^^ Dean Adrian Fong, Hero (Sword Saint) ^^

— Alice —

A bit more work on the contract, tightening a few loose ends, and the work was signed and witnessed by a few members of my Guild. It was about noon, now, and I raised an eyebrow when my siblings busted in, panting with effort.

"Did you just run up the infinite stairs?" I asked dryly, talking about the set of stairs that were designed to move as you walked, effectively trapping you for as long as I'd like.

"We've been looking all over for you! We heard you had guests from the academy, but you were giving them a hard time!!!" Lena frowned at me, and leaned against my desk, huffing for breath.

"Greetings, Lena Taurus." Lady Jade chuckled at her, having long-since recovered from being terrified of the dragon, and was now scritching her jaw, to Zara's imminent pleasure.

"Oh!... hello, Teacher? Is everything alright?" She asked, confused, while Buri approached and sat down calmly.

Gillian trotted in after him, and sniffed the Sorcerer, while Lena's Dragon (named Inamoratas, because she was a drama queen,) simply began eating some of the lab equipment, until Zara hissed at her.

"Quite, yes, I think we've just finished up, actually, and are ready to head to the Academy! Only an hour or so to spare, but that's alright, you can give your sister a tour after orientation." Lady Jade nodded calmly, and looked at Victor. "Off we all go?"

"To note, I've not packed anything? And I'm not sure how long it'll be till I return?" I asked.

"It will be about four days before you have an opportunity to return home, until you have a teleportation Sigil and can return whenever you wish. Your laboratory will have a space for one, but you'll need to draw it yourself. I'll be your Mentor, and it is one of my specialities, so don't worry about it for now. As for your packing, your parents have already sent ahead your clothes and belongings from your home; grab what you need from your laboratory, now." Victor nodded.

I placed my research notes, contract templates, and personal journal into a satchel, carefully organized, and then my magical journal, where I recorded all my magical spells, -though not instructions on how to use them, and all of it written in Latin, which I'd been sure was not the language of magic, here, so I'd need to translate it to Greek,- and following it up with my sword. I smiled as it settled, before placing my nonofficial Grimoire into a holster on my hip, for easy access.

"Alright, off we go. Oh!" I snapped my fingers, and the vampires in the deep cells were exposed to the sunlight crystals I'd placed in their cells and implanted behind their hearts, instantly frying and turning to dust. "There, now I'm done." I nodded.

"What was the snap for? I recognized an activation beacon..." Victor narrowed his eyes curiously.

"I was destroying the Udyr that I had been experimenting on; I exposed them to sunlight, turning them to dust. Now off we go!" I smiled, and stepped next to him, while the dragons and my siblings also stepped closer. "Also, Lena, put that vial back, it's full of Ent Semen." I added blandly, and she yelped, replacing it where she'd stolen it from and wiping her hand on Buri's cloak, so he punched her shoulder in retaliation.

Lady Jade laughed heartily, and shook her head as the dragons returned to our shoulders. "This will be a very interesting year..."

The spell lit up on the ground, and we all situated ourselves within it, and then it flashed once, impossibly bright, but I already had a pair of sunglasses on, staring directly into it to see more of its inner workings.

The flash, as I suspected, was to hide the actual portal, and was therefore a useless accessory for anything except subterfuge. The actual portal was a full eleven-dimension tunnel between two locations, and then a gravitational affect kept us from being ripped in half by the tidal forces of such a portal, which closely resembled the tidal forces of a very small Black Hole.

I thanked my lucky stars for those Theoretical Physics electives when I was getting my Masters in Business and Economics, or else I'd be totally lost on the theoretical portion of this. Practically still lost, of course, because I'd no clue how to put it into use, but the theory behind it was very clear to me.

We dropped through the portal, -or rather, it rose up over us and closed, making it seem like we'd dropped through it, another useless step to hide its true nature,- and were now in a large laboratory, though it was currently bare of any distinguishing features, looking more like a Parlor than a Lab, currently.

"And here we are, in your new Laboratory... it's a bit lacking, for now, as it was intended for a full class, not an individual, but... what do you think? Be honest, I won't be offended." Victor asked.

"I'll be honest, I'd prefer my lab, with some sort of permanent circle to and from, which would qualify for two different portions of our agreement, as a way home whenever I want and access to a lab I can work in. But until that can be arranged or I can figure out how to replicate that Eleven-Dimensional Tunnel, it'll have to do. It can also act as a store of sorts; once my lab is back at full working capacity, you can have people come here for commissions or purchases, satisfying a third of your promises all at once." I answered honestly, because he'd asked.

He nodded slowly. "That would be equitable for all involved, yes... and we'll talk about how much you understand about Spatial Magic later, though I'm intrigued. Your room is upstairs, and your siblings' room is across the Hall, in the Third Year Side."

I blinked slowly. "They been here for four years, though? Please tell me my siblings aren't idiots who failed a year of classes?"

"Hey!"-"Unfair!" They frowned in sync.

