I find the dean's offices after a few minutes of searching and enter the sturdy grayish building. It doesn't take long to get someone to direct me to the desk I need to go to but I'm made to wait a quarter of an hour before receiving an answer that Teva did enroll.
“She isn't on campus right now but Miss Teva has signed up for a class on infrastructure in the evening.” The administrator tells me with an odd stare.
I had to mention Izla Meria and it seems to have triggered his curiosity so I depart before he figures out who I am. I go around the University but don't run into any more lectures even back at the amphitheater.
Most of the students I encounter are young and quite a few have accents from various regions of the Empire. They also segregate themselves between social classes as I very rarely witness a bourgeois among a group of high born, and never a low born.
One bourgeois wore rings and appeared rich yet bowed and served the Nobles like a servant. While privilege and influence are restricted by the Emperor's authority here, his power doesn't extend to personal choices and the reality of politics in the Empire.
There is one common characteristic that all share and that is pride of being students of the University. Most avoid me, especially Nobles who scamper away when they spot an oddity to my left flank.
But, as I go past the amphitheater, one proud looking middle-class woman refuses to side-step and let pass an obvious visitor. I ignore the fact she's right in front of me and keep walking as she isn't the first to try this.
Yet she doesn't move aside and keeps walking so I run through her shoulder first. She staggers back with a small yelp on impact while I keep going. A pair of Imperial guards witnessed the scene but don't reprimand me. They clearly have a hands-off approach to student jostling, most likely unless flow is used.
As I explore, I find a block of dormitories on the outskirts of the campus and a cozy tavern that I enter. I pick a table in a dark corner and order some grilled ribs for breakfast.
As I eat, I play with my messaging construct's timer segment to figure out a way to secure its contents until I deem they need to be unlocked. At one of the central large tables, a group of kids is playing a card game while trying to cheat with their flow.
A brunette sent her energy behind her opponent during the final round between the two of them and the energy somehow read the cards to copy their shape. Yet, she loses when they lay down their hands as it turns out the other kid used his flow on his cards to trick her.
While clever, the exercise seems pointless. It does trains them to shape their energy discreetly but I wonder what use it could have. I return to my work on the construct as I eat yet make no true advances so I decide to visit one of the libraries.
I'm told after asking that there is one available to the public with books on basic constructs like the messaging construct. I find it near the University's main entrance, it's a small white building.
Inside are dozens of shelves framed by marble columns upon which are signs indicating each subject. There are almost no students inside, all those with a book at a reading table are inhabitants of Kruzser there to learn.
The sheer wealth present in this tiny library that isn't even being used by students boggles my mind, the books themselves are priceless without even mentioning the cost of maintaining the runic constructs protecting the collection.
The Emperor obviously places heavy importance on educating all those who wish to learn to invest so much into it. Rasaec evidently believes that knowledge and competence is worth more than coin to the Empire because it is impossible for student tuition to cover all the expenses of this University.
“How can I help you, Miss?” A curator in a white robe and with an equally white beard walks up to me.
“I'm looking for a treaty on messaging construct security.” I reply.
“You'll find those row 'twenty' to 'twenty-two' in the back-section.” He responds almost immediately.
“Would you happen to have treatises written by one Suxen?” I question out of curiosity. “I've heard she has made great advances in scanning constructs.”
“As a matter of fact, we do have one but it is quite obscure and somewhat morally improper.” The curator tells me with an awkward expression. “It deals with detecting bioelectric currents as a way to detect consciousness with the goal to eventually create a construct that short-circuits it.”
“Then why do you have it?” I question.
“Because it is a great use for prospective healers, even Alemplars have taken an interest in it.” He explains. “It also contains a basic construct useful in predicting storms when applied thinly over a square kilometer, some northern mountainous regions of the Empire, such as Hetlan, have had some use of it already and escaped devastating weather.”
“Hrm.” I grunt, having trouble connecting this boon to Suxen whose stated goal wasn't even concealed.
I decide to still check the treaty which the madwoman no doubt used to her advantage in creating the Numbers. As I prepare to go, the curator makes a few discreet coughs to attract my attention.
“That construct is a variant of the scanning construct but it is complex. I would advise you take a few classes first, Miss.” The helpful old man says with genteel smile. “It's located in row 'zero' at the very back with the other miscellaneous and advanced treaties.”
“If I have a use for it, I will.” I politely respond.
“The dean's offices grants vouchers for specific classes at a mere few gold coins, Miss.” He adds with a bow as he returns to his desk.
I smile at the attempt to draw hard coin from poor me and drop a silver in a wooden box meant for donations before heading into the rows of shelves. I find Suxen's treaty first which is written on a long roll of yellowish parchment. The state of it leads me to conclude the paper is a decade old from her years as a researcher here.
Her letters are well-shaped and clear but, as I read through it, I find her style dry and emotionless which doesn't do justice to the passion the madwoman holds for her projects.
Her sentences are at times complex but remarkably simple other times, giving the impression she tried hard to find the right words to properly convey the concepts she explored.
