House Call

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A time after the surgery, Adrain would find time to see how Tresor was doing. The mage felt guilty, his own life and projects having kept him from returning sooner between the establishment of new settlements on his land, to the mana farm project, to the Headmaster's duties and preparations for the Spring Exams and semester, he hardly had a moment to breathe at times. Even in rare moments of lower activity, he would find his time consumed by someone's request or other tasks at hand.

During the surgery he had meticulously attempted to make certain the integration was as smoothly as it could be from the magical side of things, but Helena's feathers proved to make things slightly complicated, it wasn't easily turning to Tresor's physiology, but maybe some time and healing would have allowed it to happen. That was at least part of the reason for the trip to her home and business, whilst the other part was a social call of friendliness. Hopefully it would be a little less awkward than when he delivered her gifts on Midwinter at this point.

Adrain wore the standard Headmaster's attire that Tresor had seen before, the black robe with gold lining and embroidery of the Arch's symbol on the shoulder and right breast. Black boots came beneath while he wore a normal, black outift beneath. The mage always sort of wondered whether his taste of clothing was influenced by his inherent element, he rarely felt a need to vary from the black attire but in any case he wasn't much of a fashionista either. His silver hair was loose, slightly messy from windblown of the walk over: He had opted to arrive in the city farther away, so that the portal manifesting might not alarm Tresor if her mana sensitivity has gone up.

Upon arriving at the facility, he tested the door to see if the clinic was open normally. If closed, he would knock respectfully waiting to see if she were home. Were it open, he would enter the building and wait in the entrance area, casually calling out "Tresor?" in case she were otherwise occupied with a patient or personal matter.

[Trésor de Lys]

    Tres, having had a patient earlier had been cleaning up in the infirmary on the main level. She hadn't heard too much from friends and acquaintances in recent times, but that is because life is busy. She understood that. One individual she took to thinking about was Adrain. Although he had been there for her surgery, she hadn't heard much of him since then. She had wondered what he had gotten up to as she found out from Lilith, he held a high position in... wherever it was he worked. She had long forgotten it had been so long.

    As she was folding recently washed towels, she heard someone call out to her. The voice was ever so familiar to her. She set aside the towels and made her way into the front room only to see the man she had long been thinking of. "Adrain... Hello? Long time no see." she said in both surprise and awe. She walked up to the mage and offered him a handshake, to which she would ask "What are you doing here?" she said with a curious tone in her voice. She smiled at his garbs, nothing had changed about him, not that she expected his sense of style to change, and not that she was complaining.

    Tres had walked out wearing a light blue long-sleeve overcoat with a white dress underneath that tied in the front. The neckline was v-neck, and the dress itself was floor-length, long-sleeve and simple. Her style hadn't changed much either.

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"I wanted to see how you were after the surgery, plus checking in on a friend I regrettably have had not enough time to pay her the proper respect of late." he says to her initial inquiry as to why he was here. "It may sound like a cop out to say that but well, sorry." he says, rubbing the back of his head feeling a degree of shame in his extended absence.

"But yeah, I was admittedly a little worried about how the metal feathers would adapt since those haven't been possible to properly transfer to your control. They should be sealed in the sense of avoiding detection just by their nature but time and the body can have an effect on such things." he states with a small shrug.

"In any case, if you aren't busy perhaps I could offer you a meal or something at one of the restaurants to catch up, at least if it isn't unreasonable for you to step away for a bit." he says, paying respect to Tresor's practice and business.

[Trésor de Lys]

    Tres smiled at her friend. "It's okay. I understand you being busy. No need to apologize." she had had days with several patients and other days without anyone even coming near her shop, so she had been busy at times as well. Tres was at least glad that he decided to pay a visit to her following her surgery, even if it had been some time.

    Tres smiled at his offer to leave the infirmary for a meal. "That sounds delightful, just let me lock up the infirmary, and we can go get a meal." Tres walked past the curtain to the back door, and locked it. Then she went back to the front door, gestured for Adrain to leave the building before her, then locked the door behind the two of them if he left the building.

