15. Welcome to Noah Awakened Academy
The whole trip didn’t take long. Lucas surmised it must have taken at least half an hour as he glanced at his watch. It must have taken way, way more if they took the bus.
They landed on a flat surface just before the summit of the island's only mountain – Mount Horvath. In the middle is the Upper Horvath Lake, just shimmering beneath the sunlight.
They left their three dropships, and the students had the opportunity to enjoy the fresh air. Some were tempted to dive into the lake.
But Professor Zoren, sporting shorts, a patterned tee, and sunglasses, called their attention. He even wore a floater around his waist. His short, black hair was still wet, so he must have been swimming. “You guys can do that in the future. I am Zoren Castillo, who would be your combat professor.”
Many of the students’ eyes sparkled at the professor, their murmurs a bit too loud to be murmurs.
- “So that’s Zoren, the Prince of Ice. He’s as carefree as the rumours say.”
- “Yeah! You wouldn’t know he’s actually the Rank 10.”
- “…Apparently Lewisia fears him so much that they avoid direct combat when he’s around.”
When Lucas heard that last statement, it was true. While the Order have been generally quiet in the last two years, they still showed some rare activity.
There have been times when some Ascended were sighted; ambushes on aether stone mines; random raids to Seed settlements; or an attempt to assassinate a political figure. But every time Zoren showed up, they immediately retreated, when they don’t even retreat against a group of Class IIIs which at times even includes Lucas.
Hell, they always actually seemed glad to see and fight Avernus on the rare occurrences that they met.
When he glanced at Chloe, she looked dazzled at Zoren, which, for some reason, slightly annoyed Lucas. “Wow… He’s really amazing,” she said.
“I guess so…,” Lucas replied, trying not to roll his eyes.
Professor Zoren didn’t seem to care. “I know I’m cool and all that, but what’s cooler is…” he started, swivelling on his feet to point at the town below the summit, of structures dotting and encompassing the eastern portion of the island facing the ocean. “The Town of Greendale!” he said and clapped.
Chloe perked up beside Lucas. “It looks… quaint? It’s like those tourist towns I saw on an old Earth encyclopedia.”
“An old Earth encyclopedia? There’s something like that?” he asked.
“Oh! Yeah, there are even like pictures of animals and stuff! Architecture too! And Greendale looks like a tourist town.”
He didn’t know what a tourist town was, nor did he understand Chloe's excitement. But. “I see…,” Lucas said, shifting his gaze back to the town, noticing houses and buildings built with wood and stone. The roofs had pointy parts and cute little windows sticking out. Some of them even had big balconies where people were standing, seemingly relaxed.
Meanwhile, the structures came in different colours, like pinkish wood, yellow, or faded blue.
If he were to describe them, he’d describe their design as old but... homely?
Those houses were connected to other facilities, as well as parks, filled with sprigs of nature like trees, shrubberies, and small lakes or ponds.
Professor Zoren’s voice interrupted his thoughts as he addressed the students. “Girl in white got it right! IT IS a tourist town! With around 3,000 people, it’s alive throughout the year.” He then went on a tangent about how even in the 21st century, tourist towns deliberately retained architectural designs dating back as far as the late 1800s, thus drawing a specific demography of people – tourists.
Whatever that meant.
“You guys should try riding the ferry next time. It’s fun!” said Professor Zoren.
“Furry?” a student said.
The others laughed.
“Ferry!” corrected Professor Zoren, before going on another tangent of how the Town is apparently just 10 square kilometres.
But the whole island is approximately 174 square kilometres big, connected by 10 kilometres-long bridges each away from the Isle of Mexur in the west, and Noah in the east.
Lucas noticed most of the students didn’t seem interested, except for a few like Chloe.
“I knew it!” Chloe said with a grin. “Cass, do you know why tourist towns attract people?”
“Yeah?”
“People are usually drawn to older architecture because there’s beauty in history – there’s beauty behind the stories of their creation. Compare that to modern architecture, which almost cannot be defined by a single tenet or design. For example, residential architecture evolved in a way that cater to functionality, affordability, rather than aesthetics. More so now, after the Descent,” she said, even if what she said was lost to Lucas.
He wasn’t drawn to older architecture, but he let Chloe speak about what he presumed to be her interest – history. Or maybe she’s just interested in the odd knowledge here and there. So, he just smiled at her and did not interrupt as he listened.
