A Spark (now open to all)

[Blood Sister]

Lydia answered tersely in regards to the instructors, "Most come and go. Many do not stay for very long. But at least the school is still functioning. Barely, but still."

As the topic of conversation changed, Lydia was about to quickly deny all of the so-called rumors of her 'ethnicity' but it turned into a different, and very intriguing, conversation. She could easily cite photosensitivity as the cause of her reluctance to go into the sunlight, though she doubted she needed to provide an explanation at this point.

"That... actually would be very helpful, yes," she replied in response to the offer. "Although I am not eager to volunteer, I believe I know of some that would be excited to try it out." Even though she trusted Ammy completely, it was still her life in the gamble. Her cautiousness was what kept her alive this long.

[Ammy Spiritor]

Ahmeh chewed her lower lip hearing the terse report on the unstable fluctuation of staff and teachers. She stared at her empty cup once, tapped a claw to it and it was full of hot tea to sooth the jungle monster from her prior two cups of coffee.

"It would seem then, that the academy is in dire need of some special lectures and classes to revive the thirst of knowledge. Hmm. Perhaps I could offer to you, Lydia, a series of various lectures to help gauge what many may be interested in these days and from there, consider some classes I could offer. This way it doesn't stretch thin my time, your students or strain budgets on classes with only a few students in them." She sipped her tea.

"I'll work on the sun screen lotion I have in mind and deliver the box to you. From there, distribute it however you see fit. Free of charge. Not being able to be in the warm, bright sunlight is such a gloomy existence. Though you know, I've shared a good portion of what I've been up to. What about you? What have you been doing with the peace and quiet since this crazy, furred alchemist took a long and sudden vacation?" She grinned, showing some teeth.

"Do hope you've found a love interest at least to help soften your formal and strict appearance." She giggled.

[Blood Sister]

When Ammy asked about the staffing, Lydia replied sadly, "Many instructors, and students, come and go. Though it seems like more often than not, most are going."

She then listened intently as Ammy mentioned the rumors and noticeably winced as she spoke the word 'vampire'.

When Ammy mentioned the 'sunscreen', Lydia knew that she was only trying to help, but her eyes were still narrowed in cautious hesitation. "If I did have such an allergy..." she began, always determined to deny, "I do not believe I, myself, would be willing to take such a gamble on my life to test it." After pausing momentarily, she continued, "But I do know of some acquaintances that might be willing to try it."

She realized that her defense of 'I have a friend...' probably sounded suspect, but her words were true. Although Lydia hated this curse, she did not want to risk her life for a possible cure, and she did know a few others of her kind that would jump at the chance for an opportunity to roam in the sun once more, no matter the risk.

[Ammy Spiritor]

Ahmeh smirked a little noticing her question about love interests had easily slipped from the conversation. She sipped her tea and felt a bit of empathy for Lydia if the woman was truly alone by the isolating field people can manifest when they feel unusual among the norms.

"Well, as mentioned before, the sunscreen will be delivered and the disposition of it in your capable hands. As to this academy and lectures.." She let claws click along the cup in thought. "I need a bit of a calibration to my mind in what is relevant anymore in Rhy'Din. Feel free to correct me and help my calibration. I assume science is still something of a novel amusement to many in this realm and still a pursued hobby? History I am pretty sure, regardless of the realm origin or time period is still a craved subject? Alchemy, Medicine, Herbal knowledge and Crystals I am going to assume are still a hit and miss topic with many? How stable has magic been in Rhy'Din? I know the years prior when I was hear, magic allergies was on the rise fostering a need for mundane healing methods. And I assume people around here still need to learn how to protect themselves as well as those still interested in killing each other?" She asked her friend.

"Though, Lydia, I do have a solitary question about something that all these years still burns true and bright in my head. I still cannot help but wonder what happened to my misplaced Alchemy Gun, the Chaemera Pistol with its Philosopher's Stone. I believe I asked you once before I took my long homeland sabbatical. What did you do with it when I handed it to you during the Daemon Kraken attack?" Ahmeh asked.

She tilted that aging furred head with silver shot crimson hair. Her solitary, seeing Gold eye settled on Lydia easily, examining, questing, searching and weighing the woman before her. 

