ETTING   OME   O   LFANDRA

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Hespa's Story part 13 - The University

Although her colouring and size are completely different, thanks to Cira, her general body-shape is fairly close to Hespa's, presumably a product of their mental connection.  As a result, she takes off the same way - running away from the group, she builds up speed rapidly, running like a cheetah, until finally launching herself upwards with her strong hind legs.  Immediately her wings kick in, and she pumps vigorously to gain height.

This done, she circles back to the group, shouting out, "Let's fly!!"

Cira and the other dragons fly up to meet Hesp--, I mean Emma in the air.  We all head West and a little North leaving the village with its square and shops behind.  Already rising to meet us above the trees is the University.  Soon the trees thin and the ocean is visible.  Flying in low, the land falls away completely as we pass over the sheer drop of the coast line cliff.  The roar of the sea pounding its face drowns out the quiet sound of our wing beats.  Crystal windows glitter on the steep volcano's sides, and the domed observatory rises from the cone.  The four dragons sweep across the stretch of sea landing at the main South facing gate.  The landing platform in front of the massive doors was obviously built for Dragons as it is nearly half way up the mountain.  Being a fire elemental Dragon, Aphrael, build the University in a not-so-dormant volcano.  But no one should worry about this as most of the levels are quite inhabitable by any sort.  Even though Aphrael has been absent for some time the University is far from vacant.  Classes are regularly taught and there are comings and goings of people studying or preparing to teach
lessons.

Emma has spent the entire flight in a state of ecstasy, stretching her wings on the updrafts like a pro and even trying a few simple loops and other tricks.  By the time they land, however, her new wings are starting to tire and she is quite grateful to be able to fold them by her sides again.

"Right, lead on, Cira..."

The main doors are already open and we enter.  Much of the university was built to accommodate creatures more than a hundred meters in length and the main hall dwarfs the forty foot dragons.  The interior would make any fan of gothic gape, for it is the perfection of the gothic form.  The main hall reaches the width of the mountain terminating in a tremendous pointed arch window.  The hall is about a mile in length.  Far from us, in the center is a large circular chamber around the volcano's central shaft.  Steam and hot gasses swirl about the column of orange light from the mountain's core.  Furniture and ornaments of all sizes adorn the massive hall.  A thousand corridors branch going to every crevasse of the mountain.

Inlayed stone patters adorn the floor with red and black.  The beauty of the stone's character is visible in its natural veins.  Different kinds of stone are joined into one solid piece with no cracks, such is the work of a fire elemental.  Aph's welcoming message and basic directions are written in fiery letters and still hang in the air here at the entrance.  The serpentine script is the Dragon's first tongue.  A language genetically encoded into the dragon by the Creator.  Most (all?) dragons find that they can read, understand, and speak it even if they have never encountered it before.  Emma, now being a dragon herself, should also be able to understand.  Few others ever gain much mastery over it, and some claim that none but a dragon can.  Reasoning; that those of other species who do learn it are actually dragons themselves, just not in form.

Emma stares around herself in awe as they travel through the University.  "This place is... magnificent..."

She stares up at the lettering, frowning.  "Hey Cira, what does it say?"

You know, I don't even properly remember.  [Aph, forgive me]

**well, i guess that proves that i'm still the draconic half of the entity, whatever my other half looks like**

Emma, being unable to read Cira's explanation of the genetically-encoded language as Hespa just has, looks confused. "Huh?"

**never mind....shall we continue?**

"Don't worry about it Emma, it's just the philosophical meandering of over educated minds."  *grin*

"We need to find someone to ask, right?"

Pyros, in awe as well (this is his first time in the University), quickly recovers from the stunning architecture and starts translating the fiery letters for Emma.  "We might be able to use this to find what we need, but I agree--we'd be better off with a guide...."