TWO. The Academy

There's a chill in the air.

The wind is crisp and unforgiving against my aching skin, a result of my perilous dip in the water below. I'm on a boat headed to the borders of Ayrith, where there resides the towering walls of Charivane, or what most people call it, The Academy. 

My legs feel heavy under my torso. I watch the clouds slowly overrun the sky and cover the sun and its rays, making my already cold body not any warmer. I see the tall towers of the palace in the distance, hear the sound of laughing children in the town below, and feel a static in my stomach that I've grown used to over the years. In a few minutes, this land will be too far from me to see. My 'home'. My prison. Morgana, and the unforgiving rules of the palace.

"Have a nice swim?" Captain Heris teases, handing me a large mug of ice and water, which I thankfully take from his hands. "Yer' very brave fer challengin' a merfolk like ya did. No, maybe even a tad foolish" he laughs heartily, holding his stomach with his calloused hands. His accent was unique in its own way, being a mix of Ayrith and Derichad, two very different accents, that when mixed together, made the perfect pirate-like voice. 

Captain Heris is the brother of the captain overseeing the ship I was previously scheduled to board, but through a few series of events, he was ordered off his break and became responsible for me instead of his evening rum. He's a goblin, complete with green skin and everything, and a very old one at that. He also works under Clarisse Trading Company, one of the many controlled by the High Council, so I don't worry about being attacked or eaten by him, unlike a certain merfolk I encountered…

A few moments ago, I boarded the ship with a few other guests. This included a few Merfolk, one of which had a clear appetite for a young, unsuspecting human woman. Unluckily for him, I was only three of those terms, and I would not be toyed with. The scuffle resulted in a private boat as compensation, 3 arrested merfolk, and eye-stinging seawater soaking everywhere that wasn't sealed in a waterproof pouch at my side. He may not have been able to injure me, but he did manage to push me into the water below, which was arguably more of an annoyance than what a few scratches would do to me.

"Very sorry about the whole uh…incident. I was told by Burnie that ya werk in the palace. Any chance ya could let this pass by yer boss?" he chuckles nervously, rubbing the side of his neck with his palm. By boss, I assume he means her Majesty the Zen Razier, aka, the emperor of the entire continent of Zariera. That Razier. The one who happens to own the palace I work in. 

"No, that won't be necessary. Her Majesty has no taste for such trivial matters." I tell him, and to some extent, I think it true. I can't actually remember whether Her Majesty would care about such things, or even if it falls under regulations to report such a small inconvenience to her, but my gut tells me that what I said was true.

My memory is filled with fog, like a cloth of lace placed over my head. Ever since I left the inner island of Morgana, I've been trying to collect what's left of my memory. I can feel the memories, see them, feel them, but my fingertips barely miss the mark, as if tiny tendrils of silk are stopping my skin and my mind from touching. With good purpose, of course. 

Palace regulations state that when servants of the palace leave its walls, they take a pledge that erases the specifics of their work in the palace in case of a memory breach by wayward sirens or greedy fae. The Vow of Fog. I remember that in my occupation, I was exempt from that specific rule, but under some kind of order (which I can't seem to remember as well), I had to take the pledge.

What I remember becomes the most foggy around my memories concerning the Razier herself, so it's apparent that I may have been someone who worked close to her or in an area where I would see her often, though that fact isn't confirmed from just my library pass and the food I brought with me. I can only remember my opinions of her, and it's safe to say that they aren't in a good light. Even if I know I'm not capable of it, I could even say that I might hate her, though it's treason to say it outloud. I know that even if I had not-so-friendly things to say about her, I'm unable to feel something so complex as 'hating' her anyways.

I remember that I worked in the inner palace, the spots I frequented the most, the people I've met, even the skills I learned along the way, but none of these memories include the name of my occupation or the specific cases that I handled. The spell is so thorough that I can't seem to even put two and two together, as I lose my track of thought as soon as the pieces start falling back into place. A few days before the vow, one of the sorcerers at the palace mentioned that since I'm a unique case, I'll still regain my memories if ever I'm put in a life threatening situation, if ever it comes to that point. 

Captain Heris breathes a sigh of relief. "Great! Thought I'd lose me job fer a second there!" he chortles, getting up with a labored 'umph'. "Thanks missy! As a token of me gratitude I'll make yer trip as smooth as possible. I mean, as smooth as it'll get in the Northern Sea anyways. What's an already workin thing like yer doin' in The Academy? Lookin' fer a new job?" he inquired, taking the wheel as we began to move from the port. I take in a breath of fresh air and move towards the edge of the ship, where I let my legs dangle off the side. Feeling the waves move under me almost calms me.

"It's… complicated." I tell him, brushing my arms against my sides. I was certainly not looking for a new job, even if the council allowed me to, not many jobs paid as well as the palace did. But what was I supposed to tell him? That I was sent on a confidential, no-purpose mission by the Razier's closest advisor? I don't even know why I'm going there myself. 

