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Post by Riku on Jan 26, 2020 20:12:22 GMT -6
In....out....in........out..........yes. It was time. Riku gripped the armrests of his chair and hoisted himself up and out of it. The extra layers of fabric shifted as he stood, and the stimulus wasn’t what he was used to. He was wearing the ceremonial clothes of the Auladorian knights. Whereas other countries call their fighters soldiers or warriors, his home kingdom called them knights. It held a weight of honor rather than sheer brute, which was true to their colors. He walked over to the door to the classroom and unlocked it, propping it open. Then he stood at the chalkboard and wrote in giant letters “Aulador” with as fancy a script as he could muster and a curved line underneath it. He tried his best to take up the majority of the board, and stepped back when he was done. Kioume summoned himself out of his pendant and fluttered for a few seconds in mid air, cocking his head to one side to analyze the writing.
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Post by Riku on Jan 26, 2020 20:12:57 GMT -6
2 “It looks fine to me. At least you spelled it right.” the creature said, thrusting his wings hard a few more times to slither through the air over to his human’s shoulder. His short, soft fur felt different brushing up against the new material, and the collar rather got in his way. He preferred to have a closer gap between his head and Riku’s cheek for random necessary cuddling. Dusting off the white powder from his hands, Riku wondered why the school couldn’t afford whiteboards. Then again, he would just have marker dust from that. Regardless of the type, he just wanted to make sure nothing stained his father’s royal suit. Still no one had walked in for class. He turned to the window which let in very little light as it was raining. Not too hard a downpoor, but possibly enough to keep a handful of his regular students from showing. He knew the drill....anything to get out of class. Even the ones he liked - or rather, hated less.
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Post by Riku on Jan 26, 2020 20:13:22 GMT -6
3 The bright lights of the classroom turned the window into a sort of makeshift mirror. He could see what he was wearing,-and he felt a bit ridiculous...but it actually looked quite good on him. Surprisingly, although it shouldn’t have been, the light armor fit him perfectly. He hadn’t seen his father since he was fourteen, and now he was almost twenty-five. The clothes he was wearing were from when his father was that age, and apparently they were the same height.....he only ever remembered him as taller. “For the most part, I like it...” the creature purred through the ribbon. “It almost seems fitting. Almost.” He cocked his head again, the opposite way as he had at the chalkboard. “The colors aren’t right for your skin-tone - though they match me quite well!” He smiled and sort of jerked his head up and down rapidly in a sort of physical laughter that only echoed in their telepathic connection. “I look like an accessory! People are going to think I’m stuffed!”
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Post by Riku on Jan 26, 2020 20:13:51 GMT -6
4 The boy smirked, tying not to join in the laughter out of respect for the deeper thought he was busy having. Perhaps he needed the relief...long had he punished himself for his past. And now this was the first time he could gather the courage and self-respect to put this thing on. It was almost healing...it felt somehow warm still. Like the man he once knew had only just taken it off. He swore he could smell him, even. Did anyone ever wash this? It wasn’t even dusty, so...maybe? Kioume snuck off his shoulder-perch and clung his tail in a coil around Riku’s arm in order to slide his way down and explore the outfit. It had a silvery-white base, with a royal blue secondary color that manifested in thick decorative linings and portions. A lighter-gold and occasionally rose-gold were also present in lines paired with the blue as well as smaller spiraling decorations or buttons. The collar was heavy with a magenta pattern on each of the four points.
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Post by Riku on Jan 26, 2020 20:14:20 GMT -6
5 “I like these sleeve collars.” The spirit murmured, peaking his snout under one and giving it a sniff and a sneeze. “They match the one on your neck.” He swung from the arm to the coat and clung onto the lower pocket with his mouth to get traction. The coat was open, and the amulet embodiment peered inside and found a pocket on the other side of the one he was already in. Riku chuckled as his smaller friend explored his ceremonial suit. It was a nice look on him. Almost like a royal pirate in a way...a sailor? His father wasn’t a sailor! However, their attire may have been inspired by such a fashion...as they were a sea-trade heavy kingdom. He fixed his silver belt which held a few small pouches and a sheath for a thin sword - which was not equipped since he was on school grounds. Yes, he was a teacher, but he walked on the side of caution.
