The Enrollment Office

[Wrenaya de Avanell]

Slipping inside, just as the other person was leaving, she couldn't help that heavy sigh that escaped her. Anxiety hung in the air here, not surprising, given the purpose most people had for entering. It was almost suffocating, enough to make her rethink her current course, and turn back around to breath the air outside. Absently, she had already turned back toward the door, to make her way out once more, when she stopped herself short. She had forgotten entirely about closing the door when she had entered. Now, her nose was only a few inches from it, she had just barely avoided walking right into the door.

"Ah yes, this door is in excellent condition. Hardly needs replacing. Good, how glad I am to know there are healthy doors here.." She would offer, making gestures with her hands as if inspecting the door and it's frame. Before words could drift off into that uncomfortable realm of silence, she spun around to face Merlin with a smile. She was sure, the entire scene must seem strange, after all she had just walked in and had attempted to walk right back out without even a hello.

"Can we begin again?" She would ask, ever aware that they had not even started. Absently the back of her hand drifted to her skirt, brushing away dirt that clearly was not there. She had not even given him the opportunity to accept or deny her before she was already introducing herself. "I am Wrenaya de Avanell. Daughter of Sir Jervas de Morten." She pulled her attention away from him then, to look about the room. Very soon, there would be nobody to remember the old man and his weathered keep in the countryside. "I should very much like to become a member here. I know what you are thinking, how could such a giantess have time for magic when she is obviously busy with chasing about children to grind their bones to make her bread. I assure you, I'll have all the time in the world, as I only chase down children on Thursdays." She had offered, with a hint of a grin. Perhaps it would have been better to leave her humor at home today. Very few ever understood her jests,and fewer still ever laughed at them. She wondered if poking fun at her own height would further pull her down in the category of unnatural today.

[Veryan Lithônion]

It had not been long after his arrival and that of his family to Camelot when he began to experience strange things for now besides his promontory dreams he was beginning to feel a sort of energy source within him which enabled him to be more in connection with nature, at peace and enjoy it much more. The strange thing was not the fact that living on the countryside he could enjoy nature’s caress but the fact that it sot of communicated with him and connected in such a way he could do things with it with little effort. That was not normal…

Because of that he trusted in his newly found friend, one of the gypsies of the land who still believed in what was commonly called in Angliaterra, the Old faith. Camden was his name, and he was a dear friend of his; he told him of a magic guild at the service of Prince Arthur hair of the Pendragon lineage and one who fought for the right cause. Though gypsies did not like the new faith they still liked the freedom Arthur granted them and how he worried for the lands which had been deserted by the Romans not long ago, leaving it at the mercy of Saxon bands.

So there, that was the logic explanation that brought him on a cold morning, no, even before, an icy dawn, to look for the very place where Merlin was said to reside waiting for those who wished to join his guild. He was wearing his long and dark cloak and the hood covered his face for he still did not know his way in such turmoil streets and feared that if his insecurities were shown someone could take advantage of that. His sword was hanging on his belt and his bow and arrows were also ready in hand as he walked silently yet steadfast, ready to ask for answers concerning this present situation.

Perhaps the great Merlin, as they called him, would know what was happening to Veryan even if he was not magical at all. Though he seriously hoped it wasn’t anything serious for he already had plenty of problems of his own back home. He simply couldn’t be bothered to engulf into more and greater ones, oh, but little did he know what was about to befall on him the moment he reached Merlin’s office.

Who can tell what dreams can bring to the chosen one to experience them? Who can be wise enough to tell visions from mere dreams? Was Veryan truly having visions of what was to befall him? He dismissed his doubts for the time being and ran a hand through his cold face as he reached a narrow alley and then saw no way in or out. He frowned and looked at the paper once again, he had followed the directions quite easily and they were true for Camden would not lure him into a trap. He sighed and then leaned at the wall for a moment trying to remember if he had missed a street or if he had to do anything in order to find the door.

