As the Nemendias first-year students were eating lunch, the facsimile of the Keeper of Keys strolled back and forth in the skyship's cabin and listed off the various regulations that had to be followed.
Nemmy went into detail about the Celestial Crest pin, explaining its use and how only the most impressive performance could entitle a select student to a small fragment of it. She informed the teenagers of extra-curricular activities such as cuisinimancy, fencing, swimming, magical duelling, depictomancy and so on.
Afterwards, she told them that this year she plans to extend the after-class activities schedule by appointing part-time Instructors such as Inspector Lambert Cu Durer Archibal, Inspector Anniya Leblanc, Artificer Antoine Delamond Kovalzek and others to teach special topics outside of the regular syllabus such as: Nemendias History, Scrutimancy, Artificing, General Fitness, Armor-designing, Fashion, Urbex, Astral-Diving, Chemistry and Biology.
I paid little attention to what she was saying, since Nemmy and I had written the script yesterday — I was more focused on lunch brought by Voltara and a secondary activity, permitted to me by the fact that I now had one and a half souls.
One pair of my eyes stared out the skyship's opulent window at Nemendias and Illatius below me and the other traversed through the dim, gloomy catacombs.
My silver fork and knife pierced through a dragon-steak. The overpriced meat melted on my tongue, filling me with mana and experience with every bite.
My black, nightcrawler-bone boots clanked on the ancient stones as I searched the depths of the school for the ideal, unique, secret spots for special, private after-hours lectures, events and activities that Nemmy was now outlining.
"This year at Nemendias, we're shaking things up,” Nemmy declared. “Anyone capable of demonstrating unique talents and dedication will be exempt from some of the older regulations listed in your rule booklets.”
As she spoke this, student eyes lit up with anticipation.
“For instance,” Nemmy went on. “Students who have earned a Celestial Crest piece can now decorate their room to suit their individual tastes. In this way, a diligent student is rewarded with the freedom to drape a flag, put up artwork, or even bring an additional piece of furniture into their room!"
I saw that someone’s hand went up.
“Yes, Novitiate Terny?” Nemmy turned to the orange-haired second Prince.
“How exactly did the lowb… err… Novitiate Misem acquire three crest pieces before classes even started?” Prince Ignius demanded, stumbling over the insult as the Keeper’s eyes bore into him.
The students sitting around the cabin fell silent. They too were very interested in the answer.
“Due to her… unfortunate family situation, Novitiate Misem came to Nemendias during summer break,” Nemendias explained. “Her dedication to the art of Scrutimancy helped her discover the ancient tomb of Saint Innocentai. She was the first person to find a secret room that’s been hidden for six thousand years. For this, she earned her first crest piece from me.”
Ignius blinked, looking stumped.
“What... about the other two?” He asked after a moment of silence.
“She acquired her second crest piece when she helped me come up with innovative, new teaching methods,” Nemendias said.
“How could a bloody lowborn bitc…” Akadia hissed.
“Minus ten points from Novitiate Solas for undignified behavior,” the Keeper’s incandescent gaze snapped towards the golden curls.
Akadia fell silent, her face turning scarlet. A [-20] was now floating above her.
“Novitiate Misem attained her third crest piece by destroying a ghost that’s been gnawing at our Arcanarium’s wards for thousands of years,” Nemmy finished.
Student eyes turned towards me, whispers dancing all over the cabin with my name on their lips.
. . .
The skyship shuddered again and began to descend down towards the main courtyard, an enormous open space surrounded by gothic towers.
Older students in black robes stood in two perfect lines, forming a welcoming committee for the arriving first years. A group of teachers in colorful robes stood at the front with Dean Octavia at the head.
The security personnel stepped out of the ship, joining the line. I saw that Lambert stood among them, his blue-gray eyes examining all of the students and teachers from beneath round, Scrutimancy rune-covered spectacles.
Nemmy emerged from the ship and stepped in front of the group. She stood in the center of the courtyard, looking proud, her robes fluttering in the wind.
