《Apocalypse Survivor's Journey In A Magic Realm》 Another World? Ding. Assessing. Registering. Error. Error. Reconfiguring. Kaz¡¯s body jolted, arms flailing, feeling as though he was sucked through a straw. He bit his tongue, using the pain to focus his mind. Kaz opened his eyes to see the floor approaching. He rolled with the fall, coming to a stop, crouched at the feet of a girl dressed in pink. Flat on his back, he paused, waiting for his stomach to settle. Her appearance shocked him. The little horns protruding from her head were one thing, but her face was awash with tears, stark devastation distorting her features. Her eyes were closed, and her head tilted back in supplication. What¡¯s happening? Where am I? His mind screamed. Terra. Vague memories flashed as he remembered being enveloped in light. His family huddled together as they said goodbye. He pushed the thoughts away. Kaz focused on the girl. She wasn¡¯t a threat to him and she wasn¡¯t acting like she was in immediate danger. A body falling at her feet wasn¡¯t odd. It was the look on her face that kept his attention. It tugged at something inside him. He¡¯d seen that look on others¡ªsometimes in the mirror¡ªand it appeared more frequently as the apocalypse progressed. The base they built became a safe place, an oasis, but the ever-looming threat of zombies and humans made every moment of peace they experienced a fragile illusion. That was the look of worry and fear, the waiting for something good to go bad. Or the moment when your expectations were met; when every good thing you¡¯d built crumbled. Not the time. You¡¯re safer here than you were before. And wasn¡¯t that the fucking problem, he was here and safe while his family was left in that hell hole. A world on the brink of collapse. He shook his head. Kaz sprang up, staying crouched as he assessed the situation. There were other people here, boys and girls¨Cno ¨C young men and women roughly in the same age group as Kaz. They all displayed different emotions, but none of them focused on him. Either their risk awareness was low or they didn¡¯t think he was a threat. It was likely the latter. They didn¡¯t seem like fighters, only a few made him weary. He was sure he could fight them and win, kill them if necessary. Kaz couldn¡¯t shake the feeling of looming danger. It wasn¡¯t the people. The air felt hostile. Every instinct told him this place was dangerous. School, his mind supplied. His mother¡¯s hasty explanation said he was supposed to meet his father before enrolling in the magical equivalent of college. Kaz hadn¡¯t been all that thrilled to find out the father he thought was dead was, in fact, alive. Kaz¡¯s already low opinion of the man who abandoned his mother fell even further. There was no Duke Aquileia in sight and he doubted this was the school his mother described. Mola Academy sounded more like magical Harvard whereas this was giving assassination classroom and chamber of secrets vibes. It was a school. He¡¯d seen the contract Duke Aquileia forced his mother to sign when she left. Kaz was to be sent to school, and given a fair chance to inherit when he turned twenty-one. His mother, sweet as she was despite living through the apocalypse, didn¡¯t realize there were no protection clauses anywhere in that document. Kaz had to make it to twenty-one first all on his own. He stood, tired of getting odd looks. He was in an enormous rectangular room. Black stone walls devoured light. It felt more like a cave than a man-made structure despite him being able to see the individual bricks. The dank room had weak glowing points embedded in the ceiling, struggling to keep it from being pitch black. The light added a creepy feeling to the room, lengthening shadows, and making them come alive. If he stared too long, the shadows looked like they were reaching for him. Kaz shuddered. The smell didn¡¯t help either. It was wet laundry left in the machine for too long mixed with damp earth and decay. At the front of the room was a large black wooden door with a thick wooden bar keeping it closed. Uneasy settled heavily in the pit of his stomach. The room was cold, a chill seeping from the ground, and a nippy wind was sweeping through despite having no windows he could see. Most of the furniture in the room were rickety bunk beds that had seen better days. They offered no privacy or comfort. Kaz focused on the front of the room where he could just make out a curtain hiding a single bed. He sighed. Something was wrong with this room. It crawled along his skin like something living, engulfing him in terror. It was uncanny his mind screaming danger. It was a room manifested from his nightmares. The crush of students piled in the middle of the room, surrounding Kaz, made everything worse. Kaz clenched his teeth. It was a struggle to keep still the urge to flee clawing up his throat as memories of the apocalypse surfaced. The darkness and crush of bodies. It reminded him too much of the beginning. At the start, the confusion and hope, when people