Post by schrodinger on Mar 17, 2009 22:51:18 GMT 8
The following takes place while Venser is walking through the library.
Ah, it's good to take a break from studying once in a while and explore a new place. Not that I haven't done my fair share of exploring since leaving school, but it's refreshing to be able to take things at my own pace for a change.
As he wandered through the Library's endless corridors and alcoves, Venser felt himself relax a little, the tension gradually flowing out of his body. He'd always enjoyed the ambience of libraries, the reverent silence that symbolised the respect that scholars held for the knowledge locked within the walls of these establishments. It was reassuring, in a way - heartening to know that there were still places where one could seek refuge from the vagaries of the world.
Walking through a maze of ornately furnished hallways and up several flights of stairs, he eventually came across an elevator with a small brass sign next to it, enumerating the various floors that it served.
Floor 19 - Architecture and Construction
No, not relevant to my interest at this point...
Floor 24 - Beverages and Cooking
...Interesting, but I think I'll check that out later on.
Floor 67 - Geomancy
Not really my cup of tea.
Blah blah blah, nothing really eye-catching here...
Hang on, what's that?
His eye had chanced upon the final number on the sign.
Floor 100 - Roof Access
Now that looks promising.
Pressing the call button on the wall, Venser stepped into the elevator as its doors smoothly slid open-
and was greeted, unexpectedly, by a genteel-looking doorman, standing at attention next to the rows of buttons on the elevator's inside wall.
I didn't know lift attendants were still in service. Guess this place is pretty old-fashioned.
"How may I help you, sir?"
The impeccably-dressed young man's soft, educated accent was that of a professional butler, though he didn't seem to be serving anyone in particular.
"I'd like to go to the 100th floor, please."
A slight crease appeared on the doorman's forehead, and his expression shifted from expectant politeness to mild distress, as though an unreasonable request had been made of him, or he was constipated.
Skimming over his mind, Venser quickly picked up on the young man's train of thought.
Oh dear. I really can't let any visitor up on the roof without prior arrangement - that's against regulations...
Venser smiled amiably at him, to show him that he was constipated.
"I'm sorry, sir, but that's really not possible..."
"Don't worry about it."
Upon hearing Venser's words, the doorman's eyes glazed over slightly, as his irises began to luminesce with a faint blue light - much like Venser's own were doing at that moment (sans the unfocusing, of course. That would be unbecoming.).
"Yes, of course. Please go ahead, sir."
It was a little unorthodox, perhaps, but there would be no lasting damage to his mind, and he would forget that anything out of the ordinary had happened after Venser had gone about his business.
Speaking of which, it was time to go up.
He hit the button labelled "100th Floor", and waited as the elevator began its slow ascent to the apex of the Library.
He could have sworn the soft elevator music being piped in was 'Ode to Joy', remixed heavily.
*ding*
The 100th floor. Finally.
Exiting the elevator, he followed the corridor that he'd emerged in around a corner, and pushed open a pair of glazed glass doors...
The view from above was breathtaking. There really wasn't any other way to describe it. If looking at the Library from below had been impressive, looking down on the world from the zenith of the building was many times moreso.
From his vantage point, Venser could see for kilometers around in every direction, giving him a nigh-perfect bird's eye view of the town - and probably a couple of neigbouring districts, too. He paused for a moment to reflect upon the sudden serenity that he'd found.
Amazing. Even from a mundane perspective, the area has a subtle beauty of its own. I wonder what it looks like from a magical point of view?
Taking a deep draught of synesthesium from his hipflask, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath, giving it a few seconds to kick in before he reopened them.
And when he did, the world around him had changed.
Erutaretil's spellscape was as richly embellished as its landscape, with leylines of power intertwining and converging all throughout the town, emanating magical energy like fountains of spring water. To Venser's attuned eye, supplemented with the unique properties of synesthesium, it was like gazing upon an undiscovered paradise.
Looks like I was right about this place. The æther is strong here - I could feel that in the air before, but I needed to be sure about it before doing anything.
Time for a trial by fire.
Tapping into the mana links of the land, he recited an incantation which marked the beginning of a ritual that he'd gone through many, many times before. He could feel the integration spell work itself around his form, creating an interface between him and the æther, slowly severing his ties to the physical world.
Ah, how nostalgic...
With his eyes shut, he stepped over the threshold of the Library's roof.
As he fell, everything else seemed to recede into a void. The wind whipping at his face was muted, the sense of vertigo strangely numbed. All earthly details were sloughing away, revealing the true, mystical face of the world.
Then, with the ground less than a meter away from him, it all stopped.