When suddenly his despair made him turn to both sides of the dead end and suddenly closing his eyes it was as if he tried to reach a form of magic in order to know how to reach Merlin. He sensed there was an entrance, for those who possessed the traits could sense a secret door nearby for the magic it emanated; and it being made of wood surely reminded him of his natural abilities. He sighed a bit unaware of what he had just done and rather confused and then approached to his right and extending his hand he found it, the door!

He sighed and then relieved opened the door and walked across a hallway that accidentally led to yet another door. Hoping not to have mistaken by his logics and talents he opened the door roughly for it was heavy as it was and then looked forth as he entered and the door closed heavily behind him. He then saw a dark room and yet knew there was someone close by he could sense it.

Veryan then walked in the direction of the great wooden table and simply said weakly, “Dia duit?...**”

** Dia duit = Hello

[Merlin Emrys]

Merlin watched as Selena left, then turned his attention to the paperwork on the table before him with a grimace. Paperwork wasn't really his thing, but then again, nor was manual work. He supposed he'd much rather be sitting here at this desk than up at the castle polishing Arthur's armour or scrubbing his boots. He looked up just as a tall, short-haired women entered the office, just moments after Selena had left.

He couldn't help but laugh at her introduction, she was certainly spirited."Well, it's a good thing today's not a thursday..." Merlin replied with a grin, "Nice to meet you Wrenaya, I'm Merlin." He motioned for her to take a seat infront of the desk, when he heard another voice in the background. In the shadows at the back of the room Merlin could make out another form, another potential Guild member.

"Please, come in..." he directed this to the newcomer, "I'll induct you two at a time." There was a spare chair beside Wrenaya so the two new recruits could sit side by side opposite him at the table, as they did so, he pulled two sheets of parchment toward him.
"And your name?" this was to the cloaked boy, as Merlin wrote Wrenaya's name at the top of one piece of parchment. "So, what brings you both here? What band of magic do you wish to train in?" He asked, looking expectantly at the two new faces before him.

[Wrenaya de Avanell]

She was glad for the offered chair, the moment she had turned to making fun of her own height, was the moment she was only too aware just how much taller she was. A seat, would offer her a quick reprieve from being the awkward lanky woman, if only for a short time. While, she had exhibited very early on signs of her own clumsy behavior, when she finally sat down in the chair there was something well practiced in her manner. As if, she had spent a good deal of time learning the grace all well bred ladies are expected to know.

Slender hands rested one on top of the other in her lap, Finally settled and as comfortable as one could manage in such a chair, her attention had returned to the youthful face across from her. For a moment her smile had slipped, suddenly grateful for the entrance of another as it forced her to look away. An eyebrow lifted, as her head turned only enough to grant her a glance over her shoulder. Suddenly, she felt as old as the wood that had been used to make the chair she now sat in. Something within her stirred, that familiar prick of the green monster who desperately wanted her youth back.

There was a subtle flush at the apples of her cheeks, for a moment recapturing the glow of her youth, watching the newcomer cross the room. When he had approached the desk, her mossy gaze swung back toward Merlin. The smile that had been close to shattering earlier had returned, as if it had never left. "I have already had some instruction in psychic magics when I was younger. I would like to continue." She replied, almost reluctant.

[Veryan Lithônion]

The moment Veryan walked a bit closer he noticed a supernaturally tall yet sympathetic woman he was in the middle of listening to what she told Merlin when she knew that all insecurities were one surely this young man would know whatever happened inside Veryan’s mind. He looked about, the room was somewhat old and damp yet well taken care of and he could tell there were many books, books of lore and knowledge this scribe could collect for knowledge and wisdom. If this was Merlin he could tell why people admired him by now.

Veryan bowed his head at the tall woman who would scare anyone off but Veryan had been taught on to see further than appearances and surely the smile in her lips and the gentle glimmer of her eyes gave a more humane quality to this woman and in ways filled his heart in awe for this was not the first time he met with someone special, someone… magical…

“It’s a good thing today's not a Thursday... Nice to meet you Wrenaya, I'm Merlin."

