Welcome to Gaia! ::

She hadn't payed attention to the other students words same as in the other class. Living with advanced hearing meant being able to drown out anything as white noise. When the teacher spoke though, the girl's attention popped back to functioning order.

Mackenzie sank to the ground right where she stood. After the teacher had told off the other student for disrespect by way of sitting she didn't want to attract attention to herself. Of course she didn't realize that most students wouldn't be crawling to they're 'comfy spot.' Feeling around on the ground she found the carving again and followed it back to where she had been sitting before, a short ways from the central cauldron and just over the dragon's head (opposite Jaycee I guess). Claiming this as her spot she resumed her inspection of the design. Slowly she pieced what she felt together to form an image in her head. Some sort of head, sharply angled, with many teeth, and perhaps ridges on the neck? She didn't recognize the beast, only wondered what it's relation to fire was.

She could smell Jaycee settle beyond the brazier, and the sour odour of her unpleasent homework partner faded following the sound of light footsteps away from the main portion of the class. Remembering that she still needed to set up a practice session with her Mackenzie's contented smile faded to a look of calm distaste. Choosing to forget about that for the time being she turned her attention instead to the smell of saltwater coming from one of the other students. She'd visited harbors before, and liked them, so she was eager to talk with the new student. Once class was over of course.

((Soot and Ash would be underlevels to the smell only being mentioned first this time due to the proximity in time and the level of firepower the explosion earlier warranted. No doubt the spice of the flame will outplay the other scents later and perhaps allow others to dominate. Sorry if I offended you.))

As professor Develuni moved on to the others, Hanille sighed a bit in relief, "Didn't make a fool of yourself...for once..."

The Ralbofski boy seemed to be the only person with any REAL talent with fire. He was quite handsome, and Hanille really hoped that he wasn't a showoff like that jerk Edward. She also hoped that he wouldn't try to be the center of attention like the elven girl from Herbology. No matter; Mine seemed to have him locked tightly in her grasp. A little envy slipped into her mind. Why didn't she have anybody to hold her?

Hanille's thoughts were forced back to reality when she heard the professor scolding the student right beside her. This caused her body to jolt a bit. After all, she was quite startled.

"So...this woman DOES have a dark side..."

Or maybe just an intolerance for certain things? Either way, Hanille feared getting on the teacher's bad side. She would have to make sure she was a good little student in every class, to avoid punishment. Non-magical self defense though...that was a tough one...

Now she had been told to find a comfortable spot in the room. Oh? Where exactly was this comfortable spot? In Hanille's opinion, 'twas far too warm in here to be comfortable. Nonetheless, she walked past the cauldron, towards the far right corner at the back. She stepped up onto the platform, hurried to the corner, and plopped herself down. Sweat was rolling down her face, and it reminded her that she would have to get more water soon.

((I'm going to wait and see if Pell posts. If he doesn't, I'll post Alsiria's next set of directions ^_^))

Once the students had all found their places, Alsiria smiled, "Alright then."

First, she looked towards Pell, "Oh, and your apology is accepted. Just please keep in mind that when everybody else is standing, it is only proper to stand with them. You'll have plenty of time to sit during meditation."

After these words were spoken, she smiled again, "Speaking of meditation, we're going to do something very, very similar. Make sure you are all in comfortable positions."

She started to pace as earlier, not because she was nervous though, that was just simply her way of communication often times.

"Meditation is a healthy part of life, and I recommend that you do it even outside of this class. While you will not be fully meditating today, you will do so another day, probably next class. For now, I want you to relax, close your eyes, and empty your mind. Don't do it too quickly, or you will fall apart. Ease into this state. Breathe very slowly, and in a rhythmic fashion. Just close your eyes...and breathe..."

Her voice was growing softer, and much more gentle, "Breathe...and relax. Let your worries and cares drift away from you. Let your spirit become one with the spirits of the earth, the spirits of everything around you. Find that sense of oneness, of unity. In unity there is strength."

She smiled and closed her own eyes, "Just close...your eyes...and breathe...empty your mind...try to become one with everything around you...in finding your center...you will find peace..."

Alsiria raised her hands, and the flames in the braziers and cauldron burned with a more gentle tone.

((Edit: I'm replacing my (somewhat) misguided rant with my IC correction.))

