’It seems your Noble Houses have forgotten that the University remains neutral in outside affairs not out of fear for ourselves, but for fear of the cataclysm that we may inflict upon those who find themselves in conflict with us. Allow me to correct this lapse in memory.’

— Aegian the Aether-blessed response to the First Emissary Alexei Jeanmaire’s demand of surrender at the 5th Attempted Siege of Hollow.

Regaining consciousness in a strange place for the second time that day, Quinn saw a grandmother-like figure in an elegant white robe watching him closely. Her hands hovered above his head and her eyes were shut in quiet concentration. Moments later, she opened her eyes and gave him a reassuring smile.

“Seems like you have had quite the morning, haven't you?” she said, raising up the pamphlet that had been in his hand before the hectic situation he found himself in, “Lucky for you, you’ve finally got yourself to the right place.”

Turning his gaze about, Quinn took in the pristine white room in which he rested, nestled into what must be this place's equivalent of a hospital bed. Seeing out a window on the wall he was greeted to a view mirroring the one had taken in earlier this morning- this time looking out across the city from the opposite side of the bridge he had been about to cross. Quinn also noted that the sun, which had been beginning to rise when he first left the Wyrm’s Nest Inn, was now well on its way to its peak in the cloudless sky above.

His attention was drawn back to the woman as she cleared her throat and began speaking once more. “I went ahead and got that bump on your head taken care of and dispelled the remnants of the sleep spell you had been hit with. Normally, I’d keep you here for a day to be sure everything is alright— magical healing can take a lot out of you. Seeing as you had this with you though,” she waved the pamphlet again,” I can’t help but feel you have quite a few questions.”

Feeling relief that he was finally in a place he could get some answers, Quinn took in a deep breath before saying, “Yes I do, firstly who are you, and where am I, and what is this ‘Fabric’ mentioned in the pamphlet, and also how does magical healing work, and-” he stopped as she cleared her throat again before fixing him with that customary look all old people get as they give those younger than them a stern talking to.

“Now you wait just a minute young man, just because you have some questions doesn’t mean I am going to be the one to answer them, I have other patients to attend to. The Chancellor is on his way and they will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have. In fact, he should have been here already and better have a good explanation for his tardiness or so help me-” it was then her turn to be cut off as the door to the room burst open.

Into the room hurried a bespectacled young man, soot covering the front half of his lanky figure and his curly hair tangled together in a nest of messy locks. He gave a quick glance to Quinn before sheepishly addressing the elderly woman. “Excuse me Professor Agelia, but there has been a mishap down in the Block. A second year summoned an ash elemental, but forgot to dehydrate the contract offering and it became quite unhappy. The other lab supervisor and I managed to banish it, but smoke got everywhere and several students inhaled quite a bit before we could get it under control.”

Expression hardening the woman, Professor Agelia it would seem, turned to Quinn and said, “I am sorry, but I must deal with this. The Chancellor will be here shortly and in the meantime I am sure—” she turned and stared at the soot-covered young man.

“Peter!” he supplied.

“—that Peter would be more than happy to keep you company until he arrives.”

Peter opened his mouth to reply but closed it again just as fast, having thought better than to argue with the professor. Giving a curt nod the professorwalked out the doorway and down the hall, her footsteps sounding a sharp retort on the stone flooring that slowly faded into the distance.

For a moment, an awkward silence settled into the room before Peter turned in Quinn’s direction and started to blabber, “Well uh… Hi, I’m Peter as you have probably gathered by now. I don’t think I have seen you around the University before. Were you petitioning for admission today? Don’t feel bad about ending up in the infirmary, mishaps happen to petitioners every semester. I heard a story that claimed a couple years back some Senator’s kid went blind, they were trying to showcase a spell for seeing in the dark but lost control of the Aether flow. Took the healers weeks to fix it. They ended up having to completely regrow his eyes. I mean at least you don’t seem to be that messed up. I mean I am sure…” Peter’s voice slowly teetered off as he seemed to realize that he had been talking at the pace of a runaway train. “Ah, sorry about that, I tend to ramble on.”

“Oh don’t worry, it's alright,” laughed Quinn, “I’m Quinn by the way, nice to meet you. No, I was not here for admission today, although I am interested in seeing what it’s all about. The real reason I am here is this.” Quinn reached to the bedside table, on which the professor had placed the pamphlet before leaving the room, and offered it towards Peter.

