Jeb waited, curious what had frozen her this time.
“Well, I suppose that there is a mitigating circumstance,” she said hesitantly. “Do you know why you would have two letters of recommendation for your entrance into the Academy?”
Jeb thought about who might have written them. The only people he’d known that were even slightly connected to the Academy were the Librarian and the Bard, but neither had seemed particularly fond of it. “I might have an idea?” he hazarded.
“Let me see if that’s mitigating enough,” she said, pulling out a table. Humming to herself, she went through the different modifiers that his Class, Tier, Level, Debt, and recommendations all added. At the end of her calculations, she sighed.
“I don’t suppose there’s anything else you could add in favor of your admittance? Two letters from Tenth Tier Graduates is worth a lot, but you allegedly incurred a lot of debt.”
Jeb considered what he’d done over the last year. “Does adding Spell Glyphs to the Public Repository count for anything?”
She brightened. “It does!” She pulled out another book, flipped, and frowned. “The Glyphs you’ve given don’t count for enough, though.” She looked back at the table. “So far as I can see, the only other ways to counteract the debt are to pay it off?” she asked hopefully.
Jeb shook his head, and she nodded. “I didn’t expect that you had any money on you. If you have any Achievements, that could also help.” It was clear that she did not expect Jeb to have any, but that she was going through absolutely every option.
Jeb brightened. “I do!” he said, pulling up his Status. The teller brightened, and he listed them off. “I have Focused Meditator, Student of Magic, and Glyph Specializer. Does that tip me over the balance?”
The teller paused with her pen over the table.
Jeb waited for her to tally the numbers.
When she didn’t move, he tried again. “Sorry, was I speaking too quickly?”
“No, not at all,” she said, frantically shaking her head, “I just don’t know of many First Tier Mages who bother with Student of Magic, and I don’t know if I’ve heard of anyone with Glyph Specializer before Fourth Tier.”
“Is that a good thing?” Jeb asked, hopeful.
She nodded. “The lower your Tier, the more that any Achievement is worth. Since you’re First Tier, you get the best multiplier, which sets you well over the threshold for admittance.”
She flushed, pausing in her speech for a second. “Sorry, I’ve gone through all of this without asking. Do you even want to attend the Academy?”
“Truthfully,” Jeb replied, “if going back to Humdrumville is an option, I would like to do that.”
She shook her head. “Regardless of the fact that you were led here under false pretenses, you have still registered for the Mage Draft. You need to either join the Adventuring Corps or register at the Academy.”
“What does each entail?”
She grimaced. “A part of me was hoping that you wouldn’t ask that. Since you’re in debt, I assume that you don’t have tuition money either?” Seeing Jeb shake his head, she continued, “I’ll start with the Adventuring Corps then. You would be given some starting equipment and a list of tasks that the Republic needs accomplished, based on your Tier, Level, and Class. The pay you receive for completing these tasks is also based on Tier, and so you would likely get an oversized payment for most of what you’d do, since almost no tasks are designed with a First Tier Mage in mind. Also, while enrolled in the Adventuring Corps, any debt you have does not accrue interest.”
“That does sound nice,” Jeb said.
“There is a reason most first generation Mages choose to join the Adventuring Corps,” she agreed.
“And the Academy?”
The grimace returned. “The Academy is meant primarily for those who seek Academic Classes, or at least academic applications. Debt continues to accrue interest while you attend, and there is a tuition, in addition to other costs of living.”
“So there’s no way I can go, then,” Jeb said, heart sinking.
She brightened at that. “That isn’t true! For those unable to pay tuition who come with a letter of recommendation, work study programs are available. You’ll work for the professors or staff, depending on who is in need of help in a given term. That doesn’t count as wages, and so would not be garnished for your debt to the Censusmaster. Of course, that debt will grow larger as you study, but he cannot come after you for it while you are still enrolled.”
“What would cause me to become unenrolled?” Jeb asked, sensing a trap.
