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[Sl4cker]

You stare at the map. You thank God that John had given you a map of the land, explorer as he is. You briefly wonder where he is now, feeling a pang of loneliness knowing that your only friend is gone. Nevermind, you have to get going. It says you have to meet your tutor "Where the desert and the mountains of Atania are split," which you assume is northeast.

You take stock of your inventory as you hike at a leisure pace. You hope no one finds you and takes advantage of how alone you are. You don't even have a coin to your name - you're flat broke.

(Added 2x bottle of water, empty mug of ale, dirty clothes, cheap backpack to inventory)

After about two or three hours of walking, you make your way to the foot of the mountain, where the sparse grasslands scatter into the white sand dunes to the east. You look around for a bit, when you spot what appears to be a dirt path leading into the mountains. You begin walking on it.

After an hour's walk, you start getting nervous. You didn't think those things were so far away, after all.

After another hour, you begin to get hungry. You take a break by the road to have a bottle of water, eyes scanning the mountain for any signs of trickery. Surely, you'd be a little closer by now, right? You turn back to your stuff and realize it's gone. You blink, suddenly moving into a frenzy trying to find where you left your backpack. It's not like you have anything of value in there, but...

You hear a faint "Nyahaha," by your side, and blanch. "Who's there?" you ask, into darkness.

A woman seemingly steps out of a rock the size of your shoe. Blonde hair, still radiant in the darkness of the setting evening frame a youthful, slightly tanned body.

And, by god, so much pink, cat-related clothing. You're no debonair yourself, but good Lord.

"Who do you think you are, meow, trying to get into the mountains purrhaps? Or maybe you're looking for a certain someone..." she says, adjusting her roundish glasses with a smile. "Maybe someone that goes by..."

[ ] "... Torielle?"
[ ] "... Lenn?"
[ ] "... Catherine?"
[ ] "... Miss Meowling?"
[ ] "... A very unique name?" (Write-in)

Your response, of course, is just as eloquent as this strange new lady.

[ ] "What?"
[ ] "Who?"
[ ] "How?"
[ ] "Could I buy some apples?"
[ ] "Wait, hold on..." (Write-in)

Spoiler: Inventory (click to show/hide)

2x bottle of water
Empty mug of ale
Dirty clothes (Worn)
Cheap backpack (Worn)

[hops]

[X] "... Torielle?"
[X] "What?"

[Sl4cker]

"What?" you ask, more than a little weirded out.

"T..." she begins, staring at you questioningly, arms folding in sternly flavored confusion. "What? You're supposed to know who that is, right?"

"Um, no."

She rubs her temples confusedly. "Seriously? Are you just a random traveler, then?"

"Well," you say, staring at your feet in embarrassment. "... I was kind of looking to meet someone. I just... wasn't given any indication of who."

"Ah." Seemingly regaining her earlier momentum, she walks past you, and when you turn backwards, there's suddenly what appears to be a wooden cottage there that wasn't before. You blink. 'Torielle' hops up on the porch, waving a beckoning hand. "Come in, then. You like tea or coffee?"

"Uh... haven't really had either."

"Tea then."

You nod, a little uncomfortably, walking towards the new house. Perhaps you have some more questions burning in your mind.

(Pick a maximum of two)

[ ] "So, you're an illusionist tutor?"
[ ] "Where did the house come from?"
[ ] "Why do you live here?"
[ ] "So, uh, you like cats?"
[ ] "Can I resign from being a possible member?"

Spoiler: Inventory (click to show/hide)

2x bottle of water
Empty mug of ale
Dirty clothes (Worn)
Cheap backpack (Worn)

[FallacyofUrist]

[X] "So, you're an illusionist tutor?"

[X] *wait to say the second question until the first is answered*

[hops]

[X] "So, you're an illusionist tutor?"

[X] "So, uh, do you like cats?"

[crazyabe]

[X] "So, you're an illusionist tutor?"

[X] "So, uh, do you like cats?"

+1.

