The Inscribed Badge

The enrollment hall was filled with students shifting between booths, their voices merging into a loud hum of excitement and indecision. The magical blue boards above each booth glowed brightly, displaying the names of professors for the respective departments. As students placed their hands on the orbs at the booths, their chosen options shimmered across the boards in radiant script followed by the sound of brass plaques being dispensed below.

Melch stood in front of the Medicine Department booth, knowing already whom he would select. His eyes swept over the shining names and their corresponding descriptions but his choice was already made. He placed his hand on the orb with conviction and a plaque inscribed with his name and badge number slid out of the slot. He lifted it feeling the smooth brass plate in his hands, the faint hum of magic filling the air.

Leif crept up behind him, looking curiously at the booth. "Finished already? That was quicker than I had expected. You didn't even pretend to hesitate."

Melch glanced back over his shoulder, a slight smirk on his face. "Not much point. The guest lecturer is the only choice that makes sense for me."

Leif raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms with a playfully mischievous grin. "Oh, going for the mysterious treasure hunter guy? Going to learn how to dig up ancient relics and dodge death traps?"

"Something like that" Melch replied dryly, but his tone had a light amusement. "He's not just a treasure hunter. He's a researcher and an alchemist. His experience goes far beyond books and classrooms."

Leif shrugged. "Hey, no judgment here. Sounds like the guy might drag you into some crazy adventure. Just make sure you don't end up as a lab experiment."

Melch gazed at him. "And you? Who did you pick?"

Leif sat back against the booth. "Oh, yeah. I went with Prof. Jess. You know, the new mage everyone's talking about. Fresh out of Legerth Academy of Magic. She is basically a genius."

Melch raised his eyebrows. "You? A genius? Learning from a genius? That's quite an interesting choice."

"Hey, don't act so surprised" Leif shot back, feigning offense. "I've got layers. Besides, it sounded fun. She's young, probably not too uptight and who knows? Maybe she'll teach us how to summon something."

Melch shook his head, chuckling softly. "You're impossible."

A few booths away, Edwin and Elissa were making their own selections. He was engrossed in conversation with some person that Melch did not know. It was a Ozias, silent, tall and very mysterious as though he bore some aura that travelled with him across the air. Edwin nodded covering the globe lying before him and a dullish glow illuminates his face where the brass plate slid to land in the hand. Ozias did the same, his movements calculated and deliberate.

Leif caught a glimpse of them and nudged Melch. "Looks who it is. Edwin already rubbing elbows with his friend".

Melch looked over intrigued. "Who is that?"

"Well, that's Ozias, the guy I told you about and you didn't believe me." Leif admitted. "But he is giving off those major 'I know things you don't' vibes. Perhaps he is actually a prince or something."

"Unlikely." Melch said, though he did not take his eyes off Ozias as the man turned and walked away, nodding briefly in Leif's direction before disappearing into the crowds.

A minute later, Edwin came walking up with a plaque clutched in one hand. Leif didn't wait. "Well? Now that we are all standing in a crowded fairground, waiting for someone's new best mate to show up or are we all just going to pretend that wasn't weird when he left?"

Edwin raised an eyebrow. "Ozias is just someone I met during the test. He's in the same department as me now. That's all."

"Sure, 'just someone' I really believed that" Leif said with a smirk. "You're really good at keeping secrets, you know that?"

Edwin ignored him, instead looking at Melch. "So, who'd you pick?"

"Prof. Bones." Melch said simply. "He's a guest lecturer, which means fewer classes but his knowledge as a treasure hunter and researcher makes up for it."

Edwin nodded. "Makes sense for you. You've always been the curious type."

Leif cut in grinning. "Yeah, curious enough to get himself lost in a ruin somewhere."

"Better than signing up for a professor just because they're fun" Melch shot back with a teasing smile.

Leif pretended to be shocked. "Excuse me! Prof. Jess is more than fun, she's brilliant and she's going to teach us how to fight in a war. What's more important than that?"

Elissa finally had her say. She had listened to everyone without a word thus far. "I selected Prof. Jess also. My relatives are acquainted with her, she's one of the finest commoner mages to graduate from Legerth Academy in a very long time. It's not something I wanted to miss".

Leif smiled over at her. "See? Even the top student Miss Elissa concurs. Take notes, Melch."

"Right." Melch retorted dryly. "I shall remember that in case I begin to dig out ancient relics".

Out into the enrollment hall they went in pairs, until the badges held tightly to uniforms with a click of the mechanism, and when this was over, the feeling of weight begun falling. The department affiliation and a faint glow bearing the names made a striking appearance at this stage.

They walked towards the main square of the academy where the sun set, casting golden hues upon the towering spires. Leif always had something to say, so he began with a rambling story about something he had overheard in the hall.

"Did you hear that one idiot arguing with the orb?" Melch laughed. "He was whining at the orb to make him pick out some random professor. Come on, man. The orb isn't negotiating anything."

Melch's head had shaken, but a smile jerked at the corner of his lips.

"That's what makes life fun," Leif replied with a shrug. "You've got to laugh at the little stuff, or you'll go crazy."

Elissa rolled her eyes. "Sometimes, I wonder how you passed the entrance exam."

Leif gasped in mock offense. "How dare you! I'll have you know I'm a man of many talents."

"Like pissing off everyone around you?" Melch asked, his voice light.

"Exactly," Leif said with a wink.

The group shared a laugh, their camaraderie carrying them through into the night, roaming around the academy grounds. Melch was more curious about Ozias then ever after seeing him but decided to ask about him some other time.