Chapter 16: Divination
“How many lessons are left in this damn primer?”
The low hiss and dull clunk of the Basilisk’s door lock opening alerted the Sparrow, who quickly straightened in her chair as she turned to face the Lair’s entrance. Raimund entered first, followed by three rather excited Initiates, whose wide eyes scanned the two-level classroom with matching grins of anticipation.
The door swung closed with another dismal hiss. The ginger Disciple remained beside it, looking anxious as he adjusted his robes.
Mercedes took a quiet breath as she gripped the back of her seat. If the evaluations were over, that meant the Soul Reaver prodigy would be joining them imminently. She stiffened as the door opened with another dull clunk and hiss. This time, Professor Nicodemus appeared, shadowed by two younger Mystics, neither of whom were wearing the Academy Initiate Training Uniform.
The Sparrow immediately recognized Taran and the eye-catching streaks of blue in his braided dark brown hair. He still wore the same Soul Reaver uniform of dark navy blue embroidered with silver runes and faded images resembling ghostly spirits that spiraled around each sleeve.
The younger three Initiates fell silent at the sight of him. The Soul Reaver took no notice of them as he moved forward to allow their final classmate to enter—stiffening in place the moment his electric-blue eyes fixated on the albino still seated at her desk.
Mercedes's concerns about the Soul Reaver’s presence doubled when a Priestess stepped through the door behind him. The willowy Mystic brushed aside the long curls of caramel brown locks that had escaped the loosely twisted braid of the lush, smooth hair that tapered down her shoulders.
Her uniform's soft sky blue and white fabric with gold embroidery looked similar to that of Disciple Gladys, the Priestess who had nearly killed the Sparrow while attempting to heal her. However, the flared open skirt this Mystic wore revealed a more practical pair of pants and luxurious boots that appeared more suitable for training.
The Priestess’s turquoise blue eyes remained fixated on Taran and, upon noticing his hostile gaze, turned curiously in the albino’s direction. The Mystic’s pleasant expression withered as her gaze returned to the Soul Reaver beside her before narrowing at the Professor.
“You may make your introductions in a moment,” Nicodemus said casually as he left them and moved towards the elaborate hearth with its quietly crackling arcane flames. “For now, take a seat. Whatever desk you choose will be yours until the end of term.”
Mercedes remained seated as the Priestess and Soul Reaver glared in her direction. The stifling tension made the younger initiates uneasy as they slowly separated to fill the empty desks. Lorcon pulled out the chair of the desk in front of the Sparrow and winced when one of its legs screeched against the floor.
The sound appeared to release Taran, whose electric-blue gaze left the stiff albino as he strode forward to claim the desk to her left. The Sparrow frowned, her unease growing as the Priestess claimed the seat in front of him, leaving the two desks at the front of the classroom for Hestia and Dimitri to claim.
‘Are they trying to intimidate me?’ Mercedes furrowed her brows and focused her gaze on the Professor. She watched from the corner of her eye as Raimund summoned a chair from thin air before moving to sit at the back of the class directly behind her. ‘I guess he doesn’t trust them to behave either. Fantastic.’
“Everyone seated? Wonderful, let's start introductions front to back,” Nicodemus said as he turned to face his students. “Name, rank, and origin will suffice for now. Please do not speak unless it's your turn to introduce yourselves.” The golden-amber eyes behind his silver-lined glasses turned expectantly to Dimitri, who clambered to his feet to begin.
The Sparrow focused on the primers on her desk and listened attentively as Hestia and Lorcon stood in turn to introduce themselves. She kept her expression neutral as the Priestess pushed back her chair and rose gracefully.
“Novice Karissa from the Divine Realm. It’s a pleasure to be here. I look forward to learning more about the Arcane Realm and its prestigious Academy.”
Mercedes arched a brow as she observed the Divine Mystic, who appeared to be roughly the same age as her, sit down and neatly fold her arms against the desk.
“Novice Taran from the Spirit Realm,” the hostile Mystic beside the albino declared before dropping back into his seat almost as immediately as he had risen from it.
The Sparrow took a quick breath, stood, and mimicked the brief introduction most of them had given. “Initiate Mercedes. Originally from a Mundane World.”
Lorcon flashed her a friendly smile, then quickly turned around to face the Professor, who now strode between them.
“Before we begin today's lesson,” Nicodemus stated as he paused beside the Priestess’s desk. “I would like to address any concerns you might have with your classmates.”
“How generous of you, Professor,” Karissa replied dryly as her turquoise eyes turned sharply in the direction of the albino. “While I appreciate that the Arcanum Academy is more welcoming than most, I was not expecting to share a classroom with a dhampir.”
“Yes. I was equally surprised when the Grandmaster twisted my arm to accept the two of you as students despite already being Novices. Still, here we are,” Nicodemus responded with a rather pointed smile as he met the Priestess’s gaze. “I suppose the Divine and Spirit Realm have more important matters to attend to than the training and education of their Initiates.”
