Moon 3
"This way! This way!" Jack called out as he knocked on the large door, it automatically opened. It revealed a spacious room filled with desks and books, all oriented toward the center. A balcony circled the entire room, but the most striking feature was the large globe hanging from the ceiling as the centerpiece.
A few children wandered inside, their eyes wide with curiosity. The room was illuminated by chandeliers and electric lamps. For the observant, wires and outlet machines could be seen plugged into the walls, and some desks held old retro computers and screens. Despite its ornate appearance, the room was sprinkled with pieces of the modern world.
“Welcome to the study hall!” Jack dramatically waved his arms.
“This is the debate parlor you idiot!” Was shouted from the end of the hall. Jack flinched. “Of all the bullshit that comes out of your mouth, that is the most transparent.” It came from the old man, the one in the beginning of their tour. In his arms were stacks of paper and a staff on the other. Despite the blindfold, his gaze was enough to freeze the children.
Jack groaned.
“Star of Hierodas my ass. You couldn’t find your way through a broom closet.” He waved the staff at Jack, causing a few giggles from the crowd. “And don’t you little shits laugh, you get scared from my damn shadow.” He huffed while walking to the boy.
“Everyone, this is Wilhelm, professor of night sorceries and the head of the Hierodas conspectus. Also the land's grumpiest old fart.” Jack whispered to the crowd receiving a few snickers.
The man Wilhelm, wasn’t amused, he scowled deeper.
“Oh come on dad, where–” He smacked him in the back of the head.
“I’m not your father! Cheeky brat.” He passed the papers to the nearest child. “Pass that along, everyone gets one!”
It was a brochure, on it was a cartoon of a moon winking with the words ‘Welcome to Raya Lucaria the Academy of Magic.’
“If you have any questions, wait until...” He glared back at Jack. “Why aren’t the damn chairs set up?”
“Ahhh, that’s my job?” Jack smiles awkwardly.
“Of all the…” He grumbles, stretching his hand high and ringing a bell. All of a sudden four mummy blob things with trumpets appeared. The children stepped back, some of them yelped. “You four, set the chairs. Yes you, you got arms, use them. For moon’s sake, do I have to do everything around here?” The old man walked to the wall grumbling all the way until he entered a closet.
“Well… Sorry kids, promise you. The professors aren’t all like that, Wilhelm is just… He does that to everyone.” Jack said as he rubbed the back of his head. “Even his star pupil..” He mumbles the last part quietly.
Godfrid took apart the pamphlet, scanning each page. All of it was written in English, he took the mandatory language lessons before, the top of his class, but even he’s having trouble understanding this. He looked around, most of the children weren’t even reading it, gawking at the room, talking, or staring at the oracles. Godfrid was mature for his age, his father said so. A quiet boy, so different from his last life. But that was normal for those who live in death.
“Oh! Here's a good idea. While we wait, why don’t we tell each other where we're from?” Jack broke the monotony. “Though I live in the dorms now, originally I was from magical Britain. Who else is from magical Britain?” Jack raised his hands. No one responded.
“Come on, don't be shy. Where all friends here.” His enthusiasm was infectious. It caused some hands to raise. “Good job! Now who's from regular Britain?” That’s where most of the hands stood. “Great, now who's from out of state?” Only two. “Now who's from the lands between?” Godfrid raised his hand, but he was the only one.
That can’t be right?
He looked around, saw one kid pushing down his hat.
“Great job everyone! Wow, what a turn out. Used to be the other way around, how things change.”
We were all startled by wheeling noises, the old man was back, this time rolling in a machine and a white board. I remember seeing those in the remedial classes, I think it's called a projector.
“Alright you little brats take a seat, I don’t care where, and you.” He pulled Jack's ear, and the boy looked very uncomfortable.
“Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow–”
“You are going back to the manor and make sure everything is set up for orientation. If I find you slacking off again, so help me its the mines for a week!”
“Ow! Ow! Ok! I get it!” He lets go and Jack rubs his ears, his eyes wet with tears.
“Now off with you.” Wilhelm waved his arm, telling him to leave.
“Love you too dad.” Jack turns around walking out the door.
“Brat…” The old man snarks before returning to the crowd. That entire exchange caused all the children to stiffen. Godfrid is grateful that his father isn’t like that.
