<font color='#000000'>Quarter: Tessera Day: 24 Year: 81377 Kirsch padded across the grass, red stained legs lifting and falling in the easy gait, overlarge, tufted ears of similar color pricked forward despite the whistling of the cooling wind. His ice blue fur rippled slightly, the darker mane sometimes falling into his violet eyes, but always lifted again by the wind. On sudden impulse the 1000 year old broke into an energetic run, facing into the wind and at the same time feeling as though he were racing against it, nose thrust forward to catch the scents and a competetive look on his features.</font>
<font color='#000F22'><justify><font face="trebuchet ms" color=slategray>Arther's nerves had become increasingly frayed as the day passed, pendragons treading outside his office almost without stop. As a mostly solitary 'dragon, the teacher had hoped for some time to relax on his day off. Retreating to the seldom used convenience of his personal office hadn't done much for him, however. Even as he tried to get reports done for those youngsters who had interested parents, his mind kept snapping back to that noisy hallway. If he had been doing physical activity, he wouldn't have even noticed the noise but, as it was, he was writing up dull, routine summaries of what his students had learned. Most of them showed little promise, and it was hard to keep his reports civil and polite when he sent them. He would have preferred to merely tell the parents the truth - that their kids would never get past simple self-defense. But he knew most of them would be insulted, so he didn't even try. As soon as he had gotten half of the papers done, the scowling Sightless Fighting Master had exited his so-called retreat, and stalked into the courtyard, irrate and unhappy. The outdoors soothed his spirits somewhat, the steady, familiar sounds of children and their games allowing his body to relax. In fact, a fond smile passed across his muzzle. It was nice to be able to enjoy some serenity, if only for a moment. Arther really wasn't suited for the hustle and bustle of the Front Foyer, and was glad that he could stay in his own, more private, classroom in the farther reaches of the school. Arther's eyes were caught by the racing 1000-year-old, and he shook his head with a light chuckle, before calling out in slightly accented English. <font color=black>"'ey there, slow down, youngster. You're going to fall flat on your face, if you keep that up."</font> He commented, with a flick of his flamed tail.</font>
<font color='#000000'>His head whipped around at the older 'dragon's words, and before he knew it he had fallen flat on his face, having tripped over something while not watching where he was going. He tumbled across the soft emerald carpet, his body rolling crazily but taking no harm; it was miraculous sometimes, how flexible and seemingly invincible those youngsters were. He finally came to a stop in a jumbled heap. He scrambled to his feet and shook himself, dark blue mane flipping around and getting in his eyes, a bit of dust from his tumble flying off. Then he blinked, looking at the other. In what some would consider a disrespectful way, but that was actually, for him, just plain naive curiousity, he asked, "Who're you?"</font>
<font color='#000F22'><justify><font face="trebuchet ms" color=slategray>Arther had half-anticipated the end result of his words, the exact thing he had warned about. Of course, it was partially because the niotie had turned his head to gaze at the Sightless Fighting Master. A faintly amused smile twitched to life on his lips as the cub, sure enough, fell flat on his face, then tumbled forward, and onwards. A faint twitch of his flamed tail was slightly concerned as the ears of the teacher perked. Hopefully, the youngster hadn't gotten himself hurt because of the almost teasing comment. Of course, it was doubtful. Besides, 'dragons of that age tended to fall, then get back up again without so much as shedding a tear, especially the males. The cub stopped in a jumbled heap, and, sure enough, no tears or screams of agony were released. In fact, the youngster rose to his feet, and shook himself off quite vigorously. Arther's wings quivered slightly, shifting so that they rested more casually across royally colored back. Eyes narrowed a bit at the seeming direspect of the young pendragon's direct gaze. Far from taking offense, however, the Master merely smiled in a mildly friendly manner. Chuckling at the question, he sank to his haunches, curling his tail about his forepaws, and watching the niotie in amused warmth. <font color=black>"Mm, the question is, who are you, young niotie? I suppose I can answer first, however... I am Arther Rhapsode, Sightless Fighting teacher of the Academy."</font> He replied with a slight nod. More then likely, the niotie had heard the rumors of his stonefaced, hardcore teaching. However, that wasn't the case, out of class. He was merely a strict, disciplined, teacher.</font>
