They turned away from the tree and left for Hapsu, their hearts filled with a mix of grief and shock. The walk was slow, they were all exhausted from the run and the death of Tumuo their guide. They walked in silence most of the way to Hapsu, Mercer in the lead focusing on the road ahead, Lera behind her head down tears slowly dripping down her face, and Silachlume in the rear making sure they all stayed together.
...
The city was massive, and over the walls they could see a single towering building that looked like a palace. The front gate was open but had four guards watching it to prevent intruders.
"Halt, please state your business here." The biggest of the guards stepped forward with his palm out.
Silachlume stepped forward to answer, "We are coming from the eastern outpost to go to the university. Our guide was killed by dire wolves on the way." He glared at the guards letting them know he blamed them.
The guard took off his helmet so he could get a better look at them. "Our condolences, we've been hunting them down as we find them... Eastern outpost... Are you coming from Ligeria?"
"We snuck through there yes. They are a most unpleasant folk."
"Do you have a certification from the border for university access?"
Silachlume looked over at Mercer who reached into his pocket and pulled out the paper the border guard had given him and handed it to the guard. As the guard looked at the paper his mouth dropped and the helmet clanged onto the stone road.
"Jorlan take over, I am bringing them to the Master Wizard immediately!" The guard handed the paper back and turned beckoning them to follow. "We will be heading straight to the University, the Master Wizard will want to talk to you personally."
They walked through the city, seeing it's towering buildings that seemed almost impossible. The city had an air of wealth and opulence that the siblings had never experienced.
"Reminds me of when my home was well populated. The whole city was grand and beautiful, crowds of people moved through the streets. Buildings made from a marble found deep underground." Silachlume openly admired every building they passed.
"It is grand isn't it. The university trains architects who plan it, and provides a major source of income to fund the buildings." The guard continued to give history as they walked, acting almost like a tour guide.
...
Standing at the base of the University was like staring at an opulent palace. It towered over everything in the city, and spanned across a large portion of the city. It was made of multiple buildings surrounding a massive courtyard, the courtyard was a park designed to let students relax between class, and to study nature in some of their classes. A few of the building were also dedicated practice areas where a student could go without fear of damaging anything. At the far back near the port was a large glass dome. It was designed as a place for the biology classes to go and study live animals and plants without fear of the dire wolves.
The main building itself was gorgeous, it towered about them, stain glass windows arching high up its sides. The first floor was a large chamber, the ceiling arching high above, pillars coming down keeping it steady. To the left was the stairs to the second floor, much smaller but still grand. On the top floor, which was the fifth, the Master Wizard held both his house and his office. He lived in the building to prevent the need to walk across town to reach the university.
...
The guard knocked on the door.
A man's voice came from inside, "Please come in."
The guard opened the door and led the three of them inside. The room was relatively messy, stacks of books were scattered around the desk and the walls. A few animals were also kept in cages around the room. The man behind the desk was wearing a robe that went down to her feet, it sparkled slightly and had runic cores embroidered into it around the hem.
"Ah Berdo, have you brought some more students for us?" The man looked at them for a while before continuing, "I am Miran, the Headmaster at this university. May I ask your names?"
"I am..." Silachlume stepped up to talk but Mercer stopped him.
"This is my sister Lera, and I am Mercer. My teacher Tumuolathlamo was killed by a pack of dire wolves on our path from the eastern outpost."
"Tumuo... The Tumuolathlamo?! You were his student, I am not too surprised he was still alive, but to be still able to teach a student. Then may I assume this man was his MI, I can tell from the spell core that he is very old, it would have been around the time Tumuo was young?"
"No, Silachlume was an Alathian MI I found and rescued from an old ruins." Mercer glanced at Silachlume who released his disguise, getting a bit taller and his ears gaining their points.
"Alathian! Amazing, well then, I guess you are already off at a head start from most. May I see your card?"
Mercer handed over the paper.
"I... oh, I see... You will be directly trained by me. I will teach you all I know."
"What about my sister?"
Miran looked at Lera and addressed her, "What would you like to learn here, we cannot teach you the Eldar magic though as you do not have the bloodline."
"I would like to learn sword play... and I was blessed by the goddesses with a stone of life." Lera looked Miran in the eyes, trying to be firm.
"Berdo, who is your best swordsman?"
"That would be Jorlan sir."
"Have Jorlan train her. Lera I will have one of the professors teach you how to use your gift in the afternoons after your training with Jorlan." He looked back to Mercer, "You will be training under me every day, please see me in the morning by nine."
Miran reached over and tapped on a small runic core at the corner of his deck, shortly after a young lady entered the room.
"Yes headmaster?" She was wearing a pretty pink dress, probably the brightest thing on campus.
"Hello Kira, can you show our new students to their room? They will be staying in the corner room of the tower as my guests."
"Of course. This way please." She lead them out of the headmaster's office and down a floor to a room on the fourth floor. It had 2 beds and a separator for privacy.
"If you need anything just press on the circle." She pointed to a runic core on the wall.