SPOILER!!: Replies! <3

SPOILER!!: Aurora!

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhittyBitty

Aurora slowly made her way up the stairs to the Divination classroom. Walking inside she was pleased to notice that for the first time the room wasn’t all stuffy and filled with heavy perfume.

”Hello, Professor!” she said cheerfully before taking a seat. Rory noticed the container on the table. The green stuff in one compartment was clearly green herbs. But she wasn’t sure what the pinkish grains were.

She patiently waited for others to arrive.

Before long, the students began arriving. This was marked by a Hufflepuff. How Sarika wished she was a Badger student once more! Those were a few of the best days of her life. “Hello, Aurora.” She gave the transfer student a warm smile.

SPOILER!!: Xerxes!

Quote:

Originally Posted by badger_boy_93

Xerxes emerged from the trap door, having just climbed up the ladder. He was slightly out of breath and took a moment at the top to catch his breath and his composure. Once he had regained his senses, he walked over to one of the little tables; each with two or three little chair around it. He chose one of the tables right near the front.

After taking his seat at the table, Xerxes took out his Divination textbooks, wand, ink, parchment, and a quill. He laid out all his supplies, taking great care not to bump or knock over the multi-colored candles or the little divided compartment in the center.

While he was tempted by natural curiosity to play with the objects on the table, he already learned in the short time he had attended Hogwarts that it was best not to preemptively touch magical objects without instruction or directions. Therefore, he contented himself with looking at them and thinking about what they could be used for. Candles were often used in Summoning Rituals, but Divination didn't seem like the likely time or place to be doing such things. Maybe they would be dripping candle wax onto something to help gaze into the Great Unknown.

Xerxes then turned toward his Professor, who was standing in front of the great hearth at the front of the classroom and said, "Good Morning, Professor. I hope you having a wonderful day thus far."

Hearing the trapdoor being lifted again, Sarika glanced in its direction to see another Hufflepuff. They did seem to be on the ball today! This first year appeared to be a hint breathless. And after he sat, Sarika appreciated that he showed restraint by not touching any of the materials at the table. Such restraint was not often easy. “Good day, Xerxes. I am, thank you. Have you gotten your breath back?” Sarika was always concerned about her students’ wellbeing.

SPOILER!!: Diego!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charely Potter

Luckily, as a Gryffindor Diego didn't have to make that long of a trek up to the Divination Tower. But after a hearty lunch, he needed to sit for a bit. He peeked through the trap door to make sure everything was okay before he climbed up and into the room. It seemed to be just right, "Hello, Professor!" He smiled. While he still had a nawing feeling in his stomach from other feelings, today it wasn't as strong.

Diego took a seat and looked around the room to note the changes before focusing on the containers. He wondered what they could be? Well, he'll find out soon enough.

By now, Sarika had finished writing her important note on the board though she still remained there. It was quickly approaching time to begin so he hoped the other students would be along quickly. As fates would have it, her thought was almost immediately answered. It was not a Hufflepuff this time, but a usually quiet Gryffindor. “Hello, Diego.” He too was on the receiving end of a welcoming smile.

SPOILER!!: Rose!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nordic Witch

Rose entered the Divination Tower after lunch happy that there were fresh scents in the air and no heavy scents or as been custom with earlier professors a stifling heat. "Good day Professor Joshi!" the sixth year gryffindor greeted with a smile before going over to sit down at one of the circular tables. Rose had seen the sign up on the blackboard and as thus kept her hands in her lap as she curiously took in the coloured candles and the boxes with its various compartments that took up most of her table. What divination could they be studying today?

Here came another Gryffindor, one full of energy it seemed! “Good day, Rose,’’ Sarika responded pleasantly. Upon observing the now seated sixth year, she couldn’t help but be pleased that Rose had mastered any temptation she may have to fidget with the materials. The curiosity, however, was wonderful.

SPOILER!!: Iris!

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetpinkpixie

For once, she wasn’t approaching Divination with skepticism perched on her shoulder like a smug kneazle. Never because she did not believe in the Sight, would be horrifically hypocritical of her, but because she carried a certaine hubris with the subject and did not entirely understand mum's instance on why her and Nyle had to take it as one of their electives. Now she understood completely.

