The next morning Bill found himself gathering with other student in front of the main school building north side, stand tall before him is a statue of Princess Alana herself.
Around Bill stand many races who group together, human tend to stand close to other human, ant to ant and so on. With so many outlander Bill can see that people and animal tend to stay close to their own kind.
Yet Bill is hesitate to move closer to a group of human. He choose rather to stand closer to Josh than to those first class kid who he doesn’t trust or perhaps from a fear of being discover that he is not like them.
A group that stick together the most is a goats and sheep, they’re very vary of other races especially wolf. All of them will move immediately if any wolf walk closer to them and among the wolves, Calamity is the one who caught the eyes of many sheep.
“Our boy Calamity sure is famous” whisper Josh.
“he sure is” Bill smile but can’t place something about Calamity.
‘Maybe because his stand and pose? like he is ready to hunt all the times? but that how all wolf look too’ Bill give up trying to see through his new friend and turn his attention elsewhere.
To Bill right side is a senior students who line up in group looking and taking about new student this year. ‘Compare to our side our senior seem to be more comfortable mixing among other races than us. Maybe by the end of this year we will be like that too.’
One teacher, a white wolf, an Ardolf Bay wolf, walk up to Bill group and start calling them by name to form a several line in front of stage. Bill notice Josh and Calamity in the same line as him mixing with other 20-30 student.
Then a sound of horn turn all student attention to the stage in front of Princess Alana statue where many teachers walk up the stage.
Bill spot an old man whose robes is familiar to a grandmaster robes, Head of MAM Ministry, but his has softer color and a modest style with a mark of Princess Alana instead of The Republic of New Terra.
“Greeting everyone” a human among teachers of many races step on a podium and speak. He is Professor Osmond, headmaster of this school.
“I welcome you to our school with a warming heart. You are about to take a journey into a new world of understanding and harmony with those you known as vile and sin your whole life.”
His word cause some sheep to shift their eyes to wolf, some ant to crow and some even turn to look at Bill, a human.
“Still I invite you to keep an open mind for what we’ll teach here is a new path for you to see yourself and others in this world. Some of our teacher will even contradict each other in certain matter for we hope you may experience a way of life from a different perspective. A lesson they each learn from their culture and history for you to see.”
“Strength, will, wisdom but most important of all, Empathy is what we will teach you, with all suffering that life have to offer.”
“For we must always remember Princess Alana word” Professor Osmond lift his hand so all student looks at the statue behind him.
“We must Choose to believe in love and unity, no matter our race, God or ideology. For only together can we forge a new path forward. To lift this weight of life we cannot bear alone.”
“The path to a kinder world, A better tomorrow.”
“Venture forth now my student and may you enjoy your stay here at the city of Alana”
Professor Osmond then step back and let other teacher speak.
“CAW!, you are welcome to visit any of the teacher and consult us any time. Please don’t be hesitate to ask for help, we teacher will do everything in our power to help you” a black raven caw.
“I shall pray to Amalthaea for your success and may you found what you seek here” a Goat press her hoof together as she looks at the student.
“An underground passage is dangerous for first year student but should you wish to explore please don’t hesitate to ask one of the ant students to guide you” an ant warned with concern.
“And remember not to cause any problem, I would hate to see any more accident happen in the school before winter” miss Hellen words cause all seniors student to turn their eyes to the freshmen and fill their hearts with pity for what to come.
There are more teachers but they didn’t say anything most are just looking at a new student with interest.
After an opening ceremony a senior students scatter and each walk off to their classroom while our freshmen stand idly not sure of what to do.
Miss Hellen and other teacher approach, she cut all of them with one glance and speak “Each teacher will give you all a tour of our school ground so follow in line and try not to get lost, first line with me” She point at Bill group and away they go.
The first place miss Hellen take them is a church of this city which is just behind where they stand. In front is a big open area where many rituals and rite are held. The church itself is also quite big for it used by the whole city, it has several towers alongside to act as pillar. Inside is a big open area with three floors slowly expand to the front, all fill with chair and space to kneel and pray. Above is a stained glass that tell a tale of the great cleansing and unity after princess Alana death. At the end of a hall stand three statues where many animals are praying to.
When Bill enters inside it was like he was in another world. The air is different and Bill remember this feeling immediately. It is a place that fill with magic just like when an old core broke and a wind of magic engulf an entire factory Bill was in.
