Island Tour Part II

[Trillian]

Samuel ignored the warning for two reasons.  The first was because he wasn't knocking anything together, he was merely spinning bottles to see their labelled contents (and wondering why anybody would put them away so carelessly that they had to be spun in the first place for identification, especially when this was a student's locale), and the second was due to the fact Aarik seemed so rigid that it was unlikely Samuel would be able to progress further with him.  Contacts in a place like this could come in handy, but as far as he could see, Aarik was going to be a short-term catalyst for what was needed to advance Samuel on his way.

"Why do you insist on asking me questions?" Samuel replied, though with a great deal less emotion in his response than he'd previously shown.  He was already calming, though was still irked with Aarik's penchant for questioning everything.  "I've had a long enough look now, let's go to the--"

He stopped talking and listened intently.  He couldn't even say what had him wary in the first place, but then there was a repeat of the sound - a very gentle sound of steps on grass, close to the laboratory front door, the one they hadn't come though.

He very quickly headed for the side exit, as quietly as he could without sacrificing speed.

[Existentially Odd]

Aarik heard it when Samuel did and, lips pressed together grimly, he hastened after the younger student.  His mind raced as his feet did, wondering why someone would come to the labs so early but presuming it was a teacher of some sort wanting to set up for a class - very early indeed.  As long as they were quiet and could replace the lock on the other exit, though, he was confident that their transgression wouldn't be noted.

Like a well-oiled team, he got the lock ready while Samuel opened the door, rehearsing mentally how he would close the portal quietly, rebolt and re-lock it as smoothly as possible once they were outside.  Unfortunately, as soon as they stepped out beneath the pink-streaked sky all his plans fell away as he saw that they were not alone.  And they'd been caught red-handed; he still held the picked lock in his hands.

[Trillian]

There were two Eruditio masters there, including Aarik's own - Jandah.  Another was coming around the corner away from the front doors so silently that the warning of footfalls upon grass had obvioulsy been engineered for them to hear.  The Confuto masters were always deathly quiet, even if they were walking on gravel.

"We didn't just rely on the dustings," the other Eruditio master, Roanne, declared grimly, eyeing the padlock in Aarik's hands before glancing at Jandah for his reaction.  "Sometimes it's a necessary evil to rely on the security enchantments of Veneficus."  She looked back to glare at Aarik, her gaze barely flickering to the first year, Samuel, who she knew well.  All Eruditio masters were familiar with him, and his bizarredly poor choice of house.

The Confuto master said nothing, merely standing to one side.  Neither student was from his house, so he felt there was nothing to say.

Samuel let Aarik do the talking for both of them, given his position.  If he was addressed directly, then he would respond, but the masters were both from Aarik's house and outwardly more interested in his opinion.

[Existentially Odd]

Aarik decided to start out with what was mostly the truth.  "I was showing Samuel through the lab."

"Without permission," Roanne stated flatly.

"It was a... spontaneous decision," Aarik countered, smiling pleasantly at his masters despite the fear inside him.  "We caused no harm, merely looked around."

Jandah's expression was troubled.  "Why not wait until later, then?"

Aarik switched his concentration to the man he hoped would sponsor him to High Apprenticeship sometime within the next year, nerves tightening the skin around his mouth even though he continued to smile.  Jandah would likely be able to read his discomfort in his face, for they spent a great deal of time together.  He was not the ideal match for Aarik, as far as masters went, but he was the one who had no High Apprentice to serve him and Aarik wished for that position almost more than he wished for his next breath.  They didn't share a vocational interest but Jandah certainly understood his love of cheistry; he was a teacher, after all, and the one who loaned his key to Aarik whenever he asked.  He could only hope that that trusted position hadn't been changed when they'd broken into the labs.

"Because Samuel solved one of my puzzles and wanted his prize - a tour of the island - this morning. I wanted to see how well he could pick a lock so I let him.  You know I'd never do anything harmful to the labs but I believe he's better than a first year and wasted in Libramen so... we looked around.  I was hoping to impress him," Aarik said, tossing the lock to Jandah, who caught it smoothly.  His almost-mumble and regretful tone were convincing enough.  "I'm planning on seeing the Grand Master in a few hours, to discuss Samuel's conversion to Eruditio," Aarik announced, his head held high.  "He's willing, as long as the Grand Masters discuss it."

Both Eruditio masters looked surprised, doubtful and possibly even a little angry as he made this announcement, but Aarik had nothing to hide.  It was his only reasoning for going through with the break-in, after all.  Jandah's attention shifted to the first year at his side.  "Presumptuous," he muttered, shaking his head briefly before looking back at Aarik.  "Well, that won't be happening now.  You're both confined to your quarters for the break in.  Two days.  There may be more, if the Veneficus masters wish to recoup the trouble of re-setting their enchantments.  Go."

Janda's tone didn't brook argument, even though it had been uttered calmly - almost boredly.  Aarik set off towards his quarters immediately, back teeth tapping his agitation with every step.

[Trillian]

Samuel lingered for a moment longer after Aarik had already taken his first few steps, considering different outcomes if he said something to the masters now.  By the time Aarik had taken three away, Samuel followed with his eyes downcast, portraying shame when he was really feeling resignation.  So the plan had not gone well.  He should've asked to see the docks first.  The laboratory had proven itself to be not only a waste of time but detrimental to his cause.

He hoped one of his masters from Libramen would notice he was missing from classes the next day and remove him from penance.  After receiving a meagre meal delivered to his door by a level nine student from his house after dinner time, he knew he would have to serve out his time.  At least he share a room with three other Libramen students to speak with, and even though he didn't speak with them, he preferred that he had their company.