Chapter 175:
The next day, late in the morning, Anton arrived in the Graterious Royal Academy. The portal, in Mezot’s spare room, was thankfully devoid of papers. Mezot, more likely Axia, had cleaned up the few papers that migrated into the room. Verona and Cetina stepped through a moment later. The too appeared lightly impressed that Mezot hadn’t filled the room with junk.
“Hello?” Anton said loudly. “Are you there, Mezot?”
No answer came back.
Anton stepped forward. Mezot’s study room was completely and utterly silent.
“Her thesis thing should be ready.” Anton mused. “She probably has-”
“Hello?” A tired and sleepy voice called back.
“Is that you, Axia?” Verona asked, hovering a hand over the blade on her hip.
“Yeah…Yeah, it’s me.” Slow footsteps thumped across the wooden floor, one dragging heavily across papers. “I…”
Axia emerged from one of the bedrooms, clearly only just woken up. Instead of her student’s robe, she wore something more appropriate; a simple buttoned shirt and long pants, the shirt’s buttons were fastened incorrectly and her pants down on one side. Alongside her dishevelled clothes, her face was too, her eyes were barely open, her short blonde hair stuck up one side where she had slept strangely.
“Oh. Hey.” Axia scratched her stomach while rubbing her eye with the back of her hand. “Mother…Mezot’s not here right now. She’s…”
Axia yawned, opening her jaw as far as it could possibly open.
“Did you just wake up?” Anton asked. Mezot’s rooms didn’t have many windows but some light came through. “It’s well past dawn. Way past breakfast.”
“Is it?” Axia continued scratching her stomach. “I had a late night. Mezot was working hard and it was pretty noisy.”
“Someone your age should have heaps of energy.” Verona approached and gently stroked her head. “You’re…How old are you?”
“Fourteen winters,” Axia said calmly. “I’ll be turning fifteen at the beginning of spring.”
“Then you should still have lots of energy.” Verona smiled. “That means Mezot had you when she was pretty young, doesn’t it?”
Axia said nothing and stared blankly at Verona.
“So where is your mother right now?” Anton asked.
“She should be teaching.” Axia’s sleepy face began to fade. Axia bowed deeply. “Thank you, thank you for helping her. Us. She’s been so much happier and lively since you arrived. She’s been speaking to me and on her own, not just reply to what I’ve said. Now she’s actually like…A mother.”
Axia raced forward and hugged Anton.
“She talks a lot about you.” Axia’s smile was eerily similar to Verona’s, in his mind the young girls' innocence evaporated in an instant. “All the time.”
“We did spend a fair bit of money on that Wyrm Heart,” Anton said nonchalantly.
“Not all of you…”
“Perhaps.” Anton ruffled her hair, much to her delight. “But how long will she be?”
Axia shrugged. “I don’t know. She said she would be back before she had to deliver her thesis but…I don’t know if she won’t get distracted. Not to mention those thugs…” Axia’s near devious smile, he presumed she was able to take some of Verona’s energy, returned. “You should probably go with her, just to make sure she’s safe.”
“I doubt those idiots would try something again.”
Axia pushed herself away, stifling another yawn. “Maybe. But I know she would be a lot calmer if you were there. You were, are, the only person that’s made her smile. In a long time.”
“That’s…A little sad. But we’ll come. That’s the reason we’re here after all.”
“So where is she?” Cetina leant against the doorframe. “We didn’t get much of a tour of the Royal Academy before we found you.”
“Those nasty bitches haven’t tried anything again, have they?” Verona asked.
Axia smirked, twirling once and returning to her room. “Nope! They even tried to get friendly with me. But I told them off, politely of course, so mother doesn’t get in trouble.”
“I bet they were fuming,” Anton said.
Axia laughed. “They were. Just…Just give me a moment and I’ll get dressed. Mother wouldn’t like me looking like this outside.”
Axia pushed the door close and the room fell silent. Anton noted the room was a little neater overall, a place had been created in the piles of books and papers for Mezot’s large staff, Anton didn’t know what Axia had, and overall more space. It was still a mess but far, far better than before.
He could hear some slight sounds coming from behind the door, grunts and huffs as Axia tried to fit into some clothes.
“Axia?” Anton called out, a light murmur from behind the door. “How did a Wyrm Heart help Mezot create a new spell?”
“I’m not sure. But…Damn thing…I know my room got really cold near the middle of the night.”
“She actually tried to use magic in the place where you live?” Verona scoffed. “If it went wrong it could kill you both.”
Axia laughed. “I’m not worried. Mother has never failed in creating any magic, of any kind. I don’t think she’s ever failed to create anything before. I wasn’t worried.”
“She must be extremely talented then,” Anton said. “But I suppose it’s difficult for most to see past…”
“It is.” The door opened. “But I know that mother is better than most of the mages here. I’m sure that’s why they don’t mind her staying as a teacher and not a Master.”
“That they’d show her up?” Anton asked, Verona sniggered at the thought.
Axia emerged, wearing the same clothes as when they had first met. Apart from straightening her hair, she appeared otherwise normal. He had no idea what the noise had been about before. They probably wore something underneath the robes, hers looked especially rough and would irritate the skin, but did it need to be so difficult to put on? Only Cetina had some difficulty in putting on her clothes, and that was due to her armour.
“I think so.” Axia’s smile beamed. “She’s probably as strong as the top five mages in the Academy. I know they’ll be angry if they see her as a Master. Able to sit at their tables, eat their food, join them in invitations in the Imperial Palace.”
“They court mages?” Verona raised a brow. “So they can get them to join their forces?”