took refuge with each other. Before they realized the horrors of humanity. Kaz stepped back, trying to put space between himself and the others, but he bumped into an invisible wall. Panic skittered up his spine. He tried again. His body jerked to a stop. Digging his fingers into his palm, he forced himself to still. He closed his eyes, forcing air into his lungs. With a heavy exhale he pushed the memories aside. He took another breath. He wanted his notebook but it wasn¡¯t the time. Instead, he focused on what was stopping him. There was a red line at his feet. It ran the length of the room, dividing it in half. Girls were on one side and boys on the other. Two large trunks sat on either side of the room close to a red circle fencing the students in. The feeling of being trapped tried to swallow him. This feeling is temporary. Nothing bad is going to happen and you can protect yourself if you need to. Three things you can hear. Kaz focused on the slight rattle coming from the back of the room. The soft sobs of students. The jangle of chains or bracelets as someone moved. As his breathing eased, he could smell the acidic tinge of urine and a light lavender scent. It sort of smelled like the perfume his mother wore. It was lighter mixed with jasmine whereas his mother smelled like honey. He could almost taste her warm chocolate chip cookies¨C There was a thud. A boy landed in a heap and then curled into a ball. He didn¡¯t move even as others appeared mid-air and landed on him. A small part of Kaz wanted to reach out and help, but he squashed it. If he reached out his hand, he had to be prepared for it being bitten, or worse someone latching on and not letting go. There was a certain responsibility attached to helping someone, and it was foolhardy to help people who weren¡¯t prepared to help themselves. He¡¯d learned that the hard way when his rash actions put those he cared about in danger. Kaz looked away. He scanned the room, meeting the gaze of a purple-eyed boy who watched everything with crossed arms and a sneer. They exchanged nods before looking away. ¡°Should I set it on fire?¡± Kaz¡¯s head whipped around, but he couldn¡¯t see who¡¯d spoken. A girl. Her voice was light and airy, but she sounded so serious. Kaz stilled, rubbing his eyes. Was the room getting smaller? No, it was the beds, more of them appeared along with students. The cavernous space became impossibly small. He shook his head, moving away from the center of the room. He didn¡¯t stop until he was pressed against the edge of the circle, his eyes on the curtain at the front of the room. If he had to live here, he wanted one of those beds. Kaz leaned against the barrier, waiting for the other shoe to drop. He remembered his mother¡¯s words. Her fantastical tale was woven with the promise of magic and the majesty of Mola Academy. He¡¯d been charmed, but not at all certain he¡¯d fit in. Kaz¡¯s nature was closer to that of a beast. Kaz was used to fighting; unsure of how to exist in peace. Whatever school ¡®they¡¯ sent him to, suited his nature. That twinge of danger hung over him like a cloud. His instincts told him he¡¯d be able to find a way to meet his family here. Not the mysterious father who tossed him to the wolves, but his mother, brother, and stepfather. The people he was forced to leave behind. Kaz wondered if this would be an advantage. He looked to the side at the blue semi-transparent screen only he could see suspended in the air. It was already malfunctioning. According to his mother, it was a primus schola: a family heirloom that was supposed to help him in this strange new world. It was a tool to teach heirs magic that would be usable when he arrived in Nioroma. His mother had said a lot of things that weren¡¯t happening. It also looked like a gaming system. Did he have to be in Nioroma for it to activate? That would be inconvenient. He leaned his head on the barrier, eyes drifting to the sealing. Kaz stilled. He took it all back. He was used to living in danger and uncertainty but that didn¡¯t mean it wasn¡¯t fucking annoying. He dragged a hand down his face. The ceiling was undulating and writhing like a pit of snakes. There was a face forming in the stone. It pushed out, eyes and mouth open in a scream, but empty. It was a sight that was as grotesque as it was fascinating. He glanced around to see if anyone else was seeing this. At first, it was only a few students, but soon others glanced up wondering what they were looking at. Kaz took note of the students who were the first to notice the changes. He would consider them first if he needed allies. ¡°That doesn¡¯t look like an illusion.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a morph spell. The headmaster here is famous for it.