Tearis and Kon had a small send-off group, with Michale absent due to obligations to his house.
Varrys stood next to Irrela. His hands were bound in manacles as two guards stayed 5 feet away from him at all times. His cousin had taken the fall and gotten three weeks probation due to defacing corpses. He learned that killing those who try to kill you isn’t illegal. But defacing their corpses is, and made him seem like a serial killer. Varrys hadn’t denied that statement as he thought about it. The young boy decided that he’d turn the bodies to ash next time to hide the evidence. He said as much aloud, and three weeks became months with the guard constantly keeping him under watch.
Irrela had healed quite a bit and was freed from the hospital bed. She stood a little over three feet and seemed to have tears in her eyes as she waved goodbye to her older brother. The Guild Master had agreed to look after her while he was away, easing his worries significantly.
Febrona had gotten Michale his share of the gold and introduced him to a good sword smith and had a sword crafted for his personal use. She didn’t wave goodbye, but she nodded in acknowledgment.
Backster stood next to the Guild Master. A silver eye patch over his eye, embroidered with the symbol of a blue swan, carrying a bouquet of roses on its cover. Not much had changed about his condition, but he had grown more regal and determined in his time in bed. A cloak covering his missing arm as he watched his best friend board the train.
Kon and Tearis boarded the train and took their seats. The ride toward their school was going to be an exciting one.
Or so he thought.
----------------------------------------
Febona and the guild master stayed behind and watched the train vanish before they began their conversation.
“Is this the part where you tell me that you failed out?”
Febrona watched as the train went by before scowling. “No. I’m in my third year. There are some freedoms I can enjoy. Like not being required to go to orientation or lead the children around.”
“So your taking the second train?”
“Yup. I’m also less likely to run into Kon’s stalker.”
“Kon is usually good about leaving before they arrive. Although a train will be quite difficult to escape from.”
----------------------------------------
“Tearis. From here on out I don’t exist. You don’t know me. Don’t mention my name to anyone. Got it?”
“Yes…” Tearis said with a skeptical look. “I don’t even know what you look like. If I’m being honest.”
“Great. See you in three and a half months assuming you head back home for break.” Kon took off their red cap and a puppet made from wood looked at him with an eerie smirk before vanishing.
Minutes later a tall and lean man, with black hair and emerald green eyes approached him. A beauty mark next to his left eye was the only blemish on his face and Tearis began to stare. His eyes caught the black blazer with red trimming, black pants that seemed to have been ironed, and black shoes.
“Is this seat taken?”
“Yes...No No one is sitting there at the moment. Who are you and how high is your charisma?”
“Alcaris, and yeah I have that effect on people. Three digits or so last time I checked.”
“Three digits. Three. Why here when there are other people to sit next to.”
“I could say it was fate, or destiny. But last time I sat with a girl I had no intention of paying attention to I ended up with a stalker.”
“I see. Must be nice.”
“I’m sure someone like you will have numbers like mine sooner rather than later. If you manage to stay in the program anyways.”
Tearis hadn’t been on the other end of charm to this degree before. It was suffocating, he couldn’t breathe, and he couldn’t think. So the next words to slip out weren't his usual words. “So you know, I’m straight.”
“Nice to meet you Straight.” Alcaris held out a hand.
The charm was shattered. “That wasn’t funny.”
“Oh I know. Surprised that was all it took to break the image. Usually it takes me being either rude, harsh, or apathetic, and those work less than half the time.”
“It’s cause you have that bad boy look. Those attracted to it expect those actions. Nice and blunt should work against your image if that's your goal. Or tell bad jokes purposefully and frequently.”
“You know, I was trying to be funny there.” Alcaris sighed.
“Could have fooled me.” Tearis muttered.
“Whats your class?”
“Mage.” Tearis said quickly and without hesitation.
“I see. Quite interesting indeed.”
“I’m glad.” Tearis tried to say that sarcastically but it came out giddy.
“So it lingers.” Alcaris scratched his chin.
Lesser Psychic Resistance has reached rank two. You have gained 1 Vp.
Tearis felt the power over him fade slightly. “Huh. Got a skill rank up.”
“Which skill?”
“Lesser Psychic Resistance, why?”
“Curious. Lets see what if you can get another rank up before we get off the train.”
And so the trip seemed much shorter than it was as the two talked. His psychic resistance reached rank 3 and seemingly stopped improving.
Lesser Psychic Resistance, has reached rank three, and gained the following trait: When a mental effect is resisted you gain immunity to mental effects from the creature that triggered this effect for 12N hours where N is skill rank. You have gained 1 Vp.
Alcaris was curious about that skill up. By the time the conversation ended, the train arrived at a station right outside a large campus. According to him, Almira didn’t like people powering through skill rank-ups without the requisite experience or training. So this was added to slow it down significantly.
Six towers created a hexagram around the campus. Four main buildings rested in the center, connected with walkways. Outside of the main campus seemed to be dormitories among other amenities, for the students.