It was almost suffocating. He doesn’t like it here at all.
“Wow Lady Estellia statue is even bigger here than in my town” said Josh with excitement as he tries not to fly up and look at all of colorful stained glass above for it is a bad manner to fly in church.
Bill sigh at his friend reaction, feeling easier to breath.
“What do you guy know about each of these gods?” miss Hellen stop at a spot far from group of people that are praying to not disturb them.
A group student consist of human, ant, bird, goat, wolf and amiel look at each other try to see if anyone of them will answer first.
“The goddess in the middle is Lady Estellia” Josh speak proudly as everyone turn to look at a statue of bird with long body like serpent, giant wing, gold beak and twin tail.
“Good, who else know about other two?”
“One in the left is månen, lady of the moon, goddess of us canine” said a wolf in our group while Calamity just stand still not in awe of his nine tail goddess like Josh.
“Anyone want to tell me the last one?”
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No one answer
“Come on little lamp this is your god speak his name for us” miss Hellen look at the goat and sheep who stand packed in tight group and decide to pick one out since no lamb have courage to step up.
“You” a goat who was pointed at startle and got pushed out by the group.
Standing alone from other goat Bill can see that she is a sheep ‘wait she have horn? Maybe she a goat?’ he is as confuse as Josh and Calamity.
“Erm on the right is our god Amalthaea, king of all gods” her word anger other student and cause them to show a clear hostility toward her with growling; Even Josh narrow his eye. Making her flinch back in fear.
“Yes, all god here is a god of all god. You don’t have to believe in them but you should know their name and other race religion.” miss Hellen look at student who is making noise to make them stop before turn her eyes to Bill and other human.
“Do you know why there are only 3 god in here?”
“Because we ant don’t believe in god. Only our queen” one of the ant answer plainly caught Hellen eye for a moment. She is a fire ant.
“Yes, some race don’t believe in god and some of human are the same. They have many belief from the old time so we agree with their government to not put any of them as the main god of their race in here.”
For Bill he never even heard of these 3 name before except Lady Estellia whom Josh mentioned, in New Terra human still pray to many gods and many religion of the old world that mix together, maybe there was a time some religion was believed by many but after mankind was almost wipe out people just stop praying. Now they turn to The governor and Grandmaster, our leader who save mankind from the great cleansing.
Everyone eyes now turn to the only amiel in our group.
“Would you like to do the honor?” miss Hellen invite him to speak.
“We amiel are able to see magic and understand the truth that bind all life, for us our god is not any one entity but a force that connected to everything, all thing come through him, some just refer to it as him, God or the eternal one. We do not pray but rather channel magic to connect to him and all life that permeate us. For we’re all only are here for brief moment so each of us must find our path...”
Miss Hellen hold her hand up to interrupt him. “There will be more time in class about detail later for now we must move on” she see that he might try explain everything which will be too long so she stop him, after all he already answer what she wanted other student to hear.
He nod to miss Hellen gesture but look irritate that he got interrupted.
Miss Hellen’s group then carry on to the building on the right side of the church, Magus ,a magician practice ground.
Inside building was divided into many room for practice all kind of magic. A pond of water, meditate room, fire pit, aerial obstacle course on rooftop, shooting range etc. These room are also fill with plant and object of power that help accumulate magic in the air. Even more unpleasant to Bill than his short time in church, He swore never coming back here again if possible.
Later at a giant stadium in south east. Bill and classmate is standing around seating area looking down on green grass below while Josh and other birds fly up to try a perch stand above.
“The stadium is used for many purposes” miss Hellen explains “In normal time We use this place for our PE class and a wolf usually use it for practice their physical strength and martial arts, but we also have all kind of equipment for all sport here so feel free to contact our staff and borrow them anytime.”
She then cast an ice pick out of thin air without utter a single word toward the field below which suddenly shatter when it hit an invincible wall “There’s a magical barrier surround area below for our safety because there’s a Numenus that held at the end of each month so don’t try to jump or fly down from here”
‘That word again should I ask her what it mean? Or will I just embarrass myself?’ Bill think and then decide he will just ask Josh at later time.
“What a Numenus?” the same fire ant from before ask miss Hellen putting Bill mind at ease.
“A Numenus is a challenge to a duel from wolf culture, in the old day it’s a battle to death when a matter of state or honor can’t be decide with word. But after the great cleansing they agree to allow this challenge to expand to other race while remove “To death” part.”
