The Academy of Jai-Najan was nothing compared to the sheer size and grandeur of the academy back in Sha-Laial. Naya had thought that all of the Academies were these massive buildings spread out over acres of land, with all the gold they could possibly use to pursue all sorts of crazy things, like building the kind of clockwork that Mavec walked around with.
This, however, was a far cry from her imagination. This academy looked like a single building, no more than a squat two stories of brick and black shingled roof. A small playground was set off just a short way from the academy's yard. She'd never seen a proper playground before. In her village, the sort of games one played were all practice for for hunting, farming, or even fighting. She remembered watching her cousins fight with sticks instead of swords. It was hard to imagine the children here; with this wooden structure, learning anything useful through play.
Alvec took the lead with confidence. He held his hand out, indicating the group should stop as he reached the doors. "If you don't mind, I'll be going in first. I'll see if they can bring the whole class outside." His hands hesitated a moment before curling around the handle. It had been many seasons since he had graduated, since these halls, which now felt so comically small and encroaching, had been his home. He pulled the door open and entered. The hallways were comfortably dark, and he gingerly stepped over the worn wooden pine floorboards. He arrived shortly at his destination peering through the door's glass and spotting his target. A human woman with fading black hair stylishly piled into a messy low bun. She wore the robes of a headmaster, black robes with intricate golden trim. Alvec rapped upon the glass with his knuckles a few times before opening the door. The woman gave him a kind smile, exposing the crow's feet slowly forming around her eyes.
"Well, students, if it isn't one of our most illustrious graduates. You've all heard the rumors about Alvec, the unyielding champion of Sha-Laial's Cheese Acolytes, winners of a Festival of Blades. One of the men who faced down and killed cut-throat Crowley and foiled an infernal invasion. Meet the man behind the bard's tales."
"Come now, Headmistress, it isn't fair to praise my recent exploits, not when you haven't heard the stories from my own mouth." He said with a wide smile. "Though, I might be able to regale you with the tales while your students get to see a real-life dire wolf." The students, who looked no older than young teenagers, erupted into a chorus of cheers and questions. Alvec and the Headmaster exchanged looks, and she begrudgingly motioned towards the door.
"Alright, let us take a break and see this dire wolf." She took the lead, and before long, the two dozen students arrived outside, finding the rest of the Cheese Acolytes waiting.
"We can play with the wolf, right?" One of the children asked.
"You sure can!" Naya informed them as she spoke the word, and Echo grew so large that he dwarfed the playground nearby. The children climbed all over him, aided by Naya, to reach the top of his head. They then slid down his back and landed on his fluffy tail.
While everyone watched the children's antics, Alvec stood next to the Headmaster. He almost longed for one of Mavec's cigarettes. He'd heard rumors that they could calm the nerves, and at the moment, Alvec felt like nothing but a bundle of them. He was taking a risk by bringing any of this up at all. It was tough to say if this information would even keep them safe. He'd told his father all he felt he could over breakfast without opening them up to persecution by the Gold Banner. He urged him to head towards his uncles and aunts if something strange and awful happened. That, or to hide and use the gifts given to him by his infernal heritage.
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Most tieflings could call up a shroud of magical darkness. It wasn't something Alvec made a habit of doing. He was just as blind in it as others were looking towards it. That said, he hoped that Kavass's twisting light would fail to pierce through it. "So, don't ask me too many questions about this, but I'd like you to decline any invites to dine with Ghol of the Gold Banner Army." Alvec finally said. The Headmaster gave him a grave look.
"You know I haven't been invited to shit since I stood up to you're 'grandmother' Anelle." The Headmaster said with a smile. "Should that somehow change in the next few months, I'll be sure to casually decline. I don't have enough instructors here to begin with. I certainly can't be sparing people to go gallivanting around the town with some legends of the Anarchy." She replied.
"Did I ever say thank you for standing up to her?" Alvec asked.
"No, but you didn't have to. You were a child, what, ten years old at the time? None of what she did was your fault, and I entirely resent the fact that she became the chair of Conjuration in the Empire."
"It certainly didn't make your job or life here any easier." Alvec nodded in agreement. "You ever regret it?"
"Not for a second. I helped train Alvec the Unyielding. Not to mention one of the bands that took down the Scourge of the Seas. I'm more than a little curious about what you'll get up to next. It might help, too, that I like Jai-Najan. The gamblings fun on the weekends, and the children are a good mix."
"Might I suggest a curriculum alteration as well?" Alvec asked as he watched over them. "Anything which blocks light."
"What's bringing this about?"
"It's a long story, Headmaster. I'm not sure I can do it justice without tipping my hand too much and endangering you. Suffice to say we're working on it." Alvec replied.
"That's not good enough; tell me all you can."
"Short version. The Gold may be compromised, and something ancient and nasty is trying to return. We're trying to stop it, but there are still a lot of unknowns. All I can do is try to arm my friends and allies with ways to keep them safe."
"Is there nothing I can do to help?" She asked.
"Now that you mention it, there might be one thing. Could you contact the Academy at Sha-Laial and have them place Warren Alston under house arrest? We're bringing a lawsuit to him on behalf of the Boar Eater clan of goblins. He's accused of breach of contract. Bastards lucky I'm asking this for him. The Boar Eaters don't really understand what breach of contract is. They were ready to make him participate in Leech combat."
"Do I even want to know what that is?" she asked.
"Well, it involves a bathtub full of Leeches and getting to know them far more than I'd ever like to," Alvec said with a grin.
"I'll message the Academy at Sha-Laial right away. They'll be sure to place Warren Alston under house arrest until you can bring those charges against him. The Academies take the failures of their students very seriously."
Alvec nodded along, and the pair sat silently while they watched the kids continue playing with Echo. He had shrunk back down to horse size and was bounding around the schoolyard chasing balls and returning them to the young wizards who had thrown them. Some of the younger kids were also catching rides on his back, guided by Naya. The ones having the most fun, though, were those who let the Wolf pick them up in his mouth and gently carry them around the schoolyard as he zoomed full tilt. Alvec broke into a soft laughter. Moments like this were what he truly fought for.