Axia frowned, slightly confused. “Of…Of course. Many of the top mages are paid by the Imperial family, so their families don’t have to pay for all their equipment and materials. And go to war…”
Axia planted a finger on her lips. “It would be interesting to leave the capital. See beyond the outer walls. It’s been a long time since I’ve left.”
“It’s still dangerous outside.” Anton shrugged lightly. “The threats just present themselves differently. Bandits and marauders still stalk the land, maybe it’s just a little bit easier to tell who’s trying to take your stuff.”
“I still would like to see the world outside.” Axia smiled, smirking and leaning forward. “I’d like to see a farm…I know that sounds stupid but I’ve never seen one up close.”
“After your mother’s presentation we can show you something far more impressive than a simple grain farm. So can you lead us to your mother?” Anton asked. “At the very least I’d like to see how she’s doing now, improved, as you say.”
“I’d be happy to.” Axia grinned. “But maybe don’t let her know that you’re there. It might throw her off.”
---[]---
Anton, sitting at the very back of the lecture hall, gently rubbed his beard in a futile attempt to keep himself calm and not let his discomfort show through. If Mezot had improved, he did not doubt Axia’s sincere words, he didn’t want to know how she was before. To say that Mezot was a poor teacher was an understatement. He did not begrudge the students and even the other lecturers that struggled and simply left in exasperation.
Two dozen students, most in a state of boredom or a level of exasperation, sat near the front of the hall, not from a desire to learn but simply that they couldn’t hear any other way. Mezot, wearing her normal clothes with her staff resting against the wall, stood before a massive blackboard, a giant sheet of a rough black material upon which she wrote intricately detailed mathematical formula and expressions. Some of the sprawling writings were of significance, the students hurriedly copied them into books using a thin piece of charcoal or a thin dip pen. The paper itself was of poor quality, in a world where paper was still expensive students could ill afford to waste such a precious commodity.
“Was she always this quiet?” Verona asked.
“No.” Axia sighed softly. “She was much quieter before.”
Mezot stopped drawing the expression and began to speak, pointing to specific parts while continuing to face the board.
“I see what you mean…” Anton rubbed his chin. “Just because she’s good at magic doesn’t mean that she’s any good at explaining it.”
“Yeah.” Axia sighed again, slumping forward onto her desk, throwing her arms out. “But it is better.”
The lecture continued for another ten minutes, Anton had no idea what was actually being said, until a faint chime rang throughout the room. Anton traced the sound to a small black object near the side of the blackboard, probably some kind of Principle Magic based artefact. The Graterious Royal Academy was the perfect place for such artefacts to exist in abundance. The students began to stand up, only a few packed their material into small bags, while the others looked to the door. Mezot, again to Anton’s exasperation, continued speaking, too focused in her work and world, until the door loudly opened. Mezot fell silent, the chalk in her hand remained touching the board as a stream of maids and servants walked through, holding their heads high when they passed through the door, only when the students could see them. They collected the materials for their students without a word or eye contact before following their students out. The others quickly followed. It was at this point that Mezot stopped, completely still and staring at the door. A student, a young man, gave a quick bow and hurried after his fellows.
“You did great!” Axia yelled.
Mezot didn’t move, her attention fixated upon the door. Slowly she turned towards the source of the voice and smiled.
“Did I?” Mezot frowned lightly as she retrieved her staff. “I…I don’t know…”
“They stayed for the entire lecture,” Anton said. “If they weren’t doing that before, then surely this is an improvement. Right?”
Mezot said nothing, staring into his eyes. Slowly a redness crept over the very tips of her ears, fading as soon as it came.
“I-Indeed.” Mezot held her staff close. “Before they would just leave and I wouldn’t know…”
“Even with the chime thing?”
Mezot glumly nodded. “But today they did.”
“A massive improvement in just a few days.” Anton rose up. “But do they understand what you’ve drawn here? I don’t understand it, to me it looks like a series of scribbles and chalk circles.”
“Even though you could create that portal?” Axia asked.
“Yes.” Anton smiled at Mezot. “I’m sure your mother would be more than happy to explain the differences between the two.”
Mezot’s face grew elated, though unlike her previous energetic tirade she had the sense to just smile and nod. “I would like to study them. To actually understand and not just what’s written in the books.”
“Speaking of books.” Anton quickly glanced to the board. “Are you ready to deliver your thesis?”
Mezot’s hands gripped tight on the staff, her knuckles turning white.
“I-I have completed the magic but I’ve only tried it once.” Mezot pursed her lips. “And the Head Master asked me to deliver it before the middle of the day.”
“Right after this?” Verona scoffed. “Sounds like they still don’t want you to become a Master. Throwing all these little things in your way.”
“But that’s not going to stop you. Is it?” Anton asked.
Mezot nodded, determination building in her eyes. “No.”
Mezot nervously touched her nose. “If…If you’re free…Could you please come with me? Normally there are people, family, to watch and help. But I don’t have anyone other than Axia, so…”
“Of course they will,” Axia said happily, planting both her hands onto her hips. “They wouldn’t have come this all this way if they hadn’t.”
Anton nodded firmly. It wasn’t exactly true, but sometimes the truth wasn’t what someone needed to hear. Mezot actually held a smile as she took heart.
They quickly left the small lecture room and out into the Royal Academy’s grounds. Students walked about in a flurry, those with servant’s right behind, as they moved to and from classes. They treated Mezot a bit better than before, making some room for them, Anton hoped it wasn’t just that she was travelling in a group. When Mezot reached a particularly large building she stopped, a hand clasping tight on her chest.
