Tradition vs. Tech: Peace in the Conflict

"Of course I can," she said back, trying her very hardest not to snap. Still, though, small bolts of electric energy flared around her eyes, demonstrative of the energy she kept pent up within her body and the only field of spells she had ever really been able to cast. Not that she would admit her inability to use anything else to the...rather cocky man. She never understood why, but after moving to Adreridon, she didn't have much use for magic anyway. Sure, it was handy for fixing the occasional power outage or giving herself light in a dark space, but free electricity was dangerous. She was better off relying on the gadgets in her house for such menial tasks.

"I just...can't teleport," she said, frowning at the man, averting her eyes for a split second before returning her gaze to him.
 
The old man scoffed, making his way out of the room. "And you're going to tutor that snot nosed little sister of Allister. Wait till he finds out you're one of those specialty mages only." The old man said, jumping to conclusions about the girl. Storming out of the room and into the energy converter some ways down the hall

Allister spent his time up there with the mages quietly. The head mage summoning up a small orb that Allister took the time to make. A small light surrounded by glass, floating around in the mages hand, just to be tossed over to Allister. "At least it's something a non-user can use," he grumbled out, waiting for the rather slow appearance of the war generals.
 
Sarah's lip upturned into a slight snarl at the remark. Her grip on the chair tightened again, though it was more than on purpose this time. Better the chair than the general's neck, after all. She watched him closely, blue eyes trained on the man in an intense glare that would have melted steel, and let him get a head-start. A few seconds later, she let go of the chair, flexed her fingers to work out some of the tension, and followed him down the hallway, keeping her distance.

Despite how unwilling she was to be stuck in the energy converter with such an unpleasant man, Sarah realized that she didn't actually know where the other men had teleported off to, so she jogged up to the energy converter with a sigh when she saw the older man step in and joined him.
 
As the wait got more awkward, Allister just took a seat. Toying with the little round glowing object in his hands. Watching a few of the generals finally appear, Allister finally got to his feet. Watching Sarah and the final man appearing. "Took you all long enough," he tossed the orb at the older man, watching him for a moment. "It's just a portable shield. Most Mages can create their own force field, whether it be a general energy shield, or one based off of an element." He turned to Sarah, taking her hand and pulling her to where he stood. Smiling at her softly, as he knew it probably wasn't comfortable standing there with war obsessed men.

"It's fairly simple, it needs to be powered up by an actual mage though. Any mage really, just so long as they now how to transport their energy to charge it up. Then give it to someone like you and it can be used. It's small, so it can be placed in pockets, or whatever." Allister shrugged, shoving his hands into his pockets. He originally made that little thing as a toy for his sister. So she could learn to control her magic better, but seeing as they were all getting desperate, he saw no reason to not give them something to work with.
 
Sarah looked over at the small object with curiosity in her eyes. She knew a couple people who would be more than eager to get their hands on a device like that, including one who lived here in Elynwan, though her thought process was interrupted when Allister pulled her over to him. She returned his smile, grateful for an excuse to get away from the man.

While she listened to his brief explanation, she was again reminded of one of her friends, Frank. He wasn't a magic-user, though he desperately wanted to be, even if it meant acquiring just a single element. Sarah knew that Frank would certainly appreciate getting his hands on such a device, though it wasn't as though he had regular access to a mage to charge the shield...

She wanted to ask about it a little, but she had been told to remain silent, and she wasn't about to blow this opportunity..."Hey, uh," she tried, pausing to see if anyone shot her a particularly nasty glare or if Allister shushed her.
 
Sighing, Allister watched the three for some time. As they tried to figure the little toy out. Amazed at how terribly dense they all were. For some time, he remained silent. Watching the men talk about the little glowing ball, tossing and toying about with it. He rocked back and forth on his heels for a moment, noticing a small glint of light flash before the shield was activated. Only noticeable for a moment or two, then suddenly clear. Surrounding the three generals all at once. "As you should notice, it can expand itself based on the surroundings. It's like a little smart ball," he shrugged again. Obviously toying with the three men as his tone became suddenly childish, a large grin on his face.

As it faded, he turned his attention to Sarah. Only barely noticing that the girl had started to speak. "Yeah, whats up?"
 
"Do you have to charge it every time you use it?" she asked, shooting a quick and condescending smirk at the council of generals and mages before forcing it away. Allister really had them all eating right out of his hands. It was kind of pathetic, in a way, that none of them were smart enough to puzzle out his inventions. Surely, a portable shield couldn't be that hard to use. Sarah was pretty confident that she would be able to figure it out and then teach the necessary skills to someone else, anyway.

