Academy Days Read online

  When we finish our meals and motion to depart the guild hall, I walk over to the quest board and take a look at the things posted there. There's one big list of items, most likely relics, that are confirmed to be in the dungeon, with some of them struck out. Most likely those have been found, while others are still missing in its depths.

  I'm sure that if we find one of those named items, this party could be set for a while and won't have to worry about money. It's highly unlikely that things will go so smoothly though, and like any dungeon in games, there will be more difficult obstacles the deeper one goes. These relics should be somewhere really deep, or they would have been found already simply because there are so many adventurers going in and out all the time.

  "Are you coming, Chloe?" Now it's the leader who calls me to move away from the quest board. When I walk over and join the party at the entrance door, he grins at me. "Found something interesting?"

  "Yes, let's go for the Tomb King's Fortune." It was the relics at the very top of the list, which looked like it was arranged in order of difficulty rating. It sounds more like a treasure hoard than a single item, but that's what makes it so much more interesting.

  "As expected of the missy." Gram raises his voice in laughter and pats me on the back hard. "Choosing the most difficult one from the get-go."

  "Lady Marcott wishes to spread her name further, even before becoming known as the woman with all magic affinities." The bard strums his lute once and speaks with a charming smile. "I will make sure that your legend will be retold far and wide."

  "Let us be more realistic." Luna doesn't look amused, thinking I was joking around.

  "Yeah, even though the Tomb King's Fortune is on that list due to historical evidence, at this point it has already faded into myth. How many people do you think have tried to find it and failed so far? Many paid with their lives, you know?" Rolan sighs in resignation.

  Well, this matter can wait until after we return from the Cathedral of Light. I'll let them think I'm just joking for a while longer and then hit them over the head with acting on my words at the time. They'll have to follow up on my actions then since they definitely won't abandon me.

  The Cathedral of Light is a towering monument on par with the castle on the island - sans the tallest tower. Even from The Maw, I could see the belfry jutting out from the surrounding houses which are all around four or five stories tall. Intricate figures carved from stone adorn the arch above the entrance, and the beautifully ornamented wooden doors look like they alone cost a fortune.

  As with the church in Hovsgaerden, two honor guards in full armor and wielding halberds are standing guard on either side of the entrance. I already know that they won't let Kamii enter, so I ask Gram to stay outside with her; out of all the humans, she trusts him the most. At the same time, I suggest to Daica that she should take a look around the city for any locations where she might want to set up her new shop. This way, they won't have to wait in front of the cathedral for who knows how long our business might take.

  With a worried expression, the little dark elf raises her hand as if fearing that we won't see each other again. We're inside the capital, so I'm sure nothing will happen. To take her mind off of waiting, she could go with her sister, though I'll leave that up to her.

  "Don't worry. The big man will protect you while I'm away." I pet Kamii's hair and allay her fears. "We'll meet back out here at noon."

  When the overly dramatic separation is complete, we finally walk up the stairs to the entrance of the cathedral and past the guards silently watching us. I suppress the urge to glare at them but remind myself that they're just doing their job.

  Pushing open the doors, we're greeted by the smell of incense. The interior is just as grand as the exterior suggested. Delicate stained glass windows with iconographic motifs are let into the walls periodically, and the sunlight shining through them creates colorful images on the floor. The ceiling is so high up that one feels dwarfed by its sheer size, instilling a sense of awe that is only adequate for this sanctified place.

  In the side aisles, both male and female clerics talk to each other in respectfully lowered voices. Citizens of noticeably different social standings sit as equals on the long benches praying, facing the larger-than-life female statue in the chancel. The woman is carved from marble and easily stands at four times my height. She has her eyes closed, and a gentle smile graces her lips. Her left hand rests on the center of her chest, and her right arm is outstretched at the height of her waist, the palm facing up as if sowing seeds. It's the religious gesture that Arcelia performed when she said her farewell blessings in Hovsgaerden back then.

