>>5814957That made intuitive sense to you, but it still felt somehow wrong that such an ignoble method could create the minds and bodies of men and elves, or of other such sophisticated humanoids. Perhaps it was simply a matter of better, more carefully-selected materials, and of most careful and attentive guidance? Or maybe beings such as yourselves were the exception.
“There ARE those creations of the gods which are seemingly… Special.” Ventura’s eyes lingered on Hershy, for he and his master often accompanied you to these lessons to avoid going mad from isolation and boredom. “Inspired, perhaps, is a good word for it… Or maybe created more directly, based upon divine principles grander than the material.”
Again, you wondered at what grist had been given life and spirit in Hershy… And, as ever, your ecieved no answer. Days turned into weeks turned into months, and still you were no closer to that mystery. You began to grow concerned, but when you asked your teacher of this, you were told only:
“The Archmage must be impressed with your performance before she will share with you the secrets of the deeper levels… Where such matters are attended to.”
Well then, you would just have to impress her, wouldn’t you? And luckily, this field WAS your strong suit! In addition to your advanced lessons in Living Alchemy and Life Magic, you were also allowed access to theoretical treatises new and old, such as no other student and few GRADUATED mages were permitted to read. These expanded your perception and understanding of the origins and variations of life, and how it might be manipulated, mended, and advanced.
A growing mind could not be satisfied with tomes and teachers alone, though—something even the Archmage must have recognized. You were given more freedom to return to the more familiar areas of the Tower and to more standard classes, as Izirina attended. You (and, after a time, Zith-Zi) were even eventually allowed on excursions to the Initiates’ Village, though only for so long, and always accompanied by one of the black-clad mages. You didn’t always SEE they were accompanying you, mind… But you both knew they were there, watching and possibly even listening by magical means.
“It’s this really intense scholastic program for gifted Initiates,” you thus were forced to fib, when your friends inquired after your absence from regular classes and failure to attend social functions quite as regularly as you once had.