Let's Talk Magick (Azraeth)

[Calen (DELETED 5969)]

I allowed myself to watch Azraeth scan the page with calculated attention, noting various twitches of the face. Most notable of all was the smile that seemed to settle over his expression to which I perked an eyebrow. It could have resulted from learning information he had not had previously, but I had a sense that ran much deeper than that. Or, only surface deep. In whatever direction the smile happened to come from, it seemed out of place. In a way, it made me slightly uneasy and I switched my weight from foot to foot in an attempt to sooth it away. It did little to help, in all honesty, but it kept away the sensation of being a sitting duck.

His sudden rising made every muscle in my body tense, but I forced myself to relax to maintain my professional attitude. Something about the male pulled at my alarm bells ever so slightly, leading me to believe he was more dangerous than he appeared. If that were the case, his departure was well enough with me, and I canted my head in a farewell. He claimed my help had aided him in some way and that, at least, I was able to believe. He wouldn't have come to me if he had known the information already, unless it was a sick game he seemed to enjoy.

I maintained my position behind the desk without sitting as he gathered his things, fully expecting to never see him again. It didn't upset me, cause me any discomfort. As a college professor, people came and went in my life and it was just a fact of life. I might share a respectful relationship with a student, and then they would move on and it would all continue as it should. This case was no different.

Then he turned around and made an offer I wasn't sure I could refuse. I had heard about the Temple since my arrival in the city, many of my coworkers having mentioned it as a "must see" place as I explored the city that was to be my new home. It was said to hold a long history of worship and ritual, a place shrouded in such a deep magical aura that anyone with any sense could nearly choke on it. Though it was not my exact department, the idea still filled me with curiosity. I never was one to turn away from my curiosity...and it was sure to get me killed, some day.

There was no chance to answer Azraeth before he was moving out the door. In a rush, I grabbed my coat from the rack, slipping my keys in the pocket. I locked the door to my office as I made my way out to follow him, coming to his side a moment later. "Could you tell me a bit about the history? I asked, letting him take the role of educator. I honestly knew little of the place outside what I had been told, and there had to be so much more to it.

[Azraeth]

He was not going to be making the trip alone it seemed. The campus grounds were still abuzz, because they did not shut down for the evening. There were still night classes to be had, and the truth of the matter was that Harper Rock never truly slept. During the day, the humans ruled, save for those few vampires who possessed the ability to walk in the daylight. Az was not one of those. In fact, the moment the sun went up, he passed out immediately. He had no control over it, and had even been known to completely cut someone off mid-conversation because he just passed out. The night was another matter entirely, not ruled by man but by creatures they should have feared.

Had any large number of them really known.

He remained silent for several moments if only because he’s not naturally an extrovert; something that likely came as a surprise to anyone who knew him. He played the part well, and had for years. He was sociable enough and helpful to enough people that most people seemed to think he was something of a social butterfly. On the contrary, it was something he had to work at. Left to his own devices, he enjoyed the silence. He meditated frequently for that very reason, because it offered him the opportunity to clear his mind and not have a million voices all around him.

“It is one of the oldest structures in Harper Rock. I know that it has worn many faces. It was obviously originally a church. Since then it has acted as a hospital, a convalescent home, a place of refuge. It has seen plague and death for as long as it has existed.” There were catacombs beneath the temple, filled with graves of the holy and sinners alike. The spiritual presence there was indeed palpable. Az himself knew just how potent it was, because he had, in his own way, influenced the growth of that atmosphere.

Every witch needed a place of power.

It seemed fitting that his was a Temple.

“The stained glass windows were recently updated, about three year ago. But other than that, the stone structure is largely the same as it has been since it was constructed. The furniture, save for the altar, is of course new.“ He led the way, his pace brisk, his steps light as he cut through the campus and then made his way towards the temple itself. The walk was not such a great distance that he found it intimidating. Soon, the building itself loomed in the distance, growing larger and larger. The gothic structure was like a dark anachronism so close to the Necropolis and a cybercafé. Thankfully, it was set onto a field in Thornside park, near a small body of water. One could step into its immensity and feel as if they had walked into a whole other world.

Maybe that was part of its charm.

“Welcome.” He finally murmured when they arrived. The large double doors creaked and then swung inwards as if pulled by phantom appendages. Magic, or some sort of trick. Either way, there were spirits that openly wandered about the temple. Of course, only a medium could see them, but it was impossible not to notice the drop in temperature.

[Calen (DELETED 5969)]

Though the male's pace was brisk as he made his way through campus, I did my best to keep up without being a burden to him. As it was, I was in the greatest shape of my life, thanks to the exercising regime I had been on before I took up my post at HRU. When one had so much time on their hands, it was necessary to fill it with whatever could come to mind. For me, it was working out. And what man could rightfully say it never had? So, I was able to stay within speaking distance, though I remained a few paces behind, as to not give off the impression we knew each other in any other sense.

The thought had occurred to me that I did not know this man from Adam, and here I was following him off to some deeply regarded Temple in this city. He had claimed to be a member of the family that owned it, but that meant little for one's state of mind. Azraeth could prove to be a serial killer that enjoyed killing in his family's holy grounds. It would be a bit disturbing, even by my standards, but I was in no place to judge a book by its cover.

The streets were still fairly crowded, the college students filling the streets as they prepared for their night out. It wasn't a school night, technically, but that never was an issue in college. As someone who had enjoyed many parties during my own college years, I could do nothing more than shoot them a small smile. Many didn't know who I was, and probably mistook me for a student as they nodded back.

As we left the campus and out into the streets, I found myself memorizing more of the streets that lead out of the general area. I had much of the city to learn still, and this trip was as good a chance as any to generate a visual map. As I did so, I listened to Azraeth's explanations of the Temple and how it has been used since its construction. If all were true, then the building had quite the intense history and one I wouldn't mind hearing more about.

The building grew larger as we approached and I found myself in awe of the building, blinking rapidly as I tried to take in all the fixtures and spires that created its beautiful exterior. My companion did not give me time to admire it, however, swinging the doors open to allow me access to the holy place within.

"Thank you..." I mumbled, barely able to provide him with even that as I looked around. The energy surrounding the temple was thick, the sharpest of blades unable to penetrate it. It seemed to move in a disorganized harmony, hauntingly so. It was nearly impossible to not channel into it, to feel it out. To keep my curiosity contained, I turned to the male.

"This is quite an amazing place...you can practically feel it, like its alive." I moved a bit deeper into the main room, breaking in the scents that filled it and the quiet solace is provided to all who visited.