19696 The 1st Autumn
Our adventures in Sereban until the start of the school year were… limited. No matter how massive the city was or the myriad of activities, two major problems stood in our way. The first is cost, which my parents assured me would be no biggie but I couldn’t justify the expense. Not my money, too pricey.
The other and maybe even more glaring issue was the fact that Valka dislikes humans and I dislike people in general. Meaning the stuffy crowds, pushy merchants, people trying to scam or steal and countless other needless interactions made us stick to staying home until the day of departure.
Speaking of home, the apartment my parents bought about a year ago is around half the size of our old home in Meliorport, although it does have its own perks. Even with their years of saved-up funds as adventurers and our old house sold, this one was rather pricey. The location and view, however, almost make the pricetag seem completely reasonable as we’re only minutes from the sea with a nice view of the Academy.
What a coincidence.
What I don’t like is the lack of a backyard. We’re on the third floor and adding one in mid-air would cost quite the extra. One thing that didn’t change thankfully is my parents’ tase when it comes to the interior. Warm and homey.
Elyssia
Age: 13
Celestial Elf
Mana: 11891/12000
Free Points: 47
+1332/hour (-445)
Might: 18
Intelligence: 1275
Mana: 1200
Speed: 511
Focus: 1389(+367)
Willpower: 1332
Endurance: 290
Dexterity: 220
Fortitude: 180
General Skills:
Savant lvl 88
Identify lvl 91
Dodging lvl 100
Pain Tolerance lvl 47
Premonition lvl 104
Survival lvl 66
Maintained Magic lvl 86
Martial Instinct lvl 76
I. Class: Nature’s Partner in the Dance - Arcane 121
Arcane Mastery lvl 109
Action for Reaction lvl 103
Mana Perception lvl 111
Focal Mana Trance lvl 98
Ethereal Stage lvl 83
Rhythmic Strides lvl 81
II. Class: Unconventional Artist of Inscriptions - Water lvl 28
Canals of Mana lvl 27
Perfect Strokes lvl 25
The Urge to Create lvl 27
Mistakes Be Gone lvl 20
Merciless Scrutiny lvl 17
III. Class: *Locked*
Some extra inscription practice done, one open general Skill slot in case I found myself struggling with anything, and ample exercise to keep me fit.
Academy guidebook completely ignored… As ready as I’ll ever be.
“Do you have everything? Change of clothes, all five of them?” Mom goes through our luggage one more time before the meetup at the Crown Nest. “We packed some food and water in case your stomachs crave anything before the opening ceremony and-”
“It’s fine mom, we’re just going to the Academy, not to Koleth.” I roll my eyes as this isn’t the first round of last checks. “We should get going or we’ll be late for the meetup.”
“I know, I know.” She quickly fixes her hair and levander dress one more time. “Let’s go!”
That’s all we need to hear to get moving.
Val and I are wearing the standard Academy uniform of white blouse and long blue skirt combo with tasteful embroidery and no accessories delivered to us in advance for the opening day. The accessory part is our own choice, the side effect of growing up to be fighters instead of princesses I guess.
My parents also tried their best not to look like absolute peasants while escorting us to the Academy gates where we’d part for the next few months. I don’t care much about appearances but even I understand this is the bare minimum.
“C’mon hurry, we don’t want to be late!” Mom bugs us after making everyone wait for almost half an hour.
The audacity.
***
August, Kayla, and Victor arrived just a week prior along with the rest of their grade’s students from the Fist as well as the third batch I’ve never met. The first thing we did was compare our lists of classes to see if any of our choices matched. Just so we wouldn't have to sit alone among a bunch of strangers who were also nobles.
Little luck there.
I also discovered the oldest ones to be a few levels above me. This I found interesting since getting almost fifty levels in a span of two years while not doing much besides reading books is not how things work. Maybe the classes in the later years are a little more exciting.
