CAMPUS WIDE EVENT: EVERYTHING AND THE KITCHEN SINK

[intercom_voice]

[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.))

Comments

[youreternalservant]

[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.

[helpusduelist]

[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?

[youreternalservant]

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.]

[helpusduelist]

[Too late.]

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

[youreternalservant]

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

[helpusduelist]

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.

[youreternalservant]

[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.

1/2

[helpusduelist]

[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...]

[helpusduelist]

[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.

[youreternalservant]

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.

[helpusduelist]

[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.

[youreternalservant]

Yes; unfortunately, that will always be so unless you persistently train yourself to boost those natural reserves of energy.

[And he'll make sure Henry will.]

Your body naturally tries to dampen excess energy to store it for later, after all, only allowing you as much as it feels you need at any given time. You've felt certain energy rushes at times, most often when you feel anxious. That's your body deciding to allocate more power to you so that you can attempt to leave the situation. But the more that you use your energy regularly, the more you will gain in the future, because your body will assume that you need it all the time. That's the meaning behind the energetic becoming more energetic.

Performing magic without the use of that armor will be necessary; you cannot rely on it too often if you wish to learn magic of your own.

[helpusduelist]

[There's something about Mahad's look that makes Henry shiver slightly, but he tries to brush it off.]

I assumed that much. After all, attacks and healing, I could do that easily enough channeling through the cards. The reason I want to learn is so that I still have something to fall back on if the worst happens.

After all, if I hadn't slept with my deck, then I would be personally helpless right now, wouldn't I? No armor, no weapons, and no creatures.

[And freezing cold. He's been in frosty situations, but never almost completely naked and the Deck Leader armor only does so much in terms of actual warmth. Henry blows on his hands, pulling in on himself a little more.]

[youreternalservant]

[He tugs Henry closer to the fire, giving him an intense look for a moment.]

Then, I know what your first lesson should be. Take one of your cards. Any card. It isn't important.

[helpusduelist]

[Ah, that's better. He can feel the heat start to warm his body up and he closes his eyes for a moment, content.

At the command, he pulls a random card out of his deck, coming up with Swords of Revealing Light.]

All right. Now what?

[youreternalservant]

Now, I'm going to teach you how to do the little trick I did with that book. Hold it flat on your hands. You're going to want to know it intimately well. Focus on it, but not as if you were planning to activate it. Feel it out inside your head.

[He gives Henry a moment to try it before he resumes.]

Imagine a space that cannot be touched. A pocket or a box that takes up no space. You cannot see it, or feel it, but it exists. It is something that you alone can access. It is always with you. Put the card inside that container in your thoughts. And focus on these words. Repeat them, placing your will inside of them as if they were a spell card you were activating.

[Whatever he says is complicated, but not long. It's no more than four words, from the sound of it.]

[helpusduelist]

[Interesting... a type of "storage" trick? He turns his palm up, settling the card in it and putting his other hand over it so that it's still flat like Mahad instructed but the wind won't take it. After a moment, he lets the armor drop, then closes his eyes, focusing on the texture of the paper, the picture on the card, the words that describe it... all of it.

A box with no space is a bit harder to imagine, but what comes to Henry is something more like the Dark field that he found Mahad in and often resided in on duels. A box -- no, more like some sort of chest -- in that space that no one else could access but him, hidden but there, much like the monsters in his deck. He tries mentally placing that card in that trunk, his focus shifting entirely to Mahad's voice. Those words... he has no idea what they are or what they mean, but he'll try.

Slowly, but carefully, he pronounces each one as best as he can, trying to lace the magic of his through the words as he does the cards so regularly.]

[youreternalservant]

[Mahad keeps his gaze on Henry firmly, watching him - and watching his energy levels as well. He can see it, the way that energy flares up around him, though surely few others could. For one so synchronized with magic, it was easy.

He repeats the words for Henry's sake, so he can be sure of the pronunciation.]

The words are an order. A command that will place the card in your container. Can you feel it? Just like activating a card, the words powered by your energy will take the card from your hand and slip it into the safety of the container you created within you.

The hardest part is already in your past; you know how to focus your energies, and that is the part that all learners struggle with. Keep working on it until you can feel with absolute certainly that it's been taken. Do not open your eyes before then.

[Sitting back, he cradles Yugi carefully against him, keeping him wrapped up in his robes as he watches Henry's energy fluctuate.]

[helpusduelist]

[The hard part... yes, the hard part was that training with Margaret, the fierce working that had left him mentally and physically exhausted and drained. After that, something like this is simple. He needs to expand his magic, yes, but he also needs to control it outside the armor better. He will, in fact.

He says the words again after Mahad's repeating, managing to get the pronunciation properly. Just like activating a card... yes, that's all it is. It's simple. Just another trick of magic...

As Henry focuses, trying to control and steady that energy, Yugi shifts against Mahad again, murmuring a soft, content little sound and smiling in his sleep. After one more mention of the words a few minutes later, the king opens both hands and eyes.

Nothing there.]

...Hah. There, I think...

[youreternalservant]

Good work. Rest for a moment, and I'll teach you how to get it back once you feel ready.

[He strokes fingers through Yugi's hair soothingly, smiling fondly down at the sleeping boy. How well people slept these days... heh. It was almost cute.]

[helpusduelist]

[Henry blows out a bit of air, smiling at Mahad gently and shifting to lay a bit more comfortable by the fire. Yugi makes a happy noise at the petting, smiling even brighter in sleep.]

I wonder how often he's slept quite that deeply.

[youreternalservant]

It's hard to tell... Surely he must have slept well at home, for the most part. He doesn't show any signs of long-term sleep deprivation.

[He returns the smile, somehow both relaxed and on guard at the same time. Despite the barrier, he's keeping his attention spread out in case of trouble.]

[helpusduelist]

[Mahad gets a look of appreciation for that. Even if the barrier should keep them safe, a camp out like this was one that required at least one person on watch constantly... and with Mahad not needing sleep, it meant the rest of them could sleep or relax as they needed to.

Though he did intend to relieve Mahad at some point after everyone was settled and feeling better. The Dark Magician deserved rest too, after all.]

It must have only been what happened recently that caused a problem... I can hardly blame him for that.

[youreternalservant]

[Mahad pauses thoughtfully at those words. What happened recently... if that was all that upset Yugi, then he led a charmed life indeed. He doubts it somehow. But it definitely hit him hard, that's for sure.]

Nor I. More prepared people than him have been thrown into torment by that man.

[helpusduelist]

Hmph... if only there really was a way to contain him. Or at least end his life for good.

[Sigh. He sits up some, working his body a little. The fire does help to warm him up, though it's somewhat less than it should be, seeing as he's still half-naked and just in sleeping pants.]

All right. I'm ready.