“You’ll be fine.” Anton gently nudged her forward, receiving a worried look in return. “You’ve gone through this in your head a thousand times. Am I right?”
Mezot nodded. She didn’t ask he would know such a thing.
Well, we’ve all overthought things before. But for you it must be a nightmare to escape.
Mezot stepped forward and pushed the door open. A large auditorium lay inside. A dozen brightly dressed mages, with large and ornate Charms on their staves, waited in the centre, idly discussing something. Anton recognised the Head Master, some as those that travelled with him but most were unknown. Their robes were bright and well made, nothing like Mezot’s.
Probably should have bought better ones. A good first impression can make all the difference.
“Are you ready, Mezot?” The Head Master asked, without any change in his voice.
Mezot nodded. The Head Master almost smiled when he saw the determination in her eyes.
“It doesn’t matter how you receive your encouragement-”
Verona almost sniggered, her lip twitched but she kept herself well behaved.
“-But if you are able to deliver your magical thesis then you will be accepted as a Lecturer. Are you ready?”
“I am.” Mezot’s voice never wavered.
“Very well.” The Head Master snapped his fingers. “Then stand in the centre and deliver your thesis. Your friends must wait in the stands.”
Mezot wavered for the first time, and Anton did not blame her. The auditorium was very large, the stand would make her look and certainly feel tiny. Not to mention the judging eyes focusing entirely on her.
“You’ll do fine.” Anton held her shoulder. “Just take a deep breath and don’t rush it. Remember to speak loudly and keep your head up.”
Mezot stared into his eyes, her green eyes searching for something. She slowly nodded and moved to the centre.
“At the back.” Someone said as they approached the seats. It was an elderly man, not the Head Master, but clearly held himself in extremely high regard.
I’d like to just sit there, just to spite your old hide, but that would hurt Mezot’s chances. Petty revenge doesn’t serve our purposes right now.
Anton ushered Verona on, just as she was on the verge of giving a smart retort, and chose a space at the back. The Head Master gave them a glance, Anton was certain he almost smiled and turned back to Mezot.
“She’ll be fine,” Anton said to Axia, who was barely sitting out of nervousness. “You know she will.”
Axia said nothing but relaxed a little.
Verona folded her arms. “I hope she doesn’t crack.”
Mezot held her staff tight but she remained silent and still. None of the other mages were going to tell her to start, it was probably another part of the test, but Anton wasn’t going to wait. He stood up and motioned wildly for Mezot to start. She jumped, brushed down her shirt and began. Her voice was very soft, even though Anton was certain she was raising her voice, but the other mages could apparently hear.
“She’s-”
“She’s doing fine.” Anton cut Axia off. “The Head Master doesn’t seem like as much of an arse as we first thought. But we can’t distract her. It’s difficult enough for her.”
Mezot finished speaking, opened her hand and created the ice urchin. Anton heard many mutterings amongst the mages, even the Head Master appeared moderately impressed.
She didn’t fumble. Maybe she can get through this in one piece, so long as they don’t ask too many difficult questions. Or she falls into one of those explination trances. She doesn’t have Axia to keep her on track.
Mezot answered a number of questions before the Head Master stood up, raising his hand and silencing the other mages. Mezot dispelled the magic and gripped the staff even tighter.
“I am impressed.” The Head Master spoke normally, his voice echoed throughout the auditorium. Anton realised just how softly Mezot had spoken. “Mose people ignore water and ice magic, too difficult or not as impressive as fire, lightning or earth.”
A few of the other mages grumbled softly, their robes matched the colours of those areas of magic.
“Regardless, I am glad to see that you have improved. Not just this magic but in your teaching.” The Head Master patted her shoulder. “I heard they stayed for the entire lesson.”
Mezot’s lip trembled.
“I am not going to waste anymore of your time today. I hereby grant you a permanent position in the Royal Academy.”
He produced a small golden badge, a small circle with a snowflake etched into the centre and pinned it to the collar of her robes.
“Congratulations.”
None of the mages present said anything other than a few murmurs, but Mezot leapt up and cheered, so loud that Anton actually recoiled for a moment. Mezot looked up, tears ran down her face. She had finally achieved what only a few days ago seemed impossible. Anton clapped, so too did Verona and Cetina, as loudly as they could, causing the tears to flow in greater rivers. He never thought she could smile like that.
---[]---
Mezot had not said a word since receiving her promotion. She ensured the badge stood prominent on her chest but said nothing as they walked, she remained absolutely silent until they returned to her room. Mezot dropped the staff against the wall, the metal clanging loudly against the wall then the floor. Axia raced forward and held the staff, it was undamaged and glared worriedly at her mother. Mezot’s face broke into a brilliant smile.
“I did it!” She screamed at the top of her voice, throwing both hands into the air. “After all this time I did it!”
She danced, more bouncing her feet on the wooden floor before throwing herself at Anton.
“Thank you!” Mezot squeezed him tight. “Thank you! No one would ever helped me…”
Her normal, calm demeanour returned. She backed away, her face gave no indication of what had just transpired. Verona and Axia were desperately holding back smiles while Cetina looked on blankly, with a slight curl to her lips.
“It was our pleasure,” Anton said. “Do you have anything else planned for the day?”
“No.” Mezot took her staff from Axia’s hands, she apparently didn’t realise she nearly had damaged the precious item. “I might go to the library. Try to find some new books…Or read some old ones again. They calm me down…”
“I was thinking that, if you don’t have anything relating to teaching, that you come to our home.” Anton nodded to the portal in Mezot’s spare room. “We really need your help. And for more than just teaching Principle Magic.”
“Of course.” Mezot smiled faintly. “You helped me. So…So I should return it.”
