Chapter 14:

  A tall assortment of pale grey limestone buildings stood behind a large steel gate. Stryg stared in wide-eyed wonder, he had never seen buildings so massive. They reminded him of the city’s towering walls. Rorik spoke with the stationed guard. A moment later the gates opened wide.

  "This way,” Rorik motioned him to follow.

  Stryg nodded as he trailed a few feet behind the drow guard. They headed towards the foremost building. It had a dome ceiling with marble pillars standing on each side of the broad ebony wooden doors. Stryg took a deep breath. This was a fresh start, a new beginning for his life. He would try his hardest to succeed in this place. His failures were behind him. Stryg, exile of the Blood Fang tribe would be left behind. Beyond these doors, Stryg the mage would be born. He hoped to return to his village someday, but it would be as a mage, not a failure. He promised himself to make it so. 

They passed by the doors and were met with a middle-aged drow secretary sitting behind a desk. 

  The woman looked up as she noticed the two guests. “Good morning, how may I be of help today?”

“Good morning, my name is Rorik Polamtal, I serve as captain of the guard in the trade district. Yesterday, my men came across this young goblin and we discovered he was a mageborn. He has since told me his wish to attend the academy and I am here to fulfill my duty in ensuring he has the chance.” 

  The woman pushed her flower pot aside and leaned over the desk to see the short goblin. Her eyes were full of doubt, “A goblin? Mageborn?”

“Mr. Granby, our garrison’s mage, assured me. Stryg here is a genuine mageborn.” Rorik said in a firm tone. He hadn’t made it this far just to be turned away.

  Stryg smiled awkwardly, “Hello.”

“Hmm. Well, he’ll have to be tested to ensure that he is a mageborn. After which he can sign the proper documents to enter the academy.” The secretary leaned back and began rummaging through her desk.

  “Of course,” Rorik accepted. 

  “Follow me then. This won’t take long.” The secretary pulled out a “BE BACK SOON” sign and hung it from the desk. She led them through a door to the side and through a windowless long grey stone corridor. Torches lined the hallway. Stryg felt nervous, he was going to be tested, a challenge. He never did well in challenges, no matter how much he trained. He didn’t even know what the test was about, let alone prepared for it. He tried taking deep breaths to calm down. This place felt alien to him. He had never been in a stone building before, never walked down a hallway that seemed to go on forever. Dozens of doors flew past them as they strided by. 

Deep breaths, Stryg, deep breaths, he thought to himself.

  The secretary suddenly stopped and opened a door to her right, “Come in. Quickly.”

The room was sparse save for a long table covered in ten small crystalline baubles. A human read a book while leaning against a wall. He wore a grey tunic and pants. He glanced at them, “Ah, Miss Byrel, another applicant?”

  “Quite right. Go ahead, John.” The secretary folded her hands and stood in the corner, like a vulture waiting for her prey.

“Right away.” John placed the book down and walked to the table. “If you could come here, please.” He gestured towards the guard captain.

  “Oh, I’m not being tested.” Rorik gave Stryg a gentle push.

Stryg swallowed as he stepped forward, “What do I need to do?”

  John frowned and looked at Miss Byrel. She nodded in silence from the corner. He sighed, “Ok, then. The test is easy, even for someone like you.”

  Stryg scowled, what was that supposed to mean? Did they think he was dumb? He wanted to say something, but he needed to behave. He didn’t want to mess up his chances while being this close to his new beginning, his chance at learning magic.

  John lifted up one of the crystalline trinkets. It was a clear crystal orb the size of  a fist, with two dense metal disks attached to the sides. Symbols were etched to the bottom of each disk. He placed the trinket in front of Stryg, disk-side to the table. 

  “This is an enchanted tool we call a chrome-probe,” John began to recite. “The clear stone in the middle is called a magestone. It is a mineral with the unique ability to store mana, the energy magi possess. The chrome-probe is enchanted to naturally absorb the mana of whoever touches it. I don’t expect you to understand much of what I said, it's just protocol. Now, all you need to do is place your hand on the top metal disk.”

  Stryg understood perfectly, but let the slight be. He placed his right hand on the metal disk. It was cold to the touch. Nothing seemed to be happening. 

  Miss Byrel pushed her glasses up, “Captain, the next time you try to waste this academy’s time-”

  Stryg felt a trickle of warmth rise from his chest travel through his right arm and into his palm. Black inky light flowed through the magestone until it was fully dyed a jet black. 

“Well, I’ll be damned,” John muttered. He looked up in surprise, “Remove your hand, quickly.”

  Stryg flung his hand away. The warmth receded back into his chest and disappeared. 

“Your mana was being absorbed for quite a while, how do you feel?” John asked.

