Archive of Our Own ^beta

VIRIDIAN
VIRIDIS VENEFICUS

Fellow student at the Wizard Academy, as well as my roommate. Quick grasp of magical concepts has made them something of a star pupil in our class. Could even call them a prodigy. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little jealous.

-

"Getting a lot of mileage out of that Scrying Glass, are we?"

"GAH-"

Focus broken. The glass and notebook fall unceremoniously to the dorm room floor. Oof.

Viridian sighs and shakes their head. "I wish you'd ask before writing lore entries about me, Blue. It's rude not to."

"Right, sorry," Blue says rather sheepishly as they go to pick up their things.

So far, Scry is the only spell that Blue can successfully cast (with the help of the Scrying Glass, granted), and it’s proven to be their personal favorite. After all, any wizard worth their salt ought to get better at analyzing and recording the world around them! And that’s exactly what Blue is trying to do!

Though, to be perfectly frank, they’re also trying to use it to learn more about Viridian. The two haven't known each other for long, only exchanging the traditional greetings when they learned they'd be sharing a room during their time at the academy. However, on the first day of Wizardry 101, Viridian had wowed everyone in their class by being the only one to fire off a Strata Blast on their very first try, as naturally as breathing. 

And then there was Blue, standing dumbly in their soot-covered robes because their spell blew up in their face. They watched from the back of the room, transfixed, as Viridian humbly accepted heaps of praise from their classmates.

Really, the less said about Blue’s attempts to cast Strata Blast, the better.

"So, what did you write about me, anyway?” Viridian stands uncomfortably close, pointing to the pages of Blue’s notebook. “There's no way I'm interesting enough for a whole lore entry!"

"Hey, no, don’t look at that!" Blue snaps, keeping the book out of reach. "And you are interesting! Very interesting! Like how are you… so good... at magic... already...?" Slowly, their voice shrinks to a whisper. They really just said that out loud. …The room grows slightly warmer.

"...Huh. Okay." Viridian blinks, surprised. A few seconds pass, before they clasp their hands together like they’ve figured something out. "You know, I could just tutor you if you really wanted to know how I’m ‘so good’ at magic. Might be more helpful than staring at me through a looking glass, haha!"

…Really? Just like that? Blue opens their mouth to say something, like a “thank you” or a “please do, I am dangerously close to failing, okay that was kind of hyperbole but still”. But instead, they end up saying nothing of the sort and opt to just nod awkwardly. …Blue decides that they need to step outside for a bit.

"Good talk. I, uh. I’m just going to gAUGH-'' Blue runs into the doorframe on their way out. Before Viridian can even think of offering to help (again), they quickly dust themself off before retreating into the hallway, embarrassed.

Will try to write the rest of this entry without the Scrying Glass. Related: still having trouble with casting Strata Blast. Viridian offered to help(!!) Bit awkward, proximity to them makes me nervous for some reason. Might be a good opportunity to finally learn from them.

-

They do eventually agree to meet at the academy courtyard. There aren't many other students outside at this hour; most of them are likely doing their studies indoors. For things like practicing combat spells however, open space is paramount.

"Okay, why don't I do one more quick demonstration before you try again?" Viridian peeks their head out from behind the training dummy they set up. It's a bit charred from bearing the brunt of many a Strata Blast, all of which courtesy of Viridian of course.

Blue grumbles, wiping the sweat from their brow. What are they doing wrong? No matter how hard they focus, they are still nowhere close to Viridian’s skill level. Again, they watch as Viridian fires a burst of magical energy at the dummy with an effortless flick of their wand. The gears in their head start to turn again. What is it that makes Viridian so much better?

When it’s Blue’s turn to cast, they’re shaking like a leaf. They start muttering the three strata under their breath as they raise their wand. Energy, form, volition. Energy, form, volition. Basic concepts that every wizard should know and… ah, wait, how do they all-

Pop.

And once again, like the many attempts before this, Blue’s wand only produces smoke.

“Arrrrrgh, this isn’t helping!” Blue finally snaps and throws down their wand. “Just forget it, I’ll never be as good as-”

”Blue.”

Viridian suddenly grabs Blue by the shoulders, their eyes more stern than Blue had ever seen before. “...Don’t say things like that. Okay so you’re messing up a lot, but you are improving. Now, stop focusing on what I'm doing for a second and just. Cast.”

Don't focus on Viridian… was that the problem? Was Blue so caught up in catching up to somebody else when they should have concentrated on their own improvement? Viridian is a truly brilliant wizard and certainly much more capable, but at the end of the day... they’re still just a fellow student learning alongside them, aren’t they? 

A deep breath. Blue steps up to the plate one more time, wiping stray tears from their eyes before holding their wand aloft. Energy, form, volition… ah. Faint shapes begin to circle Blue’s wand. 

Focus. Stay focused, Blue. 

They close their eyes, and they can feel the magic coursing through their body. The shapes begin to grow brighter. Finally, they swing their wand, and…

BOOM.

When Blue dares to open their eyes again, they see the training dummy blown to bits. Viridian is standing next to them with their hands over their mouth in shock.

“I… I did it.”

“You did!!!” Viridian catches Blue in a hug and spins them around… before promptly stopping themself and clearing their throat. “Er, good job. I knew you had it in you!”

Blue isn’t sure what to make of all that, but one thing’s for certain. They were finally able to cast Strata Blast, and damn did it feel good. So good, in fact, that they immediately raise their wand again for another go.

“Ah, wait, we need to set up another du-!”

The spell blows up in Blue’s face. And it’s not just their robes that are covered in soot this time. Viridian was caught in the blast too, looking just as worse for wear.

“Ack- sorry! I’m so sorry, I should have… uh, Viridian?”

“.........Pfft. Pfahahahaha!”

Viridian is... laughing. They laugh so hard, there are tears forming at the corners of their eyes. Blue has never seen them like this before. It’s kind of, no, it’s really cute. And contagious; Blue begins to laugh like a maniac too. It gets to the point where the two of them are leaning on each other for support, before they finally topple to the ground on their backs.

“Hahaha… Hey, Viridian?” Blue asks.

“Yeah?”

“Do you want to keep studying together like this?”

Viridian is silent for a moment, before they turn to look Blue in the eyes. A warm smile rests on their face. “Of course. I’d love to.”

Night falls, and Blue finds themself lost in thought and unable to sleep. How strange. 

They can't seem to get Viridian’s smile and laughter out of their mind.

Spending more time with V. Mostly tutoring, but sometimes just hanging out. Still a little nervous around them, but also very happy? Not a bad feeling. Starting to look forward to spending more time with them.

They really are amazing.

-

It should have been a day just like any other. Viridian helping Blue understand today’s lessons before the warm fireplace in their room, just as they always have. A boring, familiar, comfortable routine.

And then the door bursts open. Viridian's face darkens immediately. They grab their wand and spring into action as if on instinct. The second Blue realizes what's going on, they turn and the first thing they see is...

-

But, that begs the question.

-

A flash of light.

A wizard in magenta robes, a malicious grin across their face as dark magic dances around the tip of their wand.

…Viridian, their stone body frozen like a statue.

Blue is shaking like a leaf, but still they raise their wand, Strata Blast at the ready.

It isn’t enough, and they’re flung effortlessly out the window.

-

What do they see in someone like me?

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