After taking another sleigh ride through Emi, the lot of us boarded my father's train once again and embarked on our journey to the next county at around nine in the evening. A time late enough for all of us to trot off to our berths to retire for the night and for the rest of them to wake up cranky or annoyed when we made our final approach at around one-thirty in the morning.
I, however, had been fortunate enough to have gotten a full night of meditation in. Thus I cheerfully waddled to the first car after making myself presentable and watched the grayed-out landscape race by at a blur while our destination crept forth as the moments passed.
Koka, the land ruled by my grandfather; the High Necro King of Deapou, was a region similar to anywhere else on the vast, oceanic plateau of a continent that our empire sat on. It was a winter-trapped land of boreal forests, filled with expansive forests made of gargantuan blackwood trees, speckled with unforgiving, gelid tundras that stretched for thousands on thousands of kilometers. Surrounded on nearly all sides by towering cliffs of volcanic rock, steep bays, and coves that wandered deep into the coastal bedrock.
Corvus Tower was the only structure found within the vast borders of Koka. And was composed of a relatively small footprint that sat off the northwestern coast of the Odissian Empire, around Corvus Lake. The large body of water constituting the turtle's eye on the map.
As I stared beyond the mass of subtly steaming liquid that seemed to stretch on to infinity below the rails, I saw- I felt that like everywhere else in the Empire, the blackwood forest lining the shores contained the same necrotic energy that prevented any animal life from even approaching the school; albeit in a far smaller radius around the tower itself, yet enough to allow for a large, safe and relatively sterile environment for the many students to learn and grow up in.
While there were a few structures spread around the looming shores ahead, they were dominated by a single, colossal tower; if it could've even been referred to as such.
It was strange and amorphous in nature. Like a mountain of magma had risen from the ground and solidified in an instant; or as if a gargantuan shard of igneous rock had been thrown like a javelin from a giant's hand and been permanently embedded into the ground, creating a fat, wedge-shaped stain on the horizon that stretched upwards for kilometers.
Staring at the massive shard seemed to forcibly bring forth memories from my past life. And before I could help it, I was reliving the experience of seeing an arcology for the first time- The massive structures earthlings began to favor around the time I left the planet for good.
In the wake of such nostalgia, I could only stare in awe at the marvel of magic and engineering laid before my eyes. And my mind couldn't help but fantasize and dream of one day having my own expansive magical tower.
"It's amazing, isn't it?" I heard my Father yawn from behind me.
I couldn't even turn to meet his eyes as I nodded. I could only continue staring while I muttered, "It is." I continued staring for a few moments until the train finally started to slow. At which time, I eagerly turned my inquisitive eyes towards my father to confirm my assumptions. "I imagine it's a self-contained city?"
"Precisely." He nodded, taking the seat next to me. "While it's true that Corvus Tower is most famously known for the boarding school of the same name, that doesn't mean that the tower doesn't boast its own residency as well. In truth." He paused to raise a pointed finger. "Corvus is the center of knowledge in the Empire. Thousands of scholars, historians, alchemists, and the like all flock to Corvus tower. Not only to live but to freely conduct their research for the betterment of humanity as a whole.
"Naturally." He continued before I could comment. "That allows for a wide variety of apprenticeships to become available for the students of the boarding academy."
"Amazing." My head kept shaking in disbelief as I gasped, more to myself than to him. "How does it work, exactly?"
"Well, tuition is free." Father proudly stated. Then let out a more deflated sigh before continuing. "Though, that in itself necessitates a class limit on the school. There are anywhere from four to five hundred students in each grade, ranging from first through tenth-year students between the ages of five and fifteen. Their primary education consists of face-to-face formal lessons that last for five years, where the courses include topics like arithmetic, history, courtly manners, magic, physical fitness, strategy, and musical practice; just to name a few."
'A few.' I chuckled dryly to myself.
"Admissions are handled through an application system." He continued. "All parents or guardians are required to send correspondence detailing their history, way of life, and both the personality and magical capability of their child before an interview is scheduled. If it's deemed that the child is what the Empire needs, they're accepted and will begin classes in the first month of the year."
'What the Empire needs, huh?' I pondered. If only for a second, as my Father abruptly turned to Toril and the others, standing idly by the door.
"Would any of you like to explain the schedule?" He asked.
"Yes, Your Imperial Grace." Toril stepped forth into a bow. "All students have a strict schedule they abide by. They rise with the sun and conduct personal hygiene, eat and study until classes begin at nine in the morning. The number of classes and the subjects covered vary with each grade, but all students are given one-hour blocks for lunch and recess."