We did also spend a small fortune on you, but that’s not a good thing to bring up right now.
Mezot held her staff tight as she and Axia moved to stand before the shimmering white portal. Axia, normally the braver of the two, held her mother’s hand tight. They had witnessed Anton pass through the portal safely before but now they were having second thoughts.
“So what’s this place supposed to be?” Axia asked. “Is…Is it some kind of special world? Existing inside the portal? Like a land on an island no one else can reach? The realm of the gods?”
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“If you’re talking about some sort of pocket dimension, then no.” Anton moved to the edge of the portal. “We come from a very real place. Somewhere a lot closer than you’d think.”
“Really?”
“Really. In fact, if they knew we lived where we did there would be…Serious issues. The impending Graterious Civil war might be averted, since they could settle new lands and focus their attentions there. Or it could just set it off.”
Axia frowned at her mother, Mezot kept her face blank.
“Don’t forget about some of our special people…” Verona said lightly.
“Yes.” Anton held his hands together. “We don’t have just humans in our home. We also have Dwarves and Dark Elves.”
“I’ve never met a Dark Elf before,” Axia said softly, frowning lightly as she understood that there was more to be said. “I know what Dwarves look like…But you already know that…”
“And Beast-kin.”
Mezot’s eyes widened slightly. “I wondered why you asked me about that.”
Axia raised a brow.
“What do you know about them?” Verona asked.
Axia thought long and hard. “They’ve said a few things about them in our classes but not much. They live in Seocuria…Right?”
“Enslaved. They’re slaves.” Anton shrugged lightly. “But not all of them.”
“Okay…”
“So please don’t freak out. One of the people with the highest amount of mana in our city is a Beast-kin. Well…Yes. She’s a Beast-kin, but she might pass for a human.”
“Her upper half certainly,” Cetina added.
Now Mezot looked confused alongside her daughter.
“Talking around the problem is only going to make you more confused and draw conclusions that aren’t true. And the best solution to that is to just show you.” Anton ushered them forward and onto the portal. “Just try and keep breathing when you go through. It’s a little hard on your head the first time.”
“I trust you…” Mezot hesitantly stepped forward. “You did give me a Wyrm Heart when no one…”
Still don’t know what that was supposed to have done, how it could have helped you…
“You’ll be fine.”
Mezot stepped through the portal first, still holding onto her daughter’s hand. When she completely passed over the stones her body disappeared in a flash of white light, leaving Axia behind. She hesitated, scrunching her face, and leapt through. Both feet were clear of the portal when she flashed through, Anton hoped she would be okay. At the very least the portal remained functioning.
"Is it just Kal waiting on the other side?" Verona asked.
"Her and the Dark Elf twins," Anton replied. "I thought it would be good to have them there rather than someone of our more exotic citizens."
"They essentially look like humans." Cetina approached the portal. "Just longer ears."
"Same with Kal." Verona frowned lightly. "Except her eyes. And ears. And teeth. And tail. And her arms and legs...Everything else is the same. So not too different, right?"
Anton smiled before stepping through. The moment the white flash receded he heard speaking alongside some light groaning. Kal, wearing her mask and full equipment, gently directed Mezot and Axia out of the small portal room to some chairs in the larger section of the portal building. As it was their first time they had suffered greatly. Calo and Sheso stood either side of Kal, wearing their silent black padded armour, a single sword hanging from their belts. Neither Mezot nor Axia had mentioned the presence of the Dark Elves. In fact, they weren’t speaking at all.
"Just breathe slowly," Anton said, cracking a faint smile watching the two scrunch their faces. "Take your time and your head will start to clear. Trust me. We’ve done this a lot."
Mezot obeyed but Axia struggled for a few more moments. Mezot, still holding her staff, placed it against the wall. As it began to slide away Sheso, with the grace afforded to all Dark Elves, lunged forward and caught it. Her eyes lay transfixed on the large gems and solid silver. Calo coughed and nodded to Anton, Sheso quickly placed the staff where it wouldn't fall down.
Verona and Cetina stepped through, with only a single hand to their temples.
"What is this?!" Axia pounded her temples. "What-This is awful! How do you do that so often?"
"You get used to it." Verona chuckled.
"Can't you make it better? Less mind splitting?" Axia finally relented when she saw her mother watching on with worry, though unable to verbally convey such thoughts. "I mean you made it in the first place. So can’t you make it better? Right?"
"There are limits to my abilities." Anton glanced at Mezot, who gently rubbed the bridge of her nose. "And this is one of them."
A minute later and both were completely fine. Kal moved to Anton's side and held his hand, he hadn't been gone for long but he did miss her touch.
"I did not know if you were lying when you spoke of the Dark Elves." Mezot studied the twins intently from her seat. "Such long ears but...Otherwise human."
"Maybe it's the other way around?" Calo offered, a playful smile on her face.
"Humans are the strange ones." Sheso ran a finger along the top of her ear. "At least the ones here are."
Sheso pointed to Anton. Her smile faded. "Not many people, let alone humans, would help thieves and pirates."
"What?" Axia titled her head.
"These two." Anton stood between the twins. "Are Calo and Sheso, Dark Elves of the Green Moon clan. They live here with us. Oh, and we're not on The Shadow Isles, just in case you were wondering."
"They don't live outside..." Mezot trailed off, lightly scratching her neck.
"A long story." Calo smiled warmly.
"I see..."
"Now, as I was saying before, we have Beastkin living amongst us." Anton returned to his previous position. "Free Beastkin, not slaves. So this information can never leave your lips."
Both nodded but still didn't quite understand.
