For nearly a week, Karn and his friends had endured, waiting for news from the university, a beacon of hope that would determine if it was safe to venture into the heart of the city and within the universities hallowed halls. Each evening, they'd peer out of the window, their gazes scanning the horizon, waiting for the General's return, and each evening, their hopes were dashed. But on the seventh day, a glimmer of hope emerged.
Karn squinted, his eyes locked on a stranger standing beside the General. A furrow formed on his brow as he questioned, "Who's that?"
Maze leaned in, his eyes narrowing as he examined the figure, recognition dawning on his face. A sly grin crept onto his lips as he replied, "Ah, it seems a university representative has been dispatched."
Charles, standing beside them, joined in the observation, squinting in the man's direction. His voice carried a hint of amusement as he remarked, "He looks ancient, even more so than you, Maze."
Maze arched an eyebrow in response to Charles' jest, but Karn's focus remained on the stranger. The man exuded an aura of age, his presence seemingly reluctant, as if he battled against the relentless march of time itself. His robes, once vibrant and regal, now bore the marks of untold years, and an uncanny shifting motion played across the fabric as he spoke, as though it harboured long-held secrets.
With a chuckle, Maze proposed, "Shall we not keep the old fellow waiting? Downstairs, my friends."
The group made their way through the mansion's sprawling interior, Maze's laughter resonating in the air as Charles playfully thumped his back. Karn listened silently as he followed ats the two shared words joking as they moved through the halls.
In the sprawling main hall, the girls appeared, displaying similar eagerness to meet the mysterious figure from the city. They converged, driven by their anticipation to learn whether the doors of the university were open to them as well.
"Afternoon, ladies," Maze greeted them with a courteous bow, his polite demeanour taking centre stage.
Karn and Charles opted for their typical casual waves, coupled with a swift, "Hey."
Just as the elderly representative entered the building, Lady Amber gracefully appeared at her husband's side. With practiced elegance, she executed a refined curtsy in greeting.
The old man scarcely acknowledged the assembled group nor the lady’s greeting. Karn mused that age might have rendered such niceties obsolete for the old man.
"Now, who among you is eager to enter the halls?" The representative's words cut through formalities; his tone direct. “Either way whoever wants to enter must be tested.”
Karn's gaze shifted towards his friends, a shared understanding passing between them. It was clear that a decision had to be made, and that a test loomed ahead for those who sought to cross the university's threshold.
“What do you mean we need to be tested?” Charles asked, clearly not hiding his annoyance.
"Those are the rules," the representative replied slowly, each word emphasized as if speaking to a dull student.
“Since when has there been a test,” mumbled Lady Amber.
Charles grumbled, not bothering to hide is impatience.
Karn had been quietly observing the man, but curiosity eventually got the best of him. "Alright, what exactly does the test involve?"
From the man's hints, it was clear the test was invasive, a process that subjected one to the highest levels of scrutiny. Karn cast a wary gaze upon the elderly man, his instincts tingling with suspicion. An unsettling feeling crept over him, a sense of uncanny familiarity that sent shivers down his spine. It wasn't a sense of impending danger, but rather an unshakable sensation that this man held a connection to something he couldn't quite place.
"Don't worry, the test will be conducted in private, one at a time," he assured, turning to Lady Amber. "I presume you can arrange for a suitable space?"
She nodded, though her expression remained stern. The sudden demand for testing had clearly stirred irritation in her as well.
"Fine, let's just get it done," Lady Amber declared, her voice cutting through the air. She gestured for everyone to follow her lead, and they fell in line behind her. The group moved in a hushed procession through the intricate corridors, their footsteps echoing against the walls.
As Lady Amber guided them, Karn's eyes swept across the surroundings. The corridor was adorned with an array of grand paintings, each a portrait of the Amber family through different generations. The paintings told stories of lineage and legacy, a visual narrative etched in strokes of oil paint. They carried an air of history and significance, emphasizing the importance of the family's role in the city.
Finally, they entered a spacious and warmly lit sitting room. The room was furnished with plush chairs and elegant wooden tables, creating an ambiance of comfort and relaxation. Soft sunlight streamed in through heavy drapes, casting a gentle glow across the space. Karn noted that the room seemed to reflect a more personal touch, a space where Lady Amber might find solace away from the formalities of her role.
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Karn's attention was drawn to the walls once again, where more portraits of the Amber family adorned the space. Each portrait captured a different facet of their history, a visual chronicle of triumphs and challenges. He couldn't help but feel a sense of connection with these portraits, as if they were silent witnesses to the city's evolution.
The room held an air of anticipation as they gathered, the energy palpable. Each member of the group was here for a purpose, a chance to unlock new possibilities within the university's walls. The warmth of the room contrasted with the tension that settled upon them, a mixture of hope and unease as they awaited their turns to undergo the test.
As they all settled in the snug room, the representative carefully observed each of them, his gaze moving from face to face before settling on the Lady. "And privacy?"
"Here," Lady Amber gestured toward a discreet door tucked away in the room's corner. Her cheeks tinged with colour as she continued, "It's a small reading alcove I use to... well, escape from all the hustle and bustle of the sector."
"So, how many of you wish to enter the university?" he inquired, his voice carrying a mixture of formality and curiosity.
