[13]

It was a marvelous day; the sun shone bright in a cloudless sky, and the wind carried a relaxing chill, cooling the spring air. Angelina lived a quarter of a mile from the Ashmere campus, and it surprised me she wanted to walk. Since I had met her, she had always worn intricate dresses that accentuated her figure and delicate slippers that were less than ideal for walking. If she had continued dressing that way, it would have been torture for her to walk for long.

However, as we walked arm in arm chatting about nothing, she wore a blue Ashmere robe with a double falcon shoulder patch. Angelina explained that blue was the color that regular classers wore, while the number of falcons represented what year she was in. Additionally, on the lapel of her robe, she wore a patch of a scroll to signify she was in the scholarly studies program.

I was excited to get a robe of my own, because it looked more comfortable than anything I owned. Ashmere made the robes from cotton canvas, but reinforced the elbows and accompanying legging knees with leather.

Halfway through, Angelina noticed my continued fascination with the robe and explained that the outfit had been the traditional mage cultivator dress before the Godswar. Each part of the robe carried some historical significance that she was proud to show me by guiding my hand to different places dangerously near her curves. And the way she offered to help me learn to tie the belt sent blood to every extremity of my body. I’m sure we made an interesting sight for the students walking alongside us. I would not know because she dominated my attention in a way a woman never had before.

Whenever we finally arrived on campus, her behavior became less flirtatious, though she still held firm to my arm.

Ashmere was unlike anything I expected. Its architecture was an eclectic mix of old and new, human and other. In the center was a massive golden tower that reached to the sky. I had seen paintings of it before and read about it, but nothing could prepare me for its magnificence. The tower itself, called Ashmere, was actually a library and administration building named after the only Mage King that sided with the Gods during the Godswar. People widely believed that his remains rested in a crypt deep under the edifice that was erected in his honor.

Ashmere had once been the capital of an empire, though I know not what its name was. Angelina told me that there were ruins beneath the ground that were still functioning remnants of that old kingdom. Allegedly, the ascendants even used some of them for training.

A giant blue domed building dominated the western part of the academy. Angelina explained it was where the students of the military studies took part in their war games, and where tournaments took place. Nobles from not only our kingdom, but several others traveled to watch the fighting and gamble.

Directly in front of us, the southern part of campus was a hodgepodge of buildings suited to courses and living. Blacksmiths, tanneries, and everything in-between lined the major thoroughfare. Though, Angelina said they sold the goods students produced in the town proper. A series of blocky apartment buildings housed the poorer regular classed students, with something of a small park and pond between the domiciles. Many of the classes used open air pagodas, which I thought was a pleasant way to learn. Back up buildings were nearby in case of rain or cold.

As we approached the Ashmere tower, a brown-haired middle-aged woman in a green robe approached us. It was a color I had not seen yet, but Angelina told me during the tour that it signified an instructor or staff member.

“You must be Mr. Horste,” the woman said. I looked at her plain tanned face for some sign of recognition but found none.

“I am Harald Horste. Have we met before?” I asked.

Angelina giggled.

“No, we have not. My name is Claudia, I am responsible for getting you settled in at Ashmere. Your quest showed up as completed when you arrived and let us here in the tower know you were ready to start your journey. Once you got within a set distance, the school stone alerted me to your presence.” Claudia explained in a practiced tone. I assumed she gave this speech frequently.

“Incredible! Do you do that for every new student?” I asked.

“No, only ascendent classed. You are the only ones that get the quest.” Claudia said. Before I could say anything else, she continued, “Now, if there is nothing else Mr. Horste, we have a lot to do today.”

I took her advice and followed her toward the tower. When we got to a massive double door entrance, she turned and addressed Angelina, saying, “You will have to catch up with Mr. Horste at another time.”

Angelina looked put off, but I reassured her.

“Hey, it’s okay. I know where you live, remember? I will try to stop by later this evening; I have to anyway to get my things.” I said, giving her a smile.

“Very well, I will see you later, Harald,” Angelina said, kissing me on the cheek, and leaving a sweet scent behind.

I was momentarily dumbstruck. It was the first time a girl had ever kissed me. Even if it was only a peck, it put a pep in my step.

Claudia brought me to a Godstone that floated in the center of the floor level of the tower, but I barely noticed. The interior of Ashmere had circular floors that spiraled up beyond my sight. Each level, except the first, was covered in an incalculable number of books. Shelves built into the walls of the tower housed them.

“I never tire of seeing newcomers look at all books like that,” Claudia said next to me.

“What are all these books about?” I asked.

