I walked out of the palace maybe an hour and a half after the emperor had taken me to the side room. I hadn’t thought my mana pool had been the spot that tiny bit of chi had gone to. I had felt it roaming through my body up until it had plopped into my mana pool increasing it by a third. My body also felt better somehow, like it was just a bit easier to move around because of it. Then I remembered what I’d done as I’d taken a small stroll through one of the gardens.
I apparently had quite a bit of impurities that the Chi wanted to cleanse from me. Thankfully the bile that had risen had come so much later and when I couldn’t be observed. The mess would be found sooner or later, if only by smell alone. I shuddered at the remembered taste.
Once I stepped out of the palaces walled off area I saw a familiar face waiting for me. It was the bishop from the attendance meeting. One of the paladins around him walked towards me and with his hand resting on his sword gestured for me to move to an alley. I smirked at the man which seemed to catch him off guard. “So Cliché.” I muttered in amusement as I walked to the Bishop and gestured for him to walk with me.
To my surprise he nodded his head and walked with me. We walked in almost companionable silence until we were isolated enough in the alley. “Is it true?” The Bishop asked me almost in a soft tone but it was still a tone that made it clear he wanted no lies.
I looked him in the eye and then nodded slightly. “What is?” I replied, a bit curious over what topic had put him into such a calm mood. I’d have thought he wanted to bring me in here to have the Paladins beat me up for mouthing off or something.
“The part about Aona angering the void.” The Bishop said with a complicated expression. “That you are the middle man preventing the void from ending the world?” He asked and I could see the calculating and scheming gleam in his eyes.
I smirked and decided to take a chance on this guy. Neither Ashes nor Dust had anything bad to say about the man besides which god he followed. The two ravens had grown a sort of second sense over people after observing them while looking for specific qualities, they were like really good talent scouts with an emphasis on personality useful for the team in mind along with talent.
I decided, breathed in slowly and exhaled. “About what Aona has done yes. I am the heir to the sovereign of the Void so you can understand me fibbing a bit about being the middle man instead of causing a panic.” I said with a friendly smile and watched the fat man’s eyes widen in sudden terror.
He looked over to the paladins just out of earshot but capable of intervening at a moments notice. “I’m not going to hurt you but that also depends on what you are going to do.” I said calmly and the man just slightly relaxed as he saw the truth in my words.
“I know your men took Camille off the streets yesterday and I want her returned. I gave my word to Fovtavious though indirectly to protect her as my ward. Do not make me a liar Bishop.” Now he began to sweat a bit and looking a bit guilty. Guilty over the act or that he was caught?
“I’m sorry for that, I had thought she had been seduced by some frivolous noble with wealth to work for him.” He said and I noted that he must be fond of the girl. She did have this innocent lamb vibe about her, or deer in headlights I mused to myself.
“How do you know though? About Aona’s deeds?” He asked then looking troubled, as he really should. The last time gods had gotten so uppity the undead war had broken out a thousand years ago.
“I’m the last of the line sired by Voidstrider. She’s been using my family as disposable pawns to help her little empire grow to where it is now.” I said allowing the ice in my voice show just how much I wanted to wring that bitches neck, over and over and over again.
The Bishop’s eyes went wide. “Then doesn’t that make you a… a...” He hesitated at speaking whatever word he was about to.
“I’m a demigod yes. However I’m going to have to ask you to stay silent on this matter in your prayers to Ymros. I fear he along with Revesis and Thohana might be involved in this somehow and I do not want to tip my hand too much before I act fully. This will take me decades but I have to get justice. Even if Aona had good reason to murder Voidstrider she had no right to pull the bloodline he left in the world of the reincarnators into this one to use as her limited use puppets. Not only that but once their use was done she had their souls destroyed.” I tell him knowing I might have to kill him right then and there.
The Bishop looked furious, it kinda surprised me he was so angry at hearing what I’d said. “If they have fallen so low then they have no right to their domains.” He growled and I realized something. He was a devout man and put the gods on a higher pedestal of standards and hearing that the god he’s devoted his life to act like I described filled him with anger. I smiled inwardly so he did have talent after all to aid me.