"I'll take my mask off then."
Kal flicked her mask to the side, Mezot's eyes widened while Axia frowned and titled her head, not completely understanding what she was seeing.
"My name is Kal." Kal unbound her tail, allowing the monstrously long limb to uncoil and float freely in the air. "I'm a Half-Breed Feline Beastkin. And Anton's wife."
"But isn't..." Axia pointed to Verona.
"She is too." Anton smiled. "Things are a little complicated." Anton looked at Cetina. “A little more complicated than most, but I love them all the same.”
"Huh."
"You don't seem worried." Kal stepped forward. "A lot of humans are."
"I've never seen one before." Axia began. "I...I don't mean it like that. But...You are different. Different to the ones I’ve seen."
Axia shrugged. "And you helped us off that nasty portal thing so I'm sure you're fine."
Mezot locked eyes with Kal, her tail ceased flowing and began to bunch up behind her, a reflex when she was agitated or concerned. Mezot stood up and stopped barely an inch from Kal's face. Her attention fell on her ears, Kal glanced at Anton in a mixture of confusion and worry, before Mezot’s eyes moved to her hands. Mezot had no compulsions about holding Kal's glove bound hand, not that she was no longer skittish around others but an overwhelming curiosity had taken hold. Her eyes had changed the intense look when she was explaining magic.
"Mother?" Axia said softly. She shook her head and leant against the wall. "Every time. I thought she was better."
"Do..." Kal was slowly growing worried about Mezot's prodding and poking. "Do you want to see my hand?"
Mezot nodded.
"Well...Okay then." Kal sighed, glancing back to Anton. "If this gains Atros a Principle Mage then I’m willing to help."
Mezot waited patiently until the glove was off before inspecting Kal's hand. Her smaller white fingers tapped and wiggled Kal's own before turning it over and studying the pads and underside of her claws.
"Is this the Mage that you decided on?" Kal didn't look convinced in Mezot's potential. "Couldn't you have found one a little less like Verona? A little less strange?"
"I think Axia is closer to Verona than Mezot." Anton chuckled. "But she's just curious. An honest curiosity. But if you get her talking about your magic, she won't stop. She has quite a few interesting theories about magic. Something that I’m really interested hearing in full. But…"
Axia sighed and gently poked her mother's side. Mezot eventually acknowledged her daughter with a silent look, until Axia nodded to Kal then to Anton. Mezot's face drained of colour, sprung her hands from Kal's like they were burning and backed away.
"Please forgive me." Mezot's voice trembled slightly as she bowed her head. "I became lost again."
"Lost?" Kal asked.
Anton held Kal’s shoulder. “Mezot is going to be our Principle Magic teacher. She's a very powerful Ice and Water mage, and we're lucky to have her."
Mezot almost looked happy with rare praise heaped upon her.
"If you say so." Kal smiled. "Some of your decisions can seem strange but they've always worked out for the best. Somehow...But we do need a Principle Mage."
"Is this it?" Axia asked. “Just this room?”
"Of course not. There's so much more to see outside."
As they walked to the door Mezot stopped and stared at the roof. Her attention lay on the copious amounts of tar lining the underside of the wooden roof.
"Security," Anton said.
"How?" Mezot glanced once at Anton then back to the roof.
"More like insurance, actually. In case something goes wrong."
"Like what?"
"For someone that comes through that shouldn't." Anton smiled, nodding to the shimmering portal. Mezot slowly understood his meaning and hurriedly joined the others waiting at the door.
Calo and Sheso pulled the door open, the mighty wood and iron door required both of the slim women. Waves of light and noise washed in. Mezot and Axia were ushered out, both stopped but a few paces from the door. All the races of Atros; Human, Beastkin, Dark Elf and even a few Dwarves, walked just outside. The portal building had originally been constructed in a relatively quiet section of Atros but now it was much, much busier.
"What?" Axia blurted out. "They're-They're just walking around...I was told that they were slaves."
"We're not slaves anymore." Someone spoke from the side of the building. "And we never will be again."
If Mezot and Axia were shocked before they were doubly so now. Rasha, wearing her iron plate armour and Arachnid silk underlay, leant against the stone wall, resting the Halberd in the crook of her arm.
"Wha…" Axia’s lips trembled before her mouth fell open.
Mezot stared, legitimately dumbfounded by the presence of the Blue Minotaur.
"As I said, we have all sorts in Atros. Even half breed and mixed Beastkin. Even though," Anton winced slightly. "They aren't always that well-liked by their fellow Beastkin."
"How tall are you?" Axia asked, with a very soft voice.
Rasha pulled herself off the wall and stood next to Anton. She was easily another meter and a half taller, another quarter more if she truly tried.
"What's it like-"
"Huge." Mezot blurted out. Her eyes focused on one area on Rasha, one which armour could not adequately hide or diminish. She had lost her husband because she was lacking.
"I..." Rasha scratched the base of her horn. "I really can't help that. This is the way I was born. Just like everyone else is."
As Rasha lowered her arm her eye twitched, the corner of her lip curled up. A dart of pain, significant pain, shot through her and dissipated just as fast.
"Everything alright?" Anton asked.
Rasha smiled and nodded, remaining silent. Anton touched her arm and chanted a silent healing prayer. It consumed a sizeable amount of mana, not enough to be worrying, but clearly she was wounded in some fashion. Given her training and activities when she wasn’t acting as his bodyguard she’d probably pulled a muscle in her shoulder. Rasha gave a curt nod.
"Rasha's also one of my two bodyguards,” Anton continued. “Underneath Cetina’s instruction.”