[Sl4cker]

You gulp anxiously, stepping over the porch and taking a glance at the inside of the newly-created house. It's much more tame than what you imagined the inside of someone like her's abode would look like. Serviceable, wooden furniture, an open-air kitchen with pots and pans you can already see sizzling away, and a classy spiral staircase presumably leading upstairs. It makes you feel suddenly at home.

"You like? I can tell - you're smiling like an idiot, meow."

Your face flushes with embarassment. "I'm- I'm sorry, miss."

"Don't be - have a seat! Make yourself at home. Well, not at home, more like "comfortable in the house of some crazy pink cat lady", nyahaha."

You have no objections to that, so you seat yourself politely on one of the wooden benches. Your eyebrows shoot up when the texture is several times softer than you imagine, as if the couch was made of fabric instead of wood. In fact, where you're sitting you can clearly see the bench depressing downwards and creating folds instead of, well, staying solid.

Deciding to ask your new host that later, you clear your throat awkwardly as she procures some tea-brewing equipment from the kitchen counter, pink cat-ear headband perking up in attention.

"So,  you're an illusionist tutor?"

Torielle makes a strangled sound that seemingly crosses the barrier between a cough, a laugh, and an unnamed sound of incredulity.  "Yeah, no shit, dude." she grins at you despite her rough words, making you unsure of how to feel.

"I'm an official illusionist tutor, but I haven't really been keeping up with the quadruple Is, you know? They kinda just do their thing and I sit here in my hidden little safe haven finding new ways to mess with random travelers, meow." She takes a whiff of tea and whoops in a relaxed tone. "You seemed a little less random though. I could see it in your eyes.

"My... eyes?"

"Yeah, your eyes!" She starts walking towards you with a tray of tea, glasses ever-so-slightly askew. She sits a comfortable distance next to you and sets the tray on the low coffee table by your feet. "Honestly, you're the first real student I've gotten in, like, forever, meow. I guess I shouldn't be surprised you haven't heard of me, really."

You make sure not to share how you haven't actually heard of anyone in the Institution. Taking a sip of tea, you mentally note to yourself for future reference that you are definitely, definitely a coffee person.

"So, uh, do you like cats?"

Torielle suddenly goes dead silent. Your breath catches in your lungs as you realize that you must have made a terrible mistake in asking that question. Your host places her tea on the coffee table tersely, hands balling up into fists as she turns away from you. You're both silent then, and you almost deign to ask her what's wrong when her voice, uncharacteristically high-pitched and cracking in places, reaches your ears.

"No. No, I do not. When I was a little girl, the cats raided my family's village. I saw those furry demons burn down everything I love, murder my friends and stab my mother right in front of my eyes. I barely escaped alive out of there. Now, I sit here training, working myself to the bone in order to become the most powerful illusionist in the entire world, all so that I may finally take my righteous revenge." She turns to you, eyes fierce. "These clothes are a reminder. A reminder of my past, so that I may never forget the tragic event that occurred so many years ago."

You are positively frightened at this point. "Is... is that true?"

Torielle's face immediately returns to that pleasant smugness from before. "No, you clutz. I just think they're cute, meow."

You stare at her.

She stares back.

Words cannot express how uncomfortable you are right now.

(Pick a maximum of two)

[ ] "So, uh, can you teach me illusionism?"
[ ] "What's with the bench?"
[ ] "Why do you live here?"
[ ] "Actually, I think I'm gonna resign now, thanks for the tea goodbye"
[ ] Ask or do something else? (Write-in)

Spoiler: Inventory (click to show/hide)

2x bottle of water
Empty mug of ale
Half-finished cup of tea
Dirty clothes (Worn)
Cheap backpack (Worn)

[crazyabe]

[X] "So, uh, can you teach me illusionism?"

[hops]

I want to mention that I love your writing a lot :3

[ ] Ask or do something else: "I think there's a mistake, I don't know how to do magic."

[Sl4cker]

((casually trying to do both options in a draw :u))

"So, uh," you begin, faltering a little when Torielle stares at you from the top of her teacup. "Can you teach me illusionism?"

