Gio listed out the options for Professor Anaximenes.

[The Shattered Man] - (TAGS: CHAOS_AFFILIATE|ALTER_EGO_USER|POWER_IN_MISERY) - Having broken into a million little pieces, a part of you never recovered. You may divide yourself into duplicates, and break apart on command. As an aspect of discord, you shatter anything you touch. Abandon the path of true magic and embrace the mysteries of CHAOS.

[Ghost of the Mirror] - (TAGS: NECRO|INTANGIBLE|UNDEAD) - Succumb to your injuries, shucking your mortal coil and embracing your newfound power over death magic. You may pass through mirrors, claiming the souls of those who die near mirrors that you haunt. Summoner of incorporeal undead. May grow into the ability to possess hosts through mirrors.

[Student- Mirror Mage] - (TAGS: STUDENT|MIRROR|TRUE_MAGE) - Continue on the path of higher education, learning to leverage your innate understanding of mirror magic to great effect. Bonuses to learning skills while occupation remains education-based.

[Wall of Glass] - (TAGS: DEFENSE|MIRROR|PHYSICAL) Your defenses harden, causing you to become a near-impenetrable fortress of mirror mana. Reduces your ability to cast magic.

[Dragonslayer Mage] - (TAGS: SPELL_THIEF|LEGACY|DIV_MAGIC) - Slayer of dragons, steal power from the draconic beings you kill. Gain proficiency using draconic scribing techniques at the cost of not being able to use regular spellforms. You will begin to become draconic.

[Apprentice Seeker] - (TAGS: SEEKER|LEGACY|TRUE_MAGE) Knowledge becomes you. Gain incredible bonuses to learning-related skills while in a zone rich in knowledge mana. Extra class experience rewarded for finding lost knowledge.

“So, right away I think I can whittle my way down to only two options. I did want to seek some… illumination about why I received certain options. There’s some stuff in here that frightens me.” Gio stated.

“This is… quite the list. Nothing too exotic, spare maybe the first option. An aspect… is a very polarizing thing. Selecting that class would have a deluge of inquisitors on your doorstep, probably daily.” Professor A noted.

“Classes are supposed to be a representation of your personality, right? So… am I secretly evil or something? I don’t feel evil, but two, maybe three of these options feel particularly nefarious.” Gio muttered, looking down.

Professor A contemplated for a moment.

“While there is no such thing as an “evil” class, there are certain classes that make staying on a righteous, or even a neutral path particularly difficult. The system… in a way, it sees all parts of you. It sees your fears, your hidden desires, your intrusive thoughts, and everything that lives within you.”

“While I don’t think you could be described as evil, the system sees a path forward for you in which you become something else. The system, you see, does not create something from nothing. All things laid out before you in these options are potential ways in which you could use the powers and abilities that you already possess. They are conglomerations of the things you know, the things you have done, and the potential available to you.” Professor A finished.

“Okay… well, I guess to think out loud, I didn’t come all this way to the school to learn true magic just to abandon it this early. So, If I just abandon everything that isn’t related to true magic, that leaves-”

[The Shattered Man] - (TAGS: CHAOS_AFFILIATE|ALTER_EGO_USER|TRUE_MAGE) - Having broken into a million little pieces, a part of you never recovered. You may divide yourself into duplicates, and break apart on command. As an aspect of discord, you shatter anything you touch. CHaOS TeACHeS YOU IMPoSSIBLe THiNGS.>

“Uh… is it normal for one of these options to update itself? The first one just changed to include true magic…” Gio whispered, eyes wide.

“I behoove you to not take that option, no matter what it currently says.” Professor A warned, brows furrowed.

“Noted. Well, between [Student- Mirror Mage] and [Apprentice Seeker], I think I’d say that my eyes are drawn towards the learning bonus on both options, but it seems like one of them works with my occupation, and one doesn’t.” Gio continued, trying to ignore the sudden alert.

“There’s a fine old saying: ‘Your class is what you are, your occupation is what you do.’ I have found that in all things, I feel the most fulfilled when my desires and actions are in line. Without getting into too much detail about my status, I currently have a synergy between my occupation and class, similar to that of the student option you have. You may notice that some titles between class and occupation, such as ‘Student’, may be shared. This is a sign that they will work well together. You probably don’t have any occupation skills yet, I imagine?” Professor A continued.

“Not yet. I did just receive an upgrade token from the challenge we got in the vault. I was wondering what it would take to earn an occupation skill.” Gio pondered.

“Well, if you think about what you are supposed to be doing as a student, think about what the best possible uses of your time in a magical academy would be. It is… frowned upon for several reasons for anyone to give you hints about what those skills may be, but a student class and occupation combination could provide some heavy benefits. You would not be the only student at the school to have such a thing, I can assure you.” the man said.

“Well, I think that about settles it for me. I think I’m going to go with the student option.” Gio affirmed.

“I think that’s a good choice.”

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“Uhh… what?”

_____

Chandrika

Chandrika stared at the unwrapped parcel, nearly glaring a hole into the dreamcatcher delicately placed inside.

She knew. She must have seen that this was a possibility. How much of this fell within her predictions? Only one way to find out, I guess.

Chandrika hung the ornament above her bedframe and got ready to go to sleep. She took a bit of extra time to try and center herself and make sure that she was ready for a potentially difficult conversation.

Focusing on the detailed whirl of thread in her mind’s eye, she drifted off into slumber.

