Harmony was late. It irked her. She’d made it to the science building on time, but the stairs were out of order as the building was under renovation and would only be officially open when classes started in a week. They’d been replaced with a magical portal system to get to the different sections of the floors. They were unlabeled and took the necromancer down paths that didn’t lead to room 302, making it a puzzle to get there.
Von Trell didn’t comment on her late arrival as he sat in the midst of hundreds of pieces of metal, screws, crystal balls that seemed to phase in and out, and tools that looked like torture implements. Next to him was a book clearly labeled 'Instruction Manual,' but it was the size of a comprehensive skills dictionary.
“Student White, is there any way you can give me a hand?” With a pause and a breath, he yelled, “My research monkeys won’t help!” over his shoulder before returning attention to his guest. “They hate when I call them that, but in all honesty, they are too busy setting up my lesson plans for this dull school.” He handed her the book.
The manual’s cover was a drawing of a simple desk and chair, with the subtitle, Intelligently Krafted Enhanced Artifact. Opening the book didn’t reveal simple pages but a pool of shimmering liquid with objects floating and moving through it. Not one to sea sickness with [Poise and Bearing], the visual effect had her more nauseous than the multiple teleportations to get here did.
“Use your sight.” Von Trell encouraged.
He wasn’t talking of her soul sight, [Keen Investigative Awareness], any other tricks she’d used. The glowing eyes in the Ascendant Games must have given it away. [Eternal Fable’s Heart] was a problem, but she had used it to limited effects when working on freeing Max from the princess, and she always kept a little fate on hand in her system just in case. Feeding it to her [Heart], she checked again. The truth revealed was a simple, well-organized set of instructions for all the complicated pieces. The sight and knowledge took charge as she looked at the mess around her new advisor, it lit up the first piece and how to connect it to the second piece in her mind. Her stat of connections craved to make it.
Picking up those two pieces, she did just that. Even as the fate-induced true sight faded, the effect stayed, so she continued working. She did like putting things together. That was why she repaired the wayward undead Bea and continued with improvements on her when she’d unexpectedly arrived at the manor.
Sliding the hexagonal hook into the phasing ball, Harmony moved it to the table leg she’d constructed. “So, Advisor, the gossip is you’re supposed to help me select my classes for this quarter using my academic records, skills, and interests. You do know I don’t have any formal schooling?”
“The charter agreement kind of bypasses some of those silly entry requirements. I actually called you here as quickly as possible to let you know that you must let no one know you’re a necromancer.”
“What! You said I was safe and had protections from the charter.”
“Technically, I said that you wouldn’t have to reveal that information here, as they have strict laws around privacy; any inspection skill will show your evolved class and profession. The charter protections come if the home kingdom chooses to extend them to you. They’ve officially declined that.”
What does she do now? There is no giving up, packing a bag, and heading home. Harmony’s nimble hands continued to work, sliding alternating brace and silver pieces until they clicked and merged into a smooth surface. “What about my school ranking? Won’t the fact that I’m third draw interest? It’s not that I didn’t expect some system for that, but maybe after we did something like take some tests, and get some grades first.”
“Why do that when magic exists? No, every school has a baseline power ranking, even if they tweak their equations. I’m a bit shocked you weren’t number one. Probably has to do with your maladaptive theocratic bond. I’m not worried about your rankings. You’d end up sticking out, even in this crowd.”
“Ashes!” Harmony snapped a little miffed. She’d worked hard to get mostly average height. Match hairstyle and mannerisms, like the color system. This was her opportunity not to parade around half naked, be projected on a giant screen, be summoned in front of a wolf-like spirit, or punish a princess for practical purposes.
“Have you not met yourself? Your mom kicked you out because you were starting to outshine her, and your class choice was only an excuse. Not insignificant beauty aside, you have a natural command of the area around you, challenging the dungeon in its equivalent domain, even doing the impossible to my suit. You overwhelm challenges while breaking rules and expectations.”
That blunt assessment halted the construction project. It was a foolish dream anyway. But that didn’t cover other very practical concerns. “Rude. Now that we’ve established that I’ll be me no matter where I am or how I act, and that I can’t leak my roots as a necromancer here. Which I have questions about how to exactly do. I need you to advise me on how to pick classes and handle my lack of education. I can fake it by saying nothing, but the moment I’m in an actual classroom setting, I’m sure I’ll stand out in other ways than you’ve mentioned. I also need to know what my financial situation is.” Now that she knew Night hungered for materials, it was hard to ignore the feeling she hadn’t noticed before, and it had been over a week since it fed. Then there were other supplies.
“The money answer is easy. You have none. Your scholarship covers on-campus room and board, books, class supplies, and tuition. The fees for transferring money through so many kingdoms, you’d owe more than you received. If you want money, you’ll have to get a job here, or use your lifetime guild membership to dive for resources while skipping the entry fee. Don’t go into a dungeon blind. One second… Rango!” He finished with a yell.
A line in the air ripped and twisted until a hole was formed. A decidedly not-human head popped out of the hole, causing Harmony to stumble back. Large ears on a furry face, not a beastkin but an actual ape.
“I’m answering for the young Miss White and not you. In two days, there is a seminar for new students about the Tomb of Orty. I will sign her up. You still need to get me the students I asked for.”
“When I get the time,” Maekus answered.
With a snarl, Rango pulled his head back to where he came.
“Who was that?” Harmony asked.
“One of my apes. You were kind of unconscious when you and your little pet met them. They’re not important.”
A howling hoot echoed in the room at that, coming from nowhere and everywhere simultaneously.
“They’re angry because they don’t do last-minute plans like taking this guest professorship. Which I’m taking to protect my investment in you. It is kicking up a lot of hurt egos now that I’m the highest-evolved teacher here. A feather in the headmaster's cap, but annoying a lot of my temporary peers.”
“Investment in me?”
“The charter may prevent me from entering local politics, but you, my dear, are the perfect catalyst for change. The kind of catalyst that small speck of underdeveloped dirt you are from needs. And that is what I’m investing in. Those restrictions are why you can’t borrow any money from me, so don’t ask.”
“What about the classes?”
Don’t know. I’m working on it. I’ve been in this country as long as you have, and with less sleep. I’ve never been here before. Who wants to run a dungeon that’s been mapped out for millennia as one of the more boring places to be?” Maekus’s hands flashed out to grab Harmony’s, stopping her from putting the next two pieces she saw together. “Don’t do that, it would be dangerous.”
Part of her brain told her to connect them, but the directions were less distinct now. “You don’t need any help.”
“No. I merely wanted to test that sight you demonstrated and check its efficiency. Something like that shouldn’t be in someone who has evolved only once. It’s dangerous for the stability of your existence. I don’t recommend using it or the skill it came with.” Maekus advised her seriously.
“Well, what am I supposed to do now?” Harmony asked.
“Leave, socialize, gather info on your own, join a club, go to a party. This is your youth, enjoy it with other youths, considering you never got the opportunity in Hazeldown. The only thing you shouldn’t do is tell anyone you’re a necromancer. We’ll come up with some lies and equivalent skills to explain your abilities later. You have a standing appointment to come here after breakfast.“
Dismissed with a whole new set of problems. “Fine.” [Shadowed Graves] spread out to create a spot big enough for herself to slip into. “Hyacinth,” she prodded the toad dozing in her pocket awake enough for him to grumbily stir and send them both through the shadows.
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