He chuckled. "No, the 'Years' represent magical and physical ability. To advance, regardless of age or classes completed and passed, you must prove your skills have reached a specific Plateau, so to speak." He explained.

"So they've both failed the final exam for third year?" I raised an eyebrow.

"In a way... Yes. Only the top 50 of every class go to the next Year, but considering there are close to 500 first Years and only 200 in each class higher than that, it is a long ladder to climb. The graduation is rare, but those who do are usually close to 24, spending two years in every Year except first and second, where sometimes they stay for as many as six, collectively. Those who can't make it to the Second Year in five tries are expelled, but after Third Year most go on to other things, their abilities risen to Expert Level." He nodded.

"Ahh, I see, competition for spots... and the Years gain access to different materials and classes and privileges?" I asked, walking over to a large silver plate on the ground, which I didn't recognize.

"Yes, it is as you describe, though as per your contract you will be receiving several of those resources and benefits... and that is a Warming Plate, usually used in place of a fire under a cauldron or crucible to smelt Ore... your dragon may enjoy sleeping upon it, on a low setting. We don't allow the use of Fire in the Alchemy Labs without strict supervision, for obvious reasons." He explained again.

"Of course. So Orientation is today? What does that entail? A meeting with my teachers and selecting classes, no doubt?" I asked, turning a large dial next to the plate, and setting Zara on it. Around the 3 mark, she shifted uncomfortably, so I turned it down to 1, and placed a hand on the white-hot Metal, before they could stop me.

They stared in confusion as my skin steamed, but didn't burn, and I groaned in satisfaction. "That... will be very comfy to sleep on, you're right. Now let's get busy, yes? Things to do, not much time to do them!" I grinned and picked up the reluctant dragon, wrapping her warm body around me like a scarf-jacket, and opened the door.

The hall was about twenty feet wide, and bustling with people of a variety of races and ages, from twelve up to about twenty, it seemed. The walls were a mottled marble, a mixture of white and grey that made them very easy to look at. The door across from us was open, and looking through it I could see apartments, and four very long hallways of them, coming to meet with each other in the room in front of the door, a lounge of sorts.

"The Third Year Dorms, I assume?" I asked Lady Jade, who'd stepped up next to me, causing a bit of attention to gather on us, and then even more when the dragon on my back perked up and preened at the attention.

She nodded calmly, and waved at the people staring. "Off with you, all of you, none of your staring!"

They all walked away and continued their earlier business, a large amount going in and out of the second year dorms. "And the other Years? Where do they sleep?" I asked, curious.

"The majority sleep in the dorms a few floors below us, as we're currently on the top floor. This hall only has the Third Year Dorms and the Alchemy Labs and Classrooms. Less to burn down if something goes wrong, you see." She explained casually.

"Third Years are on the Top Floor? What about the classes above that?" I hummed.

"At that point they receive a personal lab, like yours. That's Tower Point, up there." She pointed at a staircase to our left at the end of the long hall.

"So this isn't the top floor." I sighed, rubbing my head.

"Tower Point is an entirely separate entity... it is only accessible via a bridge that arches out from the roof, hence the stairs." Victor interjected casually. "Regardless, we've things to do, so let's get you started... Lady Taurus, Lord Taurus, I believe you can find your own way and choose your Classes?"

They bowed, to my surprise, and gave me a quick hug each. "See you, sis, don't burn the place down!" Lena grinned.

"Mm. Come see me if you've got any questions, I can tutor you if you need help with your swordplay." Buri nodded and patted my head.

I punched his kidney, lightning quick, and smirked as he groaned. "Hmph! Come see me if you want to learn how to fight without a sword! Or if you need any potions or magical items, you're always welcome." I nodded and patted his head patronizingly, as payback, then closed the door behind me and locked it with the key that Victor gave me.

People were openly stopping and staring at us now; seeing Victor must've been the last straw. He noticed immediately, and a silent glare was all that was necessary to nearly clear the hall for a good sixty feet around us.

We walked down the stairs, after Buri and Lena had rushed ahead, and entered a great hall, about five hundred feet wide in a square. The walls were lined with hundreds of people, almost thousands, I'd say, some clearly employees and faculty, -answering questions and doing paperwork behind desks or simply walking around and talking to people,- and the rest either students or their parents.

"I guess Noble Parents and Merchants usually present their children here as an excuse... it's a good networking event, I applaud your vision." I nodded, as we descended the stairs and people stopped talking. My voice was clearly audible through the pin-drop silence.

"Indeed, it is a good way to foster proper relations with our neighboring countries." He nodded.

"I thought you weren't affiliated?" I asked, now confused.

"We aren't. What my Husband has failed to reveal is that we are considered a Sovereignty, with our own claimed land, (such as the Forest, which we hold a provincial and tenuous claim of,) and autonomy, as together or apart we both possess the same ability as a full nation's Armies!" A lithe man of Asian descent and dark grey skin approached, his lazily tied multicolored kimono and long katana swaying gently with the movement. He continued speaking casually, and kissed Victor upon the cheek before his brilliantly golden eyes found mine. "Of course, we do need to remind them every so often."

