Bureaucracy

Their first attempt resulted in failure. They stood baffled in front of the Academy.

“Maybe we went to the wrong place,” Samuel suggested.

“No, I’m certain that was it.” Madoc shook his head.

“Come on, two hours?” That can’t be right.”

They had arrived at the Academy in the afternoon after a long stroll through the city. They had even entered the Academy without a hitch. However, it turned out the student office, which was also in charge of admissions, was only opened between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

“So, do we just come back tomorrow?” Samuel asked.

“While we’re here, maybe we can take a look around.”

The inner parts of the Academy were off limits to visitors but that still left quite a large area to explore. The inside walls were decorated with intricate patterns and works of art from paintings to statues, mosaics and frescoes depicting portraits of important people, historical events and battles. It was hard for Samuel to tell whether all the events were truly from the world’s history or just the mythology of the culture. Given the things he saw, he was ready to believe even the battles with gigantic demonic beasts that were depicted. At least we didn’t have to face these. We wouldn’t stand a chance.

Outside they encountered scores of students alone and in groups of various sizes. They all wore uniforms, some the same as Yorath and Arianwen, others similar but in different colour schemes. Probably it indicates the grade or whatever the equivalent is in this place. More rare and distinguished were the older wizards. These must be the professors. All of them seemed busy in one way or another, so it was difficult to approach them. In the end they gave up and decided to take care of their accommodation for the night. The odd jobs barely paid enough for the food and lodging for a day. It included shopping for supplies, delivering notes, chopping firewood, cleaning, and more. It was even more of a struggle for Samuel than Madoc. Not just because his disability but also due to some people refusing to associate with a foreigner. Luckily for the most part even if they looked at him strange, they didn’t act on their suspicion. Perhaps seeing his state was enough to ameliorate their disposition or at least it made him seem less dangerous. I’m just glad I managed to pick up the language. Thank you Madoc.

The next morning they went to the Academy once more and were deliberately early. There was already a small number of people waiting in front of the office. By the time they were accepted into the office, half of the open time had already passed.

“Yes?” The lady behind the desk asked.

“Uh, hello,” Madoc said. “We are here to enrol in the Academy.”

“Names,” the lady said. They both introduced themselves and at Samuel’s introduction she looked up with a raised eyebrow, then looked him up and down. “Where are you both from?”

It was a question they expected and had prepared for. Samuel spun a tale of his heritage, of being orphaned at a young age and travelling across the different kingdoms. They even included a version of their true imprisonment at the hands of the Cyrhil both for authenticity and to garner some easy sympathy. In a stoke of luck, the story that covered his unusual appearance was also sufficient for his imperfect handle on the language and any misunderstandings could be played off as differences in dialects.

“I understand. In general we do allow foreign students to apply here, if they don’t have any active connection to some undesirable group, whatever that may be. As a free person without even owning any land or foreign employment, you are both eligible for application at the Academy. Before we can actually accept you, there are some details we still need to work out, namely the admission and attendance fee.”

Samuel and Madoc exchanged a glance. Of course they knew there would be a fee but with their non-existent funds they still dreaded what it would be.

“The admissions fee is 20 silver pieces and then the cost of attendance is 200 silver pieces per year.”

Both of them gawked. There was no way they could come up with that kind of money. The receptionist noticed and gave a wry smile.

“Other than heirs of wealthy families like merchants and minor nobility, most of our students cannot afford the fees. After listening to your story I assume that also goes for you two.” They both nodded. “In that case there are still two choices you can make. The first is to borrow the money to pay for the fees. You have the option to pay in instalments, with a slight increase in the cost. This is the option some of the students take. In your case it might not be the best in my opinion, since if you two are as poor as you look, even the moneylenders will refuse to work with you, as you don’t have any assets to pledge as a collateral. Of course in the end it is entirely up to you.”

