Olly Briggs
“You sound a lot better today. I’ve been worried about you kid.”
Eli and Olly had spoken over the phone almost every other day and Olly had excitedly called him the morning after his lab session to share his progress. He realized that in looking back at last week's worth of calls his tone had been faltering and the content had been increasingly sparing. He felt a pang of guilt for having let his uncle worry about him.
“Well, it was almost a bad day, I’ll give it that,” Olly launched into an explanation of the conversation with Franklin, the threat of being on academic probation, and how Brandon was going to talk to Abigail.
The other line fell silent.
“You still there?” Olly asked.
“Yeah sorry, just taking that in. So it sounds like Abigail and Franklin don’t exactly agree where you’re concerned?” Eli asked.
“No, not at all. Also, I can’t imagine how Franklin would have reacted if I were his Guild’s student. He’d probably put me right out on the street before I could tarnish his reputation,” Olly said, half-jokingly.
“Well… Not quite. I understand that the Cartographers have never had anyone fail out and it would be a huge blow to their reputation to have someone be the first. I think Franklin would quietly support you, even if he didn’t agree with you being there,” Eli said carefully.
This was a shock to Olly. “So when you said Franklin would have disregarded me, is that what you meant? He just would’ve silently let me pass through and paid me no mind?”
“I suspect it would be something like that. Abigail however has taken a liking to you, as I knew she would, and Franklin doesn’t like that. So I do suggest that you step very carefully where Franklin is involved and try not to get too far into Abigail’s debt in the meantime. You don’t want to be in a position where she one day calls in a favour.”
Olly felt his mood sinking. He hadn’t considered that there could be a debt to pay.
As if sensing his shift in tone Eli sighed and spoke up again. “Look, it’s not all bad, you had a huge win yesterday and that’s a great thing. All I’m saying is to exercise caution and try not to trust blindly.”
Olly nodded. “I…I know. I won’t. By the way, what the Mayor said at his address… That means he’s speaking out against the Guilds, right?” he asked. He didn’t fully understand the implications but it had been concerning him.
“Yes. Unfortunately, there’s going to be a lot of political posturing coming up. This is also why I’d suggest you keep your head down as much as possible.”
“Do you think Abigail will stop helping me because of the Mayor’s stance? Franklin mentioned how he was interested in the Mayor’s sponsorship and suggested there was something more behind it that he intended to find out. I’m worried that Abigail might feel the same,” he confided.
“It was a profoundly stupid move for Franklin to state something like that openly. The Mayor can handle his own channels, and if Franklin wants to openly challenge a candidate from an underprivileged position who made it into the Academy fairly then that will be at his peril. Your position is fine and if I hear anything otherwise I will warn you,” Eli said, sounding exasperated, “But for what it’s worth I am sorry you’re in this position.”
“As if I’m not here because you wanted me to be,” Olly said, a smirk forming on his lips despite himself.
“Well, I apologize for some of it anyway. So what’s on the agenda this week?”
“We have a field trip midweek to our Guild Headquarters. Other than that, still studying my ass off just to barely scrape by.”
Eli laughed lightly. “It will get easier, I promise. You’re putting in the work and it will pay off.”
“Thanks for always believing in me,” Olly said, feeling a slight rush of homesickness.
“Always,” Eli confirmed.
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The week started rather well. While he wouldn’t call his grades stellar, he received several quizzes back that weren’t failures and received a modest ‘B’ on an essay. He also relished in stunning Sarah during their next scheduled practicum.
“What changed?” she asked incredulously as he passed the panel test perfectly for the first time, “You were practically despondent yesterday but today you’re a whole new person!”
“My lab session yesterday paid off,” he said smugly.
“I’m so happy for you!” she exclaimed joyfully.
He felt slightly guilty and yet withheld the fact that Steven had been the one to help him. He would tell her, eventually, but for now he just wanted to bask in the glow of success.
One downside he found was that he was quite slow at the panel test. He relied on closing his eyes to activate the stone and locate the right location. And while he was now scoring perfectly it took him almost twice as long as his cohorts. He did note that while everyone finished before him almost all of them were scoring below perfect. Apart from Sarah, who managed perfect or near-perfect scores consistently, most students were only scoring with a combination of transparent and translucent panels. A translucent panel was still considered a hit but a perfect score could only be achieved by producing entirely transparent panels for all of the test iterations.
Brandon seemed pleased and gave him a knowing nod when his scores were submitted at the end of the practicum.
“Abigail is fine with reducing our sessions to give you more time,” he said quietly as he pulled Olly aside at the end of class, “And we agreed to turn over some of the sessions to Steven since he seems to have ideas that could help you.”
“Sounds good to me!” Olly agreed.
“I think this may be mutually beneficial. That was the calmest I’ve seen Steven since, well, I shouldn’t speak openly of it, but since he experienced a grave trauma. He is talented though and if you could help bring him out of his shell it would be a benefit to the Academy,” Brandon suggested.
Olly knew what trauma he was referring to but decided not to overplay his hand. He wondered if this was one of those debts that Eli had advised him about getting into, however, it seemed innocuous enough. Technically if Steven helping him also helped Steven then it was technically a one-for-one type of arrangement.