"I see." I nodded, turning back to the approaching platform. In short, my grandfather created and oversaw a place where children of any social class or disposition could be sent to receive a formal education, adult supervision, and moral guidance so that they could come of age and put their developed talents into whatever community they chose to call home. Bringing greater benefits to the Odissian Empire with each passing generation. More than that, it was evident that there was heavy screening involved; mostly likely from under the eyes of my great-grandfather himself. Though under what conditions were my biggest guess.
"Come." Father rose from his seat just as the train slid into an alcove set into the wide base of the tower and came to a gradual halt at the platform. "It's late, so we'll get you all situated at once."
I rose from my chair after nodding my agreement, then followed him out onto the platform and over to an open closet-like space shrouded in darkness.
After fiddling with the enchanted console for a bit, he guided us through a sliver of the Shadowfell that repositioned us in the center of a vast corridor. A walkway that was more akin to a residential avenue than an indoor walking space. With cobblestone clad lanes wider than city streets, bordered by magnificent statues and great trees and park benches and other decors that all sat beneath arched ceilings that reached higher than any castle keep or cathedral I'd ever seen.
Just beyond our little darkness-filled telephone booth was a finely carved set of blackwood doors that were embedded into the uncomfortably high slate walls. The visage of an elderly woman with skull-like features on her face was the most prominent focus on the structure. Poised with a grimoire in hand, a cold sneer etched into her visage and the reaper's scythe draped over her shoulders. She exuded every quality of the long-fabled harbinger of death.
"Welcome to the Corvus Boarding Academy." Father dramatically stated as he stood between me and the doors to begin pushing against them. Creaking them apart ever so slowly and granting us entry into the voluminous space beyond.
"The largest singular area within the Tower. The academy occupies half of each floor, starting from the twenty-second level, up to the seventy-sixth." Father explained after we took the first few steps inside and gestured around to an expansive lobby that may as well have been a copy of the outside environment, minus the snow.
The lunar-like light of the star clusters beyond the windows bounced off unabated from the lush fields of flowers, leaves, and grass that stretched for kilometers in every direction, giving a sort of divine radiance to the mind-bogglingly spacious indoor garden.
"This area serves as both an administration hub and as a social space for all students." Father gestured to the catwalk lining the walls on the upper floor while we were guided to another shade elevator; or whatever they happened to be called. "From here, five floors are allocated to each grade. Ranging from levels twenty-four to seventy-three. Our destination is the level just above that." He grinned while fueling one of the many pebble-sized enchantments in the console as if to punctuate his sentence and stepped into the seventy-fourth floor without another word.
Emerging on the other side brought us face to face with a massive, budding flower pot sitting at the center of a wide and long warehouse-sized foyer; filling our noses with a relaxingly eclectic redolence of spices, volatiles, and pheromones that spread from its bell-like flowers the moment we crossed the threshold.
Excepting the vibrant flora, the rest of the space was filled only with benches, chairs, and tables throughout as if it had the dual purpose of being a lounge or waiting area for the doors and chambers advertised to be restrooms, bathhouses, beauty salons, and barbershops lining the walls to our sides. Continuing through open arches interspaced on the far wall brought us into an even more spacious area akin to the administration hub dozens of floors below, only this space seemed to have been evenly split into three distinct parts.
Just beyond the partition was an indoor garden that appeared more like a self-contained community rather than the floor of a massive building. Obsidian plates lined the perimeter of the voluminous park space before us like streets made of polished stone, reflecting the amber orbs that radiated from the lamp posts spaced evenly alongside the road and illuminating the intricately carved blackwood joists supporting the matching terrace above.
In essence, it was an indoor summer park scaled up to the size of a city block. Complete with scattered pockets of tall, slender trees that provided shade to the many picnic tables, walking paths, and even ponds that made up the first third of the space.
Overlooking the largest body of koi-filled water was an open formal dining area with room for what appeared to be twenty guests. Evidently catered to by the twin entrances protruding across the 'street' beyond each head of the table and entertained by a storefront-sized obsidian fireplace embedded into the partition on the far side that shielded my eyes from whatever lies beyond.
"You three are free to choose any guest room you fancy and get some sleep." Father gestured to the many gate-like entrances lining the streets and terrace above. "And you, come with me."
He pulled on my shoulder as he stepped back into the shade elevator and a moment later, I found myself standing before a great set of doors that matched the very entrance to the academy. Upon approaching, my father knocked twice before stepping into his shadow and disappearing from my line of sight. Prompting me to wordlessly step in after him.
Stepping back into reality, I saw a space more voluminous than each of the prior annexes combined. An open space composed of wide walkways or paths set between building-sized modulated spaces of differing floor tiles, wallpapers, and furnishings that easily distinguished each of the zones apart from the next.