¡± The appearance of the face in the rock eased some of the tension in the room. The looks on the faces of some students eased into weary acceptance. Kaz¡¯s shoulders eased as the nervous energy settled into a low hum. Conversations started in small groups around the room. Kaz started observing the students. They were a diverse bunch, some with animal characteristics. A boy close to him had fine translucent red scales along his neck. Another¡¯s pupils were square and horizontal. There were also varied clothes. Clothes were actually the dividing factor. Boys dressed in colorful silk shirts and fitted pants with numerous rings on their fingers stood together. Other boys, wearing fewer rings on their fingers but still dressed in finery, looked at the first group with envious, scared, or angry gazes. There were subtle differences in the clothes that he attributed to different countries. One country favored yellow or gold with almost all of them wearing a shade of that color. They were a religious country since everyone wore a cross, whether cufflinks or necklaces. In another group the shoes were different, leather sandals were popular among them. The other two were identical, but the boys formed distinct groups. Only a few wore linen and milled around, seeking each other out, but not talking much. Their clothes mimicked the others, but the quality and fit were off. The boys with the crosses were from the Sol Theocracy. Those wearing sandals were from Enki which mostly had coastal towns. Threece and Nioroma wore almost identical clothes and he couldn¡¯t distinguish them with the information he had, but he noticed that one group had more animal characteristics than the other. He was technically from Nioroma. His parents were both from duchies, but his father and the king were relatives whereas his mother¡¯s family had vowed not to marry anyone directly related to the throne. Kaz stroked the ring on his finger. In his storage ring his mother had given him a book with the information he¡¯d need. She also said Kaz would find an explanation for why she hadn¡¯t told him sooner or given him more information. He itched to start reading, but it wasn¡¯t the time or the place. His mother¡¯s information was also seventeen years old and had so far proved unreliable. Where am I?¡± A girl asked, shaking her head from side to side. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t be here.¡± The room quieted, everyone focusing on her¨Ca distraction from their own thoughts and worries. Kaz wanted to pretend he had a lofty reason, like collecting information, but he was the same. He needed a mental break.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°Shut up,¡± another girl said. ¡°Don¡¯t pretend here. Your crocodile tears won¡¯t get you far.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk to her like that,¡± the pink-dress girl from earlier said. ¡°You shut up too. She acted like she was better than the rest of us because the young duke was interested in her, but what did it get her? Nothing. Here with the rest of us. He fucked her, and she¡¯s got nothing to show for it. And, you¨Cthe queen was kind enough to arrange your marriage, and that is how you repaid her? Why do I have to be punished along with you?¡± Kaz could only make out a red ponytail flicking as the girl spoke. As mean and angry as she tried to sound, fear filled her voice. ¡°He promised to marry me. He did. He will. This is a mistake¨C¡± Snickers and conversation rose on the boy''s side of the room, drowning out the girls. Some guys stood on the tip of their toes to see which girls were talking, sneers, shoulder bumps, and suggestive smiles being shared. Cliques were forming around people who knew each other. ¡°Can you see her?¡± a beady-eyed boy asked. ¡°No,¡± another boy answered, pressed to the dividing line of the barrier, girls sneering at him in disgust as he tried to see who was talking. ¡°She¡¯s got her back to me. Come on sweety, let me see your face.¡± ¡°Well, most of these girls are illegitimate daughters, they¡¯ll be easy.¡± The boy who said this wore arrogance like a second skin. His group was the largest with two bulky boys standing on either side of him like guards. ¡°If you were someone important, you¡¯d be at Mola instead of slumming it here like the rest of us.¡± The pink-dress girl had collected herself, pushing her way to the circles. Her unfocussed eyes stared in the distance and only the reddened corners showed her earlier loss of emotion. All that remained was determination. ¡°You¡¯d know all about slumming it, wouldn¡¯t you, princess? Daddy wasn¡¯t too pleased you embarrassed him in front of the diplomats from Sol. You should have married the pope like a good little girl.¡± The arrogant boy soothed his hand down a silk shirt, sneering at those around him until an unoccupied bubble, a foot wide, formed around him. ¡°In four years do you dare say that to my face?¡± pink-dress asked. ¡°You might marry me in four years.¡± Pink-dress, likely a princess, laughed. ¡°You¡¯ve got eight brothers in this year alone, all just as likely to become the duke. Not to mention those older and younger than you. You¡¯re nothing special, pretend all you want. Just make sure you make something of your life before your father loses interest in your mother--if he hasn''t done that already.