"Vagua." Olga began without warning. Prompting me and everyone else but Zakira to settle on the edge of our seats to absorb everything she had to say.
"The realm of Fiends." She explained. "That term is commonly used to explain Demons, Devils, and Vampires alike. But only the former comes from the Vaguan Tree of Life. What's called a Demon by the commonality are the true Fiends. Among them are imps, oni, yugoloths, and other such creatures. But the most widespread type of them are known to us as Tieflings.
"Not widespread enough to have a strong presence in any community." She added. "But enough for them to not face discrimination within our societies. They are humanoid in appearance. With horns and tails and vibrantly colored skin that matches their personalities like fine silk. In this year's class of students, there are two. A half-tiefling named Zarzok, and Phelaia.
"Those two are joined by another from Vagua." She added. "A being with ties to the elemental plane of fire- a Genasi, named Ash. But such beings are rare and not a type of Fiend.
'A Genasi, huh?' I nodded in remembrance of the flaming head I've seen wandering through the halls.
"Appearances aside. Fiends are infamous for their innate abilities." Olga explained. Bringing my attention back to her. "Wherein they will often have an affinity to a certain emotion or mental state and use mana to feed off it. Physically strengthening themselves rather than increasing their magical ability. Naturally, a half-fiend could use this ability to recharge their mana or empower their spells as well. Making them exceptionally powerful.
"Moving on, we have Devils and Vampires. Both have lived there since time immemorial, but they are not part of the Vaguan Tree of Life. They are not Fiends." She stated. There are many theories regarding the origins of the twelve vampire progenitors. Some believe they were born from an undiscovered Tree of Life on some far corner of the Plane. Others think the progenitors came from a single, powerful being. Making them sorcerers, as we understand them. But no one knows for sure. Perhaps excepting the current leaders of the clans.
"They are a type of undead unlike any other. They appear as unaging humans with inhuman strength and speed. And though they rely on blood to sustain themselves, they harbor no ill-will towards mortals as most undead do. Many of them can be found in high society in fact. Putting their immense knowledge and pools of wealth to use for the good of the city in which they reside. More so, they are considered an entire species of undead. Capable of creating lesser versions of themselves that can range from Ghouls to Wendigo. Though these creatures are rarely as benevolent as their masters.
"As you have suspected, their power is derived from blood," Olga said. "All Vampires can empower themselves with rich blood. But the Pure Vampires can use blood in their magic. Wherein a Lesser Vampire simply retains the physical strength, speed, and undying nature of their purer counterparts.
"The last and most feared entity to be found in Vagua are Devils." She explained with a sudden aura of trained indifference. I, however, was veritably interested in hearing what she had to say about us.
I learned almost everything there was to know about Devils during my time at Corvus Academy. How they lived, how they were created, how their hierarchy was structured. All of the book stuff, minus the language or anything practical. A mountain more than what the Academy was aware of, I was sure.
"At their core, Devils appear as humans with skin that can range from pale white to deep brown," Olga said with her same indifference. "Only, that's where the similarities cease. For one, they appear as if they're dressed in ostentatious clothing made from shadows. Suits, dresses, and robes that seem as if they belong to royalty. Like demons, they have pupils reminiscent of a reptile or dragon. Only, theirs are ghostly white while the rest remains black. Like demons, they sometimes have long, curved horns with sharp claws and long tails. And sometimes even wings.
"But never call a Devil a Demon or vise-versa." She waved a grim finger. "Any of them will have your head for calling them the opposite."
Following a long pause, she leaned back to erect herself to full height. Where she resumed her professional indifference while pacing across the room. "Everything about them is different, you see. Devils have the strictest hierarchy among any other creature. And they love to talk. They talk and talk and talk with mortals to tempt them into making Deals. Giving the Devil ownership of their soul. Something you should never do.
"If you ever find yourselves confused. Remember two things." She raised her fingers. "One, Devils obsess over souls while Demons have no care for them. Two, Devils come from the Underworld while Demons come from the Hells."
"Isn't that the same thing?" Samson asked.
"No." Zakira and I said at the same time.
"Would one of you like to explain?"
"I would." I raised my hand.
Not just for the sake of points or to make them understand the difference. But to correct Olga's misconception about Deals. They were one of the few things regarding Devils that I could talk freely about. And though I knew about them, I've never once considered that I'd be able to make them myself.
But that's for another time.
