The classes for the first week were the same for everyone. Basic physical fitness, magic theory and practice, law, history and basic military theory. The workload wasn’t as heavy as Orchid expected, but they were tested on a daily basis. Failing a test meant you would be punished with some convoluted combat related task like dodging a hundred mana bolts or balancing on pillars of earth that started to collapse around you. While that could be considered as a form of training, to add insult to injury the damage that was caused by the punishment was fixed by the exhausted person who had to suffer through it. The activation spells for repairing the training grounds had been among the first things that they were instructed in, just to make sure that they could complete punishments successfully. Even incorrect answers resulted in having to jog around the field, reciting the correct answer for a full lap. Having to do that for long answers in history and law resulted in a dramatic increase in the cadets scores in those two subjects.

It was no real surprise that the Professor had to run the least, scoring the highest, followed by Orchid and Anna. Leon spent almost half his lessons suffering some punishment or the other, happily laughing and running around as if he was enjoying working his body rather than his brain. Even Vale was keeping up well, remaining near the top of the class. He had confessed to Orchid that spending so much time alone had given him plenty of time to study and train.

Vale had integrated into the group in a very strange manner, following Orchid around like a puppy, he had even taken to sleeping on the sofa in their villa instead of going back to his, and Orchid had felt so guilty that he’d helped him carry all his gear and his bed to set up in their villa.

Introducing the cheerful farm boy to the prince had been just as amusing as Orchid had expected, Vale falling to his knees and genuflecting while constantly asking questions. Justain’s eyes had glazed over as he struggled between trying to interrupt or answer the questions and trying to persuade Vale to stand up. Vale seemed to have problems with anyone who was a noble, even indirectly, much to Rock’s chagrin. The fact that the majority of the students happened to be descendants from nobles was purely due to the concentration of magical bloodlines as mage families intermarried and rose to prominence. Explaining that particular topic to Vale, had somehow passed right by the normally bright boy. Orchid considered it a blind spot in his education and developed a new project to make sure that Vale would integrate with their group properly, instead of just relying on him for friendship.

Most of Orchid’s free time was spent using the ISD to dig up information from the library on the military branch and Samar. The former topic was locked behind security spells and the latter was too scarce to really count as information in the first place, containing only a few essays written by professors and heavily edited reports from the various delegations sent to the Gate.

On the final day of their first week, frustrated with his lack of progress, Orchid headed out for dinner. They had two options to get food, either they could cook in their own dormitories or they could head to one of the large cafeterias established around the Academy. The nearest cafeteria to the military branch was shared with the administrative branch and the Professor had been going there regularly to spend time with Katerina.

Crossing the Academy grounds while lost in thought, Orchid started humming a tune, just enjoying the sunset behind him along with the cooling breeze. Even though it was only a week, he was feeling happy with the knowledge he was gaining and it put him in a good mood for tomorrows classes.

I can’t wait for the Awakening ceremony. We’ll finally take our real first step to gain the power we need.

As he stepped into the cafeteria he could hear a very familiar voice finishing a story.

“.. the pig was decapitated and he’d fallen over. Its eyes looked at me, lifeless and full of pain. That’s when we knew it had taken the soup…” Justain’s voice had a strange rhythmic cadence that was ideal for storytelling. Surrounded by a group of wide eyed boys and girls he stood on a chair and delivered his story as if he was giving a speech to an army.

Oh, of all the spawn-crazed stories he had to tell, it’s the one about the Professors soup?

Grabbing a tray, he ignored the storyteller and his avid listeners and grabbed some bread and meat from some pots along with a spicy looking vegetable stew. Sitting down at a table in the corner of the hall, he pulled out a book on Awakening and started reading as he ate.

The food’s pretty good.

Lost in his book, he started to frown as he read certain paragraphs of text.

The awakening ceremony for mages of sufficient talent is the dividing line between a mages childhood where they are restricted by the mana they can control and their adulthood where they truly gain the power to affect the Workings of Fate.

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Isn’t this worded a little strange? Are the Workings of Fate important?

The ceremony is a process in which a mage binds themselves to the laws of the world and creates a channel to the mana of their laws to gain greater power... on average condense three Sigils… varying understandings affect the application of the laws… innumerable number of laws… influence between laws allows usage of other mana… initial awakening plays a significant role but doesn’t preclude further condensation of Sigils… control over power… interrelation of laws on a higher level indicates overarching principles…

Well that’s just confusing. This is the exact opposite of how magic works before an Awakening. How do Manipulations fit into this? What’s the point of the language we use for chanting, and how do Glyphs even work if this is the case?

Only finding more questions, he started to take out various texts and scribbled into a notebook as he tried to answer them.