[Deleted]

"Still, it's something I'll have to remedy for the future at least by paying you a visit more often." he says with a warm smile, not meaning to really ignore any of his friends. Tresor was someone he cared about and to some extent empathized with even if some of the specifics of their relationship as such as made awkward at least for a time by a certain potion. He nodded when Tresor made mention to lock things up before leaving. As such he withdrew back and left when Tresor indicated and once she was ready to leave walked in the direction of the marketplace when she was ready to walk.

"Has your wing integrated alright? Are you able to fly now? I can probably augment something to help if need be." he inquires, then looking ahead to the crowded marketplace a small ways away with the typical hustle and bustle going abot on either side of the path and ahead. "Any particular type of food you want to go for, nothing is out of the price or question." he states, then casually keeping pace waiting for the answer.

[Trésor de Lys]

    Tres grabbed hold of the doorknob and locked it using a key that she placed down between her bosom, her dress didn't have pockets so she had to make do with what she had. Once she put the key away she followed behind Adrain in the direction of the marketplace. Tres hadn't been to any dining places in the marketplace, so it would be a nice change for her. Not only that, but it would be a nice change to catch up with the mage and see him on much less... friendlier terms than their previous exchanges. She was looking forward to avoiding potions to say the least.

    "My wing? It seems to have integrated just fine. Less soreness now, and I'm able to move it just fine. " Tres wiggled her wing slightly, but it could not be seen due to the wing glamour from the pendent she bore around her neck. "However I am still having terrible nightmares of Helena. It seems that that hellish nightmare part of her personality followed me along with this wing..." Tres sighed "I just can't seem to shake away the nightmares, no matter what I try. I've been losing sleep because of it." her tone was filled with shaken worry. Although Tres had dealt with Helena's actions and battles for years, it was still something that struck fear to her core.

    Tres took long strides next to Adrain, but her pace slowed down as she began to speak of the visions. Tres shook her head as if to shake off her worries, and continued as if everything was normal. "So what have you been working on lately? Anything big happen recently?" Tres, although she lived in the second district was very isolated from all of the goings on in Nova... She should really get more involved.

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"It's good that the fleshy part of it managed to go without a hitch. Maybe we can go see how well you can fly some time later, I have a new form of flight magic I wanted to test anyway." he says with a warm smile, but thinning when he hears that she was having nightmares and bad dreams. He crossed his arms over his chest in thought as he walked while listening, then exhaled a little.

"Well, I can't say that side effect surprises me...I think I can make an article that removes dreaming from sleep for you when you wear it, or alternatively I can allow you to sleep in the Arch's Alternate Reality Chamber where the conditions of your dream can be controlled. In a way, it could allow you to train in your sleeping hours if you wanted since your body would be at rest but your mind would be able to move freely. Granted doing such a regimen for a long period of time, I can't help but to wonder what side effects might happen, if any.." he states, trailing off into a thought unrelated, before refocusing.

"Oh, what I've been working on? A number of things...there are my normal Headmaster duties obviously as the academic year begins, I've also begun work on a town near the Arch being built to a modern standard as well as a port on the eastern coast away from the Arch as to provide Nova with a secondary port and more trading options as well as capacity. Probably my most ambitious project right now is the 'mana farm' system which uses magic to drastically accelerate crop growth and make scarcity a non issue in the years ahead once it's all sorted out and made safe." he says with a small smile, before looking around the marketplace. Tresor didn't indicate as to where she wanted to eat so he looked around for the nicest place, settling on a nicer looking join in prime location. Nearby was a pub, and then there was a more casual food market through the center of the market, he looks at her once more.

"So whats your preference, don't worry about cost it'll be on me."

[Trésor de Lys]

    Tres smiled at Adrain, it was so nice to see his passion for magic and his passion towards the projects he took on. He even seemed proud of the way her wing turned out. Tres looked over her shoulder to her back, although she could see her wings, other people couldn’t because of the glamour from the pendent she bore around her neck. “Yes, it certainly has healed physically well.” As soon as Adrain made mention of a flight test, her face changed to a more fearful expression. “Flying? Oh… I don’t know. My flight muscles haven’t been worked in a year or so…” Tres’ confidence began to deteriorate a little, it was physically visible as she looked down at her hands. But then she looked back at Adrain in confidence. “But I’m willing to try.” She said with a thin and uncertain smile.

