Abyssal Arcanist [Chapter 8]

Hey peeps!

So, I have lots of things in the works... I want to get all the materials together to show you all. Lots of graphics! So many things!

But in the meantime, another chapter!

Shami

CHAPTER EIGHT

THE HEADMASTER’S SPEECH

When I awoke, I was surprised that I wasn’t in a dream. No strange voice, no bizarre torture device—nothing trying to kill me—it was just a normal night sleeping.

Strange.

Everyone got ready for the day, dressing in our clothes and then putting on our uniform robes. Knovak left early to shower, saying he would meet us for breakfast, but I swear he never looked at me, not even a single glance.

The rest of us went to the dining hall. At the door, before we allowed in to get our food, there were professors giving everyone instructions.

“Once you’re done eating,” a professor said as I walked by, “you’re to head to the central courtyard. Headmaster Venrover will be making an announcement to the entire Academy.”

That piqued my interest. I knew what it would be about, though. The architects in the dorms had tipped me off. The headmaster wanted to up the defenses of Astra Academy, and this was probably going to be the formal announcement of that.

What did Professor Helmith think of everything? I wanted to speak with her about the specifics of the protections.

With Twain in my arms, I gathered food and sat down at a table with my brother and Nini. Today, they had bread, fish, and soup for breakfast. I made sure to get extra helpings of the tilapia for Twain, who licked his lips the entire time I fixed the plates. When I sat down, he leapt from my arms and practically slammed his whole face into the dish.

Sorin smiled at me. “You’re feeling good, right? Safe and secure?”

“So safe,” I sarcastically muttered. “So secure.”

Nini swirled her soup in her bowl. “Oh, Gray, remember how Professor Helmith brought in a guest speaker to teach us about true forms for mystical creatures?”

I chewed my bread and nodded.

“Maybe we can suggest they bring in a guest speaker about mimics? I thought it might help you out if you had someone specifically trained with your magic, you know? Since yours is so different than the rest of ours.”

Sorin’s eyebrows shot for his hairline. “Nini, that’s such a good idea.”

Her cheeks reddened—almost to the color of her hair—and her gaze fell to her food. “O-Oh, it’s not that good. It’s just a normal idea.”

“No, it’s inspired. Right, Gray?” My brother nudged me with his elbow.

“It’s definitely a good idea,” I said. “And even if it was normal idea, it’s still much better than noidea, so I don’t understand why you wouldn’t take some pride in it.” I chewed some more of my food. After I swallowed, I asked, “What made you think of it?”

“Sorin has been really concerned about your magic, and I wanted to help, so I thought this was probably the best way to that.” She fixed her glasses, perching them higher on her nose. “Hopefully the professors will know someone who is a powerful mimic arcanist.”

Sorin and Nini…

They were so concerned about me, I was the subject of their discussions. I was lucky to have them in my life, but at the same time, I was making them worry. That wasn’t ideal. But at least Nini’s idea was something I could work towards. A master mimic arcanist could probably help me improve faster than other arcanists.

The rest of breakfast was quiet and quick. We finished, and then headed for the central courtyard.

Twain rode on my shoulder as we traveled down the main hall, his belly distended from all the fish he ate.

“Breakfast is my favorite meal,” he said with a tiny burp.

I patted his orange head. “Try not to toot in class, and I’ll be happy.”

“Hey! That happened once. You don’t have to remind people.”

I smiled as I scratched his large ears. “Don’t worry. Next time, I’ll blame it on Brak.”

The courtyard was in the middle of Astra Academy, and square in shape. A massive square filled with beautiful plants, winding walkways, small brooks, and four gorgeous statues. I remembered seeing it the first time and being wildly impressed. It was a place for kings.

When Sorin, Nini, and I reached the courtyard, I was reminded how many students attended the Academy, though. The once quiet space was filled with a few hundred arcanists and their eldrin. Chairs and benches littered the courtyard, giving people places to sit and relax. Many arcanists opts to sit in patches of lush grass. They almost looked as though they were enjoying a picnic.

Nini’s reaper floated close behind her, a gloomy eldrin that was unlike everyone else’s.

Most people parted to allow us through. Some even whispered and pointed at Waste, like they hadn’t ever seen a reaper so close before.

Sorin walked close by, his shadow flickering around his feet. I wondered if Thurin was agitated by the crowds, but I kept my questions to myself.

There were stone walls on all four sides of the courtyard, with windows and balconies overlooking the greenery and decorations. The headmaster would likely stand on the main balcony—the one that attached to his office. I walked until I had a clear view of it, then I sat down on a stone bench. Nini sat on the other end of the bench, and Sorin sat near her feet. He was so tall, and wide, that Nini could easily place her hands on his shoulder.

He tilted his head back until he could look her in the eyes. She stared down at him and giggled as she grinned.

It was so cute, I was almost jealous.

The only thing not cute about the scene was the reaper with the scythe hovering just a few inches away. It added an air of spookiness to the otherwise picturesque scene.