<font color='#000000'>For some reason the young 'dragon, for a moment, felt annoyed at the title the teacher had given him, but it passed quickly. After all, he was far from being an adult. He hadn't heard much at all about anyone here, or anything at all for that matter. In fact he was a bit disoriented, but as usual, he hadn't let a little confusion distress him. "Name's Kirsch. Kirsch Jerikoh." Some leftover dirt began to irritate his skin, so he had to shake himself again to be rid of it. Then he sat down, copying the other's pose without hardly noticing. "I'm 1000" he added as an afterthought. "But I'm gonna be 1100 in...." he had to think for a minute, calculating. "Three days...I think. On the 27th." He drew himself up to his full height, taking on a I'm-all-grown-up-now pose without even realizing.</font>
<font color='#000F22'><justify><font face="trebuchet ms" color=slategray>Arther's eyes flickered from the cub, to the other students and teachers that roamed the Courtyard. In fact, there weren't many out and about at this part of day, which meant his gaze mostly rest on the niotie. The faint annoyance that flashed across the youngster's face caused the Master to quirk a single brow, and suppress a chuckle of amusement. Most cubs were rather irritated at the idea of being called a "niotie", since it seemed to be degrading. As it was, however, to the fighter, it merely meant a youngster. And it certainly seemed that the other was no adult, or teenager, therefore, that made him a niotie. It was actually a good thing that the circulating rumors hadn't reached the ears of the youngster. After all, if he had shrank back, that would have made Art less-then-inclined to remain. He would have found some excuse to go back to his office, much as he dreaded returning to that hellish retreat. The flame on his tail flickered to a sharp black, then back to a neutral red. It was easy to maintain what his tail-flame showed, though, and he had suppressed the black rather quickly. Only if the cub had been focusing on the everlasting flame, would he have even recognized the flicker. As Kirsch introduced himself, a slight nod was given, as well as a welcoming smile. Once the niotie had shaken himself, and sank into a mirror image of Arther's own pose, the Sightless Fighting Master relaxed a bit. Obviously, he hadn't gained a bad reputation with this particular youngster just yet. As Kirsch mentioned his age, Arther coughed to keep from laughing. At such an age, Art had been rather sure of himself, as well. With as grave a nod as he could manage, Arther spoke. <font color=black>"Wow, getting old, are we? Soon enough, you're going to have to do work, and sustain a family. Think you're up to it?"</font> He inquired with an amused twinkle in his eyes.</font>
<font color='#000000'>Kirsch blinked, barely catching the changing color of the tail-flame out of the corner of his eye, but not really seeing it or registering what it meant. He turned his attention back to the teacher. He'd always been told he needed to keep his mind on what he was doing. Then a strange look passed over his face as he caught the other's words, and then he shook his head, grinning. "Got plenty of time before I have to do that. I've got other things planned." his tail flicked around to the other side of him, and he took on a momentarily thoughtful look, uncommon for his age. "I'm gonna take my time before I get into all that boring adult stuff." he said, half to himself.</font>
<font color='#000F22'><justify><font face="trebuchet ms" color=slategray>Art's half-smile was mostly genuine, a mixture of warmth and a sense of authority. As it was, the latter was mostly subdued, since Kirsch seemed a rather mature cub. At 1000 years, of course, the niotie was growing rather fast. Soon enough, he would, indeed, be in an adult state, expected to learn even more, to test for higher ranks, and to excel. Otherwise he would dwindle, fade away, another spark extinguished. It would be sad, yes, but Arther tried to avoid emotional attachments to students. It only ended in pain, after all, if one felt fond about a particular child underneath them. Unless it was their own offspring, but that was a whole 'nother matter altogether. The strange look that passed across Kirsch's face caused Arther to chuckle lightly. He had seen it often enough on the faces of other cubs, many unwilling to accept their future fate, as father, mother, and mere subject of the Graders. The latter wasn't a chosen occupation, but that didn't make it any less important. In fact, it was more important, at least outwardly. Few challenged their supreme leaders, and survived to tell about it. At his words, Arther shook his head lightly. So many cubs thought the same way. But the thoughtful look was something new, since few cubs thought about their futures. After all, that was so very far away to their young minds. His musing finale caused a gentle flick of the male's tail, and a curious, thoughtful look of his own. <font color=black>"It isn't all boredom, you know. Having a family, relative freedom, even teaching, is all fun in its own way. There's work too, yes, but it's definetely worth it. Sure, though, wait until you're really ready. You're only a child once."</font> He commented with an approving nod.</font>