    Tres then cocked her head to the side, she had never heard of a sleeping chamber before. “Sleeping chamber?” she said, confusion in her voice. “I’m willing to try anything to get a good night’s sleep.” Tres trusted Adrain enough that she was willing to try anything to try and get a wink’s sleep so she can get back to normal… whatever normal was for her.

    Tres listened attentively to Adrain, smiling all the way as he spoke about his recent projects. “It sounds like you have been nothing short of busy. No wonder I haven’t seen you.” She offered him a kind smile, then went to looking around the marketplace. “Hmm.” She wondered. “I wouldn’t mind going to the food market.” She said, she looked at Adrain after he offered to pay for food. “Oh, well that’s very kind of you Adrain.”

    Tres looked around the busy marketplace as they head towards the food market. Tres could already smell fresh-made bread. She took in a deep breath and walked over to the baker’s stand, peering at all of the fresh pastries and pies. “You must try this baker’s fruit pie, it simply is divine.” She smiled at Adrain.

    Tres turned back to Adrain, “So please tell me about this chamber, and the Arch… Do you have any teachers that educate healing?” she asked out of curiosity. She then proceeded to look back at the pastries.

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"Well Lilith I know did most of the work with the healing, I find it incredibly impressive that she managed to do this procedure which is probably unprecedented by all standards. I need to think of some kind of token of appreciation to get her for the work she put in for it." he says, then trailing off in thought as Tresor expressed hesitation at the prospect of flying again.

"Oh you'll be fine I'm sure with a little work, I can get you a potion of weightlessness or have elementals follow you as you retrain your flight for the new wing." he says, then when Tresor asked about the chamber, he exhaled catching his breath for a full explanation.

"Well the chamber is a full functioned shared dreamscape where multiple people can put their bodies to sleep and have their mind in a controllable dream world which is used primarily for training or simulation. Of course, it can also allow your body to sleep while your mind is active, I don't even mind being on a standby to intervene in case the nightmares try to manifest." he says confidently, already thinking of several plans for how to go about things in case anything went awry.

"Market it is." the mage says with a nod, following Tresor's lead since she seemed to have a direction to go to at first, being drawn to the baker's stand. The small irony that she called a fruit pie divine made him smile a bit. "Alright, well I'll take your word for it and try it." he says, usually favoring pastries himself of the cream and cookie variety but expanding the pallete was always good. He hailed the baker and made the transaction of trading the coins while the pie in question was packed up.

"Maybe, some sort of smoked meat, roasted potatoes, and some sort of vegetable since dessert alone hardly makes a meal." he says, looking around the market for ideas, indifferent in preference though focusing on the angel once she askeda bout the healing school.

"Yeah, the Arch has an advanced training program for healing and medicine, though it's a lot less 'by the divine be healed' and more analytical and scientific use of magic to restore the body. We definitely have some top of the line staff for training, even royal doctors being graduates of that program. I've always admired those who had talent in the healing arts, it's not exactly a strong suit of mine." he says with both admiration to Tresor's abilities and making a bit of fun at his own expense. "Did you want to enroll potentially?"

[Trésor de Lys]

    Tres nodded her head in agreement. Lilith really did a spectacular job with mending and healing the wing, bones and skin. She really had improved since Tres' last incident, not that she was very present during either of those instances. Nonetheless she nodded at Adrain. "Perhaps I should give her a gift of appreciation as well..." she pondered. Tres didn't have too much money other than what she made at the infirmary, perhaps she would bake her a pie.

    Tres blushed at Adrain's confidence in her. It was nice to have a friend who believed in her abilities, especially considering her level of nervousness with regards to flying again. She wondered what it would be like ingesting a potion of weightlessness... she wondered, maybe she'd be able to try it.