She shifts a little on the bench, legs flicking over it's body in a classy and relaxed posture. One that, accidentally or not, suddenly moves her rear directly in front of you. You reason that staring at her face would be the polite option in this situation.

"Well, yeah. I'll have to admit, though, I'm a little rusty. And my brand of illusionism is, ah," she coughs into her hand, "how you say, a little more deceitful than the usual quadruple I busker." Her pink cattail wags up and down as she smiles at you. Does she know that she's embarrassing you like this?

"... I think, there's been some sort of mistake." You fiddle with your tea nervously. Feline ears perk up at you in confusion. "I don't know how to do magic."

She leans upwards now, placing her legs firmly on the couch. (And on your lap, you choose not to notice.) She crosses her arms and looks at you with an "I don't know what to do with this guy" sort of expression. "Really?" she asks. "Then why'd you sign up in the first place, huh?" Your mouth suddenly becomes a terse line. You feel the bridge of your nose wet with sweat.

"Let me guess. Peer pressure?"

"Ah, well..."

"Alcohol and peer pressure?"

Damn, she's good. You deflate, not in any state to confirm her guesses. Torielle simply stretches and stands up, walking past you with a strangely firm walk. You get slapped with her pink cat tail as she passes. Ow.

"Right. I'm gonna head off to the Ignoramus Institute and give them a talking to. Since you seem like a nice person, I'll let you stay for a while. After that, maybe you could get a rat-catching job in Atania. Heard they needed some people for that recently. It's the harvest season, you understand." She doesn't even look in your direction, closing the door on you without another word.

Welp.

[ ] If you find some kind of bookshelf, maybe you could convince her you'll be a good student, even without the talent.
[ ] She's an illusionist, she must have a blackjack here somewhere, right? Find one and hope you can sling a spell around.
[ ] Steal her stuff. It would give you a head-start when she kicks you out of the house.
[ ] Accept your fate patiently. Rat-catching isn't so bad, right?
[ ] Accept your fate while sobbing uncontrollably.

Spoiler: Inventory (click to show/hide)

2x bottle of water
Empty mug of ale
Half-finished cup of tea
Dirty clothes (Worn)
Cheap backpack (Worn)

[FallacyofUrist]

The tail's probably an illusion. Pointing that out isn't an option, though.

[X] Accept your fate patiently. Rat-catching isn't so bad, right?
-[X] And maybe, just maybe, when she comes back, ask if the tail is an illusion. If we're that stupid.

[Sl4cker]

You sit on the wooden(?) bench, knees close together in a polite posture. You shift your body a little, trying to find a way to be both comfortable and polite. You smooth the tangled mess of hair into something resembling presentable.

You wait.

You try not to give in to your inner urge of panicking and messing up your host's house. It's fine.

You wait.

There is a knock on the door, and you blink, having found your eyes were beginning to close on their own. A soft, feminine voice sounds from the other side of the room - compared to Torielle's, it's smoother, richer, calm yet firm. You think you like it a little better. "Tori? I got you those cooking supplies you wanted from the elf town."

What will whoever's on the other side of the door think when your host is absent and you're sitting with a cup of tea in her bench? You shiver nervously, but before you can react, the door's already open. You quickly maneuver yourself into the most natural position you can think of. The voice's owner blinks an eye as she sees you.

She stares. You stare back. You notice she happens to be an anthropomorphic goose in a pretty yet practical green dress. She drops her bags and begins pulling out what appears to be a softly glowing pack of cards.

"I don't know why you're in my fiance's house drinking her tea in the thinker position, but you'd best find yourself out."

[ ] "Wait, I can explain!"
[ ] "Uh, is it time to duel already?"
[ ] "Hold on, you're her fiance?"
[ ] Dive out the nearest window without another word.
[ ] Say or do something else? (Write-in)

Spoiler: Inventory (click to show/hide)

2x bottle of water
Empty mug of ale
Half-finished cup of tea
Dirty clothes (Worn)
Cheap backpack (Worn)

[hops]

[X] :Wait, I can explain!"

