Seated on the shores of Lake Lovalus, Rharne serves as the home of the Lighting Knights, the Thunder Priestesses, and the Merchant's guild. This beautiful trade city is filled with a happy and contented people who rarely need an excuse to party.
Xander still wasn't sure about the institute, however, Gennadiya had suggested that could work or maybe even take classes there and for that reason he had chosen to at least check the place out. So leaving the girls to be cared for and spend time with the other children at the orphanage for a couple of hours he had made his way to the Institute of Innovation as he had come to learn it was called.
Still putting his doubts aside of which there were lots he explored the campus with not much of an aim in mind other than to look around. He certainly looked out of place, walking alone and empty handed through the steady stream of book laden students. He watched them in their little groups as they discussed and debated the topic of the lectures they were leaving or waiting for, he recognised that many of them were knights and priestesses. He supposed even they had to learn although what he was not sure.
Not only was he unsure what they would learn but so was he. The more he walked the campus the more he was sure that taking lessons was likely not for him but teaching, maybe. Although teaching what? It didn't seem like the place taught physical martial skills and that was where he excelled above all else. As for where his other talents lied he wasn't sure how he would even begin to teach those.
It had taken him arcs of first hand experience and practise to get the hang of things like politics and what he hadn't learned through doing he had gathered from books or discussions with family, friends and the occasional tutor in the comfort of his own home. He had little experience with the workings of a classroom or teaching, the nobleman wouldn't even know where to start. After all it wasn't like he could drop a student into the middle of a noble meeting and instruct them to attempt to come out the other end without having made a new enemy or accidentally joined an alliance.
It seemed Xander must have been deep in his thoughts, deep enough not to notice the woman walking near him. In this haze of consideration Xander found himself suddenly feeling a bump against his arm. Had someone been near to him? He didn't remember seeing anyone moving close to his space.
The nobleman silently cursed himself for having let his senses grow so dull over the past arc. "Forgive me, I did not see you there." He said inclining his head and stepping back so that he was no longer standing in her personal space. It seemed he had collided with a slender and dark haired young woman. "My mind was elsewhere, well actually I was thinking about this place but I was not paying attention to my surroundings." he said offering a somewhat uncomfortable smile, normally Xander was far more composed but caught off guard in a place this foreign to him for the first time in a while he felt somewhat out of his depth.
“Are you kidding me?” she muttered under her breath. Professors Duras and Verninne were at it again. The pair were a scheduling nightmare of no end and it seemed to be her job to constantly fix what they were messing up. “Why is it always those two?” she mused to herself. Leta had asked her to go track the professors down and find out why they insisted on claiming the exact same times for the lecture rooms.
On her way back from straightening out the wayward professors’ schedules, Elisabeth found herself with a bit of free time. The Institute, it wasn’t Viden…but it was home for now. It was a strange home, different from Viden, but what she was discovering is that different wasn’t always bad. She had come to appreciate what she had in Rharne – friends…and a new perspective on life. There had been a time where stepping out of the academic world would have been unthinkable. In fact, Elisabeth had spent her entire life thinking that’s where she would remain – forever. But their move from Viden to Rharne had changed everything. She wasn’t the same girl any longer and more importantly, she didn’t want to be. Elisabeth had seen people doing important things and effecting real change.
She wanted to be a part of it. Ignoring what was going on in Idalos solved nothing.
There was a love of learning that would always be a part of her. That love of learning had brought Yeva into her life. But it was a different love that pulled her along a new path – doing what was right and protecting others. That path gifted her Balthazar and Varlum. Each had their own journey and mission. Elisabeth would do whatever was in her power to help them succeed. In the meantime, she had to make sure she was prepared.
Drifting along the pathway, her luminous gaze fell on the beauty of the campus. She was so drawn into the scenery that she completely lost track of where she was and accidentally collided with a man nearby. “Oh! I’m so sorry. I’m sure that was my fault. I got lost in my thoughts again.” Luckily, she hadn’t any books or anything to drop so the damage was contained to her ego. As she listened to him, a knowing smile formed on her lips. “It seems we both suffered the same affliction. No harm done. Is there something I can help you find?” She didn’t recognize the man, so it was safe to assume he was a visitor. If not, she’d know soon enough.