She hesitated just past the threshold, letting her eyes sweep the room before offering a polite, "Good day, Professor Joshi." Iris tucked a stray curl behind her ear and exhaled, pushing her thick rimmed glasses a bit more up before moving deliberately though the room. Her gaze flickered between the candle colors and table arrangements before settling at one of the two-chair tables near the window. Her satchel hit the floor with a soft thump, and she rolled her shoulders back before sitting. The instructions on the board were duly noted as she began getting her things out in anticipation for the lesson to begin. Her senses were prickling again, like someone had brushed the edge of her mind with ice, and she swallowed thickly while wishing she had brought a bit of water to wash down the aftertaste of life.

Sarika was now busy giving each of the tables a quick glance over to ensure they were set with the necessary materials. She was only just completing the task when the Ravenclaw arrived. “Hello, Iris,” she greeted the bespectacled girl. She silently approved of Iris’ choice in residence for the lesson; windows had been where Sari liked to be for her lessons as a student, both at Hogwarts and University.

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With the lesson time now here, Sarika moved closer to the seated students. She easily breezed through the classroom, wending her way around the furniture as though she had been doing so all her life here in this particular room. “I’m so pleased to see your bright faces present for another Divination lesson!’’ she began in her husky voice. “As you can see, the use of candles will be the center focus of today’s lesson.” What fun, yes? While the candles weren’t of the scented type, they’re sure to be quite interesting with today’s topic.

“For that reason, and before we get around to lighting them, I would like for us to discuss fire safety. What safety tip would you offer to your classmates? This is not limited to just when using a candle so feel free to expand your thoughts to other scenarios!”


OOC: Hello, hello! Thank you for being here! The first question is up; we shall continue in about 24 hours! In addition, now that the lesson has started, please do not announce any character's late arrival; simply pretend they've been there from the beginning

SPOILER!!: Replies! <3

SPOILER!!: Xerxes!

Quote:

Originally Posted by badger_boy_93

Xerxes welcomed the kind greeting from his professor. "I'm glad you are having such a good day. And yes, I did manage to catch my breath. That ladder takes some getting used to." He touched his chest to signify the relief that comes from getting one's breath back.

Xerxes thought about the question posed to the class for a minute before answering. He respectfully raised his hand and said, "Fire safety is very important. Extinguishing Spells should be at the ready at all times. I believe the incantation is: 'Ig-Nis Ex-Tinct-Is'. 'Aguamenti' could also come in handy. You should also keep highly flammable materials (for example paper, wood, fabric, and flammable chemicals) away from the flame/fire."

Xerxes tried to think outside the box a little. "Fire is not a toy. You should never attempt to eat it or throw it at any other students. You should also avoid staring directly at the brightest part of the flame for long periods of time. That could potentially damage your eyesight."

Indeed that ladder would take some time to get used to indeed, and Sarika was sure that Xeres - and any other student who encountered being breathless while climbing it - would overcome the challenge.

“Yes, the Extinguishing Spell - IgNis Extinctis - and the Water Charm - Aguamenti - are useful spells to quickly put an end to fires. It is important to remember that in order to make the best use of these spells, it is key to remain calm under such hazardous situations.” Sarika paused to nod as additional answers were made. “Perfectly said, Xerxes! Those are some helpful contributions.”

SPOILER!!: Diego!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charely Potter

Diego continued checking out the room, while thinking about other stuff. He heard that the lesson would be focusing on candles which got his thinking to divert more on that subject. Scented candles? Nope. But maybe the way the light flickered or how soon the wax melted would be up for interpretting.

Diego then considered the first question, which was on fire safety. When it came his turn he raised his hand, "It also depends on the type of fire. A grease fire can get worse from water, so while the fire is still small, baking soda is great for stopping it... but it won't fix any burnt food. So don't try to eat it after." Nodding after, remembering how his Papa was distracted and burnt their lunch over it.