[FallacyofUrist]

[X] "Wait, I can explain!"

[Sl4cker]

"Wait, I can explain!" You hold your hands up, hopefully signalling your lack of malicious intent. The goose woman, for the most part, declines to raise her deck of cards up further, which you're pretty sure is a good sign.

"Start explaining, then."

"Well, uh," you say, sweating bullets under her gaze. She's certainly more no-nonsense than her apparent fiance, that's for sure. "I'm, I'm miss Torielle's student! Or, well, assigned to be her student. She left suddenly when I..." You falter at that part, balling your hands into fists with a strange expression. The goose lady raises an avian eyebrow, spurring you to continue. "... When she learned I haven't done any magic."

The lady makes a strange trilling sound, which you suppose you can interpret as curiosity. She lets the pack of cards drop back into her dress now, walking towards you slowly. She still keeps that threatening expression though. You may be eternally discomforted by geese after this. "Why'd you apply, then?"

"There were drinks..."

"Ah."

That seemingly sorted out, the goose lady takes her bags once again and walks to the kitchen, leaving you to awkwardly sit and wait. You begin getting up to help her with the bags before she squawks a soft "it's fine, really". You do your best not to stare as she sorts out the boxes of flour, the cups of sugar.

And the apples.

"So," she begins suddenly, hopefully not noticing your apple-ward leer. "First of all, my name is Solissi. It's Avian, you can call me a nickname if you want. Secondly, you got toasted and decided to sign up as an illusionist despite knowing nothing about the craft? And somehow you got accepted?"

"Well," you intone quietly. "I read a picture-book about it..." You scratch your head. "And, um, my name is Bakkla."

She puts both of her wings on her beak in what you assume is an emulation of a double facepalm. "... Okay. Look, it's good that you have the passion for this sort of thing. But..." She joins you in sitting, though in a chair opposite your bench. "But even the most talentless of illusionists develop some kind of magic affinity for this by puberty."

"But the blackjacks..."

"Are foci. Without it, your illusions would be weak, uncontrolled, but... they'd be there. Watch." She stretches out her wings and clenches each individual pinion one at a time, unclenching in the same way. "I'm a fortune teller by trade, also known as an occultist, or a tarotist. My magic comes from the strength of ink, paper and symbols." Suddenly, her wing begins emitting a blurry, grey gas, formless and drifting in all directions. "But even without that, I can still cast the most basic of illusions without a foci - Conjure Smoke." She flaps her wing firmly, and the gas fades out of view.

"Now, you try. Bend your fingers just like I did, and cast with the intent of obscurity."

You tilt your head at her with a confused expression. She shrugs. "It's a little hard to explain."

You gulp, feeling the pressure as if it was gripping your chest. You really do want to be an illusionist. You hold your hand just so in front of you. Solissi murmurs "a little stiff," but nods comfortingly. You clench and unclench each finger, one after the other in an oscillating motion. You think to yourself rigidly; conjure smoke, conjure smoke, conjure smoke. Obscure, obscure, obscure. Hide, hide, hide. Please, please, please, please, please.

Your hand remains smokeless. When you continue to oscillate your fingers, Solissi holds up a wing. "That's enough. Just as I imagined - you don't have the... capability," she says, looking at you with an expression you think is pity.

You look at your hand.

[ ] No, you can do this. You just didn't think hard enough, that's all. Try again. Cast Conjure Smoke.
[ ] Hold your head in your hand, teeth clenched and eyes slammed shut. You know it's impolite, but the mental breakdown train doesn't stop for nobody.
[ ] Get on your knees and beg the goose lady not to kick you out.
[ ] Drink some tea to help calm your nerves. The feeling of tasting bitter leaf water can't be as bad as how you're feeling right now.
[ ] Perhaps there's something else you can do. (Write-in)

Spoiler: Inventory (click to show/hide)

2x bottle of water
Empty mug of ale
Half-finished cup of tea
Dirty clothes (Worn)
Cheap backpack (Worn)