“Welcome to Nemendias, Novitiates!” she declared, her voice magnified by the power of the ward, echoing across the courtyard. “This is the start of your journey. Remember to abide by the rules, work hard, and have fun!”
The Keeper turned towards the other students.
"Acolytes of Nemendias," Nemmy said. "I am pleased to see you once again in my halls!
“As a reminder, the rules of Nemendias must be followed,” she continued. “Be sure to pay attention to your studies and behave with the utmost respect. We are counting on you to uphold the values of the school and make us proud!”
The Dean opened her mouth, about to say a speech.
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“Let the 8066 semester commence!” Nemmy declared, completely ignoring the Dean, a wild grin sitting on the avatar's face. Her amplified voice reverberated throughout the courtyard, sending a shockwave of excitement that was almost palpable in the air. Nemmy looked out over the expectant faces and took a deep breath, relishing in the anticipation that filled the crowd.
The magic-woven avatar thrust her hand upwards and a loud, deep gong resounded from the central tower.
Everyone's eyes turned to the sound of the bell emanating from the tower.
A luminous burst of energy suddenly exploded from the tip of the tower like an inferno, sending cascading ripples of blinding light across the ward, flickering in an ever-shifting array of vibrant colors and patterns, illuminating the area in a dazzling display of beauty and power.
A dark, spiralling cloud began to form directly above the school, dimming the scene and making the dancing auroras far more potent-looking.
Bewildered faces, both old and young, were now transfixed on the sky above, entranced by the undulating waves of magic that had suddenly filled the atmosphere. Nothing else seemed to exist in that moment, as if time was standing still. Every breath was held with the anticipation of what might come next, and only their hearts beating wildly in their chests betrayed their confusion and awe.
The Dean, administrators, teachers and security stared up at the sky that now featured a small, supercell storm enhanced with radiant waves of magic. This was clearly not part of the ceremony.
The Dean's jaw dropped in disbelief as her authority was knocked right from out under her, leaving her but a mere observer. Her mouth gaped open and closed like a dying fish, completely unable to find the right words.
Nemmy's voice boomed like thunder across the courtyard just as enormous snowflakes started to glide down from the broiling cloud-tunnel overhead, melting before they hit the ground. "Show me your power, my children! Ignite the heavens with me!"
Agatha acted first. Her armacus unfurled and a brilliant beam of magical fire shot upwards, painting the stormy sky and drifting snowflakes with a stunning array of luminous rainbows.
The other students were not to be outdone. Prince Licor was second to act, lifting his armacus. Motivated by the duo's action, the other capable students followed suit, unleashing an awe-inspiring barrage of powerful spells that lit up the gloomy sky with detonations. The first years watched with wide-eyed wonder as the air glimmered and glowed with the power of unleashed magic.
The Dean's throat clenched tight as she opened her mouth to command the students to cease their spell-fire. But it was too late, the students had already opened their focus tools and were raining magic with reckless abandon. Her words were drowned out by the firestorm of unleashed magic.
The teachers looked stunned, lost as to what to do.
Nemmy's face shone with joy, her laughter echoing beneath the entryway arches of the central, cathedral-like building. She twirled in a circle as if she was a schoolgirl herself, arms outstretched to catch the kaleidoscope of magic-forged stars and snowflakes cascading from above. She devoured every moment of elation like it was a priceless treasure - it was the first time that she allowed herself to be truly happy and free. For the first time in her millennia-long existence Nemendias got to experience life, got to have fun with her students.
The personified concept of the school, the magic-woven life fueled by the spark of the soul of Lord Lamanche Innocentai was finally free, finally unbound, unleashed from her self-imposed imprisonment within the catacombs after six thousand years. Nemmy glanced at me with the widest smile possible, her eyes glittering as she gave me the tiniest nod of acknowledgement.
The magical resonance of the ward and spell-fire faded as the students exhausted themselves, ran out of mana.
