Black Magus

Another sleigh ride through Emi brought us to board my father’s train and embark on our journey to the next county by around nine in the evening; a time late enough for all of us to trot off to our berths to retire for the night and for everyone but me to wake up cranky or annoyed come final approach at around one-thirty in the morning. I, however, had been fortunate enough to have gotten a full night of meditation in. Thus I cheerfully made myself presentable before waddling to the locomotive to watch the grayed-out landscape race by.

Koka, the land ruled by my great grandfather; the High Necro King Cole, was a region similar to anywhere else on the vast plateau of a continent our empire sat on. It was a winter-trapped land of gigantified taiga forests perpetually tinted white, blue, or even black from the magic of this land's rulers. Speckled, they were, with unforgivingly gelid tundras that howled for thousands upon thousands of kilometers before the odd hill or steaming lake disrupted their paths toward the igneous cliffs, steep bays, and chasmic coves lining the coast.

Corvus Tower was the only structure found within the vast borders of Koka. A relatively small footprint between the northwestern coast of the Odissian Empire and Corvus Lake; the vast body of water seen as the turtle’s eye on the map. Our route had us straddling its shores and pushing through plumes of steam and dense fog. In time, the frees of frost and lightning and darkness were subsumed by the white cloud, forcing me to shift my senses inward to feel the same energies I sensed elsewhere in the Empire: umbral energies from the trees of Blackwood. Feeding, it seemed, on the necrotic energies in the soil. A true dead zone. A ring the native fauna refused to even enter, relatively small in radius compared to the other cities; yet vast enough to permit a safe and relatively sterile environment for developing youths.

The campus consisted of a few insignificant structures scattered around a colossal tower; if it could’ve even been referred to as such. The architecture was strange and formless. Like a mountain of magma had risen from the ground and solidified in an instant; or as if a giant threw a gargantuan shard of igneous rock into the ground, creating a fat, wedge-shaped stain on the horizon.

Looking at it seemed to forcibly bring forth memories from my past life. Before I could help it, I was reliving the experience of seeing an arcology for the first time- the massive structures earthlings began to favor around the time I left the planet for good. In the wake of such nostalgia, I could only stare in awe at the marvel of magic and architecture sitting before my eyes. In turn, my mind couldn’t help but fantasize and dream of one day having my own expansive magical tower. Or better yet, building a few arcologies around the realm.

“It’s amazing, isn’t it?” I heard my Father yawn from behind me.

I couldn’t even turn to meet his eyes as I nodded. I could only continue staring while muttering, “It is.” Then continue staring for a few moments until the train finally started to slow. Only then did I eagerly turn to my father with the aims to confirm my assumptions. “I imagine it’s a self-contained city?”

“Precisely.” He nodded, taking the seat next to me. “While it’s true that Corvus Tower is most famously known for the boarding school of the same name, that doesn’t mean that the tower doesn’t boast its own residency as well. In truth.” He paused to raise a pointed finger. “Corvus is the center of knowledge in the Empire. Thousands of scholars, historians, alchemists, and the like all flock to Corvus Tower. Not only to live but to freely conduct their research for the betterment of the realm as a whole.

“Naturally.” He continued before I could comment. “That allows for a wide variety of apprenticeships to become available for the students of the boarding academy.”

“Amazing.” My head kept shaking in disbelief as I gasped, more to myself than to him. “How does it work, exactly?”

“Well, tuition is free.” Father proudly stated. Then let out a more deflated sigh before continuing. “Though, that in itself necessitates a class limit on the school. There are anywhere from four to five-hundred students in each grade, ranging from first through tenth-year students between the ages of five and fifteen. Their primary education consists of five years of fast-paced formal lessons. Arithmetic, history, courtly manners, magic, physical fitness, war, strategy, and musical practice; just to name a few subjects.”

‘A few.’ I chuckled dryly to myself.

“Admissions are handled through an application system.” He continued. “All parents or guardians are required to send correspondence detailing their history, way of life, and both the personality and capabilities of their child before an interview is scheduled. If it’s deemed that the child is what the Empire needs, they’re accepted and will begin classes in the first month of the year.”

‘What the Empire needs, huh?’ I pondered. If only for a second, as my Father abruptly turned to Toril and the others, standing idly by the door.

“Would any of you like to explain the schedule?” He asked.

“Yes, Your Imperial Grace.” Toril stepped forth into a bow. “All students have a strict schedule they abide by. They rise with the sun to conduct personal hygiene, eat, and socialize until classes begin at nine in the morning. The number of classes and the subjects covered vary with each grade, but all students are given one-hour blocks for lunch and recess.”

