Chapter 108: Inducted

“This is not a conversation I’m willing to have standing, or sober for that matter. But I’ll take sitting with a cup of klod.”

 

The young woman glared, but Viv had been glared at before, and she remained unimpressed. Darla seemed more solid suddenly as she took a step between the two casters. Viv felt in slight danger, which surprised her enough that she pulled mana. The woman’s disarming smile stopped her from raising a shield.

 

“Ah, I apologize, your files did not mention a previous acquaintance. Will this be a problem? We can make other arrangements,” Darla suggested.

 

Viv and the other returned to staring. The witch was the first to answer.

 

“We need to have this conversation anyway. Fuck, I didn’t expect it would ever happen.”

 

“You can use this room if you wish. No matter what, remember that you both swore an oath to respect the rules of the Academy, even in difficult circumstances. You may select among a list of mentors sworn to secrecy if you need to avoid each other,” Darla said.

 

“Nothing so harsh,” Viv assured, and the woman nodded.

 

“I have no animosity towards her, I merely wish to learn what she knows,” Varska’s sister added.

 

“Well then, I shall leave the papers here. If you do decide to become roommates, return them signed at the entrance, otherwise let me know. I am sure I can find other arrangements that will satisfy everybody!”

 

The upbeat admin left them with a last wave and a friendly smile, shutting the door behind her.

 

Viv sighed and grabbed the pot of steaming hot water the interview tables usually kept, then she made herself and the other a cup.

 

“I’m Viviane by the way.”

 

“Ereska of Saref. Now, how do you know my sister? If you do not mind me cutting to the chase.”

 

“Varska and I were mentor and student, but mostly we were lovers.”

 

Ereska choked on her drink.

 

“What? Ugh. Seriously? Did you not see the mark of shame on her cheek?”

 

“I did see her scar. It was hard to miss. Look it’s no secret so I will tell you that I am an outlander. I miss the cultural background to appreciate what a mark means. I understand it, but I do not feel it. Does that make sense?”

 

“It does not trigger an emotional response in you.”

 

“Just so.”

 

“You used the past tense. I assume you are no longer her lover?”

 

“Yes, well, here is the reason why I was not looking forward to this. Varska fell in battle. There is no easy way to say this, sorry.”

 

Viv waited. Paradoxically, her leadership skill had whispered that Ereska would hate delays and diversion, very much preferring a firm answer. The younger woman sat back in her chair and sighed. Her eyes wandered to the imposing wall outside their window, the same that surrounded the entire academy. An old tree provided shade to a carefully cultivated garden.

 

Ereska nursed her cup in silence for a couple of minutes, which Viv respected.

 

“You know,” she finally said, “I never thought I would see her again. She was dead to me, and now I learn she is really dead and find I am more affected than I expected. I loved her, then hated her with all my heart.”

 

She threw Viv another stare.

 

“I should not be sharing all of this with you, a foreigner, but you are the only person in this city who could possibly understand. I trust our conversation will remain secret, and that my sister did not foolishly place her trust in the wrong person.”

 

“You have my word.”

 

“Good. I believe you since Varska was always a good judge of character. But I digress. Varska was the golden child who could achieve everything without fail right to the moment that she committed a crime so heinous the Saref family almost lost its seat at the council. It devastated us, set us back decades, not to mention the shame. We are still repaying some of the favors that carried us through that disaster. I felt so… betrayed. I thought she could do no wrong. I always boasted about her achievements to my friends while they were still my friends… Do you have any notion what she did?”

 

“A scheme of hers caused the death of children.”

 

“It was an explosive rune that triggered too early. They were mangled instead of the target in a very public setting. Did you seriously bed a child killer?”

 

Viv took a sip to cool down the situation. Ereska’s last few words had been clipped, and the outlander recognized the marks of a deep resentment born not just from the horrifying deaths, but also by the perpetrator, whom Ereska had once cherished. Viv found she wanted to share as well. She wanted Varska’s little sister to know what she was like towards the end, how much her presence had meant regardless of past sins.