  "This feels a little oppressive." Rolan comments while looking around in awe. He has most likely never been in a building as spacious as this one before.

  "Is it alright to just ask for Lady Crux?" With a hesitant glance at the clerics, Luna puts forward this question. I know what she means; it would feel weird to walk up to one of the monks or nuns and simply ask them to call Arcelia for us.

  "Please leave that to me." The bard suddenly says with a reassuring smile, and a bad feeling wells up inside me. I hope he's not going to do what I think he's going to do.

  Mirroring my exact fears, he walks over to the most beautiful nun and chats her up while putting up a charming expression. I can practically see the flowers blossom behind him as his perfectly white teeth seem to sparkle under no light in particular.

  She actually blushes under his gentle pushiness and looks positively flustered, so he takes it as his cue to begin properly flirting with her. I think he's annoying, but it seems his ways work well with the women of this world. If it brings results, I'll close my eyes to his behavior, though I will never condone it.

  "Sister Birthe has been incredibly cooperative and agreed to call Lady Crux for us." The bard returns to us and winks in mild triumph. "The Saint of Luminosity has some free time now, after being swamped with work due to the demon attack back then."

  The demon attack in question occurred more than a month ago, and it wasn't even on this continent, so I wonder what kind of work she was swamped with. After all, it hit the Empire of Terminus, which is only in a loose alliance with the Kingdom of Lares. But I don't know the intricacies of the church, so it might just have been replying to letters from scared citizens and putting their concerns to rest.

  "Miss Marcott! It is a pleasure to see you again." Arcelia's voice echoes through the cathedral, and I turn to see her approaching from a side chapel. She's dressed in a pure white robe just like the first time we met, but there's a white coif covering the golden hair she was showing off back then. As always, her eyes are closed, but it's obvious that she's somehow able to see us.

  "The pleasure is all mine, Lady Crux." I greet her with a bow and reply truthfully. She's going to get me into the Royal Academy, so of course, I'm glad to meet her.

  "How was your journey from Hovsgaerden?" She asks with a smile. I'm sure she was traveling safely over the King's Pass since she most likely didn't have a deadline for getting here.

  "He can tell the story better than anybody else here." I gesture towards the bard, sidestepping the job while avoiding to give away the fact that I never really bothered to learn his name. What was it again? It rhymes with yogurt that much I know.

  "My, your words are too kind, Lady Marcott." The yogurt in question steps forward and remarks with a bow. "Then let this simple bard recount the tale of our travels."

  "You were really fortunate to have survived such perils." Arcelia leans back in her chair and comments when the bard finishes. We have relocated to her personal office, a neat space with a couch and tea table for guests.

  Her expression has been neutral for the most part, but she showed deep concern towards the end when the story got to the Graebern attack and our escape.

  "The magic I learned from the scriptures you gave me saved our lives." Without the shield, we wouldn't be here. At least nobody aside from me would be here since I'm immune to arrows. "You have my deepest gratitude, Lady Crux."

  "It is only natural for a priestess of Belys to offer help to the virtuous, and bring salvation to the wicked." She waves her hand and speaks in a saintly tone. If her view on who's virtuous and who's wicked isn't twisted, she shouldn't be a bad person. If this religion has members like her and elevates them to such high posts, then maybe it isn't as bad as they usually are in these stories - even if they are the enemies of demonkind.

  "Umm, excuse me if I'm rushing things since we have people waiting for us." I glance out the window to see where the sun stands. It has been at least an hour since we came in here since the bard started the story from when we attacked the illegal slave trade bastion and freed Kamii. "We came here to speak about the offer for us to attend the Royal Academy."

  "No, do not worry. I can understand from Sigurd's tale that you really care about the cursed dark elves." Arcelia nods with a gentle smile. "Miss Marcott, your compassion is most commendable. I hope that your love, which can even reach the pariahs of society, will bring about great change in the rigid views of the people."

