Welcome to Gaia! ::

While it is not pure silver, the quality is quite high and it seems to have no traps, though it does carry a magical signature, a scent so to speak, of a benign nature... quite possibly a blessing. It appears to be a scrying cup... though it is difficult to say whether or not it is one dedicated to peering into the future or for gazing at the surrounding areas.

** Actually, silver is not toxic though most of it's salts are... it can cause a condition known as argyria which leaves the skin grey... but for the most part silver is considered safe enough to use in surgery and dental routines... the problem with silver fillings is the mercury content in the compound....**

Mica's eyes widen and he carries the cup to a wall safe, where he carefully locks up the vessel. Turning with a grin he nods. "And so it is, young cub... and I will be certain not to drink from it... for reasons of my own, I fear... as the cup is my personal scrying vessel and I have no reason to be doing that right now. Consider it a test of a sorts, though I fear you did not show any signs of undo wisdom... beyond those which one of your nature might show. But you have laid Brother Grayson's fears to rest. He was quite certain you would not realize that there are items in this compound that must be dealt with with respect and reverence... for their intrinsic value, if not for any other reason. I chose my cup as it is perhaps the most valuable thing we have here at the temple, but unless one looks at it with true sight, it appears to be little more than a gaudy wine cup."

He returns to his desk and motions the cub to push up a stool by his side. Before him is a small stack of books. One is on the history of magic, from a divine perspective, the others appear to cover several differing schools of spell casting. There is even a smallish almost pocket sized volume on bardic magic.

"You will be studying magic and history with me. And as I feel such a study should always start with a firm grounding in the art's history we will begin with this." He holds up the first book and smiles. "You might want to look at the author, young cub. It is a rather old volume, a dusty leather bound, whose pages are yellow and cracked with age. And it's spine bears a familiar name, Kerobian vules-Noctuslain, a name Kerobian knows by instinct to be his own, though he is far to young to have written it. He stares at the priest in confused surprise and the older man smiles down at him kindly.

"I've had this volume for a very long time, cub... It was a gift from my mentor and it was old long before I received it, so I expect you to handle it with the care it deserves. Preservation spells have been placed on it to protect it from falling apart, but it is not protected from mishandling... and in it is a study of the art from an aspect few encounter."

"You were tested in the realms of creation magic, magics which focus on taking something and making something of it. There is another field of study which involves negation magic. Or rather a realm of thought which devours and consumes, then uses the essence of that matter to create... In a way, much of the one pertains to the other... but if you use an analogy of a pole..." He goes and picks up his walking stick and makes a mark midway. "Say this is your goal... think of the two forms of magic as a way of achieving that goal... They each achieve it, but in opposing manners."

Mica smiles kindly at the cub. "I would test you on the latter. If you do not mind?"

Mica nods again. "Fire is indeed of this family of magics... and I have noticed you have an affinity for it as well. But for now, we study its forms... then once we have learned those we will begin exploring those forms in depth. I fully expect you to cooperate fully, youngling. Negation magic... in any of it's forms can be extremely dangerous. So no experimenting outside the workroom... until I give you leave. Fair enough?"

Mica rolls his eyes and hands the cub the book, which he has slipped into a carry bag. "So, have you been to see Sharmistra yet? Has she given you leave to return to classes?"

"Very well then. Master Talesian says you have learned the two pieces we wish for you pt play at our morning services. Is this so?" says Mica putting the remaining books up onto a small shelf behind his chair. He turns to give the cub a piercing look and seems satisfied with what he sees.

Mica nods and reaching into his desk brings for a flute carved from the finest crystal. "Would you play them for me now?' he asks thoughtfully.

Mica nods thoughtfully and reaches into his drawer once more and pulls forth a child's bone flute, one so similar to Kerobian's own, it could have been made by the same maker. "Try this one instead.." he suggests retrieving the crystal flute and putting it on the desk before him.