Moon 4
"And this is the grand library," the man groaned.
It took way too long to continue the tour. Most of the would-be students were either too excited or scared out of their wits. That was especially true after they discovered a giant floating ball covered in faces that moaned an agonizing sound, which would haunt the children’s nightmares. Apparently, the Academy had been using them as lighthouses on the towers. They can't die, and they can't stop glowing, so why waste resources? Well, at least it was better than seeing a giant grafted monster with a billion arms carrying a marble column. They barely caught a glimpse of it before Wilhelm had to distract them with a little magic. He was annoyed, but even he knew the kids weren’t ready to see that.
The grand library was still under construction. It took years to repair its stairway, add a canopy and cage, because wet stairs spanning a large gap a hundred feet above sea level was a disaster waiting to happen. In fact, much of the Academy was deemed too dangerous by the British government, prompting the royal family to remodel most of the buildings before they could be declared safe for students. After a couple of years of walling off and renovating, the royal family is proud to announce that the Academy now meets the bare minimum safety regulations according to the British government. This doesn't include the hidden rooms and areas the Academy isn't disclosing.
“It’s amazing, Professor!” the bushy-haired girl declared.
The old man chuckled. “Heh. You think this is impressive? In the past, the entire walls were filled with books. Every scroll was handwritten by the finest of the Academy. Only the best of the best for these shelves. Each one contained the research of thousands of sorcerers dating back to the days of the astrologers. Now…” He pulled out the nearest book, which was titled The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and featured a cartoon picture of an alien.
He groaned before putting it back. “So much knowledge, lost forever.”
“Oh… What happened?”
“Let’s just say, someone flew a little too close to the moon.” His voice was deep.
“Like Icarus?”
“Who?”
The girl with blonde hair ignored their conversation; in fact, she was ignoring everyone as she studied this strange place. She was a prim child, and in her eyes, no one there could match her standards.
Evangeline Thicknesse was a proud girl, a pure-blood through and through. Her father worked in the Ministry, and her grandfather had once been a member of Wizengamot. He had helped sentence many of the Dark Lord’s supporters and rooted out corruption within Wizengamot. Then the scandal happened: her grandfather was revealed to be a Death Eater who only turned against them once the Dark Lord died, deciding to jump ship. Lies, all of them!
She admits she doesn't know the whole truth, but she trusts her father. Her grandfather would never do that. However, her family isn’t like the Malfoys; they don’t have galleons to rely on. Her grandfather was forced to retire, and rumors followed him afterward. They may not be in Deatheaters, but they were treated like ones all the same, facing whispers and insults behind their backs, mockery, and abuse. So when her father told her about this new school and how it would be perfect for her, she knew the real truth.
Still, she had to admit it was an impressive academy, even with all the Muggle stuff. The library was a giant tower, with bookshelves circling around a statue in the center—the queen lady from the picture. It was well-lit, with blue crystal lamps and large windows. She could see many chairs, desks, and those computer things from the Muggle world. Evangeline believed this place to be new, if the clean stone was any indication, unlike the rest of the academy.
“Impressive, but it’s no Hogwarts,” she mumbled to herself.
“My, my. Someone’s a bit picky…” Another voice came from nowhere. Evangeline looked behind her, but no one was there. All the others were too busy talking to one another or to the professor.
“Who’s there?” she whispered.
“Up here, girl.”
Evangeline looked up and saw a house cat perched on the shelves.
Am I hearing things?
“I know that look. Yes, girl, you have gone mad. Hehehehe…” The cat’s voice was sensuous, its eyes preying on Evangeline.
“Who are you? An animagus?”
“A what? Oh, you mean those people. Hmmm. Pretenders. They try to mimic others rather than improve their own forms,” the cat lounged around. “Although… maybe it’s the other way around. Maybe their original forms are fake, and the other is their true selves. Hehehehe.”
She’s never seen an animagus that can talk as an animal, she didn’t even know that was possible.
“There you are, cat,” the old man said, walking up to her.
“Oh, it’s you…” The cat's voice turned lazy.
“Everyone, this is–”
“Don’t ruin my first impression,” the cat said, jumping gracefully to the ground and catching everyone’s attention. “You may call me Shalquoir. Enchanté. Mistress of the library and the one in the know. Though you may add ‘sweet’ as one of my titles.” Her tail flicked mischievously, and all the children cooed.
“You're adorable! Professor! Do all cats talk here?” It was the bushy-haired girl again.
The old man stared viciously at the cat. “No…”
“Still hurt, old man?” The cat purred around a student’s leg.
His nostrils flared, his eyes furrowed behind his blindfold.