“Well, what are you little shits waiting for!? Take your seats!” He yells causing the group to scramble for a chair. Godfrid found one right next to a girl, her hair in buns. The oracles disappeared, their job done, causing a few of the kids to awe.
The old man snapped his fingers. "Pay attention." The lights dimmed as he turned on the device. A light flashed on the board, and he placed an image sheet on the projector, displaying it for all to see. It was a picture of the academy by the lakes, with bullet points and terms underneath.
"Welcome to the School of Raya Luciaria, the Academy of Magic. For many of you, this is a first, so I’ll be as thorough as I can." He circled a sentence with a red marker. "While the school has been active for centuries, it only became public five years ago. Although you're within Caria, you are also under the protection of the British government and must follow their laws. But since none of you are old enough to drink, I doubt you’re concerned with jurisdiction and bylaws. Just don’t do anything stupid, and you’ll be fine."
The girl from earlier raised her hand.
"Ugh. What is it, girl?" the man asked impatiently.
"Can I... see it? The laws, I mean."
"You really want to read a fifty-page document?" he replied, raising an eyebrow.
She slowly nodded, lowering her hand.
The man sighed. "I'll send you an albinauric later." He changed the sheet, this time displaying the sigil of Caria surrounded by other sigils of magic. "You may notice some of your classmates don’t look the same as you. This is normal. Just like in your world, there are many types of people here. Aside from a few differences, they are the same as you. So, I don’t want to see any discrimination, or so help me, I’ll make you wish you were never born!" He raised his fists, causing a few students to cower.
He’s not the most subtle is he?
“Originally the academy only accepted a few students but the princes have deemed that we cast a wider net. So in conjunction with the British government and the Carian royal family we agreed to allow applicants outside Liurnia. Hence you lot.” His finger cast a shadow circling all the signs of magic. Godfrid swallowed his breath, he saw the sigil of his house, the centipede.
“You’ll be learning all of the schools of magic, Glintstone, Lunar, Night, Gravity, Gelmire, Flame, Death. And many more. But make no mistake, though you study different schools your loyalty is to the Moon and Caria. As per the agreement, you will all be Carian sorcerers.” He took the sheet out and replaced it with a new one.
“Professor!?” It was the little girl again.
“What is it girl?”
“What’s the difference? If were Carian or not?”
“The difference is where your loyalties lie. Before your time, other schools of magic rebelled against Caria, and almost destroyed this academy. Ever since then the royal family has declared there will be no separation, there will only be one school under the Moon. All the others exist to serve Caria and all must acknowledge the Moon is greater than the stars.” He sounded irritated, especially at the last sentence.
“But sir–”
“Wait until the end to ask your questions.”He ignored her, placing another sheet. It showed a picture of the queen of Caria and other smaller ones below her.
"This is Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon, the queen of Caria and governess of the academy. She is the headmaster and the only reason you're here, so be grateful." He pointed to the photos beneath her. Godfrid thought he saw a beast-man, but it was too blurry to tell. "These are your professors; you’ll meet them officially during orientation. Under them are the prefects, your student representatives." He pulled out another sheet with bullet points and descriptions.
"During your second year, you are required to choose one or two conspectus. Unlike other schools, these aren’t houses; they are areas you want to specialize in. You can be in as many as you want, but be warned: juggling multiple conspectus’ is time-consuming and a waste of resources. You will never grow your skills compared to someone focused on one. It isn’t impossible, but it is the route of the insane. This decision shouldn’t be taken lightly. It will influence your entire life as you know it."
His finger moved to the first bullet point.
“This first one is mandatory for all of you: the Lazuli Conspectus, where you will learn lunar sorceries. Though you can delve deeper into the art, it isn’t required for you to specialize in it.”
Then he moved downward to the next one.
“The Olivinus Conspectus, where you will study celestial bodies, meteors, comets, and related sorceries. Originally, comets were part of the Karolos Conspectus but were later merged with this one.”
“Next... Why is this here?” He crossed out the words that said ‘Twinsage’. “Ignore this, children; it was declared defunct years ago.”
Moving to the next one, he continued.
“The Haima Conspectus, where you will study the art of sorcerous combat.” This elicited excited gasps from the crowd. “It is not for the faint of heart! Combat has evolved far beyond cannons and clubs; now it involves weapons and creatures of mass destruction. Few emerge without scars, so be warned!”
He paused, letting his words sink in.