Taking it, Peter adjusted his glasses before he began to read. Slowly, his expression changed to one of shock before he looked back at Quinn. “You’re an Outworlder!” he blurted out before clapping his hand over his mouth and looking at the open door. Lowering his voice he started to speak again at what was obviously his best attempt at a whisper, “You should try to keep this to yourself, things can be quite dangerous for Outworlders, especially given the latest events in the Empire.

Quinn regarded him with a quizzical expression but before he could ask for details someone else entered the room through the open doorway. The newcomer, a tall and thin elf who had a certain air of authority about him, reached out and plucked the pamphlet from Peter’s hands.

“Thank you Peter. You may go now. Best to keep this one to ourselves, yes?” he said.

Bobbing his head Peter gave Quinn a quick wave and said his goodbyes before departing, this time making sure the door shut firmly behind him.

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Glancing down briefly at the pamphlet before fixing his gaze on Quinn the elf began to speak, “Good day and I apologize for my delay. I got distracted by new information I received regarding some of my research and forgot that Agelia had requested me in the hospital ward. I am sure you have some questions and I will do my best to answer them, but first I believe an introduction is an order?”

Still a bit shell-shocked by the sight of an elf in real life, Quinn hesitated a moment before responding to the person he assumed to be the Chancellor mentioned by Professor Agelia. “My name is Quinn, nice to meet you. And yes, I do have questions, a lot of them.”

Giving Quinn a reassuring grin the Chancellor responded, “Wonderful to meet you Quinn, I am Talios and I have the pleasure of being the Chancellor of this esteemed institution. Before answering your questions I will give you a quick rundown prepared by the previous Chancellor for the rare occasions in which an Outworlder appears in Hollow. It isn’t something that happens often— maybe once every couple of decades mind you, but my predecessor had something of a soft spot for Outworlders.”

After getting a nod of confirmation from Quinn, the Chancellor began speaking again, “Imagine that the Universe rests inside a bubble.” and with a wave of the Chancellor’s hand a bubble appeared floating in the air between them, about the size of a baseball. “The material that this bubble is made out of is called the Fabric and it is what separates us from the Aether.” The space around the bubble began to distort like waves of heat coming off a car in the summer sun— its colors the shifting incandescence seen on the surface of an oil spill.

“Normally this bubble is happy as can be; Floating along without a care in the world.” The bubble drifted about as he slowly moved his hand, “This bubble however, is not alone.” Another bubble appeared, and began slowly drifting past.

“Now typically these bubbles would want nothing to do with one another.” As the bubbles came close one seemed to repel the other like magnets. “But the Aether around Locros is a little special.”

Suddenly, the distortions in space surrounding one of the bubbles became much, much deeper and seemed to draw thin pieces of the other bubbles towards it.

“Now when these bubbles manage to touch, their Fabric melds together.” The Chancellor gestured again and the image seemed to zoom in, the bubbles each becoming about 2 feet across. In the place where they reached out to touch the Locros Bubble, an overlap formed like some sort of three dimensional venn diagram.

“Once the pull on their Fabric becomes too much, the Fabric tears.” The thin strand coming off of one of the bubbles suddenly snapped with an audible pop.

“Whatever was in the area where the Fabrics melded together, ends up here on Locros.” The little area of overlap could be seen incorporating back into the Locros Bubble. “That is how you ended up here.” With that the chancellor waved his hand and the images in the air dissipated into tiny motes of light. “I will now do my best to answer any questions you may have.”

Processing what the Chancellor said, it took Quinn a second to think of some of the questions he had. As he was about to ask his first one, a random thought popped into his head. “Wait, does this world have dwarves?”

At this question the air of dignity about the Chancellor shattered, a look of complete and utter befuddlement painting itself across his face. “Wha- How is that your question?”

Giving Chancellor Talios a nervous grin Quinn then explained that, “Well I mean, you’re an elf! And I think that was a halfling that was holding me at knife point earlier, so I figured I should ask about dwarves to see if they are real as well.”

Talios blinked once, then twice, before sighing and answering, “Yes there are dwarves. Their kingdom lies beneath the continent we are on, stretching farther than the lands of anyone who dwells above. They are actually quite large patrons of the University and help us insure our neutrality. In fact, the chair of our artificery department is a dwarf— Professor Thorvald. I am sure you will meet him eventually.”

