Chapter 63 - The Double-edged Sword of Fame

Carefully arranging the hood of his cloak so as to shield himself from the worst of the downpour, Skyle did his best to avoid crushing the delicate kernels of candied corn he carried under his cloak. It made his chest puff up from the bulk that lay upon his chest, but the discomfort was all worth it when he thought of how little Kass’ face would light up whenever she nibbled at the sweet confections.

In those brief, private instances, his baby sister would momentarily shed the aloof figure of the vaunted genius standing at the top of this branch of the Aegis Academy. Instead, she once again became his little kitten Kass. Skyle was surprised by just how much he had missed this simple daily ritual.

When Skyle finally came within sight of the impressive spires of Aegis Academy, he couldn’t help but let out a low whistle. By all rights, he should have long become used to the sight of the slender towers that stabbed well over two hundred feet into the sky.

He was not. It seemed like there were things that you just could never quite get used to.

Every time he gazed upon the vivid streams of flickering green light dancing over the alabaster surface of the Altars of Sylph, the wind element, Skyle felt a sweeping sense of awe rise within his chest. Each tower gracefully curled into a spiral shape while their bases lay upon the corners of a formation that took the shape of an equilateral triangle. It resembled the hand of a three fingered giant rising from the earth to grasp at the power of the skies. Thick snakes of green lightning flickered all over their surface as the altars drew upon the concentrated power of the wind element. It was an awesome sight to behold each and every time, and Skyle couldn’t imagine ever getting tired of it.

Next to the three Altars of Sylph, the crimson glow of the Altars of Ignius could be seen reflected from the shower of raindrops falling from the sky. Though at five stories high they were much shorter in comparison to the Altars of Sylph, both Altars of Ignius emanated a much more intense light. Scarlet shadows constantly danced upon the clouds swirling in the air above the area. They reflected light from the fires churning all along the surface of two sprawling structures that gave off an imposing aura. Skyle had been told that if one climbed the Altars of Sylph and looked down, the twin Altars of Ignius each resembled a teardrop that merged against each other and formed a perfect circle.

The fiery skies churning above the Altars of Ignius were nothing, however, compared to the shimmering cascade of blue radiance that overwhelmed everything else in the skies above Aegis Academy at the moment. Directly opposite from the reddish glow of the Altars of Ignius stood a single dome that rose over a hundred feet high at its apex. The massive structure formed a perfect sphere that swayed up and down in a gentle rocking motion. Most regular folks would never have the opportunity to pass through the doors of the academy, so they simply had no way of knowing that the Altar of Ao-Nix, the water element, lay suspended over a large pool of water. It danced in eddies that formed fascinating patterns upon its surface. Many a student would simply lose track of time as they became entranced by this lake that had been blessed by the water element’s touch.

In a rainy day like this, the Altar of Ao-Nix easily stole the show. Thousands of water droplets flew towards the massive altar as though drawn by a primordial summons. Upon contact, each drop would instantly merge into the swirling vortex of water that layered the entire structure. During a storm such as today’s, the radiance of Ao-Nix’ elemental power drawn by the altar was simply too eye-catching to miss. Skyle was certain that every student hoping to one day become a water elementalist would be shaking with excitement as they rushed to enter the Altar of Ao-Nix and draw inspiration to further the growth of their own elemental powers.

In comparison to the breathtaking majesty of each of the Elemental Altars, the elegant marble arch that decorated the main entrance of Aegis Academy seemed to pale by comparison. This was unfair in the extreme, since if one were to take the power of the elements out of the equation, the grand Arch of Aegis was easily one of the most beautiful structures in all of Sunny Meadow.

Upon its elegant curves were the lifelike representations of the legend of Aegis, the immortal serving as the right hand of Litheon, the patron deity of Justice, Order and Law. According to myth, Litheon was born blind, that his judgment may always be fair and just. In his right hand he wielded Axuros, the edgeless sword whose bite no shield could resist. In his left hand he bore Aegis, the invisible shield which no spear could ever hope to pierce.

After aeons serving the God of Justice, Aegis had become an immortal spirit himself, gaining sentience and faithfully serving his master as a bulwark against all evil until his heroic death during the apocalyptic Fall of the Gods.

The original Arch of Aegis stood tall at the entrance of the ancestral grounds of the academy at Glory Peak, but each branch facility had a perfect replica sculpted by the hands of a master earth elementalist. Such experts could effortlessly carve stone with their bare hands as though parting water.

Right above the entrance lay the academy’s three enduring principles engraved in the old tongue:

“Veritas, Fortitudo et Constantia.”