“I see.” I nodded, turning back to the approaching platform. In short, Grandpa LIch created and oversaw a place where children of any social class or disposition could be sent to receive formal education, apprenticeships, and moral guidance. In turn, I imagined they'd later graduate and put their developed talents into whatever community they chose to call home, be that in Odissi, Deapau, or even abroad. Regardless of where they went, it would be of some type of benefit to the Empire. And it would only increase with each passing generation. The screening bit was curious, though. I doubted the old undead man did it himself, not that the distinction was of any importance. I was curious about the conditions behind 'what the empire needs.'

My internal ramblings lasted until the train slid into the station beneath the tower, wherein my father led us to disembark. “Come,” he said. “It’s late, we’ll get you all situated at once.”

We followed without words, entering a barren platform of cold stone to approach neither stairway nor lift, but an alcove shrouded in darkness. Father fiddled with the enchanted console for a bit, then guided us through a sliver of the shadow realm that spat us out in the center of a vast corridor that sent our senses into overload. It was more of a city center avenue than an interior walkway. The median alone was nearly two meters wide. In it sat magnificent statues and great trees coupled with park benches and other furnishings oriented to gaze upon the cobblestone-clad lanes. Sourceless light and a soothing orchestral ambiance hung in the air like cobwebs in an ancient manor. So fitting, they were, one only noticed them after the illusory skyscape on the ceiling so far away.

However, just beyond our little darkness-filled telephone booth was the greatest sight I had seen thus far. Blackwood double doors made, it seemed, for a giant. It reached as high as the ceiling to showcase the visage of an elderly woman, gaunt and feral. Her sunken eyes burned with the Flames of Moil, illuminating her hollowed cheeks and cold lips, wrapped into a foul sneer with violet wrath. Brandished fangs dripped tenebrous vitriol on the feathered and leafed grimoire, clutched in the claw of her dangling foot. Dangling from the perch of her scythe, curving beneath her like the crescent moon.

“Welcome to the Corvus Boarding Academy.” Father dramatically stated as the doors to began to creak apart ever so slowly "The largest singular area within the Tower. The academy occupies half of each floor, starting from the twenty-second level, up to the seventy-sixth.”

It was undoubtedly a magical tower. It had to be, for my father gestured around a lobby that may as well have been a copy of the outside environment, minus the snow. The Luna-like light of the star clusters beyond the windows bounced off many square kilometers of lush flowery fields, leaves, and grass. It gave a sort of... otherworldly radiance to the mind-bogglingly spacious indoor garden. Almost as if I stepped into another world.

“This area serves as both an administration hub and as a social space for all students.” Father gestured to the catwalk lining the walls on the upper floor while we were guided to another shade elevator; or whatever they happened to be called. “From here, five floors are allocated to each grade. Ranging from levels twenty-four to seventy-three. Our destination is the level just above.” He grinned while fueling one of the many pebble-sized enchantments in the console as if to punctuate his sentence. Then stepped into the seventy-fourth floor without another word.

Emerging on the other side brought us face to face with a massive, budding flower pot surrounded by a warehouse-sized lounge area; filling our noses with a relaxingly eclectic redolence of spices, volatiles, and pheromones before we moved on to survey benches, chairs, and tables spread throughout the various doors and radial chambers. Restrooms, bath houses, beauty salons, barber shops, and the like. Continuing through open arches on the far wall brought us into an even more spacious area akin to the administration hub dozens of floors below, only this space seemed to have been evenly split into three distinct parts.

Just beyond the partition was an indoor garden that appeared more like a self-contained community rather than the floor of a massive building. Obsidian plates lined the perimeter of the voluminous park space, reflecting the floating amber orbs spaced evenly between the 'road' and the intricate joists supporting the matching terrace above. In essence, it was a summer campground put indoors and scaled up to the size of a city block. Complete with scattered pockets of tall, slender trees that provided shade to the many picnic tables, walking paths, and even ponds that made up the first third of the space. Overlooking the largest body of water was an open formal dining area with room for what appeared to be twenty guests. Evidently catered to by the twin entrances protruding across the ‘street’ beyond each head of the table. But only entertained by a storefront-sized obsidian fireplace embedded into the partition on the far side.

“You three are free to choose any guest room you fancy and get some sleep.” Father gestured to the many gate-like entrances lining the streets and terrace above. “And you, come with me.” He pulled me through the shade elevator without another word. Not a moment later, I found myself standing before a scaled-down version of the great doors at the entrance. My father promptly stepped through his shadow upon knocking twice. Leaving me to wordlessly step in after him, and later enter a space more voluminous than each of the prior annexes combined.

