Published at 16th of February 2024 2:21 pm

Chapter 38. Mentor And Apprentice

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The first month of the semester ended without Nox making significant advances in his spellform or solving his money troubles. Meanwhile, guard presence around the city increased. Individuals wearing crests from the Imperium and other ruling powers became common on campus. When asked, university staff claimed it was because of the upcoming summer solstice festival. Nox believed there was more at play, and it probably had something to do with the disappearances around the city.

Despite the abductions and increased presence, everyone appeared in a festive mood. Floral decorations around campus and outside grew, colorful flags and banners hung from walls or across streets, and new stalls popped up on the pavements, making streets and walkways narrower.

More roadside eateries popped up, further clogging the roads with patrons and, worst of all, drinkers. Thanks to the Sigil of Immunity, Nox never learned to indulge in the latter habit. Occasionally he felt envious of the joy and merriment drunks in taverns displayed. Then he saw them vomiting or lying unconscious in an alley, and pity replaced all other emotions. The headaches and stomach upsets the following day didn’t appeal to him either.

“I wonder if I could make a fortune with a cure for hangovers,” Nox mumbled, weaving through a crowd. Then he reprimanded himself for whispering when silent thoughts worked just as well. If mumbling turned into a habit, someday he’d reveal secrets to an eavesdropper or passerby with enhanced hearing. Some of Nox’s secrets would likely get him killed.

It was Sixthday, and the first month of the semester had just ended. Most students, except those in the production department or taking Beginner Dungeon Combat, had the day off. Now that he didn’t need to attend Advanced Alchemy, he technically had the time to himself, too. Unfortunately, it was the only time Kris had off and had set a much-needed mentor-apprentice meeting.

“Come in,” she said when he appeared at her door.

Instead of her office in the main building, Kris had organized the meeting at her apartment next to the eating hall only royalty, nobles, and their entourages used. It was far nicer than the buildings near the campus wall, and each apartment covered the entire floor. Kris occupied the ground floor, and the two abodes above had their individual entrances with external stairs leading up to them.

Dusk was less than a bell away, and Kris welcomed him in a slim evening dress, hair in curlers, and tissues stuck out of her neckline. “I apologize for my state,” Kris told him. “This is the one evening where I’m not teaching, holding office hours, or investigating the disappearances. Unfortunately, it is also the evening Dean Woodson organized a meeting with continental powers so we can get more funding.”

“Funding? For what?” Nox asked, feeling curious about the university’s inner workings.

“To sponsor more people like you, of course. There are far too many talented individuals out there who go unnoticed or unutilized because we don’t have the funds to support them.” She raised her hand before Nox could interject. “Don’t give me the tired story of the university’s high tuition. I had the same complaint when I was a student, but I now see how much work and money goes into running this place. Maintenance and staffing costs alone would cripple most city-states. Then there are the wards that contain the dungeon and facilities costs to keep your peers from destroying buildings or repairs when they do.”

“I still think five-hundred gold a semester is an obnoxious number. That number is precisely why the department is full of spoilt nobles and generational mage houses. They delve for glory or to further their family fortunes instead of the war. If you had more commoners or people like me who’ve lived through godfalls or suffered a god’s wrath, you’d have fewer dungeons.”

“Not everyone agrees with the work we do, or how we do it, but we delvers are essential to humanity’s survival. Far too many rulers and lords forget the importance of our work and the war against the gods without frequent reminders. As far as they’re concerned, if the fight isn’t near their borders, it doesn’t exist. These cocktail evenings and dinners get us the means to offer scholarships or subsidize education for those who deserve it. Most delvers get their licenses through the guilds. They learn on the job, get clearances and qualifications through bodies with no standardization, and end up dead.”

“Are Lillin and I benefiting from one such benefactor?”

“Not quite,” Kris answered. She led Nox through an untidy living room into a study with wall-to-wall shelves, a desk, and two chairs. It was even messier. “Professional curiosity has a lot to do with your presence in the university. Anyway. We have very little time and much to discuss. Tell me about how your classes are going. Professor Das has already told me about the provisions he made for you.” She grinned. “He was mad at me for enrolling you in the class. You’re too advanced for Advanced Alchemy, apparently. He wants you to reach adept and then have you join the staff.”

“He already made me an offer along those lines. Unfortunately, he wants me to leave the dungeon studies department, and I’m not ready to give up on my goals.” Nox placed a leather-bound book on the one empty space on the desk. It was the one spot that didn’t have scribbled notes or open tomes. “I kept notes of my progress as you advised. It’s been a challenge, but I reckon I’m close to completing the spell.”

Kris flipped through the hand-sized journal, glossing over the notes and studying the scribbled spellforms closely. “I’d say you lucked out. Glass is significantly harder to shape than crystal.” She took a minute to check one diagram closely. “I see you’ve got the micro and macro ends of the script sorted. What’s holding you back?”

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“Cost,” Nox replied. “The spellform needs to adapt according to the essence type, which drastically increases the mana requirements. The micro side of things needs more work since it will tell the macro what to do. Currently, I’m controlling that aspect with intent, but the spell is tiring me out too quickly.”