“I know this might be hard to hear but think on this. I’m sure the high priestess of Aona will report what I said today to her so it would be strange if you didn’t do the same. However keep this conversation private and try to see if you can’t gain some information from Ymros himself. We can keep in touch through letters delivered by my ravens.” I paused now and looked at him with respect in my eye as I gestured for a handshake. “Will you help me get to the bottom of this?”
The Bishop was silent and clearly in deep thought for a long while, his face moving from forced calm to fury and then back again a couple of times. Then he reached out and gripped my hand tightly. “It is in his tenets to honour bargains and to keep to ones own honour as well. If Ymros has done or taken part in such a dishonourable act I will help you. I will keep this conversation a secret from him and I’ll let you know what I find out. Are you a... man... of your word?” He finished as he narrowed his eyes and held my gaze with a steely one of his own.
I smiled and gripped his hand in the same grip. “As I am a man of my word I will tell you this. I am at war with Aona, she doesn't know it yet but we are at war. I am also at war with Wolfsgard, they destroyed Robert the Benevolent’s soul as she has had done with all of my family. She thought he was the last one left.” I said and I saw the horror in the Bishop’s eyes, destroying one’s soul was a reprehensible act after all, the people here believed in reincarnation of a soul to allow for redemption unless the person was irredeemable. Only two in the history of Imerith had been sentenced to such a fate to public knowledge and those two had been real monsters that had almost destroyed the continent.
The Bishops eyes hardened and he nodded. “I’ll help you if you promise me that you’ll at least try to spare the people of Wolfsgard. They are innocent in this.” He finally said and I almost lashed out at him right then and there, actually had a rather vivid imagining of ripping his throat out in fact.
I swallowed and looked him in the eyes again. “While I don’t agree given their lives are built upon the blood of my family I’ll… do as you ask. I will not go out of my way to save those that oppose me however, if they take up arms in protection of those that know the truth I won’t hesitate to treat them as enemies. I can’t afford any less if I am to succeed.” I answered and I saw slight disappointment appear in the Bishops eyes but it was then replaced with understanding. War wasn’t something that could be done with a wavering heart, not if one aimed to succeed.
You had to be decisive and make the hard decisions. I couldn’t be held responsible for those that took up arms against me, that was their choice to make not mine.
I realized I was kind of bad when it came to intrigue, hypocritical of me to think I would keep my identity a secret. Then again I’d given out parts of it but never the full thing besides the emperor and those in that room. I mentally groaned at my own shit habit of this half instinctual manner of conversation.
The Bishop exhaled and then nodded to me. An honourable man then. “Even if your god might have fallen do not let his tenets fall. The world needs more people that hold honour as more than just a word.” I said as I smiled a little and shook his hand when he smiled like a kindly grandfather at me.
“I suppose your a necromancer too?” He asked with a wry smirk.
I smirked at him. “I am but I’m hoping to create a sort of priest like class for those unfortunate enough to have necromancer forced on them as their first class. I’m going to be the vice-headmaster of the royal academy and I’m hoping to create healers from necromancers. Create a class that would contradict with Necromancer, like a Death knight does with a Paladin.” I finished and I saw the gleam of interest in the Bishops eyes.
“It is an interesting option to help those unfortunates that are forced to take the Necromancer class. Much better than hauling them off to jail to be killed or escape and become the very monsters they’re said to be just to survive. Is it possible?” He then finally asked me.
“I think it is, you see when a soul moves on they leave behind this energy that necromancers can use to create spirits and animated armours and the like but it can also be channelled to heal if done correctly. I’m hoping to create a class capable of using that energy to create ideal city and battlefield healers with a medical knowledge rivalling great mundane healers as well.” I answered him.
“Admirable ambition. Perhaps you’ll allow myself and perhaps some talented healers to help out?” He asked then and I picked up on the fact it is also a way to keep an eye on me. I smiled at that.