She looked at him in confusion. “If you are unable to maintain passing grades in your classes, if you refuse to do assigned work study, or if you have severe conduct issues, you could be expelled,” she said, “though none of those are particularly common. Otherwise, the most common way that people leave the Academy is by graduating. By the time that you graduate from the Academy, you should have no issue paying off your debt, even as it grows, because Academy trained Mages command a high salary.”
“I’m a little concerned,” Jeb said, trying to think of a diplomatic way to say that he was worried that the Censusmaster would intentionally sabotage him in the Academy somehow.
She picked up on what he was alluding to without him needing to spell it out. “The Academy is famously opposed to almost every action that the President takes, and it reacts very badly to any hint of external political influence trying to manipulate what happens within its walls. Truthfully, the fact that you’ve had such a negative experience with the Censusmaster will likely be seen as a positive to most of the faculty there.”
Jeb stared at her in confusion. “If the Academy is in a fight with the President, why is it still allowed to recruit students from the Mage Draft?”
She shrugged. “That’s well above my pay grade.” Leaning in closer, she continued, “but If I had to guess, it would be in large part because of the fact that all of the richest families in the Republic send their children there, because it’s far safer. After all, an Academy graduate is guaranteed an officer’s rank in the military if they should choose to join after graduating. The fact that a number of the faculty are themselves High Tier Classholders also helps it maintain its independence. When someone capable of tearing down the entire Capital if they should desire asks for something, a smart Politician thinks twice before saying no.”
Jeb nodded. “In your opinion, what should I do?”
She shook her head. “I am explicitly forbidden from recommending a course of action. However, I can say that I don’t know if I’ve heard of anyone with two letters of recommendation not joining the Academy.”
Jeb nodded. “I think that I would like to join the Academy, then,” he said.
“Fantastic! If you’ll go down the left path,” she gestured to the two paths that Jeb had noticed people streaming through after talking to their own booth teller, “you’ll find yourself in the intake room for the Academy. They’ll walk you through everything else that you should need.”
Jeb nodded and began to walk away. She held out a hand to stop him. “And, I do want to tell you that I do really feel bad about what happened to you. I wish I could tell you that there was a good way to resolve the situation, but I cannot think of one.”
Jeb nodded. “Thank you,” he said, voice catching slightly. Being truthful with himself, he had resigned himself to the fact that life in the Capital was just like this. The fact that a stranger would give him her unasked for apology made him feel so much better. Even though the situation with the Censusmaster was still horrible, Jeb was glad that others also saw the injustice in the situation.
I’ll find a way to make this right, he said to himself, unsure if he really believed it. After all, even his grandfather couldn’t protect him from the Censusmaster. If the strongest man that he knew was unable to protect his family, what could Jeb possibly do?
He shook his head, trying to get rid of the angry thoughts. Taking a deep breath, he stepped down the path that led to the Academy. As he walked it, he noticed that almost everyone else in the lines was going on the right path. Jeb wondered about that, but continued until he came to a door.
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The door opened, and a woman greeted him. “Good evening,” she said, and Jeb quickly glanced at the sky. He hadn’t noticed the day slowly passing by as he waited in line.
“Good evening,” he replied. “Is this where I enroll in the Academy?”
The woman smiled. “It is. My name is Petra, and I am the Headmistress of the Academy.” She looked more closely at Jeb, and his mind forcibly called to mind the fact that he was surrounded by stone.
“Hmm,” she said. “What is a First Tier Mud Mage doing enrolling in the Mage Draft? Your family name is somewhat familiar, but-” she trailed off, clearly thinking about something.
Jeb waited for Petra to finish her thought before he spoke.
“Sorry,” she said after a moment, “it’s the end of the day and my mind is wandering. I will focus on the relevant question. Why did you enroll in the Mage Draft?”
Jeb considered whether he should tell the truth or not. The teller had told him that he could trust the Academy, but he wasn’t sure if he believed her. The Headmistress clearly saw the indecision on his face, because she reached into the wall behind him and pulled out a book.
“Ah, I see,” she said, flipping through the book. “Should I assume that the Censusmaster that you owe your debt to told you that you were required to enroll in the Mage Draft?”
Jeb nodded, shocked that she immediately came to the correct conclusion.