Samuel wasn’t well versed in economic matters but decided that her words seemed genuine enough. Loan sharks were also a part of life in the city where he had once lived. Recalling that left a bittersweet feeling. I miss you guys. He kept his expression as blank as he could.

“Then you have the second option. All of the fees will be covered by the Academy.” That sounded too good to be true. “In exchange, you will pledge your service to the Academy. One year of service for one year of education. Alternatively, you can pledge two years of service and in exchange you will also be granted boarding at the Academy, which includes a bed at the dormitory and three daily meals.”

A year of service for a trained wizard was in all likelihood worth more than the 200 silver pieces, yet dealing with money lenders was never as simple as it seemed at a first glance. He looked at Madoc who was also mulling over their options.

“You also have a chance to buy out part or the entirety of your service contract at any point. That is in case you come into some money, but I imagine you aren’t expecting any sudden inheritance. More commonly a third party will buy the contract if they want to employ a freshly graduated wizard or even a sorcerer.” She shook her head. “Not that it’s important right now. Anyway, take some time to decide on what you would like to do. If none of the options appeal to you, you can decide to leave and come back next year, or perhaps not at all. Also keep in mind that even after you decide, you still need to be accepted into the Academy. Merit matters more than money.”

There was no question. Going out to discuss was done more as a sort of formality.

“I would go into debt if that’s what it took,” Madoc said. “I want this.”

“No disagreement from me,” Samuel said.

They were lucky to get their turn once again before the office closed for the day.

“Very good. We can schedule your entrance tests in three days and should you pass, the classes start next week. You can move into the dormitory as soon as you pass the tests.”

They had both decided to take the full accommodation. Living at an inn or renting apartments would mean spending every free hour of the day working. Their intention instead was to learn as much as possible. It will probably come back to bite us in the ass in a couple of years. On the other hand, it was also a guarantee of an honest and stable employment by one of the strongest institutions in the kingdom.

On the day of the test Samuel was so tired he had to struggle not to collapse as he stood. He hadn’t felt so much excitement for a long time. It was like coming to school without studying, yet there was really nothing he could’ve done. Despite magic being wide spread in the Kingdom of Bryntir and especially the capital Tanwyth, there wasn’t much that the general public knew about it. The Academy made their education costly and hard to obtain and also guarded their secrets. Even their graduates apparently didn’t tend to share their knowledge much and were seen by some people as pompous. Even more surprising for him was the realisation that the practitioners of magic were disliked or even distrusted by a certain percent of the locals and that was just from the people he had talked to in Tanwyth. According to the locals their kingdom was the most accommodating to the wizards. Other kingdoms ranged on the spectrum from liking to tolerating to disliking magic and in one case openly persecuting anyone dabbling in what they dubbed the dark arts. Fools. They have access to magic and choose to reject its amazing power. Would they also reject using fire? He shook his head. That was neither here nor there. Even if by entering the Academy, he would become an enemy of an entire kingdom and small parts of every other one, that would not shake his resolve. Come after me if you dare. I’ll show you my power. Then again, he didn’t really expect to run into any serious trouble any time soon. A wizard would be as safe as possible in the tower of wizards.

“Next!” The shout brought him back from the reverie. They and a couple of other potential students were taken through the corridors of the Academy to a classroom, where they would be tested one by one. Madoc exited the room and it was hard to interpret his expression. He seemed agitated but at the same time also not dissatisfied. A complicated grimace stole over his face. He passed and hardly glanced at Samuel as he entered the room.

“Well it was good enough,” one voice murmured. “Not like I did any better.”

“Shush,” another voice warned.

Samuel noted there was a single professor in the room along with five additional students assisting. He sat at the desk as indicated by one of the assistants. Several objects were arranged on the table, the most concerning of which was a small stiletto.

“Samuel?” asked the professor that sat across from him.

“Yes sir,” he responded. Showing respect to anyone didn’t come naturally to him but he figured he needed to make at least some effort at a good first impression.

