A/n: I'll hold interludes for a bit.

Howling Thunder Ch31: Welcome to the Game

-------------------------------------------------------------

The base of the two towers is a three story building. The entrance is built as a massive Red torii arch with enormous, fortress gate like wooden doors.

The Raijin, with his feral elf appearance, leads us through the overkill of a front door. Once inside I see that it is all one grand hall with walls covered in bookshelves. Four massive oak trees act as columns holding up the roof, their branches like rafters. It feels like a forest glade indoors, there is even patches of grass.

Various young students can be seen everywhere, either pouring through studies or lounging about. Candles of various colors float through the air. Paper birds flit from student to student along with the occasional actual bird. A few other animals can be seen in the room.

I comment, “there certainly isn't a lack of representation of the races from the city.”

As I say that, a rather attractive elf girl walks by and gives me a wink, Asta pokes me in the side.

Whispering in her ear, “don't think I haven't noticed the males glancing your way either.”

Lord Raijin speaks back in a mutter, “damn beast girls in heat are such a pain, my school creates more puppies than powerful mages.”

He coughs then flourishes his white robe and gestures around the room, “Welcome Nox, to the Yoden Academy of Magic. It would be best if you visit me and your grandmother here as often as possible. As I understand it you have quite the natural talent, which is to be expected of course given what I’ll tell you in my office.”

The horned man points to the nearby book shelves that line three stories of walls, “No other city has such a large collection of magic research from the various races. Even The Black City to the north west, with its collection of demon magic, can hardly compare. I’ll admit they have us outclassed technology wise however, I’ve heard they have ships that sail in the sky.”

A sky ship?! So adding that to life goals!

We reach a large front desk, an owl tribe girl looks up from a ledger, “Headmaster, should I send word to the castle?”

The Raijin waves his hand, “don't bother yet dear. I’ll pass word to the headmistress later.”

He then points right, to one of two curved stairways, “this way leads to my tower, classes therein focus on learned magic both ancient and modern.”

He nods to the left, “the other tower is your grandmother’s, the possibilities of instinctive magic from bloodlines and blessings are explored there. Every one’s abilities manifest in different ways with their own strengths so it is important to test any idea and listen to others to help your own inspiration.”

Asta perks up, “no harm in learning both, right gramps?!”

A sigh escapes him, “of course, though maximizing the amount of damage you can cause to property and persons isn't what I’d call a noble course of study.”

She giggles and ignores his criticism, “it's more entertaining than making animals like Sassa. Right, Nox, Sassa can make deer and bunnies of snow come to life. If it was me I’d make a dire bear and ride it!”

The Raijin scratches his chin, “that actually does sound a bit more practical than the pets your sister plays with. I'm sure you can figure out something similar in purpose. Here students born or given gifts are of course expected to spend time in that tower, but anyone with talent is welcome to my tower. This entry hall is where most common students grow their roots in magical studies.”

Asta cuts off his monologue and looks over to Mora as we start heading up stairs, “I saw you making massive claws on your arms with ice, that looked way fun!”

Mora pulls her near drooling attention from the massive library and nods, “normally I stick to something more sensable.”

With that she pauses and concentrates, a round shield of ice spins into being on her left arm while in the right, a massive icicle takes the shape of a lance.

This of course draws the interest of nearby students. Noticing, She quickly makes them burst into snow that drifts to the floor. She hides her face but only for a moment as she's too tempted to gaze out at the massive book collection.

At the top of the stairs we step onto a metal platform similar to the ones in the castle. This one is ornate and looks like a large bird cage. It pulls us outside to the center of the twin, twisted towers and begins to lift us up.

While I’m admiring the metal railing crafted to look like dragons I notice there isn’t actually any ropes connected that I can see. Over the side I find a tuft of blue cloud, like what the white dragon was riding on earlier.

Students bow in our direction as we rise in the center past all the bridges connecting the two towers. I pet Asta who seems content being as close as possible to me in front of the other students. Honestly I’m a tad uncomfortable with the public display, it feels rude, but I’m sure she’d be angry if I made her stop

Lord Raijin looks at Mora for a moment, “Your father used ice in a similar way, it's a crime what happened to that joker. He wasn't even that old, still in the prime of his life. If you're ever given the chance Nox, let her cousin meet the fate of all traitors.”

I look to the Raijin who’s doing his best to ignore it, “I’ll remember it, but if he was strong enough to kill a full blooded dragon I may not stand much chance.”