 

“When I arrived on Nyil, I landed in the deadlands,” Viv began.

 

Shock replaced anger in Ereska’s large eyes. It was a place known for being lethal to everyone, even those far on their path.

 

“I crossed the desert, delirious with mana poisoning. I reached one of the forts and helped them withstand an undead siege. When I arrived weakened in the border town of Kazar, I knew no one. Your sister took me under her wing. She taught me what she knew, helped me get around town. She created a sense of normalcy with her tea ceremonies. I would have survived without her but I’m not sure I would have lived. The deadlands have taken their toll, not just the poison, but also the feeling of helplessness, of death without limit. At the end, we were attacked by an Enorian prince trying to enslave the whole region to garnish his war coffers. She covered our retreat against a whole company of siege specialists. They pierced her chest with arrows.”

 

“She was not a soldier.”

 

“She died like one.”

 

They kept quiet for a little while, reminiscing memories they did not share. The two had never truly known the same Varska, Viv thought.

 

The light played strange tricks on Ereska. When it hit just right, she appeared much younger and on the verge of tears.

 

“Do you think one can be forgiven for crimes as bad as killing two boys?” the woman finally asked.

 

“It’s not up to me to forgive her,” Viv carefully replied. “I was not the offended party. While I was in the fort, I met a man called Benetti. He had been sent to the deadlands for sexually assaulting women. He regretted his actions deeply. He also sacrificed himself to save us. Does that redeem him? Does it erase years of trauma from his many victims? Can a right rectify a wrong? It’s not a question I know how to answer. I could not give you the right answer because I am not the one who was hurt by his actions. It is the same for you and for the victims, I think. I will not defend Varska, and I will not tell you what to do. This choice can only be yours.”

 

Ereska tilted her head, somewhat surprised.

 

“You must come from an incredibly individualistic civilization,” she remarked rather drily.

 

“We also don’t have to choose the life path our parents picked for us.”

 

“I am incredibly jealous, and I apologize for the state of, well…”

 

She spread her arms. Viv grinned.

 

“Sometimes, it’s not so bad.”

 

“I still cannot believe you and my sister… Ah, I will remove this image from my mind. As for the common room, you are better than most of the other candidates I have considered, not to mention you have no allegiance to anyone in Helock. Or do you?”

 

“Not yet,” Viv replied.

 

“Then I would love to have you as my roommate, if you wish. I am sure you could use some help navigating the treacherous waters of politics and surprise assignments. So long as you respect my privacy and keep clean. Oh, and at the risk of being uncouth, I want to be very frank. I do not share my late sister’s proclivities.”

 

“I would rather sit on an acid ant pit slathered in honey than date the relative of my dead girlfriend, just so we’re clear. In any case, I have a lover,” Viv said.

 

The conversation so far had been in Baranese, which apparently every educated light-skinned person here was assumed to speak. Their words for lover were gendered, so Ereska immediately understood the implication.

 

“You may not bring a man in our common space. Really. Last year, I surprised my roommate on our common area’s couch mid-coit, and it is not an experience I wish to renew. I had received friends on that couch. The end of the semester could not come soon enough.”

 

“I assure you I will avoid any display of exhibitionism. Not my thing.”

 

“Did you have to use that word?”

 

“Did you have to share that memory?” Viv retorted. “Now I’ll check our couch for stains before I sit down.”

 

“Oh Sardanal grant me wisdom, I should have stopped before it came to that. In any case, as long as you agree to act responsibly, I believe we can live together.”

 

“There is one last matter,” Viv said, and she opened the door. Arthur sat behind, clutching a green cushion between anxious claws. Viv frowned and snatched it from her grasp.

 

“What did I say about ‘acquiring’ other people’s property?”

 

Public domain?

 

“That’s not how it works. Stealing from an organization is still stealing.”

 

Arthur puffed hot air, utterly dejected.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

 

“You can use some of your gold to purchase lair fabric, you know?”

 

“SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.”

 

Viv rolled her eyes at the dramatic display.

 

“Look, I want you to meet our roommate if she agrees. This is Ereska, Varska’s sister.”