Incompetent authority figures were another thing Sarah couldn't stand. She figured that authority was something you had to earn, not just receive because of who you were related to or how much money you were spoon-fed throughout your childhood. If you were a guy who co-led a city founded in magic, you had to know how to use it, within reason. But these guys...just how powerful were they, anyway?
 
Allister looked at her questioningly for a moment, before returning his attention to the men trying to turn the shield off. "No, you can tell when it needs more energy because it'll stop glowing like that," he said with a shrug. Taking a few steps back so he stood at the side of the head mage who only cocked an eyebrow up at the three men opposite them.

"Pitiful really. They seem to find it so difficult to work something so simple," he grumbled out, peering down at Allister through the corner of his eye.

"Really, they say the same thing to you when I gave you the dagnir. Funny how you guys can't use something the other finds so simple. A little contradicting don't you think." Allister shrugged again. The day had begun interesting, and was now dying down. It was exactly as he stated. The mages couldn't figure out the complex weapons that were meant only for mages. Yet the generals, who had no way of using them, had it figured out within seconds. It was entirely vice versa when it was something made for non users.
 
"You should be helping each other," Sarah muttered without really thinking. The answer seemed so obvious to her. If the mages and generals could easily figure out how to use something meant for the other, then why not share their knowledge and help each other out? It seemed like Allister was the only guy here who really knew what he was doing. "Quit fighting and teach what you know," she added, crossing her arms in front of her. Sure, they were technically enemies of her own home-town, but she still felt the need to point out something that really should have been strikingly obvious.

As she watched the generals puzzle out the portable force field, she was reminded of a certain rumor she'd heard some time ago: the existence of a powerful set of spells that could transfer magical power from a mage to a normal. It would certainly change a lot of things if it were true; at the very least these men could help each other out far more efficiently.
 
Sighing, Allister turned to look at Sarah. Paying little attention to her as she spoke, just arching his brow up as he looked to the head mage once more. Though the older man had nothing to say as well, staring down at the girl with obvious irritation. "That's enough Sarah." Allister stepped to her, placing his hand atop her head and messing her hair up a bit. "We've got a few other things to discuss up here, so please return to the conference room," he grinned softly, obviously treating her like a child before stepping past her. The toy was soon returned to him, well at least after the others learned to shut it off. Only for him to toss it back to the head mage once more. Sighing as he waited for Sarah to take her leave, before moving on.
 
Sarah bristled in irritation, her hand very nearly flying up to swat Allister's away. She managed to control herself, though, not wanting to get herself into a fight with men who...might be more powerful than her (OK, they probably were, but she hated to admit it to herself), and walked back towards the energy converter, her feet falling just a bit heavier than normal. What was with this guy? Did he really see her as a child enough to treat her like one? With a sigh, she realized the answer was most likely yes after her little stunt earlier. She'd have to fight to get her reputation back up with him, that much was certain...

Muttering derisively but quietly to herself, she stepped into the magical elevator and made her way back to the conference room without stopping to let anyone catch up until she got there.
 
Turning back to the mage's Allister talked for a little bit. Though about nothing in particular. Starting a random conversation about the schools and what the children were learning. Peering over his shoulder to see that Sarah had finally gone. Sighing softly, he began on other topics. Pulling up the weapon he'd spoken about earlier as well as the little toy he'd brought out. After some time, he'd finally showed them what it was he wanted to do with the two things, or toys in his eyes. Letting the general have his fun playing around with it for sometime. As he'd finally figured something out on his own.

Letting two hours pass, Allister and the others finally returned to the conference room. The generals all appearing happier than they were when they'd first stepped up there. "That will be all for today. You may all take your leave," the head mage nodded to the room. Keeping himself in the doorway as he'd be leaving first. Then, all with a nod. They left the room one by one, the mage's leaving first and the generals after. While Allister stayed inside the room. Looking over at Sarah before patting her head again, smiling at her. "Alright kiddo, time to go." He chuckled softly and finally began out the room as well.
 
Sarah was sprawled out on one of the conference room's chairs, her feet propped up brazenly on the table and her eyes half-shut in boredom, when the group returned. Quickly, though, she yanked her legs back and sat up straight, swiftly painting an innocent expression on her face. She was skilled at avoiding that hand-in-the-cookie-jar look. It was a talent she'd cultivated over the years, as it became clear that totally opening up to other people might not be the best policy until you were sure they could be trusted. That, or when it became necessary. Like her situation with Allister here. Sarah was a savvy girl, all in all. Even if she did let her temper get the best of her sometimes.

Speaking of her temper, she bristled again at Allister's choice of nickname, flinching back somewhat from his pat on the head. She wondered if she should say something, or if that would risk firing his opinion of her even lower. She hated people thinking she was beneath them somehow. In the end, she simply stood, grumbling a bit more, and followed Allister out of the room.
 
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