Bog Standard Isekai

Book 6 - Chapter 21

“...and that’s how we complete the adjustment to the Lightmind. Go ahead and try it now,” said Badger.

Brin activated his Lightmind and the spell for boiling water with sound magic had some of the description text changed. The actual changes weren’t the point; he’d asked for a demonstration on how to make changes to the enchantment for a Lightmind, and they’d been willing to help.

The woman he only knew as Blush said, “Normally, we would warn thee not to attempt this alone, without some wise guide at thy side; yet, since thy device is enchanted of glass, none of the changes thou makest shall prove lasting. 'Twill serve as most excellent practice, methinks.”

“Really?” Brin cut the flow of Mana into his Lightmind, and then booted it back up again. Sure enough, the text they had just adjusted on a spell was now back to how it was before. “Oh, that’s cool. I can practice this when I’m not here.”

“That’s right,” said Badger. “We based the design for your glass Lightmind on these training devices here.”

The training devices in question were brass tubes that connected streams of smoke between several balls of glass to form a pyramid shape. They worked pretty closely to how his LIghtmind did, except that they also had voice commands so even those without illusion magic could operate them. They were pretty neat, but only one of the marvelous things the Circle of Illusions had introduced him to.

There was an enchanting station with materials that could be used freely for practice, a screen of mirrors that showed views of several important parts of campus, and several worktables with all sorts of inventions that members had donated to the Circle. And that was only in the common room that he’d started in. He’d been shown a big theater that could play every single [Illusionist] movie known to Frenaria. There was a library with tables where he could study between classes, a sauna, a small kitchen... and these were only the things open to initiates. Once he became a full member, there were more doors that would open to him. He’d been told they even had a Circle codex, and an [Arcanist] on staff who would research words of Language on request, with priorities set by Circle Master Valentin.

The leader of the Circle was still the only person that Brin knew by face or name. Everyone else wore masks and used code names. Despite the anonymity, or maybe because of it, everyone he’d talked to had been extremely friendly. Especially welcoming were the two who’d been showing him around: Badger, a man with an animal face mask, and Blush, a woman whose mask showed an extremely shy-looking cartoon face. Brin had opted to make something like the front of his helmet, and made a mask of opaque glass in the shape of a stern and solemn face.

They’d given him some robes to match everyone else, and a satchel full of books he was to study if he wanted to advance to a full Circle member. He already had some minds reading through it.

“You’ve both been so wonderful. Thank you, truly. I think I ought to head back, though. I’m supposed to be at the luncheon and then the speech,” said Brin.

“Aye, it was well to meet thee, Lancer. We shall also the feast attend,” said Blush.

“How do I get out? And how do I get back here next time?”

“The exit is easy, but to get back here you’ll have to go through the maze each time,” said Badger.

“There be many paths through this labyrinth, and sundry strategies that prove themselves worthy. Yet the surest way is by strength. The maze doth yield most readily to a bold show of force above all else,” said Blush.

“What do you mean?” Brin asked.

“That’s the first test. [Illusionists] love puzzles and we always want to find clever and complex solutions to all our problems. That’s fine for a regular [Illusionst], but we tower mages should be a cut above the rest. We should know when it’s time to get clever and when it’s time to just push through with brute strength,” said Badger.

“But I... hm... this is going to sound cocky, but I used a lot of power. More than I think most people coming to the Tower for the first time should be able to manage,” said Brin.

“Not all who challenge the labyrinth can find the center,” said Blush.

“And it’s not a test of your power. It’s a test of how committed you are. You’ll see when you try again next time,” said Badger. “As for the exit, it’s just about everywhere. If you want to leave, you can.”

Brin didn’t have to guess hard to see what that meant. The Circle’s inner sanctum was stationary and made sense. Even if he wasn’t allowed through a set of doors, they stayed in place. But around the edges of the sanctum, the maze was ever shifting. If he left a room at the edge and came back later, the passageways leading out would be in different places.

Before they left, Blush and Badger went to a row of cabinets he’d ignored up until now. He soon saw that they were lockers, and they explained that he would get one, too.

“You’ll hardly ever use it, though. I keep my books in the locker up top. You don’t want to have to run all the way down here right before class because you forgot a book,” said Badger.

Brin followed the other two down a passageway, and quickly the three were back to wandering the maze. It was as dark as ever, and before long they intentionally split up. Brin sent some Invisible Eyes after them just to check if it would really be that easy to find his Circle-mates real identities, and no, it wasn’t. The maze quickly consumed his Invisible Eyes and then he was truly alone.

It didn’t take long.. After not even a minute of wandering, he found a small section of maze with three walls close together, boxing in an area the size of the elevator he entered from. The moment he stepped onto it, the floor started carrying him up.

He quickly pulled off his robe and mask and stashed them in the bag they’d given him. The elevator brought him back to the artificial sunlight of the atrium, and just like that, he was Brin again. If he ever met Wings, Badger, or Blush up here, he’d never know it.

The experience had been lucrative, in more ways than one.

Summon Sound through Glass 62 -> 63

Summon Light through Glass 43 -> 44

Mage

You are an initiate of the Circle of Illusions.

