the_campus | CAMPUS WIDE EVENT: EVERYTHING AND THE KITCHEN SINK

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CAMPUS WIDE EVENT: EVERYTHING AND THE KITCHEN SINK

[Hopefully everybody likes waking up outside.

Because as it were, in the middle of the night when everybody had been asleep or lulled into a sudden one by the sheer weight of the air around them...the Campus disappeared in its entirety. Left behind was only the cool surface of the concrete foundation.

For now it seems the residents were left to fend for themselves in the wilderness of the island. Not even the voice from over the intercom would comfort them.]

((ooc: the school has disappeared, along with all the NPCs and everything that was inside! no opt-out areas this time around. The temperature is cool during the day, and colder at night.

The event will last until October 20th, and I'll post a closer to signify it. Everything will be returned to its rightful place then.))

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It's written in Sumerian, a language that was already dying long before I was born. It's similar to Egyptian forms of writing from my time, but not quite the same. Look.

[He traces a finger along one of the 'words' there.]

See how each letter is more like a picture than a word? Each one represents a sound. It's the same in my language, though most of our writing is more complicated.

It must have been... I've never heard of that language.

[He does look, noting the small little pictures. Interesting...]

So it was a language before words were written out as words, was it? I'd heard of things like that, but I've never quite seen one myself like this.

[Or whatever half these diagrams are. Absent-mindedly, Henry reaches out to try to trace one of the "words" with his finger. He can't even make heads or tails of the pictures right now.]

[He nods firmly, holding the book still so Henry can touch. The book tingles with magic at the touch, not unlike touching something that's electricially charged.]

Sumerian is one of the most ancient known languages, even by my time.

[He glances around and decides the ground will do.]

Here.

[Careful not to dislodge Yugi, he reaches out a hand to draw out the symbols for his own name in the dirt. Owl. Vulture. Flax. Vulture. Hand. 'MAHAD'.]

This is the language of my home.

[He watches with rapt attention as Mahad draws, then reaches out himself, carefully trying to reproduce the symbols. Owl, Vulture, whatever that was, Vulture, Hand?]

It's elegant looking, if nothing else. Mahad...

[M.. A... H... A... D... So it's not too different from his own language, just that the letters are pictures.]

[Mahad nods firmly.]

Much of Egypt is focused on appearances. Our writings are no different; they're an old and elegant style of writing. Most older scripts are in a similar manner. A lot of the 'ancient world', as it would be by your time, tries to make the world more beautiful in their own way. Statues, art, music... Everything becomes something appealing in an attempt to mask the uglinesses of the world.

For a long time, writing has been something only scribes, magicians and nobles tend to learn, due to its complexity; most likely, the reason for the easier scripts of the future is due to that.

That would explain it, though it had become simple without being available even by my time...

[Hmm. He eyes the script curiously, thinking. Well... it can't really hurt, right?]

What's the rest of the alphabet for this?

Here. I'll do them in the same order as your writing style.

[He carefully draws out the rest of the symbols, writing their translations beside them - then the three extras.]

These three here don't follow the alphabet; they're the sounds for 'ch', 'sh' and 'kh'.

Hmm... I see.

[Henry brushes off the ground under Mahad's name, then glances at the alphabet to write something there.

Two reeds. A quail chick. A stand. A single reed. Y. U. G. I.

And then next to that...

Flax. Reed. Water ripple. Mouth. Reeds. H. E. N. R. Y.

It's positioned so that Mahad's name is "balancing" on the top of both of theirs, a slight smile on the king's lips at the look of it.]

[Mahad nod and smiles, amused by the positioning.]

You're a born student. You're good at replicating things, it seems.

[At least when they're as simple as this.]

Maybe you're just a good teacher?

[He flashes Mahad a grin at the half-joke, glancing at the pictures.]

It isn't too difficult. It's a sort of replacement language, compared to mine, so I just need to ensure that I use the right symbol.

[Hm... over on the other side, he writes a few more names. Snake Vulture Basket Basket, Basket Flax Mouth Reed Cloth Loaf Lasso Stool Flax Reed Mouth, Mouth Reeds Lasso Quail, Owl Vulture Mouth Stand Vulture Mouth Reed Loaf, Snake Vulture Cloth Stool Reed Mouth...