Talios paused for a moment as Quinn nodded in acknowledgement before adding, “Now do you have any question relevant to what I just took the time to explain to you?”

Embarassed at his seemingly inane question, Quinn smiled sheepishly before he clarified, “No, sorry, your explanation was actually pretty clear. Am I able to ask about something else?”

Talios softened his gaze before providing permission with a small nod of his head. “Yes, you may.”

Emboldened, Quinn began his next question, “Where I am from, we did not have any sort of magic like the sort of thing you just showed me with the lights and the bubbles. Well, I guess we had technology which is a type of magic, but nothing like what you could do just a minute ago with a wave of your hands. Is there any chance that I could learn to do whatever…” Quinn dramatically waved his hands in an attempt to mimic the Chancellor’s prior gesturing, “that was you did earlier?

Chancellor Talios smiled and replied, “Of course you can! That is the purpose of this institution after all, to teach bright young minds how to manipulate the Aether in a controlled manner. Admissions are almost at an end, but I am sure we could squeeze you in this evening. I believe there is even a scholarship set aside by the previous Chancellor for Outworlders such as yourself. As I said, he had quite a soft spot for the troubles of Outworlders and wished to see any that managed to make it here were taken care of.”

Elation bloomed inside Quinn. He was in a place where the magic he had often dreamed about was real, and was going to be given the opportunity to learn it. Ideas raced through his mind, different inventions no one thought were possible on Earth. Maybe with this Aether, he could make some of these things a reality.

Seeing the glint in Quinn’s eyes Talios’ expression grew slightly more somber, “Now before you get too excited, do remember that I only promised you a chance to petition for admission It will still have to be decided whether or not you have what it takes. Do you understand?” the Chancellor paused before Quinn nodded and he continued, “Not everyone can safely learn to control the Aether. It takes a strong mind and an even stronger will to wrangle. A great number of petitioners are deemed unfit to study here.”

Seeing the growing concern on Quinn’s face, Talios softened his gaze once more, “Do not be disheartened though, it is certainly possible you will have what it takes! Infact, If you do not have any further questions, I can take you to the Grand Hall now where admissions are nearing a close.”

Quinn was about to agree, before something Peter had said earlier sprang to mind. “I do have one last question actually.” he said to the Chancellor.

“I will certainly do my best to answer it for you.”

“Earlier, when he first heard I was an Outworlder, Peter seemed to think I should try keeping it to myself. He said something about it being dangerous for Outworlders?”

The Chancellor’s cheeks flushed slightly red, “Ah, I see. I must admit I am a bit embarrassed that I didn’t think to warn you. My decades of remaining within Hollow have somewhat skewed my worldview you see. Peter was quite right, things outside of Hollow can be quite dangerous for an Outworlder.

The Rossic Empire has a standing bounty on them on account of how whenever one pops up, they tend to stick their noses where they don’t belong. A few years back a woman of uncertain origins nearly sparked a revolt in one of the Empire's border provinces. Before that, a man that was most assuredly an Outworlder attempted to assassinate the emperor. There were other similar occurences of course, but those are the most recent ones I can think of.

Their hatred for Outworlders is only further stoked by the fact that the Republic of Tarth offers lavish rewards for any Outworlders willing to come to their lands and share whatever knowledge they have of the world from which they came.

I assure you that you do not need to worry though, the city of Hollow is strictly neutral and I refuse to believe that someone would attempt to harm you here. The consequences of them being caught doing so would be quite severe.”

A mix of emotions jumbled about in Quinn’s chest at the news he was potentially in great danger— the Chancellor’s words did reassure him somewhat though. He thought to himself, ‘I am not going to let some xenophobic empire get me down, besides Talios seems quite sure I am safe here and I have no intentions of leaving anytime soon. I will pass that admissions test; I won’t accept failure.’

Steeling his resolve, Quinn thanked the Chancellor and told him he was ready to take the tests for admission. Giving him a nod, the Chancellor waited for him to get out of the hospital bed he had been laying in and slip on a comfortable pair of sandals that had been waiting for him. Next, he began to lead him out of the room and towards the Grand Hall. Slowly their steps faded into the distance.

In the hospital room, a forgotten pamphlet remained resting on the bedside table where the Chancellor had absent-mindedly placed it while speaking with Quinn.