_____

Chandrika soared down through the skies of Ujjbala Sūrya, looking up at the ground from her upside-down perspective falling through the sky. She felt the familiar, gentle tug of her grandmother’s magic, calling her upwards, into the palace above her.

The Grand Loom of Bangla rose from the nested secret city in the far wilds of Ujjbala Sūrya, away from the hustle and bustle of her mother’s courts. Bangla was a paradise of life and nature, built into a caldera amid dense jungle, in contrast to the well-developed capital.

Chandrika rapidly approached the Grand Loom's great ‘Spindle Tower’, bracing herself as she passed through the woven enchantments. She felt herself slow as the silver thread tied to her wrist unraveled.

As Chandrika emerged from the wall, and through an enchanted tapestry, her Grandmother’s chamber came into view. Handwoven cushions, blankets and rugs lined nearly every surface of the room, as a pleasant floral aroma wafted from ever-burning incense on strategically placed altars. Several people sat, working on all manner of handicraft throughout the space.

She looked at her grandmother, replete in the splendor of her magic and radiance, as her mana worked throughout the space. Golden hands emerged from behind the figure of the aged woman, weaving fibers through all manner of woven art. The tiny woman wore a silken gown that billowed out from her,

“Well hello there little silkworm! How was your flight in, dearest child?” hummed the soft, melodious voice of the old witch.

“Hello, grandmother. I am well… sort of. I hope you have foreseen why I am here.” Chandrika said, feeling odd. She greatly revered her grandmother, yet she felt endlessly complicated about her role in recent events.

“Well… In hundreds of versions of this day, you come to my bosom as a wilted flower and ask me the same question. And in all of those versions, I say the same thing. As of days ago, I had never heard the name Giorgio deGloria. As you know, divination is… a fickle thing. I knew that sending you to the Crystal Ring Academy would be an opportunity for tremendous growth, and challenges. I knew that Eudora would protect you to the best of her ability. As far as the distress you have suffered… I would have warned you if I were able to.” the aged woman said, in a soft voice.

“More than that- I wouldn’t have made you go at all.” Said a tall woman wearing a crown and a radiant golden saree as she melted out of one of the tapestries.

“If I had any clue that Eudoria was running some kind of deathtrap like this! I mean I think we all discussed that it could be dangerous, but my daughter falling into-”

“My beautiful spear-thistle. What your daughter needs right now is support, not ranting.” Chandrika’s grandmother interrupted.

The woman turned to regard her mother briefly, before turning to her daughter, adjusting her posture, and embracing Chandrika’s astral form in her arms.

“My darling daughter. I am so glad that you’re unharmed. How are you doing?” she asked.

“Thanks, mom. The dragon itself was scary, but I think the part that I’m having a lot of trouble dealing with right now was almost losing my friend. It’s… gonna take a bit of time, I think. I don’t know what I would have done if he hadn’t made it.”

The queen of Ujjbala Sūrya looked deeply into her daughter’s eyes.

“You know… you could come home. We have tutors here that can teach you-”

“Oh? Aayana Chakraverti, the time-stopping witch queen of Ujjbala Sūrya, going back on one of her decisions? If I wasn’t your daughter, I might have gotten an achievement from you saying that.” Chandrika teased.

Aayana blinked, and regarded her daughter with a mischievous smile. “Well, that decision was made before I heard that my daughter had faced down a lich-dragon, now wasn’t it?”

“I… appreciate the offer, but I want to see this through. I have made friends, and I agree with what you initially said. This is an opportunity for me to grow as a witch, and a leader for my people… eventually. On that note, [Sage] has become [Great Sage], and I need you both to teach me how to manage it.”

Her grandmother piped in: “In certain threads… It is difficult for me to see so far away, but you are my blood. Eudoria has given you something which you are supposed to give to another, perhaps? Some sort of… token. I see the possibility of you giving this token to several teachers, and even an owl? You learn interesting things from all of them, but none of them allow you to better control your skill.”

That would be the commendation.

“But… in certain threads, I see another path. You give this token back to Eudoria, and she teaches you her fearsome skill. This helps you… but you must also return here at night, to learn under me. I will not tell you which path to take, but you are welcome to continue using the Dreamcatcher to visit while your body sleeps. I will caution you that it will leave you tired- for you will not be able to dream while you are here.” The aged woman said.

“Well, if this path you see allows me to control my skill… I will take it, no matter how hard it is. I don’t want to be subservient to my skill ever again.” Chandrika said, firming her resolve.

Three generations of Chakraverti women sat, enjoying the rare occasion when they could be together, even in spirit. Chandrika relayed details about her time at the academy, earning some interesting looks from her mother and grandmother.

Ah… I wonder if it would be improper for me to ask… I’m gonna do it anyway.

“So… how is… Jai?” Chandrika asked, after a lull in the conversation.

Aayana looked at her daughter, pursing her lips. “You know that you’re not supposed to ask after him while you are away from the palace. It is against tradition.”

“Jai Maitra is doing well in his training.” Her grandmother interrupted.

“Mother!”

“What? Aayana, the children are public figures. It is in the news. What? Why does everyone look at me like that when I say I read the news!? I AM OLD! Not Stupid!”

The old sage produced a printed headline that read: “Jai Maitra, future sultan of Hazra, wears his betrothed’s heraldry during training. Will the royal couple last through the ceremonial separation period before marriage?”

Wearing my heraldry? What a cutie.