2. Some Lessons Belong in the Classroom

Dorian takes a deep Violet Perceptio sheet, although he is tempted to grab a Mutatio sign up. While the ability to transform things has innumerable uses, seeing into the heart of things does appeal to him in ways he can't deny.

He nods to the professor, and sets out to acquire the texts and reading materials listed.

But first, he makes eye contact with Kiraen. "Can we have that talk now, Kiraen? It shant take long."

Yes, what is on your mind?
Kiraen puts her Dominatio sheet into one of her books for safekeeping.
She invites him to an alcove where they can sit and talk.

Dorian accompanies her to the alcove. "These lessons are a lot more academic than I expected. I'm looking forward to getting our magic onto the table, practicing real applications, you know?"

He shows her writing he had copied out. "I reached out to my contacts for more information on the Hollow Quill incident. They indicated they were also interested in finding out what had really happened.

Seek Kiraen. She has the eyes to glimpse what others miss, the silence to move where others stumble. Clues point beneath stone and dust, beneath an abandoned house where the past lingers unseen. Some doors may have been locked for a reason - take care if you wish to lock-pick them.

He then shows her the first note for comparison.

Greta Ironhart’s father was not the man she thinks. Ask her if she knows about the 'Hollow Quill' incident — the year the professors rewrote the memories of half a dormitory, all for the ‘greater good.’ How much did they tell her? How much did they tell any of us? Some doors were locked for a reason. Some doors should stay that way.

Biblioplex
"Good afternoon, Marlena. Always good to see a student eager to get ahead." His tone is warm, clearly pleased with her dedication. He strokes his short, graying beard as he considers her request. "I’d certainly allow it if I could, but unfortunately, we don’t have any available librarians to supervise right now. Regulations, you know how it is." He gives her an apologetic smile.

Seeing the slight disappointment in her eyes, he adds, "Come back tomorrow. If you check in early, I can make sure someone is available to escort you upstairs. I’d suggest mid-morning—that's when we tend to have the most staff on hand. In the meantime, if you’d like, I can recommend a few advanced Tutela texts from the first floor that might be useful. They won’t be as specialized, but they’ll still give you a strong foundation for Lorridan’s class"

Hollow Quill?? What is that?
And where did you get this? The Society of Subtle Truths?
Kiraen takes a deep breath and centers herself.
I get that you urge to cast spells and burn your fingertips. I do to. But this is very interesting, but it also verges on the edge of fine manipulation. Who are sending you this stuff, and why should we act while they sit safely in the shadows?

Dorian says, "I reached out to them, after someone slipped that note. Now, maybe they're playing am angle in Greta, but she's not interested. We made pact to watch out for each other, so I'll be damned if I turn my back."

He leans back. "But your point is good. We don't know the motives of anyone. If you help me, we need to watch each other's backs and take nothing for granted."

I must admit that the Society slipped me a note last night as well. They asked me to place a silver coin in a specific place if I wanted to know more - and I did. It was mostly a recruitment letter, and a showoff of how much they have noticed
I'm curious where this leads, but we keep our eyes and ears open.
I will let you know when something happens with the Society.
Kiraen stands up
We have our appointment soon.

As Kiraen said that, Dorian remembers that the Society gave him a silver coin enchanted with Mutatio. Maybe it's the same one? Maybe it was meant for Kiraen?

---

Dorian pulls out a coin. "Like this one? It's enchanted, Mutatio I think. Did you try to unravel yours yet?"

No. I left a coin, I did not get one.
She examins the coin. I asked my roommate for a silver coin and she gave me one to place. I don't think they are the same, but to be fair, I didn't take a closer look as it was just a coin

As Kiraen’s fingers close around the coin, a shimmer runs across its surface, like ripples disturbing a reflection in still water. The dull silver shifts, the edges blurring, stretching.

In a matter of seconds, the coin is no longer a coin at all. It has transfigured into a small silver medallion, its surface engraved with a delicate but unmistakable arrow, pointing south. It is magical and turns like a compass.



The air around them tingles with residual magic—Mutatio, without a doubt. This magic was reactive, responding to touch, intent, or perhaps something even deeper.

