The University
Taenya wasn't very impressed by The University when she arrived. So much for a place of great learning, to her eyes it was just a ramshackle collection of buildings, some of them in active decay. She even spotted one that was very clearly missing large portions of a wall!
Brushing past some students, she spotted a noticeboard haphazardly leaning against another building and walked over to it. Like everything else, it was poorly maintained and it had just been leaned against the wall instead of being properly constructed, but it was at least at a readable height.
"A Creation Magic Professor?" Taenya read out loud. Well I can do that, she thought to herself. "Please inquire with... Lord Xilro? I know that name, I'm sure I do."
Deciding she wasn't in a hurry, Taenya decided to do some sightseeing of The University. Walking around the various buildings, she took note of various symbols on the buildings, and soon realized what she assumed were run down buildings were actually the explosive results of the various offensive casting schools of magic, after noticing the Fire Magic Lecture Hall was being hastily re-built to shouting from a bald black man.
"No! That go second floor!" He yelled at a pair of students about to put a large cumbersome idol into a first floor room through a window. "Idol belong Professor Stalz!"
Taenya decided it was none of her business and moved along, wanting to visit the creation magic department. Looking at a map, she was shocked to see how far away it was, nearly an hour's walk from where she currently was.
"But why?" She moaned slightly.
Following signs, Taenya walked along a path that very quickly emptied out of students and indeed anyone else. Along the edge of the forest, she stopped to listen to the spirits, to see what they had to say.
"The root of obsession." The spirits whispered to her, much to her confusion.
"Obsession?" She asked back, to which she got no reply. "What does that even mean?"
"Don't see many spirit talkers this far south." A voice from behind her said, causing her to whirl around. Standing on the path was a older human man wearing gardening clothes and holding a spade. "Sorry if I startled you. Name's Barnaby, I'm the gardener of The University for a little while longer yet."
"Ah! Uhhh, I'm Taenya." Taenya replied, slightly flustered. "I was just heading over to the creation magic buildings."
"Well come along then, I'm heading there myself." Barnaby said, gesturing and starting to walk down the path again. "So what brings you to Dragonpost?"
"Escaping my family's past, I suppose." Taenya said, trying to be accurate yet vague. She wasn't sure she could trust this man yet.
"And what a past it was, wasn't it?" Barnaby replied, giving a knowing smile.
"Not sure what you mean." Taenya replied, deflecting his question. "What did you mean by a little while longer?"
"Look at me, I'm getting old." Barnaby said, gesturing at himself as they walked. "I'm already over 70, time for a new generation to take up the spade, as it were."
"You got anyone in mind?" Taenya asked as they walked.
"Not yet. What about you? You any good?" Barnaby asked, a twinkle in his eye.
"Am I any good?" Taenya asked incredulously. "Sir I am an elven gardener!"
By this time the Creation Magic buildings were in sight, along with their impressive gardens, and Barnaby had an idea which he made known to Taenya.
"Show me." He said, pointing at the gardens. "I'm constantly watering these plants and giving them the best food, but they wither almost in defiance of me."