Post by Feeves on Dec 15, 2006 3:49:33 GMT -5
There was always a hunger for knowledge deep within Fyn. Within mere days of his arrival at school, he had discovered the vast library. This love of knowledge combined with that burning curiosity ever since the meeting with that druid Xavier threw him into the library for hours on end day in and day out after classes. Even though he had a belief in the superiority of his art, he wasn’t blind. He had witnessed within the first several days amazing acts that surpassed his strength by far; which of course he rationalized with there mere thought that he had much of his potential to fulfill.
So the gossamer white robes became a common sight day in and day out as he read deeply into the histories of magic. It was quite fascinating. Previously, he had had an inkling that there had been a world of magic beyond his and his father’s art because his mother was a shaman. But even cursory readings proved that there was much depth to even the simplest bit of magic.
He quickly gave a thought back to the first book he had glanced at. Oh what was that title again? His ponderings quickly led him away from the lunch tables and back to the library, where he gave a quick nod to the acting librarian. She gave a smile and a nod back, though Fyn had already made his way to the shelves. It had been a rather ornate book, with a crimson cover and gold trim. What had those golden words said?
Ah there it was. The History of Elementals (condensed version). The tome however told a different story, a veritable textbook in length. The massive book could only be called that. However to know that there were other books far more focused out there… books detailing one element, one particular subset of the element, one set of spells even, caused goose bumps all over him. This was the knowledge he craved.
He quickly staked out a seat and placed the book down, immediately opening it from the left. And began to read. Sort of. For moments, he sat confused at the word order. Why didn’t it make sense?
“Oh… right. Left to right,” he muttered a slight blush rushing through his face. He raised his head to take a quick look around to make sure no one had noted such a purely stupid mistake. Satisfied that there weren’t enough people in the library to notice, he quietly flipped to book over and opened from the right this time and began again. He had made it through the introduction the last time he was here which had given brief detail on what was thought to be the initial conflict of the elements. A few choice myths it had highlighted.
So now he was onto the chapter on the first particular element. Fire.
“Explanations on the creation of fire generally range from the mythical, i.e. the giving of fire by Prometheus to the practical, e.g. man discovered fire through accidental witness of a fire elemental being vanquished to leave behind its primordial essence. Even despite these various theories on how fire was actually discovered, its applications are endless. The elements as discussed in this book in no way reflect the importance of one element to another. All elements are equally important. However, fire workings are a complex mixture of processes that must be discussed before moving onto a different element…”
Fyn’s black eyes glistened as he read, so absorbed was he by this book. Yet in the back of his mind he couldn’t help but wonder. Earlier in the book, they had stated that mankind’s beginning magic, particularly in the European region, had been one that had relied on 4 elements: earth wind, water, air. Later, light magic was discovered in the same region as well as the discovery that the lack of light had many properties that not only distinguished it from light magic, but could be used in such a way that mimicked the other elements thus giving it a place as well. China’s contribution to magic was the inclusion of wood and metal, bring the number up to 8. Yet the introduction had stated there were 9 elements.
Curious, he quickly flipped back to the last several chapters.
Spirit?
Surprise certainly did abound. He closed the book for a moment, rubbing his eyes slowly, raising his eyes slowly to the ceiling in quiet contemplation. The relaxing, slow breath of students feverishly studying provided him with the necessary rhythm to dive into his own thoughts.
"Spirit huh..."
So the gossamer white robes became a common sight day in and day out as he read deeply into the histories of magic. It was quite fascinating. Previously, he had had an inkling that there had been a world of magic beyond his and his father’s art because his mother was a shaman. But even cursory readings proved that there was much depth to even the simplest bit of magic.
He quickly gave a thought back to the first book he had glanced at. Oh what was that title again? His ponderings quickly led him away from the lunch tables and back to the library, where he gave a quick nod to the acting librarian. She gave a smile and a nod back, though Fyn had already made his way to the shelves. It had been a rather ornate book, with a crimson cover and gold trim. What had those golden words said?
Ah there it was. The History of Elementals (condensed version). The tome however told a different story, a veritable textbook in length. The massive book could only be called that. However to know that there were other books far more focused out there… books detailing one element, one particular subset of the element, one set of spells even, caused goose bumps all over him. This was the knowledge he craved.
He quickly staked out a seat and placed the book down, immediately opening it from the left. And began to read. Sort of. For moments, he sat confused at the word order. Why didn’t it make sense?
“Oh… right. Left to right,” he muttered a slight blush rushing through his face. He raised his head to take a quick look around to make sure no one had noted such a purely stupid mistake. Satisfied that there weren’t enough people in the library to notice, he quietly flipped to book over and opened from the right this time and began again. He had made it through the introduction the last time he was here which had given brief detail on what was thought to be the initial conflict of the elements. A few choice myths it had highlighted.
So now he was onto the chapter on the first particular element. Fire.
“Explanations on the creation of fire generally range from the mythical, i.e. the giving of fire by Prometheus to the practical, e.g. man discovered fire through accidental witness of a fire elemental being vanquished to leave behind its primordial essence. Even despite these various theories on how fire was actually discovered, its applications are endless. The elements as discussed in this book in no way reflect the importance of one element to another. All elements are equally important. However, fire workings are a complex mixture of processes that must be discussed before moving onto a different element…”
Fyn’s black eyes glistened as he read, so absorbed was he by this book. Yet in the back of his mind he couldn’t help but wonder. Earlier in the book, they had stated that mankind’s beginning magic, particularly in the European region, had been one that had relied on 4 elements: earth wind, water, air. Later, light magic was discovered in the same region as well as the discovery that the lack of light had many properties that not only distinguished it from light magic, but could be used in such a way that mimicked the other elements thus giving it a place as well. China’s contribution to magic was the inclusion of wood and metal, bring the number up to 8. Yet the introduction had stated there were 9 elements.
Curious, he quickly flipped back to the last several chapters.
Spirit?
Surprise certainly did abound. He closed the book for a moment, rubbing his eyes slowly, raising his eyes slowly to the ceiling in quiet contemplation. The relaxing, slow breath of students feverishly studying provided him with the necessary rhythm to dive into his own thoughts.
"Spirit huh..."