“For sure, I’ll see what I can do,” Olly agreed.
“Good! And if I don’t see you, enjoy your field trip later this week!” Brandon bade him farewell.
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The Conductors’ Guild was located right in Donnol. Olly was slightly jealous of the other Guilds’ students. Their Headquarters were all located in further away cities and they would get to see new sights. While Olly wasn’t entirely familiar with Donnol he had wanted to be able to see a new city. However, he couldn’t deny the eclectic charm of the city.
It was a mix of history and modernity, the old meets the new. Towering ancient stone marvels stood as silent witnesses to the city's rich past, while contemporary skyscrapers reached for the skies. There were labyrinthine alleys, playing host to a colourful cast of performers and artists, and cobblestone streets that brought a regal magnificence to the city. There was a palpable sense of history lingering in the air and it was intoxicating to him. As they navigated the streets towards their destination he realized he could spend a lifetime here and still not unearth all the secrets of the city.
Finally, they were upon the Conductors’ Guild Headquarters. Aesthetically it fit in perfectly with the city of Donnol. It was a sprawling complex that consisted of a central building with magnificent stonework and grand, imposing columns, attached to several additions that seemed to reflect the time period for which they were added. There should have been a greater juxtaposition against the original structure, which was reminiscent of a bygone era, but the complex as a whole served as a historic architectural timeline and felt much more linear by comparison. The most recent addition was a towering modern building, constructed of sleek glass panels and situated just behind the older central building.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
They were led into a grand atrium adorned with soaring ceilings and yet the modernity of the space was evident in the minimalist decor, sleek lines, and state-of-the-art technology seamlessly integrated into the design. The tour began with describing the history of the building and how the first Conductor had lived in a long-removed, modest building that once stood on the very footprint of the current structure.
The building of tunnels had clearly paid handsomely since then because the opulent interior spoke of considerable wealth.
Several Conductors walked around in their crisp black uniforms; the very image of professionalism. Olly wondered if he would one day inspire the same appearance. For now, he felt too young, too immature to truly belong alongside the Conductors. But seeing them did provide a drive to keep working hard.
The tour took them deeper within the building, where the hallways provided a captivating narrative, revealing winding offshoots to a variety of chambers and corridors adorned with intricate mosaics, stained glass windows, and ornamental arches. Finally, at the center, they were shown the central courtyard. It bathed in natural light streaming through a magnificent glass dome, which echoed the grandeur of the Academy. Looking up through the skylight Olly could see the tower spanning above them like a watchtower.
It was here that Grandmaster Abigail met them. She smiled warmly at them as she rose from one of the benches.
“My students, it’s so good to see you here. While the Academy is your home for now, this will be your home base in a few short years. When you’ve completed your studies you will come here as an apprentice to be placed under the tutelage of a master Conductor. This is when you will begin your hands-on training.”
She took over the tour and explained some of the Guild's history. It wasn’t different from the material taught at the Academy, but she painted the Conductors in a much higher light.
“We are the heart of Flexibilis. We pump the lifeblood through the veins of all the cities and independent spheroids. Without us, there are no tunnels,” she said solemnly, “Our Guild was formed to counter the Cartographers. Technically they came first, but they needed us and we needed to show them that we would not be treated as anything except equals.”
“The Controllers were originally a part of our Guild. But when the skillsets diverged we decided to amicably split into separate Guilds. There’s no hard feelings there, we see them as our cousins,” she said with a light smile.
She led them to a reception that took place in a chamber just off the main atrium. She introduced them to several masters and key staff and figures including the Mayor of Donnol. Abigail seemed to know everyone by name, and her students were no exception. As she introduced them to people she would state their names and a little bit about where they came from. Most students came from upper-class families and they were already known to some of the figures in the room, likely through their family names. However, Abigail didn’t treat them any differently than Olly or Sarah, who came from much more modest backgrounds by comparison.
She didn’t quite flaunt Olly around as she did with Franklin during the first night at the Academy, but she neither shied away from nor overstated his upbringing, which made him feel a lot more comfortable with it. It felt like he wasn’t just a prop or an accessory to show how progressive the Academy was for having accepted him. She emphasized that his accomplishments during the aptitude test were nothing short of amazing and that she had high hopes for his future.
Sarah received similar accolades. She was the first to pass the aptitude test and also scored extraordinarily high on the written component. Abigail also bragged slightly that she had stolen her away from the Labourers but similarly praised them in a way that made Sarah smile easily.
It was fascinating to see someone with so much power operate with so much charisma. Abigail could work an entire room of people and leave them all feeling personally charmed and valued. His uncle’s words still rang in his mind that he should exercise caution around her but it was difficult to pay it much attention because her presence was such a bright, burning light. Everyone gravitated towards her like moths to a flame.
He eventually found himself quietly sitting and sipping on punch, recharging from the activity around him. Abigail found him once again.
“I hope you’re having a nice time Olly,” she said kindly, “I’m wondering if I might borrow you for a moment.”
