#earthrunes

“Maybe. Not all teachers are appreciated either.” Thinking of a certain French master.

"Perhaps if it has some good students?" She looks at Gerd and Symon.

“Maybe instead of mosquitos to drain glamour…” he ponders. “Something to draw in dreamers who might WANt to learn? Like a moth to a lamp.”

Gerd looks boutful

doubtful*

“If you just stick it in front of anyone, it could get ignored again. Gotta get the readers it needs to come to IT.”

Zara nods.

"The moth idea has some appeal..."

"But how do we change it to a moth?"

"Carefully."

"Do either of you know how to cast a wisp?"

And thats when the book spawns a mosquito anew... it rises up!

"Fascinating..." Zara watches the creation with all of her magical senses attuned.

It seems confused. It feeds from Dreamers, not dreams themselves

"I know, this is not a place for you...."

It swivels , aiming at one kithain, then another. But not lunging. Angry buzzing

Quetz coils around Symon and readies to defend him

"Gerd, jar."

Bronte perks and fluters down curious now.

Gerd gestures at the chimera and it hops down in the jar

which she closes

Bronte eyes the book, then looks at Zara

"Aye, Darling?"

"When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive - to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.

Marcus Aurelius" She stresses a word

Zara nods. "I do not intend to harm it, darling. We shall pierce the lid... and, methinks, we now have some time to work."

She shakes her little head, and opens her mouth makingg an exhale

Symon has been watching, entranced. And perhaps narrow eyed - not judging, but examining, keeping mental notes. He nods towards the Bookwyrm. "Bronte has a gentle heart for a dragon."

Not said as a BAD thing, more an observation.

"She is a bookwyrm, and a lover of knowledge..."

"My tail a thunnderbolt, my breath deatth?" The dragon sounnds a touch frustrated

"Bronte, I shall not allow it to harm you."

Symon huffs in soft amusement. "You are a mighty wyrm, and being soft hearted makes you no less strong. Just less of a mindless and rude, cruel beast than the only other dragon I know of. And trust me, for what it's worth? -I- like you a lot better than Skallstryke."

He looks like he would spit at the name, if not in a LADY'S ROOM. Instead he just makes a rude dismissive gesture at the name.

"Alright. I have a thought, but will require but your aid and discretion." She looks at the two.

Gerd nods "My lips are seals"

Symon is looking at the Wyrm to see if he correctly guessed her upset.

Back to Zara. "Of course."

"Then... Gerd, you know who my mentor is. And Symon, you are a brother of my kith. The magics we do here are not to be spoken of, outside of direst need."

Gerd's eyes widen then she nods

He glances at Gerd, curious about his mentor. "I'm guessing... you do not mean Lady Grey."

Symon nods anyways. "I'm good for it."

"I do not refer to that august lady, though her skills be many."

"Secrets are sacred. I have my own. I get you." He makes the key-lock gesture at his greyish lips.

"So. My intention, then, is to reshape this book. Three is an auspicious number, and I would include you in the working. Bronte - if I am correct, has offered to help heal some of the damage to the book. But that, alone, shall not be enough. No - we must adjust the very weft of it's nature."

Gerd nods again, slowly "Yes, it wasn'tt made this way naturally anyway"

"Reshape.. you mean to forge a new treasure out of it?" He ponders, then squints a bit. "No. That's not what you mean... is it."

"In a sense, yes. I mean to reweave it to a less malevolent mindset. As you said, destroying a treasure outright is... fraught. This is not precisely easy, but...." She gestures at the mosquito in the jar.

A nod "Congratulations, Zara. I didn't know you were this powerful" Gerd admits

"I am but a student yet, Gerd."

Bronte puffs proudly and puts a claw on Zara as if tto claim her author