With that said, my curiosity wasn’t great enough to actually initiate a conversation so I just ignored them like I usually do most people.
After a smooth rendezvous with everyone else from the Fist we arrive at the bustling bridge leading to the island. Students and their entourages big and small swarm around us as our group of twenty-plus marches on with our hefty bags. It’s clear everyone is dressed to impress.
Everyone but us. Although the four elite mercenaries in their unique colors more than make up for that.
The other thing I didn’t notice when we were here for the entrance exam was the age difference. Sure, kids from the age of twelve can attend the Academy but that doesn’t mean anyone older isn’t allowed to. I guess there’s no actual upper cap on age, just a preference toward younger students because having full-grown adults sit among the youngsters would be embarrassing for the institution.
“I hope you’ll make some new friends or at least try to avoid making enemies. You’re both considerably better at the latter.” Dad jabs while looking so nervous that I’m starting to feel embarrassed.
Not that what he said is wrong… I could count the number of people I call friends on a single hand while the opposite would need all my limbs.
“Be respectful towards your teachers and study properly, don’t just assume you know everything.” Mom adds her own words of wisdom while walking hand in hand with her husband.
I don’t think they’ve noticed the awkward atmosphere as they try to act like good parents to their one-plus-tax children with a dozen orphans and four grown warriors in tow. It’s weird. Looking around properly, it’s not just our group either. Even nearby people throw weird glances our way as the nervous wrecks that are my parents keep on rambling.
If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
As we arrive at the gates leading to the island city we stop to say our goodbyes, this is as far as everyone else is allowed to go. The other cadets and Fist mercenaries don’t mince their words and leave after a few good wishes.
“Don’t become bullies, girls!” Dad starts the last hurrah of parental advice to make sure. “Just because you’re stronger doesn’t mean there aren’t any consequences.” Huh, I was expecting some kind of moral reasoning. “And your actions might come back to bite you in the future. If someone asks for a beating then give them a good verbal one.”
Oh, I’m proficient at both of those but I can’t promise not to throw punches if any of them oversteps a certain boundary. I’m here to kick asses in the first place and learning the consequences of running your mouth should be part of the curriculum.
“Since you’re not so young my pretties, remember to always wear lingerie and be careful with boys. If you still take any of them back to your rooms then be sure to use Zagram pill or search for the school doctor after you-”
“STOP!” “MOM!” Valka and I yell with beet-red faces before my mother can continue. “You’re enjoying this aren’t you?” I hiss, trying to hide my embarrassment.
“How could I not?” She chuckles. “Now off you go! Enjoy your time and be sure to learn something world-shaking to show us for the next time we meet.”
After a quick round of hugs, we go our separate ways with baggage weighing down our shoulders and hearts racing in excitement. In contrast to the road leading straight into the main building, we follow the paths around it through gardens, squares, and buildings that probably serve a purpose in the Academy’s curriculum.
Early in our little trip, we’re requested to hand over our luggage for ease of movement and to have them delivered to our rooms for us. Sounds like a deal and soon every carefully packed baggage is handed over to an army of small furry monsters running up and down a tucked-away path like an army of ants. They have big fluffy ears and massive eyes on a body with the size and proportions of a toddler yet they carry everything with surprising ease.
[Gremlin lvl 56]
Huh, weird creatures.
Following the tide of students and the guidance of the staff, we find ourselves in the hall of administrative nightmare. Students are being herded like sheep filling in forms on double-decker tables and chairs floating around. Clerks interact with multiple people at once and honestly, even observing it is a frustrating task.
“Wait for your names to be called to fill out the paperwork!” A sign reads itself out loud every ten or so seconds.
This is hell.