“It’s just really amazing, how we still try to retain architectural designs of the past,” she said. “Like, even with what’s going on, we still preserve our history!”
“Yeah, you’re right. I never thought of that before. I think that’s actually really fascinating,” he said.
“Right?” she said.
Cale whispered, his usual dead eyes locked on Lucas. “Sure you do… Simp.”
“Shut up man,” Lucas whispered. Thankfully, when he looked at Chloe, she seemed oblivious to it.
Professor Zoren then pointed to the western portion of the island – roughly 50 kilometres away from the Town of Greendale, separated by fields of farmlands and forests – to where the professor pointed to a massive group of white, glass buildings, surrounded by walls of… also white.
They seemed to be the only modern architecture throughout the whole island.
It looked like the only way in was through that big forest around those buildings.
“You all see those glass buildings at the middle of Loncier Forest? That’s Noah Academy!" Professor Zoren said, but most students, excluding the Legacies who could see that far, struggled to see what the professor pointed at.
Lucas thought that the professor must have forgotten that the students hadn't Awakened yet.
But, Professor Zoren kept going anyway. "And those four buildings at the edges are the dormitories where you will be staying at for the next four years,” he said, much to the ‘wows’ and ‘woahs’ of some students – probably the Legacies. “This island has been the home of Noah Academy for the last 100 years.”
Easy to defend, Lucas thought. That was mostly what he cared about. But it won’t matter if Summoners are involved.
“And did you guys know that the Consortium’s five Academies are all located at tourist spots?” said Professor Zoren.
“Why is that?” Chloe asked–– quite genuinely as a matter of fact.
“Gives tourism dollars throughout the year, especially during school breaks! Which means more resources for you guys.”
Professor Zoren explained that the Panamerican Consortium of Awakened Academies (PCAA or just the Consortium), which is the overall educational authority encompassing all League Academies, signed an MOU with the Department of Tourism when the Academies were first established over around a century ago.
This old MOU stated that the League would provide the Consortium parcels of land. In exchange, the Awakened academies’ presence will boost tourism and security across all its tourist sites.
Revenue raised will benefit both the Consortium and the Department of Tourism.
“Also, many deals like this are common between many entities, including private ones, due to the limitation of space where structures could be built. Like in this case for Noah Academy, they’ve been given space on a tourist town,” said the professor.
“That’s so cool!” said Chloe.
“So, when are we going?” one student asked. He looked bored. It was Niall Locksmith, the student with combed back jet-black hair with two lackeys. And just like the rest of the Locksmiths, he also looked so pale.
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“We go now, actually! Get back in your respective dropships, everyone!” said Professor Zoren.
The students groaned in defiance. “Can’t we just hike down?”
Lucas also felt excited at the prospect of a hike. Noah is just a jungle of metal and glass. And it’s very rare for people to see nature. Well, Lucas often finds himself in nature as Avernus, but he never had the chance to really enjoy it because of the Ashen.
“Oh. You guys are free to do that in the future,” said the professor before checking his wristwatch. “We’re late, so… get moving guys!”
***
Lucas stood at the centre of the auditorium – the Alvine Grand Theatre – with the other 300 students.
A podium arose from beneath the ground. Five people stood on them, their hands behind their waist, observing the students. They must be the teachers and Professor Zoren stood before them.
Meanwhile, there were windowed rooms above them. Due to the dark glass, he could only make out silhouettes.
“Sorry for the wait. But, it is an honour to introduce your headmaster,” said Professor Zoren as a woman suddenly appeared out of thin air beside him, donning a navy three-piece suit and a black overcoat.
She does love to make a show, Lucas thought.
"I am Dr. Livia Cara with the Panamerican Consortium of Awakened Academies. A Circle III Wizard who serves under the World Council, as well as the Headmistress of the Noah Awakened Academy."
Even if everyone already knew the famous headmistress of the Academy, the students still couldn’t keep their excitement to themselves.
It must be akin to seeing an A-list celebrity for them.
After all, there are only four Circle III wizards in the world – the rest are Circle IIs and below.
Around the world, scattered among the six major powers, there are less than 8,000 wizards. And in the League, there are only a bit over 1,000 wizards and only one Circle III. That’s Livia Cara.