“What are you working on, Orchid?” Vale asked as he sat down opposite him.

Glaring at the interruption, Orchid scribbled some more before frowning so hard his face seemed to change shape.

“I don’t know Vale. None of this adds up, and I have a feeling there’s something here that relates to magic before the end of the Age of the Gods.”

“Let it go Orchid. Why get so worked up? Tomorrow we’ll have our awakening ceremonies and they’ll finalize our specialized courses. I’ve had enough of learning about how much water a farmer is allowed to draw from a villages water source. It should be as much as they want to if you ask me, how else would there be enough food for everyone?” Vale’s problems with the Law seemed to settle on minor misdemeanors, more specifically farming related.  The Rat on the other hand struggled with the classes on Law, her expression constantly flickering throughout the lesson.

She must have broken almost everything in that tome. Well, even I’ve done lots of illegal stuff. Especially recently.

“The laws can favor no one.” Orchid quoted the previous chancellor, the Professors grandfather.

Vale just snorted in disagreement before launching into recounting his meeting with a beautiful girl from one of the other departments today, and how impressed she was at his coat with the cadets’ orange symbol. Orchid had to continuously remind him to eat since the excited boy was lost in his story.

He quieted suddenly and Orchid saw the Professor and Katerina sitting down next to them. Nervously twitching, Vale bowed towards Katerina before mumbling incoherently and darting away.

“What’s his problem?” Katerina asked with her usual fiery temper.

“Don’t worry about it.” He dismissed her question with a wave. “How are you two lovebirds doing today?”

“Enjoying each other’s company as usual, little Purple.” The Professor replied calmly and Orchid clicked his tongue, not being able to get a rise out of either of them with his comment bothered him. “Ready for tomorrow?”

“As much as can be Derek. The more I read on the subject the more I’m aware that there’s a lot we don’t know.” Sighing, he picked at his food.

“I agree with you, but the ceremony is an established procedure since the beginning of time itself. There’s no need to analyze it so deeply. Just prepare yourself mentally and relax.”

Knowing the advice was good Orchid put away his books as he looked at them.

“It would be easier if I also had a girl to relax with.” His mumbling was meant to be overheard and Katerina just glanced at him before tossing her hair in a gesture to indicate indifference.

“I’ve offered to hook you up with some of my friends many times Orchid. I know that you’re only a commoner but as a cadet many of the noble families will be interested in adopting you.” She said flippantly.

“Sure Kat. That’s why I don’t take your recommendations anymore. It’s not the time you set me up with that baron’s daughter who had that abnormal fascination with spiders. Oh yes. Definitely not having to face my deepest fears crawling all over a pretty girl.” Shuddering at the memory, he pushed his tray away, appetite lost at the images in his head.

Blushing she turned her head away a little but not before Orchid could see the smile growing on her face. The Professor was making no attempt to hide his amusement and was grinning openly.

“Remind me to prepare some snakes for your wedding day.” Orchid threatened halfheartedly. “Thanks for the supplies by the way Kat, if there’s something you need crafted out of it just tell me.”

“I’d like some more hair pins, they’re very useful, but they should be pretty.”

“Pretty?” Orchid looked dumbfounded.

They set to arguing as Kat sketched various designs and Orchid lamented over their functionality, while the Professor watched them with sparkling eyes and a hot cup of tea in his hand. Eventually they come to an agreement on a set of pins designed with various floral patterns and Orchid bid his friends farewell, avoiding the storytelling Justain on his way out.

“You need something Rat?” He asked the night as he stepped out of the cafeteria.

“I heard what you said in there. I don’t want the pendant for helping you, but give me some throwing daggers like you used. The bone ones.” She said stepping out of the shadows.

“No need for the pendant? Fine with me, and I’ve told you many times that instead of sneaking around just join us for a meal.” He replied as he walked towards the dormitories.

Looking uncomfortable the Rat glided to join him and they walked in silence for a while.

“I’ll talk to Rock for you Liz. Don’t be so nervous, the Major will approve of you. Whatever you’ve done in the past, you’re one of us now and you know what that means to me.” Orchid consoled her, already aware of the tension she was going through when she had discovered that the Major was Rock’s father.

“Thanks Orchid, I appreciate it.” She looked relieved, but added. “Still won’t forgive you though.”

Pulling a face at her they laughed and Vale appeared to join them, his incessant questions causing the normally solitary Rat to look cornered.

I guess I should I call him the Cat then. There are so few people that can make her look so terrified.

I’m looking forward to the Awakening. The secrets can be put aside for a while. I’ve had to wait years for this so I might as well enjoy it.