A Known City

It was almost 11 in the morning and the Multicontinental continued its journey. The group was slightly bored, as they were half an hour behind schedule; a minor malfunction had slowed the progress of the enormous vehicle.

"I see the central tower now," Mina said, peering excitedly through a window.

"Finally, I can rest. You guys are mentally exhausting, friends, don't take it the wrong way," Íthil told them in a friendly tone. Jacob and Mina simply nodded with a smile at Íthil as a man in a butler's uniform announced, from cabin to cabin, their arrival at Thar-Abbys.

"Why isn't the station inside the city? They're just trying to torture me with endless, annoying transfers!" Mina exclaimed, hissing a small flame, almost about to hit Jacob.

"Well, you see, do you see the city walls? No one in the world, not the Archipelago of Commerce, nor the Reclamationist Orders, not even the School of Magicers or the great Guild of Summoners, has the means to cause even a scratch to Thar-Abbys' original walls or its gates," Jacob said, trembling behind Íthil, fearing Mina's retaliation.

"Stop complaining, Mina, we still have to get our medallions; with those, we'll have assigned barracks from the academy, not to mention three hot meals on campus. I can barely wait!" Íthil eagerly chimed in as they received their luggage from the magic carts.

The three adventurers headed towards the citadel.

Before them, imposing walls stood, dwarfing the once gigantic Multicontinental train. Weathered and tinged with pink, they were clad in moss and dirt where hundreds of birds perched in their nests within the notches made by unimaginable and ancient weapons. Thar-Abbys was an ancient city whose origins defied anyone's logic in Khuarhya. Technologically speaking, with 3 concentric walls and a central tower of white granite so colossal it dissolved into the sky, from which 3 smaller towers extended, crowning an altar among the clouds. The three adventurers could barely contemplate the vast magnitude of Thar-Abbys.

"So, which ring are we heading to, Jacob?" Íthil asked.

"Well, the first one has the student barracks," Jacob counted on his fingers, pointing to the sky, making imaginary leaps to each ring with gestures of his hand.

"The commerce sectors, warehouses, and workshops; the second has all the teachers and banking sectors"—Mina and Íthil tried to follow him, but it seemed too complicated without a guide.

"The third has the recreation plazas and school sectors. The central tower is, so to speak, the school offices, and those three towers are the relations palaces and the quarters for specialists and councilors. I suppose we're going to the central tower; we can take the cable cars."

"Okay, cable car it is," saturated with information, Mina and Íthil responded at the same time.

From above in the cable car, they could visualize the colossal size of each ring; the birds flying between each sector only increased the feeling of scale and vertigo.

"Hey, Jacob, didn't you say we couldn't alter Thar-Abbys' original structures?" Íthil asked, seeing the finely planned blocks of houses, parks, and small squares that were more evident from above.

"And we can't. Thar-Abbys' original founders only reactivated the city. To build within it, millions of tons of earth were introduced. The original structures lie 30 meters underground in restricted access vaults. We'll never know why these gigantic concentric rings were completely empty. Our ancestors were as impressed and clueless about what material the Thares are made of as we are today."

"Wait, so there's more?" Mina asked, genuinely intrigued.

"Yes… my father told me that during the original construction work of Thar-Abbys, tablets were found in the central tower that possibly indicate the existence of at least 4 more"—gesturing with his hands, Jacob outlined various places on an imaginary map in front of them, which Mina and Íthil watched, barely understanding.

"But so far, we don't know of any others. Besides, this city is so impressive that it has its own fresh water system, as well as automatic defense systems. It was a key piece in the wars against the Archipelagos of Commerce. Fortunately, Thar-Abbys ended up being a school, but we have no idea what it really is, or who or when it was built. There were no houses or writings other than the name 'Thar-Abbys' everywhere, and in reality, we don't even know if it's a name or a number; we interpreted it by its resemblance to symbols in our alphabet as 'Thar-Abbys'." The three watched the landscape, amazed and in silence, as they approached the base of the central tower, and finally, after a few minutes, the group arrived.

