"Ok, then, let's try again." I go, hot air bursting through my nose as leave one shitty classroom behind and head for another. Looking back to my notes and map, I try to focus on the map, awkward as it is to make it slip out into view. Thankfully, there's an unassuming table near enough to me.
I dump my stuff on it initially, clearing the place up as I try to get my belongings in order. My attention goes a little wayward, focusing on what the table already had on it. Some kind of event signup, I suppose? It's right under a board with all manner of poster-like stuff on it. All with that patented Jherikra strangeness, but the point seems to be there.
No clue or idea what any of it is about, though there's one bit that sticks out in particular. Some kind of reference sheet? It's square as any sheet might be, but it's marked with a whole rainbow of greens and emeralds. The writing is indecipherable, and it would be stranger if it weren't. Still, there's a lot of stuff here I should probably make a point in taking.
"Classroom aids... Classroom aids..." I repeat, hopefully assuming their intent as I make myself a neat pile. The odd rainbow of greens and emeralds on top. Whatever this thing is, it's divided into three sections. A very dull coloured bottom that borders on not-really-green in many cases and a top that just sparkles and shimmers.
The topmost one is very pretty, though. It sparkles like all of the colours are there, and I've no idea how they were able to laminate a piece of card or whatever with it. Colours can be so pretty when applied well and some just can't be done like that. Got enough experience as a wall-engraver to know what I can and can't get away with. Just the limits of the material sometimes, it really is with how it bleeds on through.
My focus shifts back to the classrooms as I pass many of them by and I try to peek inside of them. I've no idea what's going on in any of them, and I'm afraid to even ask. Nevermind the usual jitters of opening the door to a fully occupied room... I'm doing that with the added terror of being assaulted, and somehow that's not the worst part.
Still, I seem to have found something... I think. A class that's going on about the little sheet I have right now, in fact. Well, guess it's worth taking the plunge, regardless. Besides, the class is fairly empty, anyway. Certainly makes it a digestible effort to enter.
More hot air blows out of me, and I open the door, the usual behaviours going off as I settle in. I take a chair at the back of the room without complaint, and I try to get everything ready. Footsteps ring out, and I look away from my things, finding the teacher right before me. He nods his head towards the front, gesturing me in a way that gets me closer down there, near all the other students...
"I don't know..." I can't help but let out as other things come to mind.
"Move." he simply states, blocking the way out in such an ineffectual manner. Either or, I do as told and head down to the front and set up there, my sheet cleanly in my claws.
"So, uh... What exactly is this?" I dare to ask, holding it up to compare it to the main board as the teacher rolls his eyes.
"It's a scale for magic." he detests answering, and I could only wish it's because he thinks the subject is beneath him.
"Scale? Magic has weight?" I go, taking the word the wrong way, no doubt.
"No... You dumb bug. Scale as in, from weakest to strongest shades of magic. Wind-magic at that!" one student snaps from his seat, a moody expression on his face. Perhaps there for reasons beyond me simply existing in his peripheral view.
"Oh, I see-"
"DON'T TALK TO ME, FREAK!" he snaps out of damn well nowhere as I recoil at the sudden noise. I swallow the annoyance and huff it out as more and more of them just look for reasons to be awful to me.
"So, what? From greens to emeralds is how magic has its strength measured?" I ask, only getting chortles from the other students.
"Greens and emeralds." one girl mimics, her voice bordering on bickering. I turn to face her, a look of disgust overtaking an otherwise and admittedly pretty face. Though, the others around her aren't quick enough and I pick up on their eyerolls. All except one of them, whose very posture reeks of attitude and a vile idea of 'confidence.'
"Trapiche so-called 'Emerald,' Seaweed, Sea, Seafoam, Pistachio, Crocodile, Parakeet, Hunter-"
"Aquamarine, Apatite, Chrysoprase, Agate, Aventurine, Chrysocolla, Tourmaline-"
"Breezing Star, Pride's Eye, Might's Touch, Mountain, Returning Gale, Dragon and Dragon Coast Emerald-"
"And all the way to True." the teacher finishes as he and the students snicker over their spontaneous little... Nursery rhyme? Alphabet song? What...? What?
"Wha-huh-t?" I can barely say without an interrupting 'huh' in my whats.
"The freak is so confused..." one maliciously smiles, the laughter returning as I find myself increasingly lost at what's going on.
"Mmm," I go, trying to focus on the details that exist in conjunction with all the insults and slurs.
Ok...
The top colours are all strong magics. Stuff like Vapooliar... Yeah, I remember Vapooliar's magic shimmering like emeralds. She'd be... No doubt Breezing Star at the minimum, right?
Rose-sweerui's not exactly the strongest person, but, her magic is developed. So I guess she'd fit into the middle section. Not quite awesome with her power, but established and well-footed. As would be fitting for someone like her. I guess she'd be what should have been Peridot's place in this scale...?
Vadei... I barely remember her, but, with how weak she was compared to everyone else... She'd be along the bottom of the bottom? Nestled between Crocodile and Pistachio, whatever those are?
Gods above, I preferred it when it was all just greens and emeralds to me.
"At least I'm learning something in this class." I barely speak, only knowing the words because it's what I intend to say. Either or, I can't help but rub my face into a palm as I try to remember what names I can. Remaking the scale in Tobaballian as all these verbal barbs scratch at my ears.
Though, now I'm even more confused now that it comes to mind. What is my magic colour, then? I don't have one. I can sense my magic, but I've never really seen it there, like foam, really.
"Seafoam..." I don't even say, I just think the words while my mouth is open. I'm probably down there, somehow. I'm weak, and everyone here is strong. And the strong hurt the weak...
My claws tighten slightly as I try to focus on the lesson as it gets back into order.