***
“Here you can see your room number,” The gnome clerk slams a piece of paper into my face. “your mandatory faculty, the major events throughout the year, the list of counselors and professors, and here is your identification bracelet.” He hands me a shiny light blue metal band with a shimmering white line adorning it. I quickly pocket it to make sure I don’t miss anything important. “By signing here, here, and here.” He hands me another handful of papers. “you agree to the Academy’s rules and recognize your obligations as stated below. On this paper, you can sign up for the subjects you desire to learn this trimester. After finishing all your paperwork please hand it over at desk thirteen. For any further information seek out a helper or available staff. Next!” The chair I’m sitting on just slides away from the counter with all the papers floating after me accompanied by a quill.
I haven’t decided yet to be infuriated or impressed but the war inside me is fierce. That was some next-level rude shit. I know this is just how gnomes work, fast and efficient but… Nah, I wouldn’t waste energy on being nice either to be fair.
Thankfully a seat at a table is vacated just when I really start to consider sitting on the ground and not giving a damn about what is proper and what is not. I basically pounce at the opportunity and steal the spot from my competitors who leave after a few whispered insults about my manners and looks.
Losers.
They can bark all they want while I get this over with and free myself from this place. The people delivering our uniforms left a long list of all the different things one could learn in the Academy ranging from horseriding, or e-questi-rain-ism… yeah, nurturing plants, building stuff, and of course anything fighting and mana-related.
My list goes like this; Mana Theory, Art of Numbers, Law of Nature, Lessons of History, Tactics Tinkering, Beginner Inscriptography. I know it’s just six, however, Martha told me that overstretching yourself leads to worse results in the long run. If I did that my knowledge would be diverse but shallow, after all, there are only so many hours in a day.
Although I am pretty good when it comes to stretching myself too thin. It’s what I’ve been doing for years now.
I also sign the paper about whatever laws and demands the Academy has because I sure as hell won't sit here for hours and chew through pages of that bureaucratic nightmare.
But when my quill touches the paper an eerie feeling enters the back of my head. What I’m about to do isn’t just lazy but also dumb. Really dumb.
Maybe I should read some of this stuff…
***
Half through reading this bureaucratic garbage I waved over Valka after she got dumped to the side by one of the gnomish clerks and solved our sitting issue. I stood up, she sat down and I used her lap. It was a little embarrassing but helped us finish here faster so I’d do it again any day.
The paper mostly detailed responsibility in case I caused any damage or got injured and some rules regarding fights and other breaches of Academy law. Nothing stated on the paper is actually binding in a magical way and is more like a signature using your mana as well as your handwriting to legalize the whole thing. After all was done and dusted we left as fast as we could and were instructed to go to the ceremony hall for the opening speech.
I feared this would be a repeat of my first day in Fort Karon, meaning we’d wander around utterly lost and being late. But my worries turned out to be baseless as the wise people of the Academy expected this problem.
A portal, just around the corner.
The noise of quills dancing on paper and names being shouted all around changes to excited chatter and soft bustling as I step through the shimmering gate into the massive aula. The dome above us is a reflection of the starry night sky without any of the moons, made possible only by some clever application of light magic since it should be around noon right now.
Rows upon rows of seats are arranged in front of a high podium, separated into three segments.
“Do you see the others?” I ask Valka as she has a height advantage when it comes to peering over crowds.
“I think grades are seated separately. I see Kayla in the second segment, her hair is easy to notice, and everyone in the first looks a bit older.” She relays her sad report.
Well… bollocks.
That means I’ll have to endure at least one random brat with a silver spoon up their ass for the duration of this charade. Actually… won't that be my fate for most of my lessons here? Oh no… By the Abyss I must make some friends or even just find bearable people to be around or else I won't survive this. I can get irritated by someone having a stupid face or an aura I don’t like let’s not even mention opening their mouth…
“Let’s find some good seats, we seem to be early.” Val starts pushing her way gracefully through the crowd with me following her like a duckling.
Her stature alone commands respect as only very few students get even close to her height and all of them are surely at least a year or two older. Then there’s the fact that she’s a warrior with enough muscle to be visible through the loose clothing. It’s like looking at an anvil; you know it’s heavy just by a glance. The same is true for strength and Valka.