Veryan smiled and then for a moment hoped he would not intrude but was introduced to the Lady’s name then and so he made sure to keep it in mind. He then noticed Merlin’s gaze upon him and so he smiled back at him and wondered how he could do this all day, he had heard there was just too much for Merlin to do back at the castle he was truly impressed he could handle all this as well.

"Please, come in... I'll induct you two at a time."

Veryan smiled and thanked Merlin as he approached the other old and wooden chair and sat in it. For a moment he wondered if the other chair would do justice to the joyful lady and not break in her sitting upon it but he dismissed such teasing and rude thoughts and then chastised himself for being so annoying. He turned to look back at Merlin as he took two parchments and then a quill and thought he had many things to say and ask he only sighed and then thought it would be polite it he let the Lady have a go first and so he always answered after she did.

"And your name?"

It was then when Veryan realized he was talking to him since the Lady introduced herself already. He swallowed before he removed the hood from his face and said, “Veryan Lithônion, Sire, apprentice to blacksmithing.” He then thought it would be best to let the Lady have her go at the question that followed up and once she finished then he let a small pause take place before he considered the question and the answer he should grant the mage.
"So, what brings you both here? What band of magic do you wish to train in?"

Veryan looked at Merlin then and said, “I believe that is something I am yet to discover but I dare say, as of late, I feel connected to nature in a way I never experienced before, it is as if the elements were but inches form my grasp. Does it make any sense?” He said almost only for himself to hear before he added, “I feel the elements within me, they alert me of the fauna nearby as well as any person nearby if I am in the woods, I can feel the cold of winter yet it doesn’t make me feel cold anymore and… I saved a Lady from freezing at the river Kniver but days ago, I felt the ice break as if it could read my mind and that was exactly what I needed to do to reach her.” He was truly bewildered by that experience, could it be he possessed elemental magic?

[Merlin Emrys]

Merlin wrote down the boy's name on the fresh parchment, then looked back up to Wrenaya who informed him of her previous psychic training. He carefully wrote psychic under her name, then turned to Veryan who was patiently waiting his turn to speak and looked deep in thought.

"...I feel the elements within me, they alert me of the fauna nearby as well as any person nearby if I am in the woods, I can feel the cold of winter yet it doesn’t make me feel cold anymore and… I saved a Lady from freezing at the river Kniver but days ago, I felt the ice break as if it could read my mind and that was exactly what I needed to do to reach her.”
As the boy spoke, a puzzled look touched Merlin's brow. He definitely showed signs of elemental magic, but usually they manifested themselves through one element inparticular, and even then, only when the user felt strong emotions. He mulled this over, waiting until the boy had finished speaking, then nodded.

"It sounds to me like the beginnings of elemental magic... but its gradual onset is something I've never heard of before. This is the part in which I usually ask for a demonstration, but with your type of elemental magic- I'm not sure if that's possible... It's there, but you might not be able to access it on demand." he turned to Wrenaya, "If you wouldn't mind, could you demonstrate the type of psychic magic you previously trained in? Unless of course you mean premonitions, which I understand are hard to create on the spot..."

Merlin looked out expectantly at the elementalist and psychic before him, waiting for one or the other to reply.

[Veryan Lithônion]

Veryan could tell Merlin was impressed or rather taken aback this certainly was new to him but perhaps even Merlin could not fully understand how a blacksmith could share such inner connection with nature. Though it did not scare him, quite the contrary he loved the feeling, perhaps because all his life he live din the country side but it was obviously something he had to be taught to control for otherwise it could come to ill use for surely not all mages were noble, there were others selfish and eager to use those unable to control themselves; and that was surely one good reason to come to learn by Merlin’s intuition.

He watched him write down Veryan’s name and for a moment wondered if even Merlin wondered what this could possibly mean. Surely it had nothing to do with him cursing and angering the gods, no, it was a gift but one he had yet to know how to use. It helped him in his daily chores as well, was he abusing of them? Not really, they seemed to be such a part of him now that he felt it natural to make use of it though certainly he would avoid doing so when in company for not everyone approved of magic, the King the least.