“Librarian, that’s all she is. Come along, children, the tour's over.” He gestured for all of them to follow, but a few were still petting the cat. “Now!” His voice immediately caused all of them to come running. They exit the library, the man looks back to give the cat one final glare before closing the door.
“Don’t trust a single word that comes from her mouth.” He says that to the group but also to himself.
The children walked to the courtyard and saw a glowing symbol on the wall—the same symbol on their brooches. “Come along,” he sneered, disappearing into the wall.
A portkey? No, it could be Floo...
“Well? What are you waiting for?!” His voice came from the walls.
Evangeline was the first to walk through, her face defiant as she was sent across space. She arrived in a large, empty room with a marble circle on the ground and a glass roof revealing the stars above.
“Brave one, aren’t you,” the old man said calmly, walking to the center. There are two doorways, with chairs and tables. Some vending machines on the walls, chandeliers and steel columns. All around the circle were stone slabs, each with the same symbol but with words above. She looked up the one she came from, its words, 'Academy Courtyard.'
“Is this… the Floo network?” Evangeline asked.
“Floo? No, not those powdered things. This is the creation of the Hierodas Conspectus, a path for your convenience,” he grumbled. “Back in my day, we had to walk on foot.” He tapped his staff on the marble.
Now that she looked at it closely, she saw the same symbol at the center, surrounded by images of the moon and stars, a blue knight with a bow on horseback, a tree, and silver figures following the knight. She walked to the center and saw a ribbon with the words: 'In dedication to Loretta, knight, hero, and friend. Though you may be gone, Caria will always be your home.'
More students exited the slab, each wide-eyed.
“What is this place?” one of the students echoed.
“This is the Carian Manor, or at least the top of it. We call it the Crossroads. You’ll become very acquainted with this place. It’s the main hub of the Academy.” He pointed to the doorway. “The dorms and great halls are out there by the Three Sisters. Or you can take the quick route.” Then he pointed to one of the slabs.
Some of the kids peeked out to see a misty land with giant crystals sprouting from the ground. Others walked to the slabs, inspecting each one. Then one of the kids tried to enter the one that said "Nokron Belfry."
“Hold it, you little shits!” the old man shouted. “We're not leaving until my brat gives the ok… I swear if he’s not done soon I’m going to–”
Something in his robes started to buzz. The man reaches into his pocket to pull out a silver skull the size of his palm. He squeezes the skull and it quickly morphs into a face, forming skin, eyes, hair, and a mouth. Jack’s head was in his hand, with the same grin that always irritated the man.
“Everythings ready.” The boy spoke, the skull matching, his expression, tone and mannerisms as if he was actually here. The old man just stared at it before squeezing it again, returning to a skull.
“Alright. Everyone to the great hall.” He pointed to one of the slabs. Herding the children with his staff, urging them to move forward. “You don’t want to miss dinner, don’t you? Then come along!” He says harshly. Evangeline was one of the last to leave staring at the mural below.
This Academy was adequate; she would even say it could match Hogwarts in some areas. But still, why would her father send her here? She remembered that conversation vividly, hearing her father's voice as if it were yesterday. She’d never felt so humiliated in her life when her father refused to enroll her in Hogwarts. She knew there would be no letter; admissions had changed a couple of years ago. Now you had to personally file the paperwork, something her father refused to do. She thought it was a punishment. Her family, all pure-bloods in the British Isles, went to Hogwarts; it was in their blood, their tradition.
“Do you know why I’m doing this, sweetling?” Her father had tried to be as comforting as possible.
“Because…” She didn’t want to say her grandfather was a Death Eater. But her father could read her face.
“No, don’t believe their lies.” He had held her tight. “This is for the future, your future. This Academy will guarantee you a place in the world.”
“But… I’ve never even heard of it before?” Her father had only smiled. “How?”
“The world is changing, sweetling. And for good or ill, I want you to be on top. Then soon, very soon, our family will reach heights greater than ever before.” The enthusiasm in his voice made her smile.
“How do you know?”
There was a smile in his eyes, a hope she had never seen before.
“I have friends in high places.” He had rubbed her hair. “And this time, we chose the winning side.”
His words still lingered in her mind. That last sentence always haunted her. She huffed, recomposing herself. She would not embarrass her name. She took one last look before stepping into the slab.
Reliefs
In its dormant stage, it appears as a silver skull, but once activated, it transforms to match the receiving end. This transformation isn't limited to just skulls; entire bodies to moments in time can be mimicked, depending on the amount used. Its communication is instantaneous and can switch between multiple people, copying their tone and facial inflections. It is the most popular form of communication in Caria.
A specialized albinauric and one of the crowning achievements of the Solomous Conspectus, its convenience belies the cruelty involved in its creation.
In the dark the relief weeps for its mother.