It might be Torrdok’s role to show us the Academy, but our eyes were taking it all in. A wide street of tidy cobbled stones stretches straight up into the middle of the spires of iron and stone. It’s wide enough for four dragons the size of Torrdok’s dragon form to walk past each other comfortably, and it’s a busy, bustling place. Hundreds of people are making their way somewhere, a mixture of Adventurers, scholars, merchants, students, and all manner of others. Dragon-like people probably make up 70% of the population at first glance so they’re dominant, but there are plenty of other kinds of Galactics and we don’t attract any attention. Occasionally I see someone larger than Torrdok, but even amongst these people he stands out as large and powerful.

On either side of the wide streets there are merchant stalls and buildings that seem more for commerce than living. The architecture is like nothing I’ve ever seen, maybe closest to Gothic architecture on Earth, with lots of spires and arches. There’s no stained glass, though. Instead there are many dragon-like features like scales and natural shapes. Huge dragon-like eyes of different colors are a feature and wings, both folded and unfurled, are a part of the tops of many buildings. Logan is taking it all in with a sense of wonder based on the expression on his face, and I’m guessing mine is not that different. It’s strange but familiar at the same time.

The streets seem fairly geometrical in pattern near this central one. Further away I can see with my eyes and my minimap that they curve to match land features or for some other reasons I can’t figure out. It seems to become more common as I look up the slope toward the spires; perhaps old trails have gradually become roads and streets and the Academy has been built up around them.

After only five minutes or so of following behind Torrdok, he stops and turns to his left, then points to a large cul-de-sac with an entrance at least twice as wide as the main street and addresses us. I can see on my minimap that a single building curves around the cul-de-sac and there are hundreds of people inside, none hostile to us. It’s a very busy place and my Perception picks up sounds and smells that make it easy to identify a Forge.

“You will get a feel for the Academy grounds as you spend a bit of time here, and where everyone tends to gravitate. Here, add this to your minimaps,” he rumbles and waves a notification over to us. I open it and my minimap is populated with a lot of details I can focus on about the buildings, their purposes, and who owns or runs them. Very helpful.

We walk into the cul-de-sac and Torrdok stops again. To the left the sound of hammers striking anvils rings out through the air, mixing with the hiss of steam from cooling pieces of work. It smells of hot iron, burning coal, and magic-infused ores all melding into some kind of a scent of enchanted craftsmanship. On the right it’s quieter, but we can see signs and on our minimaps it’s marked out that it’s more of a workshop space where technology is combined with Mana and magic to make armor, weapons, and utility items.

“All students here learn to fight, but many also learn to Craft and enhance their own gear to earn Credits or save themselves from having to spend so many. Some take the knowledge they learn here back to their homeworlds and just as many stay and become part of our society. Being part of organizations sponsored by Tenebris could almost be considered like being part of a Guild, although of course it is not a Guild because that would mean many additional SSA rules and taxes, right High Enforcer Cadimus?”

“Naturally,” I say, without really knowing the rules at all. I know there are a long list of Protocols and agreements that I have access to and as a High Enforcer I have the support and backing of the SSA to enforce them as I see fit, but it’s not something I’ve had a chance to dive into or figure out. Only so much mental bandwidth to fit in between near death experiences… maybe one day as Taiwo suggested we should dive into that world.

“What do they make here?” Logan asks Torrdok.

“The Forge is lined with powerful furnaces, some powered by traditional fire and others from Mana that’s drawn directly from Mana crystals embedded in the walls that act like Mana batteries.”

The experimental research facility that just almost killed me comes to mind. I suppose that for those on worlds with lower AMLs, getting access to higher concentrations of Mana to do Crafting and enchanting work might be a challenge. With a push of will I quantify the AMLs and check whether Gift of Gaia is working as it should. To my relief, which aligns with how I feel my access to Mana, this is one passive Skill that seems unaffected by what happened to Evolve my SMI.

Health: 10890/10890 Stamina: 16335/16335 Constitution: 1089

Skill Modifier: 5.32 Current Ambient Mana Level (AML): 2 +30 (Gift of Gaia)

Physical regeneration rate: 191185 /min --> 3186 /sec

My regeneration is still thousands of times faster than anyone without the kinds of stacked multipliers and synergized Skills I have, even in an environment where the AMLs are down near baseline. I wonder briefly how unique my combination of Class and Skills and Titles really is, but there’s no real way to know that I’m aware of. It’s a big Universe out there.

“The Workshop section always hums with arcane energy and technology as our Craftspeople and students experiment and create items by imbuing them with various properties and fusing them with Mana or magic. Of course, for new students there are base level items to create that also help fund the Academy. Nobody knows how extensive the resources of Tenebris are, but at the Academy we are committed to breaking at least even economically through what we create and charging Credits for services and training.”

Logan is watching the Forge and Workshop with some interest, but not a lot. I feel the same, if I’m guessing his thoughts through his expression. I have a tremendous amount of respect for people who make things and I’m a big fan of using them, but I don’t have the patience to grind out those skills or pay meticulous attention to detail. Nothing I’ve ever seen in Logan makes me think he’d be any different, though I do think he has a strong streak of creativity that I’m missing.

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Whether Torrdok is on a schedule or senses our half-interest, he moves on fairly quickly and soon we come to a massive plaza that looks to be in the center of the Academy.

