Chapter 2:
The Legacy of Xaero: Refrain from Reminiscence
With the alchemy class closer, Adero chose to visit Professor Long first. Unlike at the college she attended where it was located in a basement, Eclipse’s alchemy classroom was situated in one of the tower’s in order to minimize accidents – towers that Alinyah had told her were forged from a mythril alloy by the school’s founder, Calyphaius Umbra. While the flights of stairs was exhausting, she began to look forward to her meeting with Professor Nimbus more and more afterward when she would get to enjoy her leisurely walk down the stairs.
She was surprised to find a small handful of students of various ages in the class, a mixture of elves, humans and cait sith, clumped together around an iron cauldron bubbling a strange glowing color. Some of the year rounders, Adero realized, who voluntarily stayed after the school year ended. Nearby the cauldron, a purple haired human with a blue dress clapped her hands to get the student’s attention. As she opened her mouth, Adero instantly understood why Headmaster Mane was so perplexed.
“Alright students,” He exclaimed, smiling wide. Professor Long paused, waiting for his audience to focus on him. “Who would like to test our little potion?”
A score of hands shot into the air as each of the students began to argue with one another over who would have the privilege. Adero couldn’t help but smile at their enthusiasm. To her surprise, the group of students all began to heft the cauldron towards a window which Juniper opened, and promptly spilled the contents into the open air where a sudden shriek came shortly after.
Curiosity got the better of her, and she quickly found herself among the throng looking out the window. Down below them, a human and aquatic cait sith were sopping wet on an overlook, half dressed and hastily ripping apart the plant roots that were forming all over themselves.
Professor Juniper cupped her hands together and shouted at the pair below “No canoodling on school grounds!” as the pair ran out of their field of view. Closing the windows, the teacher joined the students in laughter before noticing Adero.
“You’re new,” He observed. “Aren’t you one of the other teachers at the Academy?”
“Not exactly,” She replied. “I’m Doctor Orr, a new therapist for the school and I was hoping to ask you if you knew anything about spirit magyk? One of my clients needs some help with her magical abilities that I sadly don’t have any aptitude for.”
“Ah, I’m not sure how much help I can offer,” Professor Long confessed. “While I am capable of performing magyk, my skill set doesn’t really extend towards spirit magyk.” She waved a hand, gesturing around the class. “Hence why I’m filling in for Alinyah instead of, say, Professor Gendin who teaches about it’s application. I have read some self help books, though!” He added sweetly. “Maybe those might help?”
While they possibly could help, Adero doubted they’d have any concrete knowledge concerning spirit magyk. She thanked Juniper for her time and began her leisurely stroll down the stairs.
Thanks to Duolo’s description that he gave her, identifying Venus was a cinch. Much like Alinyah, she wore the Master’s Claim on her person. Unlike the giant cat woman, however, who wore hers on her sternum, Ms. Nimbus wore hers at the base of her throat, with the upper half of the ornate “x” rising up her neck to rest at the ends of her lips, that looked like they were used to smiling, but hadn’t for some time. She sat in a wheelchair, barking orders to a child performing push ups that looked like he could have been a clone of her.
“Don’t you dare start crying” Venus said sternly to the boy. The child was glistening with sweat, and every breath seemed to be forced in and out of his lungs with acute agony. “We’re done when I say you’re done, Ven.”
Venus was perhaps only 160 centimeters, but her tiny frame immediately began to intimidate Adero as she watched the elf admonish her protege for his form.
“Just how long have you been at this?” She asked, not realizing she had said it aloud.
The elf craned her neck to Adero, then scooted her wheelchair so that Venus could face her. “Don’t forget what happens if you stop,” She growled back towards her pupil. “What do you want?” Venus snapped.
Adero couldn’t help but stand up straight and stiff at her commanding tone. “You’re Professor Nimbus, right? Deputy –“
Venus waved her quiet. “I’m no professor anymore,” She said dismissively. “I’m just sticking around until my nephew gets the gist of my training.”
