“Those bricks are a very unique design. I have not seen anything like it so far.” Shae looked to Mel slowing to a stop to get a better look at the exterior of the mage’s college. The bricks looked about the same as bricks used back on earth to build older homes and some businesses. Just more red.

“You won’t see bricks like that anywhere except on government buildings. Well, maybe some of the richest families have them, though usually on a special room. Not the entire manor. But they are tied to the Monarchy, and it makes sense. Those bricks are magic dampening. They prevent scrying, and teleportation. Most spells really. But spying spells and unwanted entry are what their main use is to thwart.”

Then Mel pointed to one of the windows, “See how the windows have a slightly pink hue?” Shae Nodded. “They are also imbued with magic dampening. Anytime you see a reddish hue on windows, doors, or walls, you can assume it has anti-magic properties.”

“Good to know, thanks. Still, it stands out in a very regal manor compared to all the other buildings.”

“I agree. I have always loved the color these bricks add to the city scape. Most buildings are just drab wood or cheap stone. Makes for a bleak landscape.”

“You’d think the citizens would try to liven up the area with flowers and such. Add a sprinkle of color here and there.” Shae more said than asked. As the two women started toward the entryway.

“Well, most people don’t have a lot of extra money to waste on superficialities, necessities take priority. The town parks and some of the richer houses have flowers and colored tapestries to add to their decor. The truly wealthy also have paintings. There is a very realistic painting in the adventurer’s guild.” Mel added a bit more information.

“Are artists that rare?” Shae asked

“Pretty rare. First you need to be a mage to add the magic colors to the canvas. Then you need to have a great imagination with the ability to picture what you wish to imprint on the canvas. Most mages feel it is a waste of time to use such potential just for pictures to hang on the wall. Still there are a few wandering Art-Mages. They are a very tiny branch of the mage’s guild. And do not receive much of a stipend from the government, as they don’t help with important matters of state. The only reason they receive any at all is because the current queen likes paintings.”

“Huh, guess there are starving artist here too.” Shae muttered out without thinking.

“That’s a very apt way of putting it.” Mel chuckled at Shae quip.

Then the two quieted as they entered the building.

They came into a large rectangular room. There were two doors in the walls to the left and right. Across from them there was a large desk that was carved with sweeping curls that ran the length of the front. Behind the desk was a large, recessed area, the wall held three doors spaced a meter apart. Astride the outer doors, each had a stair, with rich blue stair runners, ascending to its own balcony. There were open hallways leading away from the balcony. They were the only other access from this large room that had no doors.

“Well,” Mel whispered pointing to the desk. “The Art-mages also work with wood and stone to make other items like desks, tables and statues.”

Shae was busy taking everything in and only nodded.

The room was lit by the windows that ran along the entry wall. But there was more to it. The ceiling, which was seven meters high, had bright glowing spots.

Noticing where Shae was looking Mel explained. “They likely enchanted spots on the ceiling with light spells. And close your mouth you look silly.” Mel added with a bit of a laugh.

Shae had not realized she was gaping. There was gold trim along the ceiling edges. There were rich blue banners hung on either side of the recessed area that held the desk. There was even a large painting beside each banner. Though Shae could not see much detail, but she could see the general scope of the paintings from where she stood at the entrance. One she could see figures fighting a monster, The other was an ocean vista looking off a cliff. With a few rocks sticking out of the water further out, waves crashing against them.

The vista was a typical thing even in her world. The fight scene was fitting here but much rarer on earth.

The attendant behind the desk cleared her throat, getting Shae attention. Mel was just patiently waiting with a grin on her face watching Shae take it all in. Mel had been here a couple of times when Nick needed research materials. So, she was over her gawking phase.

Shae blushed and moved toward the desk almost briskly.

The attendant, who looked Shae’s age, except with black hair that had a slight purple tinge to it, and light brown skin. Smiled at the two in a profession way. The smile had no hint of warmth.