“If you can be sure to trust they won’t try to drag off those poor kids to die. I need you to be sure of those you bring and I’ll be happy for visiting advisors and temporary instructors to achieve this if possible. Especially if they are good healers. I want a sort of basics to be taught that would include survival training, first aid, combat along with other needed skills for the future.” I say as I hint at what I had planned for the academies curriculum.
The Bishop noded. “I’ll see what I can do for that goal. How about we keep up a facade of hating one another while not in private?” He asked me with a sly smile and I returned it.
“Oh? Keep an eye on one another's enemies as they gather around one another type of deal?” I asked as my sly grin turned predatory.
The Bishop only chuckles and we mutually agree to leave. The Bishop with his paladins while I walk into a shadow and after a few more jumps with shadow gate I arrive at the doors to the academy. Knight commander Theodore was there with a small contingent of knights under his command, all of who grip their weapons as I walk out of the commanders shadow.
“Do you have to do that?” Theodore Dunleavy asked annoyed.
I smiled in amusement. “No but it’s entertaining to see how vigilant your knights are. Aren’t you going to recommend a few to be assistant combat instructors or students?” I asked with my smile turning almost to a sneer as I looked at the bewildered knights.
“I hadn’t decided to help you out yet. We have unfinished business after all.” He said gruffly and I knew this was about his son. Perhaps a duel might clear the air? I couldn’t let him kill me but beat me for it wouldn’t be so bad, a small price to pay for peace between us.
I simply gave him a stern look and nodded. “I understand. Shall we arrest this sorry excuse for a man then?” I asked and he nodded, a vicious glint coming to his eyes.
We entered the Academy walking side by side with the knights behind us. The current students finishing up their last year with a week to graduation looking at us with quirked eyebrows. I looked over to Dunleavy and spoke. “Tell me did you catch that last gladiator match at the arena?”
He looked at me with surprise. “I thought you weren’t in the city then?”
I simply smiled. “I wasn’t but these two were, I’m wondering about that Anubian contender. What was his name again?… Amset I think.”I said while stroking my crocked finger against the underside of Ashes’s neck and then did the same to Dust. They were still perched on my shoulders and both looked deep in thought themselves. That did remind me to try giving an undead chi to see what it would do to them. My mind buzzed with the possibilities.
Theodore nodded at me. “I did, talented that one. He’s jumped a few levels in just a few weeks now. His match was your knight wasn’t it?” He asked me and my smile said yes. “Tough bugger given how low his level is.” Theodore said with a slight nod of respect.
I smiled. “Well racial advantages did play a part in that one but I do have to help him grow more. Perhaps he’ll become a worthy sparing partner for you?” I said with a teasing smirk.
Theodore surprised me as he nodded. “His pride as a knight is clear for all to see in his bearing. His diet also lessens how badly I think of him as well. Perhaps he just might be.” He said before looking over at me. He must have seen something in my eye as I wondered how good Theodore and his children might do as the first to be turned by Abhorash and myself into vampires.
I paused as I felt the cold steel on my neck and then smiled at Theodore. “I promised not to do anything detrimental to you and yours after the harm I’ve already done to you. That doesn’t mean I can’t envision your performance after a change.” I said with an amused smile at the hard look in Theodore’s eyes.
He pursed his mouth a little and removed the sword from my neck and sheathed it. The nervousness of the knights behind us lowering a bit. The tension between me and Theodore rather palpable in the air already. Then he surprised me with a cocky smirk. “How’d we match up?”
I stared at him. “Is today the day all of you humans continually surprise me or something? Since when were all of you so damn trustworthy and honourable?” I asked almost mockingly as a part of me actually meant it. What was with today?
Theodore only laughed at me with clear mirth at my expense in his tone. I only grimaced in annoyance as I realized I still was the type to wear my heart on my sleeve so to speak. My face was still too expressive it seems.