Karissa snapped her mouth closed and averted her gaze, though her annoyed expression was clear for all to see.
“I suggest that each of you overlook your differences and focus on your reason for being here,” the Professor continued as he moved to the back of the class, where he circled behind Taran’s desk. “The Academy’s education system is built on this simple principle: ‘A strong foundation of Mystic knowledge yields the most potential in its students.’
“So, while you are in my class, your only purpose will be to listen, observe, and learn. If you waste my time with pointless interruptions due to the petty, moral principles of your realm’s politics, you will find yourselves removed from class and sent home for the day. And if you even think of threatening or causing injury to a fellow student, do so with the knowledge that you will be expelled from class and banned from entering the Academy in the future. Is that understood?”
The younger Initiates responded softly in affirmation while Taran pressed his closed fists against his desk and offered a stiff nod. “Fine,” Karissa muttered, followed by an audible sigh as she played with the loose curls of hair around her face.
Mercedes flinched as the Professor’s calculating gaze turned in her direction and hastily nodded in response.
Nicodemus appeared satisfied with this as he turned his attention to Raimund. “Why don’t you see if our guests are ready to join us?”
The awkward tension in the classroom was soon forgotten when Sasha appeared through the Basilisk door, followed by two other Mystics whose dazzling garments seemed excessively extravagant.
The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
“Welcome, Master Danica,” Nicodemus greeted, inclining his head politely towards the silver-haired woman dressed in a loose, flowing gown of shimmering fabric that portrayed sparkling, swirling forms of bright celestial bodies painted against a canvas of deep blue.
The Sparrow blinked as she stared intently at what looked like twinkling stars that fell from the dress’s loose waistline toward the hem of the woman’s gown. Her gaze was then captivated by the celestial tiara worn by the timelessly beautiful Mystic. At the center of the crown was a pale blue shimmering rock that emanated a blinding, cool celestial glow.
“The honor is mine, Master Nicodemus,” Danica replied warmly before gesturing to the young male Mystic behind her. “I hope you don’t mind that I brought my Disciple to observe and assist me. I have high hopes that he will one day alleviate some of my responsibilities once he becomes a Master himself.”
“So long as he follows the customs and regulations of the Academy, his presence is as welcome as your own,” Nicodemus replied dismissively before turning to address the class. “Master Danica is here to administer what will be the first Astra Tattoo for some of you. This is an intimate and delicate process in which the Mystics of the Celestial Realm excel. You will meet with the Master and her Disciple one at a time for your divination selection that will help pinpoint which constellation you are best matched with.”
‘What? A Tattoo matched to your constellation???’
The Sparrow frowned as she recalled her stepfather's temporary obsession with stars before his interest in magic took a darker turn.
‘Is divination actually a thing in the Mystic realms?’
“If you have any questions, please feel free to ask now before we begin,” Danica said as she stepped forward to offer the class a reassuring smile. “The process of selecting and applying your Astra is relatively painless and incredibly beneficial towards the journey you are about to embark upon.”
The Sparrow examined her classmates covertly, noting the expression of indifference on the Priestess and Soul Reaver’s face, while the younger Initiates appeared eager but unfazed.
‘I guess this is nothing new or abnormal to them.’
“Well then, we’ll set up a private corner in the balcony above as usual,” the Celestial Mystic continued as she directed her Disciple towards the staircase to the left of the students’ desks. “You may send up the first Initiate whenever they’re ready, Professor.”
image [https://www.royalroad.com/dist/img/ornaments/16.png]
Mercedes fidgeted nervously with her primers as she watched the balcony above them where Initiate Dimitri was now receiving his divination and Astra. The dissipating clouds in the mystical ceiling above had cleared to reveal a vast, majestic expanse of space, which occasionally reflected the glimmering light emerging from the corner where Master Danica was performing her task.
“You look like you’re holding back a flood of questions,” Raimund observed as he tapped the back of the Sparrow’s chair with his boot. “How unlike you to repress your curiosity.”
The Sparrow pressed her lips together with a frown before relenting. “What exactly is an Astra?”
The ginger Disciple grinned before answering. “It’s a mystical tattoo infused with celestial and arcane magic given to each Initiate by either their Master or a Celestial Mystic. It’s both an enchantment and a tool since it unlocks your Mystic Profile and Stats.” He pulled the green glove from his left hand to reveal a strange tattoo that was a mesh of blue and gold shaped in a myriad of stars surrounding two overlapping moons, one full and the other a crescent. “The Astra’s primary purpose is that it allows you to track and evaluate your progress and growth as you train.”
The albino blinked as the Mystic leaned forward and tapped the pile of primers on her desk with his left hand.
“Stat growth is used to measure your progress here in the Academy. That progress will become even more important once you leave the Academy walls to explore your first realm dungeon.”
“I see,” Mercedes murmured, pulling her gaze away from the curious tattoo. “Do they all look like that?”