"It sounds to me like the beginnings of elemental magic... but its gradual onset is something I've never heard of before. This is the part in which I usually ask for a demonstration, but with your type of elemental magic- I'm not sure if that's possible... It's there, but you might not be able to access it on demand."

Veryan thought for a moment on Merlin’s words and though he knew the young mage was right he did feel it could come into motion if he wished to all he needed was to be close to any element, perhaps wind would also answer to his call? He already knew the earth around him as well as the cold were accessible to him, and so there was nothing wrong with trying to use an element he had yet to use or discover.

He looked around in search for a window and he spotted one not close to his reach but close enough for some cool air to enter through it. He stood up and confident walked towards it unsure of what exactly would happen. The moment he stretched his hand in a way to call out for the wind he could hear so many things, “There is laughter, singing and grief in the air, the elements transmit the feelings of those close by, of the land, animals and people as one single body. When a man cries the earth does as well.” He then tried to go a bit further into this new ability and slowly closed his fist and suddenly the cool breeze turned rather into a small wave of air in motion, much alike a tornado tough this one wasn’t bigger than his very hand.

He stared at it in disbelief and then opened his hand and there was no sign of what he previously happened, he surely had elemental magic but why was it he wasn’t experimenting the typical symptoms Merlin stated an elemental mage would? Perhaps because every person had different abilities, personalities surely no on was exactly alike another person in this life. He then walked toward the table once more and sat back down. Ready for whatever Merlin had to say or to allow the Lady to talk or show her abilities as well.

[Wrenaya de Avanell]

"Would that I could offer up premonitions, perhaps then I could have saved myself from that little door incident entirely." she replied, the corner of her mouth tugging upward, giving away her amusement. Shifting her weight in the chair, her eyes were drawn immediately to the movement at her side. Watching the younger man, rise from his chair to walk toward the window an eyebrow lifted.

The display was not anything like she had seen before, granted she had limited experience with Elemental magic to begin with. She had known one person before coming to Camelot that claimed fire for themselves. Lighting the Great Hall's hearth without conventional aide hardly seemed enough to call one's self an expert on the subject or a great proficient. When the youth had turned back around and withdrawn from the window, she found herself almost falling out of her chair. Unknowingly the entire time, she shifted more forward while he offered Merlin a show. Until she was seated just at the edge, and the chair's back legs were off the ground. Quickly righting her situation, the chair returned to all four legs on the floor with a dull thud, and she sat back once more.

Now it seemed, her turn had come. Her mind raced, turning over the numerous possibilities at hand for a demonstration. Was she supposed offer up something to impress, or simply something to give the young man behind the desk a better understanding? She believed the latter, in fact, she was counting on it. If this was all left to impressing someone, she had very little experience in the subject, and would happily return to the library. Looking back now at Merlin, she smiled.

"Would you like to play a game then? Perhaps think of a color, or your favorite food and I can tell you out loud what it is? Or would this be enough for now?" Her voice, as clear as if she were speaking out loud would find it's way into his head.

The parchment with her name on it, shifted on the desk. At first, it seemed unsure of it's movement, moving and coming to a stop until it floated to her awaiting hand. With it now in hand, she glanced at her name written by Merlin. Another smile, and she handed it back to him. She hoped that was all he needed right now. Other aspects were harder, and she had always found the power of psychic suggestion if it was not needed, dirty.

[Merlin Emrys]

[OOC@Veryan/Wrenaya: Apologies for the ridiculous delay in replying to you guys! @marsie: Are you posting IC in this thread?]

Merlin watched as the boy stood and walked towards the window, the next words he spoke sounded almost poetic, and odd coming from the mouth of one so young. “There is laughter, singing and grief in the air, the elements transmit the feelings of those close by, of the land, animals and people as one single body. When a man cries the earth does as well.” Merlin found it interesting that Veryan could use the land around him to give access to those emotions of various life-forms, it was something he had never heard of before. He could feel the wind sweep into the room, and although the majority was concentrated in the palm of Veryan's hand, Merlin could feel a breeze ruffling his hair as it filled the room.