    Tres looked at the mage as he explained in detail the chamber. "So it's as if I am have a lucid dream? However I can control my thoughts, except in this case I would be having a restful sleep all the way?" Tres really hoped that the chamber would work. "Well, like I said, I am willing to try it." Tres had full confidence in the mage. But her face soon turned curiously sour. "Could something go wrong? I mean with the capacity of my nightmares lately... could it be life-like?" Tres grew worried... but knew in the back of her mind that Adrain wouldn't put her in a dangerous situation.

    Once Adrain paid for the pie, she grabbed the wrapped plate from the baker behind the counter, offered him a kind smile, then turned back to Adrain, laughing lightly. "Perhaps you are right." Tres looked around the market and saw a butcher's stand with a display filled with cooked sausages as well as smoked cuts of meat. "You pick this time. I've already gotten my choice of foods." she smiled at Adrain.

    Following her inquiry about healing magic at the Arch, Adrain informed her of their extensive programs. She looked at him wide-eyed when he asked her about enrollment. "Me? Enroll as a student?" she cocked her head to the side. "I don't know... I suppose it could be a good opportunity to learn some practical magic versus the divine magic I possess..." she said curiosity filling her mind. Tres had been thinking about learning more about the botany sciences and botany magic since the construction of her greenhouse. "Well, do you offer courses on botany manna and medicine?" she asked out of curiosity. Tres really felt unsure "Well, what do you think?" she asked, she paused a moment to hear his response, then would laugh. "Would you be my teacher?" Tres giggled not because she found it funny that he would be her teacher, but that he would have to learn to be organized with his potions before she would want him to instruct her again.

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"Best case, that is how the chamber would work yes. Though the possibility of your nightmares manifesting in a tangible form isn't impossible, but that said I can eject you from sleep if need be or I can help you confront it and maybe you can resolve the underlying issue through prevailing over it. Dreams and nightmares often have a cause or purpose, it's been heard of that people overcome inner demons through use of the chamber as such. That said, if it still alarms you then it's perfectly understandable if you want to abstain." he says, looking at her with both concern for her well being, but concern for her safety as well. This was a judgment call sort of deal only Tresor could weight the pros and cons appropriately.

Back to the subject of the meal, Adrain nodded and found his attention pulled to one meat shop which had freshly roasted legs of lamb. The smell was rich, the perfect blend of fat and meat and spices with just the right amount of roast. Since Tresor would yield the choice he had made move to get some wrapped up trading the coins to the vendor.

"Well yes botany magic falls under Earth Elemental, and we have a few specialists who can answer questions if need be. There is even a recent addition to the staff, Lady Vanya, who has a depth of knowledge there who lives in the city. Medicine is fairly broad but a program can be put together for you to expand your knowledge best for where your talents lie. I think it would be a great opportunity for you to grow if you wish for it" he says with a small smile. When asked if he would be the teacher, he tilted his head slightly.

"Well since becoming Headmaster I admit I have less courses than I did before since much of my job is now the overall administration, but I can certainly help you with plant magic, and I generally fill in when another instructor is busy or sick. Of course, I'd be happy to help you whenever you ask, I would just have to schedule it at earliest opportunity."

[Trésor de Lys]

    Tres grew silent as Adrain explained the concept of the chamber and how it would work in relation to her nightmares. Tres looked down at her feet, appearing nervous, even a bit scared. Although the trauma she endured was nothing unfamiliar to her, she was still fearful as that was not her life now. She would look back up at Adrain, peering into his eyes for a moment. “You’ll be there… You’ll help me?” she said, her voice breaking a little. She took in a deep breath, looking down at the pie. “Okay.” She nodded, exhaling heavily. She knew that she had the strength to endure what her dreams held for her, but she needed to realize that they are only dreams. That’s all they were now.

    Tres followed Adrain to the butcher’s seeing him eye the roasted lamb legs. Tres could smell the smokiness from the lamb, and instantly began to feel her mouth water. She watched as the vendor wrapped it with ease and with splendor. Tres grabbed the wrapped meat, and carried it on top of the pie.

