“Out of the crooked timber of humanity, no straight thing was ever made.”

― Immanuel Kant, Idea for a Universal History with a Cosmopolitan Purpose

During ‘Void and Necromancy for Beginners’

“Please stay after class. I have to talk to you.” After saying this to Alyssa, assistant-professor Carmen sorted her notes and began the class as usual.

Whispers came from the students and she turned while raising an eyebrow. “Does anyone need more homework? I can accommodate each and every such request so please feel free.”

The whispers stopped. Ludwig furrowed his brow and looked at Alyssa he seemed to want to ask something but refrained after a quick look towards the tall woman in front.

The lesson passed and the basement room emptied.

Carmen gazed at her intently. Then she took her hands feeling the fabric of the gloves. “Netherspider silk. Expensive and for most people unpleasant to the touch but quite resistant to void energies. Alyssa Miner. What did you do?”

Alyssa lowered her eyes guiltily. “I found some ways to help me wield the void.”

“What drives you? You have a noble family that pays your bills and waits at the end of your stay here to give you paid employment. No, it is even better than that, you are even friends with your employers. You should be without much care and enjoy your time here. Why?”

“I...cannot really tell you. You would not believe me and declare me mad.”

“So you won't even try? If we analyze your affinity again, will we find any large changes? I wonder.”

Alyssa raised her head some alarm in her eyes. She hesitated again and hugged herself before she spat out, “I have to defeat the lich queen of Ulsolm.”

“Come again!?” After waiting for a short while Carmen sighed. “You really believe that? Who put you up to this? It should not be the Graufurts they are much too sensible for such nonsense. The princess? It would be a coup if you managed it at her instigation but there is absolutely no question that you won’t. Not in this life or the next. So, not her. Who?”

“Why shouldn’t I manage?”

“Did you ever think about what your magic represents? Void magic is among the worst to combat the undead. Yes, you can. Especially spirits. But if you had that ambition why not simply use light magic the natural antithesis or even better a priest wielding light magic amplified by his or her god. Like, say, Alea von Graufurt?”

Asandria smiled and whispered, ‘Naturally, I have some ideas on that. Don’t worry I have it all planned out.’

“What distracts you?” Carmen spoke a spell and her eyes widened. “Gods. Child, what did you do to yourself?”

“I can wield void without danger now!”

“That is like saying the cornfield is safe because you personally burned it to the ground!”

“Everything can be healed and the runes help me channel the void more safely and efficiently. That is what our past lessons were all about, wasn’t it?”

“I truthfully don’t know what to say. I would have to know what exactly you did. Your ‘modification’ looks elven in nature. I will have to ask the Magister for this, this is more than I can determine on my own.”

‘We surmised that you could not hide it from the teachers. It’s all within expectation.’ Asandria laid a calming hand on her back.

“I understand. But isn’t it customary for some families to engrave certain spells into the flesh and bones of their scions? Why is it different with me?”

“Don’t ask that. With those ‘scions’ we know what we are getting. With you? Not so much. So bear with it.” Carmen had calmed herself and shook her head ruefully. “I knew you were trouble the moment I saw your affinities. So don’t do anything strange and I will talk to Magister Illimen. He will decide how to progress further.”

“Thank you, professor.” Alyssa bowed gratefully.

“Assistant Professor if you please.” She rubbed the bridge of her nose. “I am interested in knowing what that is. I would not do it myself- probably. But it could be a solution for other firebrands like you." Her eyes softened a bit, "Whatsoever shall I do with you.”

The last was spoken with some affection and she leaned towards the girl before stroking her head. “When I was a student here I would have been tempted by the promise of power. I am still tempted, but I also fear more. And that is a...good thing I suppose. This fear. If you had but quietly studied and learned. We have ways here in the academy. Rituals. To temper soul and flesh. It’s useless now, but please do remember. We are here for our students and I won’t kill you for asking something relevant. But you have to ask.”

She smiled a bid sadly. “You are dismissed. You can expect the summons in the next days.”

Alyssa left in a daze. Other students were still talking in the corridor leading away from the stairs. Some eyed her and whispered. She was used to this but now...she saw the imperfections in their flesh. The slow decay radiating from the leather of their boots. Every blemish was amplified and there was no beauty anymore.

Helplessly she closed her left eye holding her head. And the right saw the sun slowly dipping toward the horizon. The fresh snow. The young students full of life.

Feeling the power flowing through her deadened left arm she sighed. “It’s all worth it. Only one step on the way.”

“Is everything all right?” A young girl with a single braid who sometimes talked with Mireille- Paula?- stood beside her and asked.

“Yes. Only a bit dizzy. I should have eaten more at lunch but I was not hungry then.” She gave a strained smile.

“Here, have a candy. I usually keep some with me.” Paula smiled and handed her a candy wrapped in cloth and fastened with a colored string.

Without thinking about it the void cut into the string and the cloth fell open.

“How do you two do that!?” Paula looked highly dissatisfied. “Mireille does it with lightning and you with...mh...spatial magic?”

“Void actually.” Alyssa looked curiously at the energetic girl. Did they not all know of her?

“Oh. So that’s what it was. Neat.”

Alyssa grinned. “I can see why Mireille spars with you often. If you like come to our dorm room sometime. We have good teas and cake.”

“I am usually quite busy but I will try. Thank you!”

“No- thank you for the candy.”

And perhaps it was her delusion but even with her left eye, the girl looked quite well indeed.

Some days passed- Inside the study of Magister Illimen.

Calvin looked at his friend. “I seem to remember you told me about an appointment just about now?”

