Rose- Elemental Magic

You see a glint in the red headed humans scarlet hued eyes as she smiles with an air of confidence, which you find appealing as you imagine yourself commanding fire, and shaping it to your will. You wonder what sort of tutoring you'll get, and what sort of teacher Rose will be, but you think that a basic command over the elements would always be useful, especially on some of the quests and tasks that take you out of the college.

"I'd like to learn how to move the elements like you do." You say as you look at rose who smiles at you, and nods. The other two tutors nod and turn and walk away up the staircase behind the three women.

"Well can't say I'm surprised, it's a seductive school of magic, but have no mistakes you will train, and train hard, unlike many of the other schools of magic you can learn here, this one is bar far one of the most physically demanding. My master taught me the standard way with books and small tasks, but I've found its better to learn more actively, due to how well this school fits with offensive and defensive magic combat." Rose says with a smile as she turns on the spot and beckons you to follow. The back of her red dress is open showing off her back, which has a few old marks of what may have once been scars, although unlike the rough skin damage you imagine from scars, these are presented more like honor tattoos, the skin itself looks smooth and soft, just with some small patches of discoloration, you want to ask but decide better of it, as you catch up with Rose, as you ascend the grand marble staircase, and pass the large tapestries and portraits of various grand scenes and landscapes.

You pass the first floor where you see Anna standing by a large wooden doorway, checking a small object in her hand, as you get closer you see its a pad to hold down parchment, and the doorway is some large cupboard, and it seems Anna is checking off marks on the parchment, you assume she must be checking how much ingredients are int eh cupboard, although given the unusual colors glowing from the various glass containers within, you have no idea what these could be, possibly potions in progress. Rose stops and turns as she was about to climb the next flight of stairs.

"Anna do you have any restorative items, I suspect I might have need of them shortly." Rose says with a wry smile on her face as she gestures to you, the gesture makes you increasingly nervous about just what will happen in your lessons. Anna puts the object with the parchment attached down on a empty shelf and reaches in and takes out a few small flasks, and then takes out a bag and walks over to Rose, and hands them over.

"Do try not to hurt this one, she's very pretty and I'd like her myself one day." Anna says with a smile as she looks you over.

"Don't worry I'll keep her safe, besides that's what the magical healing is for, we know it works you've had me a your guinea pig all these years, and I still loom pretty don't I?" Rose says in a soft tone, as she smiles as runs her empty hand over Anna's cheek.

"Of course you do, It was lucky we found each other, I'd of never perfected my mixtures if I didn't have to tend to your wounds so frequently." Anna says with a giggle sounding relaxed for a change to her stiff formal manner you saw downstairs. You guess that Rose and Anna have been friends for years. "Well you know the drill, flasks for the mundane, the pills for the critical, and if you need to, I've got as much of the skin gel's as either of you could want." Anna says in the same soft tone, and throws you a wink as she catches your eye, and you look down and blush slightly much to Anna's amusement. The two tutors smile at each other, before Anna turns back to her task surveying the cupboard. As rose leads you back to the staircase and up a few more floors before reaching a large set of red doors which open at a flick of Rose's hands, and what stand before them is far from what you expected. Rather than a large study, with desks and bookshelves filled with books, and a large space for practicing. However there isn't a bookshelf in sight, and the entire room has an almost serene nature to it, complete with a small single tree growing in the center of the room, as well as the sound of trickling water coming from a small waterfall that is built into the wall. You loom around at the wonder of such a peaceful place, more like a temple than a classroom, as Rose takes off her footwear, and gestures for you to do the same.

"This is my personal room, like many of the other residents of the college I have decorated it, and reshaped it for my purpose, here I will train both your mind and your body until it is ready to tackle the many forces that nature controls at her whim. It is a technique I picked up in my travels from some monks in a very far off land, and I have brought their teachings here, and molded them to my own. My training will be hard but it will build your body, and ready it so that you can utilize this magic in a form which can be formidable to even the most seasoned warriors, as well as training your mind so you can focus and command the elements." Rose says in a proud manner as she stands and waves her hand across the wall with the water fall, as small trails of water float through the air and rain down on the tree in the center of the room.

"Sounds perfect, I was worried that I might start to get out of shape if I focused on my mind too much." You reply with a smile. The comment seems to be well received as Rose smiles.