When it became clear the elf wasn’t going to continue did Adero feel comfortable to continue. “Well Deputy Headmaster Duolo thought you might be able to help me train one of my clients who is having trouble controlling her spirit magyk.” She summarized. Though if this is how you train your own nephew, I might just take my chances on my own.
“I can’t use it, but I’ve had enough experience with it,” Venus said. “What branch regarding spiritual magyk?”
“Visions.”
“Of the past or the future?” The elf pressed. “Because how they’re handled are extremely different.”
Doctor Orr checked her notes. She tried to tune out the sounds of exhaustion coming from Ven. “As of now, she’s only received premonitions of the future –”
“Good. What time are the meetings? I’ll find the place sooner or later.” Venus interjected. She turned back to face her nephew, who had collapsed to the ground.
“Uh, we have them at eleven in the morning each Midas,” Adero answered. As the elf began to roughly pick up her nephew, she felt compelled to add, “Will you be so rough with my client as you are with your family?”
Out of all the possible scenarios she could have possibly imagined, Adero didn’t expect the thousand meter death stare Venus was giving her now. She wasn’t incredibly religious, but staring back at the cold furious eyes that were peering into her soul made her say a silent prayer of protection to the Divinity.
After what felt like an eternity, Venus smiled grimly. She patted Ven on the shoulder before addressing the Unimus. “Don’t you worry your precious little tin can heart,” came the reply. “They’ll still be in one piece once I’m through with them.”
True to her word, Venus found Adero’s office in time for meeting with Crystal. Unfortunately, she had interrupted Doctor Orr’s meeting with Janus and Harvey.
“Ah, you found it,” Adero exclaimed after opening the door. She tried to ignore the feeling of irritation of her timing though. Am I allowed to be annoyed at the handicapped? came a random thought to the forefront of her mind. “Please be patient and wait outside until it’s time for our session with Crystal.”
She didn’t give Venus time to respond before she closed the door in her face.
“Something up, doc?” Harvey asked, eyeing the door. He looked like he was about to pull out a sidearm. Oh by the Divinity, does he have a sidearm!? Just as quickly, the thought was banished from her mind. There was no reason for him to pull the gun on her.
“Oh, just someone I’m bringing in to help me with my next client,” Adero assured her. “You might have fought alongside her actually: The Asura, Venus Nimbus.”
The sight of the vein bulging out of Harvey’s temple at the mention of the elf’s name implied that he had. Though the words he spoke next were calm and concise, Adero could hear the underlying tremble hidden within them. “Doc, I’d appreciate if you don’t let either of us interact for a bit.”
His request caught her off guard. “I suppose so,” She blinked. “May I ask why though?”
“How do you think I got here?” Harv hissed. “It was her capture that caused the Siege at Phon in the first place!”
It was times like these that Adero wished she had access to Janus’ military record. She had no idea Venus had been responsible for bringing them together. And judging from the human’s reaction, he had not forgotten or forgiven the elf for her role in his trauma, despite not coming out of it unscathed herself either.
“I don’t mean to dismiss these issues you feel,” Doctor Orr informed him. “Your grievances are valid and will be addressed in due time. But for now, I want you and Janus to just ignore her. Can you do that?”
Harvey looked like he wanted to argue, but thought better of it and agreed.
As their session finally began to wind down, Adero felt encouraged by Janus and Harvey’s progress. She guessed hey might even be able to begin communicating with one another in the next meeting!
“Remember what I said,” She called out as Harvey began to leave.
“Yeah, yeah,” He pursed his lips. “I’ll ignore her.”
Harvey at least had the decency of leaving the door open, giving Venus the room to wheel herself inside. Her tired face and irritated personality was enough to voice her displeasure at participating without needing to say it. Adero wondered if she was always like this or if it was a byproduct of losing her legs.