Sections finely carved in bronze and fine wooden reliefs softened Thar-Abbys' original alien architecture, clearly not made for Khuaryans. The three adventurers made their way through the strangely misty entrance halls of the central tower to finally reach a corridor where other adventurers were also gathered. There, beginner adventurers took the first trial mission to obtain the adventurer rank.

"Look, everyone's nervous," Mina said in a low voice. At other tables, the examiners assigned tasks to the newly formed groups, just like they had before leaving to fight the Hurofalcos.

"Yeah, usually the exam is taken inside the academy and is written or through donations and tuition payments, but I've heard that this year they implemented field exams, due to the low performance of many elements from wealthy families who just want purchased titles for their children," Íthil replied to Mina while making a coin symbol with his hand.

"Exactly, last year they had a problem!" Jacob continued with a gloomy tone and downcast gaze.

"The Klein triplets! Yes, I remember them, arrogant lads, but they didn't deserve their fate"—a voice emerged from behind them.

The three turned, startled, upon hearing the response.

"Instructor Samael!" Jacob exclaimed in a relieved tone.

"Samael Telantes to you, little friend. I see I disappointed you. I bet you expected a famous instructor like Shalona, or Coleopterus, from the Cavalry Guild. I'm sorry, so, so sorry that I'm going to drown my sorrows and my lack of fame in a bottle of Rebril Liquor," he cried.

"I don't think your salary would cover one of those instruc…"
Jacob tried to say when Mina and Íthil stopped him in a low voice.

"SHHHHHHHHHH!"—while gesturing with crossed arms and a resounding no with their heads.

"Yes, I know, my sad, gray hair, as if life has left me from studying, is not attractive at all, while my hollow eye sockets and empty gaze cry out for lack of company. My grayish-blue clothes are a sin against fashion and my thin, unmuscled body completely lacks notoriety. But it's not my fault that magic is so ridiculously complicated and expensive. IF I HAD KNOWN, I WOULD HAVE BECOME A JEWELER LIKE MY DECEASED GRANDMOTHER TOLD ME! OOOOOH, GRANDMA, I HAVE FAILED YOU, YOU WILL NEVER HAVE A GRANDSON!"—

The three adventurers watched the teacher cry at a table while they reprimanded Jacob.

"What? I just said that liquor was expensive," Jacob whimpered, not knowing what his mistake was.

"By the way, you have work!" Samael exclaimed, completely composed.

"EH! That was fast!" the adventurers complained.

"As I was saying, your exams have been graded, your performances examined, and your belongings searched. Maybe I shouldn't have said that last part. Well, guys, I bring and present to you your wooden division medallions, Grade E, of adventurers"—with an honest smile, Samael extended 3 rustic, poorly carved wooden medallions on the table.

The three young people looked disheartened at the medallions presented to them on the table.

"What? Do you have any questions?" Samael blinked as if asking if they had a problem.

"Well, actually…"—Mina hesitated, not wanting to be rude.

Jacob stared blankly at the medallion in disappointment and sadness, mouth open, while his trembling hands hesitated to touch that wooden slice.

"THEY'RE HORRIBLE!" Íthil said.

"Well… what did you expect, guys, they're the most basic of the basic! They're replaceable, besides, metal for medallions and manufacturing is hard to afford… you should be grateful they're not cardboard!" Samael exclaimed, gesturing a nod with his head, stroking his chin.

"The medallions… you made them, right?" Jacob asked, still shocked by the poor craftsmanship that twisted before him.

"Isn't the academy supposed to allocate a budget for the indispensable needs of the students?" Íthil said as he mentally waved goodbye to his barracks and his three hot meals a day.

"Well, you see, guys, it's just that…" Samael's voice trailed off as cold sweat ran down his forehead and his hand gripped the edge of the table tremblingly.

"Instructor, by any chance, you didn't send us on that test knowing about the Strigiursa, and determined we would fail, did you?" Mina observed Instructor Samael intently with round, empty eyes, straight out of a horror story.

"PSSS, no, of course not! As soon as I saw you, I said: 'These kids have potential.' Yes, imagine my surprise when you surv… I mean, when you obviously conquered that problem so easily. I told myself, 'obviously these kids deserve the best,' so I looked for the nearest block of wo… the finest block of wood from our stores, and here they are"—the sweat kept running as the instructor's gaze sought escape among the other instructors, who looked back at him, reprimanding him for the situation.

