Joel Sand

**Joel Sand** is a professional brewer and Alchemy teacher, who is also known for being Landon Sand's father.

## About

"*Yeah I still got it. Of course I've still got it! I just, I left it in my box.*"
—Joel to Ashley concerning an engagement ring.
Joel is awkward and an oddball, an individual who always seems to have missed a detail or forgotten something important. He has an incredible theatrical energy, seen when he introduced his son to magic and upon teaching his first Alchemy classes. Despite his skewed nature, he supports his son unconditionally, and in serious moments proves himself to be a compassionate person.

Joel Sand likes to wear a red diamond-patterned sweater as well as a jacket, which draws confused stares from passers-by. He has a strikingly large nose, a trait shared with his son Landon, and furthermore is considerably tall.

Joel is asexual and proud of that fact. After learning about the asexual flag, he hung one up in his quarters, and the other in his classroom office.[?] It is not known whether he is as knowledgeable about his romantic orientation as he is his asexuality. Beyond this, he also has other sentimental possessions, such as a box containing an engagement ring.[?]

## History

### Early Years and Career

Joel was born in New Zealand in 1977, and grew up with his brother Jason. At some point, he learnt that he had the gift of magic, while Jason did not. Joel drifted apart from his brother during his time studying magic, with Jason growing resentful at how Joel's secret life suddenly took precedent despite being told nothing about it.[?]

Eventually, following a job offer abroad, Joel moved to a small town in the United States where he met and frequently spoke to Ashley Wood, a girl who he would later enter a relationship with.

Joel and Ashley had Landon in 1996, and they attempted to have another child named Willow in 2000. Shortly before he planned to propose, Ashley unexpectedly died having a miscarriage, which he was there to witness.[?]

Joel spent most of Landon's childhood travelling around the United States.[?]

### Moving back to New Zealand

Over the years, Joel had thought of returning to New Zealand to reconnect with his family, a plan that was acted upon with the untimely death of his sister-in-law. He moved to Alexandra to become caregiver for his niece Lesley as her father was absent, and also worked as a brewer, mass-brewing potions for use by his employer. In his own time, he experimented with potioneering in his study.

He and Landon kept an indoor garden together.

### Teaching at Makutu Kura

See Also: 2011 School Year

Joel missed Landon immensely during his first year at Makutu Kura, and when Lesley was set to attend as well, he began looking for a way to remain connected with his son and niece. This led him to discover that the current Alchemy professor's only reason for continued employment was that there were no other candidates who were willing to teach. After a hearty "what could go wrong", Joel applied and became Alchemy professor.

Joel took some time to properly settle into his new job; he reportedly arrived to his first ever class covered in mud after slipping over, and was unsure of when to allow students to ask questions. He would come to enjoy the position greatly, and was happy to have chats to students after class or during off hours.[?]

Towards the end of the year, Joel's workload increased considerably as students of all years dealt with more advanced brews on a more frequent basis. He was also stressing over the legal process to officially have custody over his niece, as his brother had learnt that he was in the country, and was furiously contesting the request. Joel began to question whether he was alright when he saw his late partner Ashley standing in his quarters, but resolved to finish the school year before dealing with the issues properly.[?]

Near the end of the year, the asexual flag in his office drew the attention of second-year Ruby Hunt, who privately asked him what it meant as she had cause to question her own identity. Joel obliged with a brief overview of the orientation in general, but gently refused to talk about Ruby's specific experiences, wishing her well with figuring things out herself.[?]

While supervising the Year 2 Alchemy exam, Joel was simultaneously preparing a potion for another year's final class. He collapsed in exhaustion, accidentally casting a spell which made his cauldron explode. Amidst the panic of the class, Ashley's ghost was visible to some students. Although no students were harmed, Joel was hospitalised for a month. During his stay, he had consistent dreams and visions of him and Ashley in an endless room, talking in-between three peculiar statues.

See Also: 2012 School Year

By the start of the 2012 school year, Joel had recovered enough to teach again, but was noticeably more cautious in his classroom.[?]

See Also: 2014 School Year

In the midst of an unprecedented snowstorm at school, Joel discovered a mysterious black ring on his desk, which he wore on his right middle finger. Thereafter he would occasionally disappear from school grounds, returning in time to teach classes or do patrol duty.

## Other

### Trivia

* Based on Joel Sand's birth year, his son Landon was born when he was 19 years of age.
* Joel has poor handwriting.
* He also isn't very good with spells.

### References

1. ↑  "Chapter 1" - *Landon's Story*
2. ↑ 20/08/2019 - "Joel Sand" - *Practice Fic*
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 24/1/22 - "Sand 2" - *Practice Fic*
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4  "Chapter 2" - *Landon's Story*
19/9/21 - "Jason Sand" - *Practice Fic*
6. ↑ 8/7/2021 - "Joel and The Statues" - *Practice Fic*