<font color='#000000'>For a moment the young 'dragon seemed on the point of making some other childish comment, but he fell suddenly silent, thinking about what Art had said. His violet eyes seemed momentarily troubled, but it was only a flicker, soon lost in the brighter flame of youthful enthusiasm. Kirsch grinned and nodded, letting the teacher know that he had accepted and would think about his words. For a while it was quiet, then Kirsch spoke. "How hard is it to have three trades?" he had wondered this for a long while, being torn between three of his most passionate interests, but for now only studying two of them seriously. It seemed like it would be alot of work to have more than two, since you'd have to spend more time and learn more and take more classes and whatnot. But he was curious...</font>
<font color='#000F22'><justify><font face="trebuchet ms" color=slategray>This particular adult had often found that it was easier to speak to a bright young cub - such as Kirsch - as if they were equals. That made it so that they didn't think that he was frowning down on them, or sneering at their age. He understood completely how it felt to be disregarded due to the amount of years he had spent on the planet's surface, and it was rather uncomfortable. Why should young nioties feel any better about the idea? In fact, if anything, it would be heightened by the fact that they expected adults to look down on them. Anything and everything was taken as an insult, or, rather, as if some ill intention had been behind a comment. Which was a rather... strange way of looking at things, but an understandable one. Art's tail twitched thoughtfully, and he looked at the sky, a brief smile of satisfaction flickering across his lips. He had told the secretary that there would be rain today, and, sure enough, the looming presence of clouds foretold future rainfall. Returning his gaze to Kirsch as the niotie spoke, Arther tilted his head thoughtfully. Few tried to get three trades, because they simply didn't have the willpower to try. Or, perhaps, it was because two trades seemed more naturally. To Arther, however, he half desired to start another trade to occupy his time. While he had to train to maintain Mastery, a new hobby would be something to challenge him, to spark suppressed interest in other topics. It was something that he had considered for a long time, but that Kirsch brought to the front of his mind. Sharp teeth were temporarily revealed in a grin, before he replied. <font color=black>"All it requires is a bit of effort, really, and true dedication. It's harder, of course, to be able to Master them all, but that's part of the challenge. I'll bet you'd be up to it, though, if you really wanted to try."</font> The Master replied.</font>
<font color='#000000'>Kirsch half subconciously noticed the way the teacher regarded him differently than other adults did, and he felt a strange liking toward the teacher in that instant. He had never been able to figure out why, even when he tried to talk to adults like adults talked to eachother, everyone always saw him as a little pest. Almost everyone. Arther's words made him feel more determined, encouraged him. He waited a minute, considering, then grinned again. "Right now I'm doing Drawing and Astro...astron...astrolo..." his nose wrinkled as he forgot which one it was. "Astronomy, I think."</font>
<font color='#000F22'><justify><font face="trebuchet ms" color=slategray>Arther made a point of never dismissing the idea of an intelligent student until that same youngster had shown themselves to be a fool. Perhaps most did the opposite, acting as if their students were ignorant, until they were proven wrong. That didn't mean that the teacher presumed his students knew things, not in the slightest. It simply meant that he presumed they were worth his time, until they showed him otherwise. Art was, generally, a good judge of character, too, so he quickly caught on to the troublemakers. This Kirsch seemed curious in a manner that some might find disrespectful, but that Arther found amusing, and almost admirable. Listening to Kirsch's words, and his temporary stumbling over the word Astronomy, Arther barely managed to keep from telling the niotie what he was trying to say. But that would seem like he was trying to have a superior air, too. Which he wasn't, in the slightest. Nodding, he replied. <font color=black>"Those are interesting topics. What would your third trade be, if you had one?"</font> He inquired, genuinely curious</font>
<font color='#000000'>Kirsch's violet eyes dropped to the ground when the teacher asked him about his hopeful third trade. He wasn't sure if he wanted to answer, since everyone he'd talked to so far had said his hopes were too high. But after a while he blurted it out. "I uh...wanna be a Jemdrull player." he forced himself to not look up right away.</font>