“A duel? Can we challenge anyone?” a fire ant ask further.
“Anyone, but they have to accept it willingly”
“Hm, I want to try it” she look around and spot an interesting target “Hey Goldie!” a fire ant point her antennae at the Amiel “I Amy Ante Formicidia, challenge you to a Numenus”
He simply replied “No”
“Afraid already? And here I thought men of Amiel would have more valor”
“I don’t care for wolf honor nor like to waste time on the weak” he speak plainly.
“You!” His replied manage to angry both her and all wolfs here at the same time. Although Calamity is the only one who isn’t react.
“Enough” a cold wind blow past all student here. For a moment some wolf remember their home in the north.
“What did I say about causing problem?” miss Hellen snuff all the heat in one blow and order them to gather in line and leave the stadium.
“Since you all seem so eager I will be sure to train all of you very hard in my class” miss Hellen said as they walk out causing everyone to look at Amy and their one Amiel with loathe.
Except for Bill who is busy looking forward to their next destination.
MAM workshop.
‘It here, it’s finally here’
All Bill life the closest he get to work on magic is scrapping machine of the old world and broken MAM from city above. Rarely do object of power or a core get pass down to a lower part of the city where he live and work. And When it does happen it's more likely than not that it will result in accident where a lot of people suffer. Modify his own MAM is fun sure but without a core it just a useless heavy glove.
For human even if magic is poisonous to them but magic is still magic. No human will ever pass on his chance to get his hand on one. To wield it in his hand, to command it with his will, these power that end mankind great civilization.
Today he will finally set foot in a building where all component of MAM come together from all of over the world to make MAM and its core.
From the front MAM workshop is a big circular shape building where many trucks are park in the back and staff can be seen loading and unload a material that necessary to make MAM. As Bill enter the front entrance he noticed a path inside is also a curve with some intersection and sign to help navigate. All room are shield with enhance glass so no magic can escape in case of accident. In the back is a forge to melt and make all kind of metal, all use giant MAM machine and magic to help heat, mold and cast. Some room upstairs are more large than other which are used for teaching. There are also a small shooting range to test MAM effect but most MAM are only use for emit small magic to power electronic so there’re many wires connected to a testing machine to measure output power.
In the middle of the building on the first floor is a giant mercury ball floating in the air behind glass, it connect to every room and has an auto ventilation system which get activate every day to clear any magic in the air for the health of all student and worker here.
“This thing suck all the magic away no wonder the air in here is so bad” the Amiel in our group complain.
‘I think the air is great though, they even has an air conditioning’ Bill look at air conditioning with joy imagine his whole life working in a cool room with this thing turn on all day.
What more could he ask for?
Finally they return to the main building and slowly walk up the stair. It might not be too bad if they didn’t already spent few hours walking around every building in a school.
“Mi..miss hellen can we take a break for a moment?” a human plea for a minute of rest which everyone agree with.
Seem disapprove but miss Hellen allow it “fine, there is not must left to see any way just remember that teacher and headmaster room is on eighth and ninth floor go there if you want teacher help. Now I will leave you guy to explore on your own so go get lunch at canteen and come to your class at 1 P.M. Try not to go underground level yet, it like a maze down there” Miss Hellen then left the library.
But at that moment Bill feel a cold wind in his right ear, it seem miss Hellen want him to follow so when everyone start to scatter around the library Bill took his chance and left the library without anybody noticing.
“Do you have money for lunch?” miss Hellen ask frankly.
Bill embarrass to death that he doesn’t even have money to buy a meal on his own lower his head.
‘I can’t tell her I plan to pickpocket in the street today right?’
She then hand him a pocket with several coins in it.
“Miss Hellen this...”
“Just take it, you can repay me with some work later.”
“Thank you so much sir” Bill bow his head repeatedly.
“I already tell Roy about your situation. He’ll help you get a part time job at MAM workshop so don’t forget to go and thank him too”
“Thank you miss Hellen I wouldn’t know what to do without you” Bill is filling with joy like never before in his life. Now he might actually get to finish a few class before getting arrest.
‘Amiel is so nice and kind unlike those rumor at all’
“Just pay attention in class and don’t cause any problem then you’ll be fine.” seeing Bill about to cry she quickly left the scene. If any of her colleague see this she will never hear the end of it.
Standing alone with growling stomach Bill look at money in his hand and headed to canteen.