“The Grand Plaza of Trials,” says Torrdok over the chatter that surrounds us everywhere as he gestures around. Thousands of people, mostly draconic in nature, mill around the massive space. It’s surrounded by towering walls between many entrance roads, each of which is lined with intricate carvings depicting great battles and legendary monsters. As we step into the plaza, I feel a pleasant tingle which dies down quickly. Some notifications flash at me so I pull them up.

Plaza effect: learning speed +20% (2% after 90% reduction applied)

Plaza effect: Perception +10% (1% after 90% reduction applied)

Mental effects resisted: increased feelings of well being and camaraderie

A slight shame but I’m more than comfortable that the downsides of my Class are minimal compared to the upsides. Torrdok points a powerful clawed hand at an obelisk that sits in the middle of the plaza. It must be fifty meters tall and ten meters across at the base. The whole thing is covered in runes, some of which look a bit like the ones I saw in the Mana Sink experiment. Now that I’m paying attention, I can feel a thrum of power coming from the obelisk like a low, resonant energy.

“The Obelisk of Progression is a key foundational piece of our Academy. It tracks not just all of our students' advancements in skills, combat ability, and Levels, it also serves as a reminder to everyone at the Academy that their purpose while here must be to grow stronger. There are rankings for almost any type of combat endeavor you can imagine, including historical records.”

I eye the Obelisk, wondering what kinds of things it measures, and how I might measure up. I can see that Logan is looking at it in the same way. Surrounding the Obelisk at a reasonable distance that allows free access to the Obelisk are a series of around ten circular stations where students seem to be testing themselves in physical, mental, and magical trials. I glance at Logan who is watching them intently. It’s clear they have diverse Classes, Skills, and power sets.

“Logan,” rumbles Torrdok to get his attention, which is slow in coming. Torrdok’s red eyes are fixed on Logan with intensity that I feel is full of energy rather than threat, so I don’t intervene. Finally Logan turns his gaze to the massive warrior.

“While you are here we will test you and your progress. I am to be your personal instructor while Bronwic recovers and then competes in the Koldaavi Combat Trials. It is an unusual arrangement, but the Academy has specifically asked I do this because I am to run the one we set up on your world; it will be modeled after this one. You will help me learn more about Earth, humans, and the place our Academy will be situated while we train you to become stronger.”

“Sick,” says Logan softly as he looks around, unusually quiet. For a second I worry that the translation of that to Torrdok might not convey the real meaning, but it seems to be fine.

I consider what Torrdok is saying since this is news to me, but I have no problem with it at all. Tenebris delivered on removing Hvitserkur from Earth and I have no doubt that an Academy on Earth would be an amazing training opportunity for Galactics based on what I’m seeing here with the level of organization and activity. The air feels charged, alive with the intensity of competition as we take it all in.

I can only hope that humans are allowed to participate in the Academy based on Earth.

“Come,” says Torrdok as he leads us through the plaza. “I will show you the Hall of Legends.

We continue on toward the iron and stone spires and the looming mountains through some bustling streets with alien smells, sounds, and colors. The proportion of everything seems wrong to me, being used to the ways humans have built things.

Soon we come to an expansive, heavy stone structure which sits on a raised piece of ground. The front of the building is open with large stone and metal pillars supporting it across the cavernous space. A vaulted ceiling is illuminated by softly glowing runes that are etched into the walls, and it looks like every inch of the Hall tells a story. Along the walls are intricate tapestries and murals depicting what I can only assume are the Academy’s students and alumni, or legends from this world. We stand before the Hall of Legends for a minute or so before Torrdok says anything, taking in the weight of history and inspiration.

“You sense the deep history and tradition here, yes?” he rumbles and gestures with his massive arms. “Within the Hall of Legends is also a Wall of the Future. It hums with magic and the students who are here can see their own names displayed. They grow in brightness as they complete their training, ascend through the ranks, and perform great deeds. Many of them hope one day their names will be replaced with pictures and descriptions of their deeds.”

I have to say, that’s pretty fucking cool.

“How much of a human Hall of Legends do you think would be covered by the things you’ve done, Uncle Bronwic?” Logan asks. At first I think he’s being a smartass. That changes quickly when I see the contemplative look on his face.

Torrdok laughs at the question. “You are a newly initiated world, young human. The deeds here are the greatest through millenia and more of species from across the Galaxies, not just a few years.” I’m not sure I agree that it takes a long time to find heroic deeds during an Influx, so I reply to Logan while still scanning all the pictures that move and depict so many stories.

“Only a tiny fraction of the heroic things humans have done since the Influx, Logan. But hopefully there would be a few things,” I reply, giving it the honest answer his genuine question deserves. Logan looks like he might say something, then turns and takes in the Hall of Legends again. Torrdok gives us a bit more time to take it in and then moves us along.

“Come, I will show you the Trial of the Deep, the Beast Grounds, and the Tower of Strategy, and then take you to where you will be staying while you are here. I have a bit of time until I need to commence my next combat instruction class. Logan, you will attend. Bronwic, a special consultation has been arranged for you with our foremost expert on Mana Interface integration to see if there is anything we can do to accelerate your recovery.”

Logan glances at me, clearly a bit uncertain about diving right into something when we’ve only just arrived today. If I’m honest with myself, I have a bit of anxiety over talking with an expert and revealing what’s happened to me. Mostly I’d just prefer to think everything will come right if I ignore it and some time passes.

“I’m sure it will be fine, Logan,” I tell him, and myself at the same time. “Can I observe the first class?” I ask Torrdok.