Carson refused Kleris' aid and stood up by himself.  "Did you hear the rules?  No physical blows!"<br/><br/>"It was by a summoned monster, it was legal," Andrei said.<br/><br/>Carson just shook his head.  "Her positioning was intentional, she took me out not with a spell."<br/><br/>"Enough!" Utari exclaimed.  "Kleris indeed made a legal move.  The summoned horse was the one to knock you off balance.  Shall we make it illegal in duels, then, for students to dodge out of the way of their opponents' spells?"<br/><br/>"It might be legal, but it was cheap!  I want a rematch!"<br/><br/>Rensha walked up to Kleris' side.  "For all we know you'll just cry foul again.  Mystra's sake, it's only a duel!"<br/><br/>"No," Carson intoned.  "It's more than that.  It's about honor."<br/><br/>Without saying another word he handed his pair of wands back to Utari and left the resort.<br/><br/>"Don't worry about him," Utari said.  "It's not hard to set Carson off about something or other.  One of these days that boy will learn the hard way that this isn't proper conduct."<br/><br/>Rensha gave Kleris a congratulatory slap on the back "You won fair and square, Kleris, and that's all that matters!  Anyway, who's next?"<br/><br/>"Well, why don't we let one of the first years over here have a practice bout?  Everyone will get at least a turn."<br/><br/>"Cool, now watch carefully Kleris, this is how mages defend themselves!"<br/><br/><em>In addition to matches, the Redhurst Dueling Club taught Kleris the fundamentals of magical combat.  Learn True Shield and Color Spray.</em><br/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: georgia;"><strong>True Shield (1001 Spells)</strong></span><br/><strong>School:</strong> Abjuration; <strong>Level:</strong> Sor/Wiz 1<br/><strong>Casting Time:</strong> 1 standard action<br/><strong>Components:</strong> V, S<br/><strong>Range:</strong> Personal<br/><strong>Target:</strong> You<br/><strong>Duration:</strong> 1 hour/level or until discharged<br/>You gain +20 deflection bonus to AC against the next attack that targets you. Whether the attack succeeds or not, the spell is triggered and the effect ends.</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Relationship and Experience</div><div class="spoiler_body">Gain <strong>Relationship Level 1 out of 10 with Carson.</strong>  You two are <em>Rivals</em> now.<br/>Gain 300 experience points.</div></div><br/><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;">Day 24, Change Starts at Home</span></div><br/>"So, how goes the practice with<em>Spider Climb?</em>" Dean Doil cheerily asked.<br/><br/>"I couldn't cast it.!<br/><br/>"I used it, but almost fell off a building!"<br/><br/>"I did.  I spent last night being healed in the chapel."<br/><br/>Doil sighed.  "My apologies, students.  I was a little short-sighted in teaching you that spell.  I should have known better..."<br/><br/>It was odd to see the normally cheery dwarf in such low spirits.<br/><br/>"Without teaching you the<em>feather fall</em>spell!  How can I expect you all to climb to your heart's content, with the fear of great heights looming over you?  Come, follow me to this ladder and stack of pillows, it will all make sense in time..."<br/><br/>What appeared first as a two-story wooden playground set was actually constructed by Doil earlier today for this very class.  "Unlike most spells,<em>feather fall</em>can be cast in a fraction of a second.  It alters the air resistance directly below your position to make you fall at a much slower rate.  For this lesson I want you to jump off this perch and cast the spell before you hit the pillows on the ground below."<br/><br/>When standing on solid ground the spell was easy enough to cast, but the disorientation of falling meant that most students failed to cast it on their first try.  Only Rensha got it down.<br/><br/>"Marvelous, Rensha, you must be a natural!"<br/><br/>"Course I am!  This was the first spell I learned growing up in the mountains."<br/><br/><em>Learn Feather Fall.</em><br/><br/><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;">Day 26, Lillin's Dorm</span></div><br/><br/>Like a set schedule, Lillin was more than happy to remind Kleris that today was the day they'd get naked together.  She wanted to keep things slow this time, simply working on what they already did instead of incorporating more new things in the bedroom.  "Besides, I haven't forgotten how good my tail makes you feel..."<br/><br/>While they were having sex in her bedroom, a knock came on the door.<br/><br/>"Ooh, uh...who is it?  Ah!"<br/><br/>"Lillin?  I thought it was time for us to-"<br/><br/>A look of surprise dawned on the tiefling's face.  "Kleris, stop.  I need to take this."  She got up out of bed and went to the door, opening it a crack.<br/><br/>"Oh, uh hey, are you busy?"<br/><br/>"Sorry Arthur," Lillin said.  "Our meeting was tomorrow, not today."<br/><br/>The boy blushed.  "Oh, okay, I forgot.  Sorry, I'll come back later."<br/><br/>"Sorry about that," she said as she crawled back into bed.  "I suppose it's time I told you this.  Kleris, I'm not exactly the monogamous type.  Quite a few guys and girls here don't mind, but it can be an issue for some.  I'm sorry, I probably should have told you this before."<br/><br/>She stroked Kleris' cheek.  "So, do you mind?  Don't worry, we can still do it, but you should know that I like being with other people, too."<br/><br/><em>I'm pretty sure that I know the answer, but is Kleris okay with this?</em><br/><br/><div align="center">Redhurst Academy Store</div><br/>Although Redhurst was well-stocked, apprentice witches, wizards, and magi still needed to restock on study supplies, and the Academy's very own shop was more than happy to provide necessary material in exchange for a reasonable fee.<br/><br/>Students weren't the only ones who made use of the shop, for Dean Karnakia of Mordant came into the building while Kleris was restocking on books, papers, and ink.