Spotting Diego’s hand, Sarika gave him the go ahead to give his answer. “That is very true! It would be a waste of precious time and much needed energy using water when another substance should be used. Baking soda works wonders for small grease fires.” She allowed herself to grin. “Also true. Burnt food has no good flavour.”

SPOILER!!: Aurora!

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhittyBitty

Seeing as they were working with candles today it made a lot of sense that they would cover fire safety first. The last thing they wanted was for anyone to get hurt. Aurora knew all about fire safety and how important it was from a young age because of helping her mother with her work.

After listening to some of the tips from her classmates she rose her hand. ”There is also stop, drop, and roll. If your clothing catches on fire you need to stop what you’re doing, drop to the floor, and roll around to put it out.” She thought for a moment then continued. ”You can also use sand to put small fires out. As well as fire extinguishers and fire blankets.”

“Correct, Aurora! That method is one Muggles use, and they are taught quite early in terms of age to them. Rolling around on the ground help to stamp out the flames, while other methods such as throwing a bucket of sand or using foam from an extinguisher can help. Fire blankets, which are thicker than regular blankets, can smother flames by starving it of oxygen as would sand and an extinguisher.” She needn’t go into the details of fire extinguishers as the topic would have been covered in Muggle Studies.

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As the students had spoken and their answers confirmed by her, they appeared on the board at the front of the class:

Quote:

Fire Safety Tips:

• Keep flammable materials away from flames
• Do not attempt to consume fire
• Do not throw it at students or anyone else
• Do not stare at a flame for an extended periods as it can damage your eyes

Solutions to a fire emergency:

• The Extinguishing Spell {Incantation: IgNis Extinctis; Wand Movement: an incomplete arrow pointing upwards}
• The Water Charm {Incantation: Aguamenti; Wand Movement: Side-way S-shape}
• Identify cause of fire to determine the type of material to be used for extinguishing {Baking Soda can be used for small grease fires}
• Stop, drop and roll method
• The use of fire blankets, fire extinguishers and sand

“With these.” Sarika gestured to the board. “In mind, we will now proceed in getting started with the first part of our activity: preparing our candle. These candles will be used today as we learn Pyromancy, which utilises the flames to gain Insight.” There was, of course, the use of melted candle wax but that was for another lesson, young Oracles! “We first need to cleanse the candles, this is because they can absorb energy, both negative and positive. Please go ahead to remove the cover from the container on your table.” Sarika continued wending her way among the furniture, giving a moment for the instruction to be followed.

“Three of the four compartments are filled with pink Himalayan salt. This is only one method used for candle cleansing. Two other popular methods are smoke cleansing - passing the candle through lit sage - and Moonlight Charging, where the candle is placed under the light of the full moon for a few hours.” This information appeared on the board. “Go ahead, roll the entire candle in the salt. Take care to use one candle per compartment of salt.” There were three compartments of salt, and why there was a maximum of three seats per table. “Once done, gently dust off the salt. Next, stick the candle upright to the holder using the Sticking Charm. The incantation is Adhaero, pronounced Ad-hareeee-ro. The wand movement is to trace the outline of what you are sticking with your wand. The candle in this case. Should you need assistance with the spell, raise a hand and I’ll be there, or you may ask an older student.” The woman fell silent, watchful of any raised hands.

Once a few minutes had elapsed, she cleared her throat. “The fourth compartment of the container contains finely chopped herbs, lavender and rosemary.” Had they detected this, given the pleasant aromas wafting through the room? “They represent peace and protection respectively. Sprinkle a few pinches over the candle. This marks the final step in the preparation stage.”


OOC: We now move onto the mini activity! You will have about 48 hours for this; the lesson will move along on Sunday 25th May late in the evening. Feel free to complete the steps above in as many or as little posts as you like! I will be keeping an eye out for anyone who needs Sarika’s help

SPOILER!!: Replies! <3

SPOILER!!: Xerxes!