“You know, looking at this place on a map made it seem a lot closer.” Reais said as he grabbed his bags.
“It’s a forty five minuet train ride and a four hour walk. We are far from the city but not by much.”
Tearis sighed. “I guess everywhere is close when you haven’t really left the city walls.”
“Pretty much.” Alcaris stated. “Well kid, you should get to orientation in that building over there. After that, we’ll see if our paths cross again.”
“Right. Thanks.” Tearis waved as Alcaris made his way to what seemed to be a restaurant. A bit late but still early enough for breakfast.
Michale left the train moments later with a stoic expression. He had three bags on his back and a suitcase in each hand. His armor was nowhere in sight a shield was being worn over his chest and his blade was at his hip. All in all, he looked more like a porter than a knight.
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Behind him trailed a sickly woman maybe a year younger than him, with raven black hair, hazel eyes, silken robes, and matching slippers. An opal ring adorned her finger and she seemed to be the one ordering Michale around.
Tearis moved to approach them when another armor-wearing individual stepped between Tearis and that group.
“The rabble should know their place.” The imposing figure with twin blades strapped to their side.
Tearis looked around before pointing to himself. It dawned on Tearis that this figure wasn’t carrying any luggage which probably meant that Michale was doing the lion’s share of the work.
“I must be the rabble in this case, since no one else is around. See ya round.” Tearis flourished his hand, turned around, and kept walking.
He could talk with Michale later. No need to start a fight with someone you can’t beat. Two swords against his bare body. Tearis wasn’t the sharpest student but even he knew 1 Tearis, separated by two blades created at least three pieces. Live to spite another day, or so they say.
“What are you doing?” The twin blade knight asked as they approached.
“Minding my place and getting away from here. We’re still on a school campus and I assure you that starting a fight would be a bad idea. So I’m gonna go, “
“I want a formal duel then.” The knight grabbed Tearis' hand.
“I’m a mage with little control over their magic. Now please let me go.” Tearis tried to break free but found his hand was stuck.
“You're not going anywhere.”
「 Master, Help? 」
“Fine.” Tearis said to both before eyeing the swordsman. “Why are you doing this? This should be the first time we’ve met.”
“It is indeed. But you didn’t show the proper reverence to your betters.” They gave him a rather scornful look.
Tearis wondered if this was a thirteen-year-old playing at being some sort of edgy warrior. If that was the case, his stats could be low. Chances are that they couldn’t use both of those swords. Still, he wasn’t going to get involved with this student.
“Help!” Tearis yelled loud enough to cause quite a few looks, his lung capacity quite large after being a musician for most of his young life.
People looked, but nothing happened. Tearis had a strange feeling that he was being watched. And yet something told him that no one would intervene in this matter.
“Looks like everyone else knows their place.”
Tearis decided that if he was going to get dragged into this, then he was going to be a pain in the rear. “Is that how someone of house Balam should act!? Accosting an unarmed student with a caster class!? Infront of a train station, when they haven’t done anything to you! What is your true motive?!”
The knight went from pale to red and drew one sword. Not two, one, and it was a bit slow as well as it seemed to get stuck coming out. That cemented the fact that this person wasn’t a good swordsman, and if they were, they skimped on their training.
Tearis who had little experience in combat, only knew of one weakness in the male body and as it was armored. So he used the try-and-true method of mages everywhere.
“Mana Bullet!” Tearis launched a purple pulse into, the man holding his wrist.
The swordsman seized up and his grip loosened significantly. Tearis mentally activated Mind Thief as he pushed the swordsman to the ground.
Skill stolen Successfully, House Balam Swordsmanship. You have gained 1 vp.
“Oh…Hop.” Tearis swiftly moved 30 feet away and watched as the noble fell forward onto his nose.
Michale looked up, muttered a curse, and moved to approach the downed figure. Helping them up as the stun faded. “Let's get to class, young master. Face has been lost and pushing forward now could end in you being detained. This is neutral ground afterall.”
“My head is killing me.” The swordsman seemed to be bleeding from his nose.
Michael on top of his luggage picked up the fading noble and sighed.
Tearis looked at the girl with them and sighed. “I guess assuming that the noble with two swords was a knight could have been seen as an insult. Not that it matters much, first day and it looks like I’ve made enemies already.”
Tearis felt the drain on his mana pool and made his way towards the auditorium, for introductions. Only to be stopped by older students who were taking care of the last few admission tasks.
“Name?”
“Tearis Malvaris.”
“Here you go. This contains your room key and number among other things.” The older student handed him a box with an M written on it, along with a general schedule.
As it turned out, Tearis couldn’t pick most of his classes. From 9 Am to 10:30, Basic dungeon Delving, 10:40-12:00 Physical Conditioning, 12 pm-1 pm Lunch 1:05-3 Magic training, on Mondays and Wednesdays. Tuesday and Thursday had 9 -11:30 Am Contract knowledge, 11:45 Am -1 pm Magic theory, 1-2 pm Lunch, 2:05-4 pm Elective. Friday was two more elective courses and then he was free on Saturday and Sunday.