“Your spellform is far too busy,” Kris commented. “You haven’t even included mana storage, amplification, or controller scripts yet.” She smiled. “Good job, though. I’m glad you’re not rushing things. You’ve made brilliant progress. I suppose your Shaping planet won't be ready for another month or two.”

“That’s far too long. Three more weeks, and I’m done here.”

“How short are you?”

“We have a little over half of what we need.”

“So you’ve made close to three-hundred gold in one month?” Kris’s eyes narrowed. “That’s impressive. I’m sure you can manage the rest in the time you have.”

“Not without delving,” Nox said. “I’m close. Can’t you just return my license for one expedition?”

“If you were further along with the spell script or fixed the issues with your star, I would’ve considered it.”

“Most students need the whole semester to complete their first planet. Even then, their spellforms are significantly simpler than mine.”

“You’re not most students, Nox,” Kris said. “You’re my apprentice, and I hold you to higher standards than the others. You can switch to research and production full-time if you fail to finish the script. It's not the end of the world.”

“You brought me to this university so I can help in the war!” Nox exclaimed. “I’m only here for a chance to take down Sundarshahar.”

“There’s more to war than fighting at the frontlines. You have a knack for alchemy beyond the tired recovery brews. Make explosives, more creations like trap foam, and better empowering brews. Further research into essence glass and developing spells to make the most out of the material will also help us further the war.”

“You want me to do all the work so someone else can take down Sundarshahar?” Nox felt his jaws clench and heat rise from the bottom of his stomach. He resisted the uncontrollable urge to clench his fists and raise his voice. “What was the point of dangling this golden carrot before me? Is this some cruel game—”

“Nothing stops you from attending classes in other departments, you know?” Kris frowned as she cut him off. Her voice lost its casual tone, and she grew cold and professional. “You won’t get qualifications or much support from the professors, but nothing is stopping you from sitting in on any course the university teaches. It might take a few years of working for the university, but you can eventually take any courses as staff. It’s a longer route but still a viable one.”

Nox sighed. He wanted to fire off a harsh retort but failed to find the words. Instead, he flumped in his seat. “Two years. Just two years of full-time service, and I can officially take any class the university offers. This is while taking production and research classes?”

“Hold on.” Kris leaned back in her chair. “You’re seriously considering this? You’re ready to give up two years of your life just like that?”

“I put up with beatings, harassment, isolation, and worse for eighteen years.,” he replied. “Before you came along, I was ready to waste a decade or two working through the guilds, looking for an ice catalyst, and gathering gold. You gave me the opportunity to cut that journey short significantly. If it means I add two years to that instead of dozens? I’ll deal with it.”

Kris stared at him for a minute, but it felt like much longer. She closed Nox’s journal and passed it back to him. The woman rose from her seat and walked out of her study. When she didn’t return five minutes later, Nox returned to the living room. He found the professor at a bar by the wall mixing a drink. Her long locks hung around her face and over her shoulders, now free of the curlers. Kris had also removed the bits of paper sticking out of her neckline.

More than liquor and glasses sat on her bar. Ointments and a vial of black fluid sat on the polished wood, too. A brush sat in the liquid. Kris’s eyelashes appeared longer, and her irises contrasted more with the rest of her face. Nox guessed it was eye makeup.

When Kris offered him a glass quarter full of amber fluid, the bitter beverage had a sweet aftertaste and carried citrus notes. It burned his throat on the way down. Nox felt the heat at the bottom of his stomach, too. Nox enjoyed the taste. He had never tasted liquor as refined as it.

“Viktor Oakheart and Roque Singh weren’t good party members,” Kris said. “They had skill but no mind for battle. You had me seriously questioning your judgment for a while. Annabelle Oakheart is a good decision, though. Wolfhammer tells me she works well with you and Lillin.”

“Her magic is very support oriented, but she’s working on her martial skills,” Nox replied. “I reckon she’s tired of playing the role of a damsel in distress.”

“But you don’t have a vanguard yet, do you?”

“No. I’m afraid Annabelle’s magic is better suited for a hit-and-run fighter. She’ll never be the vanguard.”

“Good, because I have someone for you.”

“Who is it?”

“I’d rather not say until they decide to join you. If it's a yes, they’ll approach you within the week.”

“What if I don’t want to work with them?” Nox asked.

“A decent vanguard is compulsory for delving,” Kris replied. “If this works out and you learn to work together, you might just get your delving rights back without completing the planet.”

“I don’t like these sorts of games. Can’t you just tell me who it is?”

“I was specifically advised not to do so.” She grinned. “Don’t worry, Nox. I have full confidence in you. I wouldn't invest my time in you otherwise.”

“Fine.” Nox sighed. “It’s probably too late to delve for my earnings anyway. I’ve got three weeks left.”

“Finish your drink, have another, or help yourself to whatever you want from the bar,” Kris said. “I need to run.”

Kris handed him a couple of books on the way out. Nox looked them over. One was an archmage’s account of Sundarshahar, while the other was a journal about a mage’s development from apprentice to expert. A couple of pages told him she had built her mana system around Crystal Shaping, Manipulation, and warding magic. He gladly accepted the gift and also helped himself to a sample of each of her cosmetics on the way out.

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