Victor smiled and chuckled a little. "And the Hero, as always, forgets to introduce himself, leaving it to me..."

"You do it better." The Asian man smirked, looking away from me.

Lady Jade chuckled and clapped the Asian man on the shoulder, halting their flirting. "We found another Hero to train!!! Her name is Duchess Taurus, little sister to Buri Taurus, and she is a Heroic Dragoon! See her dragon!!!" She cried out excitedly, and picked me and Zara both up, shoving us in the man's face.

He blinked slowly, and hummed. "Heroic Dragoon... never heard of that Class..."

"Sub Class... cause of the Dragon." I explained breathlessly, as she was squeezing my ribs tightly.

He nodded. "Jade, put her down, you're crushing the poor thing." She grinned and set me down immediately, petting Zara's scales. "Hmm... Alright, well, my other Apprentice is pretty much grown, as a Fifth Year now, in his last year, so a new Apprentice won't be an issue, if she wants. Pleasure to meet you, Lady Taurus. I am Adrian Fong, Dean of this academy, and Co-Founder, as well as a Sword Saint, which is an advanced Class of Hero focusing on Swordplay... you have a Rapier, Hmm? Any good with it?" He asked, getting right to business.

"In form? Yes. Against an actual opponent? I prefer my fists or magic or both, though Magic is usually more Elegant, and therefore preferable. Most humble Greetings, Sir Fong." I bowed properly.

"Mm. Good. Magic is good, and your dragon can use it to, if I'm remembering right?" He asked, holding a finger out to Zara.

She sniffed him and then bit his finger, gnawing on it happily like she had begun to do to my hair when she was bored. "Tasty... Magic." She nodded, releasing him.

He smiled and patted her horns. "Yes, I imagine so. Well, either way, we'll work on it together. Leave a spot in your schedule open for Training, around dawn every morning, Alright?"

"Will that be swapping between your training and his? I ask because he offered to teach me spatial magic in the mornings." I nodded to Victor, who smiled a bit.

"That should do nicely, yes. I imagine our lessons will be quite meditative for you, so they'll fit in perfectly to his lesson plan." He answered, and then looked around at the people staring at us all. "I suppose I'll have to do this at some point... Ahem!-"

"If you're going to introduce me, don't. My name has already been shared with the room, as well as my class. Anything else is none of their business." I raised an eyebrow at him.

"I'm aware, but a formal introduction is tradition. Ladies and Gentlemen, this young woman is Duchess Alice Taurus of Grand Pillar, a Hero and a Dragoon, a Dragon Knight. Her Siblings are also students here, and most of you are very familiar with the Taurus Twins, the Paladin and War-Cleric who made their way through the First and Second Year Exams in just four years, but were disqualified Last Year for unduly harming their opponents! We have high expectations to the youngest Lady Taurus, as well, and wish her all the best luck with her future here!" He introduced me and connected me to my siblings, who had apparently made some sort of a reputation here.

"Thank you for the introduction, Sir Victor." I nodded my head into a bow, and continued walking forward into the hall with them.

Jade perked up when she saw a pair of people who looked like a much younger version of her as well as someone who easily could've been her less-muscled twin, and happily grabbed the slightly smaller woman into a bone-crushing hug. "Victor! My sister is being bringing her daughter to me for the trainings!!! Is it not a glorious day?!?" She laughed heartily, and set the woman down, capturing the girl into a similar hug.

When she was released, I chuckled and held a hand out to the girl, who looked to be about my age. "Hello. I am Alice Taurus. Are you starting here today?" I asked kindly. She looked at my hand, and then me, and gripped my forearm, squeezing tightly. On a lesser person, it would've broken bones. Instead, I squeezed back, twice as hard, and grinned at her pained wince. "Nice to meet you." I nodded, releasing her.

"Smells like... Crystal. Carbon." Zara murmured, sniffing the girl from over my shoulder, and then laid back down, scanning everyone in attendance curiously.

"Wow! I've never seen a dragon spirit so lifelike!!!" The girl grinned, and then paused when Zara reached forward with a claw and slowly poked her nose, making a drop of blood appear.

She licked the claw slowly, and then seemed to smirk smugly. "Zara is not... a Spirit." She stated firmly.

"Oh!" The girl gulped, and Jade laughed, slapping her shoulder.

"That's what you get, eh? Now Cala, say hello to the Hero, your aunty's Mentor!" She nodded at Adrian, who bowed his head to her easily.

"Mm. Hello, young one. I hope you do well, here... and Alice is a good friend to make, connections-wise. She's a Merchant-Queen, you know, with her own Guild that spans the entirety of the Great Forest of Blue River!" He nodded serenely, and smirked when I glared at him, as several people set their sights on me even more than the first introduction had.