Quote:

Originally Posted by badger_boy_93

Xerxes listened attentively as his Professor gave the class their instructions. He then set forth to complete the aforementioned directives. He picked up his candle, a blue one. He took off the lid of the container to reveal the four compartments his Professor had mentioned. He chose one of the compartments, which contained Himalayan Pink Salt, and dropped the candle delicately into it. He then rolled the candle around in the salt. He took great care to make sure every inch of the outer surface was cleansed by the salt.

After he had finished rolling the candle completely in the salt, Xerxes took the candle out of the divided compartment. He placed it on the table and reached for his wand. He had never attempted the Sticking Charm. He didn't want to mess it up. If he was too overzealous (a common mistake for an enthusiastic student like himself), he might accidentally produce a Permanent Sticking Charm; and that would not be good. So he took a deep breath to calm himself down.

Next, Xerxes placed his blue candle in the holder and then raised his wand. "Ad-hareeee-ro", he said firmly and clearly. As he spoke, he traced the outer edges of the candle. He finished the spell and then reached for the candle, to check his work. To his delight and utter amazement, the candle did not budge. Rather, the holder raised off the the table a few millimeters. Satisfied with his work, he reached back into the divided compartment and took a small pinch of the green herbs. He sprinkled some over top the candle.

He then looked around for his Professor. "I think I did it correctly, Professor Joshi. Does it look alright to you?" Xerxes asked. He leaned back to show his teacher what he had done.

Sarika observed as many students as she could at once. She honestly wished she had more eyes! Watching her students at work always gave her great pride and joy. This is what she felt as she observed the first year Hufflepuff. Clearly he had listened attentively. “You did it precisely as it should have been. Nicely done, Xerxes.”

SPOILER!!: Diego!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charely Potter

Diego took notes on what was displayed on the board after hearing feedback on his answer. Now they'd be cleansing the candles, so when instructed, Diego took off the cover from the container before rolling the candle into the Himalayan salt. He did this for the three candles, making sure each was entirely covered.

Afterward, he lightly dusted the salt off before attempting to stick it on the candle holder. Oh, he needed to charm it first. Taking his wand he traced the outline of where to have it stick before uttering, "Ad-hareeee-ro." WHile it stuck, it was slanted slightly. Diego frowned, "Finite." To unstick it, before trying again, "Adhaero." There, much better. He smiled before doing it to the next candle.

Diego too was being observed. It warmed her soul that he too paid such excellent attention to his work, and his determination to ensure the candle was standing straight in the holder. While a crooked candle would not interfere with a reading, the woman greatly appreciated the Gryffindor’s determination for perfection. “You did superbly, Diego. Remember we’re each working with one candle.” Sari winked before stepping towards another table.

SPOILER!!: Aurora!

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhittyBitty

Aurora listened attentively and took some notes as Professor Joshi explained the activity they were going to do. Pyromancy wasn’t something she was very familiar with, though she had heard of it before. She was curious to see how it would go.

Cleansing candles seemed to be rather easy. And she wasted no time in getting started.

Rory took the lid off of the container then picked up her yellow candle. She placed it in the first compartment of salt and rolled it around, making sure to cover the entire surface. Then she gently dusted it off.

Picking up her wand, she used it to trace the bottom of the candle. ”Adhaero.” She placed the candle in the candle holder. With it secured in place, she reached into the compartment that contained the chopped herbs, rosemary, and lavender. She really enjoyed the aroma they gave off as she sprinkled some over her candle.

There, she was done.

Another student who brilliantly followed the instructions. Really, Sarika was beginning to think that she could not have asked the Universe for better students! Merlin knew how chaotic her students in India had often been. But, she would not jinx herself with her dear Hogwartians! She would hope they continue to shine during each lesson, not just Divination. “You have done well, Aurora.”

SPOILER!!: Rose!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nordic Witch

Sitting in her seat the sixth year lioness listened to her peers answers on fire safety before Rose slowly raised her own hand to answer "I suppose it depends on the type of fire, and where it is located, especially if you are near muggles. If near muggles then I would suggest having a fire extinguisher close by as well as a fire blanket if you're lighting a camp fire for instance, and also several buckets of water. If in a more magical setting without muggles then i'd use the augumenti spell."

