The Pirate and the Pupil

 Xiulan let the humid air fill her lungs as her vision slowly returned after a good night's sleep. Clouds filled the skies, the sun peeking out inbetween them. Pain throbbed through her back as she rolled off the bench, the rokurokubi stretching as far as her body would allow. People passed her by, some raising their eyebrows at her choice of style or for taking a bench for a full 8 hours. 

"Oof, I ache more than a granny with bed sores," she said as she slipped into an alleyway and popped her head off to try to massage her back. "Better than sleeping on dirt and finding a centipede tryin' to get too cozy with me, but ugh, I should just sleep on a free cot or something next time!" She popped her head back on after a few minutes of rubbing her cheek against her back with some pressure, stretching one more time before walking along others in the streets with a skip and a hop. "No better time than the present to do some scoutin', though! Maybe there's a job or two I can do without needin' to beat someone up."

As she checked quest boards, she focused less on the actual quests and more on the magitech that made new postings pop up soon as they could. It didn't look like it had some sort of electrical system through it, so it had to be magitech, right? Part of her wanted to take it apart and look at all the innards and find out what spells were used to make it, but that'd be illegal, so instead, she just marveled at technology these days. 

The quests themselves weren't of much interest to Xiulan, at least not without her full repetoir. Exploring deep into La-Mulana? Nah, there's probably monsters in there. Draining a swamp to reach a flooded ruin that once housed an old clan? Mmmm, couldn't manipulate water to that extent yet. Tutoring Magic Academy students? 

Wait, she could do that one, actually. Did she believe she was a good tutor? No, she was the best one, because technically she didn't try it and fail! Now was a good opportunity to use some brains instead of brawn for once-

"Ab-so-LUTE-LY NOT!!!" The screech snapped Xiulan out of her own thoughts, turning her head to glare at the woman screaming at her child. The kid didn't look more than 17, dressed from head to toe in mystical wizard robes, the kind of robes detailing astrological symbols with shimmering gold. While her face was as neutral as could be, Xiulan could see her eyebrows narrow in anger, barely visible below her brown bangs, before she forced them to relax.

"I don't really see why there's a problem, mom," the girl said. "How am I supposed to help the Magic Academy when I don't have even the basic understandings of magic? The best way to correct that is clearly to enroll there and-"

She flinched as her mother stomped her foot down, the clack of a heel heard by all around the area. "Magic this, magic that!" The mother's disapproving look was so intense, Xiulan wondered if it'd get stuck like that. "Haven't you even thought about taking up my legacy? Your head is far  too up in the clouds, thinking there's even an ounce of magic in your bones!" She flicked her pale brown hair back with a hand adorned with golden bracelets and rings. "End your little nonsensical dream! Besides, being a jeweler is more of an accomplishment these days instead of prancing around with familiars or playing around with lightning! It seems like all the riff raff around these parts can do it these days."

The young teen bit her lip, clearly holding back some choice words as her mother huffed and tipped her head back as if to look down on her. "Now, come along! We have very important meetings with Ratstache or whatever that dwarf's name is-"

"M-mousebeard-"

"That's what I said, didn't I? Now, come along, come along!"

Xiulan watched the girl's mood deflate like a balloon, dragging her feet as she followed behind her mother. While she kept her reactions to herself, now she just felt like slapping this woman in the face. It'd probably make things worse for the poor girl, though, so instead, she took out her pouch, pulling out a quill pen, ink, and parchment to scribble a quick note, waving her hand as magic arcs through her fingers onto the parchment, the ink disappearing from sight. She then folded into a paper airplane and let it soar, walking away as it bonked the girl on the head. From the corner of her eye, she could see the girl stop and open it up, eyes widening in surprise before hurriedly stuffing it in her pocket and rushing to her mother's side.

Meet me in the Grand Marketplace, where the scent of coffee wafts through the air. The knowledge of magic awaits you there.

~The Scarlet Witch~

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Xiulan didn't know when the girl was coming, so she killed some time touring around Agama, even going as far as to look at the Magic Academy and take a stroll through Bruma. It was neat to see the cultures that blended together, storefronts all over and hawking unique items, and how magitech was integrated into this city, too! Her heart rushed with excitement, exploring each nook and cranny like a five year old hyped on sugar. She hadn't even explored the whole city, and yet, around every corner, there was always something to catch her eye.