“Alright, where’s the crotch goblin?” Venus demanded, swinging the door close. Adero felt a part of herself die at how uncouth the elf was being.
Is there really no one else who can help me? She whimpered internally.
Before she could answer, the door swung open and a squeal of delight came from her next appointment.
“Aunt Nimbus!” Crystal exclaimed, bolting into the room. She threw herself at the elf, who’s grim demeanor was transformed in an instant to joy. “What are you doing here?”
Gone was her grim demeanor and desire to be anywhere else but here. If anything she looked like there was no place she’d rather be than here. “Why, I heard you’ve been having some trouble with the future, my little demon spawn!” Venus answered back. Crystal shrieked as she was now at the mercy of the elf, tickling her into submission on her lap. “So the kind doctor asked me to help you put a lid on it and –“
“– Basht the problem in the face!” they both roared in unison. The pair continued to talk animatedly with one another, allowing Adero a moment to perhaps see Venus before she lost her legs.
“Um, I can wait in the reception room,” a third voice stammered. Standing by the door, a demure woman with koala ears quickly retreated from view.
Adero clapped her hands in excitement. “Well then,” she announced. “I suppose it’s time to get started!”
As it turned out, Venus was employing a greatly different method for her teaching with Crystal as opposed to her own nephew. With the human, Venus was much more reassuring and patient. It was unexpected to say the least, as Adero had assumed she would have been as heavy handed with Crystal as she was with her nephew.
“Close your eyes,” She instructed. Crystal eagerly complied. “Slow your breathing, and focus on eternity. The future will appear to you in a way you will understand
“Do you see anything?” Venus asked. “Perhaps a river? A tree? A gem?”
“I see… puddles,” Crystal answered. “The water… is coming out and moving towards me. They feel slimy and cold.” All at once, she squeezed her eyes tight and hugged herself just as hard. “I can’t breathe,” she exclaimed.
Venus placed her hands on Crystal’s shoulders. “Stay calm, my little hairball. You’ve done this before,” the elf encouraged. “Your mind is resisting your natural affinity. Let it envelop you. The puddles can’t hurt you; they’re already part of you.
“Are the puddles showing you anything?” she pressed as Crystal followed her instructions.
“The puddles are dripping back to their places,” answered the little girl. Her closed eyes began to relax and she dropped her hands. “Pictures are appearing in the reflections.”
“Very good. Open your eyes.” Venus replied. “Congrats, booger beast. Keep this up and you won’t need me to help you anymore.”
“You don’t want to know what was in the puddles?”
The elf shrugged. “Go ahead and tell me if you want then,” She replied. “It’s not like it’s going to come true.”
Adero was speechless. “Just like that?” she demanded. “You’re not going to find out the future? And what was that; you made it look so easy!”
Venus sighed. “Before Unit 561, before the war, I helped tutor Crystal. Magyk comes easy to her. It’s control she lacks.” Her gaze hardened. “Suppressing it only makes it worse, more intense, like damning a river only for it to overflow. Once she figures out how to keep calm while they come, she’ll be able to summon them at will instead of them happening sporadically.”
“But what about their accuracy?”
“Accuracy?” Venus scoffed. Crystal imitated her. “There’s a reason most augurs are hired as data analysts. A vision is nothing more than an informed prediction of the future. Just because Crystal has a vision doesn’t mean that it’s going to happen. Not every seer experiences the same future when they peer into the ethereal. Their emotions, understanding and prior knowledge informs the content of their visions. ”
She wanted to argue. She wanted to say that isn’t how it works. But she couldn’t. Despite the fact neither of them could use spirit magyk, Venus was infinitely more familiar with the concepts, quirks and roadblocks a vision imparted simply by her longstanding association with Alister.
“But, what about when Alister wanted to hire me?” Adero persisted, despite the answer now being obvious. “It felt –“
“Predestined?” Venus offered.
Dr. Orr threw up her hands. “Yes!” She exclaimed. “Everything he prophesied happened before I took this job. Why go to all that effort if it wasn’t meant to be?”