True to her word the initial training was a grueling affair, with a lot of stances and exercises to help with breathing and keep your body in shape, you do eventually get to practice the movement of elements, and see why the training is needed as without the focus you lose control incredibly quickly, which ends with you spilling the water, soon you are doing an exercises where you must hold the water above your head for as long as your possible, you go home wet more than a few times thanks to that, but eventually you're able to complete the task, Rose seems pleased with your progress, in just a few weeks.

"Very good, I think you're ready for the next step, head home for now, you'll need your rest, and ." Rose says as she bows to you and smiles, the smile makes you feel uneasy, as you bow to her and head back to your dormitory, and collapse in your bed. You try an keep up with the twins but the training it pretty intense and wears you out, so you've often fallen asleep before either of them have gotten back from their own studies.

Nothing could of prepared you for the next day, when you arrived at Rose's room, and saw her in a shorter neater dress, doing some stretches and poses to help her focus, you join in her routine, and limber yourself up, and focus your mind, preparing yourself for whatever Rose has in store for you. When you finally limber up Rose walks into the center of the room where you see a small torch where the tree normally sits, with a casual flick of her wrists the torch ignites with a sickly pale blue flame.

"Today we learn a new element, and due to its dangerous nature, we need to take a more unusual approach to the training, we will be tapping into your reflexes and survival instincts. You will be **** to learn quickly and utilize everything that supple body of your can if you want to avoid getting hurt. I am using some special flames, they will hurt and can even scar you, but more so it bleeds through clothing without igniting it, in other words if the flame touches you it will hurt, but you wont have to worry about much more than the pain." Rose says her tone sounding serious, and cold, the task alone makes you feel uneasy, as you begin to piece together what the task might involve.

"So I'm going to have to avoid your attacks, and learn quickly to control the flames to save myself." You say back looking incredibly nervous about the entire event.

"Yes, for what it's worth I don't want to hurt you, and I wouldn't even attempt this training with you if I didn't think you were capable, now prepare yourself as we shall begin shortly." Rose says with a smile that reassures you that Rose has confidence in you. You drop yourself into a defensive stance that gives your the right explosive energy to dodge in any direction.

The next few hours are some of the worst in your life, as the pain is unbearable, and the fire is unforgiving of your unsure footing and unrelenting to your mistakes, you see that each time the flames lead by Rose's magic lick at your body as you cry out in pain, that it pains her too. You lean and dive and roll as best you can, the pain is lasting, like a constant dull throb, but you steel you mind and fight through the pain, and soon you are faster and soon your avoiding the flames, and once you are able to dodge them effectively you begin to focus on trying to stop the flames, to slow them and divert them away from you. You manage to make them wobble at best, and just as you finally shove them away from you in a triumphant roar, Rose extinguishes the flames.

"Why are we stopping I finally did it, I finally managed it." You say half exhilarated, half frustrated.

"I know, I am very proud of you, you may well be the best student I've ever had, to get the concept so quickly in such stressful circumstances is incredible. You will go far Emma, but not today, you mind may be vitalized and sharp, but listen to your body for a moment, you are at your limit." Rose says as she smiles at you and walks over and gets you some medical supplies. As Rose's words sink in you become aware of all the signals you've shut out from your body as it complains and aches and complaints, you legs trembles exhausted from all the effort and work you've done. You body is covered in dull throbs from the areas scorched by the flames.

Rose gives you the medical supplies, and smiles at you, you see something in her scarlet eyes for a moment, as she looks up at down at your trembling body. "Here take these for the pain, and this for the burns, and for all your hard work please take the next few days off to rest and recover. You've worked with me, and you've impressed me, you've earned the break." Rose says with a big smile her voice sound soft, the normal confidence is lowered, as you finally feel as though you're seeing the real Rose.

"Thank you master, I'm glad you are happy with me." You reply with a weak bow, wincing with pain as you lower your back.

"Please Emma, you can call me by my name I might teach like a monk, but I wont have you being so formal." Rose says as she helps you up, and runs a soft cold hand over your face. "Let me help you back to your Dorm, you can barley stand." Rose says with a smile as she loops and arm over your shoulder. You make a bit of small talk with Rose as she helps you down to the dorm, you would of asked her more, but you fatigue suddenly catches up on you as the adrenaline fades, you don't even recall being put in your bed.