“Oh, uh, of course, Grandmaster,” he responded, stammering slightly. He had forgotten about his interaction with Franklin earlier that week and his heart skipped a beat at the thought of having to discuss it with her.
“Wonderful,” she said good-naturedly. He followed her out of the room and down a hallway. It led to a much more modern part of the building where the walls were replaced with blueish glass that allowed him to see outside. They went up a sleek elevator where she scanned a pass and pressed the button for the penthouse. He realized that they were heading up the tower attached to the complex. It was a smooth ride and as they reached the top he was treated to a view of a massive, open office surrounded by glass walls. She had an assistant sitting outside just outside the elevator who bowed her head as they entered.
“Grandmaster,” she said reverently. Abigail smiled in response.
Olly looked around, awestruck. Her office afforded him a 360-degree view of Donnol and, while it wasn’t the tallest building in the skyline, it rivalled most of the other towers in the sky.
“Welcome to my office Olly! Please, have a seat.” He expected her to lead him to her desk, a stately, glass and metal construct in the very center of the room. Instead, she walked over to a pair of armchairs off to one side.
Without being asked, her assistant showed up with a tray of tea and Abigail poured him a cup.
In comparison to his meeting with Franklin, he felt much calmer and welcomed. Abigail met him on equal footing rather than sneering at him from across the desk. And once again, despite his uncle’s reservations he felt validated in his choice of Guild.
“I just wanted to say how sorry I am for my colleague’s behaviour towards you. It was highly inappropriate for the Headmaster to speak to you without consulting me first. I assure you I had nothing to do with his actions but you are not on academic probation nor are you at risk of not coming back at the end of term,” she said empathetically.
He felt a tension release from his body that he didn’t realize he’d been holding. “Thank you, Grandmaster, I… appreciate that.”
She smiled once more. “Franklin is both the Headmaster and Grandmaster of his Guild, however, that does not mean he has unilateral decision-making power for the other Guilds’ students at the Academy. He forgets himself on occasion and I have to remind him from time to time.”
He didn’t know how to respond and instead took a sip from his cup.
“It’s not for you to concern yourself with but I did want to make sure you were okay. I’m glad you have a trusting relationship with Brandon and feel comfortable sharing your concerns with him. I hope that we also have a similar relationship. You don’t have to suffer alone and I have some suggestions for upperclassmen who can help you to succeed academically. There are always those who are interested in teaching or research and want the tutoring experience. I’ll reach out to a few of them if you’re okay with that approach,” she offered, taking a sip from her cup.
“I would like that, thank you. I’ve been studying to catch up in my spare time but I feel like I’ve missed a lot of the basics,” he confessed despite himself.
She looked at him with such sympathy that it made him feel slightly self-conscious. “I know, you have an uphill battle. Though I recognize that you’ve been working very hard since you began this journey. It’s truly admirable how far you’ve come. I intend to help you go the distance.”
“Thank you, Grandmaster,” he said softly.
“Anytime. Now, was there anything you wanted to talk about or ask of me before we rejoin the group?”
He knew he shouldn’t, he knew his uncle would hate this question, but Olly knew how Abigail operated and he felt that maintaining a slightly naive persona seemed to work for her. She seemed endeared to his background so maybe he could leverage that.
“Franklin mentioned how the Mayor’s endorsement was something he was interested in. I don’t know much about politics but I do know that there’s some tension there. I don't know how his endorsement impacts my future at the Academy but I am a bit nervous,” he confessed. It was half-true.
“Oh Olly, I’m not worried about that. You’re our student now and the Academy is non-partisan. Lots of students leverage political connections to receive an endorsement for the aptitude test. Why should you be barred from doing the same? It’s a formality in either case. The aptitude test endorsement is merely a rubberstamp and it’s occupation-based. Politicians serving in office are common endorsers.”
He was dumbfounded. That’s it? That’s all that was? It felt so dramatic and like it was such a big deal when he eavesdropped on his uncle and the Mayor all those months ago. The way Franklin spoke of it made his potential association with the Mayor sound dirty.
“In any case, you needn’t worry about Franklin’s posturing. But if you do have any further problems please feel free to go to Brandon with them and he will be sure to pass them along to me.” She rose to her feet and he stood as well, noting that she was nearly as tall as he was.
“Thank you for this Grandmaster, I feel considerably better,” he admitted.
“I’m glad, now shall we -”
She was cut off by a distant rumble that shook the very tower.
“What was that?” she asked sharply.
Her assistant was already on the phone but Abigail was taking long strides for the elevator with Olly hot on her heels.
“Mam, I don’t think it’s safe down there!” she exclaimed, holding the receiver to her chest, “They’re saying there’s been an explosion!”
“I don’t shy away from danger. My people are down there!” Abigail said hotly.
Olly took her side in the elevator. “You should stay up here,” she suggested, letting her finger hover over the ground floor button.
He shook his head. “I’m coming with you.”
She gave him a faint smile and jabbed the button. The ride down was both excruciatingly slow and yet all too fast. Finally, when the doors opened, they were greeted with a hellish scene.