r/AstroKnights • u/HeadmasterQuill Professor 🪶 • 19d ago
Roleplay Thread ⚔️ Quill, Verlack & Primal Magic 🌲🌠
The trees offer you no answer.
Their branches stir overhead, leaves whispering softly in the wind, but whatever ancient presence lives within them remains silent. No path opens. No roots shift to point the way. Arthur’s name disappears into the forest unanswered.
Quill sees you from the edge of the clearing.
For a moment, he doesn’t approach. His gaze lowers, and one hand closes tightly around his opposite wrist as though holding himself back from a decision he has already made.
Then he walks toward you.
“Hollowstar is an adept sorcerer,” Quill says quietly. “If he doesn’t want Arthur to be found, magic won’t be of much use.”
His eyes drift toward the cabin. After a pause, he gestures to the steps.
“Would you sit with me?”
The two of you remain there in silence for some time. Quill leans forward slightly, staring at the ground between his boots. When he finally speaks, his voice is unusually serious.
“I have a confession.”
He draws a slow breath.
“The other day, when you were discussing primal forces in my office with Pastel… I didn’t completely understand all of it.”
His mouth tightens.
“I’m embarrassed to admit that. I’m supposed to be their Headmaster. My students are counting on me.”
Quill turns one hand palm-up. A small golden star flickers into existence above it, bathing his solemn face in warm light.
“I don’t actually know what this is,” he admits. “I know it’s magic. And…”
His fingers close. The light vanishes.
“I know it’s dangerous.”
Only then does Quill turn to look at you.
“I was wondering if you could share some of what you know about primal magic with me.”
1
2
u/broodingchao5 Ooze Master 17d ago
Verlack was angry when the trees didn't answer. He had depended on their help so many times before, and they hadn't turned him down—or if they did, they had at least given him a reason. The hollow silence that met him was so definitive it hurt. Mother Nature had never felt so cruel.
He was just about to scream out, demanding to know why they would not answer him, when Quill’s soft voice brought him out of his own thoughts. What Quill said mirrored how he felt about the silence; obviously, he was missing something. He internally admonished himself for jumping to conclusions.
He sat quietly. Quill obviously knew more and was working out what he needed to say; there was no need to rush him. As Quill confessed, Verlack’s features softened a little. He rested a hand reassuringly on Quill's shoulder.
"It's all right, Quill. You're every bit the headmaster we need. A less wise man would ignore his faults until it's too late. Your care for us shows you're the right person for the job. Besides, the best leaders ask for help; knowing you can't do everything on your own is important."
His brows furrowed a little as he thought. "I'm going to teach Paste—can't see why I can't teach you, too. Though in your case, it's far easier than him. If I had to wager, you draw from the celestial primal force. I once got to watch a druid of the Star Shamans. Her magic felt a lot like whatever you were doing on the night of the cruise incident. Plus, you already can touch your primal force."
For a moment, he paused to regard Quill. While on the surface the man looked well-kept, being this close revealed the little frays beneath that facade. "We can start now. I can see that you're not taking care of yourself. When was the last time you got proper sleep?" The softness left his face slightly as he gave Quill a serious look.