I stared at the door for a few more seconds before shrugging and turning away. With my books under my arm and my bracelet secured to my left wrist, I strode down the hallway, replaying my meeting.
Master Julian seemed helpful enough, if a bit eccentric, but that was exactly what set me on edge. Ferris was not a place for kindness, not among the nobility. Power came and went fast, and free favors only served to weaken your position. Sure, as a teacher, his duty was to help students, but as a noble, his only loyalty was to himself and his family. I had no doubt there were ulterior motives and that he somehow hoped to leverage a relationship for personal gain.
If I was not planning the same thing, I might be insulted.
Even with my misgivings, there was nothing I could do about it. Julian was a powerful mage, likely with connections and personal wealth. Trying to move against him in my position was the same as trying to kill a dragon with a toothpick. Hell, I might stand a better chance against the dragon.
Still, he had given me an idea of my element, which was better than nothing. I had a month to catch up, and although that sounded like a lot of time at first blush, it was anything but. Most nobles had months, if not years of preliminary training, before setting foot in the Academy. Tradition demanded I was excluded from this out of fear of losing control over servants.
Of course, there was a risk of prodigies being left behind or producing overall inferior mages, but most felt it was a worthy trade-off. The strong did not retain their positions by elevating potential rivals, after all. They would gladly snuff out a roaring inferno if it meant their candlelights shone brighter.
I felt an ache in my hand and glanced down to realize I was clenching the books too tightly. As Grace came within view at the end of the hallway, I replaced my scowl with a polite grin, which she returned with a smile of her own.
"How did it go?" she asked as I came within earshot, and I held up my bracelet, earning another bright look from the older apprentice.
"Perfect! If you would please follow me, we can get you situated in your room." she continued before turning and walking away. I hurried after her, noting that her comparatively longer legs made it a challenge to keep up.
"How was Master Julian?" she said, sounding almost too innocent.
"Excellent, my lady. He was...interesting," I answered diplomatically, keeping a straight face as best as possible. Not for the first time lately, I mentally thanked Girem for his lessons. I was not a skilled actor, but a blank face was easy enough to maintain with some focus.
"That is a word for it. Some of the masters here spend their time researching and developing new magic. Master Julian is one of those and has garnered a bit of a reputation. He is...eccentric, some might say."
I debated fishing for more details, but before I could, she gestured around us.
"This is the entrance hall, the only location in the Academy freely available to anyone. The far side leads into the central atrium, which you could consider the 'heart' of the structure. Most facilities lead off that main space, excluding some rooms such as offices."
We passed through a marble arch wide enough for twenty people to walk side by side and into a square space that towered at least five floors high. In the center was a towering spiral staircase which must lead to the higher levels. I spotted two hallways diverting off either side and another archway closed by massive dual doors at the far end.
Grace paused at the foot of the stairs, gesturing to her left side.
"Down the left hallway is the Grand Archives, the largest repository of information in the known world. You could spend your entire life in there and barely scratch the surface of the knowledge inside. Down the other end are our exercise facilities. Those include spaces for physical conditioning and spell practice."
"Mages exercise? I assumed most would not bother, considering magic exists." I asked, folding my arms behind my back.
She grinned, responding, "Most don't, honestly. There are potions to stimulate muscle growth and spells that can provide temporary strength or speed. But anyone can benefit from a strong body, even mages."
Nodding, I indicated the far doors, asking, "And what about those?"
"The Luminescent Ballroom. It's the second-largest in Ferris, only surpassed by the Royal Palace's own. Currently, there are approximately nineteen thousand mages in Ferris, and they could all fit comfortably inside. There are typically two events each year, the First Dawn Banquet held near the winter break and the Summer Festival near the end of the school year."
I had been to precisely no dances, banquets, or balls in my life and doubted that would change any time soon. There was far too much to do and nowhere near enough time to do it. Socializing was right above dying on my list of "things to do." Still, there was something she said that raised my curiosity.
"Forgive me, but I was under the impression the Academy only trains fifty to sixty students a year. How are there so many mages?"
She gave me a smile that was between kind and patronizing, responding, "Only a third of all Ferren mages are formally trained here. The rest either rely on familial resources or do not need dedicated training for their needs. Alchemists, for example, tend not to bother learning more than the absolute basics. Some feel they are not true mages because of this, but they still possess mana just like any other."
I nodded, and she led us up the stairs, continuing to speak as we walked.
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"Each floor has several dining halls open at any time of day. Each fits fifty students at once, and there are enough throughout the building that you should always have a free table. I prefer the Cerulean Hall on the sixth floor. It's a bit out of the way, but quiet even on weekends and after classes."
It seems Grace valued privacy almost as much as I did, though likely for different reasons. As we reached the top floor, I took several long breaths, trying to ignore the burning in my legs and the complete lack of sweat on her forehead.
"You are in room 851 down this hallway. The Academy has eight floors in total but only the top five house students. The other three are classrooms, offices, training rooms, labs, and so on." she explained before setting off down one hallway. I had barely caught my breath by this point and scrambled to follow.
"Is that a good thing? Being on the top floor, I mean." I asked, glancing at her with a frown. I would be lying if I said I looked forward to repeating this climb every day.
"Lower floors are usually preferable, though not always. There's less distance to walk, but less privacy as well because those fill up first. Usually, older students get the first pick, and most pick rooms on the fourth or fifth floors. Connected families can also arrange for better accommodations. Since you're a brand-new student and a sponsored one, you got the short end of the stick." she replied, favoring me a sympathetic frown.