He nodded to Veryan as he finished his demonstration, patting his hair in an attempt to flatten the windswept tufts back down. He was sorting the wax seal on Veryan's application as he spoke his next words, lighting a candle with a flick of his finger. "I look forward to seeing how your training sessions progress Veryan. You have the potential to become a very powerful mage..." He hoped the boy understood his potential, and he resisted reminding him of the great cliched phrase- with great power, comes great responsibility.

It was Wrenaya's turn. The woman had sat in silence throughout Veryan's demonstration, and Merlin felt bad that she would then have to follow his demonstration. Magicians just weren't directly comparable, as each magical gift varied wildly between the user. He wished that he hadn't broken the rules to interview them at the same time; this was exactly the reason.

"Would you like to play a game then? Perhaps think of a color, or your favorite food and I can tell you out loud what it is? Or would this be enough for now?" Merlin heard Wrenaya's words clearly, yet her lips remained pressed together. He looked at Veryan to see if there was any sign of recognition in his face. He smiled back at Wrenaya, replying in suit:
"Perhaps we can save the games for your training? ...Your presence in my mind is very clear, I would have some difficulty in trying to block you out... This was a compliment, as for a beginner, it was a wonder that Wrenaya had so easily made her way into his mind without putting him on his guard.

Merlin jolted slightly, banging his knee on the underside of the desk as the parchment wriggled out from underneath the quill and floated into Wrenaya's outstretched hand.

"Telekinesis" he observed to Wrenaya's mind, rubbing his knee and then grinning as he accepted the parchment as it was handed back to him. He affixed a wax seal, and then handed the scrolls back to the two new recruits in front of him.

"Welcome both of you, it's quite a find to find two naturally talented magicians at the same time! You now have access to the rooms of the Magician's Guild, and you can begin training as soon as you wish. I look forward to seeing your progress, and I hope to see you both around Camelot? Merlin stood and held out his hand to both new magician's. He liked this part of working in the Guild- getting acquainted with talented magicians of the realm.

[Feel free to open your own training thread and start your first post when you're ready! PM me with any Q's .X]

[Veryan Lithônion]

OOC: No worries Merl

IC:

"I look forward to seeing how your training sessions progress Veryan. You have the potential to become a very powerful mage..."

He could tell Merlin was rather impressed so this had to be a new sort of magic gift, that being said he felt a great knot inside his throat for he had come to the guild hoping Merlin would know about these things but it seemed that now knowing about his own abilities was more of a disadvantage for the fact that he would be a powerful mage also meant he had to be careful how he used his powers, controlled them and whom he trusted his secrets to.

He swallowed roughly and then realized what a powerful and substantial gift he had which was both a blessing and a curse and he would have to control all elements and the way they influenced him in order to be as good as he could be. He did manage to smile at Merlin though for he would do everything at hand to make him proud of his pupil. It was like a mirage, if he did things right he would see the truth of his abilities but if he didn’t then he would be an easy target for whomever wished him ill or even the destruction of a whole nation, he had to be careful, really careful and trust this to no one.

He thanked Merlin as he handed him the scroll, which contained the information on Veryan’s enrollment and abilities characteristics and typos and then looked at it thoroughly as Lady Wrenaya did her own test in order to show her own abilities to Merlin.

"Welcome both of you, it's quite a find to find two naturally talented magicians at the same time! You now have access to the rooms of the Magician's Guild, and you can begin training as soon as you wish. I look forward to seeing your progress, and I hope to see you both around Camelot?”