In the back of my mind, I felt my eyes nearly popping from their sockets as they scanned the veritable hoard of tools and equipment found in my grandfather's office. Unfinished paintings and sculptures sat next to workbenches littered with metal shaving or sawdust. Medical equipment was organized across from what appeared to be tables and cases filled with chemistry equipment. While shelves of books, tomes, and scrolls sat dangerously close to a kitchen setup.
It seemed that there was no art or profession that my grandfather hadn't taken interest in over the course of his long life.
Which surely meant that he had an insurmountable wealth of information to pass on to me.
As such, I couldn't help but grin in excitement as my father and I approached the massive desk in the corner of the room to the right of the entrance.
"We're here, as promised." My father sighed as heavily as he could the moment his rear touched one of the many seats facing my grandfather at his desk. After another heavy sigh, he slouched further down and allowed his eyes to slowly close as he muttered into the room. "I leave Amun in your care, Granddad. I'll be heading back to Deap Ridge in the morning. Amun." He craned his neck to peer at me from the corner of his eye. "You'll be staying here until your great-grandfather says otherwise. You and each of your vassals have been scheduled to undergo a few courses here at the Tower. Learn as much as you can while you're here."
"Yes, Sir." I quickly bowed. Then shot my eyes back up to my forefathers' eyes just as quickly as they fell. "If I may ask." I paused. "How long will I be here, exactly?"
"You're that tired of me already?" Grandpa Lich laughed from the same hands-on head, feet on desk position he was in when we entered.
"Knowing will help me plan how I'll pick my new vassals." I amiably explained, ignoring my grandfather.
My father subtly turned to me and seemed to ponder for a moment before gesturing towards me with his hand. "Care to elaborate?"
"I need vassals with particular skillsets," I explained with a devious grin. "Because of that, they'll need to be tested. Extensively."
"Interesting." Father nodded, then turned his raised brows towards Grandpa Lich.
"You're to stay until you're fourteen or so." He grunted with a dismissive wave.
'Four years, huh? That's plenty of time.' I nodded to myself, and then to them. "Very well."
"If all is settled, you can take your leave." Grandpa sighed with strong hints of impatience lingering in his breath. "Get some rest. Both of you. There's a long day ahead of you, Amun."
I bowed without another word and retreated to the elevator while my father remained in his seat.
I had departed with the intention to claim my room and spend a bit of time adjusting the training schedule for my vassals and I. However, my mind had completely changed by the time I arrived in the expansive foyer.
With a new course of action now decided, I stopped just beside the vibrant flower to fill my body with shadow mana and assume the Wraith Form. And within only a second, my body had morphed into an ethereal mass of dark mist that floated freely in the ambient darkness lingering in the sleeping tower.
And without delay, I slipped between the floors like a ghost and descended through the floors to explore.
As explained by my father, the 73rd floor and the four following levels below it were all a part of an individual module that was reserved for the tenth-year students; and such five-floor modules repeated in the same fashion until the 24th floor. While I chose not to go through any walls for the sake of privacy, I was able to ascertain that the lowest floor in each module contained the residential quarters, lounges, and offices for the teaching staff associated with that grade of students. The second floor of each module held expansive cafeterias, as well gymnasiums, pools, and other recreational facilities while the third floor contained the dorms, study rooms, and common areas. Classrooms and labs were found on the fourth level and the last floor contained the same peaceful outdoor space I'd first set my Wraith-like eyes on after setting out to explore.
Though after, I could only let out an ethereal sigh that lingered alongside me as I drifted near the ceiling of the main lobby. Inadvertently passing into the auditoriums or dojos or theaters surrounding the upper floor as I wallowed in mounting depression.
The most aggravating fact of my new life; I realized, was that I was both exhaustively pleased and frustratingly bored with it.
There was so much to learn- so many data points to become fixated on. On top of that, I was proud of the prosperity of our Empire. But that brought with it, a peace that I quite frankly found boring.
Growing up in the estate was one thing, but traveling and finding the same across the mainlands and every settlement throughout was another issue entirely.
I could only hope that the magic academy would be far more interesting.
Or that this place would turn out to be worthwhile. Knowing my grandfather, however, I felt as if that was but wishful thinking.
Having already meditated for the night, the only thing I could do was migrate to my favorite place and attempt to lose myself for the next five or so hours. And so, I drifted into the main library at the far end of the base floor, resumed my physical form once inside, and began wandering the place to get a lay of the land before I got to work.
I managed to move through only one or two isles before being spotted by a student. A boy who appeared around my age, whose eyes; focused on my belt, grew wider and wider with the passing of each awkward moment until he hurriedly folded himself into a bow. Nearly knocking his head against the shelving in the process.