[i]Alyssa merely watched as Alonfé attempted draw the rune, listening to his words; she wasn't a very accomplished mage, and thus tried to learn everything she could from one that was. She was impressed that he could get a a rune as complex as the one he was practicing to as good as he got it, guessing that he had delved into runic magic before. If it was his first time, however, then Alyssa would be beyond surprised. She had spent the majority of the day and night studying that very rune, and it was right near perfection; a few more hours of studying and practicing, and soon she'd be able to restore mana in a fight while evading. The thought made her giddy with excitement, even if she knew that she wasn't the best in a fight, and probably wouldn't be able to dodge either way. She turned her face up towards Alon's as he began speaking of the dark arts, intrigue and a little bit of fright showing on her face. His knowledge of magic was extremely different from hers, Alyssa realized. While she spent her twenty-three years sitting at a desk, back hunched over a book, Alon was likely traveling the world and learning magic first-hand. In many ways, that way of learning was much better than the way Alyssa had learnt it; she silently cursed herself for not being able to actually experience magic in a real fight, like what the out-of-control kids at the academy did, starting brawls in the hallways and the blacktops. Suddenly, she realized that the "out-of-control" kids probably were more magically advanced than Alyssa; she had never used her magic in actual combat before, and the realization pained her, an expression that was easily shown on her freckled face.[/i] "Mr. Alonfé," [i]Alyssa began slowly, unsure, really, what to think about the way he spoke of the dark arts.[/i] "If these dark arts are as tolling as you say... do you mind if I ask, why are you studying them?" [i]She guessed that Alon would most certainly be able to handle the tolls that that particular magic required, but what she really wanted to know was why anybody want to use such a grueling, horrible magic.[/i]