Mackenzie settled her mind, trying to follow the instructors directions. She slowed her breathing and focused on emptying her mind. Her mind however wasn't cooperating. The odor she'd noticed earlier coming from Niira had grown, and gone from sour, to sage. She hadn't smelled that herb in years, not since she'd left home. Her eyes began to water slowly, (note her focus has completely lost track of meditation xd ) she wondered if she was going to cry, then had her wondering answered abruptly when she sneezed.

Great she thought then paused, focus shifting to a childish confusion, what were we doing again...? She heard the teacher speaking rythmically, slowly, smoothly, soothingly, until Mackenzie felt she would almost fall asleep. She didn't though. She felt a change in a warmth of the classroom braziers. It didn't lessen exactly, but the heat no longer baked, the gentler feel soothed rather than burned, like the teacher's words.

Pell easily relaxed into the meditative state. His hands fell limp at his sides and his eyes closed. He emptied his mind and simply waited for what might come next.

As Hanille listened to the professor's words, she realized that this was somewhat similar to what she had done in Herbology. Couldn't be that hard, right? Wrong.

Hanille tried to relax, but 'twas really difficult for her to do so. The heat wasn't helping much. The only thing that was even mildly helping was the professor's voice. 'Twas getting softer, and much more soothing. Still, she was having a very difficult time clearing her mind. She would have to pretend to do so.

For the time being, Hanille would think about her teachings. She thought about how Christ had fasted in the desert, and how he had been tempted by Satan time, and time again. Yet no matter how hard the fallen one tried, he couldn't get him to give in. Her thoughts then moved on to Job. What a test that was!

The heat had died away a bit, in fact, to a more comfortable level. This brought a smile to Hanille's lips. Still, she hadn't managed to meditate. Oh well, she would hopefully be able to do better with practice. Her thoughts continued to wander about the holy world of the bible as time passed.

((I'll post Alsiria's response either later tonight, or tomorrow ^_^. Oh, and by the way, sorry if I seemed to be getting mad at you Wolfiso. That wasn't my intention >_<.))

The rest of the class had been passed with this exercise. Room completely quiet, Alsiria smiled. Not bad for her first day. Hopefully the days following would go just as well. Sure, it had started off a bit bumpy, but she smoothed that out herself.

"Alright..." she said, her voice semi-quiet, "This session is over..."

Professor Develuni had been watching every student closely, and she did notice a few who were having a bit of trouble. Still, she wouldn't bother them yet. She wanted to see how they would do next class.

"Before you are dismissed I will give a few words."

Another smile appeared on her face, "When speaking to me, you will call me either Professor Alsiria or Professor Develuni. You may also use Miss if that's what you prefer. Now, as for class. I watched all of you carefully. Don't fret, for those of you who are having trouble. In time you too will learn, and I will do what I can to help you. The next time I call you to this class, meet me outside of this building again. I look forward to hopefully seeing you all in Beastology, along with your other peers. Be safe children. If you have any questions, or need to tell me anything you didn't wish to share with the class, just come and see me. You are dismissed."

The professor approached the cauldron, and stared into the flames, which roared once again.

Mackenzie sat and listened to the fire for the rest of the meditation session. It crackled gently and every few minutes a faint snap from broken fuel or a harsh popping sound. Combined with the soothing sound of her classmates breathing, Mackenzie fell into a sort of listening daze. The gentle warmth of the braziers played across her face and without thinking she opened her eyes to take in the peaceful scene.

Her peaceful smile fell though and the tears that had threatened earlier before she sneezed, returned. She tilted her head back, letting the tears wash over her sightless eyes. It wasn't that she'd forgotten her lack of eyesight, but she hadn't been thinking about it either. Like when someone searches for their eyeglasses that are perched atop their head, or when you forget your sibling is underage and you invite them over for drinks. She knew this fact of life, lived with it every minute, but she'd let herself forget about it for the however many minutes of the session. She didn't dare let herself get melodramatic about it either. If she started crying (mental hiccup as the internal bawling begins) now, who knew when she'd stop.

She was grateful when the teacher announced the end of the exercise. Rubbing her wrist against each eye to make sure no tears got loose, she turned to listen to the teacher. When the teacher had finished speaking, Mackenzie stood and as calmly and unobtrusively speedwalked from the room, loped down the hall and left the building running.
((If anyone cares to follow I'm headed here))