“My name is Elisabeth. Elisa, if you prefer…”
Some people might think it odd that she always mentioned both her given name and abbreviated name…but it was simply a matter of convenience. Most people went back and forth between the two where she was concerned. Except for Balthazar. He tended to call her ‘Elisabeth’ almost always. Amused at the thought, she marveled at why it had taken her so long to realize that.
Perhaps it was not uncommon in a university like this for people to be as lost in thought as it seemed they had both been. Though Xander could only speculate on that due to his lack of experience with the academic world. Nonetheless, it was comforting to know that the accidental collision had not been entirely his fault. "I doubt it unless there is a special room in this place that will help me to uncover the answer to questions pertaining to my own purpose." He said with a chuckle, his confidence returning to him somewhat.
The woman introduced herself and he returned the gesture. "It is nice to meet your Miss Elisabeth, I am Xander Andaris." He said once again neglecting his official titles, both doubtful that anyone he met here would recognise the Andaris name and not feeling the need to flaunt his noble origins around Rharne. "I will apologise again for my lack of awareness it is not like me to be so clumsy." He assured her as he smiled more genuinely and less awkwardly this time.
He looked around them for a moment though as he once again considered her question as to whether she might help him find something and while he was not usually one for over sharing with strangers it occured to him that the woman may indeed be able to help him depending on the role she played here at the institute after all his curiosity and questions related to either learning or teaching would remain unanswered unless asked.
"Student or teacher?" He queried, looking her over he would have assumed student though age was not always an indicator of position. He himself was relatively young to have held the position of Duke when he had been in Andaris and yet the title had found its way too him. He also considered the fact that she could be both, Gennadiya had spoken of both learning and teaching at the institute and so he did not expect that the two would be mutually exclusive.
He quickly added to his question. "If you don't mind my asking of course, I do not mean to pry or distract you from whatever it was you were thinking about or on your way to do." The nobleman needed to remember his manners, just because he wasn't in the courts of Rynmere anymore was no excuse to ignore his etiquette.
Getting lost in one’s thoughts could be considered something of an occupational hazard in a place such as the Institute…but Elisabeth’s mind just worked that way. At least when she wasn’t sword training. That was a whole different situation. Being at the Institute allowed her the luxury of being able to be absorbed in thought – a luxury a battlefield wouldn’t allow.
His comment about purpose resonated within her…and she said as much. “Well, I don’t recall there being such a room…but if you find it, would you let me know? I have a few questions I’d like to ask myself…” Her smile was natural and unforced – she wasn’t simply trying to make small talk. Elisabeth understood the struggles of finding purpose…intimately.
“The pleasure is mine, Xander.” Inclining her head as he introduced himself, she silently wondered if she could call him by just his first name. Social conventions boggled her mind sometimes and to be fair, she was awful at being social. Oh well, the damage was done. Ship sailed. Horse bolted.
His question regarding her role was not an uncommon one. In her opinion, learning truly never ended. Elisabeth knew of students older than even Vin and Rilith so it was not an unreasonable query. Besides, she was near the median age of the students in classes. Smiling lightly, Elisabeth clarified things for him. “Neither actually. I am a research assistant here. My adoptive parents are both professors and I work with them. We just moved here right before the beginning of Vhalar.” She didn’t feel the need to explain anything previous to that as it would likely just bore him, which would be fair because her life before Rharne had been…boring.
The idea that he was contemplating his purpose stuck with her as they spoke. Being someone that wrestled with those thoughts as well, Elisabeth still wondered if there was anything she could do to help. Thinking about her own journey, she knew that talking about things sometimes helped, but she was a stranger to him. Was it appropriate to offer? Bah…social conventions. Sometimes the best thing one could do for another was simply listening. She knew that having dealt with a multitude of students over the arcs.
“Xander, if I may call you that, I have no place to be right now and had been contemplating taking a walk around campus. Would you do me the honor of your company?” It was a sincere offer born of understanding and the desire to help. She smiled at him, waiting to see if he would take her up on the offer.
Xander appreciated that Elisabeth played along with his joke and he nodded along with a grin. "Of course you will be the first to know." He declared as he too conintued the joke of the secret room. Even as they joked about it the idea of such a place seemed to grow ever more inviting to him, he felt himself wishing it were not a joke. Ever since he lost Celeste besides caring for his children he had felt...lost.