Cetina made no motion, neither did Rasha. Neither had an issue with their respective positions.
“She’s incredibly strong, far stronger than she appears.” Anton looked Rasha up and down. “Unlikely as that may sound. You wouldn’t think of attacking either of us in some dark alley when she’s wielding a halberd. Right?”
"N-No." Axia stammered out.
Rasha frowned lightly. "Maybe I shouldn't have come. I might be a little too much for them, especially right away."
"Better that they see and meet you now," Anton said. "So they know that you, and all the Beast-kin, are perfectly nice people.”
Anton clapped his hands, pointing them at Mezot. “Now, we have a few people in Atros that have the potential to become Principle Mages. I haven’t had the chance to talk to all of them but I would like for you to meet them at the very least. That’s probably all we’re going to get done today but that’s fine. Where is Ulyaa right now? Climbing trees or spinning silk."
"I've just had lunch so she should be over the north.” Rasha pointed along the road leading northward. “She...uh, uses a spare warehouse near there to do it."
"Let’s just catch her after she’s done." Anton smiled. "I can’t imagine her face if we tried to talk while she’s working."
"Don't just barge in then." Kal shrugged, glancing at Verona. "Unlike someone I know."
"And I'm sure you're thanking me every day, somewhere in the bottom of your heart, that I did."
Axia, silently staring at Rasha, tore her eyes away but was still stunned by the sheer variety of people walking by. Perhaps it was how Anton called them, people, and not a long list of every race every time.
Calo and Sheso joined them as they walked through the streets of Atros. There were no market criers or hawkers, the streets were strangely silent in that regard but still bustled with life. Most of it construction, even Mezot and Axia could tell the city was growing at a truly extraordinary pace.
"Where is this city?" Mezot mustered up the courage to speak as the passed through the first gate. "It doesn't seem like Graterious.” Mezot looked to the sky. “I honestly don’t know. Are we in the Holy Kingsland?”
“No.” Anton smiled. “Currently we are in the Kar Kingdom.”
Mezot stopped dead, Rasha stepped to one side so she didn’t collide with her.
“How?!” Mezot looked around, her breathing grew rapid and her eyes frantic. “How are we in this place? Shouldn’t there be millions of monsters in this land?”
Axia held her mother’s hand until she was calm, though she herself wasn’t doing much better.
“Did they teach you about this in the Academy?”
Mezot nodded. “They said that the entire Kingdom had fallen in a few days to monsters, that thousands fled to Graterious and Qaiviel. That it was uninhabitable and dangerous just to venture anywhere near the border.”
“How…” Axia grumbled. “We…Right. You got the Wyrm Heart from Bebbezzar in under a day.”
Anton could only smile in return. Despite using the portals so frequently he didn’t understand exactly how they worked, or even how the most basic of his magic actually functioned.
Mezot and Axia remained at the centre of their small group, holding each other's hands as they observed those passing by. Much to their relief it was only a curious glance, maybe a faint snicker as their eyes flicked to Anton but otherwise they were ignored. Only one or two people made a comment about them, and only about their dress.
"What..." Mezot's back straightened, her resolved stiffened so she could speak. "What do you eat here? Do you have plantations or orchards?"
Mezot's body froze for a moment as she looked between Kal and Rasha. Neither gave any sign they were bothered, but Kal smiled faintly as she understood Mezot's concern.
"We have a pretty normal diet out here." Anton pointed to the weaving buildings. "Lots of fruits, vegetables and some meat. Mainly Razor Pig for meat as they're pretty easy to grow and there are a lot of them. But mainly fruits and vegetables."
Anton nodded back to Rasha. "There are some people that just can't eat meat, so we need to make sure we have enough variety."
Axia stopped, Cetina nearly ran into her. "Really?"
"Yep." Rasha slapped her forearms. "Not a single piece of meat and I'm this big and strong."
"Though you certainly eat enough to make up for it." Anton smiled, Verona laughed while Rasha's face reddened slightly.
"Not to be cruel to Rasha." Kal rolled her hand in the air. "But the portal stones mean that carrying food isn’t a problem anymore. We can just bring all the food we need without having to burden ourselves with extra weight, or have to shed it should we come under attack. Especially when we’re exploring south and east. There are not many places we can buy supplies out there."
"I'm sure Rasha loves the idea of not being our pack mule." Verona laughed, throwing the Minotaur a devilish grin. "Especially when most of it would be her own food."
Rasha grumbled, kicked at the stones with her hoof but didn't deny it as her lips curled into the faintest hint of a smile. Anton noticed Mezot and Axia watch their exchange in a measure of disbelief.
"I was telling the truth when I said that Atros is a little special." Anton slowed to drop between them. "The Beast-kin we have here are up for a little joke or two, just like us. The only thing that separates us is what we look like. Not what's inside."
"But..." Axia's gaze fell on Rasha's arms again.
"Rasha’s a gentle giant.” Anton smiled at her. “Except when she nearly broke free of her chains to attack me.”
“It…” Rasha sighed and shook her head. Verona and Kal chuckled while Cetina frowned.
Ulyaa emerged from the closest weaving building with a large bundle of white string in her arms. A fresh batch of her silk, judging by colour and shine. She looked up, quickly down at the silk, and almost looked like she wanted to run. However, her front spider leg made but a single step before she stopped.
“Hello!” Ulyaa took a deep breath before continuing. “How are you all?”
“Very good.” Verona rushed in close and poked the bundle of silk. “It’s still warm. Did you just make it?”
“I did.” Ulyaa patted her chest. “I’m actually a little tired now. I had to work quite hard to make this much.”