  "... thank you." I don't really understand what she means, but it seems that she can accept cursed beings much more readily than others within her religion. Her sainthood isn't just for show.

  "As for the recommendation to the Royal Academy, I will write them for you right away. Please wait a moment." With these words, the Saint of Luminosity takes a few sheets of papers and picks up a quill pen. Even though her eyes are closed, she begins to write without any issues.

  I've seen several people use quills before; among others the guild master in Hovsgaerden, Ingrid. It seems to be reserved for people in higher positions though, as the receptionists at guild halls used dip pens with metal tips. The strokes cr
eated from quills look more elegant and refined, so maybe it's to differentiate letters by important people from common notes.

  When Arcelia finishes writing, she gently sways one of the sheets of paper in her hand to dry the ink, before finally folding it up. Doing the same with the other, she puts each into a separate envelope, then closes them. Lighting a candle and bringing out a stick of red wax, she begins heating the tip of it until it starts to liquefy. Dripping the red wax onto the letter and pressing a seal into it, she makes it official.

  I can't help but watch in silent admiration. The practiced motions remind me of calligraphy and tea ceremony, which both soothe my usually restless mind. Even though I'm the type that prefers an active lifestyle - otherwise I wouldn't have been in the track and field club - I do like to indulge in slow-paced disciplines that require more mind than matter sometimes.

  "Here is an entry permit to the citadel. You will be able to meet the principal of the Royal Academy directly with this." Holding up a separate piece of paper, Arcelia explains the procedure for when we go to the citadel. "You may be required to undergo a test, but I am sure you will pass without any issues."

  Even though she already checked my affinities, she directs this at me as much as she does it at Luna. After all, even if I have every magic affinity, I might not be able to use them properly. Still, I could use light magic without even practicing, so it should be no different in the case of the other elements.

  "This is an opportunity few ever get. How can we repay you, Lady Crux?" The half-elf lowers her head and shows her sincere gratitude.

  "Study and become strong, so that you can help those in need. Knowing that you will stay true to your convictions and lead a life you can be proud of is more than enough for me." Arcelia's radiant smile seems to cleanse the soul. She's expecting an unspoken promise, never to use what we may learn at the Royal Academy for evil purposes.

  Unfortunately, I won't be able to keep that promise. My existence itself is evil in the eyes of humanity. If she knew that she's helping me - a demon - get more powerful, her faith would most likely be shaken.

  Chapter 25 - The Royal Academy

  When we come out of the Cathedral of Light, the sun suggests that it's already past noon. I spot Gram and Kamii sitting on a bench next to the fountain; the latter is eating something reminiscent of a crêpe, and her legs are dangling playfully. Next to her is a small pile of empty paper bags, and the big man is looking at her with an expression of baffled resignation. It seems he bought her a lot of snacks to keep her mind off of the fact that I'm not here.

  "There you are!" Gram notices us and calls out to me in a relieved tone while waving. Kamii must have begun to eat into his funds, so now that I'm back, he doesn't need to keep on doing it anymore. The little dark elf turns towards us and her eyes widen.

  "Mahkotoh!" She immediately puts down her food and runs over to me, jumping into my arms.

  "Sorry to make you wait." I mutter as she nuzzles into my chest. "Thanks for keeping her company, big man."

  "Don't worry about it. So, how'd it go?" Bringing over the crêpe Kamii so carelessly left on the bench, Gram twirls his magnificent mustache.

  "We got the letters of recommendation and could go to the citadel right away." Showing him the sealed letter, I reply. Then I turn to Rolan with a mischievous grin. "Or do you want to try exploring the Lost Tombs while we're still with you?"

  "H-huh? Ah, no, that's alright." Taken by surprise, the leader stutters to find an answer. "Strike the iron while it's hot, as they say."