    She began walking to another part of the market, a produce stand. She could smell the soil coming off of the array of fruits and vegetables in front of her. She looked back to Adrain as he explained the Earth elemental. “Would you make an exception to teach a good friend a thing or two about what you know?” Tres’ smile was both playful and flirtatious. She grabbed a bright orange fruit, bringing it to her nose to take a smell, then placed it close to Adrain’s nose so he could smell it. “I think something fresh is also needed for a meal. Thoughts?” she asked him.

    Tres looked at him with curiosity in her eyes. “Wait, so this chamber, it’s a simulation sort of thing… Would it be capable of helping people with combat training?” she asked out of curiosity.

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"Yes, of course. I can't really rest easy knowing a good friend is having these issues from something that I have a part in causing trying to help her." Adrain says with a soft smile to try to reassure Tresor of the fact he would be there to participate in trying to resolve these issues for her. After the butcher's purchase was done, Adrain paused when Tresor seemed to be distracted by a produce stand. Before he could answer her spontaneous question that had some hint of amorous intent regarding earth elemental magic, he had an orange shoved in his face to smell. The citrus was pleasant and he took a small step back feeling slightly weird speaking with a fruit near his face.

"Yeah of course I can find some time to tutor you on the magic when you feel you need it. Some fruit is probably a good choice, perhaps I can even try to do that trick to make what some fated call 'Ice Cream' with an orange for flavor." Adrain says as he pays for a half a dozen of oranges, and then makes his way to another farmer's stand purchasing milk while then getting a couple of other ingredients from stands: sugar, rock salt, a few other things. "What do you want to drink with this, ale, wine, juice, anything works." he says, addressing the last main point of the meal. When asked about the chamber, he nodded when she mentioned the chamber being used for combat training.

"Yeah, that's one of the main uses. While we teach the peaceful application of magic, there is no disillusion that self defense is required to learn, and those learning to be War Mages for their kingdoms also need a place to practice without blowing up random patches of land in the process."

[Trésor de Lys]

    Tres felt the nervous butterflies in her stomach settle as Adrain reassured her that he would be there to make sure she was alright… He always seemed to be there to make sure she was alright. Well him and Lilith. Tres truly was grateful for the friends she had. She nodded, feeling a lot better about taking a step towards a restful, and much needed sleep.

    Tres giggled under her breath as he took a step back, and was only intrigued by the idea of whatever this ice cream was. “Whatever it is I’m willing to try it.” Tres watched Adrain as he purchased milk, sugar, and… rock salt? Tres wouldn’t understand until she saw whatever Adrain was up to. Quickly, Tres’ mood changed, from excitement, to concern. “The fated… I’ve heard of them, people don’t seem to like them.” Tres grew a little wary. “Who are they? What have they done?” she asked, she knew that fate had brought people from other worlds into Nova, but she never knew why people were so resentful towards them.

    Tres look at Adrain as he asked her what she wanted to drink. “Hmm… I haven’t had wine in a while, and besides we have something to celebrate!” she said smiling, and skipping ahead of Adrain towards a wine vendor. Tres would nod at Adrain when he explained what the main purpose of the chamber was. “Self-defense is crucial…” she said thinking back on the battles she fought alongside Helena. She smiled at Adrain, knowing that it was probably best that they not destroy the land while practicing self-defense, especially those who combat using magic.

    Tres would examine various bottles they were displayed in dark-coloured glass bottles. She would breath in the mixture of smells. “What do you prefer, white or red?” she asked him with a bright and toothy smile, that would soon be stained from the alcohol.

[Deleted]

"The fated are people who have found themselves pulled into this world from other worlds, most if not all against their will as if something on this world were calling them here. Nobody seems to know quite what, how, or why. They haven't really done anything, it's bias and paranoia that make people fear them in spite of the fact that they aren't really much different from natives." he says, shrugging a little. "It's always bothered me the situation the fated are in, its not completely dissimilar from that facing mages at times so I try to do what I can to help the Fated so long as they are law abiding citizens." he says, then nodding when Tresor made move to want wine.

"White probably, easier to clean, just pick the right vintage. Where do you want to take all of this delectableness to consume?"