For us Mages, it works a bit differently, or so Martha said. We look like twigs compared to physical fighters, however, we can express our presence through the mana. I still haven’t mastered the technique but it should work by imagining releasing mana like it was sweat and filling the surroundings with it. This increases the ambient mana in a very different way than what I felt when nearing Sereban because that released mana is not ‘free’, it is controlled by the one who dispersed it and feels suffocating and crushing to anyone around them. Of course, all of this is dependent on stats as usual so it’s not just a stun anyone for free card.
We sit in the front row of our segment for additional legroom and watch the people stroll around us like sheep. Minutes pass and the amount of seats occupied increases to a bit above half when someone decides to occupy the place next to Valka.
The quick glance he throws at her, then me tells everything I need to know and instead of an irritated huff, a smile climbs onto my face. He checked my ears and I saw those disgusted eyes before, he’s one of those kinds of people. The way he looks at Val however… hehehe.
“Hello fair lady, may I introduce myself?” He holds his hand out with his palm up. “I’m Charles Dupont, second son of Count Dupon.”
Even I can’t stop myself from raising an eyebrow at how well done that was. Manners, moves and words… it was all top-notch.
“Who me?” Asks Valka who’s never been called a lady before, other than the chiding young lady Martha likes to use. “Uhm, nice to meet you, I’m Valka.” She shakes his hand.
No man alive would be able to watch this without laughing in tears and neither am I. The noble’s perfect visage shatters as he realizes who he tried to court.
“You’re a commoner?” His eyebrows run up his forehead. “That was quite unexpected. Are you sure?” Val nods and I keep dying. “Fascinating. Sadly I have to go now. Farewell. “He storms off like an embarrassed little girl.
“That was priceless.” I wheeze while Valka pouts beside me. “Looks like your looks weren’t enough for him to overlook who you are. A shame.”
As revenge for having a great time at her cost, she pinches the skin on my thigh till I must do my absolute best to stop myself from squealing despite all the levels of Pain Tolerance.
“Did I really deserve that?”
“You’ll understand when I’m the one doing the laughing.” She answers with a shrug and without looking at me.
I doubt that will ever come my friend. You might’ve missed those looks but I haven’t, I grew up around them. The eyes of people judging you for being different. I can’t tell if it's because they’re nobles or because this is the capital or whatever ridiculous reason really… They shun these ears and won't see me the way they see you because they can’t see past the ears.
It’s saddening to realize this place is a costume party and too few people attend with their real faces.
“Welcome one and all, on this wonderful day in our glorious Sereban. For the new faces under the grand dome, I’m Boris Malcador, Chancellor of the Academy.” The entire hall quiets the moment the voice resounds, clear yet moderate. “As always, we’re thankful to the Empire and His Imperial Majesty for supporting our humble institution and creating such a wonderful place for the leaders of tomorrow to bloom. Students and colleagues, old and new, it fills my heart with pride to see all this knowledge and potential under one roof and to be the one to announce the start of another hopefully just as fruitfully year ahead of us. May Laplace’s fickle hands guide the…” The bearded old man goes on with his lengthy speech wishing us all kinds of things and telling us about a glorious and bright future… words, nothing else.
“... and I wish you all a fruitful year. Remember, lessons start in two days while extracurricular activities meet first thing tomorrow. I would also like to draw your attention to the exhibitions held by various departments today. Wander around, enjoy the city, watch the upperclassmen show off their expertise, and join any club that resonates with your interest. That’s it for today, have a blessed day everyone.” He disappears without the slightest disturbance in mana and life seemingly returns to the hall.
Chatter and shuffling all around signals our cue to leave and we join the stream of students towards the corridor this time instead of a portal. We should find the others but…
“Let’s get to our room, I feel drained already.” I propose after the time spent around a large number of people totally drained my social bucket.