Veryan smiled at him and held out his own hand to bid Merlin farewell saying, “Thank you Merlin, I hope to live up to your example and I will definitely see you around for I constantly travel about the city delivering the crafts people pay my father for the making.” He then turned toward the Lady and said a she held out his hand for her, “A pleasure making your acquaintance milady.” He then put on his hood again and then walked out of the room feeling relieved ant at the same time worried about his new found abilities for he had to be careful, extremely careful…

[Chase Caldera]

Chase walked confidently up to the door of what he hoped was the mage guild. He had left for the guild as soon as he had dropped off all of his possessions at his father's house. He couldn't believe that the center of all magical learning in the kingdom was in such a small building. Not to mention it all looked so normal from the outside. Then again perhaps that was the trick. Maybe it was supposed to look normal on the outside so as to not scare the populace.

He reminded himself that it didn't matter what it looked like so long as it was true that the strongest mages in the world resided in it. The head of the guild was rumored to be an incredibly powerful mage by the name of Merlin. Chase had determined that he was the man he wanted to study under once he entered the guild. After all how many other people of his talent would they find?

He opened the door and entered a dark room that looked like it hadn't been cleaned in months. A silent clerk looked up at him and pointed him towards another door at the end of the hallway behind him.

Chase paused for a moment calming his nerves and then entered through the door.

[Merlin Emrys]

Merlin was standing when the newcomer walked through the door, it was almsot the end of his shift in the Guild and he would soon swap the job of enrolling new mages with one of the elders. The jobs that awaited him up at the castle caused him to groan inwardly, Merlin had been working at the Guild since dawn and he still had the Prince's cleaning to see too, on top of Gaius' chores.

He walked back in the direction of the desk as a young man entered, turning to face the potential new mage, he smiled in greeting.

"Hello, are you here to enrol?"

[Chase Caldera]

Chase entered to find a dark room that looked like a study. In the center of the room stood an empty desk. To the left of the desk there was a youth who looked like he wanted to be anywhere but here. Chase was surprised that they had such a young man doing the job but realized that chances were this the job that got pushed on the weaker mages.

The youth looked up as Chase entered and asked

"Hello, are you here to enroll?"

"Yes" Chase answered "And I would just like to make it clear that whatever tuition bills there are I can afford them. Also I am quite confident that if the mages of this guild go that extra mile to help train me it will be worth it for both me and the guild. I have been told that I have a rare aptitude for magic and it is my greatest ambition to reach the level of the fabled Merlin."

Chase considered adding something about possibly being trained by Merlin but decided against it. After all this was just a low ranked clerk telling him wouldn't help and would probably only make him jealous.

[Merlin Emrys]

Merlin listened to the boy's words with an odd look on his face. Like many of the potential mages that enrolled here, he was confident in his abilities, perhaps a little too confident. He reminded Merlin of a certain royal someone... Merlin raised an eyebrow at 'rare aptitude for magic', whilst he was sure the boy was exaggerating, he was also interested in those who showed different and interesting talents- and lots did.

He grinned a the mention of his own name as fabled. Merlin was secretly pleased that the boy had heard of him, and yet amused that he was unrecognised. Clearing his throat he replied with a wry smile."Firstly, there are no tuition fees. The guild is funded entirely by the crown. Will you sit?" here Merlin indicated the chair in front of the desk, he continued, "We are always here to help any aspiring Mage, but more important is the work our members put into their own training. Right, I'll need your name, and the band of magic you wish to train in..."

[Chase Caldera]

Chase couldn't figure the youth out. During his speech it appeared that the man both thought him slightly funny and yet appeared interested in his magic. It was interesting that the crown paid for it all Chase hadn't expected that. The clerk also mentioned that most of the work was done by the student themselves not their mentors. Chase at first was surprised at this but after thinking it through realized that chances were that most of the higher mages wouldn't want to reveal their secrets to someone who might eventually overtake them.

"Oh yeah my name is Chase Caldera" Chase said in response to the clerks question "And I wish to train in the elemental magic. I already have slight control over wind. Someday I will control the very weather itself. By the way since chances are my dad already sent a couple of his best barrels of wine should I tell them to send it to the king instead or will you find a use for it?"