Welcome to Gaia! ::

The sudden impact into his back startled the sitting professor, and a breath expelled Oomf. Startled as his senses came back down to his surroundings, he slid his legs out from his position and pulled up into a kneel, using his hands for support. Standing slowly, he dusted off his legs and came to his full height. Standing there holding the toddler in his arms was Mr. Tahan, whom he believed taught the art of war to students.

Although Alden highly disapproved of the class and its education on a personal level, he understood its necessity. If only better decisions had been made, war could have been avoided. Perhaps Khai could be the one to teach this generation better methods to avoid it. No doubt better than him with teaching them about weather patterns.

Putting his hand out, Aldo replied, “A pleasure Khai.” Glancing to the young boy he smiled and nodded, following with “Hello there little fellow. Give your papa a run for his money I see?”

Aldo had no kids of his own, although he did have a niece and a nephew through his brother. They were going on three now he believed, and had not had an opportunity to visit them yet. I caused his mind to wander for a moment as he thought about if they were running about his home and causing him and his darling wife no end of excitement.

“What is the young lad’s name Khai?”

The young child's reaction warmed Aldo’s heart. The not so fragile little person’s sense of humor was hard to resist. He missed that innocence himself, but did his best to hold onto it everyday as best he could.

“Well it's a pleasure to meet you, Gandria,” he said to the toddler warmly.

With a firm shake of Kahi’s hand, he released and listened as he asked if he had happened to meet his wife.

“I cannot say I have had the pleasure,” he started. His interaction with staff had so far been rather limited he was afraid to admit. He had not even been aware that Kahi was married and had a child.

Then again with all the staff, faculty, and students, it was hard to keep track unless he interacted with them relatively frequently. Admittedly it was his own fault. He was not inherently xenophobic. To him, a person was simply a person, but old habits died hard. He was civil to everyone but had been more open with the students than the teachers

“Music you say? I feel like there must be quite the story there somewhere if she tried so hard for you to catch her. I must admit I am a little jealous, I hadn't much time for courtship before my appointment here, and to say the least, have not devoted much time towards it since my arrival.”

It was rather an interesting thought. With all the nobles here, he had left such ideas far from his mind, not wishing to be involved any further in political struggles. Relations had been a thing from before the war that had vanished from his life. While his brother had succeeded, an unmarried officer just wouldn't have done. However, a single teacher was less looked down upon. He wondered if he really wanted to be married, but he supposed time would tell on that.

A warm smile spread over Aldo’s face as Kahi described their meeting. It was easy enough to deduce from the soft change in his voice. At the comment about him being wrapped around his wife’s finger, he couldn’t help but chuckle. It was a similar notion that his brother had insisted on when they had spoken on the subject. He had encountered many a man who claimed the opposite, that it was them that had control in their relationships. Although he was sure that one or two may be telling a sort of truth, it was this honest revelation by others that caused him to lean towards the reality being that men such as himself had little control at all.

The sudden switch to a comment about the war wiped the smile from his face, leaving a blank response. Aldo struggled to fight off memories of his time in the war, not wishing to relive any of it at the moment. Shaking the thought from his head, he instead focused on the following question.

“So far so good, I fear that weather is not the most popular of subjects with the students, but I cannot blame them for that. I just hope that I am able to instill that knowledge that may help them in their future.”

He imagined that he was not the only teacher to feel this way. A variety of pampered nobles being forced into schooling with a variety of subjects that didn’t tickle any of their interests. In the end, it would be best for them, and he hoped that they would take the good lessons they could provide and do good for the world.

It was only a moment before he remembered his purpose today, and he reasoned it wouldn’t hurt to discuss it with another who lived and worked here.

“On that subject, a question for you if you have a moment. Have you noticed strange weather around the academy during your classes? I spent a fair time studying the effects of magic on weather, and with such a concentrated amount of powers, I’ve noticed some off events taking place.”

The hint of his power was enlightening to Aldo. The ability to retain so much information was quite a boon, although not being able to forget other things would no doubt counter that in ways. Old Aldo always scribbled down in his notebooks to keep track of everything in neat order so as not to forget. Too much to remember, too much data to collect. A tinge of jealousy hit him at the idea of having such a power, although he did not know if he could trade his own for anything in the world.