[Blood Sister]

A light laugh slipped from Lydia as Ammy mentioned, 'those still interested in killing each other'. "Yes," she responded, "all topics of interest, I'm sure."

After hearing Ammy's question of her Chaemera Pistol, Lydia had to think back. 'Was that five, maybe even six years ago?' Lydia wondered, her brow furrowing. 'The daemon kraken was attacking Mage Hall that winter.'

"I had given it to one of the security officers from Mage Hall..." she began, trying to remember. "Robert Murphy, his nickname was Bob. I know I gave him specific directions to return it only to me..."

She then remembered the stone brick mural after the renovation, the mural listing those that perished in the attack. "His daughter, Abigail, claimed to have seen him die that day, but she was so young and everyone was so distraught from the flurry of attacks... I am not sure he died as she said."

Lydia shook her head and continued, "She said that he was hit by a truck or a van or something, but I can't help but wonder if it was a young girl's way to bring some normalcy to the horrors she must have seen that day."

"I am sorry, Ammy, but I never got the weapon back. It may be in storage from the items that were packed and moved to make way for the renovations. I can have security look for it just in case. Is there anything I can possibly do or offer to you to have or help it be re-created?"

[Ammy Spiritor]

Ahmeh listened to Lydia, still watching her. She took a sip of her tea once Lydia finished explaining things. Thoughts were chewed on in her furred head as she weighed out some possibilities.

"Educational needs in Rhy'Din have not deteriorated as much as I thought they may have. Then again, my sabbatical was much longer than my actual absence here. Hmm. A lot of choices to consider then. As to the Chaemera pistol, perhaps it's time I stop gnawing that bone and learn to let go of things. The philosopher stone in it has destabilized and powdered by now, so the weapon is inert and safe at this point in its life time. Though if you can scare up where it may be, I wouldn't mind having it back and perhaps improving it as a side hobby. Creating weaponry and armor has aged and faded much with my fingers. Depth perception isn't what it used to be." She chuckled and rubbed the fur on the cheek bellow the silvered and blind left eye.

"How has the academy fared after that attack, Lydia? I know many were hurt and I kept my distance from the academy after that." She asked.

[Blood Sister]

"After the incident, I was placed on sabbatical", Lydia began solemnly.

"During that time, I had to face a tribunal that had collected evidence related to the event. You and I were both cleared of any wrong-doing. I returned to campus and began the renovations projects, which concluded in September, on the three-year anniversary of the academy opening."

"During the tribunal, it was found that my administrative assistant, Rebecca Mordoe, was partly responsible for the incident. I was never able to hear specifics about what she had done, other than setting up various networking and orchestrating people to come in who were working for some sinister company that did most of the damage, but I was left with no other choice than to let her go. I never heard from her since," Lydia said with a sadness in her eyes.

It was more than that, it was almost as if Rebecca disappeared from the face of existence. Lydia couldn't help but wonder if she had gone into hiding under the protection of the company she had been working for, or if the company had terminated her in their own sinister way.

[Ammy Spiritor]

Ahmeh listened to Lydia and frowned a little. "She seemed like a decent assistant and worked well with you. I could always sniff her out if you want her found. Seems like we both had some rough sabbaticals. It's odd how when we get 'vacations' it's just more work. Or in my case, hiking around in mountains getting lost and chewed on by wyverns for a field trip." She giggled.

"How have the gardens and green houses been around here? I can help out with my green thumb, maybe create a few new plants to tickle peoples curiosities." she'd sip more of her tea that didn't seem to go down one bit each time she drank. She was cheating, but she had eaten so it felt less a cheat and more of a kindness not bother the cafeteria staff for more refills.

"Though I will say, Lydia, I'll most likely be staying on the school grounds. I get a feeling that there may still be some old embers in the city for me to step on. I'm not as young and plucky as I used to be. Could say the silver in my hair has brought a bit of maturity to my old days of kicking rumps and bouncing back from thrashings. Though I couldn't help but notice you danced around my question about a love interest. Lydia, are fine being lonely?" She asked the question gently.