The ginger Disciple chuckled as he examined the back of his left hand. “No. While they do tend to fall into one of five categories, even then, they aren’t a perfect replica of each other. Mine is a Stella Mista, which symbolizes the precarious balance of positive and negative traits that support my innate desire to pursue mystical knowledge and enlightenment. Most, but not all, Arcane Mystics tend to fall into this category.”
“Positive and negative traits?”
Raimund shrugged sheepishly. “According to Master Danica’s divination, I am adventurous, confident, ambitious, and open-minded while also being impatient, naive, and a bit irresponsible.”
“That—doesn’t seem so bad?”
The Disciple chuckled again as he pulled his glove over the Astra. “I wouldn’t say she’s a hundred percent correct in her divinations regarding which personality traits you possess. The true purpose of her divination is finding the constellation you’re best matched with based on your internal desires and goals. Accepting one’s inner self, flaws and all, allows a Mystic to train unhindered by doubt, inner turmoil, and external disapproval.”
The Sparrow frowned as he leaned against the back of her chair and tapped his finger against the albino’s forehead. “A focused mind may learn to run and walk, but a clear mind is free and weightless and thus able to soar as easily as breathing.”
“I see,” Mercedes said, brushing his hand away. ‘Sounds like bullshit to me.’
“According to the Celestials, the Astra offers more benefits to those who embrace their true nature and inner desire,” Lorcon explained as he turned his gaze from the balcony above to the Disciple and Sparrow. “So, it acts as an important tool and a guide.”
“What if your nature is more negative than positive? What if it makes you dangerous?”
The brunette Initiate raised his brows and shrugged. “Whether they have an Astra or not, most Mystics follow their true nature instinctively. My father says fighting against the Astra is the same as fighting against yourself. Your Astra will only end up recording each futile effort made until you accept the Primordials’ purpose for you.”
“One’s true self isn’t something you can change or hide simply because you wish to,” Karissa interjected, turning in her chair to join their conversation. “For it is only in the presence of darkness that we truly appreciate the light, and only when we uncover true evil do we discover the strength within ourselves to fight for virtue and goodness.”
‘She definitely sounds like she belongs to Serenitus’s Temple.’
The ginger Disciple stared at the Divine Mystic blankly, then scoffed and asked, “What Astra did you get?”
The Priestess smirked as she pulled the white glove from her left hand to reveal a golden eight-pointed star that gleamed with divine power.
“Viritus Aeterum,” Raimund muttered. “Of course.”
“That one is rarely obtained,” Lorcon murmured for Mercedes’s benefit. “It’s the sort of tattoo followers of Seraphelios covet because it indicates an unwavering devotion to virtue and righteousness.”
“Seraphelios?”
“The Primordial Deity who rules over the Divine Realm. The Titans Lustragon, Serenitus, and Revitara all serve under him.”
“Ahh.”
“You’re quite knowledgeable for an Initiate,” Karissa observed as she studied the brunette boy.
“My father is a Metal Arcanist and a Master Artisan,” Lorcon replied, flushing beneath her praise. “An important part of his work is understanding how Astras operate so that the gear and weapons he designs harmonize with the Mystic’s abilities.”
“An Arcanist?” The Priestess raised her brows in surprise. “Your father must be quite pleased that you managed to be accepted by the Academy.”
The brunette Initiate looked uncomfortable as he shrugged. “He’s proud of me, of course. We were both surprised when my application was accepted, but I would have been fine with remaining as his Apprentice.”
“The first divination has finished,” Raimund interjected as Dimitri and Sasha appeared on the stairwell. “You’re up next, Initiate Hestia.”
The auburn-haired Initiate nodded as she rose from her seat, pausing only to congratulate Dimitri, who beamed in response as he showed her his hand. While Hestia and Sasha proceeded up the stairwell, the usually shy blonde Initiate hurried over to Lorcon’s desk to show off his new tattoo.
“I got a Stella Mista!” Dimitri gushed, oblivious to the reddened skin around the blue and gold design that resembled Raimund’s Astra, with a few minor differences.
“Show me your stats,” Lorcon demanded as he grasped the boy’s hand.
“Hold on. Just a moment!”
Mercedes raised a brow as both the Initiates appeared to gaze at an invisible screen only they were privy to. She turned to the ginger Disciple waiting behind her. “You can share your stats with others?”
Raimund shrugged. “If you want to, you can. Normally, you’d only share that information with your Professor, a rank evaluator, or whatever craftsman you need new gear from. People of higher rank than you can also see your stats if you don’t know how to shield the information.” He smirked as he watched the pair of Initiates excitedly gushing over whatever numbers they saw. “He’s got a decent Wisdom stat boost, but the rest of his stats are standard. Still, not surprising since he’s only level six.”
The ginger Disciple chuckled as he noted the Sparrow’s scowl.
“Not to worry. We’ll teach you how to secure your Astra before the end of class.”