“Mostly? Techniques and magic cultivation methods that no longer work post-godswar. I think it's ironic how much blood our ancestors shed over the knowledge in some of these now useless books. It isn’t all books, though. We house relics and other things found throughout the Ruinlands on the higher floors. Now, be a dear and touch that Godstone.” Claudia said.

I did as she commanded, placing my hand on the floating cylinder. Words appeared in the air before me.

Registration Complete for Harald Horste

Assigning House

Assigning Class Schedule

Copying Course Readings

Updating Map

Incorporating Contribution Point Balance

“Okay, summon your ledger, please,” Claudia said.

Again, I followed her direction, pulling my golden ledger into existence. I did not wait for her to tell me to open it and began flipping through the pages. There was a map of the campus which showed my location with a little red dot. I found it astounding that every building seemed to be illustrated on the two-page spread. Off to the north, a golden dot sat over a building, telling me it was my residence. Several black dots spread haphazardly around the campus, showing dates and times I would have classes. I had never heard of a ledger being able to do something like this, but I was incredibly grateful for it.

“Now that we have officially registered you, please touch the Godstone again to bring up the interface.” Claudia instructed.

I could not wait to see what new wonder was in store.

Please Select:

Library

Banking

Store

Contribution Point Balance

Summon Attendant

“You should see five tabs. The first is the library tab. We do not let physical copies of books leave the tower. Only the librarians can go to or physically touch the books on the other floors. Your soul ledger will copy any books you request. It has already copied the required readings for your first year, however, be aware that you will have to come here frequently for additional research.

Next is banking. The tower will hold funds you deposit and additionally provide you with vouchers that you may use in town. Further, contribution points may be converted to currency at a rate of 1 to 10 silver damask coins.

The Store is for purchasing materials stored in the tower. Things include potions, weapons, armor, and other artifacts or resources discovered in the Ruinlands.

Which brings me to the next tab, your Contribution point balance. Your ledger will automatically keep score of the points you earn for killing things in the Ruinlands, but this number will not fully reflect additional points earned from trading in resources at one of our deposit booths. Deposit booths are on this floor,” Claudia pointed to a series of booths.

“Finally, you can summon an attendant if you have questions or need help to move something big to the booths or vault.”

“This is just…” I said.

“Convenient,” Claudia said. “Now, let’s head to the outfitters.”

…

The day had been exhausting, but my enthusiasm never waned. Claudia took me to what felt like every building on the campus.

A supply depot gave me black robes for normal, formal, hot, and cold weather, along with several backups and a backpack to store my things in. They also provided me with basic camping equipment.

We dropped off my supplies at my new residence. Claudia waited patiently for me to change into my new robes and explore where I would live for the foreseeable future. It was a basic one-story house with minimal amenities, but I was ecstatic. Unlike the houses off campus, it pleased me to discover the residence had running water and toiletry!

By then it was nearly lunchtime, and Claudia took me over to the dining hall. Hundreds of blue and red robes mingled among the tables chatting amicably. Scattered throughout was the occasional grouping of black robes like myself. As one might expect from my boon, my entrance immediately drew attention. I tried to imitate Claudia and imperiously ignore the whispers from women, and jibes from men. Thankfully, after we got our food and sat down, the hubbub seemed to die down.

For the rest of the day, Claudia gave me a guided tour of the on campus facilities. She explained a little of the history of Ashmere and made sure I understood where each of the classes on my schedule was. Unlike the regular classers, we ascendants held to a very strict training regimen. Claudia surprised me by explaining our time here was not “pass or fail”. Rather, the kingdoms paid and provided for Ashmere by covenant with Gods. It was a requirement for any civilization that wanted access to Godstones. Thus, when an ascendent attended, it was up to them to make the most out of the training given.

After the three-year training, some ascendants stayed at Ashmere to continue forays into the Ruinlands as adventurers. Those ascendants were on the north portion of the Campus, and Claudia explained students could not trespass there without permission.

The tour ended in the afternoon.

I headed back to my residence and changed back into my civilian clothes for dinner with Angelina.

It turned out I needn’t have bothered. Cornelious met me at the door with my meager things tightly packed. He informed me that Angelina had left earlier in the day to return home because of a “family emergency”. I thanked him, knowing it for the lie it was, and went around to the back of the house.

Ugz checked each room for me to confirm that she was not there, then snuck out through a window and climbed into a jacket pocket.

Angelina’s absence left me feeling a mixture of relief and regret. I expected the relief; what young man with so much on his plate wants to add the pressure of a marriage? The regret, however, was an unwelcome surprise. I was not sure if it was because I suspected her father had forced her away or if she went voluntarily.

Either way, I did my best to crush away the emotion. Tomorrow would begin my first day at Ashmere.