I paused those grumbling thoughts as we came to a large square in the middle of the academy grounds that was in front of the main building of the academy. Most of the others serving as dormitories for the students as many came from outside of Veta. There were almost more nobles and military personnel that could afford the education for their children or kin outside of Veta than within.
The teachers and staff all stood there on the square ready to receive us. I noted the disgusting lard ass that we came here for and I already felt the need to hurt him. Badly.
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“What might the knight commander of the Emperors finest knights be doing here?” The headmaster said as he stepped forwards. He was a well trimmed man with an almost feng shui like beard and moustache and salt and pepper hair trimmed back.
Theodore was about to speak when I cut in. “Headmaster Tibut Dermout it is a pleasure to meet you. I am Baron Aesir.” I said with a slight bow of respect and I smiled when I received one in return from him.
“I have heard of you and what you proposed for the change in curriculum, I’m intrigued but why are you here now? I was sure we would be working together to set everything in motion once the semester was fully over.” He said and I nodded before looking at him apologetically and pulled out the ledger I had given to the Emperor, a copy of it actually.
I noted the hardening features of Dermout as he looked over at the fat man in their mists. If glares could kill he’d be ashes by the way the headmaster glared daggers at the man. Perhaps if I let the headmaster be his eyes would set the fat man on fire?
While the Bishop had been a little pudgy the current accountant of the academy was nearly obese with two chins and a third on the way. He was dressed in almost gaudy apparel more aimed at displaying wealth and power than what was proper given the others fine but simpler clothing. Not to mention the clothing struggled to contain his bulk too.
By the way the others also stared at the man I was sure he wasn’t all too popular. “Veritas, you are under arrest for fraud and embezzling the coin of the crown.” Theodore didn’t stand on ceremony and pulled his sword as he made his way towards Veritas who’s pudgy face was like a hippo with the deer in headlights look.
My analogy proved a bit apt as Veritas began to glow and charged Theodore. I was about to jump in as well when I saw Theodore move with more grace and prowess with the blade than I had seen in almost all my lives. Safe one man, Wolfsgards weapon master who had first instructed me in the sword. Theodore moved fluidly as he not only dodged the blow but rammed the pommel of his sword into Veritas’s head and knocked him out in an instant.
At the end Theodore only looked at me and gave me a cocky smirk. “How do I measure up now?” He asked and I felt he was really enjoying fucking with me.
I just sighed loudly and smirked back at him after a scoff. “I’m not so sure it would be a good idea though I’m sure you’d be like a demigod.” I answered and I was rather glad only Theodore seemed to understand me while the others just watched the both of us with curiosity and confusion at our conversation.
“I take it there is sufficient evidence to get rid of this slime.” The old and distinguished voice of Dermout sounded out and both myself and Theodore looked at one another then we both nodded to the headmaster. “Good, I’ve wanted that bastard gone for a while now but he was too good for me to find anything. How did you gather enough evidence?” He then asked as he eyed the ledger still in my hand.
I simply smiled. “Let’s just say the Emperor has eyes and ears good enough to catch such scum, just took a bit of time.” I said with a smile as I moved to stand next to Veritas. I reached down and touched his forehead and he woke up screaming as I ripped the mana from his body to feed my own pool. The mana burning his body as it left him, searing his channels and pool to uselessness. Veritas would never cast a spell again, never feel the touch of mana again.
This was a variation of the skill mana devouring adapted by me through some experiments I had performed in the underground arena on some of those to be turned to thralls by me.
Veritas lay there panting in pain and terror, his face drenched in sweat and his eyes wide in terror. “Wha-what did you do to me?! How did you take away my mage class?!” He then shrieked after a false start. The teachers, knights, Theodore and Dermout all stared at me with wide open eyes of surprise.
“I took away your mana, I wasn’t expecting it to take away your class.” I answered equally surprised at the result of my own little punishment for the slime of a man. I had been harsh and had just taken it all instead of the testing dips I’d done in the underground.