The professor noticed the arm and one of his eyebrows shot up for a tiniest moment. If Samuel wasn’t so used to the reaction, he wouldn’t even notice it. In his opinion it was an impressive ability to hold back the reaction.

“Hold out your hand here,” he said after clearing his throat. “I need to do a small prick, nothing too painful.” He took the stiletto in one hand and opened the other, whereupon a small flame sparked into life.

Samuel was so transfixed by the sight of magic that he had been unable to perform ever since he had lost the ring that he forgot to complain about what was about to happen. After holding the point of the blade in the fire, he swiped it with one swift motion and pricked the tip of Samuel’s middle finger. It happened too fast to follow and the barest hint of pain only arose a couple of seconds later. A single drop of blood formed.

“Now, hold this and touch the finger on the marked spot,” one of the assistants handed him a small white cylinder. Another one clamped some other object around his wrist, connected to a larger box that he placed on the desk. As his blood made contact a small pulse shook his entire body. The professor looked at him and at the box and started taking notes.

“Good, now try to focus as if you’re trying to push the object in your hand away with a force originating from your hand. Try not to actually move your hand.”

He did as he was told and he felt a surge of power and it reminded him of the power he had once commanded even though nothing apparent happened. At the same time he could feel tremors coming from his pocket. The necklace. He hadn’t dared to leave it in the inn even though their rooms were paid for another night already and despite the fact that he feared it would interfere with any tests. If they found him out, they would at the very least take it away as they did with the rings. Worse, they might forbid him from joining the Academy at all. To his relief, the necklace didn’t seem to impact his channelling despite its reaction. Still, to be safe he held back from pushing with all his might.

“That’s enough,” the professor said. He was giving Samuel an intense look. The scowl seemed to last for much longer than it probably had and Samuel’s breath caught in his throat. Sweat began beading on his forehead beneath his hair. “Please place it back on the table.” The man shook his head almost imperceptibly. Samuel struggled to hold back the sigh of relief and obeyed.

Only as he did so, he noticed it had changed colour. From a pure white, there was now a burst of various hues in uneven patterns. The professor examined it and even some of the assistants strained their necks to better see the results.

“I see,” he said. One of the assistants let out a titter and got a blank expression from the professor that turned him deathly pale.

The ordeal included several more tests, for some baffling reason even physical health and ability were examined though not in a very thorough way, or so it seemed. Some of the tests were designed in a way that anticipated the use of both hands, leading to some improvisation. Surely they won’t reject me because of my missing hand. He waited as the final report was being written.

“Congratulations, you have passed the entrance tests,” the professor said. “You can take these papers to the student officer immediately and make further arrangements.”

The assistants murmured amongst themselves as he departed from the classroom.

“You in?” Madoc asked and made Samuel jump a little.

“Of course I did,” Samuel said with a smile. He hadn’t expected him to stick around for such a long time. Madoc clapped him on the shoulder.

“Let’s get it all sorted out.”

They found themselves at the closed doors of the student office.

“Tomorrow them?” Samuel asked.

They took the opportunity to bid farewell to the nice innkeeper lady that gave them a good price for the rooms and gather what little possessions they had bought since arriving at the city, for the most part an extra pair of clothes. The bureaucratic rigmarole repeated once more the following day.

“Sign here, here and here,” the officer said. “Collect your uniforms in room A-17 and then report to the housemaster for your room assignment.”

The contracts were so long that they barely had a chance to leaf through the entire things, let alone understand them fully. The jargon was also a bit out of the scope of the language that Samuel had managed to learn thus far. The one thing he most definitely noticed were the clauses regarding breaches of contract, which stated that depending on the severity and timing of the breach he could face fines, expulsion, imprisonment, corporal punishment, confiscation of assets and execution. The Academy had the authority to handle many internal affairs without the involvement of the officials of the kingdom. I’ve come this far. Am I really going to stop now? There was little doubt in his mind as the signature determined his destiny for what could be a substantial part of his future.