“Didn’t you recently graduate from college? Now that I think about it, I think I was there when Alister was writing to you,” Despite the fact she was confined to her wheelchair, Adero had the distinct impression the elf was looking down on her. “You’re free will wasn’t taken. Just because he foresaw you working for him and took the steps necessary to incentivize you doing so, there was still the chance you said no.”
All at once, Adero began to recollect everything in her life from the moment Alister came into her life up till now. Venus was correct. And it grated her to have to admit it. I need to talk to that rat bastard. She seethed.
But for now, it seemed that they needed to continue the session proper with Crystal.
“Crystal,” Adero prompted, trying to maintain her composure. “Could you perhaps tell me what you saw?”
The little girl beamed. “I saw you hugging me!” She exclaimed. “And you’re finger was poking into my ear!”
Her vision made Dr. Orr’s stomach drop.
* * *
“This better be important,” Alister said as he appeared within the scrying mirror.
Adero was angry. She couldn’t help it. The session with Crystal and Venus had ended prematurely. While she felt positive Venus or the little girl had any idea what Crystal’s vision implied, Adero immediately knew what was going to happen, and even possibly much worse, what Alister wanted her to do.
The moment the the human and the elf had left her office, she had furiously turned to her mirror and contacted Headmaster Light. Once the connection was secure, she had to wait fifteen entire minutes waiting for the wide eyed soldier who answered her call to even find the Asura. And another fifteen minutes after that to presumably convince him to meet with her.
“You lied to me!” She shouted in return. Her finger pointed so hard and so fast towards Crystal’s grandfather she almost pierced the mirror itself. “You said you wanted me to train the girl!”
Despite her accusations, Alister’s face was inscrutable. It only infuriated her further. “I take it that training has not been going well?” Was all he said in response.
His nonchalant demeanor broke her. In an instant, the hand blaster attached to her wrist manifested, trained on the old man. She wanted to believe that firing on him would somehow work, that the plasma would somehow travel through the mirror and engulf him in it’s entirety.
“On the contrary,” She managed to spit out. “I learned just how much of a sham you are.”
“Oh really?”
“Your visions,” Adero continued. There was a toxicity to her words. The venom surprised even her. “They’re nothing more than glorified guesses.”
Alister managed to crack a smile. “They’re informed guesses, thank you very much.” he replied. “Congratulations, you cracked the code. But something tells me you didn’t finish your session with my granddaughter. And Venus neglected to inform you exactly why I wanted you in my employ.”
“I know enough,” Dr. Orr snapped. “And I won’t do it! You can’t make me.”
“Of course I can’t,” The old man said still conversationally. “You’re going to do it of your own free will. Because if you don’t, my granddaughter is going to die. And I can already tell you’ve allowed yourself to become far too attached to Crystal to let that happen.”
His words broke her. A sob left her throat, and her anger turned to sorrow. “That’s why you wanted me.” She bemoaned. “You needed someone who didn’t have the experience to help her properly. So you used your foresight to find someone foolish enough to risk her own license to help your granddaughter.”
“Again, correct.” Alister almost sounded bored. “It seemed I was right, encouraging you to come to my employ.”
“Did Venus know?”
“I didn’t want to burden her with our dilemma.” He answered. “Dr. Orr, I feel impressed to remind you of my abilities: the future is continually set and shifting. To clearly spell out the future can always be a danger because despite the distance I can see, there may be obstacles I cannot expect or predict you to account for. Adding ambiguity paradoxically allows for greater control and reflexivity to react to unexpected situations.
“And unfortunately for us, the depression my granddaughter is going to experience occurs in nearly every branch I’ve foreseen.” He lamented. “I cannot lose her. Not after she already lost her parents, my son and daughter-in-law. Please,” Alister extended a hand towards her. Beckoning her towards career suicide. “save my granddaughter. Erase her memory of her participation in the war.”
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