It was a while before the class was about to start but Rise was content with staying put. She occupied a seat towards the back of the lecture hall. Waiting. Thinking. She had been granted a monumental opportunity not afforded to her kin. The chance to learn magic. She would not waste it.
So she would wait. Reduce any possibility of missing the beginning of class. While the other new arrivals gallivanted around the Academy she would stay in her seat. I need a plan. She pondered. Magic wouldn't go unnoticed for long in the underworld.
Fortunately this Academy didn't teach regular magic. There was a possibility she could learn something unique. Something that could go unnoticed for longer. Bide her time and grow stronger. Before they come for me and accuse me of treason.
People started to filter into the room. Filling the lower seats first. Rise watched the various races and felt nothing in particular. Some could be said to be viscerally uncomfortable to look at. But that was nothing new to Rise. She'd seen plenty of amputees and parasites of the flesh that would make you revisit your last meal. Sometimes from smell alone. She had nothing against healthy folk who simply looked a little different.
Yet they acted self assured. Like the deserved their place here. Even before the real trials had even begun. Arrogance will get you nowhere. Rise was confident that the Academy would test your mettle and weed out the unsuitable in no time. And she wouldn't be one of them, that she would make sure of. No matter how much of a cushy apprenticeship gave them advantage over her, she wouldn't fall behind. Her hand clenched in her lap. She took a deep breath. Her mind returned to preparations.
The trickle of students began to wane as the lecture time approached. She felt comfortable being the only student in her row of seats. A large mammalian lecturer entered the region below. Arms so long they dragged along the ground. Fingers so thick she wondered how he could ever do anything more precise than chopping down a tree.
Something caught her eye off to the side. A student entered the room. The last one to make it. Clearly out of breath and panting. She was pretty by Rise's standards. Not something she was used to living in the squalor of the underworld. Pretty things didn't last long down there. But it wasn't her looks that unsettled Rise's heart the most.
She practically glowed with exuberance, a giddy excitement poured out of her. What ever magic allowed for translation of speech and body language painted her whole body in an aura of vibrant innocent curiosity. She scanned the room, most likely looking for a good seat before their eyes met. No, why pick here? It's the back of the class! Go nearer the front, you'll see better. Rise obviously didn't know the cardinal rule for naughty kids, even thought she follows them herself. Always pick the back seats.
She smiled shyly before awkwardly shuffling down the row. What did I do to attract your attention? Rise stiffened in her seat, keeping her eyes forward. She couldn't figure out why but the girls energy seemed infectious, making her own heart beat fast.
"Em, is this seat taken?" She asks.
Rise glances over. Obviously not. But doesn't answer.
She studies the figure next to her. Pale skin and hair. Delicate horns with paper thin sheets of something layered back down their length. An energetic tail wagged back and forth. A little forlorn at her lack of response the girl sits with a chair between them.
She fidgets for a moment before she settles. Before looking around her person searching for something. Eventually giving up she places her hands on the desk in front drumming them with a hint of impatience. What is up with this girl!
"Em, my names Gentle/Darkness. What's yours?" She asks abruptly.
Rise ponders. Was that Gentle? Or Darkness? The impression of Gentle was stronger but it seemed like she intended to say Darkness. Still an infuriating girl.
Just before the girl seemed to lose hope, Rise gave a reply. "Rise Above. You may call me Rise."
"Hm! Nice to meet you Rise!"
Rise considered her impression of the girl. She didn't show the arrogance of the other students. Yet she also didn't show the inner desperation that motivated her own heart. She seems pampered. But then why does she seem to vibrate with energy. Never gotten the chance to study magic perhaps? But why would such a pampered girl be denied the opportunity? What sort of world does she come from?
"Em, you not going to listen?" Hm? Before Rise had noticed the lecture had begun.
Arg! This insufferable girl! Now I missed the start! She focused on the hulking figure in the centre of the lecture hall. He seemed to be greeting the students. Rise didn't seem to have missed anything important. Apart from his name perhaps, ugh.
She watches as he reaches into his shirt pocket and plucks out a set of three pronged tweezers. Interesting. Using the tweezers to pick up the chalk sitting at the bottom of the black board he proceeded to dexterously write out the title of the lecture.
"General! Studies! Sounds boring doesn't it! Bwahahaha." His laugh booms out. Overflowing mirth rumbles through the air.
"Well that's because it is!" He clarifies. "It's but the beginning of your journey. Now as I've heard there's a new batch of bright eyed babes among my audience today."
Waving his meaty hand about he gestures to the lecture audience. "There's no set order to these lessons. We cover general topics. No details here! Just enough to point you in the right direction."