Truth, courage and perseverance.

Skyle couldn’t help but sigh as he stopped for a moment under the shadow of these three words. Once upon a time, it had been one of his most cherished dreams to be able to enter the Arch of Aegis Academy and one day become one of its brightest stars. Long before his siblings had been tested, Skyle had once been a wide-eyed child brimming with barely contained excitement while he awaited the day of his elemental affinity test.

Each year every academy across all the lands held elemental affinity testings in front of their main gates. Satisfying the requisite level of talent in the elements allowed one to lift his head up high and cross under the main arch of the institution under the elated gazes of friends and family. Such an act marked the establishment of a covenant between the academy in question and the young boy or girl. They would thereafter enter the school’s ranks and devote their energies and talents to the furthering of their elemental talents, that one day they might bring glory and honor to their academy.

The academy one attended was perhaps one of the most influential decisions in a person’s life. This was not limited to the resources and staff available for the education of the student. That was only one aspect of the academy system. Far more significant were the many doors that would open to graduates depending on the different tiers into which each academy fell. Alumni associations branched across every facet of civil government and military command. In fact, one of the first questions any prospective candidate for a sought after position received would be which academy he had attended and its tier.

Tier 5 academies were considered low ranked schools. Usually it was the most a decently talented child from a middle class family could afford. Everyone below this simple cutoff line would never see the inside of an academy in their entire lives.

Tier 4 academies belonged to the middle rank institutions. Children of well off merchants and minor nobles who had fallen upon hard times would attend such institutions. They would have histories spanning perhaps two or three decades. The more successful ones might have a single elemental altar within its grounds, usually that of the strongest representative element of their school.

A tier 3 academy was a place only the wealthy or powerful could attend. They would have one or two elemental altars, and a precious few would even count a Mortal ranked elementalist among its faculty - usually the dean.

Tier 2 academies were the place for the elite. Students joining such prestigious institutions would have either astounding talent or deep reservoirs of wealth and social connections. Usually catering only to the children of major noble houses, even the wealthiest merchant families could only dream of one day sending their offspring to such a place. Such renowned institutions had little use for gold, however. They valued talent far more, and were willing to invest significant resources to nurture geniuses. These academies would have one or more altars devoted to each element, as well as a number of Mortal level elementalists devoted to their own elemental school. Many even had a Sage level expert, usually serving as the dean or head instructor.

Each Tier 2 academy boasted a storied past stretching back to at least a century or more. There were only seven such institutions across the whole of the Empire, and Aegis Academy was one of them.

As for Tier 1 academies, even in the Empire there were only two, and both were located at the capital city, Solaria. They had no branches anywhere else, and even Skyle had only heard rumors and legends about them.

Skyle himself had once hoped to join a Tier 2 academy. In his most precious and private dreams, he had dared to dream of even a Tier 1 academy. Those dreams had been crushed flat when he took the examinations right in front of this arch, a little over five years ago. He could still recall the bitter tears that had slid down his face when he had been told by the examiner that he was a freak and a cripple. He could still vividly recall the man’s open disgust and disdain as he literally kicked Skyle away.

Of course, his father had instantly pounced forward and had barely been held back by the other adults while the examiner had crawled back with a bloodless face and shaking legs. It had been a cold comfort to a child whose dream had been mercilessly chewed to pieces and spat back upon his own face.

No, he decided. He was past all this. He had to stop feeling sorry for himself. He was practically an adult now, and he would not let this festering sense of regret hold him back anymore. What was past was past, as simple as that. He needed to focus on the future.

Each time he crossed the Aegis Arch, Skyle would utter the same promises to himself. Every time, he still found himself sighing and hanging his head down as he walked past the wealthy elite who made up the student body of the academy he could never join.

This time, Skyle vowed silently to himself, he would walk tall and with his head unbowed. He had undergone a baptism of blood and fire in Sanctuary, and he was no longer a little boy. Skyle resolved firmly within his own heart that he would face the realities of this world head on, no matter how painful or distressing they were.

It was the rite of passage from a boy to a grown man.

Endowed with this renewed sense of pride and determination, Skyle nodded with familiarity to the two guards who stood vigil over the Arch. They nodded back and allowed him to pass uncontested, even though he was not wearing the academy’s uniform.

“Hey, how come you’re letting that raggedy boy walk right through?” complained a nasally voice behind his back.

Skyle paused for a moment as he glanced back over his shoulder.

