"What are you writing?"
Raise asked as Place sat at his table with a sheet of paper, his arm healed, along with all of the various bruises and scrapes he had acquired from his magic practise.
The healer had only given a sigh as he had entered the room, and said something about 'Reckless First-years', before throwing a few spells on him.
The day's classes were over, and the sun was setting.
Otis and Zandre were exploring the academy, but Raise had decided to stay in their shared dorm.
"A letter to my father, telling him about a few things I've learned, that, thinking about it now, were probably closely kept secrets."
Place paused his writing and gained a thoughtful look.
'Alright, there is definitely some kind of mental control in play, need to write down about that as well.'
"Closely kept secrets? Then how did you learn about them?"
Raise put down the book he was reading, and poured all his attention into the conversation he was currently having.
"Speaking about that is a bad idea. If it somehow spills, I will be put under scrutiny and get on the bad side of many powerful people."
"You know that that just makes me more curious."
Place turned to meet Raise's eyes.
"I welcome you to try to find out from me, use whatever way you want, I welcome the challenge, it will be good practise and pastime."
"I can use any method?"
"Feel free."
"I will find out this secret."
"You will try."
"Eh, sounds like a lot of work, I don't think it's worth it."
Place watched Raise loose all his intensity, pick up his book, and go back to reading in silence.
He blinked a few times, then turned back to writing.
'I forgot something I wanted to write.'
The short banter with Raise had made his mind slip, he frowned as he tried to recall it.
He went through his conversation just now, and managed to find it.
'Right, the mind control, need to write that down.'
He spent the next minute silently writing down what he wanted his father to know, before suddenly pausing and flipping the paper over.
"Good try." He spoke aloud.
"How did you know?" Raise's voice came over his left shoulder, as the figure reading on the right dispersed into nothing.
"I will keep that to myself. Handing you the answer is counterproductive."
"Understandable." Raise walked back to his bed and picked up his book.
Place picked up a book and threw it over his left shoulder.
It was caught in mid-air, and another Raise appeared as he turned around to look.
"You're good." He admitted as he handed the book back.
"I grew up with both older and younger siblings, all of them mages. I know quite a bit about tricks."
"I see, I will have to work harder then."
"Just to warn you, I have multiple mental protection artefacts on me, they are quite nasty, so do be careful."
"Thank you for the warning."
Raise's eyes gained a gleam in them.
"This will be a good game."
"I said that, didn't I?"
Place smiled as Raise went back to his bed.
He went back to his writing.
A few minutes later, he finished his letter and put it into an envelope, which he put into a box and pressed a button on.
One of the gems on it lit up, glowing with a soft red colour.
"Would you mind if I tried breaking into that?" Raise asked as he eyed the box.
"The box is not for storage." Place stated.
"Hmm? What do you mean?"
*ting
The box let out a soft sound, and the two of them turned their eyes to notice that the red light had disappeared.
"The box," Place opened it and showed Raise the empty inside. "Is a beacon, and a transport station."
"Teleportation?" Raise asked as he squinted his eyes. "No way that communicated anywhere further than a kilometre..."
"Connections." Place put the box down and closed it. "We have some here, this alerts them, and they do the rest."
"So the letter is gone." Raise clicked his tongue. "I wanted to read it."
"Better if you didn't," Place warned. "Its content might throw you into a panic, or it might make you think that I am not of sound mind."
"Pragee Ith-el-Ith."[1]
"Too much will drive you down a thorny road."
"I can control it."
Place 'hm'ed in response as he got up from the table and rolled his right wrist.
"I am heading to the training fields to try out some... 'gifts', want to come along?"
"Why the hesitation?"
"No reason, are you coming along or not?"
"I am, I want to see this."
[1] "Curious more and more."