Precedent scene: The University of Magic of Aubejolie (https://www.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/the-university-of-magic-of-aubejolie/2944111/) First scene of the story-arc: Chaos and Death (https://www.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/chaos-and-death/2889324/?p&ca) ________________________________________ Traveling with a magical portal was quite common at the University of Aubejolie and a special place was dedicated to that. It was a circle platform of 1m high and 15 meters of diameter. Delphine's portal opened at the center of it. Few seconds later Delphine, Minalva, Romatzo, Marina and her sister Sigrid appeared on the platform. The sight that was revealed in front of them, amazed them immensely. Except for Delphine of course, who grew up here. Although she felt very happy to be there after all this time, even if it was probably only for few hours. What impressed the four others, even Marina and Minalva who had been there before, was the fact the nature seemed to have forgotten it was winter. The trees were full of green leaves, the parterres were covered of flowers and even the temperature was high above what it should have been in this season. They had the impression to have traveled not only in space but also in time. But that wasn't the case, it was how the university looked all the year. It was a way for the magicians to show their powers and to impress external visitors. The crushing presence of the Eternal Tower was also part of the "out of this world" feeling that they all had. Delphine let her friends contemplate the sight for a moment, then she said: " Let's go, shall we?" She was eager to see her parents again. She left Aubejolie at least one years and a half before and haven't seen them since. Although, after she settled at the Guild of Adventurers, they had corresponded with letters. They were walking along the east side of the Tower, when Minalva pointed at something. " Oh! Look at this, she exclaimed, pointing at a dog several meters in front of them. This dog is wearing a mage robe and a pointy hat! Ha ha ha! This is so cute. I want to pet it! - Mina, wait!" tried to say Delphine, but her elf friend was already gone. The group approached of Minalva and the dog. They heard her laughting and talking at him, but the more they approached, the more they had the impression that somebody else was talking too. " Please let me go, I'm a respected member of this university. - I'm sure you are, but I won't let you go, you are too cute. Ha ha ha." Delphine went near them. " Bonjour professeur Giron, said Delphine embarrassed. - Oh, bonjour Delphine, responded the dog. - Aww, the dog is called "professor", it's even cuter, said Minalva." She was playing with the dog's ears and she seemed to be very amused about it. The dog not really, though. " Is she a friend of yours, asked the professor to Delphine? - Yes, her face was a red of confusion. - So, could you ask your friend to stop pulling my ears, please. - Yes, professeur. Uhm, Mina?..." Behind them, Marina, Sigrid and Romatzo were standing there, agape. After few seconds Sigrid asked to the others, perplexed. " Does that dog just talked?" Romatzo and Marina merely nodded positively, puzzled. " Mina? asked Delphine for the second time. - Yes? responded Minalva, still pulling (gently) the professor Giron's ears. - Uhm, this dog is not a dog. It's a human and a real professor. He has been turned into a dog, because of an experience that turned bad. - Oh! Minalva froze, looking at her magician friend. For real? - Yes. she gently smiled, while looking in the ingenuous expression of Minalva. - I must say, I was surprised and was wondering why you seemed to be able to understand the dog, responded the elf. - It's because we cast a spell on him to allow him to talk." she finished her sentence and thought for a second, then she asked. "But wait... Why haven't YOU been surprised to hear him talk? - It's because I can talk with animals, now, Filimli. she said that like if it was the most natural thing of the world. - WHAT?!!!" The "what" came from Delphine and from Marina. The two girls looked at Romatzo to seek comfirmation. He crossed his arms and said "yes" with his head. Sigrid was observing the scene, still completely confused. " Well, not all the animals, continued Minalva. For now it's just those living amongst races like us, elves, humans etc. - When did you learn that, asked Delphine, truly amazed? - It's one of the basics for becoming a druid. Not completely a basic, actually, but my mom thought I had the potential to learn how to do it already. - I shouldn't be that surprised, after all, conceded Delphine after a moment, you are gifted and, it's because of a wood elf druid, that we discovered that this dog who was harassing other professors by whining and barking at them, was in fact the missing professor Giron." Speaking of professor Giron, they heard a throat clearing noise and turned their head to look at him. Minalva was still holding his ears. " Could you please, let my ears down." The poor magician turned into a dog was almost begging. - Oh, I'm sorry. Ha ha ha! laughted Minalva, finally releashing the professor." The tail of the professor wiggled unconsciously, happy of being free at last from this odd wood elf. " Ah, that's better, said the human turned dog. It's been a long time Delphine, glad to see you again." He talked to Delphine like if nothing had happened, preferring forgetting the event. He did not seem to be really offended by what had just happened, though. " Glad to see you again too, professor. Unfortunately, I won't be able to stay long. Did you know where my parents are, by the way ? - I saw them earlier, they were training the little Sophie, I suppose you've heard of her, you should find them on the other side of the Tower. He indicated with his head. - Thank you, professor. I would like to discuss more, but we haven't too much time, so if you want to excuse us. - Of course my dear. I have things to do myself anyway." He started leaving. When he passed in front of Romatzo and the two nord sisters, he said, bowing the head: - Maître Nain, Mesdammes. They smiled awkwardly and bowed, to respond to his salute. The whole situation still felling very weird. The group started to walk again, in the direction that the professor had gave. Delphine, who was leading the way, wanted to ask more question to Minalva about her new abilities, but Marina came close to the young magician with her own questions. " I am wondering. How does the professor to get his clothes on? I mean, he does not have hands anymore. Is it with magic ? - Oh no, responded Delphine. Nothing that complicated, even if it might be possible to do, I suppose. His wife helps him, actually. - HIS WIFE?! - Yes, she smiled. If his transformation was hard for the professor, it haven't been easy for his wife too. But I think they are good now." - Do they sleep together ? asked Sigrid that came next to them too." Delphine frowned. First the question was weird and second, there was something in the tone of Sigrid, like some disgust. " Yes... I think so, she finally responded. - That's gross!!! responded revolted the two sisters at the same time, showing they were sharing the same train of thoughts." Delphine stopped walking and turned to face the two sisters. " I don't understand, what is gross about them sleeping toge... Oh... OH!" Her face became red like never before. " I said they were sleeping together, not they were... Oh, you... you... YOU PERVERTS!" She turned away and leave, fulminating. The two sisters was freezed in shock. Then they looked at each others, silently asking to another "Are we perverts?". Minalva, who was a little behind with Romatzo, was laughing so much that she was bent in half. Romatzo, in other hand, was scratching his head. " I don't understand, what just happened ? - Nothing important, my Karalié, she said, trying to regain her breath. Nothing important." __________________________________________ Weird things happen in a university of magic, some are turned into dogs, some others in orang-outan. It's part of the risk of the job, when you are a magician. :D I must say, I have hesitated a long time to leave that last joke, because of what its nature. But then I thought, "If the Airplanes movies (les "Y a t'il un pilote dans l'avion"), can do that kind of jokes, why not me." This joke came to my mind when, after creating the Professor Giron, I asked to myself the same question than Marina: "How does he put his clothes on?" At the end, I could have choose to have a servant clothing him, but at that point, I had already mostly choose to keep the joke, so I kept the "wife thing". What do you think, is it too weird/much? Anyway, the professor Giron is played by Rocky, that we have already seen before in pictures not related to Mindelmar's world. In the next picture we will finally met Delphine's parents! Yay!