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Post by Riku on Jan 26, 2020 20:14:54 GMT -6
6 Kioume snuck between two buttons and underneath Riku’s shirt just as the first of his students finally walked in the door. His arms went up in shock as the slithering against his skin unexpectedly - and uninvitedly - tickled him. Gah! He did not like being touched! This was an invasion, but he didn’t know how to react. Instinctively he went to smack the creature, but he held his hand. He wiggled and chuckled as the students speckling in stared at him in confusion and mild concern. “Ha, heh...! I’m al-RIGHT!” He got out as he used his fingers to guide the apparently lost spirit out of the fabric. ‘ This is not fun for me...!’ He nervously sent through the ribbon. He led the light spirit upwards and out his shirt collar. “Oooh...!” Kioume sang warmly in comfort as he curled around Riku’s neck between the shirt and larger suit-jacket collar. “I like this spot. I’ll be your scarf today.”
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Post by Riku on Jan 26, 2020 20:15:22 GMT -6
7 The young man-teacher slid his hand down the length of his amulet spirit’s body as he began to rest. The motion and silkiness of the habit calmed Riku, even though it was originally a form of petting Kioume. Somehow calming the creature calmed him in some empathic way. He was just glad to have that short awkward moment over. Addressing the class at last, which had finally began to fill up, “Welcome, as you can see” he said, gesturing the board, “today we are talking about my home town of Aulador.” A single hand raised from near the front and to his left. A proudly participant student of blue eyes and darker blonde hair. About fourteen in age, they pushed up their glasses and the ‘teacher’ called on them. “Yes, Mr. L,” “Andrew, thanks, but please call me Riku. I’m too young to be ‘Mr. L.’” He laughed....and the teenagers didn’t seem to laugh in agreement.
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Post by Riku on Jan 26, 2020 20:15:45 GMT -6
8 It was moments like these that forced him to see he was getting older. Did he look older!? He thought back to the reflection in the window, and saw the scruff he was too lazy to shave brushing up against the soft fur of his familiar. He was only twenty-four, but...well, no. He barely looked like it. If he shaved he could definitely pretend he was a senior....at a different school where they didn’t already know him as Mr. L. “Oh yeah, sorry. I think it’s the rags...” he awkwardly laughed off his mistake, and this time the other students joined in. Well, at least they agreed on one thing. “..but what’s Aulador? Er, where, I guess.” Riku took a deep breath, with a bit of excitement. It was a proud day for him, albeit a somber and bittersweet one. “Aulador is where I was born. I lived there until I was about your age.” Kioume purred at the sound of the city. “But I’ve never heard of it...” said a fairer skinned, freckled at the back of the class. Most of the others seem to nod or agree as they looked around in equal confusion.
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Post by Riku on Jan 26, 2020 20:16:14 GMT -6
9 “I just haven’t taught you about it yet, I guess.” He shrugged as an attempt to play off as innocent. “Mr. - er...Riku?” Andrew spoke up again. “We all take Geography here with Mr. Peters. I think we would have heard of Au-la-dor...” he stated, sounding out the syllables on the board. The young unshaven teacher sighed, and the familiar laughed through the ribbon. The creature rubbed his head up against Riku’s cheek and comfort. He remembered Aulador well. “I know.” He reached out and grabbed the ceramic apple off his desk (that he gave himself) and gently tossed it up and caught it. “It’s...weird, but...it doesn’t exist anymore.” Shock and confusion erupted in the class as they leaned in for an explanation they were due. “Well, it sort of...blew up?” He laughed uncomfortably. Obviously, no one could know it was his fault...even though.............”and now it simply is gone entirely, as if it never existed. In fact, what was once a huge and famous kingdom of trade and wonder, is now not even heard of even by those who used to trade with it.”
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Post by Riku on Jan 26, 2020 20:16:41 GMT -6
10 “That doesn’t make any sense. How do you know it’s even real then?” The freckled in the back spoke out again. A few around them sneered along. “Well...I remember it. That’s enough for me. Besides, my parents were both born there and remember it. And this outfit was of the Royal Knights.” He reached his arm out and pet the sleeve with his other hand. “Don’t forget about me!” Kioume sent through the ribbon. Technically he was from another dimension, but his limited time on this plane of Earth was spend in Aulador, so he remembered it fondly, too. Riku reached up and pet his familiar, who rubbed against his cheek some more. “And of course Kioume here.” “Woah! I didn’t know Amulet Spirits were native of Aulador!?” Andrew shouted in wonder. “Er...were?” Riku laughed with him and the class. “They aren’t native; they’re from another dimension but sort of ‘allowed’ into our realm through the magic of the gems they embody.”
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Post by Renathan on Jan 26, 2020 21:12:50 GMT -6
Outside the door, a teacher glances in the window curiously at the display. Eventually the individuals steps into the room to listen as well. (No success yet.)
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