"Imagine this is the Mortal Plane." I held a piece of paper parallel to my desk and gestured to the upper surface. "We live up here, on the Material Plane." I palmed the bottom and flipped it over to show the bottom to everyone. "This is the Underworld. This is where Devils are born. It's where they live. And it's where unsaved or cursed souls go when they die.
"Also." I set the paper down to turn my eyes onto Olga. "Devils don't tempt people into making deals. They'll tell you the terms and conditions upfront and ensure you're aware of the consequences if you or they breach the contract."
"And the Hells are, sort of, in between the two." Zakira vaguely added that and nothing more.
"Ah. Yes, thank you both. Ten points to each of you." Olga bowed politely while the rest of the class gave us incredulous or even fearful gazes.
"Sadly." She sighed. "That is all we know of the creatures of Vagua. But we do no more of its geography." She rebounded with a warm smile as if to give us a little emotional roller coaster. Yet the class seemed to be hung up on what was just said.
Not that anyone could've blamed them.
"Though humanities occupation of Vagua was short and insignificant." She continued. "Through varying means, we've managed to paint a picture of life within the Vaguan Realm. We've learned that essentially all of the surface is uninhabited by the sentient races. Save one place. The City of Brass. By all accounts, it is the largest city on the Mortal Plane. Its border stretches far beyond ten thousand kilometers. But what's truly unique about it, is its peace. Every type of fiend imaginable lives in relative harmony with the devils and vampires who share the land. It is a veritable utopia. One made possible by what lies beneath.
"VIXI." She stated. Much to everyone but Zakira's confusion. "Every human to return to Maru in the old days used this mysterious word to describe the 17 Layers of Hell. You can liken the Hells to a tower of immense proportions. One that has been embedded into the Mortal Plane's crust to sit between the Material Plane and the Underworld as Zakira explained.
"Each layer is like an isolated world." She dreamily explained. "The first is below the City of Brass and is considered its warzone and battlegrounds. It's a no man's land. A lawless world plagued by eternal conflict. It's the first Layer of Hell that holds the portal leading to Nonus. And because of that, the conflicts seen there are among the worst one could ever witness.
"The contrast between the City of Brass and The first Layer is not insignificant. But what lies below is far more interesting." She winked. "The following seven Layers of Hell belongs to one or more of the reigning Vampire Clans. And similarly, the Demon Families rule the tenth through sixteenth Layers. Like the first Layer, the ninth Layer serves as the battlegrounds between the Clans and Families. And the 17th later is the junction point between this world in the next."
'Go ahead and say it.' I smirked at her. 'It's where the Gate to the Underworld is.'
Not my gate, but the Mortal Planes. Grandpa Lich taught me that much. Though even he couldn't reach it.
"What makes the Hells deserving of the name is one simple fact." Olga paused to take up the center of the room and give each of us a hard stare. "Every Later of the Hells, the City of Brass, and much of Vagua's surface is encased in negstone. Magic is of no use there. Only might."
***
"Our lesson on Betrarth and the White Worlds will be less extensive than our earlier lecture." Olga beamed upon our return to the room. "We'll begin with the White Worlds. The least-explored place in all the Realms. The land of the Giants. An introverted species that has rarely been found to interact with the denizens of Paradise. Contrary to the name, giants range in size from two or three meters to the Frost Giants, who can tower over the tallest cathedrals built by human hands.
"From what we understand. They want little to do with the other races and have rarely if ever been seen in Paradise or the Inner Reaches. And being so far from the sun, few mystics were willing to brave the endless, frozen night.
"The White Worlds are home to many more creatures than just giants though." She winked again. "Every creature imaginable can be found there. Attributed by magic or natural evolution to survive in such a hostile environment. Variations of orcs and goblins have been found there. Leading some to suspect human or even elven variants exist there as well.
"Four worlds exist within the realm. The first two, are Cyamis and Taton. Together, they comprise the White Wall's summit and the land extending beyond. It's a barren surface. A world that's almost devoid of air. Yet, life thrives. Niflheim exists beyond that. The true home of the Giants. A hardly explored world plagued by frozen mountain ranges and ice volcanoes that fills the atmosphere with breathable air and perpetual lightning storms.
"The last realm is world's end." She solemnly declared for some unknown reason. "It is a place written about in every theology or pantheon in existence. But one that no mortal soul has dared venture to. For there is nothing to find there but the abyss."