“I see. Not used to this level of structure in learning, but this should do fine.”
“Remove anything you intend to keep on you person from the box. Then place your luggage in the box .” The older student stated.
Tearis looked at the small box and then at his larger bags.
“Pretty sure this is too small.”Tearis stated the obvious.
“Just try it.”
“Fine, fine.” Tearis placed his suitcase above the box assuming that this was some sort of hazing ritual.
When his bag shrunk to the size of a deck of cards and set itself in the box, Tearis decided to go along with what his seniors told him today. He placed the rest of his bags in the box and looked up at his senior.
“Hand me the box and we’ll have it transferred to your room. Then go to section one, row B in the auditorium. Welcome to the academy.”
“I’m happy to be here. Thank you.” Tearis stated.
Tearis entered the auditorium and was taken aback by the number, he hadn’t seen that many people in one place before. It was quite concerning if he was being honest. What was one missing student in this sea of bodies? Goal number one, make friends that would miss him if he died. Goal number two, don’t die.
“Simple enough,” Tearis said to himself. Aloud, which caught a few gazes.
As he made his way to section row B he found most of the students around him were rather thin and wimpy looking. The exception was given to a woman who stood a solid six feet four inches tall, with a rather thin, yet muscular frame.
Said the muscular woman shooting Tearis a look as he was caught staring.
Tearis bowed, turned, and moved on to the next, unique individual in the class. A young boy with gray hair and a pair of glasses covering blue eyes tried his hardest not to stand out. Which seemed would have worked had he not been trying to be a still island in the middle of a storm of bodies. Sure, most people ignored him, but Tearis was watching for outliers.
The glasses-wearing boy looked forward for a long while visibly trying to concentrate on the empty stage.
Tearis sighed and looked forward as well. After a few minutes of waiting, the first speaker arrived. An older woman with short brown hair and a withering glare walked onto the stage. “Attention.”
She hadn’t yelled, nor did she speak loudly, but everyone in the auditorium heard and turned towards her. All conversations stopped as the woman grabbed the room and held it in place with her words.
“I am Principal Octavia Lagrange, and during your stay here I expect you all to do what you can to learn and grow as much as you can. This academy was founded for the betterment of our country and its citizens. Dungeons hold all kinds of treasures, minerals, items, and sources of power. They are also dangerous places that tend to eat up those who come ill prepared. Almira created them to incentivize growth, yet many untrained dungeon divers die everyday. Preparation, training, and tools are what will keep you alive.”
The principal went on to continue her rousing speech while going over various rules for dueling, a party ranking system, and the purpose of the first year. The first year was meant to make you a capable survivor and was mostly for expanding your knowledge and building up your endurance. Dungeoneers had to run a lot, so that's what they all were going to do. Stats could be trained once every two days with a day in between to rest hence the splitting of mental and physical training. The goal for the first semester was to have a main stat at forty, before entering the dungeon for midterms. On top of that, first-years were required to join at least one club by their fourth week in the school, meetings could happen any day of the week so long as they were after classes, and one also only needed to show up once a month to meetings as everyone knew how busy things could get here.
“I will now pass the baton to the student council president.”
What seemed like a young girl walked onto the stage. On closer inspection, one could tell that no, this person was just short, there were also quite visible curves which were disconcerting. Possibly around four feet six inches, long ruby hair tied back in a bun with blue eyes that seemed much too calculating. She stood next to the podium and scowled, she wasn’t tall enough to see past it and looked back towards a curtain tapping her foot.
The student council president coughed into her hand, clearly trying to get someone’s attention.
Something seemed to click and moments later Alcaris came onto the stage only his eyes were heavily squinted, as a pair of bottle cap glasses covered his eyes, a brown sauce on his face and clothes as though he tried to wipe them off on something but didn’t have a towel. In his hands seemed to be a step stool which was placed in front of the rather short student council president.
The sight was quite bizarre as a seven-foot-tall giant stood next to someone who hadn’t reached five feet.
Alcaris, realizing this, decided to pick up the student council president to make her seem larger. The other new students seemed amused, and the student council president began to make her speech. But Tearis hadn’t been paying attention. As he looked at the older students in the auditorium he saw terror on each and every one of their faces.
Tearis turned forward as the student council president went on and on about student life and the importance of forming bonds with the other students. “I see…” Teairs assumed that this must have been an act to ease the minds of the newer students. The disguise was meant to lower his natural charisma and not hypnotize the other students.
“May the seven moons light your path.” The student council president said.
Tearis watched as Alcaris carried the president to the back.
“So. She’s the president. How does that work here? Is it something you vote for?” Tearis asked his neighbor as though they had all the answers.
“Hell if I know. I’m just as new here as you.” Replied the brown-eyed neighbor.
Tearis turned and asked his other neighbor, only to get a similar response if not slightly longer, and filled with swears that Tearis dare not repeat.
Within five or so minutes, they were dismissed and the tours began.