The Grand Marketplace was always going to be her final stop for the day, looking around and familiarizing herself with what stores sold what. The rentals shop made her eye widen, looking at Climate Rods and Sand Rods with great interest before she walked out, sullen, incapable of even renting a single thing. No money, more problems. It was at least nice to know they existed as she plopped down at the Seven Winds Cafe, where word on the wind said they had some of the best coffees in Agama. The rokurokubi took a seat outside, watching people pass her by when she heard a chair move in front of her. With a turn of her head, she was face to face with the astrological wizard girl from earlier, looking at her with sparkling eyes.

"You gave me that message, didn't you? You're the only one here wearing anything remotely scarlet," said the girl as she glanced around at the customers, then back at her. "Are you truly a witch? Or maybe you're a sorceress? No, no, I won't be mad if it's an innate power, I'm just so excited to learn- oh, is it from a warlock patron, perhaps? Are you a warlock?!? I hear Sumalee's a warlock bound to The Birdcaller, who is said to be a mysterious fey no one has ever laid eyes upon for centuries- OH! Maybe you're an artificer like Chanda, making magic through artefacts-"

Xiulan held up her hands and said, "Woah, woah, woah, slow down there! You're going 60 knots when I'm only going at 5! Take a breath! Breathe! Feel that air in your lungs!"

The wizard did breathe, deeply at that, before she turned meek. "Ah, my sincere apologies, I just, I... There's so much to learn, and I'm so very, very behind! Zoey knows so much more than I do, and I just want to achieve her level of knowledge on the magical arts! I know I need to get into the academy, but I need the basics to even have them consider giving me an entrance exam!"

"Zoey, huh?" Xiulan looked at the girl, whose eyes shined brighter than diamonds. "Sounds like a big shot around these parts, ain't she?"

"You have NO idea!" The wizard's excitement was electrifying, sparks flying off every word. "Everybody thinks she's an odd one because she doesn't have magic of her own, but the fact that she has pushed through and learned so much to the point of being a walking encyclopedia of magic facts is an inspiration to me! I don't even know if I'm capable of magic, but even if I'm not, I want to follow in her footsteps, to know all there is to know with all types of magic, and share that knowledge with everyone the world over!" She sighs happily, speaking as if she were in a sweet dream. "Imagine... Hakha Glittercloud, author- or co-author- of Magicks Around the World: A Comprehensive Guide to Magic... Aaah, is it not wonderful?!"

Xiulan whistled, surprised. "Woah, she's been hittin' the books if she knows that much! Maybe I should hit her up someday? Trade some tactics here and there!" She crossed her arms, a smug smile on her face as she announced, "Well, I'm just the girl ya need, Glitz! Name's Xiulan Hua Ngo: Xiulan works just fine for me! I'm a wizard and all that. Not a sorcerer who just got it by luck or chance through birth, not a warlock who decided to make a deal with Kuroma or whatever weird thing that grants 'em power. I'm a bonafide wizard, and I worked my ass off to learn my spells and memorize all the sorta things I'll need!"

Glitz narrowed her eyes in suspicion. "You certainly don't look the type. You look more like a warrior, with arms like those!"

"That's because I'm the kinda wizard that likes to be in people's faces!" Xiulan's smile breaks into a grin as she pumped her arm up. "I want that thrill of the fight, the blood rushing through my brain, all that on-the-spot thinking to keep me on my toes! Life's no fun if you're just in the back firin' a magic missile or three. A blade's song and spells at my fingertips are the two things I need to make the battlefield my stage! I got one part, workin' on the other! Don't have a sword, y'see?"

Glitz stared as Xiulan showed her empty palms, no sword in hand. "Uh, this... blade song thing doesn't seem to be that magical."