Dean Octavia's eyes hardened with irritation as her lips curled into a menacing snarl. She walked over to the Keeper, grabbed her by the elbow and dragged her away to reprimand her while teachers began to introduce themselves to the gathered crowd of students.
I could hear the conversation of the Dean and the Keeper beneath the arched entryway thanks to the pinhole gateway in Nemmy’s pocket that was connected to a gate in my ear.
“What do you think you’re doing, Keeper Antienni?” Octavia hissed.
“I’ve made the entrance ceremony a tad more rousing,” Nemmy said.
"A bit more rousing? That was incredibly disruptive! How did you make the ward do that?" Octavia demanded. "I wasn't even aware that the ward could produce a snowstorm!"
"The localized, weather-manipulating hexagram was designed by Gumbell Quem in 4044," Nemmy said. "Here's a scroll describing how a miniature supercell snow storm can be produced directly above Nemendias. It was written by Lord Quem in 4045 for the Keeper of Keys. I found it deep in the catacombs and decided to implement it during the Knowledge Day ceremony. Keeper Xulian Wenda was the first person to use the spell to entertain students during the entrance ceremony of 4045. It had been part of our noble tradition until Keeper Wenda died and failed to pass the scroll to the next Keeper of Keys."
"It seems you have done your homework, Keeper Antienni. But please do not improvise during an important ceremony like this," the Dean's hostile tone softened ever so slightly before growing more strict once again."The students look to you for guidance. As the Keeper, it's your job to keep the students in line, not to egg them on!"
"Of course, my Lady," Nemmy bowed. "I simply got a bit too excited to show off what I discovered."
"I expect you to maintain order," the Dean said in a low, dangerous tone.
"I'm sorry, my Lady," Nemmy said. A hint of regret could be heard in the Keeper's voice.
The Dean sent another glare at the Nora-shaped avatar and walked back to the line of students.
"I am Dean Octavia Breen Georgia," the Dean of Nemendias cut in as soon as the next instructor had finished their introduction. Her tone was firm with a hint of false, sweet friendliness. "I'm at the helm of this six-thousand-year-old institution, and as such, I determine who gets hired and fired. It's up to me to make sure our noble, high standards are fulfilled."
The students nodded.
"As always, we have a set of rules that each student must follow," the Dean continued. "They are posted on the walls in the dormitory hallways and also listed in student guide books. The rules are simple and straightforward. Attend classes on time. Act noble. Mind your manners. Keep your dorm clean. No magic usage outside class unless instructed to do so by a teacher. Any problems you may have can be brought to the attention of my office. Failure to meet any standards will result in a penalty and subtraction of points. All disciplinary actions are subject to review by teachers and administrators if the penalty is enacted in an unjust manner."
"The penalty for continuous rule-breaking is detention. Detention will be served by students being assigned to a teacher for the evening. During such, students will be subjected to mundane or demeaning duties such as scrubbing the floors by hand, sorting supplies, or other tedious tasks. Punishments for continued disobedience will grow in their severity. Falling below a certain tolerance threshold will result in immediate expulsion, a punishment with no margin for leniency!"
The Dean's pink eyes went over the gathered students in front of her. She froze as she saw negative numbers over the heads of several first years, including myself.
"You should be ashamed of yourself," her voice became laced with disappointment and contempt as she scolded the first years with red minuses over their heads, "I can see that some of you have no respect for rules - not even before entering these hallowed halls of learning!"
The Dean's eyes seared into me like burning flames. I could feel their intensity trying to scorching my soul.
"By the Emperor! Never before has someone had a starting score of negative one-hundred and ten! What is your name, Novitiate?" The Dean said firmly, her magic-magnified voice reverberating off the surrounding buildings.
"Grogtilda Lic Misem," I said, steeling my gaze with hers.
"Novitiate Misem," Dean Octavia said sternly, stepping towards me, her pink eyes burning from within like two angry road flares. "You are hereby expelled from Nemendias."