Chapter 14: To the Academy

The Sante Kingdom is shaped like an elongated triangle with its base as the eastern border. There’s a river that runs from the northern border, on the ocean, down to the capital, before it diverts into a number of small streams that irrigate the farmlands in the west. The height of the country from north to south fits into its length east to west roughly three times, it was developed this way because of the fertile farmland to the west. Traveling towards the western border and ocean’s edge, the country gets skinnier as mountains come in from the south and poor soil comes down from the north.

The geography to the east makes expanding the Kingdom difficult, dense forests and mountains that make the southern region seem flat dominate a significant portion of the continent. They run from the ocean in the north all the way down to the capital at the eastern border, which is also the midpoint of the country from north to south. East of the capital and south, the land is arid and poor for farming. Further south are the sprawling mountains and rocky coastline I explored throughout my childhood.

Past the arid land of the east is the Alarian Empire, they used to engage in frequent wars with the Sante Kingdom, but the last 100 years has seen peace between the two. The eastern border of the Alarian Empire is the ocean, while their north is dominated by a number of lesser developed city states that hold little value. The north and west of these city states are on the ocean, but the coastlines are rocky and steep.

The continent these countries call home is one of the smallest in the world and is on the southern part of the globe. Further north there is a massive continent that's home to far more countries that the Sante Kingdom and Alarian Empire frequently trade with by sea. But there is one more continent on the planet that is hardly spoken of. To the west of Sante sits a midsized continent that is overrun with powerful beasts the world knows as monsters.

Most of the world follows the same religion, which describes a brutal war with powerful beasts long ago. The monster continent, or ‘cursed land’, was once a thriving magical empire before it became the front lines of that war. The battles were so intense that the kingdom split off from the northern continent and drifted to the southwest. People called that separation a miracle from god which let mankind thrive separately from the monsters.

Wait a minute, did this planet’s tectonic plates just move while they were fighting off some animals? And they assumed it was a holy war that god helped them with? If I go to the monster continent and it’s nothing but wild boar or bears I’m going to be pissed.

Mother and father weren’t religious types, and I only liked reading books from reputable sources as a kid, so father recommended I study the religion of the land on my carriage ride to the academy. They basically think god saw humanity’s most advanced civilization getting steam rolled by monsters so he stepped in and moved the land with all the monsters on it out to sea. The religion is called Human Divinity, since god helped humans they think humans are liked by god. But if everything they say is true then god also helped the monsters, they’ve got their own continent separate from humans who would hunt them. They have just as much reason to start a religion called Monster Divinity.

Doesn’t matter, it’s all bullshit.

***

I arrive at the capital after three miserable days in a carriage. Flying would’ve gotten me here in under an hour, but there are sacrifices that must be made to stay out of the spotlight. The academy is on a small hill at the eastern wall of the kingdom and capital. It was built into the first elevation of the mountain range there when the kingdom was planning to expand further east, but it was so hard to build that the kingdom never went any further.

There’s a large and well-maintained stone path that starts at the edge of the merchant districts in the capital leading up the hill and onto the academy’s campus. Knights man an open gate at this boundary, but they don’t give me or the bag carriers my family hired a second glance as we walk through. The bottom half of the stone trail is surrounded by colorful blooming trees and flowers, just beyond them sit stone dormitories that haven’t been updated since the school was built. Farther up the hill on the left are remodeled dormitories with an attached dining hall. Opposite the dining hall, and to the right of the stone trail, is the beginning of the teaching facilities. The stone trail breaks off here into multiple smaller walking paths leading to a number of these buildings in a U shape from the dormitory dining hall on the left to the first teaching building on the right.

There’s a small, tented area ahead of the center building with faculty and attendants passing out cold drinks, walking up to it it’s clear that this is a check-in point for new students.

I greet them with my hand across my chest and a polite bow-

“Good afternoon, I’m a new student at the academy, is this a check-in point?” I ask.

“Good afternoon, indeed it is. What’s you’re family name?” an older female faculty member asks as she opens a small booklet.

“Pruss” I reply.

“Oh, Count Pruss’s son, your father attended this academy and he’s supported the research done here ever since. A few years ago, he shared an innovative method for making soap with us. The elemental magic professors were abuzz about the process and have studied it ever since. We’re very excited to have so many distinguished families in this year’s class of new students” she says energetically.

“I see.. what other families have students starting this year?” I ask after a moment’s hesitation.

Donating to the top academy in the kingdom probably looks good for the family, but I hope they don’t treat me weird. It’s fine, I’m sure father took credit for the innovation himself, that or said Oliver was a genius.

“This academy is filled with children of the kingdom’s nobility each year, but this year we have children from two Ducal families and the second Princess of Sante, Princess Sylvie. She’s been hailed as a prodigy who can use bother earth and water magic!” the woman answers with a beaming smile.

Got it, avoid the earth and water magic classes.

“Oh my, it’s an exciting time to be attending then” I respond after mustering some fake cheer.

“It’s as you say. Now I’ll handle your living arrangements then Miss Natalie on my left will explain the necessary class details. Nearly all of the students live in the recently remodeled dormitory on my right, there’s maid service and a dining hall for your convenience” she explains with a monotone voice.