"And that's where you'd be wrong!" Xiulan chuckled as she sat up, taking out her quill, ink, and parchment as she started to draw. "It's an extremely rare form of magic, used by demons and creatures who can hold even just a stick in their hands. Used to be more common in the Mermaid Queen's time, but if ya don't spread the word, the magic doesn't get passed along. My clan's been able to keep that sorta thing alive, but let's just say the whole clan's in a pickle right now that, if it doesn't get fixed, will make that whole tradition go away like this." She snapped her finger with her free hand, her picture taking the form of long necked and headless men and women dancing with all sword of blades: axes, swords, even a dagger, magic flowing like a song from the heart.

A gasp escaped from Glitz's mouth as she marveled at the picture, hanging on every word Xiulan said. She couldn't help but keep looking at the picture, then back at Xiulan. "This... this is incredible! We've never heard of such a thing recorded in Agama, and if it's as rare as you say, then it is imperitive we find some way to preserve the knowledge so it can be passed down to the next generation without fear of extinction! Ooooh, Zoey's going to LOVE to hear this, I really think you should meet her- OH! Before I get too off track, would you mind terribly if you taught me some magic? I'll pay you, of course, but you saw my mom. She thinks there's enough wizard  and witches roaming around and thinks all that stuff is below her."

Glitz heard Xiulan take a deep breath through her nose before she held up a closed palm, raising a finger for certain things she listed. "Identify. Detect Magic. Mending. Prestidigitation. Distort Value if she wants to run a long con. Unseen Servant. Locate Object if she's looking for a specific type of gemstone and nothing else. Dispel Curse. Move Earth. Guards and Wards." The young wizard's jaw would have been on the ground if she were capable as the rokurokubi lists the spells off with ease. "All of these spells- and more, if you know how to use 'em- would make her a kickass jeweler, but nooOOOooo, that stuff's all below her! I'd love to see her get some cursed ruby she can't sell because it's stuck to her hands and making her hallucinate things that just aren't there. Trust me, cursed gems are no joke! 

Before ya bust out your wallet, I just got a lil request: if ya don't have any pocket change to spare, then just spare me a meal and I can share all that knowledge shakin' around in my noggin! Otherwise, if ya got about 5 gold pieces, that'd work, too! Or somethin' like it. No Bitcoin, everybody asks me about that and I don't know what it is, and I ain't about to find out!"

"Th-that little for tutoring?" Glitz fiddled with her fingers, quivering a little bit as she asked in hushed tones, "A-are you sure? I could pay more than that, if you want! I have a lot of gift money saved up from birthdays- OH! You probably should charge as much as the normal tutors do in-"

"Nah." Xiulan waved her off dismissively. "They can do that because they got people who know how good they are. Reputation, ya see? But I don't have any of that, and really, I just want to spite your mom, since I can't punch her without gettin' thrown in the locker. Just make sure ya meet me here every, saaaay, thursday. Any time work for you here? Need to be weekends or somethin?"

Glitz tapped her chin, brow furrowed. "I have school most days, and I have to sit in on jeweler classes and meetings in the evenings. I think weekends work wonderfully; I'm usually with my father then, who doesn't really care if I wander off and do my own thing. It's my mother who is troubling me the most... Oh, as for a time, lets saaay... maybe around breakfast? Early bird gets the worm, that sort of thing?"

Xiulan held out a hand and grinned. "Then it's a done deal," she said as Glitz took her hand for a handshake. "Weekends, breakfast time! Man, looks like I'll need a syllabus in time for class, gwahaha!" Her laughter petered out as she heard her stomach roar and grumble. "Hahaha... huh. I'm actually starving. Who woulda thought?" It was Xiulan's turn to be all meek and shy this time, attempting eye contact but struggling. "Uh, well, I'd buy myself lunch, but I kinda got kicked out of my house, and I'm here all homeless and penniless. Family troubles, y'know?"

"Wh-why didn't you SAY so? I would have gotten you at least a cookie from the cafe if I had known!" Glittercloud says, color draining out of her skin as she hastily takes out her wallet. "Come on, let's hurry! Do you want coffee? Tea? Snacks? Oh, they have great tarts here, my dad used to come here all the time. You're not allergic to peanuts or anything, right? There's just so much-"

Glitz dragged Xiulan over to the menu, the rokurokubi smiling at her new pupil's enthusiasm, ultimately enjoying a casual chat over green tea and apple tarts, allowing Glitz to talk her ear off as much as she wanted.