As the question hung in the air, a unanimous response rippled through the room. In unison, their hands shot up, save for Lady Amber, who observed them all with a silent, contemplative gaze. The representative's gaze moved across the raised hands, and it prompted a heavy sigh to escape from his lips.
"This might take a while, then," he stated with a measured tone, acknowledging the gravity of the situation. He continued, directing his attention to the group, "Each of you will be tested individually."
His aged eyes settled on Hope. With a gentle yet commanding gesture, he singled her out. "You, young lady," he addressed her, his voice carrying the weight of experience, "shall go first."
Hope nodded, exchanging a fleeting glance of concern with Karn before silently following the man through the door.
“Good luck,” Ralina whispered beside Karn. Her genuine concern was softly spoken, nearly imperceptible, but Karn could see the sincerity in her eyes.
“Do you think she’ll be alright?” Ellie asked, her voice laden with worry.
Karn turned to face her and offered a reassuring smile.
“Of course, she will be,” Ralina replied confidently. “Hope has faced much worse than this.”
Ellie looked at Karn, seeking confirmation. He responded with a nod and a shrug. Ralina’s words were true enough.
As they waited, the room grew quiet, with the only sound being the rhythmic tapping of Lady Amber's feet. She sat in a plush chair with her arms folded, her irritation evident. From time-to-time Karn heard he mumble about the necessities of tests.
Maze grumbled, breaking the silence. “Depending on what the test entails, I might have to abstain.”
“Really?” Charles said, surprise registering on his face. “I thought books were your thing.”
Maze chuckled but the outburst sounded almost painful. “A less succinct way to put it, but yes. The content of the tomes within the university is truly my area of expertise. However, if the test becomes too personal, I'd rather keep certain chapters of my history where they belong.”
Karn felt a pang. “You don’t think the test will delve into past traumas?” he asked, glancing toward the closed door. Hope was a resilient young woman, but the shadows of her past held considerable power. Karn sighed, reflecting on his own history locked behind the Book of the Known, a circumstance for which he was profoundly grateful.
Maze shrugged. “This test is also a foreign concept to me. Let’s see what the young lass has to say about it when she comes out.”
After some time, the door creaked open, and Hope emerged, sporting a soft smile that masked an underlying unease. Following her, the elderly representative appeared, trailing behind him what resembled a puff of smoke. He rubbed his aged hands together, a gleam of satisfaction in his eyes as he spoke, "Alright, who's next?"
As they exchanged glances, Charles, with confidence, raised his hand and declared, "Alright, my turn." Without hesitation, he strode through the door, which promptly closed behind him, leaving the others waiting in anticipation.
Hope settled into a spot in the sitting room and took a deep breath before she began, “He has an event book in there.”
Karn's jaw tightened. His suspicions about the old man and the peculiar shifting of his robes were not unfounded. An unsettling presence surrounded the man, distinct from the other event books they had encountered. It was different, almost alien.
Maze appeared puzzled. “A book? What kind?”
Hope shrugged, a sense of confusion evident in her expression. “It’s odd. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Their collective curiosity hung in the air as Hope searched for words to describe her experience. She continued, “It's white.”
"What?" Maze muttered.
Karn couldn't hide his surprise. "What do you mean, it’s white?"
"I don’t know what it is. I’ve never heard of white books being made,” Hope admitted, her voice tinged with uncertainty.
Maze's brow furrowed as he tried to make sense of this revelation. “What did he make you do?”
A faint glimmer of hope brightened her eyes. “Not much, he got me to touch a page on the book, and certain part of the page lit up.”
Maze's interest was piqued. “Lit up?”
Hope nodded. “He said I have a strong affinity with spirits. Whatever that means.”
Maze nodded in contemplation but didn't offer further insight.
Ralina stepped closer, placing a reassuring hand on Hope's shoulder. “Are you okay?”
Hope nodded with a faint smile. “It’s okay, other than the page lighting up, the test was pretty much mundane.”
The door swung open, revealing Charles, who appeared less confident than when he had entered. Karn inquired about his experience, and Charles responded with a hand gesture that implied he felt neither good nor bad. “Bit disappointed but all good. It's your turn, I guess.”
Karn stood up and walked toward the threshold, noticing conspiratorial expressions on Charles and Maze's faces as they exited the room.
Inside the small reading room, the old man urged Karn to take a seat while he lit an old pipe, filling the room with white smoke. Karn's gaze landed on the open book resting on the table—a book with white covers. With a mixture of trepidation and curiosity, he seated himself and studied the page before him. Unlike the other event books that required physical connection to reveal their contents, the ink on this page was already visible.
The old man impatiently instructed, “Place your hand on the book, boy.”
Karn scrutinized the page, noticing ink blotches resembling fingerprints, where his hand was supposed to go. Above the impressions was a depiction of a sprawling tree, bare and void of foliage. A few printed rune symbols accompanied the stark, finger-like tendrils of the almost lifeless tree.
"What does this measure?" Karn inquired as he continued to study the page.
The old man sighed, his patience waning. “Potential, now hurry up.”
Suppressing harsh words, Karn forced a polite smile and placed his fingers on the marked spots. Instantly, the page came to life, as if awakened by his touch. Every rune shimmered, and golden leaves sprouted from the previously lifeless tree.
The old man's eyes widened, and he choked on his pipe as he blurted out, “what?”