Brin arrived back in the atrium on the opposite side of where he'd entered. He quickly found one of the signboards, and touched the sigil. It lit up with a map, and directions on how he could get from where he was to where he needed to be.

He got a look at the fountain again as he walked by. The top two layers were completely demolished, water was leaking over the floor and flooding a draining grate, and it had been roped off. Seriously, Vitor, what did you do?

It was a quick walk over to the banquet hall, where he found most of his classmates already eating, though one or two were still in the line so he wasn’t noticeably late. Lunch was laid out buffet style, though he couldn’t say it resembled a high school cafeteria. The tables were elegantly laid out between privacy medians and hanging plants to give it the look of a high class restaurant, and everyone was sitting with backs ramrod straight and they ate with impeccable, robotic table manners. Even the ones he’d pegged as having commoner backgrounds were the same; they matched the aristocracy’s manners rather than the other way around. He wondered if that would change.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

There were upperclassmen scattered around, his first glimpse of second- and third-year students. They were older, and their levels were larger to match; he didn’t see any [Child] or [Student of Magic] Classes among the older students.

For once, not all eyes were on him the second he entered, so he took advantage of the relative anonymity to speed through the line. A Tower servant deposited a beautiful prime rib on his plate that he swore was still sizzling from the grill, and he balanced it out with some vegetables because he was a mature adult.

The next problem was where to sit. Gyromia and Sancha were still together with a gaggle of other ladies, but he didn’t want to start that whole scenario up again. He didn’t see Bia anywhere, so that was out. He found a table of gentlemen instead, and sat next to the [Mage of Sparks] he’d met earlier, the very tall one in inexpensive clothing named Ares. While he seemed a little surprised to see Brin sit next to him, he didn’t seem bothered by it.

Guoncal was there, too, coincidentally, and Brin hoped he’d get a chance to apologize for siccing a mob on him, however accidental that might have been. Guoncal took a sip from his wine glass and grimaced. “They should as well have offered us water!”

Brin took a gulp from the wine glass that had been set at his place, and found that it was good. Light and fruity, and if there was any alcohol he couldn’t taste it. He liked it. He liked water, too, though, and he wasn’t going to start arguing with Guoncal the second he sat down.

“So Ares. I hope it’s not rude to ask, but I’m fascinated by your Class name. What’s a [Mage of Sparks]?” asked Brin.

“Would you be willing to talk about your Class in exchange?” asked Ares.

“Gladly.”

“Then a tit for a tat and that’s that. You’re seeing sparks so you’re thinking fire, right?”

“Right.”

“Wrong. Air. Air to make sparks and sparks for lightning. See where I’m headed here? I can do fire and water, too, but I’m Air Track all the way.” Ares had a bubbly, staccato way of talking, and Brin still found himself drawn in. The guy had some interesting ideas on building a Class for turning himself into a weather mage that could summon lightning storms. He was really excited to meet Ian of Avion, a name from Lumina’s list of political enemies. The famous [Mage of Warding] was an Air [Mage], and Brin suspected had necromantic abilities, but apparently he wasn’t the Dean of the Air Track, just a high level [Mage] who could occasionally be persuaded to drop by to give a lecture. Brin also got the idea he was heavily involved with the Circle of Air, maybe even the master, though Ares didn’t say so directly.

Guoncal peppered in a comment here and there, but everything he said was stupid so Brin didn’t engage. Instead, he made good on his promise and gave a rough outline of his own Class. He didn’t have much to hide; he really hadn’t used any of his new abilities, so he couldn't really go wrong talking about what he hoped they could do.

Over the course of the conversation, he noticed that people still weren’t staring at him. They were watching someone else.

“Hey,” he asked Ares. “Who’s that girl over there that everyone is obsessed with?”

Ares chuckled. “Your [Inspect] is as good as mine. Might be a mite better, mate.”

Guoncal snorted. “What? Knowest thou not? Is this thy first day in Steamshield?”

Brin used [Wyrdic Inspect] on the lady, and was instantly assaulted with a dizzyingly gigantic amount of authority in the Wyrd. She owned everything. Almost. Someday. Maybe. It was so strong and so almost that he was nearly too overwhelmed to read the System message.

Name: Princess Gracia, daughter of Second Prince Alexio

Class: Water Mage

Level: 41

Age: 23

“Oh, no way. For some reason I haven’t given much thought to the royal family,” said Brin. “I didn’t even know there was a queen.”

“No queen, but Lady Consort Justa isu Rocha is his Majesty’s mate,” said Guoncal.

Ares grinned and looked side-to-side in a conspiratorial manner. “And they’ve got like eleven grandkids, right? Which means Gracia is only ninth in–”

“Nay, speak it not. Either she is sore insecure in the matter, and thou shouldst not stir it up, or she is not insecure at all, and weary of folk who still presume she is,” said Guoncal.

“Great point.” Brin knocked on the table, glad to hear Guoncal finally say something that wasn’t totally stupid.

After lunch wrapped up, they made their way back to the grand auditorium where they’d first entered the Tower. The entire student body filled in and took seats in the rows of wooden benches. Just as he thought, he couldn’t see the front, since the floors weren’t lowered at all.