'Yeah.' I smiled inside. 'Which is precisely why I want to go.'
"Betrarth is the second-less explored realm to date," Olga said. Once again pulling my drifting thoughts from beneath me. "The primary reason is due to its sheer size. But the secondary reason is that the Polaris Empires have yet to discover the Nonus-Betrarth portal. And the Maru-Betrarth portal is trapped behind a barrier.
"Betrarth's tree of life is considered the lowest on the totem pole of Realms. But one similar in both environment and mana density to Nonus," she said. "Its surface was reported to expansive, to say the least. It contains vast plains and forests that tower to the clouds. Deserts and badlands that outclass continents. Volcanic mountains and tundras that rival those found in the Inner Reaches and beyond the White Walls. The ancient pioneers reported every landscape imaginable on the continent to be plagued by gigantism. The plants, the animals, and even the insects are all colossal.
"Yet, the ones to rule this unclaimed land are the High-Orcs." She declared. "Below them were Orcs and lastly Goblins. But a surpassingly extensive record of lesser beings were reported to be there as well.
"In general, orcs are well over two meters tall and are several times stronger and more resilient than humans. Most of them live in warbands or nomadic tribes that thrive in both hunting and warfare. They have an innate attunement with nature. Some believe that the Tree of Life used plants or a fungus as a template to birth the orcs. And it's because of this that they can bend surrounding woods to their whims. The orcs that are the most adept at this craft are known as Shamans. And they're considerably powerful.
"It's due to this that orcs are considered the natural Druids." She explained. "However, they're simultaneously considered the natural Barbarians of the world. Their exceptional sense of smell makes them excellent hunters and warriors. And they play both roles exceptionally well.
Able to manipulate grasses, roots, fungi, or even entire trees, like the Headmaster. A half-high orc, half-tiefling. High-orcs are not only stronger and more resilient than orcs, but they are extensively more civilized than standard orcs. While most retain their warmongering tendencies, some were found to not only engage in trade with humans but, occasionally, in diplomacy as well.
"Hobgoblins and Goblins, on the other hand, share no such differences," she said. "One is simply a larger, stronger version of the other. They can manipulate the bones of the deceased to form blades, spikes, or serrated weapons as they need them. But are rarely a threat when encountered on their own. Like ants, the goblin's power comes from numbers. In which cases they can be extremely deadly.
"But they are not evil creatures." She added. "Goblins are the scavenging kings of Betrarth. Many creatures are above them and constantly remind them of their place. In turn, they do the same to who or whatever they believe to be below them. This includes both animal and child alike. And while harmless alone, goblins are infamous for overwhelming their opponents with sheer numbers. So you would be wise to never underestimate them.
"In addition to them are the many plant, and elemental-based creatures found within the realm. Sentient trees, molds, and spores. Natural golems. Pools of living water, and gelatinous cubes. The most dangerous of them all is known as a Slime." Olga declared. Almost forcing me to snicker out loud.
"Slimes are unable to be crushed, stabbed, or cut." She explained. Much to my embarrassment. "If an attempt to do so is made, they'll either splatter and reform, be severed and reform or your weapon will pass right through them.
"Slimes come into life with a blue tint and have the consistency of viscous water with acidic properties. If one latches onto your face, it will drown you before you dissolve. But what's most formidable of all, is its ability to change affinities. If you try to use fire to kill a slime attached to your face and fail to succeed. It'll become a flame slime. And your head will feel as if it's encased in lava. The same is true for lightning, poison, or any other elemental affinity. Thus the only way to defeat one is to use a magical weapon or spell to destroy it in one fell swoop."
'Damn… that's pretty fucking terrifying.' I wryly laughed. 'But that also posed a question. Could I make a death slime?'
"This concludes our lecture for the day," Olga announced to the pleasure of everyone. "Our introductory lessons will conclude with a discussion on the Nonusian Tree of Life before we begin the focus of this quarter. Botany and Horticulture. And let me be the first to remind you of your first venture through the wilds tomorrow. But keep in mind that it's a familiarization exercise and nothing more.
"Our last order of business before dismissal is the establishment of the party and team leaders." She gingerly clapped, looking around the room. "How would you like to decide?"
Slate's hand shot up at once. "I suggest we take a vote."
Surprisingly, the echoes of his idea went around the room and came back to Olga in seconds with an affirmative answer. So we wrote down our votes and placed them in a bucket before heading out into the halls with a free schedule.