“Next is mine, Hierodas, where we study the world itself and its interactions with others. We explore world hopping, portals, and the study of spacetime. We created the portal that brought you here.” Murmurs continued. “I know it sounds amazing, but our journeys to distant lands involve facing creatures and monsters daily. Most who venture out never return alive.” The murmurs ceased.
"Now onto the new ones."
"Vullian, where you will learn magical engineering—machines, puppets, vehicles, weapons, and new devices. It involves integrating and reverse engineering technology. They supply the Haima with most of their weapons."
"Solomous, dedicated to everything albinauric-related: creating albinaurics, breeding, organ harvesting, producing artificial life and objects, and creating artificial glintstone. These two conspectus often complement each other."
His expression soured at the next one. "Amberlos." He sneered at the name. "The manipulation of stars." He spat the words out, as if they left a bitter taste in his mouth.
"Orothan, the study of death, healing, and reanimation. They blur the line between the living and the dead." Godfrid felt a chill; he wouldn’t be here if not for that.
"Lithos, dragons. It’s the dragon cult." The children murmured again, their eyes gleaming. "Quiet!"
But they couldn't. All of them were excited—magic, real magic—and they were going to learn it. It was like a fairy tale come true. A few couldn’t stop their grins, but Godfrid was not one of them.
"I’m not done you little shits! And lastly, Kollos, the study of origins, life, fire, and the crucible." He took the sheet off, concluding his introduction.
The talking didn’t stop, no matter how much he tells them off. He raises his staff again, a dark blue pulse causes everyone to quiet down. They waited in silence for a moment, the old man’s face scanning the room.
“We’ll continue the tour, then go straight to orientation. You can ask your questions now.”
The girl from before raised her hand again.
“Yes, girl?”
“Why are we focused on the Moon?”
“Because the Moon is the patron of the academy. It's the source of all Carian sorceries, a powerful ally.”
She raised her hand again.
“Yes,” he sighed.
“Do we worship the Moon? The way you say it, it sounds like—”
“Moon's girl. It’s our patron, not our god. There are no gods in the academy.”
She raised her hand once more.
“Is it only you? Are none of you interested?” He looked to the crowd; most of the students quivered under his gaze. Maybe it was his voice or demeanor that caused them to shy away. One of them bravely raised their hand.
“You, boy.” The man pointed.
“Um… What’s the strongest?” He asked, his voice shaky.
“The Moon. Next, you, girl!” He growled.
“Ahhh. Why the Moon?” She whimpered.
“Because,” he replied curtly. “You, next.” He pointed to the boy in the back with green eyes.
“What about the Sun? Isn’t it brighter than the Moon?” His voice carried, yet it felt like a whisper in Godfrid’s ears. The sun, he could almost hear his father’s voice.
“Heresy. Don’t let anyone hear you say that.” The boy in the hat raised his hand. “You.”
“What about the crucible?” He asked awkwardly.
The man paused, then groaned. “It exists. What about it?”
“My folks say the crucible is the strongest there is!” The boy said proudly.
“Well, not here. Next.”
“Are dragons real?”
“Yes. Next.”
“Can you… Can you bring back the dead?” Another voice tried to speak out.
“Yes. Next.”
That caused a huge uproar. The fear was gone, and everyone started talking at once. It was too much; the floodgates had opened, and everyone wanted to be heard. Godfrid had never been around so many people and was starting to feel overwhelmed. He tried to perform the exercises his father had taught him. He had to remember: he was the hope of the Duskborn, the product of years of research, the legacy of the Prince of Death. A growing child born from death.
This goes well, his years at the academy could pave the way for more people like him, so those who live in death won’t be persecuted. He needed to be the example; he needed to be perfect. So he stood there, calm and polite, as chaos swirled around him. He made sure everything was in place: perfect hair, perfect smile, perfect clothes, perfect setting. So many people were counting on him, he couldn’t let them down.
He wondered when the pressure would break him like it did his predecessor.
Twinsage Glintstone Crown
The Twinsage Conspectus was once the greatest of them all, reserved for the most elite. Yet, in recent times, it has become redundant.
The royal family decreed that no sorceries should be barred, a popular decree that cannibalized the entire conspectus to nothing. It was only fitting, for they were one of the main perpetrators of the Schism.
The crown has long lost its power and is now just broken stone, just as the prince wanted.