As usual, there was a small crowd gathered at the Aegis Arch. Some were the families of students who had come to pick up their children, much like Skyle himself had. Of course, they had to wait outside while Skyle had been granted free passage into the school. It was only one of the numerous perks that had been offered to his baby sister. For her, it had been as simple as mentioning it in passing to one of the school's instructors, and the very next day every guard of Aegis instantly recognized Skyle and let him through without a word.

Most of the remaining people milling outside were simply passers-by who had been enchanted by the captivating sights of the elemental altars and the power they emanated. A smaller minority were part of the growing crowd of sightseers and tourists who had become a blight to the peace and quiet of Sunny Meadow.

The young man who had spoken up belonged to the latter group. His flashy clothes immediately would have told Skyle this much, added to the fact that he couldn’t recognize the man’s face. Though Skyle could not possibly remember the faces of every townsman of Sunny Meadow, he at least knew the families of nearly every student of the local branch of Aegis Academy by now.

People like him could only mill about outside of the Arch, vying against the crowds of people to get a better view of what little of the academy grounds could be glimpsed from the outside

Skyle could only smile bitterly to himself. Not too long ago, he would have been one of those people who could only stand outside and watch enviously at the fortunate few who had earned the privilege of crossing the Arch. Now, he stood on the other side of the Aegis Arch. This was a dividing line that marked the difference between the exalted and the mundane.

Diamonds and pebbles.

Did this make Skyle a semi-precious stone, he wondered?

“Maybe I barely qualify as a pretty shard of glass. Shiny on the outside, but ultimately flawed within and destined to be shattered. I’m not even deserving of anything like envy, since I cross this arch not by my own merits, but only thanks to the talent of my little brother and sister,” Skyle thought wryly.

This was another aspect that he would never become used to, he supposed. Each time he crossed under the Arch and entered academy grounds, he felt a lurch within his chest as he thought of how ill-fated he was with the power of the elements and the academies which represented the peak of their pursuit within the human realms.

Not this time, however. Today, things would change. He was not the same Skyle as before, and here he would prove it. Matching words to actions, Skyle raised his head proudly and began to walk forward with long, confident strides.

“Hey guards, I asked you a question. How come that little boy just walked right in?” the same guy asked.

“You fool, you don’t even know who that is and you dare to spout off nonsense here? Crawl back to whatever hole you came from before you embarrass yourself further,” another voice replied in an acid tone.

“Oh, I didn’t know he was that famous,” came the more subdued voice of the young man.

Chuckling to himself, Skyle supposed he might as well enjoy what little fame he could, even if it was not his own. He didn’t mind his baby brother and sister shining bright at the top, even if they happened to cast a long shadow over him.

“You dolt, of course he’s famous. He’s here practically every afternoon to pick up Kassandra Farrow!” the other person berated.

“Oh, Kassandra Farrow, the dual element genius! I heard the Water School and Wind School are still bickering over each other to try to get her to join them. Even after one year, she has not made a decision and yet, both schools remain wide open to her.” the young man gasped breathlessly, clearly in awe.

“Well, that’s only to be expected of such a rare talent. She’s only been studying part time at Aegis for one year, yet she’s already a 9th level Initiate mage. She’s on the verge of breaking through to the Adept stage and she’s barely 9 years old!”

“Heavens, I’m only a low level initiate warrior myself,” the young man mumbled, aghast.

Skyle himself was shocked. Kass rarely spoke about her Academy affairs, and certainly nothing about her elemental powers. The family rarely spoke on the topic, and Skyle felt this was largely his own fault. Everyone knew how obsessed he was with trying to awaken his elemental powers, and his baby sister was especially sensitive on the topic. He could tell she felt guilty about her own prowess in spite of Skyle’s repeated urgings to the contrary.

Skyle knew that Kass had entered at the 4th level of the Initiate stage after being tested. The authorities at Aegis had bemoaned the fact that her talent had been discovered so late, and even secretly blamed their parents for neglecting such a bright prospect. They felt such careless negligence was almost criminal.

Yet now, only a year of half-time studies at the Academy, the little Empress of the Farrow family had already advanced to the peak 9th level of the Initiate stage?

It would be a lie if Skyle said he did not feel bitter at the inevitable comparison. Still, he was glad that mostly his heart was filled with joy for his baby sister’s talent. Though he did grow concerned at the fact that Kass had not even dropped a hint of such an important fact. Did his parents know about this? Reik surely did. Was Skyle the only one kept in the dark?

“How could you compare yourself to Kassandra Farrow?” The stranger continued in a reverential tone. “Her status at this Aegis Academy branch is unmatched because they believe she will awaken as a summoner one day. With her high elemental affinity levels, it’s more of a matter of when rather than if.”

