Family First (Preston/Invite Only)

[Avalon Salabim]

The road to Cabal's academy was straightforward, little in the way of interruption or delay as Avalon headed south with worry in her heart.  For a time, she watched the scenery she passed in the buggy, remembering how the conversation with her family had gone.  How she had come south to join Cabal's trainees to offer support to the remaining ranks and bolster them along with any other mages that may have joined.  It hadn't gone well, but in the end, one couldn't deny that Cabal had stepped into a battlefield that could easily turn into a war; their protector would need all the help they could get.

Reading and keeping up with her studies had helped to pass the time, the sign in process easy enough.  Now the main concern was finding someone that had also been on her mind.

So she would go off to find her brother, wondering if she would find him on campus somewhere or, more likely, the library.

[Preston Salabim]

She would find Preston in the library! Buried under a tower of books and notes. His quill scribbling away formulas, pausing now and then to reference something in one book or another. A common sight she would know from living with him. He was hard at work on something.

[Avalon Salabim]

The sight of towering books and the scratching of an ink pen never sounded more like home than it did now, as familiar to her as breathing. Her eyes lit up at the sight of her oldest brother hard at work, quick but silent steps carrying her closer as the relief swelled in her chest. Avalon couldn't help herself from smiling a little as she cleared her throat, giving him the moment he'd need to reach a point to come out of his work.

[Preston Salabim]

And a moment it did take. He'd finish sketching out a seal on the paper with the ink. Adjusting his glasses as he set the quill back in to it's well to ensure that it was just right before turning to see who was interrupting him now. Surprise crossed his features for an instant before it was gone, replaced by a warm smile.

"Avalon, you should have written to tell me you would be visiting. It's good to see you."

He said rising from his chair.

[Avalon Salabim]

She waited in patient silence, a courtesy to any she'd offer to if she found them at work, but did nothing to stop the warm smile on her face from spreading. He was hale, and in one peace.

"I'm sorry. It's so good to see you, too, Preston." She walked up and hugged him as he stood, feelign some of the tension that had been knotting in her shoulders and stomach ease even further with her chance to actually touch him and confirm she wasn't just seeing him.

"I was so worried when the news came back about the attack at the camp and the Gala. The news we heard was devastating."

[Preston Salabim]

He wrapped his arms around her, returning her hug with no less vigor than she put into it.

"I see..."

He frowned slightly as he broke away.

"I had hoped my letter would have arrived by now, though I suppose with everything happening some delays are unavoidable. I am doing well, I made it out of the gala with no worse than some bumps and bruises thanks to a little quick thinking and Emperor Strike or Prota. The attacks had been unfortunate, but you know me, Avalon. I am normally quite good at finding an answer under pressure."

Thanks in large part to the sheer amount of preparation he does in his own free time and off time. Such preparations helped him craft his theories on the crstal and a general understanding of the energy flow let him adapt it on the fly.

[Avalon Salabim]

It's a pretty vigorous hug! She nodded as he stepped back.

"Unfortunately that seems to be the case. Some are arriving more quickly than others. Thankfully we also didn't receive any letters of condolence from your superiors." Her smile turned proud as he explained the events at the gala, knowing that if it was one thing Preston was, it was resourceful. He took things seriously and came through, even when others weren't able to see it themselves.

"True. You've always been able to work swiftly and calmly. I'm sure they appreciate it here, too.

"I'm glad to see you're well. There was a call to fill the ranks with more mages after the battle at Blackburn, but the details were cryptic. I'm glad to see you're alright." She was repeating herself, which wasn't normal, let alone her talking so much. It was hard to keep her words from rushing.

[Preston Salabim]

He clicked his tongue.

"So you enlisted to be an emergency deployment to replenish the ranks that fell?"

[Avalon Salabim]

"I did." It was a decision she'd thought over for some time before bringing it up to her family. To weigh the risks and if it was worth doing so during a time where peace was no longer at hand. It meant those battles she was worried over him about could easily have her on the field and in teh same position.

"Mother and Father weren't pleased with it, but they agreed, so long as I continue my studies for our Academy back home, as well."

[Preston Salabim]

He took a step back.

"No. You should return home and continue your studies. This is no longer a peacetime assignment, and you are not ready for it."

[Avalon Salabim]

Avalon expected no less. Her parents had been the hardest part to give in to the decision. Heir or not, she was the youngest and the least experienced of the Salabim household's scions, as well as many other mages. There were graduates that could fill the void that had been made rather than a student. Even he had come in a time of peace with more years of study and experience. But she wasn't Preston.

"No." She shook her head, voice calm. Part of her wondered if her parents had decided to let her come for the fact that Preston was here, to see if he could deter her and convince her to go bak home. Or if they thought the sight of a real fight - or its aftermath - might change her mind.

"Was anyone at the last battle ready? I know that this isn't a peacetime adventure; it is a conflict our protector is a part of, and we owe them the support we can provide when times of peace fade. I have no intention of just walking out onto the field blindly, but I know they will need more than what they have."

[Preston Salabim]

"Yes, we were ready. I was ready." He folded his arms over his chest, looking down at her. "Avalon, they formed a Qi scar. And not a small one. The team that was sent to stop it was lucky to not be vaporized and trapped as an echo. I do not disagree that we owe them our support, and it is our duty to aid them now more than ever. But you, Avalon. Are not ready for this. You are not far enough along in your studies for this."

[Avalon Salabim]

A miscommunication, though he admitted to what she assumed he meant at the end. She clasped her hands behind her back as he spoke, heart aching at the thought of the families who were lost to teh storm and their loved ones who would have the news if they lived further away. But the reminded reinforced her determination.

"I know," she admitted softly, voice growing firmer as she stood her ground. "What happened was horrifying, and dangerous.

"But what happens if they turn their eyes on home, Preston? What happens if they target other nobles, and there's another failure? Being at home studying would leave me in the same position. My studies would be further along, just as they will be here, but that wouldn't change the fact another city could be wiped clear off the map." Not to mention worrying over him as she had, as well. He was competent, and they both knew he could handle himself. But there needed to be more.

[Preston Salabim]

"That is a disingenuous argument. They could just as easily target this city. Or any city. There is a risk anywhere we live, but by choosing to join the front lines, even as a support mage you are increasing the risk to yourself drastically. And for what reason?"

[Avalon Salabim]

"Because I believe in this." She straightened a little further, looking up at him with a small frown. "I believe in being able to help the people here and offer the support that I can. I'm not foolish enough to think I alone am going to save everyone, but I can help them when they are going to need it most on the field. I will be able to see if the spells I've crafted are the ones needed most, or if I need to change what I have put together to match what is needed."