The man scoffs, “Please, if you actually get trained properly...hold on.”

He raises his hand and a clear white sphere encases the lift before turning invisible. Our ride speeds up to a frightening pace into the sky.

Now he turns and smiles, “Let's be clear, Nox. You are my grandson, on your father’s side. You have the blood gifts of the winter wargs, sky dragons, the kitsune, and even the gifts as champion of the goddess Freki. No being, shy of a demigod, should stand a chance against you once you have more training.”

The lift slows and enters the side of one tower, we step off in the opening archway of a large circular office with dozens of windows. His desk sits in the center of the room, it too, circular. Bookshelves sit in all the spaces but one between the windows, the last space being for a large map of the continent.

I ask, ”Your grandson?”

Lord Raijin lightly hops over his desk and lands on a chair that spins, he kicks up his feet, “Yes, the current Fenrir is mine and Hildy’s son. Your aunt, Asta’s mother, is the previous Fenrir’s daughter with Hyndla… It hardly matters anymore but it was quite the scandal some decades ago. Your tribe demanded my girl mate with the Fenrir, compromises were made.”

So that's what mother meant about cutting Grandmother some slack.

He goes on, “Anyway what I want to talk about is this buisness with you being a champion while those spooks are watching your wagon, pull up a seat. I’ve already got one son who decided to just go along with it for the sake of Yoden, I won’t have you uninformed.”

I plop down on one of the cushions, Asta actually hops into my lap. Now I fully catch the particular scent she is giving off, its similar to when Patra snuck into my tent. Mora finds her own seat of course, in light of the girl in my lap I avoid glancing at Mora’s long, glossy, crossed legs.

The headmaster reaches under his desk and pulls out a pitcher of something and a glass, pours it and sends it flying to Mora on a little blue cloud, “He you go miss, I believe your father once mentioned this tea was your mother’s favorite. I had this made yesterday, I figured you’d be by soon. Oh, and you all may call me Grampa Rai as long as we’re in private, or just Rai, I’m not that old myself as far as dragons go.”

Mora takes a sip and wipes away a tear, “Thank you, I haven’t had this in over ten years. I’m fairly interested myself in what you were about to speak of.”

Rai nods, “Right,” He looks at me with a very stern face, “being a champion means you are part of the game of gods. As am I, being a demigod, same as your mother as well and if I’m right in my suspicions, your sister. The game has several names depending on which pantheon you are talking about, in Freki’s Valhalla Pantheon it's known as Ragnarok. The goal of the game is to grow stronger, ascend higher, weed out the weak, conquer worlds.”

He points to the map, “All of Terra is just one of many realms involved. Here is the important part, every being involved has a certain amount of points you might say, the power they have to work with. They amass power from a multitude of means be it faith, war, fear, influence. It’s all unclear and determined by higher gods. Take myself, this academy creates an amount of influence and faith from the locals which grants me favor from higher gods who then credit me with stronger power. I use that power to expand my influence and one day I may ascend as a lesser god.”

Makes sense so far I guess, “So where does that put Mora and I?”

The blue haired man leans back once more, “You two are the bottom of the chain, well, that warg pair is a bit lower. Freki probably stretched herself a bit thin to create a champion, two minions, and claim a valkyrie. I wouldn’t be surprised if she used the killing spree of the giests to create fear enough to save up for you. Anyway, now you're in the game.”

Next he points to a chess set near a window, “Are you, my grandson, a piece or a player. I will warn you, it’s a very dangerous game and for players, even death is just another stage. Also worth mentioning you can still quit now… well I doubt Freki would let you, and I don’t think my grandson would cower away.”

This...is a lot to decide, and very little information to make a decision with, “What about Walther?”

Rai scratches his head just under one of his white horns, “Ideally, he will inherit your father’s mantle. I’ve met with him this morning and he was leaning that way to begin with it seems which I respect. There is certainly no shame in feeling a sense of duty and responsibility.”

I reflexively roll my eyes, the Raijin catches it and chuckles, “So, I think it is no mystery that you will decide on being a player rather than another pawn. Now we need to make sure you don’t lose.”

-----------------------------------------

A/n ah you don't know how long I've been looking forward to Nox learning the game. not many comments on my chase scene last chap, that's scary.

Also...Shit is in the top 50! hell ya, that was a treat to see today.