  "Are you sure? You might not have us for a while after this." I put an arm around Luna's shoulder and pull her in demonstratively. I'm quite interested to know how they're going to fare without their mage since before I joined she was their only real damage output. Rolan will have to do it then, as the big man is a shield-bearer, and I don't ever see the bard filling that role.

  "We came here so that you can attend the academy. Don't worry about us; we'll find a way." He crosses his arms and speaks in a confident tone.

  "If you say so." I shrug and pet Kamii's hair. "Hm, where's Daica?"

  "She took your advice and is going around town looking for any place where she might be able to set up her new store." The big man answers my question and scratches his chin. "I've noticed that prices here are quite a bit higher than in Hovsgaerden and I'm sure rent won't be an exception."

  "We'll see what she has found out later then." I reply with a shrug. If she can't handle it alone, I might be able to help her out with my stipend from the academy. But that's for when I know the numbers. "Is she going to return to the guild hall on her own?"

  "Yes, she told us not to wait for her and have lunch on our own. She'll be back before sundown."

  "That reminds me, I do feel hungry." At these words, all but Kamii freeze up. They know my legendary appetite, so they must be fearing for their funds again. But I still have my own money, and if we run out, we can always go for a quest before my enrolment. "Let's go have lunch!"

  Gram is staring at Kamii with his fork stopped halfway to his open mouth. The little dark elf ate so many sweet pastries and snacks while waiting for us that he thought she wouldn't be hungry anymore, but she has finished her second plate before finally showing that she's full.

  Everybody else is worried about the fact that she has a much smaller body than me, but seems to be eating as much as I do. They wonder where she's storing all the matter. It makes me think that she may also have a bottomless stomach, even though I'm sure she's not a Crawling Chaos. Maybe it's part of her curse.

  We quickly finish our meals and head out towards the Royal Academy, so that we can get it done before sundown. Otherwise, Daica might return to the guild hall and find nobody there, and I can already imagine her flustered expression when that happens.

  I've been neglecting Senka in our room for the whole day now, but she can take care of herself. If I bring her, it may cause some troubles because people in this world seem to think that she's in bad taste. My personality might be deemed questionable, and it could become an obstacle to my smooth enrolment.

  I will bring her into the academy though, and nothing will stop me from doing so.

  The path to the citadel is simple: The city is built in a half-circle around the large open plaza before the bridge that connects the island to the mainland. We walk down the road that connects the gate we entered through yesterday to that plaza. The stores on either side look venerable and are most likely very expensive; this is the city's main street after all.

  Even though we can easily see the castle on the island, it still takes us a while of walking to get there. That just goes to show the sheer size of the city as well as the height of the tower. I'm beginning to learn the benefits of modern transportation networks, which I took for granted in my previous life. And I thought Hovsgaerden was big when I had to walk through it all the time.

  There's a gatehouse before the bridge, and four soldiers are standing guard in front of it. Unlike the honor guards in front of the cathedral, these don't wear ornamental armor and wield regular spears. Atop the gate, I spot several other men with bows. I'm sure that there are even more inside, in case of an emergency. The portcullis is up, and the wings of the gate are kept open since it's peaceful and the citizens know not to try and enter without permits.

  "Halt!" One of the guards calls out to us when we step across an invisible threshold. He's a man in his early thirties with a clean-shaven face and inquisitive brown eyes, the typical appearance of a nameless soldier. "State your business."

  "We are here with a recommendation to the Royal Academy." Luna is the one who steps forward, of all people. Usually, the leader would do it, but she's showing some unexpected authority when holding the permit Arcelia gave us in her hand.

  "Oh? Please let me see that." The guard takes the permit and skims it, stopping at the bottom where the Saint of Luminosity's seal is placed. He then returns it to Luna and gestures at another guard. "Frodi, guide the guests inside."

  "Understood, sir." A young soldier steps up with an eager salute. He's still a fledgling, just around Rolan's age, and is taking everything incredibly seriously. With time, he'll ease into the job and become more cynical for sure. "Please follow me."