#setting: steampunk

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From my WIP, a look into a world where magic and steampunk machinations exist together. Here, we get a glimpse into the daily life of our secondary main protagonist, Leander Kene.

      Sometimes, Leander wondered if he was just a babysitter. And an unpaid one at that. Well, he did get a few donations every once in a while, but it was only so that he didn’t feel like a complete bum.  Or maybe because the parents actually felt sorry for him. He honestly doubted it was because they actually cared about teaching their kids the history of magic. He knew they didn’t like the ‘propaganda’ and ‘conspiracy theories’ he had about the current state of magic. Leander usually focused on doing that when he was in the streets, handing out pamphlets.

      But at least most people of the lower class understood that magic was still part of the everyday life for them. No matter how much the wretched steam tech invaded into practically everything, especially the steam tech made by Greymoor Gears, magic was still essential. It was a new year, and after the hubbub of the holidays, and festivals had finally died down, people had to get back to work. Even on Saturdays. Leander was hoping he could convince Isadora to stop by, maybe help him out a little, but she was always dead set on not really caring about his ‘crackpot ideas’ when she didn’t have to. Which was why he loved to bug her at her mother’s shop, so she wouldn’t have a choice.

      Leander chuckled at remembering the last time that happened, a few days ago. He actually managed to get her to engage in a somewhat civil argument. Of course, by the time her mother came in with a prospective new client, they both were covered in scrap cloths and weird spools of lace and leather lattice work. So he had been temporarily banned from the shop. It wouldn’t last long as Mrs. Sheridan usually loved having Leander around. Oh well. At least it meant he could focus on getting the lesson plan ready for today, even if he had forgotten just how difficult it was to even get through half of a lesson.

      It was further proof that Leander simply wasn’t good around kids, and would be terrible if he ever tried to become an actual teacher. Peals of laughter brought him out of his musings. Ah yes, the kids. A couple of days a week, though usually only once a week, Leander would hold a session that would last anywhere from a few hours to nearly half a day.

      Today's session seemed like it'd be a little on the longer side. But it always depended on when the parents got off work and remembered where they had left their kids. It was also a little larger than normal, and he was happy about that, even if it did give him a little bit of a headache. The kids ranged from six to thirteen, and they were all kinds of uncooperative. Also, this time, he had quite a few newcomers so that meant starting from the beginning again.

      "All right, all right. I think we've all had our fun now, getting to know each other and all, but it's time for why you all are here," Leander announced, heading to the 'front' of the classroom.

      The classroom really was his father's old workshop, cleared out save for a few knick knacks here and there. The front probably had the most advanced piece of tech he or his family ever owned. And it was because his father had helped create it. Leander always worried when it might break down, but luck had been on his side so far. The wide drawing board was mostly made of wood, glass, and metalwork, and could attach to any size boiler. He had already filled the boiler with water and heated it up, waiting for the steam to produce and storage. On the left side of the board, there were runes etched into the wood. Even if his voice never seemed to get the kids' attention, what happened next would.

      Leander traced the runes and voiced the corresponding spells, causing the runes to glow down the side. He smirked to himself as he heard the gasps of the children who'd never seen this before. The actual drawing board was clear glass on either side, with what looked liked to be copper dust collecting on the bottom. With a flick of a switch near the boiler connection, steam filled the glass encasement and moved the dust along, making it a slight coppery opaque colors. He pulled from the inside of his vest pocket what looked to be like an ordinary paint brush. Leander never actually found out what the material of the brush part was, as only this particular one could work on the board, and he quickly scrawled across the top in large enough letters: Magic 101, or A Brief History of Why We Need Magic.