Munching and Magic (open)

[Preston Salabim]

Preston was enjoying the nice day with a salad and a book.  His injuries were healed up, but he was left with questions.  Not just about what had happened at the ball, but how he might prevent it or circumvent it in the future.  Should he end up in such a situation again.  Of course that left the question of where to begin.  There was a lot that went on at the ball.  But at it's basic level the shield was the problem.  Without the barrier the event would have been resolved much sooner, and so it seemed that was the most pragmatic place to start.

Taking a small bite of his meal he'd turn the page on his book about protective and shielding magic theory. 

[Cara Dunn]

It was, in fact, an excellent day for lunch and a book. Having settled a little in this new place and life, Cara had retrieved a book from the archives, tucked under her arm as she contemplated just how hungry she was for the lettuce-wrapped "sandwhich" she carried. There was more than she thought there might be to learn at the academy, and pulling a book on the Talks seemed like a good place to start for understanding her target. The problem was, she couldn't stand staying inside the same four walls for hours at a time. It started to feel cramped.

So outside it was.

"Do you mind if I sit here?" She nodded to the spot at the opposite corner of the table. It was a nice place with shade, even if one spot was probably as good as the next.

[Preston Salabim]

"By all means, Miss...?"

He'd motion for her to take the empty seat, as he questioned her name.

[Cara Dunn]

"Cara. Cara Dunn." She took a seat with a small nod, setting the book down and the sandwich nearby. Last thing she needed was to worry about crumbs or something.

"Thank you, Mr...?" He was polite, but the bits she saw of his book suggested it was way out of her league. Did magic even exist? Or was it some kind of book from the old days?

[Preston Salabim]

"Salabim. By you may call me Preston, if it pleases you."

They were not home, and it was not a formal setting. He was trying to be more casual. As befitted this environment. But it was weird, being surrounded by commoners and the unwashed masses. He couldn't help but glance at her hands, quickly looking to see if her fingernails were dirty. His were not.

[Cara Dunn]

Preston would notice clean hands, but they were calloused and the nails were short, some broken. The hands of someone who knew physical labor, but not a nightmarish mess. Not for normal people. Presumably she understood about germs!

"Thank you, Preston." She nodded, opening the book partially, looking for the section that held her interest. She had an idea of what she was looking for, but only just. The way people retold history and details faded, but history advised it happened. Her eyes scanned over the book a couple of times each page, each paragraph.

This was going to be a lot of work. And above her reading level.

[Preston Salabim]

"Of course." 

At least there was that. Content that she wasn't going to bring the plague upon him he would return to his salad. Taking another bite as he read through the formula for a basic shield spell for the tenth time. Less for the sake of constructing one, and more for the sake of examining each piece of it to look for avenues to deconstruct it.

[Cara Dunn]

After fumbling a bit, she got where she needed, but some of the talk was quoted, and the words used...the world knew not everyone was a scholar, didn't it? She sighed and shook her head, going for her sandwhich and taking a bite as she contemplated the words before her.

A crumb landed on the page, but she didn't notice, tunnel vision growing.

[Preston Salabim]

"Hmmm?"

He inquired, his eyes sliding up from his book to her. He assumed the sigh was directed at him.

[Cara Dunn]

She looked up, shaking her head and taking the moment to swallow her food.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt you. I'm just...working through this." The struggle was real. She waved a hand at the book, wondering if she'd be better with a more hands on approach and just listening in the classes she'd signed up for.

"What are you reading?"

[Preston Salabim]

"A book detailing the methods used in the construction of force fields and other shielding techniques. I'm trying to piece together a more effective way of quickly dismantling one that is being fed with a constant energy source. As a simple precaution should such an energy source be difficult to reach for whatever reason."

Such as coffins erupting from the ground with Qi fighters defending them.

"Yourself?"

[Cara Dunn]

Everything Preston just explained was so far above her head that it was in the clouds. Her face went blank for a moment as she tried to piece it together, but the only part she really got was that he was trying to study something...about shields?

"I see." She blinked, looking at her own material and glad for the change again, fingers tapping lightly against he wood of the table. "Hope you find something that helps."

"I'm looking into the Talks from after the war. Specifically when they worked with qi beasts."

[Preston Salabim]

"I will, thank you though."

He smirked. Glancing over to her book.

"Interested in Qi Beast Husbandry?"

[Cara Dunn]

She noticed the smirk and let it pass. Polite, and confident but cocky, or at least in on some kind of joke that she wasn't, but whatever.

"Yes." Her own lips lifted in a dry smile. "You could say I have personal interest."

[Preston Salabim]

"That is outside of my personal experience. But I believe Louis Delcroix has done some work on it. You may wish to see if the library here has any of his writings."