He stops at that last one, closing his eyes in thought. It already felt strange to write those last two names, in any form. It felt like he's been in this place for longer than it possibly could have...]

More correctly, replacement letters. The actual language would be much harder for you to learn.

[He reads over the names thoughtfully. Jack, Christopher, Ryou, Margaret, Jasper. Lifting a hand, he pats Henry on the shoulder.]

Feeling homesick?

Somewhat, yes...

[Henry smiles at him, but it's a solemn, quiet one.]

I've lost track of how long I've been here. It's felt like so much longer than it can possibly have been...

It's natural. This place is not even close to the world you know, let alone the people within it. Adjusting to it is good, but it's understandable to feel unhappy or out of place.

[He offers Henry his hand.]

[Henry glances at it, then smiles a bit again, lacing his fingers into Mahad's with that childish feel again.]

It isn't even that I'm entirely unhappy here, since I know we'll get out at some point. It just feels as if... there's something worse about this place, like the spell that holds us here makes it so that time slips away without us noticing.

Or... perhaps that's just because there's so little to do. With no kingdom, no wars, no tasks... it feels like time itself is just blurring together and passing by before I can even realize it.

[He waves a finger at Henry, tsking silently. Poor soul...]

The magic behind this place has no effect on time, as far as I can tell. It's a natural feeling that all people experience... but due to your past, you've never had the chance. You've always been occupied with things thrust on you by others, rather than occupying your own mind. In that situation, idleness is almost a punishment at times.

Perhaps we should find a way to occupy your mind. Those fears will surely disappear if that happens.

[He rolls his eyes a little amusedly, smiling some at the finger waggle. Still just as childishly, he reaches up to grab the offending finger.]

That is a good point, Mahad. What did you have in mind for keeping me occupied?

Who knows? I'm sure I can think of something. Perhaps I should start giving you lessons.

[Don't fall for it, Henry! He's a hard taskmaster.]

[Too late.]

Going to make a proper magician out of me, are you?

Hah! I was thinking more mundane subjects, but I could, if you wished.

To be honest, I think either -- or both -- would be helpful. Teaching Ryou does take some of the time away, but there's still a lot left to fill in...

Whatever you feel like teaching me, Mahad, I'll do my utmost to learn.

[A slow chuckle follows as he squeezes Henry's hand, affectionately.]

But what sort of magic would you be interested in learning, if you did? We already know how you'd handle anything that requires alchemy or potions. Your skill in cookery is a good judge of that.

That leaves two options, or a mix of them both. My type, black magic, which specializes in attacks and tricks... or white magic, that specializes in healing and strengthening.

[Henry sighs a little at that, looking somewhat embarrassed. He still hasn't lived down the "nearly poisoning tea" thing. It was only nearly!

But the other two... the idea of both is actually quite drawing. Attacks and tricks means that even caught without his sword or his deck (and thank the Lord that he slept with his deck lately) he wouldn't be helpless, while healing...

He turns his eyes away, dropping his hands to stare in the fire. Healing... Those he's worried about, the people he cares for, if he could do something like that, then maybe...

Assuming he could ever arrive on time. Jack and Mahad were both dead when he got there, so even if he had possessed such a thing...]

[He shakes his head suddenly, violently trying to toss those thoughts out. No. They were both here, alive, and safe, and he won't dwell on that. he knows neither of them want him to, nor would anyone else.]

I think... a mix of both would be good.

Then, my king, it will be my pleasure to teach you.

[Dismissing the book in his hand, he straightens up, every inch the stern - if fond - teacher.]

The first thing you need to know is the most obvious one. Magic, as humans view it, is just the manipulation of natural energies. Most of it must come from within in these times, as you know. Before magic can be used, you must gain the ability to perceive it. To know your own levels and 'see' them inside of your mind to direct them.

[Henry nods firmly, unable to entirely suppress a chuckle as Yugi shifts from Mahad's straightening, contently wrapped in the robes. Obvious one indeed... but it is always good to start with the basics.]

The lessons my mother started with, yes. It was because of those that I learned how to see spirits and draw my own magic, though drawing it without the dampening effect of the armor is still tiring.

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