The founding of the Luse Academy can be traced back all the way to the founding of the Luse kingdom. Although new facilities are erected every decade or two, the original academy buildings built during the constructions of the capital still exist and are well maintained and it just so happens that we are in one of the said buildings.
When I showed up at the location instructed on the letter I was greeted by a well-dressed gentleman of the finest mannerism I’ve seen, who asked me to follow him as we arrived in front of this ancient building. He opens the gate, the aged contraption making an eerie squeak, the cry of rusted parts grinding against one another, after I enter the doorway he closes the gate and proceeds to lock it in place with the turn of his key.
The figure holding a lantern leads the way for me, the only source of light in this dark chilling hallway. I followed him with haste as if the light brought some comfort in this foreign domain, all the while instinctually began to examine the interior of this historical construction. Ancient slabs of stone line the wall, its texture seems to change as light shines across its rough uneven surface. The sound of rain gently knocks on the window glass stained with light shade yellow present over years of use. As my eyes adjust to the darkness the ambient moonlight maps out the dark hallway with a light shade of dimly lit white-grey that strangely calmed me down from my excitement. In this weird tranquil state my mind began to wander all the possibilities I might find myself thrown into, my mind grew sharper with each scenario and adjusted my composure to reflect my confidence.
“This is it.”, I said to myself.
“This is what you wanted.”
“You will not fail. You can not fail.”
After a long march involving two sets of stairs of which I’m certain that was the most exercise I had performed during my 2 years of study, we arrived at a double set of delicately crafted heavy wooden doors. The guide accompanying me knocked on the door making a dull thud and confirmed my observation that it is indeed of solid and sturdy craftsmanship. After receiving the signal for me to come in, the guide opened the door and I struck the decor of the room which contrasted with the anterior. The hallways are cold, gloomy, and unwelcoming; the room on the other hand is welcoming and bright, decorated with fine brass colored chairs and stands, painted marble-like floors, and warm lighting.
The second thing that struck me is the people presented to me. A dozen or so individuals seated in a circle with a break in the direction facing me, emotionless faces were printed on every last one of them but glances flashing towards my way. Out of habit, I began to examine closely the figures I’m currently standing in front of. The figures seated of whom I can recall from direct interactions are head of the Medical department, head of Biology department, head of Chemistry department, and other heads of their respective field whose identity I can infer from self-portraits lined in their respective department. While some of the faces appear alien, to be seated with everybody here he or she must be a person of equal or greater caliber. The figure in the middle, while I have my suspicions of him being the academy’s principal I was unable to confirm my hypothesis as not much is known about him, indeed his identity is a mystery among students and to me as well.
The last thing that intrigued me to examine further is the painted floor. It is painted with collections of stories overlapping with one another in a beautiful dark shade of yellow, midnight black, and ivory white along with some supplementary colors complementing the trio. While I do not usually enjoy pursuing fine art like my dear Elisabeth, a piece of that art caught my eye. It is a depiction of the flight and subsequent fall of Icarus; in this piece, the artist exaggerated Icarus’ expression during the fall into an unnerving image where his horror bled through the floor and his haunting gaze somehow fixed on me. Unnerving, certainly, but I did not let that momentary shock distract me from what I’m here to accomplish and quickly regained my composure.
The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
“Thank you, Walter, for bringing student Frankenstein, we’ll call if we do need further assistance.”, the man, whose name apparently is Walter, bows before closing the door.
As the door closes I can feel the sudden shift in the atmosphere. All eyes are fixed on me, it did not help that I knew some of them or that I interacted with them, the air became still and goosebumps crept up my neck, gone were the human pleasantries for I am now tested…...
----------------------------------------
----------------------------------------
“We all know why we are here today; a new curious soul has wandered into the gate of the academy. Student Frankenstein, soon to be Dr. Frankenstein I’m sure you know or at least heard of him. He has shown great talent in scholarly art and great potential for what lies ahead. But is he ready for the next step, of becoming one of us? Is he worthy of becoming one of us? ”, The figure in the center stood up and proceeded to speak.
“Normally I’d give my opinion on the matter but this time I’ll leave it up to you. Like all initiations into the inner circle, over half of us must agree on the decision.”, he then sits down to his brass decorated chair.
This is a bit strange, from what I have gathered about the inner circle isn’t the initiation supposed to be some kind of test? I pondered to myself.
“I can vouch for him as over the year’s student Frankenstein has been one of the most brilliant minds I have known. Unlike the majority of the students in the academy, he is not motivated by other alternative motives but solo by his desire to learn. I do not doubt that given time he could easily stand beside me as equals.", the head of the biology department who I'm at a good standing got up from his chair and says with the same expressionless facade seen around the room, though for a moment I thought I saw an ever so slight frond, strange I’m used to seeing him in his usual ever-smiling expression. I know him quite well as my interest in this field has prompted me to seek assistance from him and occasionally run some errand for him in return, over time I’d say we grew quite acquainted with one another. I would never have guessed him to be a member of the inner circle.
Normally I'd be stoked to receive such praise, but something didn’t make sense, this is all too artificial like everything is orchestrated. This is all wrong, this feels dreamlike, illusionary do they not realize it? My body feels like it's not my own and I can feel the sweat running down my back, and is it just me, or is everyone’s face starting to smear?
“I too believe that Frankenstein would be a great addition to the academy.”, says the head of chemistry research who also stands up to make his position known. Quickly all the figures of the room followed their lead, spoke their soft word of praise in agreement to my initiation.
I try to interject but find my body paralyzed in place, unable to move or speak but only control over my sight. My heart beats fast, light buzzing in my ears, and fear grips me. I looked around frantically trying to make sense of this situation. That’s when I saw the floor, the painting of Icarus was no longer present, or at least in the way I remembered it, the nightmarish expression was replaced with a milder variant. Suddenly a possibility I had never before considered popped up in my mind.
The man in center skimmed his eyes across the room, then looked at me, finally smiling along with everyone else in the room, “Congratulations on joining the inner circle, is there anything you would like to ask?”
Finally, senses return to me and I find myself able to speak again. With my fear temperately retreating I look across the room. Everything is now so foreign from what it should be, faces like melted wax starting to drip, voices becoming more distorted like a broken record player, and reality itself began to crack.
“None of this is real, is it?”, I uttered those words with raspy shaken voices, as the world around me crumbled to its climactic conclusion.
----------------------------------------
----------------------------------------
Suddenly I was back to reality drenched in sweats, drained of all my energy, and panting. Looking around, the scenery was the same as when I first entered the room as if no words were spoken and on one move, all figures seated silently waiting for something. Looking at the floor I saw the never unnerving image of Icarus that ensured me that I was back in my reality.
Suddenly, the man in the center looks up to me then pulls out a strange shimmering contraption. The strange device gave out a faint crack sounding similar to that of cracked glass, its shine then fades away.
Upon examining the device he gave a warm expression much like the decor of the rest of the room and spoke words I’ve dreamt of hearing:
“Congratulations, Frankenstein you’ve passed the test.”