“How may we help you two today?” The young lady behind the desk asked in an even tone scanning over Shae’s odd attire, almost stopping to stare at her hair and eyes. Then settled on her eyes.

“Umm. I am here to take the entry tests for the college please.” Shae replied.

“Aren’t you a bit old?” the attendant asked curtly. As if she was out of patients already. Everyone knew you enrolled at a much younger age. ‘Nobody her age could be of much worth.’ The attendant thought to herself.

“Well dearie,” Mel began in her annoyed mother tone. “If you hadn’t noticed, she not exactly from around here. Annnd if you don’t go and get a tester quickly, I will be sure to tell them about what a great job you’re doing here, when they assess this young lady.” Mel finished with an almost daring sneer.

The attendant huffed before her eyes glowed yellow. Then she almost fell over backwards in her chair as her head snapped up and back taking in Shae aura size. She paled scrambling for balance. Then the young lady with black and purple hair ran to a door under the right stairway and exploded into the room without knocking. You could only now see the door standing in front of the desk.

“What’s the meaning of this!” A man’s voice yelled at the door being almost thrown off its hinges.

There were some fast hushed words from the female desk attendant. Then the scrape of a chair against a stone floor. “You had better be right” The voice replied.

Then out of the doorway walked a man that stood just over a meter tall. He was bald except for a few wisps on the sides of his head, that were white as snow. When he came out of the room, his eyes were already glowing a yellow hue. He abruptly came to a stop, so abruptly that the man following him had to quickly sidestep off balance or bowl the short man over.

The second man was of average height and build. He had the more traditional brown hair of the region. He was on the more handsome side. He cleared his throat and righted himself brushing down his blue robe with embarrassed haste. He did was not looking at Shae with yellow eyes, but instead his own normal black ones.

“Gods” the short man whispered in a deep rich voice that made Shae and Mel both jerk with a start.

The short man with the unbelievably deep voice cleared his throat getting himself together. He was dressed in a form blue top and darker blue pants. His top had lapels that had three small triangles in a vertical formation on either side, that looked embedded into the material somehow.

“How may we help you miss.” The taller man in the robe, who had a more normal toned voice asked with an amused voice.

“I-I would like to enroll sir.” She started with a stutter. Things were not going as easily as she had hoped so far.

The short man waved his hands up and down in a shooing manner at the larger man, who just smiled warmly and nodded to his shorter colleague.

With another clearing of the throat the short man spoke in his out of place deep smooth voice. “Of course, miss?”

“Oh sorry! My name is Shae. Shae,” she hesitated a second. Then, “Brightmane.” Thinking of a more tribal name that she might have been given in this world. Then realized how lame it sounded slumping mentally.

“Of course, miss Brightmane.” The short man with the very deep smooth voice, Shae just couldn’t get over it!

“And you are?” The small man with the… asked looking now at Mel.

“A friend and adventurer. I am currently her backing.” Mel said with a bit of authority.

The small man nodded slightly then ignoring Mel further turned fully to Shae.

“We can begin the tests in a few minutes. Please have a seat in my room under the stairs there while you wait.” Then turning to his room, “You can come out any time.”

The young lady from before merged meekly from the room. Slightly shaking.

“Oh, come now! It’s not like she’s a Vorcable looking to eat you” The short man chided.

The young lady took her seat behind her desk keeping her eyes down looking intently at her lap.

The short man just shook his head.

“Come, please.” He gestured to Shae and Mel to follow him. Then he gestured to the softly padded chairs in front of his own impossibly large desk for his size. “Have a seat. I will see to having your test readied.” Then he and his rich voice left them. The girl behind her desk kept her eyes forward. The robed fellow that had come out with the shorter man followed him, to see to the testing arrangement Shae assumed. He had neither used his sensing magic nor spoke after his initial bout. He just followed along quietly.

And at a much more languid pace to keep stride.