Planning for Future

When Ash found her class, she ignored the commotion and sat down. It was starting to become the norm that every class she found herself in was chaotic and settled down in the presence of a professor. Some did not even deter with a professor, like this one.

The professor stood at the far end of room, reading something as the group of goblins divided into two groups, on two side of the long marble table, full of vessles, brass, scales, measuring tables and raw materials. Everyone's work was left half way through as the goblins fought among themselves.

"You have never been able to beat me then and you can't do it now."

The taller of the two goblin, banged his fist into the workstation. His wide nose released tufts of dust as he spoke. He was covered in a white coating, an experiment gone wrong? The other goblin with hair cropped closed to his skin and face pierced beyond recognition huffed, "goblins whos steal other people's work do not have the right to talk about winning."

"Again with this," a female goblin as tall as the white dust covered goblin banged her fist, "again with this bullshit. When we said we didn't take it. We didn't take it."

The pierced goblin jutted his lip out, rolled his eyes and swayed, mimicking the female goblin, "didn't take it. didn't take it." It was childish and annoying. The woman leaned over the table and threw her fist but the pierced goblin leaned back, laughing mockingly, "ask your boyfriend. I saw him putting in white powder. Everyone in here knows only I make the drug."

The white covered goblin grunted, "how many times I have to tell you this I did not take your drug. I bought Magnesium from the town shop yesterday."

"A valid excuse now that everything is gone up in smoke."

"Aaaaah. come here you little..." the goblins both reached acorss from table and grabbed each other's column.

"It's time for class. Settle down now." The professor called, closing his book with a snap.

The goblins left each others' collar quickly and scrambled for their spots. Some of them noticed her too and she heard calls of "buyer from yesterday."

It was the most decent word anyone had ever called her so far.

The professor stood up and Ash noticed he was tall, taller than an average goblin, almost close to a short human and had a wide frame. His two pointed ears had multiple earing put close together, that they jingled when he moved. She suspected he was half orc or some other big race but his distinct features, placed him as a goblin.

"We will have a human in our class this year and we know how some humans can be very enterprising. We will do our best to take advantage of this opportunity and make things that would interest the humans the most."

The most unusual introduction and induction she had ever faced stared her in the face. As the goblins looked at her, she could only say, "I'd do my best to be helpful, advice or otherwise."

Some of the goblins snickered in laughter and the atmosphere lightened. Ash felt like she earned their approval to some extent. As professor moved again and his earing jingled, calling them to attention.

"Since I heard the entire matter just now, why don't be settle this in true goblin fashion. You can either resolve it by taking this out back and punching it out or we can have both parties try and make as much money as they can in the upcoming event. Whoever wins will be set as the goblin representative of the first years and other one will stay put."

The goblins all murmured a round of agreement but the overly pierced goblin grumbled, "but what if something gets stolen again from my things?"

The other goblin shot back immediately, "you have been making the same things over and over again that you have run out of buyer who'd take interest in them. Steal that junk. Huh!"

"You..." the goblin was now angered and jumped across the table but the professor moved again and the fight stopped before it started. 

"It would be best if you can break into groups of two. Vots, go and see if our new human addition would be interested in some of your works."

The female goblin banged the table, "this chance should be ours," and glared at Vots who smirked wildly. The professor was now behind the female goblin, with his jingles along with him. "And Qoponk, go sit with your friend. I need to talk to Tror for a moment."

Qoponk quickly moved out of the way and the professor sat besides Tror. Tror looked nervous. Ash watched curiously as the professor talked to Tror in a low tone while Vots gathered everything and came over to an empty pot beside her.

"Hello. I am Vots the chemist. Though I say chemist, I do tinker with other things but that too is based in fact around chemicals."

As soon as Ash turned her attention to Vots, her eyes did not know where to look. From one end to the other, both his brows were pierced, his lip was pierced in eight places and a some of the piercing even hung from his chin. Then, like all goblin, his ears were pierced, almost rivalling the professor, minus the jingling.

Vots put his things on the table and asked slowly. "Perhaps, you might be interested in jwellery? I do make special jeweler that can expand and contract with werewolves."

"Werewolves?"

Vots smiled slowly. "you have some hair on your shoulder."

Ash shook her head, "I am interested in jwellery but for one of my other friend. A vampire. would you happen to have something that wouldn't be affected by blood."

"ah. Vampire friends. Yes. Yes. Ofcourse. Humans are peculiar indeed, getting along with such opposite races."

"The two races themselves get along too."

"The royalty. Maybe. Only because they are bound by contract to do so. Or they wouldn't even touch each other with a ten foot pole my dear. Now about this jewelry, would it be partially exposed or permanently."

"I am not sure." Ash said, absently. She wondered if such was the case with werewolves and vampires. She had only ever been in the company of the few and those few got along well. In the end, that's all that mattered to maintain a good relationship between the two races. She still remembered how the vampires had turned their noses up at her when she had come smelling like werewolves. There were all kind of prejudices and grudges in the supernatural world, some resolved over time, some deepened. For the first time she wondered if there was someone small and unknown like her who worked actively to lessen these grudges.

"Best to go with permanent to be safe and leave the rest to the user."

Ash agreed easily. The rest of the class she spent going through Vots' jwelery collection, specifically made for all kinds of creatures.

"Next time, I'd show you my other inventions, more interesting things. That damn Tror. If he hadn't stolen the vampire friendly device, I would be roling in gold right now."