“A summoner from own very own province. And at such a young age, what would that mean?” Another voice sighed out loud.

“No wonder she’s so special.”

“Yeah, she’s on a completely different world from the rest of us normal folk. Why, for example that boy you just mentioned. He always dutifully escorts her and her twin brother after she finishes her studies for the day.”

“Oh, I had no idea, hahah,” came the awkward, self-conscious chuckle from the newcomer. “So, who is he?”

Skyle rolled his eyes. Here we go again, he thought. Big brother Skyle, riding the coattails of his baby siblings’ fame and fortune.

“It’s obvious, isn’t it?” the other man replied in a smug, self-important tone. “He comes to pick them up every day and walks them home. Of course he’s the family’s butler!”

Skyle stumbled in his step and nearly fell to the ground.

“Oh, I see.” the young man said thoughtfully. “Yeah, now that I think about it, that makes perfect sense. No wonder. I heard Kassandra Farrow is as beautiful as a porcelain doll and young Reikard Farrow has the bearing of a noble knight-to-be, which is why I couldn’t really associate that average looking boy with either one of them. Besides, those rags he's wearing hardly look fitting for even the lowliest servant of an Aegis student.”

The ‘knowledgeable’ guy scoffed loudly. “Well, I heard Kassandra’s parents are eccentric and bought an elenium farm to blend in with the locals. That butler boy was probably part of the package. How else could such a mundane little creature have any other type of relation to the little star of Aegis Academy?”

Skyle caught himself running a hand over his face with a heavy scowl, wondering if perhaps the punch he had taken earlier had been a lot heavier than he had thought. Surely, he was no looker like his siblings but he wasn’t that far off either, no?

“You fool, how could you think he’s a buttler? I can’t believe you don’t even know who Skyle is, and you stand there pretending to be an expert,” a new voice cut in forcefully.

“Oh, and you know?” came the skeptical query.

“Of course I do. I’ll have you know I’m one of the original members of the Kassandra Farrow Fan Club! I’d die of embarrassment if I couldn’t even recognize that boy!”

“So, out with it. Who is he?”

Well, Skyle supposed he might as well take solace in the fact that at least one person would set matters straight.

“He’s the Farrow family’s pageboy. I see him all the time, most often when he brings little bundles of food for his young masters. He’s always cringing as Kassandra berates him for not bringing the proper amount. He probably sneaks a few bites himself, which is why Kassandra is always so displeased with him.”

Skyle stumbled yet again, which was strange considering the fact that the path he was walking on was perfectly flat with not a single rock obstructing his way.

“Head up high, Skyle. Ignore them, you’re better than this. You're almost an adult. Time to show the strength of your resolve. Just pretend you can’t hear them and keep walking.”

“Oh, you great, flaming idiot, you don’t even know him and you dare to call yourself a member of the Kassandra Farrow Fan Club? I’ll have you know, I’m one of the co-leaders of the local club, and I don’t recall ever seeing your face at any of our meetings!” A furious voice denounced.

“Ah, I’m sorry. I’m a member of the Glory Peak chapter of the club. I come to Sunny Meadow from time to time for business and use the opportunity to visit the academy here whenever I can.” came the slightly apologetic words.

“I knew it, you big city folks really besmirch the good name of the KFFC. How could you claim to be a devoted fan when you don’t even recognize Skyle Farrow?”

“What? They share a last name? Wait, that common looking boy couldn’t possibly be-”

Skyle nearly wept tears of gratitude and his back straightened up as he thought that at least someone had recognized him, even if they kept insisting on talking about him as though he wasn’t standing right there in front of them and within easy earshot.

“Yep,” continued the smug voice of the same person. “He’s Skyle Farrow, the adopted child of Kendric and Adrienne Farrow. Truly a case of the ugly duckling entering the swans nest.”

Skyle flailed his arms as he stumbled once again and barely managed to find his footing before he could brain himself on the cobbled pathway under his feet.

“What? I’m adopted now? You’re the adopted stepchild of a fornicating goat! Ugly duckling? Your mother!” Skyle growled in his head.

Skyle covered his ears with his hands as he practically fled away as quickly as his feet could take him, but he couldn’t help but catch the sniggers from the guards standing by the Arch.

“Oh Kass, if only you knew the great tribulations your ‘adopted’ ‘ugly duckling’ brother has to go through for your sake,” Skyle moaned to himself, thinking that every time he crossed the Aegis Arch he would resolve in his heart to put away any feelings of self-pity or regret.

Great was his dismay as he realized that he was now drowning in equal measures of both, even if it was for all the wrong reasons.