Veritas’s eyes glazed over and he began to cry. “You-you mana burned me!” He wailed as the knights snapped out of it and grabbed the man dragging him away. I just looked after the man with confused curiosity. A boisterous laugh behind me made me look over my shoulder and I saw Nafir come walking towards me with a huge grin on his face.
“So you can even mana burn others? That’s wonderful, we have a few mages we’ve sort of just forced into sleep as punishment but some of those really deserve that fate.” He said with a large smile as he walked past me and hugged the headmaster who hugged him back with a wide smile. Then the two old men kissed and my jaw dropped. I hadn’t expected this either, then I chuckled a little as I found the two old men kind of cute.
They were still madly in love it seemed and that also appeared to me to have been a long relationship between the two.
Then I shook my head a little and looked at Nafir once more. “Why are you here Magistrate?” I asked a bit dubiously.
“I was to come with you two to help hold Veritas’s magic at bay but apparently that was unnecessary.” He said with a wide smile of intellectual curiosity on his face. I knew he wanted to know what I’d done but my look told him I wouldn’t. This was a skill I didn’t want anyone else to know unless they were my own minions. The dead would keep this skill for themselves as I thought of how to make the inquisitor and/or the sorcerer Ushabti perhaps have this ability? It would be devastating in conflicts involving mages as part of the enemy forces. I smiled devilishly at the thought of my minions devouring the enemies magic only to use the stolen power to strengthen themselves.
“Is he… ok?” One of the other teachers of the academy asked Nafir as he pointed at me smiling to myself.
“Oh He’s probably thinking up how to use what he just did in ways we’d rather not know.” Nafir said with a kindly smile but I had snapped out of it by the time he answered and noted the tinge of trepidation in his voice.
“Well when you all have the time I do hope to meet with you and perhaps work out some ideas I have to help facilitate training the next batch of students. While I’ve become rather well versed in one area of magic I do hope it isn’t too forward of me to ask the rest of you with help in learning the other schools?” I said with a happy grin.
“And what school of magic is that?” Another elderly man asked who had that sort of military style to how he groomed himself, short cropped and grey on the side with just a tiny bit of black allowed to grow over on top as well as a goatee with a moustache. I think it was called the Van dyke or full goatee back on earth.
I smiled at the man and then looked at Nafir. “Should I tell him?” I asked and I noted how the man stiffened a little at my actions. Nafir looked from me to the man and then sighed as he erected a privacy barrier around all of us before nodding.
I whistled a little at the size of the barrier Nafir had erected. “Well I believe part of what I’ve studied comes under the perview of dark magic but I’m more versed in necromancy at the moment.” I said before suddenly appearing in front of one of the other staff with my hand on his throat.
“If you cast that spell my deal with the emperor is off and I start… doing things none of you will be able to live with.” I said slowly and calmly but allowed both my aura to flare as well as the animalistic under growl seep into my voice.
Now with many of them shrugging off my aura and preparing spells I let go of the man’s neck and looked at them with annoyance. “I can raise wooden puppets to act as training dummies, I can teach those unfortunate enough to have necromancer as their first class to heal with the energy permeating this city instead of using it to raise ghosts and wights. Are all of you so sure you’d want to throw away what I can do because you fear what I can do if I so care for it?” I then asked as I narrowed my eye at them and I noted that three among the staff were looked towards.
Dermout as I had suspected but also an older woman in a blueish white robe that had an alchemy insignia on it and the military man who’d asked me what my magic was. Ashes ruffled her feathers when she looked at me and I could only look right back with a ‘what?’ look on my face.
“Tell me what is it that you will teach on behalf of the emperor in this academy.” Dermout took control and spoke to me, his visage hard as a man in his position sometimes had to be.
I waved my hand to my side and materialized the mana I had been weaving around the area. Revealing a few magical circles for only a second to show I had also been ready to attack had they done so before they all turned to appear like liquid smoke that moved and gathered next to me. My amused smirk wasn’t unnoticed by Dermout when the others appeared to tense up at seeing how close I had been to act on them without them even noticing it.
