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Ms DeLaurie's expression faded from exhilaration back to annoyance. As Aeidric raved, she rolled her eyes and muttered over her shoulder. "Actually, I was talking to the bird." Her hopes for the boy had come crashing down. The game had gone too far. It was supposed to be an experience, not a pissing contest. And technique and skill would always win over brute power.

She watched Aeidric draw his own blood Now that is nothing new. Any blood magic is not respectable. Powerful, yes, but you lose yourself in it. And losing yourself is never a thing to invite. Sighing, she let it all happen, not making a move to stop it. Instead she sheathed her sword in the shadows and listened to him talk. Whatever he was, she could care less. He was her student and he had overstepped his place.

"Mr Levesque. I suggest you do that thing you wanted to practice." The atmosphere suddenly changed, it lightened and a slight twist in the wind occurred. As soon as he was able, Mr Levesque initiated his magic. Just as the being appeared behind him, he ripped apart, the pieces tearing at themselves until they were singular molecules, dispersing into the air. Mariel was gone, in every sense of the word.

"Mr Streight, I am your opponent, and it is not in good form that you attack my subordinates. So I request that you let off your threatening, and come back into yourself, or else..." No flashy portal appeared, no vortex, no freaky changes in appearance. Ms DeLaurie just ceased to exist. Until she appeared directly in front of the being, her eyes boring in to him. "...I will have to end you." She smirked a small smile, not even an ounce of her being was intimidated, surprised, overwhelmed or unsure. She was still in complete control. "Appearing behind people is just so dishonest, don't you think?"

Rebakah sighed and uncharacteristically ran a hand through her hair. A habit most likely picked up from Mr Levesque. Assumptions were always a dangerous choice, but they had to be made. A student, whose loyalty was as of yet undecided, and personality unrated, had initiated a very powerful state of being. She had to assume possible danger and get Mariel safe, just in case something were to happen. Always better to be prepared than be caught in the rain. People seemed to glaze over the fact that she had lots of responsibility and had to think of more than just herself, and thus treat people unfairly.

Alright, I got excited. That's my problem, has always been. I just don't have enough self control. I had hoped this job would help me with that, but I have only seemed to have gotten worse. Well, this year is my last, anyway. That letter to Lumare is drafted, I just have to courier it over there, and it's my year's notice. I really am getting too old for this.... of course the hellfiend did make assumptions of his own.. still, it doesn't excuse my actions.

Rebakah regained her composure, her eyes went back to their normal state.. though her clothes were still missing. And her lips were still black. Her face froze over once again, eye becoming unbreakable pitch, lips tightly sealed. As Aeidric reappeared and dropped his weapons at her feet she softened just a tad. No reason to make the boy feel he ought to think he had done wrong.

"You did what was asked of you, and we got a very good scope on your powers," she nodded at the materializing Levesque, who looked a little sheepish, "and all in all you did very well. But yes, you failed." Ms DeLaurie let a moment of regret pass across her face before she continued. "I have to get back to work, unfortunately, running a school is a lot of work. Especially when your peers do almost nothing. An exasperated sigh squeezed itself from her lips.

The world around them spun into darkness and everything went black. Slowly the lights brightened and they were back in the classroom, exactly where they had been. "Mariel knows the terms of your classes, and my take on the situation. This is where I leave you." With no great promises of eventual power, nor words of encouragement or even belief in his potential, Ms DeLaurie swept from the room.

Mr Levesque watched her leave, sadness written across his face. "And now she'll go off and almost kill herself with drills because she lost her composure and made some bad decisions." He turned back to Aedric, bent over and picked up his weapons. "You put on a fantastic show, quite entertaining, but there are things we need to work on.. and explore... before we can teach you the really cool stuff. " Mariel handed him the dagger and broadsword. He motioned towards the door with his head. "Don't mind her, she just has to be cautious. It's part of her job. She's still learning, as much as I am, and I really think she likes you. Just, give her time, alright? No hard feelings?"

"More than just your attitude in battle, my dear boy." Mariel mumbled as he watched the boy leave. Let him lick his wounds. Rebakah would be diving into her paperwork at the moment. Gods knew she had a hell of a lot of it.

Mr Levesque floated his hands over the rocky floor, making them engulf the weapons and embed them in the stone. They would be here when Aeidric wanted them. Meanwhile, Mariel went over to his desk and began to systematically file things away in various hidden compartments in the walls.

All the while he was thinking of the curriculum he would make for the boy. Control, for one, and more work with that bird. The Roc was it? Some research would have to be done. It was a powerful weapon, but was probably a better first step than the hellfiend. Besides, Rebakah would get annoyed that he'd tried that first. Also some basic swordplay, no magic. Rebakah might help with that, she was his combat teacher after all. And perhaps some ancient language study would be of help, especially when they could go over more powerful magic together. This student was certainly going to be an adventure.. and that blood magic.


Much much later, when all the lanterns lining the halls of the building had dimmed automatically, Mariel was collapsed over his partially finished curriculum, snoring in a most unpleasant manner.