"Instructor Samael, I will create the medallions and you will certify them," Jacob said as he pulled out his tools.

"Please, take your position as Instructor more seriously and don't irresponsibly spend the budgets," Mina said.

"By the way, that bottle in your cloak is Rebril liquor, right?" Íthil asked.

"No, no, no, no, nonono, no, nonononono, of course not, this is niii…"
"Niii…?" the adventurers asked.

"Niii…… Nina, another new student"—with cold sweat and evasive eyes, Samael replied to them.

"What?" the three adventurers said monotonously as the bottle took the form of a student with a scribbled face, clearly and shamelessly influenced by Samael's magic.

"Instructor, you are so handsome and kind that I didn't hesitate twice before jumping into your clothes. What a shame, now that I've been discovered I'll have to escape," Samael said in a poorly feigned voice as the transformed bottle ran down the corridor, stumbling with the other instructors and students, slipping and breaking outside the mission hall.

Silence filled the room, as the bewildered gazes of everyone turned to the instructor. With a look of sadness and pity, Mina put her hand on Samael's shoulder, who was hiding his reddened face with his hands—"Instructor, you are a very sad man."

"Well, as I told you a while ago, you have work! Young adventurers, this mission is important, lives are at stake! You will head to a somewhat isolated region"—the three young people immediately felt the change in Samael's voice, which still retained a reddish tone in his face.

"As you know, the academy forms groups among students; I am in charge of you three. Possibly more members will be added over time. I try to balance all my groups, but I like to surprise my students. I'm sure you don't know each other well, please introduce yourselves properly, after all, you've only been working together for 2 days"—the 3 students looked at each other, remembering that they had only met upon arriving at the Hurofalcos village.

"Go ahead, introduce yourselves, don't be shy, you'll be comrades until you leave the academy!" Samael sat in the medium cubicle where they were, letting them talk among themselves.

"Okay… well… I'm Jacob Mahogany, I'm from the Sifrit race. I'm not very good at understanding people, but I can balance that with general knowledge. Also, I'm an Evoker and a blacksmith; I can help you keep your equipment in shape," Jacob said a little shyly as he made a small, soft bow, denoting his formality and social education.

"Oh, an Evoker! Your ability to form pacts with ghosts and spirits will help them a lot," Samael said.

"It's my turn. My name is Íthil…… I'm a Drakoorias of the Skelety Horros species. I'm also a black mage and have experience talking to people and handling small armies," Íthil continued, showing a bit more confidence.

"A black mage who is a skeletal dragon, good. Although the military part is intriguing. Straightforward man," Samael nodded.

"Only me left. Mina Reebs is my name, I'm a Drakoorias of the Torrenta Ataradon type. I love sleeping and hate small places. I tend to get angry very quickly, but I'm an excellent warrior and know how to inflict pain as well as relieve it, as I also have medical experience with natural, magical, and modern remedies," Mina, with a fist raised, said animatedly and smiling.

"Excellent! It seems everything is falling into place. Well, as I told you, you'll go to a village north of the Dumas Desert. The academy will provide transport. You'll go from here to the city of Eophock and from there you'll take a carriage to the great Dragas Swamp. There you'll reach Theos, it's a small village. In that place, they'll update you. You have a double mission: the village's request, and also one from Thar-Abbys. You must discover what happened to the Klein Triplets, whom we sent previously. You have 3 days of rest before departing," Samael said firmly.

"YES, INSTRUCTOR!" they raised their voices as Samael said goodbye and gave them their payment, ten gold ingots for the subjugation of the Strigiursa. After a brief discussion about what they would do with their money, the three adventurers decided to go their separate ways for the moment.

As the group separated to take their rest, they couldn't help but wonder what kind of jobs they would encounter from now on. The colors, sounds, and bustle of the great academy city filled their senses as they found more and more people like them, adventurers, audacious souls full of vigor who awaited their opportunity for greatness, fame, and renown, all gathered here in Thar-Abbys.