When the lesson moved on Rose silently got excited as Professor Joshi announced that they were going to be learning Pyromancy today. Fun and cool! Listening to the candle cleansing instructions she carefully wrote them down on her parchment to not miss a step.

Given the go ahead Rose took of the cover of the compartments and began rolling her three candles in the Himalayan salt, making double sure that each was entirely covered. Then Rose with a gentle hand dusted off the salt on the first candle before attempting to stick it to the candle holder. Stopping herself she quickly glanced at her notes. Right she needed to charm the candle now.

Pulling out her wand Rose traced the outline of the candle where she wanted it to stick to the holder before casting firmly "Adhaero!" Then she placed the candle in the holder watching it stick in a up right and secure position. Satisfied Rose retraced her steps for the remaining two candles before she reached into the compartment that contained the chopped herbs and sprinkled some over each of her three candles, breathing in the nice aroma.

“Excellent, Rose! That is how we protect the Statute of Secrecy.” There would be dire consequences if the Wizarding folk did not. Now, whether it was anyone’s opinion that witches and wizards live otherwise, that was their opinion.

Pausing to observe the Gryffindor, she was only able to do so at the moment Rose was working on the third candle. “I admire your enthusiasm, Rose,’’ Sari remarked with a soft smile. “Please use just one candle for the next step, which I will explain shortly.”

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Sarika now moved towards the front of the class, close to the board once more. “While you finish up the first aspect of the activity, my budding Oracles, ponder upon this: what are some steps or measures we can take to garner as accurate answers as possible to our questions as we gaze at the candle's flame?” The answers could be rather important for what's to come next.


OOC: Hi, guys! Loving the responses! <3 The final question is up; in the next 24 hours, we’ll move on to the main activity

SPOILER!!: Replies! <3

SPOILER!!: Aurora!

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhittyBitty

Aurora beamed at the professor when she told her that she had done a good job getting her candle ready. She then pondered for a moment when they were asked another question. Then she raised her hand. ”For one thing you’d want to ensure that there isn’t anything that would cause a draft. Because that would mess with the reading.” While she wasn’t really familiar with pyromancy, that was just common sense she thought.

It was Sarika’s turn to beam. “Wonderful! Drafts are indeed a huge factor when it comes to completing readings by Pyromancy since the flames will flicker. This flickering can obscure the natural behaviour of your flame, and may even make it difficult for you to discern the flame’s colour if it does burn in a different shade.”

SPOILER!!: Xerxes!

Quote:

Originally Posted by badger_boy_93

Xerxes thought for a few moments. It was an intriguing question. He raised his hand and when called upon, he said "You will want to dim the other lights in the room so that the flame you are reading appears as bright as possible. Additionally, you will want to clear your mind and free yourself from all distractions and conflicting emotions. You could also do the reading from within a circle of salt. The salt circle guards us from negative energy or outside forces that would distort our reading."

Xerxes then looked around the room and listened to the other students as they gave their answers to the question.

Sarika called on Xerxes next, and was quite pleased with his answer as well. “Bright lights can hinder concentration, much like how it can prevent some from having a good night’s rest. Taking a few deep breaths and focusing on you alone can help to clear one’s mind of any external distractions. It is true that a circle of salt can be useful, however, you need not worry about outside energy. Aside from the candles which have now been cleansed, this room is quite protected from such energy.”

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“And now, we will move on to the final aspect of our lesson. But before we do…” The woman unholstered her elm- wood wand and with a gentle wave of it, saw the windows close and the floral curtains drawn. The room was significantly less bright now but not dim enough that it would hamper the students from carrying out their next task. There was, at least, enough light for notes to be read off of the board since the curtains next to it had not been drawn.

“Your next step is to brainstorm one question you deem important, personal question. You are not to speak of your thoughts aloud until the reading is completed, this is of the utmost importance. On the board.” The small woman waved her wand again so that detailed and helpful notes appeared there. “Are the interpretations for the flames along with a key to the colours your flame may display. Keep in mind that your flame will not necessarily change colours.” She fell silent, giving the Oracles a moment to come up with their question.

