<div class="floatright">(http://i.imgur.com/rizqJPk.jpg)</div><br/>Luckily the arcane academy that was the sort of "public face" of the mages collective in Laelith was right across the square from the guildhouse.  It wasn't coincidence of course.  When Ylene's mistress, the lady Magus Kristen d'Nevein chose a place to live, it was here, close to the center of the mage collective's powerbase.  This area of the reclaimed city of Laelith had a large collection of wizards, sorcerers, warlocks, and other spellcasters, and of course their servants and slaves.<br/><br/>When Ylene strode across the square, the sun had risen and was beginning to drive off the evening's cool air.  Already only just after sunrise it was obvious that it was going to be a warm day.  Servants and slaves were already bustling about the neighborhood, though the fountain seemed to be relatively unattended.  It wasn't terribly surprising as this district had such a large collection of magic users, they probably didn't need to fetch water like in some of the poor areas of town.  Many homes had water pumped to them, either mechanically or magically.  Of course in this district it was usually the latter.<br/><br/>The entryway to the arcane academy were large heavy wooden doors that kept back the day's heat.  Entering Ylene's nipples hardened as the lobby was magically cooled to an almost too cool level.  Certainly it was refreshing and wonderful during the heat of the day, but at sunrise when the weather outside was pleasant and cool, it was a bit jarring.  The lobby of the academy didn't have a desk the way that the guardhouse did, but instead was littered with comfortable couches and chairs.  It was well lit with large windows that let in the morning sunlight, muted with sheer curtains that kept out the worst glare.  In addition, dozens of hovering mage lights floated along the ceiling, bobbing up and down ever so slightly as if they were floating on the top of an invisible lake.<br/><br/>In lieu of a greeting desk, a single scholar sat on one of the couches, reading a book.  When Ylene entered he waited for a moment, the heavy wooden doors closing magically behind her.  Then he stood and bowed at the waist at her.  "Greetings Lirdylene Teken'urden," he said.  His recognition of her spurred her memory.  She'd only met him once or twice over the last few years, but he was a relatively unimportant and underpowered mage by the name of Reegin Eurtigin.  An older human man, he would have been around the same age as Kristen, but while she'd matured over the years to be a classically beautiful and regal older woman, this mage had stooped shoulder, sad eyes, and limp hair.  'Tired' seemed to be the perfect word to describe Reegin, though while his face was drawn into a somewhat tired expression, his tone was rich and vibrant.  He had the kind of voice you actually just enjoyed listening too.  "What brings you to our doorstep today?"  He asked gesturing to a couch or chair for her to be seated if she wished.