Well, it's been a while, kid.
Nice to see you too, Evermind.
Ah, it's good to take a break from studying once in a while and explore a new place. Not that I haven't done my fair share of exploring since leaving school, but it's refreshing to be able to take things at my own pace for a change.
As he wandered through the Library's endless corridors and alcoves, Venser felt himself relax a little, the tension gradually flowing out of his body. He'd always enjoyed the ambience of libraries, the reverent silence that symbolised the respect that scholars held for the knowledge locked within the walls of these establishments. It was reassuring, in a way - heartening to know that there were still places where one could seek refuge from the vagaries of the world.
Walking through a maze of ornately furnished hallways and up several flights of stairs, he eventually came across an elevator with a small brass sign next to it, enumerating the various floors that it served.
Floor 19 - Architecture and Construction
No, not relevant to my interest at this point...
Floor 24 - Beverages and Cooking
...Interesting, but I think I'll check that out later on.
Floor 67 - Geomancy
Not really my cup of tea.
Blah blah blah, nothing really eye-catching here...
Hang on, what's that?
His eye had chanced upon the final number on the sign.
Floor 100 - Roof Access
Now that looks promising.
Pressing the call button on the wall, Venser stepped into the elevator as its doors smoothly slid open-
and was greeted, unexpectedly, by a genteel-looking doorman, standing at attention next to the rows of buttons on the elevator's inside wall.
I didn't know lift attendants were still in service. Guess this place is pretty old-fashioned.
"How may I help you, sir?"
The impeccably-dressed young man's soft, educated accent was that of a professional butler, though he didn't seem to be serving anyone in particular.
"I'd like to go to the 100th floor, please."
A slight crease appeared on the doorman's forehead, and his expression shifted from expectant politeness to mild distress, as though an unreasonable request had been made of him, or he was constipated.
Skimming over his mind, Venser quickly picked up on the young man's train of thought.
Oh dear. I really can't let any visitor up on the roof without prior arrangement - that's against regulations...
Venser smiled amiably at him, to show him that he was constipated.
"I'm sorry, sir, but that's really not possible..."
"Don't worry about it."
Upon hearing Venser's words, the doorman's eyes glazed over slightly, as his irises began to luminesce with a faint blue light - much like Venser's own were doing at that moment (sans the unfocusing, of course. That would be unbecoming.).
"Yes, of course. Please go ahead, sir."
It was a little unorthodox, perhaps, but there would be no lasting damage to his mind, and he would forget that anything out of the ordinary had happened after Venser had gone about his business.
Speaking of which, it was time to go up.
He hit the button labelled "100th Floor", and waited as the elevator began its slow ascent to the apex of the Library.
He could have sworn the soft elevator music being piped in was 'Ode to Joy', remixed heavily.
*ding*
The 100th floor. Finally.
Exiting the elevator, he followed the corridor that he'd emerged in around a corner, and pushed open a pair of glazed glass doors...
The view from above was breathtaking. There really wasn't any other way to describe it. If looking at the Library from below had been impressive, looking down on the world from the zenith of the building was many times moreso.
From his vantage point, Venser could see for kilometers around in every direction, giving him a nigh-perfect bird's eye view of the town - and probably a couple of neigbouring districts, too. He paused for a moment to reflect upon the sudden serenity that he'd found.
Amazing. Even from a mundane perspective, the area has a subtle beauty of its own. I wonder what it looks like from a magical point of view?
Taking a deep draught of synesthesium from his hipflask, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath, giving it a few seconds to kick in before he reopened them.
And when he did, the world around him had changed.
Erutaretil's spellscape was as richly embellished as its landscape, with leylines of power intertwining and converging all throughout the town, emanating magical energy like fountains of spring water. To Venser's attuned eye, supplemented with the unique properties of synesthesium, it was like gazing upon an undiscovered paradise.
Looks like I was right about this place. The æther is strong here - I could feel that in the air before, but I needed to be sure about it before doing anything.
Time for a trial by fire.
Tapping into the mana links of the land, he recited an incantation which marked the beginning of a ritual that he'd gone through many, many times before. He could feel the integration spell work itself around his form, creating an interface between him and the æther, slowly severing his ties to the physical world.
Ah, how nostalgic...
With his eyes shut, he stepped over the threshold of the Library's roof.
As he fell, everything else seemed to recede into a void. The wind whipping at his face was muted, the sense of vertigo strangely numbed. All earthly details were sloughing away, revealing the true, mystical face of the world.
Then, with the ground less than a meter away from him, it all stopped.
Well, it's been a while, kid.
Nice to see you too, Evermind.