried about the matter until the actual meeting, Aideen produced a psychology textbook from her leather briefcase and began flipping through it to pass the time, checking her pocket watch every now and then.
Three hours ended up passing when the clerk finally called for Aideen, who then gave her directions to Karner's office. Aideen asked to leave her travel trunk at the reception, then soon made her ascend the worn marble staircase, each step she made echoing faintly in the vast stone building. Magical lamps flickered along the corridors, casting long, shifting shadows against the black and white tiles flooring. As she walked, she passed doorways framed by ornate arches, no doubt behind them the usual guild activities were taking place, sponsored arcane research, public lectures by guild members, permanent staff working on administrative duties, those sorts of things. Through her arcane-trained eyes, she could sense hum of energy pulsing through the walls, subtle yet ever-present, as if centuries of arcane practice had steeped the very foundation of this building in magic. Soon enough, she reached a heavy door of dark mahogany at the end of the hallway, clear protective sigils shimmering along its surface, a brass nameplate spelled the name of its occupant 'Karner Borchard, Co-Guildmaster'.
With one, two, and three knocks, Aideen pushed herself through the door to reveal a spacious and meticulously arranged chamber. Large, framed windows lining the back wall and permitting natural light, only being broken apart by hanging guild banners. Wall-to-wall bookcases filled each end of the room, their contents sorted by subject and color. At the center of the room, atop an embroidered carpet, sat a massive, ornately carved wooden desk, its surface lined with tomes, documents, and quills. Each items were placed in a way that suggested they have their own designated spots, with Aideen spying one corner being set aside for gem and delicate equipment, betraying the guildmaster's main trade as a renown magic craftsman.
Sitting upon a high-back leather chair behind all the desk, was of course, Karner Borchard. A man in a middle of his life, with Aideen suspecting him to be in his forties, he possessed a large frame that was unexpected for a mage, with broad-shoulder and thick with muscle. His face was clean-shaven, revealing a sharp feature and perpetually stern expression. Today he had chosen to wear a high-collared crimson robe, a traditional wizard hat sat atop his head, decorated with silver embroidery.
When Aideen entered, the guildmaster was reading through a contract on his desk. "Aideen Curie, correct?" The man said, not sparing a glance to acknowledge her presence "Speak your pieces, I do not have all day."
Aideen nodded, pulling up a spare chair to seat herself opposite to the impractically large table. "Well then." She began, putting on her best professional smile "As you may or may not be aware, I just came back from studying in High Esterian, and I was told that the guild would support my research upon my return."
"I have read your proposal, yes." Karner said, almost dismissively "You desire funding for your personal pet project."
Aideen did not like where this was heading. "It is not a personal project. This is something that can help people." Aideen explained, as concisely as she could "I studied psychology in High Esterian, and there are potential for enchantment magic to be applied in this field. I'm not asking for hand-out, but investment in something that will…"
She paused when noticing Karner raising his hand, signaling her to stop "What do you think magic is for, Aideen?"
"…to improve life of others." She answered carefully, sensing a trap "What's the point of having them otherwise?"
"Your youthful idealism is admirable." Karner said, though his tone was far from sincere "Magic are tools, to be honed, and refined, to create tangible result. Arcania had told me of your work, emotion regulation? memory restoration? Fortifying sense of self? Do you even hear yourself? Magic exists to empower people, not coddle them like they are children."
"Coddle?" Aideen let out in disbelief. Her hands tightened together, every fiber of her being strained to keep her composure. "it's about helping people heal, to give them the push they need to..."
Karner exhaled sharply, as if she had just proven his point "Spell craft, alchemy, artifice." He listed, his tone clipped and uncaring. "Tyrimond Mage Guild had built its history on real tangible magic. Not this sentimental fantasy of healing. We might as well be priestesses of Dovana. The answer is no, Curie, the guild will not fund your research."
The rejection made Aideen's stomach twisted "But madam Arcania had promised me…"
"Arcania is no longer with us, and whatever deal you may have make with her is now voided." Karner told her coldly "Be glad that we do not demand back all the golds we spent supporting your study abroad. Pursue this dream of yours at your own time and money, I will not have the guild's name be attached to something so naïve and untested."
Aideen's chest arched with unspent words. A part of her wanted to keep arguing, to make him see, but the rest of her knew that it would fall on deaf ears. These types of people were not known to be convincible. Bitterly, Aideen rose from her seat and took a bow "Then I shall take my leave. But mark my words…I will prove you wrong." She gave him a smile, the first one of today that was not warm.