All in all, the treaty is too expansive as it delves into biological processes in too much detail but the instructions in how to shape one's intent to alter the scanning construct are very detailed and helpful. Suxen wrote a remark at the end, the single personal commentary of the parchment roll.
'Electricity in itself is too wild a force and brains too complex for it to be used directly in altering thought processes. At most, electric currents could be used to induce pain or pleasure in subjects so as to encourage patterns of behavior, but I theorize it would be an unreliable method compared to the blunting of the mind through barbiturates. Nevertheless, finding a process with which to produce electricity would be a great step forward in thwarting the insectoid threat as their lightning constructs could be turned against them with further understanding of this force.'
I put the treaty back, wondering how Suxen's contempt for the Rykz squares with her quest to create drones of her own but quickly give up on the line of thought as it's unlikely the madwoman thought that far.
She most definitely perceives herself as the singular superior being that all others are inferior to and so she is justified in manipulating all. It is disturbing how, like me, she likely doesn't think herself human but apart. If there is one singular difference between us, it is that I do not place myself above others.
I make my way to the rows the curator indicated me to and read several papers on security at a reading desk including a very, very valuable one that teaches how to integrate a series of segments that locks a construct unless the maker's flow frequency is used.
This is as close to unbreakable security as I can get but it does have the inconvenient down-side of being unusable for others. It takes me a while but I do find out a solution.
I can integrate a key to the messaging construct that only I can unlock but that can be used to open all other constructs once it is. This would allow me to spread information before revealing it which is precisely what my plan requires.
I set to work on creating this construct and the day flies by. It takes a lot of time but I manage without too many issues so I try to transcribe some of my writings on it as a test and it seems to work. Enthused by this success but with hours ahead of me, I take out my quill and a piece of parchment to write.
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
'Justice has no worth when applied unequally between classes of people, not only does it create resentment but also limits the perspective of those who would benefit humanity as a whole by inducing a pervasive sense of inferiority to those oppressed.'
I quickly write the introduction before getting to the main point which could get me into a lot of trouble if found as it could light up fires in every corner of the Empire when joined with other revelations about the truth of Nobility being born with equal access. My words could easily cause the religiously faithful to have a crisis of faith when demonstrated the truth of my writings.
'When you have no choice but to give half your harvest and time to a Noble who does naught to deserve it, then it is no theft to retrieve this hard-earned wealth. Following this thought, then nor is it murder to avenge wanton hangings aimed at putting down righteous criticism. It is no crime to refuse to sell the product of one's work for less of the price it is worth, similarly a being's time has worth and people should always be remunerated for it.'
I find it freeing to put down my thoughts in ink but the morning and a large part of the afternoon has passed so I decide to play around with Suxen's concepts until Teva's class.
Learning from my enemies is what will allow me to defeat them. I shape the scanning construct and alter it to scan my hand as I clench it but the result is rather underwhelming as the result merely tells me something I've already experienced, that signals run along nerves in the body.
Still, it is impressive the madwoman not only found a way to detect this but also follow the process. I don't make any attempt to scan my own brain as it's already damaged enough but I do toy with the segments as I try to link them to the eyesight enhancing construct.
I don't succeed but I've hope that if I keep working on it I may be able to make my eyes more reliable. I roll the parchments back up and put the treatises back in their shelves before leaving the library to make my way to Teva's class at the center of the campus.
There is a crowd in front of the building which is a rock structure with a couple of gargoyles at the front that are so eroded they look older than the Empire itself but are likely more recent.
The students are avidly discussing without entering so I assume I'm early and settle with my back against a more recent structure. She arrives after a few minutes with a small group of a dozen youths circling around her.
She has a bright smile on her freckled face that reaches up to her hazel eyes and is wearing a well-woven blue light dress fit for spring. Her fiery red hair is tied in a long braid.
My heart pinches at the sight of her and I can't help but take off my helmet. I shake my head to free my messy hair while Teva keeps walking and talking. Someone in their group must've noticed me and the armor visible between the seams of my cloak because they point me out to the rest.
While the youths turn to me with various expressions ranging from the annoyed to the curious, Teva herself freezes on the spot with her foot in mid-air and her head twisted in my direction.
One girl my age that's as tall as my friend with comparable breasts and brown hair aggressively stomps over to me with an expression that spells her intention to admonish me for staring so hard. She's wearing a quality black robe that gives her a serious appearance.
“Hey, you!” She calls out while pointing at me.
“Don't, Julia! She will lay you down flat!” Teva hurriedly exclaims with a touch of fright. The girl frowns but stops.
“An acquaintance of yours?” Julia asks over her shoulder.
“A friend, yes.” My fiery friend quickly confirms, allaying my concerns at showing up unannounced.
“That warrior you keep talking about?” She questions.
“Yes.” Teva confirms as her expression tightens and she throws me an awkward glance.
“Oh.” Julia murmurs as she turns back to me and gives me a slight bow, surprising me. “Thank you for your sacrifice, Dame.”
“Wait, isn't that...” A boy cuts in but trails off as he scrutinizes me. “No way! That's Jessica Freepath!” He suddenly exclaims.