"Well, alrighty. I'm not one to pry into the Razier's business. Make sure ya hold onto the railin', case ya fall off. We'll be at the impasse in 6 hours'' he shrugs, quickly making a turn that makes me almost pivot in my seat. As he advises, I hold on tightly to the railing next to me. 

This is gonna be a long ride. 

When I arrive at Charivane, I tip Heris with two gold coins and say my goodbyes before he sails back off to Morgana. My backside is sore from all the turning and shaking the ship did while avoiding whirlpools and giant waves. To Captain Heris's defense, however, it was one of the calmer rides across the Northern Sea I've been on. Anything was better than my mentor's driving, after all.

As I walk through the Academy halls, I feel a breeze through my hair, a tingling feeling crawling down my spine. It's quiet. Too quiet. I'm not hearing anything, which is something I'm not used to. The peace kept here differs so much from the palace, which was constantly kept at a loud, chaotic volume. At least, in the part of the palace I was stationed in.

The Academy was incredibly beautiful. Vibrant and pristine wooden walls, tall looming pillars that were placed as if they would lean over and touch me, if not for the awning keeping them in place. Lights are hanging from each branch in every tree and every structure visible, each with its own unique color and shape, which made this particular yard feel messy and overwhelming. In the center of it all, a pond filled with a variation of flowers, floating aimlessly within the almost-clear water. The Academy centered between the boundary, Ruchavya, and Ayrith, which made the skyline a mix of blue, purple, and gold. The borders made the skies mush together, the waters felt clean and unsullied. The atmosphere was comfortable. Nothing like home. 

"Are you the heir I'm guiding?" a voice calls me from above. A mystic flies down to me—a Harpy, I think, carrying 2 folders between her talons. She hands them to me as she lands. "My name is Alice Eyernmen, Achevel in training. I'm your assigned guide during your time at the Academy." she says, quaint and stern. Her feathers and eyes are colored gold, and so is her hair—though a slightly lighter shade. Her skin was sickeningly pale. For someone so stiff and stoic, her looks contradicted her tone, as she was incredibly fair and fragile-looking. I notice that she's a lot smaller than most Skyborne I've seen. 

She called me an heir. It feels unfamiliar to me, like wearing new clothes that don't quite fit yet.

An Heir, in simple terms, are inheritors to the council that handles all of Zariera's important government decisions. There are 25 of them, and the higher ranked heirs will take a council member's position if they are deemed unfit for their duty. They are rulers, governors, and the people who will one day choose a path for the nation. At this moment, I am an heir, the 24th heir of Zariera. I'm not sure what the Rugen, the Razier's closest advisor intended for me when sending me here despite my work in the palace, but I entered the Academy knowing that for now…I'm free. 

32 seasons of confinement, that's what my time in the palace meant to me, at least, from what I can remember. I came to Zariera when I was only 48 seasons old (or 12 years, in human time), a time when I was both unaware and weak. One hit and that was all that it took. They caught me at a moment when I was both alone and distracted, and took me out. I was taken beyond the boundary and into the empire because of a father I had never met or even heard of, forced to work everyday at every hour, every second of every minute, until I'd pass out from exhaustion and hunger. I was to be his next-in-line, his only descendant, and therefore the next person for his task in the palace. 

I didn't know anything when I came here. In Zariera, everything I knew was flipped to the side. What I knew as 'years' in the human world were decades or even centuries to Zarierans, as each 'year' represented the rule of a new Zen Razier. The 'year' starts when the Razier begins their rule, and ends when they die, similar to dynasties in the human realm. Unlike on earth, where years are represented by numbers, all years have their own unique name, as to represent what that Razier intended for Zariera during their rule. The Year of Sun had just begun 3 seasons after I arrived in Zariera, under the 8th Razier's rule. 

There's the Year of Boundary, the Year of Progression, the Year of Water, the Year of Change, the Year of Passion, the Year of Dignity, the Year of Rain, and finally, The Year of Sun. There are only 4 months, and they are counted as 'seasons'. Spring, Summer, and Autumn are 90 days long. Winter is 95. So many unknowns, so many things I had to learn from scratch. Even now, I have trouble just keeping track of time. The palace had decided that learning how to handle basic tasks like fluently knowing time were less important than formulas and politics.

 I know nothing but what the palace has shoved in my brain, and I am nothing but what the council decides of me. 

The Rugen was the only one who took care of me in the palace, and he was also the one who sent me here in place of the actual 24th heir. He provided me with no reason for why I would attend, or even what I should do at the Academy, only that I would 'find what I'm looking for' and that I'd 'understand when I get there'. Whatever that means. Despite being my caretaker, he was also my mentor, and would often send me on excursions similar to this to learn something. I'm here now, but I still don't understand. I was going in blind, and I had no objective of what to do or what I should look for.

"My name is Diana, nice to meet you" I introduce myself, refraining from including my last name, so as to not make anything complicated. I can't remember much about myself but I do remember this: My name is rather…well known in Zariera. So for now, I should keep it hidden. She doesn't question the lack of surname—rather, she doesn't seem to care and chuffs out of acknowledgement. 