She gave him a small smile. “I wish that it did not happen, but government officials are known to abuse their powers. You won’t be the only one here with a similar story, even in your cohort. Now then, what mitigating factors still let you enroll?” She flipped through the book, tilting it so Jeb could read as well.
“Ah, letters of recommendation,” she said, nodding. “Though not from a Mage, I notice?”
Jeb shrugged. “Truthfully, I don’t know who wrote me letters of recommendation.”
“You have one letter from a Librarian, and one from a Bard. It appears as though the Bard is a Postdoctoral Scholar here, and he recommends you specifically for entry into the College of Music. I see that you’re carrying a lute-” the reminder that he was surrounded by stone came to the forefront of Jeb’s mind again. “A Bound and Mana Infused lute no less. Tell me, are you planning to become a Bard?” As she asked the question, the Headmistress began walking towards the back of the room, gesturing for Jeb to follow.
He answered as he walked, “I don’t think so. I really enjoy Glyph Magic and Enchanting as well, and I was hoping that there was a Class that would allow me to do all three.”
Petra turned around smiling. “I’m very excited to see what you do at the Academy,” she said, walking towards the bare stone wall. Just as Jeb was worried that she was going to run into it, she waved her hand and a doorway appeared, leading into a well lit hallway. She walked through and Jeb followed.
Jeb’s Status Sheet at End of Chapter:
Jeb Humdrum Human Age: 16 Class: Least Mud Initiate Level: 1 Experience: 11023/100
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Total Statistic Load: 563 Physical Load: 218 Strength: 52 Dexterity: 53 Endurance: 54 Vitality: 55 Presence: 4
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Mental Load: 345 Intelligence: 68 Willpower: 75 Magic Affinity: 74 Mana Depth: 64 Charisma: 64
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Mana: 1755
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Glyph Attunement: 31 Least Shape Earth (Modified) Tier 1 Spell Least Hold Earth (Modified) Tier 1 Spell Least Create Earth (Modified) Tier 1 Spell Least Destroy Earth (Modified) Tier 1 Spell Least Shape Earth - Efficient (Modified) Tier 3 Spell Lesser Shape Earth (Modified) Tier 3 Spell Least Shape Water (Modified) Tier 1 Spell Least Shape Water - Efficient (Modified) Tier 3 Spell Lesser Shape Water (Modified) Tier 3 Spell Least Hold Water (Modified) Tier 1 Spell Least Create Water (Modified) Tier 1 Spell Least Conjure Water (Modified) Tier 1 Spell Least Conjure Water - Efficient (Modified) Tier 3 Spell Least Destroy Water (Modified) Tier 1 Spell Least Move Air (Modified) Tier 1 Spell Least Hold Air (Modified) Tier 1 Spell Least Create Air (Modified) Tier 1 Spell Least Destroy Air (Modified) Tier 1 Spell Least Move Fire (Modified) Tier 1 Spell Least Hold Fire (Modified) Tier 1 Spell Least Create Fire (Modified) Tier 1 Spell Least Destroy Fire (Modified) Tier 1 Spell Least Create Mud (Modified) Tier 2 Spell Attune Earth Mana (Modified) Tier 0 Spell Attune Water Mana (Modified) Tier 0 Spell Attune Water Mana - Efficient (Modified) Tier 2 Spell Attune Air Mana (Modified) Tier 0 Spell Attune Fire Mana (Modified) Tier 0 Spell Attune Sand Mana (Modified) Tier 0 Spell Least Create Sand (Modified) Tier 1 Spell Attune Sand Mana - Efficient (Modified) Tier 2 Spell
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Bard Songs Known: 1 Lute Enforcement
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Skills: Least Mud Magic Meditation Mana Manipulation Spell Glyphing Improved Glyph Groking Gift of Gab Running Identify Soil Savvy Animal Handling Fertilizing Lifting Athletics Lute Playing Singing Musician Pollination Brewing Distilling Bardic Magic Smithing Wood Identification Woodworking Soil Improvement Enchanting Glassblowing
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Achievements: Focused Meditator Student of Magic Glyph Specializer
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Quests: Major: Slay the Dragon of the West (Progressive)