To have such a collection with the air around him made him always feel as if he was part of the world around him, even when he secluded himself to his scholarly studies. There was no place at the academy, current circumstances as evidence, that would allow him free of contact. He did not mind it though. People were social creatures after all, and it did them good to converse and share in the world with one another. Today was a fine example as such. Prejudice and bias might have kept him from Khai, but the man had been nothing but polite and even warm so far.

“Oh you don’t have to go to any effort on my part, it is simply a curiosity of mine. Though the energy generated by such lightning strikes is rather extraordinary, I would love an opportunity to see that in action, though I shouldn’t wish to put a student in such a position or way for my own scientific satisfaction. Did you smell the ozone after that, a sharp tinge in the air?”

And there he went again, his mind diving into it already as he processed through how lightning was created and its affects. One day he may learn to turn off his even inquisitive nature, but for now it found a way to slip out again.

“My apologies, I get excitable when it comes to the subject, as you can see. Sometimes I can't seem to help myself, too inquisitive for my own good.”

His ears perked up as Khai mentioned that the student might not mind such experimentation, but was quickly distracted as his companion let out a noise which ended with the young child being set down. He did his darndest not to grin at the thought, memories of his brother with his nephews tickling the back of his mind.

Did he want children? He wasn’t so sure. The idea appealed to him, a loving wife, a few children, a peaceful life. For some time the vision lurked in the faded corners of his thoughts, but much of it was overpowered by the pursuit of knowledge. He was an academic at heart. Regardless, the thought was all speculative and dream-like as a partner was needed for the situation to occur, and so far he wasn't exactly fighting off scores of admirers. Not that he had really been looking. Perhaps smiles and kind words that he received and distributed could have led to something more by now. Who was he to say they had not been?

His attention was pulled back as the young lad tugged upon his pant leg and asked him something. His mind seemed to have wandered for a moment, and before he could ask the boy to repeat, his brain reminded him of the question.

“I just love the weather,” he said with a smile, leaning down a few inches to address him. He waited a moment as he was asked another question, and the smile grew wider as the child answered his own question. “I love sunny days too, they are my favorite too. I just love the feel of the warm sun on my face and a cool breeze.”

Lifting his chin to look back at Khai, he responded, “You three are most welcome anytime. Anyone who can pull my nose out of my books is a welcome distraction. We are social creatures by nature, and I believe I may forget that from time to time.”

It was all too true, aside from faculty meetings, students, and the occasional trip to the library, Aldo had been reclusive since his arrival. It was not intentional of course, just the freedom the academy provided him left him with time to focus on his studies and findings. The restrictions under government watchfulness was necessary, but restrictive and chaffed against his academic curiosity. Here, aside from his periods of instruction, he had the time and space to do as he desired, within reason so long as no one was put at risk. It pulled a weight from his shoulders, but without polite society deeming that it was necessary for him to socialize, it seems that he tended to get lost in his own little world. Then again, it seemed that even in casual conversation he found his mind wandering. The curse of an active mind he supposed.

The rapid onslaught of questions left the poor academic chuckling to himself. There was something in the unending curiosity of children as they learned about the world around him that never failed to impress him. It started to die off in many as their schooling wound down. Interest tended towards whatever thing that found themselves obsessing over or those they were attracted too. He supposed they all went through it, it was simply part of nature.

Looking down to Gandria he replied to his questions with “I love sunny days. Sometimes I just like to sit out and feel the sun on my face and listen to the birds. And as far as watching the weather,” he began, then tapped his nose,” I have a special sense for it. I can feel and hear the weather as it changes when I listen closely enough. And if its an especially nice day, sometimes I like to go outside and fly through the air, but shhhh don’t tell anyone other than your mama and papa,” he added, giving a conspiratorial wink.

He paused briefly as his mind caught up to the change in the line of conversation.

“I can’t say I am much of a dancer, but perhaps we can all dance if we have some sort of party for the school,” he offered.

His attention turned back to Khai. “They do say opposites attract. Though I fear for what might count as my opposite,” he responded, a chuckle following close after.

“I look forward to it. As I said, I don’t get many visitors, and I am sure my family has told me more than a time or two to get my nose out of the books and try to live my life a little.”

The thought of a dance seemed to glimmer in the back of his mind. It would be expected no doubt of the students, and of course the staff would be asked to chaperone for the event. It surprised him actually that there were not more already. From what he remembered of higher society they loved any excuse to gather, show off, and gossip. He had never been one for it himself, but the social company was part of life.