The liquid smoke gathered together and formed a wooden training dummy that began to go through a few very basic attack stances. “I can raise these types of dummies to provide some actual combat experience as I want all students to at least get a passing grade in hand to hand as well as melee combat for their own protection.”
The dummy then turned into a figure creating a sword, a staff and other very basic forms of mana manipulation for them to see. “I want them all to at least not be stuck with basic mana manipulation and materialization when they leave here. Secondly there will be commoners allowed into the school that are recommended after a testing period throughout the empire with all students sharing the same social rank once they enter. We are the nobles they are the commoners so to speak.
The students should also learn a secondary profession be it blacksmith, woodworker, alchemist or artificer so that just magic isn’t the only thing taught to them. I propose that if we can, we should take a few students out on very low level requests for the adventurer association to allow them real world experience as well.” I said speaking my main points then moved on to what I’d proposed and would help with in teaching.
“And why would an elf ask that of us? Isn’t Nomgolir better suited for such pursuits?” A teacher that was clearly a noble and not happy about what would happen to the students ranks when they entered the academy next almost spat at me. His haughty attitude and how he had his nose slightly in the air with a look of superiority irked me.
I looked at him with a withering stare. “I’m not an elf any more human. I suggest you curb your kinds need for arrogance around me. I don’t take to it all that well.” I answered and this time I allowed my voice to fully embrace the animalistic growl I could emanate. Quite frankly it was like I had taken a tiger’s low growl mixed that in with a crocodiles rumbling purr and then melded that all together into my vocal cords with just a dash of sulfur hexafluoride. That’s the stuff that makes your voice really deep. The man went white as a sheet when I did that and backed away a bit.
“Your not an elf any more?” Both Dermout and Nafir asked in unison not as effected by the monstrous tone my voice had taken unlike the others.
“I’m something I doubt anyone has ever seen before, I guess.” I shrugged and Nafir just gapped at me which made me smile. Then my smile turned to a smirk as I saw the raw look of curiosity in Nafir’s eyes. He reminded me a little about myself when curiosity had a hold of me, thankfully most of mine had been turned to magic and how to use my minion skills to date.
“This is ridiculous. So we are going to have to work under a monster then? That can’t be something a sentient race could do.” The elderly woman asked now likely a little unnerved by how fast the conversation was turning. Not that it had been all that coherent to begin with now that I think about it.
Nafir and Dermout both looked from her and then at me, rather pointedly. I felt attacked to be honest. I looked from the woman and then to the two old loverbirds before sighing. “I’m not a monster.” I grumbled as I flicked at one of my ears. “I’m taking this form since that won’t cause a panic alright. I’m a dragon of sorts.” I said narrowing my eye at the three old people slowly moving to my shit list with their stares.
The old woman narrowed her eyes and then swallowed audibly. “How old are you?” She then asked and the wariness in her voice made me want to fuck with her.
I smiled almost like a happy child. “About five.” I said as my smile quivered a little as it wanted to turn to a reflection of the amused mischief I felt at her confused expression.
“Centuries?” She asked.
“Nope.” I answered almost right away which also threw her off a little.
“Millennia?” She asked once more and the people around us grew wide eyed.
I decided to take mercy on her and fuck with her at the same time. “Days.” I said.
She stared for a few long moments, almost a minute before she repeated after me. “Days?” Her tone was one of disbelief and I saw the creeping in of that look one gave when you wanted to say ‘your fucking with me aren’t you?’
“Well this body’s around five days old.” I said with a wide fang showing smile. “The last one was about two months or so. Then there was that twenty years of half conscious burning in the black. Then there were those four years that I was a paladin and the thirty before that. Hmm I’d say I’m around fifty if I count everything up I guess.” I then sighed a little as I noted Dermout’s wide bulging eyes.
I snickered and let out a comical sigh of defeat. “I’ve had too many bodies now that I think about it.” I chuckled.