Waiting nearby, Zix noticed the magic. Hard not to, really.

"Oh great, a compass. We're being led by the nose."

Zix smiles politely and bows modestly, still having doubts about its contribution to solution of the chair problem.

Yes we are. I'm starting to get sick of people trying to manipulate me, us! I say we follow it and learn what this all about. Then with proper information we can decide if we want to follow, kick their asses or just leave them.

"I think following it might not exactly put an end to being led and manipulated," smiled Zix, "But I suppose I could get behind some kicking, if done carefully."

Marlena perks up considerably. "Very well, Rhamud. I'll be back tomorrow then. Your suggestions would be very much appreciated..." When she concludes her business with him, she briefly dips back into the first floor archives to retrieve the books he recommended. They're quite thick, but she's never let that stop her from diving into a book. She leaves the archives and wanders the halls.

Tomorrow, I can find out more. And not just about the Hollow Quill and the surrounding circumstances. Perhaps I could even find out something about... this. She looks down at her gloved hand, feeling the wild magic that was kept at bay just underneath. However, she's distracted by the feeling of potent Mutatio nearby. Using her unusually acute magical senses, she tries to single out the Mutatio among all the other magic signatures so she can track down the source.

As Kiraen grips the medallion, the arrow remains fixed, unwaveringly pointing south.

Well, no use standing around. - She thinks.

The trio—Kiraen, Dorian, and Zix—set off, weaving through the winding paths of Misthaven’s outer grounds and leaving Rylek behind. The sun hangs low, casting golden light over ancient oaks and ivy-covered archways, the air rich with the scent of parchment, damp earth, and the faint crackle of lingering enchantments.

They pass beneath floating lanterns that gently flicker to life as the sky begins to darken. Students cross their path, engrossed in study or conversation, unaware of the invisible thread guiding the small group forward.

Ahead, a familiar figure emerges from a side path—Marlena, clutching an armful of books. She looks up, blinking at the approaching group.

As soon as she sees her tour buddies, she's quick to approach them. "Oh, fancy meeting you all out here! I was researching the incident in the archives and I believe I've found some information you'd like to hear..." She trails off. Now that she's this close, she can pinpoint the exact source of the Mutatio presence. Her gaze falls on the medallion in Kiraen's grasp.

"Oh my. What is that you're holding? It's a fascinating piece of work... Wait, I'm getting distracted. I don't know if you're in on this Hollow Quill thing yet, Kiraen, but I don't see a point in hiding it. I've found proof that someone talked about the incident." She brings out the unnamed student publication. She keeps her voice down in case they have any unwanted listeners. "Given the age of this publication, it suggests that this isn't just something conjured up by the Society."

There are whispers of a semester that never was, a time scrubbed clean as if it never happened. Students who once walked these halls with us, now strangers to their own past. We call it the Hollow Quill, the ink that was never written. An Oracle told us this: Ask too many questions, and you might find your own pages turned blank.

"What caught my eye though, is the mention of an oracle. So I did some digging, and I found an oracle that was around when the publication was written. Her name is Eryndel, and she left behind prophecies of the discovery of a massive dungeon beneath Misthaven. She claimed that it needed to be protected and sealed until the 'Chosen Ones' arrived, for a great catastrophe would occur should it be discovered early. However, she didn't say who these so-called Chosen Ones were, or when they'd arrive. It all seems farfetched, but I think this might be what caused the Hollow Quill incident. The knowledge of this prophecy leaked, which forced the professors to scrub it from the memories of everyone who knew about it. In addition, and this is just conjecture on my part, but Greta's father teaches Telekinetic Archeology, yes? I've been wondering just what he has to do with this, but I've started to suspect he was the one who discovered the dungeon. It would give him a connection to this."

The medallion leads them beyond the Biblioplex and the main university halls, past quiet gardens and faculty lodges, until they arrive at a small, charming cottage nestled at the edge of campus.

It is the Wisteria House.

Purple wisteria vines cascade over white stone walls, their blossoms swaying gently in the evening breeze. A wrought iron gate, slightly ajar, marks the entrance to a tiny front garden, its stepping stones leading to a modest wooden door.