“Next, light your candle. The incantation is ‘Incendio’, pronounced ‘In-SEN-dee-o’. The wand movement takes the shape of a flame, like so.” Sarike demonstrated, tracing out a flame-shape with a pointed top though the base remained open. "Anyone who needs assistance may raise their hand.” There was another pause as she allowed time for this to be accomplished. “Once you have done so, please sit with your back straight and shoulders relaxed before taking a deep, slow breath while reflecting on your question. Slow, steady breaths must be maintained as you gaze at the flame without blinking for as long as you can. If you need to blink or your eyes begin to water, gently close them and visualise the current flame in your mind for half a minute or so. This step can be repeated if necessary throughout the flame-gazing process which lasts for five minutes - I will let you know when this time has elapsed. You may proceed, I will be around if you need assistance or clarity on the process. Simply raise your hand to get my attention and converse with me quietly so as to not disturb your peers.”

SPOILER!!: Blackboard

Flame Interpretations:

COLOURS:

1. Red: Passion, courage, and strength.
2. Green: Prosperity, growth, and healing.
3. White: Purity, clarity, and protection
4. Black: Banishing negativity and protection.
5. Blue: Communication, wisdom, and peace.
6. Yellow: Confidence, creativity, and success.

BEHAVIOURS:

1. Strong, Steady Flame
   Meaning: Clear energy and focused intent.
   Interpretation: A strong and steady flame signifies smooth progress towards your goals. It indicates that success is likely, as positive energy surrounds the work. Obstacles are minimal, allowing intentions to manifest with clarity and purpose.
2. Flickering Flame
   Meaning: Instability, distractions
   Interpretation: A flickering flame suggests external influences attempting to interfere with your goals. Pay attention to sudden changes in your surroundings or any additional signs that may reveal hidden messages.
3. Dancing Flame
   Meaning: High energy, passion, and intensity.
   Interpretation: A dancing flame reflects powerful, vibrant energy but may lack focus. It often points to emotional turbulence or excitement tied to the goal. Ensure clarity and grounding to direct this energy effectively toward your goals.
4. Weak or Small Flame
   Meaning: Low energy, resistance, or lack of focus.
   Interpretation: A weak or small flame can indicate insufficient energy or unresolved barriers. It may require adjusting intentions, refining goals, or clearing negativity before progress can be made.
5. Extinguished Flame
   Meaning: Obstacles or lack of readiness.
   Interpretation: An extinguished flame suggests the timing may not be ideal for proceeding with your goal. Reevaluate your intentions, examine any energetic imbalances, and make adjustments before attempting again.
6. Rapidly Burning Flame
   Meaning: Quick results.
   Interpretation: A fast-burning flame points to swift manifestations, but caution is necessary. Rapid energy flow can lead to burnout or incomplete results. Focus on maintaining balance to ensure long-lasting success.

OOC: Hiii, my pretties! We’re into the homestretch now! You may pretend that Sarika has alerted the class when the five minutes are up. This activity will last for three days - until Thursday 29th May late in the evening. I will be around stalking your character’s progress!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charely Potter

Diego smiled, thanking Professor Joshi for her encouragement. He continued working on the candle, ensuring everything was set as instructed before the next question came.

Diego thought about the question; he imagined making sure the candles were perfectly set and that there was little chance of distraction. A deep personal question... but it seemed like their question would be said aloud eventually. He had a few thoughtful questions in mind, mainly with family and love in general. His face reddened at one thought, before they were now allowed to light their candle.

Diego mimicked the wand movement of a flame-shape, "Incendio." He felt happy before he looked to the board to jot down and memorize the information as best as possible before he could relax. Okay... deep breaths..

Was it just her or did Diego’s face grow red? Sarika suspected that it might be because of the question that came to mind, but he - nor did the other students - have to worry about speaking out loud about it. She would never ask them to do such a thing, or even to document it in their notes. This was something she must mention after the present activity was completed. In the meanwhile, she paused to admire Diego’s attempt with the Fire-Making spell. The approval was silent but very much there.



OOC: Just about 24 hours to go, guys!

SPOILER!!: Replies!