Wizards of eld were instrumental to the creation of the Awakened System; the discovery and replication of taluses; and they’re also the ones who create and produce spell books for the Awakened.
“First of all, congratulations to all of you. With your dedication. Your abilities. We trust you will not waste–– the academy’s resources. For that, I am grateful,” Mrs. Livia said.
What the fuck? Lucas thought. That's one way to welcome students, I guess.
And silence.
Lucas looked toward the other students, but all their eyes sharpened instead. They all seemed to brim with silent pride – despite Mrs. Livia’s cold words of warning – and not of welcome.
“Now, why are you all here? …To learn how to harness the aether–– magic. But what is magic? It is one that unravels the very fabric of reality–– entropy dismissed with indifference; the sacrosanct laws of the universe ignored, and causality, at times, is forsaken altogether,” said Mrs. Livia, allowing her words to momentarily filter through the air.
Her words were met with a loud silence.
“To wield the gift of magic without the ability to temper its power is death— inevitably succumbing to the abyss of unintended destruction of others…, or themselves. Imagine a child walking on a street armed with a rifle, and the capacity to end lives on a whim.”
Chloe whispered beside Lucas. “So, Lady Livia is saying that we’re a danger to others?”
“Pretty much. But it’s true. Magic is like a gun. You don’t want to accidentally shoot someone.”
Chloe looked at Lucas stupefied, as if she wanted to say something, but she only pursed her lips and remained silent.
“What?” Lucas asked.
Chloe hesitated. “I understand the logic. It’s just. It feels… wrong.”
“Feels wrong? …Yeah. I guess it does,” he said with a sullen face. Why am I suddenly… thinking of Muriel?
Mrs. Livia’s voice once more reverberated in the auditorium. She didn’t even shout and her voice remained calm. But it was still so loud. “Quiet,” Mrs. Livia said calmly, and the students shut up.
She continued talking after a satisfied nod to herself.
“Recognizing these dangers emerges the imperative to control what may or may not be within the confines of learning institutions like ours; young talents as yourselves, guided by teachers who will also do their best to ensure you will not wilt until you bloom. Because for you, the Awakened, magic–– in essence…, is a path of death.”
In short, where there is magic, there is always danger – even within the confines of a learning institution, thought Lucas.
“So, blame not our rules for their–– strictness. Your safety is our top of mind. But while that is so, it is foolish to promise we can provide you true safety from the volatility of magic, and the inherent dangers of walking the Aetheric Path. Thus–– it is encouraged that you all look after one another,” said Mrs. Livia and scanned the students. “Because this road you are about to walk is a road most filled with blood. While competition is encouraged, there is no room for foolish conflict and contempt with one another. For humanity to advance, we are all in this together.”
Lucas couldn’t help but look at Chloe who yelped and paled at Mrs. Livia’s words. It was arguably a terrifying speech.
However, despite the gloom and doom implication of the wizard’s speech, Lucas had already studied the dangers that come with Awakened academies.
He had to at least understand the basics of how Academies function to be able to do his job properly.
But also, understanding would allow him to make a decision about when he should and should not protect Aoife. A lack of understanding may lead him to protect her from controlled environments, which would then lead to his identity being compromised.
His thoughts were interrupted when he saw the sickly features of Chloe.
“It’s fine. No matter how exaggerated she sounds, all five academies boasts a low per cent rate of student death. Sure, there’s a little bit of a higher percentage of professor deaths. But that’s mostly for keeping students safe during optional dangerous activities like controlled expeditions,” he leaned and whispered to Chloe. An attempt to calm her down. “Even then, there has been no professor deaths for the last ten years as a result of controlled activities. This is good news.”
The reason for the low percentage of death is that while there are indeed inherent risks to magic – including death – it does not justify an Academy's carelessness. They are never free from fault. All Academies would still need to do their best to keep everybody safe. Only when situations truly beyond their control occur, will judiciaries even entertain the possibility of no guilt.
This is how education has evolved since the Descent. Innovation and survival. Even students at normal schools are taught survival in some way.
So, while Mrs. Livia may have spoken harshly and cold. Lucas understood it was necessary.