<br/><br/><br/>"Good afternoon, Ms. Merchiot," she said.  "I meant to bring this up earlier, but I was busy for the past two weeks.  The next time Dean Doil wishes to use my tower for his classes, please try not to distract my own students from their studies.  I understand that the brunt of the blame is on your teacher, but the presence of adventurous climbers plucking flags from my tower is quite noticeable."<br/><br/>The teacher picked a sinister-looking black book from the shelf:<em>The Ethics of Death.</em><br/><br/>"Anyways, where did you get your surname?  Not too many people just happen to be a Merchiot in Redhurst."<br/><br/>"Oh, I did not expect that," she said upon hearing his answer.  "For you two..." she mused for a bit before shaking her head as though snapping back from a trance  "My apologies.  I mistaken you for being related to someone else.  Good day, Kleris."<br/><br/>She seemed more in a hurry to leave, plucking the silver pieces down on the counter and taking her book.<br/><br/><em>You don't need a Sense Motive check to know that something is up!</em><br/><br/><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;">Day 28</span></div><br/>While eating at lunch, Elmira approached Kleris.  "I'm ready to go meet Benser, after your meal of course.  This is the last opportunity for me to cut this off, and I'd like it if you were by my side for when it happens."<br/><br/>Benser operated a general-purpose magic item shop in Tolkur.  Shelves of spell components, exotic ingredients, powdered bits of mineral, and other esoteric bits crammed the cluttered shelves of the store.  The owner greeted Elmira as she walked up to the front counter with Kleris in tow.  Even sitting down he still towered over the two of them; his height and well-toned physique made him seem more the part of a powerful warrior than a wizard.  Perhaps he was both.<br/><br/>"Good afternoon, Elmira," he said.  "It's a bit early for you to be coming here."<br/><br/>"Benser, we need to talk."<br/><br/>Knowing that something was on her mind, he took her and Kleris into a back room.  "Is everything alright?"<br/><br/>Elmira hesitated a little.  "Earlier on in the month...there was an intruder in Redhurst.  I was spotted as being outside at the time, and so the Dean interviewed all the students wandering outside the academy at the time.  Benser, what we did...it was very risky, and foolish.  I'm afraid that it was too close, and the more I think about it, the less comfortable I am with being your apprentice after this."<br/><br/>She took a deep breath.  "Benser, I wish to leave your employment, and for you to stop paying for my tuition."<br/><br/>Benser's mighty shoulders sagged.  "Elmira, I'm sorry.  It was a mistake on my part, and it won't happen again.  You don't have to leave my apprenticeship, I'll just be more mindful about these things in the future."<br/><br/>Elmira shook her head.  "No, I can't risk something like this again.  I'd rather we do things as equals, not with me as your dependent.  It wouldn't be right otherwise.  It would be best if we parted ways."<br/><br/>"Are you sure?  Think about this carefully Elmira.  Where will you get another source of income?"<br/><br/>"That is for me worry about now, not you.  I'll inform the Headmaster to cancel your payments, I'll shoulder the burden...somehow.  I wish you the best in your future."<br/><br/>Benser stared down at the ground.  "Al...alright, if that's what you want.  Goodbye, Elmira.  Once you graduate, then maybe you can come back."<br/><br/>"I don't know, Benser.  I can't hold you to that.  Goodbye, Benser."<br/><br/>"Goodbye, Elmira."<br/><br/><br/><br/>Elmira was tearing up by the time they left the shop.  "Why am I crying?" she asked.  "I feel relieved, yet it still hurts.  In an odd way, I would like to be with Benser, but not like this.  Thank  you for being there for me, Kleris."<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Relationships and experience</div><div class="spoiler_body">Gain <strong>Relationship Level 2 out of 10</strong> with Elmira.  Gain 150 experience points.</div></div><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;">Day 30</span></div><br/>The entirety of Redhurst's student body, 350 in all, gathered outside one sunny morning at the Main Gate.<br/><br/>Rensha yawned.  "Why did they take us all out here, Zull?"<br/><br/>Dean Khûdzak, scroll and quill in hand, called out the names of each student as he passed them.  "Andrei, Renist, Kors, Kleris, Rensha, Zull, that's it!<br/><br/>He then cast a<em>Message</em>spell.  "Headmaster, all students and faculty are present and accounted for!  We're ready to go!"<br/><br/><br/>"You want me to spoil the surprise for you first years?" Zull asked.  "I think it's more fun for you to see for yourself, but if you really wanna know..."<br/><br/>Arturon popped up between the three friends.  "We, and by that we mean the whole Academy, is going to<em>plane shift.</em>Redhurst is the only mobile magic academy, traveling across the Known Realms.  This month we're scheduled to head for the world of Midgard, a flat planet encircled by the body of the dragon-god Veles."<br/><br/><br/>"The trip...will be safe, right?" Andrei asked.<br/><br/>"Andrei, Andarlin's done this for centuries.  We're in good hands."<br/><br/><br/>"Oooh, look up, at the sky!" a student called out.<br/><br/><br/>The clouds in the blue sky shifted and shimmered as though being pushed around by super-fast winds.  A loud rippling sound rushed across the entire school as the horizon above them quickly darkened to an orange dusk, and the bustling city street immediately outside the Main Gate transformed into the sandy shores of a seacoast.<br/><br/><br/><br/>"This is it," Dean Khûdzak said.  "We're no longer in Tolkur anymore.  Say hello to the magocracy of Allain, our host nation for the next 30 days."