 

Arthur stopped her shenanigans to inspect the newcomer. Ereska shared the same composed nature as her late sister, but blue mana was more prevalent in her, Viv judged. She also felt more flexible, not in a natural caster sort of way, but more in a floral arrangement manner. Viv felt no hint of intimidation from the woman, though she shared the smooth manner of those wielding social skills. Perhaps a general skill.

 

The dragonette must have come to a conclusion, because she stood on her hind legs and placed a clawed hand on the woman’s shoulder.

 

It is a fortuitous meeting, Varska’s egg-clutch-kin.

 

I am pleased Varska did not eat you when you were a whelp.

 

You may share my territory.

 

No stealing my pillows.

 

“Hmmm, yes indeed, the honor is mine.”

 

Arthur nodded in a very human gesture that signified her agreement that, yes, it was Ereska’s honor and yes, Arthur would magnanimously allow it. Viv wondered if she should give the dragonette some sexual education, but the problem was that she had no idea how dragon courtship worked, or even if Arthur was close to reaching puberty. Or the draconic equivalent. Perhaps this was more documented than proper education. She’d have to check. A problem for another time.

 

The trio dropped the signed agreement at the entrance desk to an obviously relieved Darla, then they moved Viv’s personal effects with the help of a telekinesis spell. Viv liked how magic could affect every little thing, if one let themselves cast. Heavy crates? Telekinesis. Cold? A fire spell. Dark? A light spell. Person at the restaurant who slurps their soup and blows their nose in the napkin? Disintegration. That’s right. Magic was the bee’s knees. There were rules about casting in social context, but fortunately walking on a stone path surrounded by green grass under the late summer sun was not one of them.

 

“We were told about the juvenile dragon,” Ereska whispered while Arthur had decided to fly away. “We are supposed to leave her alone and not interact. According to Melitus’ compendium on disastrous fauna, young dragons are not as intelligent as their older counterparts, but your Arthur seems…”

 

“She’s a bright young girl, yes,” Viv said with some pride. “Do you know she learned how to count in only a day? As long as it’s counting gold, she—”

 

Viv stopped herself from gushing like a young parent. Instead, Ereska was imparted with dragon-specific knowledge on how not to leave uncovered meat on the table. It went rather well.

 

The dormitories were secluded in a forest, its windows veiled by the branches of ancient trees. Their room was on the third floor. The door opened with a chit keyed to Viv’s mana, which she picked up at the entrance. There was a common kitchen area with basic supplies but no storage space, a lounge, and a private washing area they were not supposed to use since mages were apparently too important to clean their own small cloth. Ereska warmly greeted other older students who seemed to respect her. They saluted Viv with guarded expressions but the witch didn’t take umbrage. She was a largely unknown factor for now.

 

Viv dropped her stuff in their room and was pleasantly surprised. Her quarters were not spacious by any means, however they were significantly better than what she expected from a campus dorm room. She would share the bathroom area and a small lounge with Ereska. Viv suspected that the Academy splurged on accommodation and other benefits to bind casters to a network beyond their first allegiance. It wouldn’t be shocking for alumni to kill each other on the field of battle, but she expected they wouldn’t turn on their alma mater without overwhelming reasons. It was a nice setup.

 

Arthur settled in Viv’s room but made it clear she would be out for long periods of time. The urge to fly around was getting strong, and she found the sea fascinating and filled with delicious things. Viv expressed her concern about sea monsters, but Arthur was confident.

 

I can feel the mana of big things.

 

I do not get close!

 

Sneaky dragon.

 

“Good. Excellent.”

 

With housing settled, Viv handled the basic requirements to attend. A seamstress took her measurements for her uniform, which would be deep blue like that of an older student on account of her teacher assistant’s position and also, she suspected, her age. There was enough reading material to devastate a small forest for only the first two months. Many were second-hand and annotated in various languages. Ereska gave her a basic tour of the campus, except for the main building which deserved its own visit. Most of the buildings were spread over large distances and separated by lawns, forests, and gazebos.