The crowd was bigger than he expected, there must’ve been a thousand students all together. That didn’t sound like an overwhelming number until he remembered that each of these students was a [Mage] or something else magical. At least half of these people could probably call down enough magic to eliminate an entire unit of commoner soldiers. This was the magical wealth of an entire nation. A treasure among treasures.

Eventually, a hush came over the students, and he got the impression that things were beginning, though he still couldn’t see anything.

Then, above the crowd, a platform rose into the air. A man stood upon it, but it wasn’t the Master. It was the guy they’d just been talking about, Ian of Avion. Brin knew he was 50 years old, but he still looked absurdly youthful. He’d say Ian was the same age as him, if not for the gray hair.

He stood in front of a small group of high level [Mages] and [Archmages], including Gundavald the Bursting Flame, and several others he’d seen in the war. Lumina wasn’t there, though, and he was pretty sure she should’ve been.

Everyone around him stood up when Ian raised his hands in greeting, so Brin followed suit.

“Lords and Ladies, [Mages] of every element, welcome. I am Ian. The Master has asked me to fill in for today’s ceremonies, as he is attending to an urgent matter.

“First, allow me to congratulate you. By standing where you are now, you have elevated yourselves above your fellow men and women in your nation and indeed the world. The First Tower of Magic in Frenaria is the premier institute of magic on the planet, and you are its inheritors. Study hard, train well, and conduct yourselves wisely, as all the eyes of a worshipful nation now look to you for guidance. We expect you to shine an example of all that is virtuous so that the meek and lowly commons can rest easy, knowing that the great are also good.

“For those returning, I congratulate you. We’ve had a tumultuous year, for sure. I never go a day without hearing praise for your valor and dedication in ridding our fair nation of the undead scourge. Do I see a single [Fire Mage] here who has not saved the lives of dozens by eliminating roving bands of undead? Do I know of a single [Water Mage] who has not saved the lives of hundreds by purifying wells of curse and stain? And let us not forget the bulwarks of the [Earth Mages], the healing of the [Life Mages], and so on. The Master wishes for me to convey that he is proud of you, and has the utmost respect for your efforts.

“And now. Now you are returned. Return to your rewards, and return to the safety and community of your fellows. We are all [Mages] here, and stand in brotherhood and fellowship, united. Friends, family, welcome.

“A few words of order. The ghost that has been spotted on the fourteenth through sixteenth floors has not been declared safe, so no student is allowed to travel those floors alone. We ask students not to engage with it unless in the presence of a level 40 [Mage] or higher. The Master has decreed a reward of thirty golden capitals to the first who can prove that the disturbance is not, in fact, a ghost at all.”

This announcement brought about a wave of murmuring through the crowd. Apparently even in this group, thirty capitals was considered a lot of money.

“And now I have the honor of introducing our faculty. My good friend [Grand Summoner] Lopo Xarmento, the Dean of the Air Track. Returning as the Dean of the Water Track, please show your appreciation for Lord Xian of Cobol. As the Dean of the Earth Track, [Archmage] Tristan. To serve as the Dean of the Fire Track, Lady Demiana Esper.” Each of the four Deans were high-level and looked extremely dangerous. Brin clapped along with the rest of them as each name was introduced.

"I would introduce [Mage] Martin, as Dean of the Mind Track." The applause for this was the blandest possible. Not too little, but definitely not too much.

“Lastly, we mourn Jaozin, [Archmage of the Creeping Death]. To fill in, as the Dean of the Life Track, the Master sent a special invitation to someone he urged me to tell you is someone he considers a close and personal friend. Lady Zimenew has graciously accepted this invitation.”

The women who stood last wore the same fashion of noblewoman dress as the rest of the teachers, but she had coal black skin. If Brin was right about the family resemblance, she was likely the mother of the Pollisian student he’d seen on the way in. The student body didn’t murmur or really stir at all on the announcement, so Brin didn’t have a great gauge on how they were taking it, but he got the feeling they didn’t really care; it was a safe choice since it meant it wouldn’t shift any of the local political rivalries.

“The Master urges you to remember that each member of the faculty and staff in the Tower serve at his pleasure and are extensions of his will. Any insult to a member of this Tower is an insult to him.

“For now, I’ll bid you farewell for now. Please follow the Dean of your track to your separate assemblies to receive instructions on your class schedules.

“Lastly before we part, the Master wishes you to know how greatly he regards you and each of you, and how deep is his affection for you. I know he would be here if he could, and he will doubtlessly wish to introduce himself to you as soon as possible. I bid you a good day.”

Brin couldn’t help but wonder. If the Master wanted to be here so badly, then why wasn’t he? Lumina wasn’t here either, and he was absolutely certain she’d intended to be. Something was going on. The Invisible Eyes he sent out were confuddled and dispelled at every turn; he wouldn’t be able to find them that way.

He’d just have to wait and ask Lumina tonight. If the second half of his day was close to as fun as the first half, he was sure it wouldn’t feel long at all.

The End of Part 1.