It was entirely modular, bordered by wide walkways, catwalks, or paths set between building-sized spaces of differing floor tiles, wallpapers, and furnishings that easily distinguished each of the zones apart from the next. In the back of my mind, I felt my eyes nearly popping from their sockets as they scanned the veritable hoard of tools and equipment found in what I assumed to be Grandpa Lich's office. Unfinished paintings and sculptures sat next to workbenches littered with metal shaving or sawdust. Medical or lab equipment was organized across from what appeared to be tables and cases filled with chemistry equipment while shelves of books, tomes, and scrolls sat dangerously close to a kitchen setup.

It seemed that there was no art or profession my great-grandfather hadn’t taken an interest in over the course of his long life. Which surely meant that he had an insurmountable wealth of information to pass on to me. As such, I couldn’t help but grin in excitement as my father and I turned right upon entering to approach the massive desk in the corner of the room.

“We’re here, as promised.” My father sighed in relief after easing himself into a seat. After another heavy sigh, he slouched further down and allowed his eyes to slowly close as he muttered into the room. “I leave Amun in your care, Granddad. I’ll be heading back to Deap Ridge in the morning. Amun.” He craned his neck to peer at me from the corner of his tired eye. “You’ll be staying here until your great-grandfather says otherwise. You and each of your vassals has been scheduled to undergo a few courses here at the Tower. Learn as much as you can while you’re here.”

“Yes, Sir.” I quickly bowed. Then shot my eyes back up to my forefathers’ eyes just as quickly as my progenitor's fell. “If I may ask How long will I be here, exactly?”

“You’re that tired of me already?” Grandpa Lich laughed from the same hands-on head, feet-on desk position he was in when we entered.

“Knowing will help me plan how I’ll pick my new vassals.” I amiably explained, ignoring his antics.

My father subtly turned to me and seemed to ponder for a moment before gesturing toward me with his hand. “Care to elaborate?”

“I need vassals with particular skill sets,” I explained with a devious grin. “Because of that, they’ll need to be tested. Extensively.”

“Interesting.” Father nodded, then turned his raised brows towards Grandpa Lich.

“You’re to stay until you’re fourteen or so.” He grunted with a dismissive wave.

‘Four years, huh? That’s plenty of time.’ I nodded to myself, and then to them. “Very well.”

“If all is settled, you can take your leave.” Grandpa Lich sighed with strong hints of impatience lingering in his breath. “Get some rest. Both of you. There’s a long day ahead of you, Amun.”

I bowed without another word and retreated to the elevator while my father remained in his seat. In doing so, I had the intention to claim my room and spend a bit of time adjusting the training schedule. However, my mind had completely changed by the time I arrived in the expansive foyer. With a new course of action now decided, I stopped just beside the vibrant flower to fill my body with shadow mana and assume the Wraith Form. Within only a second, my body morphed into an ethereal mass of dark mist that floated freely in the ambient darkness lingering in the sleeping tower. And without delay, I slipped between the floors like a ghost and descended through the floors to explore.

As explained by my father, the 73rd floor and the four following levels below it were all part of an individual module reserved for the tenth-year students; and such five-floor modules repeated in the same fashion until the 24th floor. While I chose not to go through any walls for the sake of privacy, I was able to ascertain that the lowest floor in each module contained the residential quarters, lounges, and offices for the teaching staff associated with that grade of students. The few of them that were living, at least. The second floor of each module held expansive cafeterias, as well as gymnasiums, pools, and other recreational facilities while the third floor contained the dorms, study rooms, and common areas. Classrooms and labs were found on the fourth level and the last floor contained the same peaceful outdoor space I’d first set my Wraith-like eyes on after setting out to explore.

Though after, I could only let out an ethereal sigh that lingered alongside me as I drifted near the ceiling of the main lobby, inadvertently passing into the auditoriums or dojos or theaters surrounding the upper floor as I wallowed in mounting depression. The most aggravating fact of my new life; I realized, was that I was both exhaustively pleased and frustratingly bored with it. There was so much to learn- so many data points to become fixated on. On top of that, I was proud of the prosperity of our Empire. But that brought with it, a peace that I quite frankly found boring.

Growing up in the estate was one thing, but traveling and finding the same across the mainlands and every settlement throughout was another issue entirely. I could only hope the prestigious magic academy in Nonus would be far more interesting. Or that this place would turn out to be worthwhile. Knowing Grandpa Lich, however, I felt as if that was nothing but wishful thinking.

Having already meditated for the night, the one thing I could do was migrate to my favorite place and attempt to lose myself for the next five or so hours. And so, I drifted into the main library at the far end of the base floor, reassumed my physical form once inside, and began wandering the place to get a lay of the land before I got to work. I managed to move through only one or two isles before being spotted by a student. A boy who appeared around my age, whose eyes; focused on my belt, grew wider and wider with the passing of each awkward moment until he hurriedly folded himself into a bow. Nearly knocking his head against the shelving in the process.