Masks of iron and ivory.

Masker stretched his legs out, rolling his ankles, and pushed himself up from the couch. Only half an hour and I’m already stiff? I know I’m old, but I thought I solved those problems a while ago…

My amusement, worry, and regret would’ve flared at this thought… but nothing came.

Sighing, I continued my little routine with various joints all over my body. After finishing my stretching, I looked around, taking in my surroundings.

The place was obviously a library with all of the books lying around, shelved or otherwise.

The couch was at the back of the ground floor, and faced the doorway. Turning to my left I noticed the staircase that I used before.

Returning my masks to their circular orbit behind my back, I strolled over to the stairs and ascended to the second floor which was more of a large balcony overlooking the main part of the building.

This didn’t prevent the presence of even more carved bookshelves that were, like those below, stuffed with books. Red, green, yellow, brown, black, and many other colors covered the bindings that poked out from their places.

Swiveling my head from side to side revealed more of the same everywhere. Eventually I reached the second set of stairs, and called up to my two hosts in a loud, clear voice “I’m finished with my task little drake, if she’s recovered, then I’m willing to answer a few of Twilight’s questions.”

Spike poked his head over the side of the platform holding the duo’s beds. “My name’s Spike, and we’ll be down in a bit.”

I slowly pivoted on one of my feet, and descended again. The steps creaked at each thump of his heel as it struck the next step. Ok, I’m definitely not that fat… am I?

It only took a few seconds for me to reach the first floor, and only a couple more to walk around the statue and desks at the center of the room.

I spun around mid-step as I fell back onto the couch, and reclined while I waited.

About fifteen minutes later, Twilight walked down the steps. The sound of her hooves on the wooden steps alerted me before I turned to watch her descent. Her mane still had numerous strands poking out, but the crazed look in her eyes was gone. She hesitated at the bottom of the stairs and took a deep breath before walking towards me.

Before she could speak up, I used a calm voice to speak up. “I apologize for being terse before. I’m willing to answer a few questions now.”

Twilight tilted her head to the side a few degrees before nodding once. “Then let's begin.”

I returned the nod.
Twilights left eye twitched as she began an indecipherable blur of questions. Each word was distinct, but they came too quickly for me to comprehend one before another drilled into my ears

I raised my hand palm out. Twilight got the hint and her endless questions slowed down, and stopped entirely as she realized that I wasn’t answering.

I tilted my head back a little and sighed. “I understand that you’re excited, but, please, one question at a time.”

Twilight nodded as she sat down on a pillow a few feet in front of the couch. “Yes I understand… First, what are you? Well if thats not rude I-”
I cut her off with another hand motion. “It’s alright. As for what I am. I’m a human, I’m of the archmagus subspecies though. The only difference between a normal human, and magus, is that magi can wield magic.”

As I was saying this, a pen and notepad appeared next to Twilight, who began furiously writing down notes. Her purple eyes were wide as she gave me this creepily wide grin. “You said you could wield magic. What kinds? How do you use it? Is it attached to emotion? I—.”

I faked a cough, and Twilight’s grin turned sheepish as I responded. “One. Question. At. A. Time. Please.” After sighing, I continued. “I’ll answer your questions in order I suppose…” where to start where to start… “I guess I should start from the basics eh?”

Twilight nodded “yes I want to know exactly how your magic works.”

I smiled beneath my mask. “There are four schools of magic. Every magus can learn from every school, but they tend to have a strong affinity for one. They can learn to establish an affinity for a second school, but only archmagi can gather three affinities.” or more, but she doesn’t need to know that.

Twilight was scribbling notes with the occasional crack sounding out as the pencil reached supersonic speeds.

Bloody hell is she writing a biography? I caught myself on that thought. Shock… I’ve got that in an emotion sink right? Yea I do… I’m good at faking emotions while linked to my masks, but…. Even in my own head? Gotta be careful about that.
I mentally shrugged. A problem for later. “As for how I do it. Really couldn’t tell ya. Just kinda do.”

Twilight scowled at me “you said that you have schools of magic, which means that it requires understanding which can be taught, how could you NOT know how you use your magic?”

I leaned back “first, they’re more aspects than schools, but they’re called schools cause magi wanted to sound smart.” Finishing with a snort, I continued. “We sorta command a piece of us. Again, couldn’t tell ya which piece, but thats about all I can do to describe how we access our magic.”

Twilight proceeded to try to find a new angle in her questioning… several times. “Well do you feel anything when you practice magic?” power. “How do you send this command?” Will. she continued to prattle question after question, but I stopped answering as soon as I saw what she was trying to do. Eventually, my silence convinced Twilight that I was done with that line of questioning

She shook her head before continuing. “Well can you at least tell me what the ‘schools’ of magic are?”

I slowly rolled my head to pop a few joints. Time to wrap this up I guess. “The three big ones are spacial, mental, and spiritual manipulation. Haven’t got a clue as to what the fourth school is, so don’t bother.”

I arched my back as I stood up from the couch. I rolled my ankles, and went through some leg stretches. “It’s been fun talking Twilight, it really has, but I’m getting tired.” I reached my hands out in front of me, and spread them apart like I was opening a curtain.

Before stepping through, I stuck my head through… white, every direction… forever. Dammit.
I pulled my head out and turned to Twilight. “It appears... that I need a place to stay…” I examined some of the bookshelves while I waited for the scribbling sounds to stop.

Twilight eventually stood up. “You could stay here while you find your way back home, I’ve got a guest room.”

I shook my head. “I don’t need a full room, I’ll just crash on the couch.”

Twilight shrugged God thats a weird motion to see a horse do. “If you really want to, then feel free.”

At that I stood up straight before falling right back onto the couch. I crossed my arms behind my head as I laid it on top of the arm rest. I turned my head towards the door to see the orange of sunset, leak through the door frame. “Good night… even if it’s still quite early.”

Twilight clopped out the door while saying “goodnight, see you in the morning.”
Wonder where she’s going? Eh none of my business. I wove a few shield wards and alarm wards within the general vicinity of the couch. And now. A yawn broke my thoughts. Ok enough scheming… I was falling.. falling.. Falling.