The nobleman still wasn't used to being called by his first name by strangers, though he supposed it was something he would need to get used too if he was going to continue to ignore his noble titles. In there current conversation though it was him inquiring after the others role and by extension he supposed title. She was a research assistant, what was a research assistant? He supposed its name was somewhat self explanatory but it didn't answer the questions of what they were researching or how they were researching it. The more Xander learned about the world of education the less he felt he knew.
It seemed that he was not the only one of them new to this specific institute at least as Elisabeth had only recently moved here herself. Though by the sounds of things she had been in places like the institute all her life, so while she might have been new to Rharne's Institute like he was she must not have been new to the world of academia.
"You may call me Xander." He confirmed with a slight shrug, honestly not too concerned. "And yes, I would happily walk with you." He said moving into tandem step with her so that she might lead the way around the campus. "So what do your parent's teach?" He asked, curious as to what sort of things a person would learn around the institute. Its name was somewhat ambigious after all, 'Institute for Innovation', what were they looking to innovate in or were they studying innovation itself.
Xander had to admit he found it all quite puzzling and he had survived in the courts of Rynmere. He was no stranger to complex scenarios and topics but in the case of academic study and research he was greatly uninformed and unsure.
"Or what do they research?" He questioned not knowing if all proffesors taught or if some just researched, there was a quizzical look on his face as he attempted to unravel the mysteries of this new world.
Meeting new people was something Elisabeth didn’t excel at. She blamed Viden for that. Well, not the city itself but her time there. She hadn’t been raised by people that pushed her social skills. Academics were notoriously self-absorbed. A hazard of the profession. Vin and Rilith had done what they could but their true passions were the work they did. It was intriguing from a sociology standpoint, but the truth of the matter was, most in her profession were introverts. The very fact that she had even invited him on a walk was something of a miracle. Before Rharne, there would have been a mumbled apology for running into him and quickly running off, but she was more comfortable with people now. As well, her new companion seemed like he could use someone to talk to.
Smiling at his question, Elisabeth led him down the path that twisted behind one building and led to more open space. “Vin, my adoptive father – he’s a Professor of Linguistics. My adoptive mother, Rilith, is a Professor of Medicine. I go back and forth between the two. Helping with education plans. Tutoring students. Administrative tasks. Pretty much whatever someone needs me to do. My own education was rather…eclectic.” That…was putting it mildly. She knew a little about a lot of subjects…and a lot about some. Doubting she would ever shake her love of learning, Elisabeth was currently moving – slowly – beyond being satisfied with her life within education. She wanted more now.
So much more.
“The Institute offers a wide range of classes and subjects. Mostly the normal that one would find at like the other Universities. The difference with this one is that they explore how disciplines can cross-over or complement each other. That’s my opinion on it anyway. “
Turning to regard Xander, she smiled, deciding to ask a question. “You said something about ‘purpose’ earlier. I feel like I’ve spent the last…well…since I’ve been in Rharne so the beginning of Vhalar, pondering the subject of purpose. Things…changed when I moved here, and I think my mind is still catching up. That’s the funny thing about purpose. The harder you look to find it, the more elusive it becomes. But if you stop and let things catch up with you, sometimes…an answer presents itself.”
The young woman wouldn’t say that she had found her purpose yet but with the help of others, she was finding her way. Elisabeth wasn’t sure how much, if anything, he wanted to offer the conversation (nor did she want to make him feel like he had to) …but maybe if she kept talking, something would help him? Or at the very least, maybe it would spark an idea.
“I started training in swordsmanship after I arrived here. That’s helped at least focus my energies. I’ve been trying to help out at Storm’s Edge whenever I can get away from the Institute. It all helps. I figure if I throw myself into enough things, maybe something will eventually stick…like the sword training. I enjoy it immensely.”
Linguistics and Medicine, they didn't seem like topics that particularly complimented one another, though there wasn't any real reason why he would be lead to think they should have. Although he imagined it made for, as Elisa had so eloquently put it, quite an eclectic education. Regardless it was evident she was far more at ease within the institute than he was and far more educated on how it worked. Made even more clear as she offered her opinions of what the specific thing was that made the Rharne institute unique.