Rise feels thankful for her choice of seat. Any closer and his loud voice would be ringing in her ears for days. He didn't seem to have an concept of indoor voice.
"But this class does cover topics in bite sized portions. So being as there's a new bunch of yah I'll be starting a new topic. And lucky you lot! It's one I love!"
He turns to scribble illegibly on the board. Quite the feat given the power of the translation magic.
"Spoofing! The act of utilising magic from another world!" His feral grin stretches wide. "Those stuffy lot would have you call it emulation. But I like spoofing better. Has a nice ring to it. So that's what I'll call it! Bwahaha..."
Rise cringes back from the boisterous laugh. Why does such an important subject need to be taught by such an fool. She sighs to herself. Meanwhile Gentle seems to be stifling a giggle herself. Ah~, fools seldom differ.
"Now we wont be going over the nitty gritty just yet but we will be teaching you how to practically do it in the Academy..." And the lecture continues.
As the unnamed lecturer explains Rise grasps her medallion. It's long become clear that the medallion is a key item where the Academy is concerned. Now the act of emulation is also facilitated through it.
Placing it on a surface and twisting attaches it to said surface and immerses it in the laws of your connected world. It works either way, from your home world to the Academy or from the Academy to your home world. But it comes at a cost. A soul deep exhaustion. The flow of magic is routed through your soul of all things. As it's your connection between Academy and home. And some form of point cost that she didn't quite understand.
Hmm, I see. It also seems to be far from efficient, costing more than simply casting natively. But it remains a key part of Academy life. Used in exams and to help learn how concepts and techniques apply to your home world.
Rise frowns, her neighbour seems a little off colour. Holding her arms tight, grasping her medallion. What's her problem, this is clearly a great advantage. To learn here without drawing suspicion or curious eyes. We couldn't ask for a better setup. Strange girl.
Boisterous Sensei, as Rise has come to know him, proceeds to demonstrate the difference between magic from his native world and Academy magic. He touches upon the fact that Academy magic is purposefully engineered to be smooth and simple in construction but restrained enough so that it rarely goes out of control. There are areas marked with warning signs inside the Academy where these rules are changed to facilitate more advanced subjects.
Tension seems to leave her a little as she considers the advantages of this academy. With the little hints I've gathered about topside magic I'm sure I can learn some of their theories. While also developing something unique, just for me. This emulation business should see me through the learning process and help me prepare.
She was happy. There was a chance. She could learn magic where none of her people had the chance. She could raise her self above the poverty they'd been cemented in for generations. She clenched her fist as she didn't let a single word slip from her attention.
------
I got looks from fellow students as I booked it down the corridor. I even saw a couple of sniggers as I passed. Sorry, sorry, I'm going to be late if I don't rush! Uuu~ please no one remember my face!
Central lecture halls, central lecture halls... ah! Here! I spotted the sigh just like she'd told me. Dashing round the corner I almost flew into a transparent student if it weren't for the robe they were wearing. "Ah! Sorry, in a rush!"
"Whoa..." He called out but I was long gone.
A couple of corridors later and my target switched to the sign leading to the general class. I slowed down winded from the run. But I was so close.
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Yes! I'm not too late! Ahead I could see a couple of students enter a room. The sign outside clearly displayed the symbols for the general class. Panting to catch my breath and holding my tongue back from lolling out I made my way to my destination.
Opening the door I entered from the top of an amphitheatre. Rows of seats and desks were filled with an assortment of students. Every which way I looked everyone had a unique appearance. So many inhuman figures sent subtle shivers down my spine, but I'll deal. Nothing would stop me from learning magic.
I spot a lone figure, our eyes connect. She displays mostly human traits. Except for the deep maroon coloured hair and rams horns. She's a little similar to me? Feeling a little kinship with the fellow horned student I decided to join her. Plus she has excellent taste, sitting at the very back like the all the good mischievous kids do. I chuckle to myself.
Looking closer her horns are beautiful. They start off obsidian black at the base and transition to a sort of cracked dark blue ice look at the ends. Crystal horns maybe?
I smile. She gorgeous, but best of all, not a monstrous trait in sight! I make my way to the end of the row and begin to work my way towards her. I feel like her emotionless face scowls a little as I do. Was that my imagination?
Moving my tiered body down the row I arrive within speaking distance. "Em, is this seat taken?"
Her eyes flicker my way but her stoic impression doesn't waver. Eh?! Did I do something wrong? I'm sorry, I've got no social grace! How do you read such an expression?