“Ah, yes. That is indeed the case.” Illimen smoked as usual and looked distracted. “Assistant-Professor Carmen bade me look at a special case.” He sighed. “And it is the student we tried to get through the Arcane Exhibition. Alyssa Miner. She is involved with a lot of problematic happenings lately.”

“I heard some of it and was there for the duel. So yes, I know.” Calvin nodded. “I had my apprentice Jeremiah keep an eye and an ear open for gossip and problems. He told me she was distracted in class lately.”

“Something happened to her. Carmen, who I greatly respect, told me that she made some extreme modifications to her body to facilitate void use.”

“That sounds...not good.”

“Do you want to be there for the interview? I would be grateful for an additional unbiased point of view.”

“I have the time. I will stay.”

A knock came from the door.

“Please enter.” A gesture gently opened the door showing Alyssa.

In Drathur Illimen's eyes there was an overlap of a carefully constructed illusion and the girl's real appearance. He could appreciate the workmanship and for a moment lost himself to the question which enchanter would have the ability and delicate touch for such a work.

“Magister? Good day to you, I come as summoned.” Alyssa nodded in greeting and fidgeted slightly while still standing at the door.

The Magister shook himself and nodded, “Good to see you, Alyssa. This here is Calvin Ambrose a friend of mine. I asked him to be here. You might remember him from the day of your duel?”

“Greetings.” Alyssa nodded once again. "And yes, I do."

“So with that out of the way. Tea? Some shortbread?”

The girl was at first a bit startled then smiled and answered, “If it is not too much- both?”

“Good choice.” Illimen rose but was preempted by Calvin who placed a tray with some shortbread and a tea set on the table.

“Have a seat both of you. Thank you.” The last was addressed towards Ambrose.

“So, it has come to my attention that you have made magical modifications to yourself using means of uncertain provenance. What can you tell me about that?”

‘You can tell them that it was an item from the Keralis Erh. A friend knew about your plight and helped you.’ Asandria whispered.

Illimen and Ambrose exchanged a look.

Alyssa spoke, “I used an item that came from the Soulweaver Clan of Elves. A friend of mine knew what it was and did.”

Illimen nodded. “I would like to cast some spells on you. Please remain seated.”

He stood up, gestured and the old staff leaning beside the table flew into his outstretched hand before he began to incant a spell in earnest.

Calvin leaned back. “That will take a bit of time. Feel free to eat some cake or would you like some tea?”

Alyssa looked highly uncomfortable. “What do you intend to do?”

“That depends on the nature of your changes. If it is not harmful to the school or other students then we will simply keep you under observation as such things are never completely safe. So please be calm. Wouldn’t you rather want your teachers to be concerned about such things than simply ignore them? If it were some other student and he or she harmed you or your friends because of our inaction would that not be a problem?” Calvins calm words reassured her and Alyssa took a piece of shortbread and dipped it in the tea.

Illimens chant came to an end and an array of glyphs and symbols surrounded the small girl before winking out. The older man looked pensive and as he became aware of Amboses’ questioning look he said, “Bad, but not as bad as feared. There is at least no arrangement for mind control or something like it. It is in short a very advanced form of brand. Not a surprise regarding its origin. How you got it to work and survive that process is another question entirely. You have much-diminished potential for earth and nature. Light...I would not even think about it. And your vitality is very low. All in all not a healthy proposition.”

He put the staff back beside the table and sat down again. “You have less control over your void magic than before so you will have to work hard to gain that back. Wear the gloves at all times other than when you are under supervision by a teacher and said teacher allows you to remove them. This comes at a bad time with the Arcane Exhibition only a few short weeks away. Work hard, if you cannot get a decent result things will be difficult for you. I cannot explain at this moment but the Exhibition is more important for you than simply another exam. Keep that in mind. I will ask Carmen to give you some additional lessons on Saturday.”

Calvin gave him an amused glance at that. Illimen shrugged uncomfortably.

Alyssa nodded, “Thank you for your consideration.” She was still confused at what all of that meant. The goodwill shown by her teachers made her embarrassed but also happy. “I will work hard to get back the control I lost and will comply with your wishes.”

Illimen smoothed his eyebrows with his index finger and took a long draft of tea setting the cup down again he said. “You should guard against too great an ambition. Even a great work will fail if the foundation is lacking and there are no shortcuts to true excellence. Those might sound like platitudes to you but there is a lot of truth to it. Being unfamiliar with your own magical capabilities is a recipe for disaster especially as they get stronger. Who was that friend of yours?”

Asandria laughed softly, 'Tell him. It makes no difference- just...gloss over my condition will you?'

"She is called Asandria and is an elven sorceress."

"Asandria, mh. The name does not ring any bells. Would she be willing to come to the academy for a discussion of her methods?"

"I will ask."

Afterward, they talked about her studies and her home situation and finally, she said her goodbyes and left.

“There already was an anchor on her aura.” Illimen caressed his chin while gesturing for his floating pipe to come to him. “I put my own besides that.” He grinned.

“Can you guess who put it there?”

“It was of an unfamiliar make, elegant and somewhat elusive. If I were to be put on the spot it’s most likely elvish in origin.”

“As is the greater work that has been done to her.” Calvin nodded. “The same ‘friend’ she mentioned?”

“Possibly. There is a complex artifact embedded in her left arm that allows her to move said arm freely even though it is nearly dead from most perspectives. Said artifact did most of the work so it would not have needed an elven practitioner.”

“All of that for a poor runaway from Rivenlorn. There is something more behind all of that. Shall I have Jeremiah look after her again?”

“That would be helpful. Yes.”