The old woman stared along with most of the people around while Nafir only had his face in his hands and shaking it. Then the old bat burst into laughter and slapped my shoulder. “Your not right in the head are you?” She asked me in amusement and I could only give a genuine smile in return.
“But aren’t the best people not right in the head?” I coyly replied which only made her mirth greater. I was starting to like the old bat. She came of to me as those people that are total hard asses but can still make or take a joke.
“So you’re about fifty then?” She then asked with a bit more seriousness but mirth was still in the undertones of her voice.
I nodded at her. “So you’re not completely useless then.” She gruffly harrumphed at me and I was a bit taken aback by that. “I can already see that you have mana control none of us have seen before and that alone gives you the right to teach at this school but I suggest we go over everything that will change with your coming next semester not so out in the open.” She then said and I noted the students that had begun to gather most likely after my flare of aura had happened.
“I agree completely… were are my manners.” I said as I offered her my hand in a gentlemanly bow of greeting. “I am Baron Felix Aesir and you are?.”
She... giggled? “I am the head of the Enchanting, Conjuring and Alchemy departments. Lady Tiamat Ferhat.” She said with a wide smile.
I started a bit, almost sure I hadn’t heard her right. “Like the five headed dragon goddess?” I asked and a few of the professors immediately stifled laughter. Apparently she could be a real dragon lady. She only looked at me with curious eyes.
“There is a five headed dragon goddess named Tiamat?” She asked with rather clear curiosity in her tone.
I looked over to Nafir and smiled almost maliciously at him. “Well since Miss Holland will be joining the academy next semester we’ll have her regale you of the tales of Tiamat. After all the goddess is from her world.” I said with an evil sneer at the paling Nafir who clearly saw what I was doing.
“Do you have to do that to the poor girl?” He almost hissed at me and I only laughed.
“It’ll help her build character and back bone.” I laughed before Tiamat suddenly gripped my collar and yanked me down to her eye level. Which was quite impressive as I’d thought she was so small her hands wouldn’t reach my robes collar unless… she’d... jumped?
The withering stare she gave me made it rather clear she didn’t want any shit. “What about you tell me instead since you know and are already here. Hmm?” She asked in a sickly sweet tone that I knew wasn’t true at all as I could see the menace in her eyes.
Note to self, do not fuck with anyone named Tiamat, apparently the name might be a sort of hint about who they could be.
What followed as the professors, Dermout, Nafir, Tiamat, Theodore and myself made our way into the main buildings conference room was me telling the old woman everything I knew about Tiamat. Which frankly wasn’t all that much and Tiamat didn’t seem all that happy with how lacklustre my explanation was.
The left over knights had been left outside to stand guard while we took about an hour to talk everything out. I was quite surprised that once the people got over me being a necromancer they all had this intellectual curiosity that showed me they weren’t just teachers. They were researchers and students of magic as well, ever trying to expand their scope of knowledge and mastery over it.
Some were also rather fond of the idea I came up with for a sort of vr space for training purposes and two main ideas for facilities to construct came from that.
At the end of the conference were we went into a bit more detail and set a date for all of us to gather once again at my manor for a deeper in depth talk of the changes and to go through some of the suggestions that arose with some of my ideas. I had to admit despite a few personality flaws among the staff, such as a few that to seemed to have slightly shorter tempers or impatience the academy had a dedicated and competent staff.
Many of them also grilled me a little on what abilities I could bring to bear to help them further their educational curriculum. I had to be rather firm on the limit I’d teach the students and the teachers of what I knew of mana manipulation and the like as I wanted the teachers to be at a level above what I wanted the graduates to have when the five year semester was over. I did not however want to teach them enough to be even a mild threat to me in those areas.
I looked over at Theodore as we stepped out of the academy’s gates and smirked. “Did you see their faces when I told them of the next treasurer for the academy?” I asked in a slightly cheerful yet sly tone.
Theodore looked at me and then both of us laughed as we made our way back to my manor to part ways. Camille already at the gates looking kind of bewildered over what had happened to her. I just smiled at her as I approached.