Most of the students got out by the third layer, leaving Yuriko and the others alone in the cable carriage by the time they crossed the fourth level. Now that they were close, Yuriko could see that the volcano was terraced, allowing each layer to be level. From a distance, the way the mountain was cut concealed the terracing and hid the smaller buildings from below.

Soon enough, they alighted from the carriage and walked towards Niria Hall which was only a hundred paces or so from the platform station. Yuriko spread her Anima perception, though she kept it as thin as possible and avoided pressing down on any of the Magi. Even so, she felt a few people twitch and look over their shoulders, evidently feeling the weight of her gaze. Still, she did get a better view of the surroundings.

The fifth layer of the academy wasn’t as simple as it appeared on the surface. Yuriko detected several runescript wards inlaid in the ground. In fact, she had an inkling that the way the paths were laid out, as well as the ornaments and other landmarks, were part of the greater whole. A warding that covered the volcano and the campus grounds.

Yes, the runescript formation was writ large on the volcano’s slopes. Yuriko could only see one of the Great Runescript patterns within her reach, and it was easy enough to decipher what it meant.

Restrict.

She pursed her lips as she considered the pattern. Restrict. It had a broad meaning and an equally broad application. Actually, she felt that, without any direction, the pattern would apply its effects to everyone and everything equally and it would require an equally massive power source. She supposed that the smaller elements served to limit and direct the runescript formation’s application and breadth. The badge she and the others wore probably protected them from its effects, too, otherwise she would have already felt its effects instead of simply noticing them…

No, she was already feeling it, otherwise she wouldn’t have noticed. There was a slight pressure at the edges of her Anima reach. It was weak but that was because of the guest badge. She was sure that should she and the others prove hostile, the formation would do its best to oppress them. An interesting method of defense and something she’d never encountered back home, or even in Realmheart.

At the Capitol plane, the Empress had taken total control of the Veil. There was no leaving the plane without permission and entrance would be similarly prohibited. As for controlling everything within the plane, Yuriko didn’t know if that was even possible. Or rather, she didn’t know what it would take to make it possible. Chaos has infinite potential.

Niria Hall looked big, but that was deceptive, Yuriko realised. More of the building was buried in the mountainside, making it nearly impossible to tell how big it really was. Or if there were underground passages and layers to the academy too. It was certainly more than can be seen by the naked eye.

Cillian led them into Niria Hall where they were met by a pretty woman with blue hair and eyes, as well as long, blue-furred ears rising above her head much like a rabbit. Cillian bowed and said, “Lady Ferron, may I present Lady Yuriko Davar, Lady Gwendith Sharine, and Lord Heron Muryh? Lord and Ladies, this is Lady Blanca Ferron, Secretary of the Office of the Dean, for the Academy of Elemental Mastery.”

“A pleasure to meet you,” Blanca Ferron said as she stepped up to hold her hand out. Yuriko remembered the custom of handshaking as a greeting, though it wasn’t used much in the Empire. She thought it was more prevalent in the Coalition of Independent Planes. Cillian and Captain Aeyra did not greet in such a manner, and neither did the Adventurers’ Guildsmen. Still, there was nothing lost to being polite.

“The pleasure is mine,” Yuriko said as she clasped Blanca’s hand. She kept her Anima contained, though the woman’s grasp lingered. The rabbitkin woman’s hand was nearly identical to a human’s except that her nails felt a bit tougher and sharper. Though it wasn’t that sharp, even when the woman surreptitiously rubbed her finger against Yuriko’s palm, and scraped the tip of her nail against her skin.

Blanca Ferron’s grin stiffened for a moment, but she recovered quickly as she offered her handshake to Gwendith and Heron.

“I believe our upcoming talk would be better served if Lady Davar and her companions have a better idea of what the Academy stands for, and how we raise the next generation of fine Magi,” Blanca said. “How about I give all of you a tour of the facilities and the chance to observe some of the ongoing classes?”

“That would be nice,” Yuriko agreed.

“Well, then, this way. Lieutenant Coinoch,” Blanca looked at Cillian, “your mission is complete.”

Cillian nodded and bowed to Blanca, then to Yuriko, “Lady Davar, it has been a pleasure to accompany you here. It is time for me to return to my command.”

Yuriko nodded. “Thank you for guiding us, Cillian.” With that, the young lieutenant turned about and marched towards the cable lift.

“Please follow me,” Blanca said.

The rabbitkin turned around and Yuriko’s gaze was immediately drawn to the little fluff of a tail that stuck out of the woman’s skirt. It even wiggled slightly! Gwendith nudged Yuriko’s side, and they followed after the modestly dressed Magus.

“This fifth layer, the outer layer, contains many buildings that house faculty and staff, as well as records of our students, and the Academy’s Grand Library,” Blanca said. “From Lieutenant Coinoch, we know that you’re most interested in that one.”

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

“Hmmm, that’s true, somewhat,” Yuriko said, “but only as a means to an end.”

“Ah, yes, portology.” The woman shrugged. “Such knowledge is scarce simply because the ancient causeways had long been built and used. If you wish to travel quickly to any place within Arcadia, then you can activate a Gate, however, the cost of doing so is rather prohibitive.”

“So we’ve heard,” Gwendith answered.

“Well, let’s go down to the other layers first,” Blanca said with a small grin. “I’m eager to show you our students and our program. Perhaps you’d share your thoughts on our methodologies.”