<font color='#000F22'><justify><font face="trebuchet ms" color=slategray>Art frowned faintly as the cub's gaze dropped. When that happened, something embarrassing or bad tended to spill forth. Of course, the topic hadn't been all that dangerous, so it was doubtful that Kirsch was going to say "I want to kill the Graders", or some insane comment like that. Unless the niotie was truly insane, which Arther tended to doubt. After all, others would have noticed before now, and the cub would have been withdrawn to a "special" school designed for such youngsters. There was a pregnant silence, as if the young pendragon was unhappy with the answer, and was mulling over whether or not to speak. Rhapsode's tail moved back and forth in demure anticipation, eyes narrowed. His words caused a short chuckle of relief to escape his lips, without need for him to hold it back. Mere moments after it escaped, he realized how the cub might take it, though. A paw reached forward, intent on tipping the chin of Kirsch forward. With an encouraging smile, Arther nodded. <font color=black>"That is an interesting goal. Don't think that it is something you should forget about, though. Persue it. In fact, if you talked to Hart - er, the Principal about it, I'm sure she could fit in Jemdrull lessons around your others. It might take a bit more effort, since Jemdrull is not an easy thing to learn... perhaps you should start a Jemdrull club, eh? Organize practice matches among youngsters like you, who are the talent of this great Academy. You're the Team's future, after all."</font> He replied with a slight nod of approval.</font>
<font color='#000000'>Indeed, a small scowl flickered over the young 'dragon's face at the older one's chuckle, but soon he realized where the teacher was coming from and relaxed. Acceptance turned to growing wonder at Art's reply, and finally he smiled. "Really?" He'd never gotten such a positive response to his dream before, and it made him feel at least a bit more hopeful.</font>
<font color='#000F22'><justify><font face="trebuchet ms" color=slategray>Arther gave a slightly apologetic smile as he recognized the scowl that Kirsch gave him. With a faint twitch of his tail, which shifted to a soothing silver, he shifted his forepaws thoughtfully. There was a temporary silence, before one word, filled with wonder, was uttered. With a slight nod, and a faint flicker of a smile, he replied. <font color=black>"Really, really."</font></font>
<font color='#000000'>Kirsch's face lit up almost too enthusiastically, and he sprang to his feet, looking on the point of breaking into a run again, just to release the burst of energy that had come with encouraging words of the other. His legs were surprisingly long compared to the rest of him, and his violet eyes held the spark of ambition and dreams. He wondered how soon he'd be able to start.... "Thanks. I'm not exactly sure how to do all that, but uh...I guess I'll figure it out..." The originally small tail-flame of the youngster flared to almost startling porportions in his excitement.</font>
<font color='#000F22'><justify><font face="trebuchet ms" color=slategray>Arther's lips cracked into a half-smile. This youngster was certainly one enthusiastic ball of energy. The teacher could tell that the spirit within Kirsch wouldn't have been entirely moved from its dream, even if he had said that Jemdrull players were morons, or some such thing. Not that Art would have, but that such negativity wouldn't have persuaded Kirsch to give up the idea. Doubtless, others had already degraded his dream, tried to turn him from it, but the cub hadn't budged. Not yet, anyways, though, perhaps, there would eventually come a time when he decided he didn't want it, and gave it up. Not now, though. Now, he was optimistically longing for such a thing. And Arther would do his best to try and acheive lessons for the youngster. Hart would listen to him, after all. <font color=black>"Well, for the club, I'm sure the Principal can help you. She's rather good at organizing things, after all. And there are certainly others who want to be Players, but already have two trades. They'd probably be eager to join in. As for classes, just ask, and I'm sure your schedule can be adjusted."</font> He replied, his own tail warming as he considered the youngster in warm amusement.</font>
<font color='#000000'>Kirsch was not ashamed of his own excitement. His violet eyes burned with a fire unmatched by that of his tail-flame, and he grinned, looking forward eagerly. He was about to dash off to the front foyer, but suddenly he realized how late it was. The sky was darkening, a few stars peering down and laughing at him, seeming to ask him why he was so hurried. His tail-flame diminished slowly as he realized he would have to talk to the Principal tomorrow....but he forced disappointment away and smiled at the teacher gratefully. "Thanks, I guess I'll have to do it tomorrow though...I still have a drawing assignment I have to finish before tonight."</font>