A little perturbed I decide to sit where I am. A polite gap separates us from each other. Tucking the robe beneath me I settle into place and finally gather my breath. Just in the nick of time.
The lecturer seems to have arrived just before I did. It's surreal seeing such a disproportionate figure going about his business with familiarity. He exudes a atmosphere of joviality. Another aura? Are these things real? Not just my imagination?
I feel like somethings missing... A little pat around my body reveals I have no stationary at all. Not a note book, nor a pen in sight. Ugh, this feels awkward. Years of school and Uni have ingrained my need to take notes and now I don't have the implements.
I find myself fidgeting again. But not only from the discomfort of not having something to take notes with. My neighbour burns a hole through me with her gaze.
"Em, my names Mel. What's yours?" I attempt to hold the name Melanie firmly in my mind. Hoping that the impression I give fits what this body should outwardly display.
And I wait. The girl remains silent. Argh, I can't deal with silent types! Is she mute perhaps? Can these bodies even be mute? Well I suppose they were mute in the other world making a voice in this one may still be impossible...
But it's far more likely I just rub her the wrong way. I tend to dig myself deeper in awkward social situation. Where's the nearest beach to bury my head in.
"Rise Above. You may call me Rise." A clear bell like voice issues from her mouth.
"Hm! Nice to meet you Rise!"
I sigh. Thankful the awkwardness doesn't need to continue. I need to reevaluate how I interact with people here. They're not merely students at an academy. Their very culture could be extremely different to my own. Different worlds, different customs. How am I to act when there are no fixed rules to any of this?
The lecturer seems to be satisfied with his preparations and begins to address the audience. A large grin spreads across his face as he takes in the new and the old faces who sit in his lecture hall.
"Greetings!" He bellows. "Another lesson is upon us! For those who don't know me, my name is General! You may call me Sir! Bwahahaha." Ugh, he's one of those. Bracing myself for lecturer humour. As I think about it... Wait does that even translate? General is in charge of General Studies... If I'm the only one who gets the pun then I feel like fates laughing at me. I grumble to myself.
And the lecture continues. I prod Rise when she seems deep in thought but mostly concentrate on my first lecture on magic.
Spoofing... well Emulation I suppose. Ah, I'm getting a picture on how the Academy will work going forward. A little worry worms into my heart. They don't just want you to learn Academy magic. They want you to demonstrate your skills applied to your own world.
My fears are actualised as he describes the use of spoofing in exams. The choice of which magic system to use may be a choice you get to make or it may be decided by the exam itself. If I can't overcome this hurdle my stay here will be over in a flash. I need to figure out the magic of Earth. I can't coast here and slowly discover Earths magic. At least spoofing will allow me to experiment Earth side until a solution becomes apparent.
"All of this is a wonderful boon! Don't you agree my dear students. However! Lets not get ahead of ourselves." He raises the medallion up for all to see. "There is a cost. Or maybe two."
Slapping his chest with a hearty boom he describes the first cost. "First is the cost to your soul. Spoofing uses your soul as a conduit. It's exhausting doing it for an extended period of time. But you won't want to do that anyway! Bwhaha! The second cost is much steeper!"
Returning to the board he draws out a rough approximation to the currency side of the Medallion. He draws an arrow the follows the arc of the circle, pointing down the digits in a decreasing arc.
"You points will flow away as you spoof one world in another. The position of your point hand doesn't matter! No matter how many points you have the rate is constant. Many a student has wasted a great number of points unaware how frightening this is."
Oh damn... holy... I felt a pit open in my stomach. That wasn't just a steep price. That's exponential. Suppose a single turn around the surface was, say, a minute. Ten points would go in a minute. One hundred in two. One thousand in three. It was a tyrannical cost. One even the largest pockets of the Academy could scarcely afford. No matter how long you spent here and how much you saved you could fritter it all away in a moment. How long...
"As for the rate of spending." He nods to himself. "A Mark. The same length of time as one of these classes. A single segment of the schedule indicated on the time side of your medallion. One turn around the currency face lasts a Mark."
My heart fluttered in nervous energy. How long is a Mark? How long are the lessons. I didn't have a watch, or any other electric device with me. I couldn't tell the time. But it must at least be around an hour, right? I'd need to get a feel for the length of the class. Hope I can make an approximation of how long it is.
My hand clenched in my lap. Another hurdle. Another cost. Slowly but surely the way forward was becoming narrower. What would I sacrifice to stay here? Would I fail at University for the chance to learn true magic? What if magic is completely impossible on Earth? So do I just give up? Enjoy what I can while it lasted?