“Hmmm.” Yuriko hummed as she walked beside the secretary. Heron and Gwendith followed behind her. “Where to start then?”

“The fourth layer is where our students train and fight against golems,” Blanca said. “In preparation to battle Chaos Fount monsters, Twisted Beasts, and soldier Magi. Come, the third training arena is scheduled to host Battle Magi periodicals.”

It took less than ten minutes to walk from Niria Hall, down the stairs, and towards the arena, which was a building sunk into the ground. It was a large oval building, with the parts raised above the layer being the spectators’ seating. The lowest level of bleachers was full of students, and there were teachers on one of the platforms overlooking the battle area.

The area was at least two hundred paces long, and about fifty wide. The ground was hard-packed dirt, and the ground was littered with boulders, half walls, and ridges. The fight was just about to begin and a group of four students were on the left side of the arena. All four of them were girls, half of them in half robes, while the other two wore padded coats that had metal plates sewn on the torso. The ones in armour carried rapiers, while the two in robes carried arm-length wands. Yuriko saw the wands and the rapiers had runescript patterns inlaid on their surfaces.

The gate on the other side of the arena opened and a dozen humanoid figures came out. They looked like a dressmaker’s mannequin, made completely out of wood. Three carried large shields, another three carried spears, and the last six carried short bows and arrows.

“Begin!” the teacher on the platform yelled.

The students ran for one of the boulders a dozen paces from their gate while the wooden golems formed up. The six with shields and spears began marching for the other gate, while the archers clambered up a couple of boulders and a wide log and aimed with their weapons. The archers let loose before the girls managed to get under cover, and the arrows surprisingly crossed the distance easily.

One of the rapier wielders, who had red hair, swished her weapon and a circle of solidified air appeared above her head. Yuriko didn’t notice the girl making any somatic gestures, though she was sure the spell was an empowered version of Ward. The arrows plinked and bounced off the barrier, which lasted longer than Ward’s one-second duration. The second rapier holder, this one with dark hair, gestured sharply with her left hand and spat out a few words. A shield of fire appeared over her head and somehow managed to alter the arrows’ path through it such that it did not hit her body, though one did graze off her shoulder pad.

The other two women made it to cover, and the archers began arching their arrows in an attempt to go over the boulder. The red-haired woman kept the shield over them, while the robed girls, one with short dark hair, and the other with blue, began to cast. All the while, the melee golems closed in, and by the time the first spell was completed, the golems were just a dozen paces away and wheeled towards the right flank.

The dark-haired robe girl wheeled towards the left, avoiding the melee golems, and finished her cast. From the ground in front of her, dozens of spikes sprouted and raced for the archers, crossing the hundred and fifty paces between them in the blink of an eye. The golems did not respond other than to continue shooting and were skewered by the earthen spears before they released their next volley.

The blue-haired robe girl broke towards the left and finished her cast, ending with her hands splayed open, palms toward the ground with her thumbs touching. A spray of frozen air and shards of ice erupted from her fingers and caught the shield golems straight, just as they were about three or four paces away. The frost wave rolled around their shields and coated the vanguard, as well as the spearmen in ice crystals.

The redheaded swordswoman dashed around the half-frozen golems and swung her rapier. Yuriko couldn’t help but click her tongue. Rapiers were for thrusting, weren’t they?

The girl’s spell formed in the blink of an eye and covered her in a shroud of fiery light. Her weapon was similarly coated in the same aura, and when it struck the golem she aimed at, the wood shattered and the remnants were set ablaze. She swung at the other two spear golems in quick succession, shattering both before the shield golems could react.

The rapier girl disengaged from the shielders, while the other warrior girl rushed towards the remaining two archers who somehow managed to avoid getting mangled. The dark-haired robe girl began casting the same spell against the shield golems who tried to ram into the rapier wielder, but that girl danced away from them.

Blue hair cast another spell and took half a minute to complete it while redhead’s Elemental shroud faded away and she slowed down enough that one of the shielders managed to bash her side. She rolled to the side, grunting in pain.

The other rapier wielder managed to reach the archers, though she had to pause to block their arrows with her Shield spell. By the time she reached them, the two archers had separated and moved to shoot her from both sides.

Blue hair and dark hair robes finished their casts and the shielders were encased in ice, then smashed to pieces by a large boulder that materialised above them. Redhead limped away, favouring her left leg.

The other rapier girl got shot in the back, though her armour prevented the arrow from penetrating too far. But she managed to destroy one of the archers with a blade of wind. She spun around and hurriedly cast a Bolt spell, which conjured a gust that nearly knocked the last archer off its feet. But the finishing blow came from the dark-haired robe girl as she cast the same Bolt that reached across the distance and cracked the archer’s head, which effectively disabled it.

The girls cheered, as did the audience.

Yuriko turned to Blanca and asked, “They are Battle Magi?”

The rabbitkin woman nodded. “Fifth-year students. Seventeen-year-old ladies. Two of them, the ones in robes, are Caster Magi, who focus on stronger spells and fight at range, while the two in armour focus on speed, defences, and on pushing their basic arsenal to the limits.”

“Huh.” Yuriko blinked. “They’re slow.”

Gwendith giggled. “At their age, Yuriko could already face an army and win. Hie hie!”

“Oh my.” Blanca giggled. “Then we’ll definitely wish for you to share your wisdom with our students.”

“Hmm, we’ll see,” Yuriko said. “Let’s continue.”

“As you wish.”