"Perhaps, although my purpose was once clear, obviously not so much anymore." He shrugged slightly as he walked with her returning her smile. "Though I will admit I have not done too much searching, not that I would know what to search for exactly." He supposed this was his searching now though, still not that he was sure he knew what he was looking for. Xander had hoped that maybe something would jump out to him, however, that was not yet the case.
The nobleman was intrigued to hear that the woman was learning to fight. Fighting was not something he often associated with the more educated scholarly like folk but then again here he was too. "How goes your training?" He was curious how she was learning, whether she was teaching herself or taking lessons from someone specific. He had to admit his curiosity was somewhat based around the idea that he might start teaching the way of the sword himsel and wondered what kind of competition was out there.
"Are you learning on your own or have you some kind of tutor?" If she didn't maybe he could even offer to help, he did not like to brag but he was arguably one of the better swordsmen around. "Just like many of the things you can learn here a tutor is just as useful in learning the more physical skills like swordsmanship, in fact they can be invaluable." He said remembering his own lessons, the man Doran had been his first teacher and had set him off on the right path in his training.
Xander realised he was asking a lot of questions about the sword training and paused for a moment before speaking again. "I apologise for asking so many questions, I am a swordsman myself so I am always curious about those things." Looking around again he made sure to remember where they were walking, not wanting to get lost should he have to find his way back on his own. "I suppose since we are at the institute though I should perhaps focus my attention more on what happens here."
He chuckled and shook his head. "Unless you have any exciting stories about your travels to Storm's Edge, I keep hearing a lot about this place and in another life I might have been there myself." He admitted knowing full well that if it weren't for his children he would be there too, especially after he had learned that Genna was there as well.
The words he said were familiar…mainly because she often said them to herself. Elisabeth’s purpose had been clear when she left Viden and there had been no doubt about what she would do for the rest of her life. But the Universe had other plans for her and let her know this in dramatic fashion. It wasn’t the life she had expected but that, by no means, meant she was unhappy with it.
His comment about searching struck a chord with her. “You know that you don’t know what you are searching for. That’s better than most, in my humble opinion. I think sometimes people look for what they -think- they are looking for…but it’s never right. Things come when they are supposed to – again, my opinion. One just needs to keep moving so those things can find them. The only wrong action to take is none.”
A bright smile slipped across her lips as he asked about her training. It was obvious that it was a subject she enjoyed talking about. “Well, actually. I’m still in the beginning phases really but it’s been enlightening.” He had further inquired about Elisabeth’s method of instruction. “I have a mentor of sorts. I met him quite by accident. He agreed to train me in with a gladius so that I could learn the basics…but we’ve been discussing the fact that he feels I am far enough along to switch to a two-handed weapon now. He’s willing to teach me, but he feels that students benefit from different types of instruction and instructors. I just haven’t had the chance to find one yet. I’m sure there are many out at Storm’s Edge, but things have been a little busy out there. I don’t want to bother anyone.”
Xander’s apology was kind but not necessary. “No reason to apologize. I enjoy the questions. I don’t get to talk to many people here in Rharne proper about swordsmanship. It’s completely understandable that you would be interested.” They had walked a fair distance and were starting on the path back to the main grounds. “Stories? Well, I’ve been on a mission, yes. But mostly it’s training every trial, every break. I met a woman named Faith who invited me to a meeting. Things happened and the next thing I knew, I was on my way out to Storm’s Edge. The very next trial I was headed to the Umbral Caverns to scout for Flameborn. It’s been…interesting.” There were pieces of information she left out, like the nightmares. Elisabeth hadn’t been prepared for the rapid initiation into her new world, and it had taken its toll.
Laughing softly to take the edge off the icy feel running up her spine, she made an observation. “I feel like all I’ve been doing is talking about me. I would love to hear about your sword work. How long have you been training?” It felt like an appropriate question to open with but then again, he may not want to share. Elisabeth had never been very good at small talk but she hoped whatever was coming out of her mouth was at least considered passable for adequate conversation.
He listened as Elisabeth commented on his knowing that he did not know what he was searching for was better than some and while he could understand her point he was not so sure he agreed. Xander did not like feeling lost and while he had purpose in being a father and always would he was more than just a parent and it was that side of him he needed to rediscover and explore. The nobleman appreciated her input nonetheless.