Every head with a working pair of ears within hearing range snaps over to me while Teva blinks in confusion. I make a half-shrug that the spectators seem to take as a confirmation because dozens begin speaking at once. I wince at the commotion which is causing me to vaguely hear the clinking of swords and spears in the background.
“What?” Teva asks with shock but her reaction is lost to those around her.
“Enough.” I bellow, cutting the commotion short by intimidating the kids. “You have time to talk?” I ask.
A half of her group starts cooing as if I'd just asked her on a date while the other half's expressions fall as if I spit in their lunch. The rest of the students don't have the same context as Teva's friends but they quickly catch on and seem shocked by the revelation we have history.
“I heard they fought but this can't be!” One of the boys gapes as he says this with a distressed tone. I ignore him and the others to focus on Teva who's still grasping with the implication of what she just found out.
“Lance deserves this, she turned on the Red Dwarf.” An idiot proclaims. Liz narrows our eyes but deems our energetic redhead more important.
“You missed a lot, Teva.” I tell her with an uneasy shrug. “How about I buy you dinner?”
“I, um, I have a class.” She stutters with a heavy blush.
“I'll take notes, go!” Julie whispers so loudly I doubt her normal voice would have reached as far, and of course the remark provokes another round of furious gossiping.
I feel my cheeks heat up a bit because of all their assumptions but don't deny them because, not only won't it help, but it's petty revenge on Lance I can enjoy as well as good bait for Wraith. Teva's lips twitch but end up blooming into a bright smile that warms my cracked heart.
My fiery ex-girlfriend trots over to me with a bright smile that enhances her cute freckles and links arms with me to voluntarily pull me away. I chuckle at her sudden enthusiasm but the helmet slips from my grip and drops.
I unwind my arm from hers and pick it up to hook it on my belt. When I look back up, I find Teva staring at my left flank with a pale face. Shit, she doesn't know. I quickly place my arm on her back and push her along.
“It's a very long story that isn't very interesting, you don't need to worry about it.” I gently tell her.
“But...” She stutters the protest.
“I'm Jessica Freepath who lost her arm to the Rykz, that's about all that needs to be said on this.” I explain.
Teva makes a hesitant nod and we make our way out of the University in relative silence. After a while, she takes the initiative to link our arms back together and leads me along the shortest path. She even helps me fasten the weapons I recover at the imperial guard post around my waist.
“You're really Jessica Freepath?” She whispers the question as she guides me into a street.
“The one and only.” I confirm.
“You have a lot to explain, girl!” Teva berates with a joking tone but a concerned expression.
“I do, I do.” I acknowledge in the same tone to allay her concerns.
“But I'm glad you seem okay, better than you were without mentioning... that.” She says with a vague wave of her hand to my left side and cheek.
“I am, I've found purpose of my own beyond ending the war, or Nobility.” I tell her.
“Shh!” Teva reacts intensely with a touch of panic that makes her look cute. “Nobles have the power to hurt us even in Kruzser.” She murmurs urgently.
“I wouldn't worry about that.” I note, amused.
“You wouldn't.” She agrees with a short laugh. “But please, not in the street.”
“Alright, but then tell me how your dream is going.” I demand.
“Great!” Teva exclaims with a grin. “I'm learning so much and I already have offers from guild workshops I can take when I finish my education. I hope to snatch engineering work before graduation, though, so I'm still looking.” She excitedly tells me while pulling on my arm, causing my shoulder to brush against her breasts and making me a bit too self-conscious.
“What are you doing now?” I ask.
“Still serving tables.” She says with a short sigh. “There isn't much demand for blowing stuff up in Kruzser.”
“You'd be surprised.” I utter with a crooked smirk.
“No I wouldn't be.” She counters while rolling her eyes. “And I'm done with that, I'm a good girl now.”
“Right.” I drawl.
“Well, no I'm not, but Kruzser has been good to me.” She acknowledges with a bright smile.
I open my mouth to press her a bit more as I'm enjoying the conversation but I spot a man in messenger's clothing carrying a sealed pouch, he is much too old for his job so it is likely he is a veteran and part of a guild that offers secure communications.
“Dame Jessica Freepath.” The man calls out as he jogs up to me and bows. “Lady Yvonne Shipwold of Izla Meria extends an invitation to dinner in a few hours, there is an address and map held within this letter.”
He hands me a small folded piece of paper to then bow once more before running off. I stare at his back until he disappears around a corner and pull my arm back from Teva's.
“I need to go, quickly.” I tell her, feeling an instinctual pressure in the pit of my stomach.
“You have hours, we don't need to eat.” Teva protests. “How about we have beers at the tavern I work at?”
“It isn't that.” I deny while shaking my head. “Where do you lodge? I'll come visit tonight no matter what.” Teva loudly clears her throat, as if embarrassed by my forwardness. I dismiss her antics and throw her a pressing glance.
“I work and lodge at the Howling Sailor.” She hurriedly replies while throwing her red braid back. I nod and leave while opening the letter. “I'll leave my window open if you need to be discreet.” Teva throws to my back with a timid but hopeful note to her voice. I don't respond, too busy studying the simple map to find the shortest route.