Not a new concept, but that did not help the tightness in my chest and the flash of heat I felt. Rather than dwell on it, I glanced back over my shoulder towards the central atrium. The Duke's home was far from modest, but this place made it look like a broom closet, not a noble estate. In fact, as I peered down the hallway, spotting dozens of doors on each side, I realized it was too large. Impossibly so.
"Ma'am? Is there magic used to make this place...bigger, somehow?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.
I saw her glance towards me before nodding.
"Grace is fine, Vayne. And yes, though I don't know the specifics, if I'm honest. An Archmagus created it, basically compressing space in a given area. We use the same effect on spatial pouches and vaults, though on a smaller scale.
Duke Estton had several of those, each costing over a thousand gold pieces each. They were convenient as anything but far outside my means at this point. Still, that did not mean I could not create one, eventually.
"I see. Do you know the specifics of how the enchantment works? If I could create some for my lords, well, that might prove lucrative."
"Truthfully, no. I've never been much of an enchanter, and it's quite advanced," she replied, giving me a frown.
I nodded, slipping my notebook out and adding spatial magic to my list before flashing a smile, saying, "Better safe than sorry" with a shrug.
Grace nodded with a quiet chuckle before stopping near the end of the hallway.
"Like I said, these rooms tend to be isolated, which might be a good thing. Not everyone is fond of sponsored apprentices," she said, frowning at the end.
"Forgiveness, my lady, but is that attitude...common? I can handle some hostility. An advisor needs to, after all. But..." I trailed off, trying to appear somewhere between nervous and afraid. It was not tough to fake, annoyingly enough.
She looked almost uncomfortable, replying, "Not as much as you might think. Some could not care less about bloodline purity and the like, and most of the others are frankly too busy to concern themselves."
"I see. Thank you, then." I said, flashing her a smile.
"For what?" she asked, furrowing her brows.
"For being one of the former."
She paused for a moment, her smile growing wider as she laughed, responding, "My pleasure. Now, if you would please hold your bracelet to the door."
I nodded, and when my wrist came within a few inches, there was an almost imperceptible 'click.' Grace stepped past me, opening the door and walking right through, speaking over her shoulder as she moved.
"Only your bracelet can disengage the lock, which means this room is about as secure as a vault. Well, technically, a master could get in, but they will rarely use that privilege, except in rare circumstances."
"Such as?" I asked, not caring if it sounded suspicious. I had always appreciated my privacy, how little I could have before, and would rather not lose it so quickly.
"If you are in imminent danger, or they believe you are committing a crime. Or, I suppose, breaking the rules of the Academy."
Both were not in my plans yet, but I doubted that would remain true for long. I would not become a murderer or anything truly heinous...but theft and extortion were not entirely off the table. Not yet, at least.
Grace walked to the middle of the room, continuing, "It is not quite as impressive as you might be used to, but it should be adequate overall."
Adequate was not the word that sprang to mind. The main room was massive, five times the size of my bedroom on the Estton estate. The floor was made of dark wooden planks, polished to a bright finish with an ornate crimson rug covering most of it.
To my right were several chairs and a sofa, all plush with dark leather finishes, surrounding a low wooden table. There was also a large fireplace, with a roaring flame flickering inside, though it seemed to produce no smoke and glowed a brilliant white. To my left were several bookshelves, though they were all empty.
At the far end of the room was the most impressive part. Several windows that stood as tall as me overlooked verdant fields outside. Even further in the distance, I spotted the sprawl of Volaris, including the gargantuan Royal Palace. Sitting near the windows was an oval-shaped dining table with a half dozen chairs around it.
Taking several steps further, I spotted a door on the left side, which I assumed must lead to my bedroom and bathroom.
Grace began speaking again, and I returned my attention to her.
"The fireplace is magical and will not produce any smoke or ash. An adjustment device on the top of the stonework controls the flame's size and intensity and will respond to mental commands. The bookshelves are yours to fill up with as many books as you wish. Lastly, through the door is your bedroom and private washroom. There is a bath, toilet, and sink, which contain similar enchantments to the fireplace. The rest should be self-explanatory." she said, walking around the room as she spoke.
"Most of that went over my head, but this seems easy enough." I responded, patting the back of the couch with a chuckle.
She smiled again, walking for the door but pausing and reaching into her robes.
"This contains the Academy bylaws and regulations, which you should read through tonight." she said, dropping it onto the couch before continuing, "Now then, I will let you get settled. If you have any questions, I am in room 724."
She closed the door as she left, and I let out a long, slow breath. If this kept up, I would hate books by the end of the month. Still, I could not help but shiver as I turned in place, taking in my new home. The fifteen-year-old child in me wanted to explore and relax, but my memories would not allow it.
My nightmares from the previous day returned at that moment, searing away my pleasant satisfaction like a flame to kindling. In an instant, my thoughts turned to something more daunting but also much more exciting. I had waited ten years for this moment, and I would be damned if I waited a moment longer.
The fifteen-year-old, easily excited part of me wanted to explore the rest of my quarters or test out the couch and fireplace. I was halfway towards the bedroom door before stopping and pushing down that part of me. I had waited ten years for this moment, and there would be time enough to relax later. For now, I still had work to finish.