Xander paid close attention as she spoke of how she was going about learning how to use a blade. Starting with a gladius was an interesting choice but then he supposed every teacher had a different style and idea of what was best. As his background was in the use of a longsword, a weapon designed for both one and two handed use he was not sure why if the intention was to use a weapon with two hands eventually he did not understand why one would not start with something like that.
The grandmaster chose not to question it though, it was not his place to correct someone he did not know or what they were planning. "You may have been struggling to find a teacher and time but the best way to learn is in the field, when fighting with real consequences we find where we are weakest and while it may be sometimes a painful experience," he thought about the first time he had a real fight, "it is often an invaluable lesson."
At times it would not be unjustified to say that Xander had gathered a fair amount of wisdom over the past few arcs, more than he realised. In truth he would likely make a better teacher than he gave himself credit.
Xander was interested to here about a few of the things that had been happening in the stormwastes, part of him still wished he would have been able to go and aid in the fight. Though it was not worth the risk, he could not bear the idea of leaving his children both motherless and fatherless. As he thought of it the topic was turned on its head and it became Xander's turn to answer the questions.
"Ever since I was a child, it is part of my culture for young men to learn how to fight." Especially in Krome, it was what his original home Duchy was most known for after all, great warriors and fighters. "Though I only really started to take it more seriously in my early 20s and really got the hang of it in the last 3 arcs." His advancement in skill had been quite rapid. He rubbed the calluses on his palms that had formed over prolonged use of his longsword although they had started to shrink recently due to lack of use, it reminded him that he really needed to start practising more frequently again.
"I use a longsword, though I am relatively capable with most bladed weapons, should you ever find yourself wishing to learn the use of a longsword you are welcome to seek me out." He tried not too sound too much like he was just hunting for work. "I have a skill, I see now reason why I should not share that art with others and help them to defend themselves as well, it is somewhat my responsibility to protect others and to help them protect themselves as well." A sense of duty he had picked up as both a nobleman and a shieldbearer.
She walked along beside him, listening to his thoughts on learning swordsmanship. Elisabeth had to admit that he had a point – the field was the best place to learn. Dangerous, yes…but best. She wouldn’t have made that connection before the Umbral Caverns but having been in a situation like that one, she saw the wisdom of his words. Nodding her head gently, she responded. “Before coming to Rharne, I had never been in a dangerous situation – ever. I never imagined the intangibles that you can’t know until you are in the situation. Now I do…but I don’t know if I know all of them. I doubt it. I think every situation is different. I’ve adopted the philosophy that I’ll train for what I know and every unknown I encounter, and hopefully build upon it as time goes on.”
Elisabeth’s abilities were certainly in the infant stage in comparison to most she knew. She was also not ashamed of that fact. The very idea that she was trying was enough for her. ‘Trying’ meant breaks and breaks training with Lore and the Knights/Wardens at Storm’s Edge. She was often tired and sore, but the work was rewarding and felt herself getting stronger with every passing trial. Driven to succeed and help people, that force pushed her harder than she ever imagined.
Xander’s offer genuinely surprised her. As she had said earlier, Lore encouraged her to seek outside help when she could. Biting her lip gently, she silently wondered if she should accept. Elisabeth wanted to…but she also didn’t want to be a bother. The transition to longsword needed to happen sooner rather than later – the longer she stayed with the gladius, the longer it would take to get used to longsword – but something was stopping her from outright accepting. What was it?
Trust.
It had never been the young woman’s strong suit. Coming from Viden, she had grown up relatively sheltered by the Academy. She preferred relying on herself for...well…everything. That had been the way Elisabeth was raised. She had trusted Lore to teach her. Could she trust Xander?
Something inside her said yes.
Had she known Xander was a shieldbearer, there wouldn’t have been any question. Elisabeth was versed in Ethelynda and had seen some of the abilities her marked carried. “If you are offering, Xander…. I will happily accept. I can use all the help I can get.”
What went unsaid is the fact that she needed to get better faster. Her progress was steady, but time was of the essence. One could only push themselves so far, in her opinion.
As she waited to hear what he had to say, she considered the man himself. He talked a good game and she truly felt he believed the words he said. There was a pervasive air of mystery around him that she found interesting, but she quickly reminded herself that people didn’t like to be thought of as puzzles, even if they often were the most fascinating puzzles of all. Reigning in her curiosity, Elisabeth simply smiled and remained patient.