The hundreds of students engaged in all sorts of conversations, but their words were so numerous, and at all levels of volume, that it was impossible to make out any one person’s words. The jumble of noise grated, and after a long sigh, I focused my attention on the bright blue sky overhead.

For a half a second, I had the urge to mount a dragon and take to the clouds.

I shook my head.

I had never ridden a dragon in my life. What a strange thought.

A wave of silence swept over the crowd, quieting people like a ripple that originated at the headmaster’s balcony. He stood at the railing, his tall stature easy to spot.

Headmaster Venrover had hair as black as midnight, and he allowed it to grow long. It contrasted with his tanned skin, and complimented his dark eyes. Everything about him screamed elegance and poise. Unlike arcanist warriors, who had physiques for fighting, he was clearly a man who wielded a pen and never a sword.

He wore a black vest and shirt, and a long blue-and-silver robe that covered everything else. On his chest, the four symbols of the Academy were stitched over the breast: a globe, a sundial, a star, and upside-down gates.

“Greetings, students,” the headmaster said, his voice articulate and loud enough to hear from across the courtyard. Today he sounded tired, but his tone retained the same confidence I always heard from him.

He was an odd man to read, sometimes.

Venrover’s eldrin walked out onto the balcony with him.

Nubia.

She was a beautiful sphinx with a lioness’s body, the wings of an eagle, and the head of a woman. Her golden fur had the hue of honey, and the feathers on her wings glistened with inner health.

Unlike normal sphinx’s, however, she had two human eyes, and a third eye on her forehead which always remained closed.

When she sat by his side, a group of girls by the balcony gasped and pointed.

Nubia was popular, apparently.

“I’ve gathered you all here today to make several announcements.” Headmaster Venrover smiled wide enough that I could see it from my seat on the far bench. “The first is that the Academy’s Menagerie is empty. We will be sending some students on an expedition to save some mystical creatures from highwaymen that have taken camp at the base of our own mountain range.”

That was surprising news, but not entirely unexpected. Sometimes vile individuals captured mystical creatures to kill them and sell their body parts. In other cases, they stolen creatures just to sell to wealthy nobles that didn’t want to look for them out in the wilds.

And it was stealing—a lot of mystical creatures already had homes and caretakers, like the hippogriffs of my home island. The hippogriffs were cared for by the people of Haylin, and sometimes pirates or raiders tried to take the hatchlings from us, just because there was good gold in it.

“The third-years will be able to handle this assignment,” Venrover stated.

His sphinx spread her wings, and the students cheered. I joined in the clapping, though I was disappointed I wouldn’t get to see a bunch of highwaymen get punched in the face.

Once everyone calmed down, Headmaster Venrover said, “My next announcement has to do with the structure of the Academy itself. I’ve hired architects—and powerful artificers—to increase our defenses. However, Astra Academy is not made of coin. We are funded by donations from powerful arcanists, and in order to gain additional funding, we will be holding a fundraiser soiree.”

The mere mention of a soiree sent a spark of excitement through the students and their eldrin. A fairy in the crowd actually fluttered high into the air, spewing glitter the whole way.

The headmaster hand his hand out and frowned. “The fifth- and fourth-years will be helping put on the event. It will be the perfect opportunity to meet influential arcanists before you graduate, and you can help the Academy by showing off everything you’ve learned.”

Ah. Yet another event I wouldn’t be taking part in. How lovely.

But I thanked the good stars I wasn’t included. The last “party” I went to had been a disaster. I didn’t want to go to another one anytime soon.

“The last announcement I have is for the first- and second-years.” Headmaster Venrover gestured to the far end of the courtyard, probably off toward the training fields that were beyond the wall. “We will be having a festival of skill for all the newer arcanists. You will be required to enter one of the many competitions, but fear not. There will be something for everyone.”

That news garnered more questions than the first two. Everyone immediately glanced around, as though trying to find all the first- and second-years in the crowd.

Sorin turned to me with a smile. “This will be really interesting.”

“If you say so,” I said. I scanned the crowd.

Ashlyn still wasn’t back to the Academy. She was the only other student I liked to compete against. I didn’t want to do anything against my brother, honestly.

Twain nibbled my ear. I shot him a questioning look.

“I know who you’re thinking about,” he whispered. “And I’m sure she’s okay.”

“I wasn’t thinking about anyone.” I pulled him into my lap so he couldn’t mess with my ear. “Just focus on the announcement.”

Twain huffed, like he knew I wasn’t being truthful.

“Fine,” I whispered. “I was thinking about Ashlyn, but keep that to yourself, all right?”

“She’s fine. Definitely. I doubt she was even hurt during that whole explosion at her cotillion.”

“That’s not what I worried about…”

Last I saw her, she was engaged to be married to some scumbag. Would Ashlyn get married before returning to the Academy? Before I had a chance to convince her father I was a valid candidate for his daughter’s hand in married? One she would prefer, if she was telling me the truth…

“Those are the end of my announcements,” the headmaster said with a flourish and slight bow. “Now, enjoy your classes and please look forward to the many events we have planned.”