MAGNUS

The day to explore the campus was welcome as the place was much larger than it appeared from the courtyard. Apparently the council that oversaw the academy had taken an old border keep, one that wasn’t on the border anymore, and converted it to the main building where we arrived. The former servants wing was converted to dorms while the barracks had been converted to a much larger infirmary. Some of the rooms were changed to be classrooms, and additional buildings were added outside the keep’s walls. I had also overheard that they wanted the main keep to be a rally point if the academy was ever attacked by either an army or what was termed a ‘monster wave’ where aetherical beasts went on a rampage. I saw where they were intending to put up either student or faculty housing outside the main keep, but for the time being it was just marked off construction zones.

The day of the opening ceremony found Richard, myself, and the curious Varis heading to the refurbished grand hall of the keep which had been lined in tiered seating facing the dais where seven people stood. One of them was Crown Princess Bridgette, middle aged and wearing it well with the same blonde hair and blue eyes of her daughter. The other six, four women and two men, were dressed in white and green outfits in various styles, but all with the emblem of Aegis Academy on their left breast. I would guess they would be the teachers.

Vara waved me over when I saw her, and Richard and I moved to sit with her and Jessica. Looking around I spotted a few other students who had brought creatures that were bound to them. One man with the olive skin, dark hair, and slightly slanted amber eyes of the Azure Islands, seated next to what looked like his sister by the similar features, had a small blue dragon like being curled around his neck and resting on his shoulder. There was also a red turtle resting atop the head of a small mousey girl with brown hair, a pair of grey ravens on the shoulders of a young dark haired woman, and a handful of other more common small creatures on the laps of the other students.

When it looked like the last of the students had arrived the princess stepped forward, drawing all eyes to her, and spoke in a voice that could carry over the clamour of a battlefield, “Welcome students to the first year of Aegis Academy. Most of you were selected for your dedication to both learning the craft, and advancing the craft, of aether binding in its myriad forms. Some were selected for potential that the current experts in the field saw in you, and a few of you joined more to see how this was going to work whether for yourself or family. Let me be clear, you are here to learn and grow. If you want to tell your family or whoever what we are trying to accomplish you are welcome to do so, but know that we expect to have to adjust as we try this new method of learning. ”

She paused and waved a hand at the people behind her and said, “These six are your chief instructors. Some will have assistants, others will not, in addition to them there is staff on site to assist you if you should need it. One thing all of you must bear in mind is that noble titles will not matter here. While you are a student of this school you are just that, a student. As this academy is a joint project between four nations it was agreed that your rank outside of here would not matter except where it has bearing on those duties you are assigned.”

She waited a moment for that to sink in, and I caught Vara’s grin as her mother confirmed what she told us in the courtyard. When she spoke again everyone was paying attention, “Now as to the actual learning you are here to accomplish. As of right now there are five course programs that you may choose from to direct your learning. We made add or remove some of these in the future, and if we add one that is more to your inclinations you may speak to one of the faculty or the dean about changing to that program. The programs are Engineer, Scholar, Support, Military, and Operative. I’ll let your teachers explain the programs briefly, but you will need to select a program by the end of the month once introductory classes have finished. And yes, you will be expected to attend the introductory classes, regardless of your own perceived knowledge.”

She stepped back, and one of the women stepped forward. She was in her early middle years, had a slightly dumpy figure with brown hair streaked with grey, brown eyes, and a clear melodic voice as she said, “My name is Samantha Brenner, and I have the dubious honor of being the Dean of Aegis Academy. Which means it's my job to ride herd on not only the faculty here, but all of you hooligans.”

There was a scattering of laughter which brought a smile to her face as she continued, “I will also be your instructor in Introduction to Aether Binding. If you have an issue you can’t bring to the Vice-Dean of your program you can come to me, but please don’t waste my time.”

She stepped back and a young man with dark hair and blue eyes stepped forward and said, “My name is Jacob Schnieder. Now before you ask, yes my father is that crazy bastard that blows up everything.”

There was a round of laughter from the students, and some smiles among the faculty, as he continued, “Now while I inherited his drive to invent; I also inherited my mother’s cautious approach. I am the Vice-Dean for the Engineering program. For those who choose the Engineering program we will be focused on creating new technology using aether binding. We will also be where those who have the creative drive as artisans will be found.”

As he stepped back, to a small applause, another of the women, a hawk faced lady of above average height with short grey hair and ice blue eyes, stepped forward, “My name is Major Anne Schmidt. I am in charge of the Military program here. Now while I disagree that a joint academy is the best place to learn military matters, I agreed to teach those of you who wish to learn how to best become officers in whatever land you travel to after this. That means tactics, leadership, logistics, and combat. I am the primary combat instructor here and when you are in my classes you will not like me.”

She stepped back to a quiet hall and another, younger and smaller woman with black hair and dark eyes stepped forward. “Marie von Nacht is the name. I am the head of the Support program. That is primarily a subject for those of you who have talent for healing skills, but also crosses paths with both Jacob and the captain here for logistics and ease of living. Support is not just about putting someone back together, it's also making sure those around you can do their jobs better.”

With that brief introduction she stepped back to be replaced by the last woman. She looked to have the same slanted eyes of those from the Azure Islands, but her hair was a vibrant red and her slim build was deeply tanned. She spoke clearly though with a crisp inflection on her words that would not let them be misinterpreted, “I am Augusta Siodha, Vice Dean of the Scholar program. Theory is the realm of engineers, scholars deal in fact and recorded detail. Researchers look for new information, while scholars put the pieces together. This program is for those who want to research and study as their primary focus.”

When she stepped back the last man stepped forward. This was an older gentleman with salt and pepper hair, dark eyes, and what looked like a once rugged build. As he scanned the room he rubbed his hand against the stubble on his face and said, “I am John Stormleaf. I will teach those who seek the path of the Operative. Now this course is a bit of a trial run beyond that of the academy itself. Students who graduate as an Aegis Operative will go on to become inter-kingdom law enforcement. We are an alliance of four nations right now, but it wasn’t that long ago that members of this alliance were at war with each other. With the need to respect each other's borders comes the need to have those who can go anywhere to track down criminals that like to cross the borders to hide. That is what Aegis Operatives will do. You will learn laws, ethics, investigative procedures, combat, wilderness survival, etiquette, and that’s just a small sample of what we expect from you. We do not expect many of you to graduate from this program, but the Alliance has a need for men and women to do this job. If you think you are up for it let me know.”

He stepped back and the Crown Princess took his place and began speaking. I didn’t hear a word she said though. This is why I was here. Grandfather had told me that there was a path to looking for my mother at the academy. The Aegis Operative was that path.

Now I just had to make it through the program.