The Trial, Tasks for Students, and Illendis' Experiment
One of the men at the end of the row of seats stood and addressed all who were present in the large, multi-tiered chamber. "We convene this meeting of the Gordie'en and his council in regards to the actions of one Alekandler Triden. We are here to try and prove wether he is guilty of recklessly endangering his charges, kidnapping, wrongful imprisionment, misuse of the property of the Brotherhood, abuse of power, and infringing upon the power, authority and sovereignty of Engama and it's Hafitch Danrick Mishor."
He looked over to where Kallon was sitting. "Would the accusor and witness please stand and come before the council."
Kallon stood and approached, his body was still angular under his clothes, not quite the nearly starved creature Sray found, but still not where he was six months ago. Head up, standing as proudly as he could he stopped before them. He would show them no deference. He was here to see Triden burn, even if he had to do it himself.
The man whose seat was central among the semi-circle of raised chairs cleared his throat and shuffled some papers. "Young man, here it states that you wish to be addressed as Kallon Hillenbohn Sollit, is that correct?"
"Yes, that is correct."
"The fourth through sixth year students are often tasked with checking and re-sealing the older books and scrolls in the library. Most of them hate it, it is delicate, tedious, and finicky work. Illendis is very particular in how it must be done. He insists is builds character and skill. I just think someone made him do it for three years and is just passing it on." Mishor laughed. "Either way, it keeps many important things safe should anything happen."
Sray watched Illendis for any sign of discomfort. He may have been confident in his skills, but she didn't share it. He was completely focused on the construct and didn't notice Sray staring at him. She pulled her hand off.
Illendis looked up at her. "Is that it?"
"Yes."
"Hmm," his brows furrowed. "Let's do that again, could you double your effort?"
"Double? Are you sure?"
"There was no change I could feel, double will be perfectly safe."
"Duration or temperature?" She placed her hand on the construct again.
"Both, but raise it at the same rate as before."
"He knows what he's doing, Sray. Zekkarran Illendis is the best at this I am aware of." Silfiya reassured from her seat as Sray grimaced slightly at the request.
"Yes, well, having the soft one not do so well has me less sure about that." Sray admitted, looking back at Silfiya.
"And this experiment is helping me figure out why that happened." Illendis stated as he reset his fingertips against the wall. "Come, one more try, twice the heat over twice the time."
"Are you ready?" Sray looked down at him, he smiled back, his enthusiasm unabated.
"Yes!"
She held her breath and pushed heat into the wall again. When she was close to the peak temperature Illendis suddenly cried out.
"Ah-ha!"
Sray jerked her hand off the wall and jumped back, completely terrified she had hurt him. Silfiya stood up and looked between the two of them, unsure of what to do. Sray was thoroughly confused by Illendis' slightly disappointed look.
"Oh, sorry," he said sheepishly. "Very exciting what just happened there at the end." He reached up and tapped the area where Sray's hand had been. "Did you know you vibrate the particles as you heat them? Little, tiny, shaking movements."
Sray sighed in relief. "Well, yes, doesn't everyone know that is what heat is, vibrating matter?"
They both looked at her blankly. Illendis spoke first, "I suspect that may have been knowledge lost among Humans with the wars." He folded an arm across his chest and propped his other elbow on it, rubbing his chin. "Now, I think what is happening between the different structures, and this bit with the wall confirmed it, the vibrations from the heat rattled the bonds loose as it concentrated in the center. With the rope and the wall they are linked more end to end rather than on all sides like with the spheres. I suspect that having the heat come from all sides within your fist rather than spread out from a flat hand has something to do with it too. Very, very interesting." He touched the structure again. "Not a piece out of place." He dismantled it displaying the same amount of ease as he had while putting it up.