Chloe replied. “No professor deaths… except for St. John,” she whispered, before heaving a sigh not a moment after. “I’m sorry. It must be annoying to see someone get so scared because of––”
Lucas interrupted her. “Chloe. If you’re not scared, I’d say you’re a psychopath,” he grinned, nudging her shoulder. But she’s right. The professors at St. John Awakened Academy were all but wiped out two years ago, ensuring minimal student casualty.
With her Summoners, Muriel found a way to send multiple Grade IIIs to assault the academy, leading to the deaths of 10 Class IIIs. Dead. Just like that.
Chloe covered her lips to hide her laugh. “I’m not…” she said, tipping her chin to Mrs. Livia, who looked a bit annoyed at the students’ chatting with each other.
“Am I understood?” Mrs. Livia asked.
“Yes, headmistressr!” They all replied in unison.
“Good. Now, before I go. I need everyone to listen carefully. This is very important,” Mrs. Livia started, her voice even becoming more serious. “We’re bringing back a system from the past.”
A system from the past?
“With the passing of Bill C-23, an Act amending the Awakened Code. All Awakened students, from this day forth, can now once again accept and complete Awakened missions from the Awakened Society,” said Mrs. Livia.
The students had mixed reactions. Some were afraid. Some were excited.
“It’s all optional,” Mrs. Livia clarified. “If you think you’re strong enough, then the Awakened Academy cannot do anything to stop you. This decision by the League came due to increased Ashen activities, and less and less Awakened to take on the jobs. Any interested to find out more, including information on incentives, can go to the Society. The Consortium’s part ends here.”
Lucas frowned. The Consortium’s part ends here, huh? A small string of words but heavy with meaning: We do not agree with this decision, because you can die. But we are legally required to tell you.
Basically, Bill C-23 is a complete disregard for the Consortium’s philosophy of protecting Awakened students until they are ready for the world.
“We will now proceed with the next part of today’s program. Professor Zoren will take charge,” said Mrs. Livia before disappearing in a puff of smoke.
Lucas removed his phone from his pocket to check the schedule for today.
Noah Awakened Academy
Orientation Programme,
April 11, 2349
Time
Programme
10:00 a.m.
Headmistress Livia Cara’s opening remarks.
10:15 a.m.
Augmented Reality Presentation:
The Descent, a Documentary.
11:00 a.m.
Closing Remarks by Professor Zoren Castillo.
11:15 a.m.
Academy Tour.
12:00 p.m.
Lunch.
3:00 p.m.
Awakening Ceremony
7:00 p.m.
Dorm Assignment
“Look at this, Cass. Augmented Reality! Doesn’t that sound exciting?” Chloe cheered as she showed him her phone. “The Descent, huh? I wonder what the documentary will show.”
Lucas shrugged. A quick glance at the auditorium revealed state-of-the-art projectors. There were also smell and touch simulators. “Yeah,” he said. “They really are going all out.”
But he found it suspicious.
Using an all-sense AR for a documentary? That’s honestly a bit overkill. Even when they used AR for training back in SPECTRA, they didn’t use smell simulators.
“Weird,” he whispered to himself.
----------------------------------------
As the school year begins, so too does the curtain slowly fall.
Coming up next week on the Ring of Avernus...
Anthony briefly stopped, looking at a student in the distance who shook on the floor, watching the Ashen murder civilians around him. “It’s in the nature of men to be greedy. And it is because of our acknowledgement of our own nature that we have democracy. So if power ends up with the corrupt, and society fails as a result, then society deserves to burn. It is not our duty to play gods, Zoren. Do well to remember that.”
Zoren frowned at that, before flicking his finger, turning the surroundings black. He turned his attention back to the students.
Death… mirrored within their glazed eyes. Like those of a dead fish who just stopped struggling for the seas.
***
Cale considered what others might think of him if they found out. After all, who is he to even interfere? As the old adage of romance and love do solemnly proclaims, if two souls are meant for each other, then it will work out. Intervention is unnecessary.
But Cale has no belief in such concepts as fate. No. Fate is created. Weaved. Manipulated.
And if he can sculpt fate and destiny itself, why should he deny himself that power? What is power without utilizing it?
If others could hear his thoughts and judge him for it, then so be it.
…And is it also not the duty of a true friend to advance the blossoming of love, and to tear down the barriers hindering its fruition?
So, let others call him a villain if they must. For he shall wear the title with pride.