Turns out this academy was just over the proverbial fence, and it was a relatively straightforward journey to the campus. They exited the palace proper, walked to the end of the lane, walked out the gate and went about a hundred or so feet along the wall. Then they were there.
Jack could tell that the academy was designed by the same architect that made the palace complex. The same architecture and materials were used in it’s construction. It was a nice place and he thought staying here would be comfortable. Way better than my high school, that architect designed prisons for a living.
Running from the gate was a long stretch that was part path and part park. The cobblestone bricks shone a variety of different hues and the grass was vibrant green. Trees of all different types were placed haphazardly in various corners and rest areas. It was full of young people, from kids around ten to adults in their mid-twenties. Jack guessed that this academy had a college attached. Although the road was full of people they seemed to be clustering around several signs that seem to have been placed haphazardly around the open space. Lillian led Jack off to one of the taller buildings with standard windows instead of the stained glass of other structures he had seen.
On the way he glanced over at one of the signs. It was difficult with the crowd around it but he was able to see that it was a copy of his state ID. Under it was some handwritten note he could not make out. So he made a course correction straight towards the signpost. The people reading it didn’t notice his approach so he cleared his throat and shoulder tapped the guy in front of him.
“Hey, watch it shorty. I’m trying to read the notice over here. You can read it when I am done.” Barked the guy but as he turned to glare at Jack, his eyes dilated and a look of shock stole across his features.
“I should be saying that to you. That’s my face and legal ID plastered for all to see. So I want to know why.”
“No way! The sign clearly says that the Adjudicator is 5’ 10”. Move to the back.”
I only lost two inches, why is everyone calling me short. In a moment of peak, he pushed past the idiot and into the throng of people. After a bit of pushing and shoving the sign became legible.
The Adjudicator has been summoned. Be wary my fellow students, for he means to destroy our ways and let the filthy Cultivators and Mystics rule our beautiful empire. Brothers and sisters please take up arms against this interloper. For more information, join us, the Society for Magical Purity, Tuesday at three in the Grand Cathedral. — Cassius Aureus, Student Council Treasurer
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Jack started laughing at the absurdity of this statement. He had only just got here and was already being used for jingoist propaganda. After a bit he wiped his eyes and tried to get his breath back. Everyone was now just staring at him quietly, a mixture of expressions showing. He turned to address the crowd. “I haven’t heard such ridiculous propaganda in a while. I just got here and have no idea what the other factions mentioned here even are.” He gestured at the signpost. “So what I am trying to say is there is nothing to see here folks.” He made a shooing gesture.
A tall kid in his late teens stepped out of the crowd. His face resembled a pissed off honey badger so Jack braced for a fight. “You laughing at us foreigner. You just got here and are already giving us orders. I don’t think that I like that. Maybe you should learn to treat your betters with respect.” At this a large fireball popped into existence above his hand. With a gesture it flew right at Jack and disappeared right into his chest. He had good aim.
Before Jack could respond, a blur skipped past Jack and the next thing anyone knew the teenager was on his back and Virtus was standing over him. A blade pointed down at his chest. “Should anyone try that again then I will make them regret their actions.” Virtus barked. “Even Cassius should know better than to mess with my charge. DISPERSE!” He bellowed that last part at the top of his lungs. It had the intensity of a roaring lion.
As one they all turned and frantically fled away from the stern sword-wielding guardsman. More than a few tripped and one unfortunate boy got a nasty wedgie that somehow involved a quill and a pineapple. Story for another time.
When they were all gone, Jack fell over and started retching. His everything was nauseous. It was a bit like when he entered the Robin room, only instead of sliding over his skin it was inside. Thankfully it was much milder or he would have passed out.
Virtus and Lillian were hovering over him. They were yelling but he couldn’t focus enough to pay attention. Then Virtus laid hands on him. This only made things worse as the feeling of wrongness intensified. Lillian smacked his hand away, said something and laid her hands upon him. Braced for the worst, Jack was surprised when the wrongness cleared in the section she had touched. Then something inside his body changed.
It was as if he had always known something but had to remember it. The small veins that seemed to hold magic around the area the fireball hit were full of a sickly red light. It spread to the nearest reservoir in his body, almost as if someone else was corralling it. Once there, the light got split into two shades, the first one a bright red that he liked and a puke green light that felt like sewage. The red light assimilated into his muscles and strengthened them and the green light was compressed before being shipped off to his core.
Once it was all gone the nausea disappeared and he felt immediate relief. Guess that means I just collected more fuel for the fire. With a groan, he managed to get onto his knees and look around. It was just a little easier than before. What he saw was not encouraging. A hundred sets of peepers were peering out of every nook and cranny. Which meant his pratfall was now public knowledge, wonderful!
“Jack are you feeling okay?” This was accompanied with a hand on his shoulder. Said hand and voice belonged to Virtus, his face displayed concern and panic. Jack suddenly felt terrible for taking this man for granted just because he was with that pompous idiot when they met. Virtus had always shot straight with him and was honorable. I’ll make it up to him later. Right now I need to get out of the lime light.
“Can we get to my dorm room before any further talk.” He gestured at all the peeping toms around them. It finally seemed to dawn on him that there was an audience.
Lillian, who had been silent, piped up. “If you would follow me, your room is this way.”