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Post by Nick Persard, C.C.B. on Jun 8, 2007 13:47:29 GMT 10
"Mmm. Chilean Bellflower. How truly ingenious." Nick was murmoring to himself, wand out and pointed at a molten piece of metal that was hovering in the air before him. He sat there, squatted down on his haunches, the dark passage that surrounded him lit only by the shimmering blues and pinks of the spelllight. The sweat glistened on his brow, and taking his free hand he wiped it with his kerchief.
This lock was a most ingenious one, obviously constructed by a gifted curse-forge who had spent time studying the old magics in the Andes. Unfortunately, if Nick was familiar with such a trick, so too would be anyone that the enemy hired to break into the Academy. "Alchemic transfiguration required. A living bronze chilean bellflower, which must be rung at precisely the right note, or the user will be instantly killed. How very facinating."
He had examined the area thoroughly. Cordoned off the entrance to the coridor, and had even put in place several layers of safety charms to contain whatever plights ringing the bell might unleash. There was something missing, however, and he didn't know what.
"Where is the local protagonist? One can't unleash a plot point such as this without a medium-level storyline protagonist--erm, teacher or student at least." Curious. He waited, listening for his guard-charms to sound for when the newcomer--as he was sure there would be--crossed his barrier to disturb him.
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Post by Belle Carter on Jun 15, 2007 9:56:28 GMT 10
A door opened behind the school’s ‘security expert’ apparently his security did not focus upon the secret passages that ran a length far greater then that of the normal corridors in the school. Belle had stepped through the door to come face to… well… back of the head of a man she had seen around the place though did not quite know. She did know though that he had been hired as some sort of security specialist.
Where was he when that Ameraid got murdered, then?
She blinked quizzically as she looked at him. He appeared to be patiently waiting for something, or perhaps he was being impatient, she couldn’t tell, regardless to the fact she was oblivious of; this was only a route to her next destination and she did not have a lot of time to carry on.
“Sorry sir, do you mind?” she tapped him on the shoulder with the tip of one of her books while she waited for him to step out of her way. As it was he was blocking the opening to the secret passage and she really did have to get moving.
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Post by Nick Persard, C.C.B. on Aug 16, 2007 14:00:44 GMT 10
Nick gave the girl an appraising look, his mind quickly scanning the surface of hers using the talents of his former house. "Ah, you'll do nicely. I'm sorry, but in order to open this sealed door here I will need you to remain by my side. Instinct tells me that unless I have an unwitting victim in proximity I might myself be in harms way. You don't mind, do you?" He smiled, waiting for her response.
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Post by Belle Carter on Aug 18, 2007 9:44:34 GMT 10
“What do you mean an unwitting victim?” she said to him reeling back just a little. She didn’t know a lot about this new staff member, though she did know she never really thought much about the security guards at Blood Lust night club. Though this was probably because she was not pure-blooded; it made her feel uncomfortable about security nevertheless. That was not the only reason she had not to trust this man though. For Security detailer, he did seem a little odd. And one being odd and having the ability to perform magic meant the ones idea of what might cause harm to others generally did not appear until after said damage had occurred.
“I am in a hurry sir, and I don’t know if I really like the idea of being an… well I don’t want to be your victim today,” she said to him though suddenly became aware that moving right now could be tad perilous.
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Post by Nick Persard, C.C.B. on Aug 19, 2007 15:49:10 GMT 10
"Too late!" Nick called with a merciless laugh, and leaning down he flicked the living bronze chilean bellflower with the tip of his wand, causing it to ring out in the most unearthly, ghastly of sounds. The hallway around them rumbled, and the wall fissured and spewed forth nasty looking plumes of purple and green smoke. Then, suddenly, from out of the fissure a demon roared, flames shooting out into the hall and enveloping a neat, clean circle around the two standing there.
"Wow. That ensorcelled flagstone held up. I'm impressed with my own handy-work for once." Raising his wand, he murmured out of the corner of his mouth to the young student, "Give you 20 points if you vanquish him for me. He's only a mid-level smoke demon, a fifth year like you should be able to take him no-sweat."
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Post by Belle Carter on Aug 20, 2007 21:30:36 GMT 10
Belle looked aghast at what she had witnessed. If the sound had not been enough to contend with, the explosion... and what was that creature? Did he call it a smoke demon? Who said anything about demons? Demons were just folk tales made up to scare muggle children, right? Meanwhile, if this thing before her was not a demon, then she was in a bit of trouble anyway. “What are you talking about?” she shouted in horror to the man she didn’t know, and wished she had not crossed him, “I am only in my fourth year, and I will have you know I am still having trouble with summoning charms,” she said as she cowered behind the man. What on earth did he expect her to be able to do? She had still not reached the stage in her life where she automatically drew her wand on things that scared her. She was not, however, too old to go hiding behind the back of the nearest adult.
