As a boy and a student, Alexios was fascinated by the creation of books, spending much of his time in the scriptorium talking with those who made such wonderful objects. Even after his glittering academic career as a Rhetor had taken off and he took one of the Greek Chairs, he continued to craft books and paint illuminations and icons, finding the process soothing (although the icons had to be kept hidden given the controversy over them).
-This love of creation married to his academic brilliance brought him to the attention of one of his fellows among the Chairs of the university. The wizard Georgios had once been a Versitius Mage of a controversial and scholarly lineage which had traditionally fashioned their casting tools through the written word. However, he had been cast out of his order and narrowly escaped death by joining a different fellowship, he seldom spoke of this even when he and his apprentice were at their closest but Alexios always got the impression that this had been a traumatic event based in the jealousy of others and that his master was still bitter about it. More, while he was grateful to his new House for having taken him in, he did not respect them as much as he did his former one. He felt they had little to teach him in the mysteries that were his heritage and hated this fact.
+This love of creation married to his academic brilliance brought him to the attention of one of his fellows among the Chairs of the university. The wizard Georgios had once been a Verditius Mage of a controversial and scholarly lineage which had traditionally fashioned their casting tools through the written word. However, he had been cast out of his order and narrowly escaped death by joining a different fellowship, he seldom spoke of this even when he and his apprentice were at their closest but Alexios always got the impression that this had been a traumatic event based in the jealousy of others and that his master was still bitter about it. More, while he was grateful to his new House for having taken him in, he did not respect them as much as he did his former one. He felt they had little to teach him in the mysteries that were his heritage and hated this fact.
-Georgios was surprised to learn that the young scholar who lived in the house next door with his wife and child was gifted. His magical abilities had been hard to discover due to his gentle gift. Although his crafting skills were still rudimentary, his academic credentials surpassed those of many of Georgios' fellow wizards. Georgios therefore offered Alexios a bargain, he would arrange for proper training in those areas he felt the young man should know and once he knew enough to act as a proper assistant, he would labour for a year to pay for a ritual to enhance his longevity. Given his academic eminence, Georgios knew that his putative apprentice would have to be treated slightly differently to a young boy. On the other hand, he also had to be able to demonstrate that he was willing to serve. If by the end of this period, the two both believed that the apprenticeship was possible, Alexios would formally enter his service. Awed at the power that Georgios displayed and fascinated to Integrate the theory of magic that the elder magus referred to into his own understanding of the world, Alexios agreed.
+Georgios was surprised to learn that the young scholar who lived in the house next door with his new wife was gifted. His magical abilities had been hard to discover due to his gentle gift. Although his crafting skills were still rudimentary, his academic credentials surpassed those of many of Georgios' fellow wizards. Georgios therefore offered Alexios a bargain, he would arrange for proper training in those areas he felt the young man should know and once he knew enough to act as a proper assistant, he would labour for a year to pay for a ritual to enhance his longevity. Given his academic eminence, Georgios knew that his putative apprentice would have to be treated slightly differently to a young boy. On the other hand, he also had to be able to demonstrate that he was willing to serve. If by the end of this period, the two both believed that the apprenticeship was possible, Alexios would formally enter his service. Awed at the power that Georgios displayed and fascinated to Integrate the theory of magic that the elder magus referred to into his own understanding of the world, Alexios agreed.
-It took years to satisfy the perfectionism of his master and earn his fee but eventually, Alexios became a full hermetic apprentice. He was old for this and remained largely isolated from his peers but that did matter to him considering the fascination of his work. With the agreement of his master, he continued his teaching at the university although his schedules suffered given how little time he had. Still both were
+It took years to satisfy the perfectionism of his master and earn his fee but eventually, Alexios became a full hermetic apprentice. He was old for this and remained largely isolated from his peers but that did matter to him considering the fascination of his work. With the agreement of his master, he continued his teaching at the university although his schedules suffered given how little time he had.
-However, although he was happy as an apprentice, his life soon became problematic in one area. In 1204, the sacking of Constantinople took place and the academic pair, neither particularly interested or able in combat were forced to flee. Their houses and treasures destroyed, Alexios finally found the unrecognisably burned body of a woman he believed to be his wife dead and violated in a gutter. Their baby daughter he never did find. In rage and fear, Georgios and he fled Constantinople. It took them a year of desperate travel to find safety and when they did, Alexios was never persuaded it was the right place.
+However, although he was happy as an apprentice, his life soon became problematic in one area. In 1204, the sacking of Constantinople took place and the academic pair, neither particularly interested or able in combat were forced to flee. Their houses and treasures destroyed, Alexios finally found the unrecognisably burned body of a woman he believed to be his wife dead and violated in a gutter. Their young daughter he never did find. In rage and fear, Georgios and he fled Constantinople. It took them a year of desperate travel to find safety and when they did, Alexios was never persuaded it was the right place.
During their flight, Alexios met a magical butterfly with gold and Lapis Lazuli wings, who claimed to be the descendent of the butterfly that Solomon had shaken the earth for. Alexios was fairly sure that this was an utter lie but he found the butterfly's outrageous claims charming and its powers real. More, the butterfly, was able to make him laugh which was a rare event for him since the death of his family and destruction of his life. The two became fast friends, with the butterfly stating its intention of binding Alexios to him as his ancestor had bound Soloman. Who he claimed was only wise because of the advice his butterfly friend had given.
~jdamery / ArtibusWiki.git / commitdiff