"Vampire friendly?" it piqued her interest. Later Ash wondered if the goblin had let it slip intentionally to rope her into his inventions.

"Yes. I made a device last year for my final assessment but it was stolen. It was all Tror. They didn't find it but I know it was him. In the end, I broke his device and we both ended up failing a class."

Ash laughed, "that's some spirit."

Vots smirked, flashing a row of bad teeth.

"That's what my girlfriend said. If you're friends with vamps, you'd get along with my girlfriend too. Sweet baby of mine knows how smart her man is. Didn't hold against me for failing a class."

Ash started to leave and said in parting, "perhaps sometime."

Since the classes were over, she headed down a floor to wait for Mayra. She did not have to wait at all. Mayra sat on the stairs. Ash sat beside her and passed her the scale.

Mayra shook her head, "you keep it. You need it more."

Though students were not allowed to keep weapons, people kept all sorts of things on them that could serve as weapons. Ash opened the small snake thing she had bought yesterday and slipped the thin scale in it.

"How did your class go?" Mayra asked, watching the snake swallow the thin scale and turn straight like a small flat pen.

Ash smiled a little. "Good. I think. I might even make friends with some goblins."

Mayra pointed to the snake device, "I can see that. What do you plan to do now?'

"Assignments."

The two of them walked back to eat as Mayra said, "not that. What do you plan to study? I know you haven't made any plans yet but you must have some thoughts."

"All I wanted when I came here was moon goddess' blessing. And my only interest is political studies. It's been three days and I am not sure about my goals anymore. What I came to do and what I am doing!"

"What are you doing? You don't want the moon blessing anymore?"

Ash compleuldn't deny it but couldn't accept it either. "The high priestess here might have a way to find out what abilities I have or what blessing I received from the night goddess."

Mayra mouth hung open. "She does? That... That is great news."

Ash couldn't bring herself to smile.

Mayra asked, "is it not?"

"I should be. It is. But you should have seen what happened during the blessing ceremony. I didn't want to step in the moonlight because of what happened last time. the clouds quickly came in to cover the moon until my turn was gone and all was back to normal once I had stepped away."

Mayra locked their elbows, "I am here. I am always here irrespective of what your blessing is or what path you go down."

Ash said, "I also met with the twin alpha heirs of the MoonBlessed tribe."

"That pervert's kids?"

"Hush." Ash scolded, "the two of them are on the council with me. Good people."

"Good people as in....?"

Since they stepped into the reception area and Myra changed the course of their conversation. "On that note, you still haven't told me how you got that mark on your upper arm."

"I had a bad first day," Ash dismissed quickly. If she told Mayra the truth, the siren would be besides herself with worry. When they entered the cafetaria, their conversation halted with many ears around them. they ate in silence and headed back out to check on the old seer.

Ash still had the file with her.

Once they were inside the chancellor's side door, Mayra asked, "will an alliance with the moon blessed heir prove fruitful?"

"I did the math. If the moonblessed stay true to their word. Planning an attack on Kalai will take a lot more than one travelling ship. It is a huge cost that will not be supported by other races. Even if they manage the cost, there is construction, manpower and learning offensive skills suited for the sea. By the time, they are in their third year, things should have calmed down. The concern for the MoonBlessed right now is a luna. If the next in line can find a suitable luna for the pack, the current alpha is much likely to step aside."

"I doubt you plan to take up that mantle."

Ash gave her a flat look. Mayra raised her hand. "I never understood your persistance on the matter. No matter who you choose, a human or a supernatural, your birth is a part of the power struggle. Or do you plan to go maiden all your life?"

Ash smiled, "that is not a bad idea."

Mayra groaned but did not speak, as they came to the front of the house. The chancellor was sitting in his spot, working. While Mayra climbed up the stairs, Ash took a seat in front of him and presented the file. He flipped it, eyes going through the proposal.

"I remember the dwarfs said something about it but it was only in passing." He pushed everything to the side and got up, "let me take you upstairs."

Ash watched the pile of paperwork that was getting neglected in favor of watching over the old madame. Her heart swelled with thankfulness.

She suggested, "why don't you hire an assisstant? You clearly need one."

"I don't want anyone in my house."

"Give them in office in the next building like everyone else. If you want to look forward to a life with old madame, you might have to think about making space in your office and your life for her."

The chancellor smiled. "you are right. I clearly can't go on working overnight."

The suggestion in his words made her turn away. "not for my ears."

The chancellor laughed softly. "Then can I delegate the organization of representative elections on the student council?"

"Does the university have a students council? I never heard of it."

The chancellor laughed again. "Alright. I will reinstate the title. But you need to give me something to show for that."

Ash smiled sweetly, "You will have to ask the leader of the club."

She wanted to accept but could not. The club was understaffed and Lady Bree was busy with another matter. She could help ask, "with Lady Bree's situation and uncleared charges from last year, what will happen to her after she graduates?"

"She will be given a minor role in the committee behind the knights and its running. She has a bright future ahead of her if we can clear he name."

"why don't you?"

"I cannot directly step into the matters of the student until the matters are serious. And everything was against Lady Bree at the time. Based on evidence alone, she IS guilty but everyone in the school committee and within the Sanguine Knights know Bree. They all agree that it couldn't be her. She wouldn't ruin her life and her career on a common spat with someone she barely knew. So, she was given a grace period of one year to finish her studies and leave the university quickly."