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Post by Nick Persard, C.C.B. on Aug 22, 2007 13:28:50 GMT 10
"Fourth year or fifth, I would still expect a student of the world renowned Koalingo Academy to be able to cope with a creature of pure dark magic!" Nick said critically, in a very former-Ameraid student type of manner. You know...haughty, self-indulged, and decisive, the usual. "Now then! Wand at the ready! I'll walk you through how to smite one of these things--but first, allow me to introduce myself."
He turned to her within the magic circle, extending his hand for shaking. "My name is Nicholas Persard, (Nick for short), and I am currently the Keeper of Keys and Master of Locks here at Koalingo Academy. And you are?"
As he spoke the demon climbed out of the wall on four legs--its general form wolf-like and wreathed in dark swirling clouds, with bright yellow eyes and wicked red horns protruding from its head. It howled an ear-splitting noise at the two as it slashed a shadowy paw against the magical circle which kept them safe from its advances. The circle blazed white on the flagstone floor, and the air around them rippled with the strength of the magic embodied there.
As great a sorcerer as Nick was, there always came a point where magic may buckle or strain. "Blast!" he cursed, "No time for me to get your name, so pay close attention: You said you're no good at summoning, so perhaps you'll master the complete opposite--banishing! I want you to take aim at the heart of the blasted beast and repeat the following incantation: 'Caliga fomidus dimitto!' At the same time, I want you to will this creature away from us, back into some dreary place away from this school and its inhabitants!"
Nick had the utmost confidence the girl would succeed...however, he knew it wouldn't work unless she believed in herself. Yes, unfortunately the touchy-feely aspects of magic such as "love" and "self-esteem" played a much deeper role than intellect or even honed ability. Go figure.
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Post by Belle Carter on Aug 22, 2007 15:55:37 GMT 10
“Well I am sorry to disappoint you, but there you have it,” she said to him as she maintained her position behind him. She didn’t feel he was being entirely serious, how could he expect her to perform magic to the level of a fifth year, maybe if he came back to ask next year, maybe then… at the very least it would give her a chance to stay away from him. She would be more careful next time she came blundering out of a secret passage.
“Keeper of keys and locks, so why are you tryin to teach em defence against the dark arts?” she said to him in a voice that was perhaps a little impertinent. Mind she was not exactly ttrying to be polite at the moment.
She watched creature lash out and realised the Professor was facing her. She didn’t grab his hand for fear that she would not let it go. When he withdrew his hand and announced he hadn’t the time to wait for her introduction, she decided not to offer it.
“Banishing? We’re not to start learning about banishing anything until after we master summmouning, I really think you have the wrong person for this task,” she said to him as she slowly reached into her pocket and drew out her wand. It was instinct to do as a Professor asked, and while this guy didn’t appear to be a Professor, he was still Koalingo staff.
'Caliga fomidus dimitto!' At the same time, I want you to will this creature away from us, back into some dreary place away from this school and its inhabitants!"
She listened to these instructions and nodded, answering with, “So like… the Ruberagon common room?” she couldn’t be sure he would understand it, but it was an earnest response.
Her hands shook and she raised her wand “'Caligula fumdus dimto!”' she chanted, but nothing came out of her wand. She was just a little let down. This was like animagus training all over again. She hid behind the man a second time, this time grabbing the back of his shirt for security.
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Post by Nick Persard, C.C.B. on Aug 26, 2007 12:23:29 GMT 10
Nick rolled his eyes. Typical functionally-fixated emerindyl student. Only Professors can teach you something, only a lockmaster can overcome a shadow-demon protecting a horde. Only a fifth year can do fifth year magic successfully. What complete rubbish!
"Don't think you're getting out of this one that easily!" Nick said, reaching around and pulling the girl to his front, tearing his shirt slightly in the process as her nails dug in. "I said 'will it away', not just wish you hadn't come wandering down this passage! Now once more, with feeling! Intent! Volition! Force the demon away from this place and recite the spell!"
He was not a man for mollycoddling in the slightest. These students would face horrors on a daily basis, and it was only right that as part of their educational experience they learn to confront things outside of their comfort level on their own; especially when they had the privilege of having an experienced adult wizard in their proximity to help them if they failed.
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