  “I feel fine.” Stryg rubbed his hand, the sensation had felt similar to when he had ripped away from the ropes. Just less strenuous, he assessed. “So, do I pass?” He looked at John and Miss Byrel. 

“We still have to do a few more tests if you’re feeling alright,” John grabbed another chrome-probe.

  “That won’t be necessary,” Miss Byrel straightened her skirt. “The boy has proven himself to be a mageborn.”

John bowed his head, “Yes, Miss Byrel.”

  She opened the door, “You two, follow me back to the front desk. I’ll help you with the rest of the registration.”

The walk back was quiet, but Stryg couldn’t help but smile in relief. He had passed. Despite not knowing practically anything about magic he had passed. It was a small step, but it was a step nonetheless towards the path of a mage. 

  At her desk Miss Byrel pulled out a few documents and an ink pen. “These documents are for your registration as a first year student. This one is for your contract with Hollow Shade city; in summary it states that the city will pay for your tuition during your three years of study at the academy. In turn you will work for Hollow Shade city for ten years after graduation. Sign the contract first.” She handed him the contract and pointed at the line on the bottom.

  Stryg picked up the document and stared at it for a few moments. 

“What are you doing?” Miss Byrel asked in annoyance.

  “I’m reading to make sure everything is right,” Stryg said.

She laughed in anger, “Don’t lie to me. Goblins can’t read. Don’t you dare waste my time with your antics!”

  Stryg clenched his teeth and began to read the document outloud. Miss Byrel’s face seemed as if it was about to explode. Rorik simply smiled. For the first time in his life Stryg was grateful that he had spent time learning how to read the symbols on the paper. He wondered if the ability of words was actually valuable. 

  “Everything seems like what you said,” Stryg whispered to himself. He took the ink pen and signed his name on the right lines and handed them back to the secretary.

  She looked them over, twice, to make sure everything was in order. Finally, nodding to herself she put the papers away. “It’s strange. On the eve of the beginning of the new school year, after everyone else has applied and most failed, including many of our own fellow drow, a goblin appears. Who not only passes the chrome-probe test, but can also read and write with proficiency. How strange, suspicious, one might even say.”

“Anything else, we should know about? I mean something that’s not just your conjecture, but actually relevant to Stryg’s registration?” Rorik asked.

  Miss Byrel scowled. She took out two sheets of paper and a key, and slammed it on her desk. “The first year’s curriculum and a map of campus is on this paper. The second paper is the academy’s writ of proof that you are an attending student. Go to the library to pick up the first year textbooks. Here is the key to your dorm room. The room will be ready in a few hours. Clothes will also be prepared for you. Students are expected to wear the appropriate garments during class. Be sure to take a bath before you change. You stink. That will be all.” Miss Byrel sat back down and paid them no more attention.

  Stryg went on his tiptoes to reach the paper and key from the high desk. They pair left without another word. The woman was just another person of power who threw their weight around. Stryg had known many. It was best to bide his time. He recalled the poacher and his centaur, like so many others Stryg would wait until he was powerful enough to deal with them. 

  As they walked back to the carriage Stryg couldn’t help but speak, “I’m starting to understand what you meant by people not liking goblins.”

Rorik scratched his head, “Yeah. There aren’t any wealthy or powerful goblins in Hollow Shade, few in all the Ebon Realm I reckon. That, coupled with goblins’ relatively short and weak physique, and a slew of prejudice against them, has made the species as a whole get the short end of the stick for a very long time.”

  “Then why did you stand up for me back there?”

“Oh that? She was just getting on my nerves, acting all high and mighty.”

  “But, she’s a mage. Aren’t you worried she’ll burn you or something?”

“Nah, she isn’t a mage. She wasn’t wearing a mage’s necklace. She just works there. I’m still a captain of the guard. I don’t have to take shit from her.” Rorik opened the carriage doors.

  Wait, if she wasn’t a mage, then why was she acting so arrogant? Did she have some other kind of power or was she simply an idiot? Stryg wasn’t sure.

“Do you hate goblins?” Stryg asked.

  Rorik opened his mouth to answer, but paused when he saw Stryg’s intense stare.

Rorik sighed, “No, but I never really cared about them either. I’m helping you out since it's my job.” That and the hope that you might repay the favor later on.

  Stryg stared for a few more seconds before entering the carriage. Rorik climbed in and they were off.

  “Wait, shouldn’t we be going to the library to get my books?”

“It’ll take a few hours for your name to be registered into the academy’s ledgers, including the library. You won’t be able to get your books till then. We might as well get you your nameplate right now.”

  Stryg nodded in understanding. “...Do I really stink?”

“Yes, very much so.” Rorik laughed. “You should take advantage of the academy baths when you get the chance. The one at the martial academy is quite nice. I bet the magic academy has one just as good if not better. You don’t want to smell like blood and guts when you’re in front of all your classmates, believe me.”