I imagine it’s hard to sound excited saying the same lines over and over.

“My father told me if I wanted a larger living space and my own kitchen I’d have to live in the older dorms further down the hill behind me, am I able to live there instead?” I ask.

Father being an alumni has some benefits, chief among them, he told me what I should request of the school to have a kitchen.

“Oh um, yes, that’s fine, so you’ll be living with an attendant. It’s not as common since the academy updated its facilities, but it’s allowed. What’s the name of the attendant that will be staying with you?” the faculty lady asks.

“I won’t have one, I’ve enjoyed cooking since I was a child and find it easier to study with more privacy” I answer, and examine the woman’s expression to gauge how odd my requested arrangements are.

She’s silent for a moment before bringing a hand to her cheek-

“I see… you’ll be able to access the dining hall in the main building behind me during the day, and you could bring clothes to be cleaned to the maid service if you wanted.. But you’ll be largely responsible for your own care if you live outside the new dormitory” the woman says with a worried expression.

“That’s not a problem, I was the rebellious child who always wanted to take care of himself at home as well. And there’s open space behind the old dorms I can use for sword practice, I think I’d prefer it there” I reply with wide smile.

Her eyes widen at my sincerity.

“Alright then” she says, giving up on protesting.

“Miss Natalie please show Mister Alfred the class requirements and schedules. I’ll fetch a key for the older dormitory- if you don’t mind being at the edge of campus there’s a dorm with a second door at the rear. It was a prized location when those dorms were popular and has a private space behind the residence where you could practice your sword..” she says.

“That would be perfect, if you don’t mind giving me such a valuable living space I would be most grateful” I answer with a bow.

“I’m pleased to hear it would suit you well, for Count Pruss’s son we want to offer the best we can. Now please excuse me while I fetch your key, Miss Natalie take over from here” she commands.

Miss Natalie steps in front of me to start her spiel.

“Mister Alfred, classes start in three days’ time. Monday through Friday first years have required courses from 8am to noon, in the afternoon you’re free to take up to four supplemental courses, though we recommend taking no more than two in your first half year. The supplemental courses run only half the year, so you’ll pick new ones in the spring and be able to learn a variety of subjects over the next three years” Miss Natalie explains.

“The board behind me has the supplemental course offerings for first year students and the locations of those classes” she adds, gesturing to a large board with class details written on it.

“Thank you, Miss Natalie, let’s see- elemental theory, novel applications of magic in business, mathematics in practice, courses for each affinity including the rare types, various schools of swordsmanship, rare magics lecture series – Miss Natalie what’s the lecture series for rare magics?” I ask.

“That’s the only class listed which is available to students in each year, it’s not as popular as most of the other supplemental courses, but it’s quite interesting. Experts in each affinity lecture for one week, but instead of teaching advanced methods for their affinity, they explain a way they’re able to use their magic that no one has been able to replicate. For example, the healing magic lecturer can alter the state of mind of those she casts her magic upon, making them see or hear things that aren’t there. Though she mostly uses her magic to help those with difficult injuries sleep while they recover” Miss Natalie answers.

“Wow, she can use healing magic to make someone fall asleep? And change their perception of the world around? That’s incredible, why isn’t it more popular?” I ask, unable to hide my excitement.

“Well, the lecturers are all researchers who are trying to make sense of their unique abilities, but they’ve never managed to fully understand how their magic differs from others with the same affinities. Try as they might, they can’t actually teach what they can do. So they explain it the best they can and hold demonstrations” Miss Natalie says.

I thought I had learned all the magic this world had to offer, but I guess these sorts of abilities can’t be explained in books.

“I definitely want to take that course. Additionally, I’ll take novel applications of magic in business and mathematics in practice, do I need to sign onto a class list?” I ask, looking around for somewhere to place my name on the board.

“That won’t be necessary, I’ll mark you down for those three courses. The lecture series can’t give you much to study so it’ll be more like taking two and a half supplemental classes instead of three. This board will be up through the first week of classes, if you forget any of the locations or times please refer back to the board” Miss Natalie says while motioning to the board again.

“Required classes are split into sections, you’ll be in section one which meets in the same room as the traveling lecture series so it’ll be easy to remember. On your first day you’ll receive information about the library and other school facilities, until classes start they won’t be open” she continues.

“Understood, thank you very much for the help Miss Natalie” I reply.

I mostly came here for the freedom and the new hunting grounds, learning about new magics is an unexpected boon.

The faculty that worked with me on room arrangements returned shortly and showed me down to my dormitory. It's practically against the eastern wall of the kingdom, which makes it perfect.

It’s a stone building separated from a line of apartment like stone buildings, making it my own house. There’s a small staircase to the left of the entrance leading to a servant’s quarters and storage area on the second floor. To the right is a separate kitchen area with wood-fired ovens and burners, and a walk-in pantry stocked with cooking wares, plates and utensils. Straight ahead from the entrance is a large living space beyond which lies a door that opens to a small fenced in area that looks like the remnants of a garden. The left side of the first floor has a bathroom and large bedroom.

I’ll need to make some adjustments to the bathroom and kitchen so it’s more like my portable house. But the garden area is perfect, I can easily fit a smoker there and still have room to do some training.