"Unfortunately, it's too late at night to do our tour but we'll start as soon as you wake up tomorrow morning right outside your dorm hall." she yawns, fixing the feathers on her left wing. She opens one of the folders in my hand and points her talon on a map attached to its inside. "Your dorm room is located in Elegy Hall, Faery." she explains, pointing to an area on the map labeled 'D4 Elegy', which I notice is shaped similarly to a Chrysanthemum from its aerial view. The meaning of that flower feels so fitting yet so targeted. Why let students stay in a building with a meaning so grim?

Grief. Mourning. A fitting flower for an Elegy Hall.

"Elegy Hall? Faery?" I ask. Elegy, a message to the dead.

She looks at me confused before widening her eyes like she had forgotten something, and reaching into the pouch at her side. "Right, you're a human." she sighs, rubbing her temple with the side of her wing. "Short answer is, we barely have any human students because not many cross the boundary anyways, so we put you in the Faery dorm because they're less likely to eat you in your sleep. Long answer? You get none." she tells me, a hint of moodiness in her tone. It's clear that there's more to what she explained to me, but I don't pry. I see that there are dark circles under her eyes, making me realize how late it was. She must've woken up just to escort me. 

"Okay, here's an Archeval, I have at least 10 copies so you can have this one. It has everything you need to know in it. Even information not affiliated with the Academy, if it allows it." She hands me a blue book with golden pages. I take note of the words 'if it allows it', which meant that certain information was restricted to certain people in the Archeval. To my knowledge, the Archeval was a mass-produced grimoire made to carry the entire empire's history and information in the Year of Transition. I don't know much about it past that, as I've never had or needed one. All the information I needed in my work was available in the palace.

"Thank you," I tell her, taking the book from her hands. There's no label, title, or seal to suggest it would be any sort of grimoire at all. I lift the cover to see the front page holding the exact information I had been wondering about, like if the book had read my mind. As soon as my finger touches the page, the Archeval changes color, turning its dark blue cover into a piercing red with golden butterflies flying out the pages and scattering all over the rough binding. Some of the butterflies fall onto certain pages, including the front page, labeled: ARCHEVAL 150: Student Locations In The Academy. The pages shine brilliantly. A message is suddenly sent to my head: 'Checking authority…valid…Requesting assistance…request accepted…granting permissions' it echoes, making my ears ring.

"Wow, so that's the type of person you are '' Alice lauds, genuine amusement forming on her face. She gives an affirming nod, studying the changed Archeval with interest shining in her jeweled eyes "Interesting, I've never seen a living entity in an Archeval change before" she whispers, tapping the golden butterfly on the cover which causes it to fly out and land on her talon before returning to its place. I heard about the Archevals changing their shape and color according to the holder from Academy alumni in the palace, though I hadn't considered how that process would happen. Now that I've seen it, I'm impressed by how active the transition is. 

"Welcome to the Academy, Diana." she intones, returning to her previous indifferent attitude. "For now, let's stop here until morning, but before we do I'm obligated to tell you a few ground rules as a warning for your upcoming days here."

I take my attention from the Archeval and Alice hands me a white bracelet. "This is a seal" she states. "Humans don't have a natural resistance to mystic abilities, so rule number one is to never take this off. I'm sure you already have a seal, considering I didn't need to escort you here from the boundary, but Academy seals are much more efficient, and they won't affect your health." she emphasizes each word with a sense of urgency. I study the bracelet with caution, observing each ridge and rune carved into its shell. As soon as I've confirmed its purpose, I immediately put it on. Alice rolls her eyes and continues to explain the remaining rules.

"Rule number 2, never, ever, make a promise with any mystic of any kind. This should be common knowledge, but some promises made with mystics can damage or even break the seal on your wrist. Words are incredibly powerful magic to mystics, especially to the kind who can't lie. Do yourself a favor and just never promise anything" she says firmly "Finally, the 3rd rule. This rule is said to every student when they enter the Academy and is by far the most valued." She articulates each word to make sure I'm listening. I give her my full attention.

"Never, even if your life depends on it, bond with a faery." she warns.

She stops her explanation, ending her statement there. I look at her with confusion, silently asking 'What does that mean?' with a raised brow. She senses my confusion and graces me with an answer. Not. "Don't bother asking me. Nobody, including me, is aware of what exactly that rule means. The word 'bond' can mean anything, especially in the Academy. It could mean making a pact, trading names, or even associating yourself with a faery, so some people avoid them entirely." she shrugs, looking away. I let out a dejected sigh, the most valued rule in The Academy is a rule I don't even understand. She gives me a look of understanding and leaves me with a few final words, "Sorry, I can't help you find your take on it, I don't even understand it much myself. But, as your guide, I have a responsibility to help you, so I'll show you the page where it's located in the Archeval"

She points me to a page titled 'Archeval 156: Faery Admission into the Academy' which lists every condition needed to admit a faery into the Academy, some of which are blocked out in red ink. At the bottom of the page, very clear and bolded words are underlined:

 "To bond with a Faery is to sell your soul to the devil"