SPOILER!!: Xerxes!

Quote:

Originally Posted by badger_boy_93

Xerxes pondered a few moments on what question he was going to ask the flame. The teacher had said to make it something personal. After considering and then disregarding several trite and boring questions, Xerxes landed on just the right one. Staying completely silent, he thought “Does the boy I like, like me back?” In his most humble opinion, Xerxes considered this question to be deeply personal; not to mention very juicy.

Xerxes picked up his wand again and outlined the shape of a flame as he said, “Incendio”. At once, the candle lit with a woosh and a rush of flame. Xerxes then took a moment to clear his mind. He then sat with his back straight and shoulders relaxed. Then, holding his question firmly in his mind’s eye, he stared deep into the flame and began to breath steadily in and out in perfect rhythm. Xerxes continued this ritual for a few minutes, all the while keeping his question firmly in his mind. Then suddenly, the flame turned deepest red. It also began to flicker. Finally, the flame extinguished itself; leaving only a trail of smoke in its wake. The smoke turned to wisps and then faded into oblivion.

Consulting the blackboard, it seemed that Xerxes had his answer. If the flame was to be believed, there were outside influences attempting to sabotage his goal. Also, based on the flame going out, he concluded that it was not the right time to peruse his goal. All of this together told Xerxes quite plainly that his crush was interested in someone else at the moment (hence the outside influence). It appears that the boy Xerxes was interested in did not like him back. Well that was helpful, if not the answer he was looking for. Better not to make a fool of himself. This was a case where knowledge was power. In his mind, Xerxes thanked the flame for its assistance.

Sarika had noted that Xerxes hadn’t any hindrance when it came to carrying out the steps and coming up with a question. She observed the boy as he breathed steadily, and as he honed in on his question. A moment later, she almost gasped in delight {and would have if she wasn’t conscious about distracting the other students} as changes happened with the candle.

Sarika nodded thoughtfully to herself, already knowing what the colour of the flame and it eventually going out meant. The Hufflepuff did not seem to be shaken by the answers provided by the candle. This was a good thing. The professor lightly patted Xerxes on the shoulder, a way to let him know he had done well.

SPOILER!!: Aurora!

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhittyBitty

They were moving along to the main activity, and Aurora became deep in thought as she tried to come up with a question to ask. Something personal would connect either to her family or to love. She didn’t really have anything to ask about her family at the moment, so she decided to ask about love.

Aurora traced a flame shape with her wand. ”Incendio” Her candle alight, she gazed into the flame while making sure her back was straight and her shoulders relaxed. She took a slow and deep breath as she thought of the question Will I find love? while continuing to look into the flames. Nothing happened, but she knew that sometimes it could take a little while to get results. So Aurora kept her eyes fixed on the flames and thinking about her question while deep breathing.

After a couple minutes or so, she saw that the flame turned red and remained strong and steady. Okay, so it seemed like she was going to have success with that at some point in time. Aurora was pleased with her results. Now she’d just have to wait and see what happens.

Aurora too seemed be moving along smoothly. This was excellent as the smoother things went, the better the chances of a reading beign completed. After all, a process without hinderance could indicate there was positive energy lingering.

Sarika eyed the candle flame with interest. She hoped that revelation was satisfactory to Aurora.

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Sarika paused somewhere in the vicinity of the classroom’s middle. “I’m afraid I have to interrupt but the time has come to bring this lesson to a close. If nothing changed with your candle’s flame, that’s okay. You are more than welcome to use the Oracle Chamber to practice. For homework, I would like for you to transcribe your experiences today. Talk about your flame, whether something happened or not. Detail your interpretation of the flames if you experienced the former, and in the case of the latter, detail what you can do to improve your attempts for any Pyromancy exercise in the future. You do not have to write about the question you chose, however.” The woman smiled. “Please blow out your candles. You are dismissed, my young Oracles! Have a delightful rest of the day!”



OOC: that’s a wrap, my lovelies! However, the thread will remain open for a couple of hours for anyone who wants to wrap up or post their character leaving! I appreciate the time you took to participate in this lesson