“Please don’t overdo it.” Anton frowned. “If you need a day off, just say so. And don’t force yourself to make as much as you can. Don’t let them bully you. Especially if it’s causing you distress or pain. I…I don’t understand how exactly it’s made inside of you but if you’re stressing yourself it won’t be of the same quality.”
Ulyaa nodded. “I know. But the seamstresses wanted as much as they can to finish off a set of gambeson for the guards. All of yours is still good, right?”
Anton raised his arm. “We’re wearing them. They’re pretty darn good. But I wanted to speak to you about something else.”
Ulyaa leant to one side, to look at their two new guests. Both Mezot and Axia said nothing, both stared at Ulyaa’s spider body. Compared to Kal and Rasha, and the other Beast-kin they had passed, Ulyaa could arguably be called the most monstrous.
“Hello.” Ulyaa waved weakly.
“What are you?” Axia shifted behind Anton.
Mezot didn’t share her daughters' concern and approached Ulyaa with the same enthusiasm she had for Kal. Ulyaa stood her ground, Mezot crouched and stared intently at her legs.
“Hello?” Ulyaa stepped back, Mezot closed the gap. “Who, who is this?”
“This is Mezot.” Anton gently pushed Axia forward. “And this is Axia, her daughter. The Principle Mages from Graterious that I’ve hired. They’re going to be the ones to teach us. Well, Mezot is.”
Mezot poked Ulyaa’s leg.
“But we might need both. Mezot has some special circumstances.”
Ulyaa raised a worried brow as Mezot continued to prod at her legs, gently raising one and plying at the joint underneath the short fur. Mezot’s attention quickly fell to the small claws forming Ulyaa’s feet, the claws she used to manipulate her thread, at least if she was still a wild creature building a nest.
“That’s a bit too much.” Ulyaa fended Mezot off. “Please? Please stop, strange woman.”
Anton and Axia coughed loudly. It slowly dawned upon Mezot how inappropriate she might be acting.
“I-I’m sorry.” Mezot retreated to her daughter, her head cast down while her ears flushed red.
“It’s…” Ulyaa looked to Anton.
“It’s fine,” Anton spoke softly. “Ulyaa, please forgive Mezot’s…Curiosity. She holds no malice but she can become overwhelmed by certain things. And it appears investigating Beast-kin is just one of those things.”
“I’ve never seen them so close,” Mezot mumbled. “Or so calm.”
Ulyaa scratched her leg. “I just wasn’t ready for something like that. It’s like being near Verona-”
Verona looked away, whistling innocently as Anton, Kal and Cetina threw derisive looks at the back of her silver haired head.
“-Or Eider.” Ulyaa chuckled. “As things turn colder she’s getting closer. I don’t think she can really help it. If she gets too cold she just can’t wake up.”
“We’ll work on that. But, since we have them here, I thought it would be a good idea to gather everyone that might become a Principle Mage.”
“Right…” Ulyaa bobbed the bundle of silk. “Let me get rid of this and then I’ll be ready. I’m a little curious about how this is going to actually going to work.”
Anton nodded, looking at Mezot. “As am I.”
---[]---
"This reminds me a lot of home," Anton spoke softly, his eyes following the small birds darting from tree to tree. "At least what I can remember."
The hard wooden chair was more than a little uncomfortable on his rear, doubly so with his bound tail. He shifted forward as Verona and Kal, sitting either side, shot him a look.
"I mean, this is almost identical to what I remember from Earth. Classrooms from when I was a boy."
Anton nodded to their seating arrangements. The classroom, such as it was, was being held in the south-west of Atros, in an area cordoned off for trees and other flowering foliage. Mezot stood at the front, silently psyching herself up for a brief lesson and introduction, to her side stood a large sheet of stone resting against a wall. As they didn't have a chalkboard, or anything similar, a piece of stone from the Earth Spines was chosen, for its dark colour and relatively smooth surface. Beside her sat Axia, slightly nervous for her mother but also intrigued by what Anton wanted to do.
Chairs, and people, radiated out from Mezot, everyone softly murmuring to one another as they top wondered what was happening. Anton was certain they knew, they had each been told why they were to gather, but none had any inkling of what it would actually entail.
Verona leant close to Anton. "That isn't going to cause you any problems?"
"The birds?" Rasha, sitting behind on a reinforced chair, followed the small creatures above. "Or is it the flowers?"
"Something else," Cetina replied softly. "But I think Anton likes them. Otherwise, he wouldn't have ordered these places built."
Kal stretched out her arms, the joints creaking and clacking alongside a pleasant moan escaping her lips. “Speaking of, we need to get our garden finished. We’re still threatening to do that but we just haven’t had the time. Over winter we might…” Kal’s brows furrowed. “But we might not be able to plant flowers or anything in winter, will we?”
Anton folded his arms. “Probably not. But we can get a few things done. Speaking off, it looks like it’s time to begin.”
The noise had dimmed to the faintest murmur, now mainly chairs groaning underneath shifting weight. Of the Beast-kin present, and there were a few, those with larger bodies sat along the edge so as to not impede others or themselves. Ulyaa sat behind Axia, keeping her legs tucked underneath her body and her special chair, more of a large stool. She continued to keep a watchful eye on Mezot, just in case the curious Graterian became curious once more.
Anton walked to Mezot. She appeared mentally prepared, at least as far as he could imagine her being, and smiled as he approached.
“I just want you to talk about the most basic parts of Principle Magic.” Anton began, Mezot listened intently. “I don’t know what they are but just the most basic of pieces. We don’t have any supplies or material. Nothing to write with so please just take it easy.”
“I understand.” Mezot bowed her head.