No! My heart ached. This was my release. My escape from the harsh reality I was dropped into. Lost in a world without my family, I was cast adrift. I had my education and I still had my small circle of friends. But the hole where my family sat still existed. And the hole in my wallet is growing ever deeper too.
I'm still a fortunate person. I have a roof over my head and food on the table where many don't. But I still felt the colour drain from the world. What was once vibrant and enticing to learn became... a fragment of its original worth.
How could I enjoy myself when the ones I wanted to share this feeling with no longer existed? But this opportunity? It felt like a new leaf. Like I could forget who I was and begin anew. If I'm allowed to. I still felt like an impostor but... could I hope?
"Well, that's about all for today's lesson. We're approaching the end of the Mark. Oh!" He barks. "Could the new students stay behind? You have a couple of choices to make."
While the rest of the class shuffled out of the room I sat stewing in my own worries. I noticed a pensive Rise glance my way a couple times, I gave her a reassuring smile, or at least I tried. She's a kind girl behind that quite exterior.
"Come, Come!" He waves the remaining students forwards. "I'd like to see your faces while I talk to you!"
Taking a steady breath I centred myself again. Show time. Let's not let this challenge beat me before the starting gun fires.
Awkwardly sliding out of the row again. How do the larger folk fit in these anyway... I make my way down to the centre. A group of vibrant students join the teacher in the centre of the hall. I try to weave my way through the crowd avoiding bumping anyone. Bodies large and small congregate and eventually I find a comftable-ish position to join the group. I'm stuck between a multi armed oni like student and some brand mer creature. Rise pushes her way forward and makes herself known next to me.
Despite all the strange and awe inspiring creatures gathered the one with the most presence is the teacher in the centre. However large and alien the students may be he commands attention. Even more so with the near proximity.
I feel waves of exuberance wash away any residual melancholy. His very being demands your curiosity to hunger for his words. I gulp down my nerves, he's no ordinary being. Larger than life even given his mundane form in comparison to some of his students.
He grins. "Right! Well, once again welcome!" He lifts up a rectangular slab of wood. Rows and rows of indents line the surface. Each with a unique label beneath. "I have with me an enrolment tablet. You all need to make your choices for your initial classes."
He goes on to outline the point system and time table as the receptionist described to me. I see the various students curiously examine their medallion. The human action cements the impression that no matter how strange their form there is a person inside of each of them. Kinda strange but also nice in a way.
"Now we have that out of the way we can return to the class selection." He holds up the board for everyone to see. "I do suggest doing a little research before you pick. But I recognise that some of you will already have certain classes in mind. Given your prior experiences on your home world. I also have a couple of suggestions that everyone should pick. They're applicability is universal."
He points at two indents in turn. "Those are Mystic Poetry and Universal Geometries." Nodding as if agreeing with himself he continues. "Mystic Poetry is the language with which we describe magic! The version taught in the Academy was inspired by works from several worlds and is nigh universal in applicability. So pick it! You wont regret it!"
Then patting the desk where the remains of a magic circle lie from an earlier demonstration he continues. "And Universal Geometries is a widely applicable branch of magic. It reflects the laws of a world and invokes their effects. I've yet to see a world where this technique doesn't have application."
Nice! A helpful lead perhaps. That is another choice made.
"So if you have an area you're already familiar with. Pick it! As it's easy points when you finish the exam with flying colours, at least for the basic exams. Then pick these two for a firm foundation. Then pick what you like the look of! Might as well have fun while your here! Bwahaha."
After calming down from his boisterous laugh his countenance takes on a more solemn tone. "There is one final thing I need to inform you all of. Exams at the end of each class are not the only challenges you need to prepare for."
A shudder travels down my spine.
"The Academy abhors stagnation. If your not taking steps forward eventually the Academy will oust you. And how it does that?"
He leans forward and looks into every set of eyes he can make contact with in that moment. "The Cyclic Trials will determine your worth. Every Term a trial will be administered. It may be combat, it may be a test of intellect, or it may be a game of ingenuity. But it will test your ability to apply your knowledge to real situations. Fail and you lose points, succeed and you'll stand to gain instead. But continue to fail and you'll eventually lose all of your points and be ousted from the Academy. Succeed and next time the difficulty may rise. There are various facets to the trials. You can even buy your way out with points. But you can never eliminate them until you pass the final and most difficult of trials."
Taking a deep breath he finishes with one last warning. "The Academy will always test your mettle with new challenges. Don't rest on your laurels. Always strive to be the best mage you can. And if you do, you will go far."
Rooted to the spot. Hands clenched at my sides. Only one thought remained in my mind.
Oh crap...