She turned to the piece of dark slate, gripped a piece of chalk, that Axia had for some reason, and breathed deeply.
If they hear this from me they might take Mezot’s words a little more seriously. If she delivers her teaching like before they’re going to think this is some sort of joke from me.
Anton loudly clapped his hands, stopping any hint of noise. “Thank you for coming so quickly.”
Not that you have that much of a choice.
“Atros needs every ounce of strength it can muster to not only defend itself but also to continue to grow. There will be times when Atros doesn’t have any of us, or our magic.”
I sound like I’m trying to recruit them into some sort of special program.
“And I’m sure that spears or bolts won’t be enough to combat every threat. The thirty people beside you have the most magical potential in all of Atros. I will not force you to become a Principle Mage, having a disgruntled Mage is only a detriment, but I ask that you do. If you do not wish to I will not hold it against you, but I will ask that you leave now. Should you wish to learn later you will be allowed, but only once.”
Several amongst the crowd frowned.
Anton hardened his face and posture. “We simply do not have the time or resources to deal with indecisive people. So, please make your choice.”
Anton had no idea if anyone was actually going to leave, or stay. Learning Magic would immediately put them in a higher social position, not that Anton or Atros had such a system, officially at least, but he presumed they knew it would be a long and difficult journey. So far no other Glyph Mages had emerged so this would be their only chance.
Several shifted in their seats but none rose. Mezot made a slight sound, her face was oddly happy and quite relieved.
First time the whole class stayed, right?
“This.” Anton placed his hands on Mezot’s shoulders, she didn’t jump but watched his face extremely closely, more so than before. “Is Mezot, a Graterian Principle Mage that has agreed to help us.”
A few glances were sent back at Verona and Kal.
“She’s a very powerful mage and we’re lucky to have her to teach us. So please listen closely to what she has to say, even if it doesn’t make much sense now.”
Hopefully that’ll cover any of the strangeness in Mezot’s teaching.
“So please, if you could, Mezot.”
Mezot nodded once as Anton stood to the side. However, the moment she realised everyone’s attention now lay on her she began to freeze, her hands gripped tight on the chalk. Axia coughed and gave a silent hand signal.
“Hello everyone.” Mezot bowed her head. “Since...Since this is your first time I shall start with the basics."
Mezot turned to the slate board and began to write.
"Principle magic is the manipulation of one's own mana, without another entity or catalyst, such as the Old Gods, to perform the necessary calculations-"
“What are you writing?” Ulyaa asked.
Mezot’s chalk stopped abruptly, snapping the end off and creating a large smudge on the slate.
"W-What?"
Ulyaa slowly lowered her hand. "I can't read." She glanced around the prospective students. "I don't think any of us can."
One shook his hand back and forth, signifying he could read a little but he was the only to do so.
Mezot's hand pushed down, creating an even larger blotch of chalk. She glanced at Axia and, if it could be described as such, glared at Anton.
"I..." Mezot flexed her fingers. "I was told about this, wasn't I?"
Anton winced slightly.
"Right." Mezot held her hands clasped in front of her chest. "I can do that."
Mezot turned to the stone slate. "I suppose that I should start with the letters first." Mezot looked at Anton. "Right?"
Anton nodded. "Yes. But don’t worry if it seems like everyone’s not getting it right away. This is just a very brief introduction after all.”
Mezot held the chalk against the slate. She took a deep breath, the tension left her body, and she began to explain, very simply and without condescension, what each letter was. The class listened intently, with the occasional glance at Anton, followed by a straightening of their backs and forcing themselves to listen. Anton returned to his seat as Axia threw him a smile and a small thumbs up.
As the class began listening to Mezot Anton returned to his seat.
"While Kal and I go see Sam, don't actually know how her pregnancy is going-"
"Better after the healing," Kal said softly.
"-Yes. But while we do that, Cetina, Rasha. Can you keep an eye on things here? Make sure Mezot's alright? I don't want her to have some sort of panic attack, not that I think she will."
Verona sniggered. "Better than her last class. At least everyone here is paying attention...Wait. Why was it Kal and I? Have you forgotten about me already?"
"You." Anton held Verona's shoulder. "Are going to stay here and learn. At the very least so you know what the letters look like."
"But-"
"You were going to learn that, right? During our spare time?"
Verona pouted cutely. "Not my fault that every time we stopped for the night you pushed us down and had your way with us."
Kal coughed while Cetina remained perfectly still. Rasha frowned a little despondently at her reaction, like she finally understood.
"But while I'm travelling with you I don't have to worry about that." Verona wormed her arm around his.
"There might be a time when you’re not. Or not with Kal.” Anton smiled, squeezing her in return. “What are you going to do then?”
Verona squirmed in her seat, Kal leant forward and raised her brow.
“I don’t wanna.” Verona pouted again. “It’s really boring too.”
“You’ll pick it up in no time.” Anton kissed her forehead. “Make sure she stays you two.”
“She won’t leave,” Cetina said calmly.
“Want to try it?”
Verona barely raised her rear from her seat, Cetina grabbed her leg and pulled her back down. Verona looked on in shock.
“You’re a lot stronger than I thought,” Verona said through gritted teeth. Quickly she relinquished her attempt to leave. “Fine. Make sure you tell Sam that I said hello.”
Anton kissed her forehead, Verona squirmed but accepted it all the same, as he and Kal left Mezot to begin, rather haphazardly, teaching the first generation of Atros’s Principle Mages. Anton knew he’d made the right choice, not that they had much of one, but if nothing else Mezot would be heartened to have a full and attentive class. And for her first day as a Master too.