¡± The arrogant boy was huffing now. His eyes scanned the room and met the gaze of seven other boys. Only one looked away which enraged him more. His face became mottled red. ¡°Do you know who I am? Fix your gazes. My mother will deal with all of you.¡± ¡°She¡¯s right. Your bitch mother can¡¯t do anything here and your thugs are useless. From this point, the only thing that matters is the results.¡± ¡°Well said.¡± A thundering voice echoed through the room. Every student groaned, a weight settling on their shoulders and fear seeping into their bones. ¡°Welcome to Killingworth.¡± There were shouts and shrieks. Students bumped into each other falling to the floor. Kaz had never been to a concert, but he imagined a mosh pit stampede might look like this. His eyes snapped to the ceiling, watching the undulating stone settle into a face. Hollow eyes glowed with power. For a glorified stone statue, his face was expressive. The man was more amused than concerned as he observed the students. Its eyes lingered on certain individuals, Kaz included. Kaz¡¯s hand flew to his side as that eerie gaze brushed over him. His hand hovered over where his sword should be, grasping at air. He clenched his fist, biting his lip to resist the urge to use his powers. There is no danger. He doesn¡¯t want to attack. It took everything to stay still as his mind screamed danger. The weight lifted and Kaz heard the soft thuds as students slumped to the floor. ¡°Well, we might have a few decent ones this year, more than in past years.¡± Kaz forced his eyes away, determined to remember the faces of every student that remained standing. He jolted. He¡¯d thought there were about two hundred people here but as he looked around that number was closer to a thousand. Space powers, or space magic. It was a scale that the space powers in the apocalypse had never reached. He desperately wanted to make notes, but held back, focusing on his task. Among the girls and boys, roughly sixty remained standing. ¡°We have full enrollment for the first time in over five hundred years. As Headmaster, I am proud that this happened during my tenure. I¡¯m pleased that this illustrious academy is regaining its former glory and I look forward to the achievements of the students who graduate. This is an exciting time in your lives and I encourage you to cherish every moment. As your headmaster, I urge you to be diligent in your studies, but as someone who remembers his youth, I implore you to cherish the relationships you make here. If chosen wisely, those you call friends will leave indelible marks on you and aid you in years to come. Our motto here is Non Docur, Docu; I am not led, I lead. During your tenure here, you will decide what that means to you.¡± Applause rang through the room, sounding like a laugh track, distant and echoing. Some students snorted, ridicule clear on their faces. Other students joined in the applause, sending nervous glances at each other. Kaz didn¡¯t bother. The headmaster didn¡¯t strike him as a man who said words lightly. He pulled out his notebook, unable to resist, and recorded the speech, circling parts he thought the headmaster emphasized. ¡°Anorak.¡± What a strange word to use. Kaz wrote it in his book double-underlining it. If he wasn¡¯t mistaken an anorak was a winter jacket, but that didn¡¯t fit the context. Something tickled his brain but he couldn¡¯t put his finger on it. Kaz glanced over to see a boy brushing dust off his pants. His legs were trembling as he used the barrier to stand steady. There was recognition in the boy''s blue eyes as he glanced at Kaz before hastily looking away. The boy was nervous, a mix of excitement and fear. That glance showed a greedy gaze. Kaz watched him for a moment more, tapping the charcoal stick his mother had given him instead of a pen against the page. His being here wasn¡¯t accidental. Kaz wasn¡¯t as shocked as he should be that his ¡®father¡¯ had lied to his mother. The story of how she ended up in a different world seemed less likely. One thing at a time. Kaz was good at compartmentalizing, he would have been dead otherwise. The headmaster ignored everything and continued talking once the applause track ended. ¡°A few housekeeping matters¨C¡± A sickening crunch cut off the headmaster¡¯s words. Screams tore through the air. The students stepped back. Kaz looked at the body in the room. There was a short boy, his hair a light grey, wearing loose linen pants with sandals, and his neck bent at an unnatural angle. A trickle of blood seeped past his lips and from his unseeing eyes. ¡°Lovely. We¡¯re over-enrolled this year. I wonder what happened. Just a moment students, I¡¯ll set the room to accept over capacity. Far be it for me to turn out hopeful students.¡± The body was gone faster than it came but the impact on the group lasted. This world was largely peaceful. It was in the shocked look on their faces. The uncomfortable shuffling of their feet. They weren¡¯t used to death. The better they were dressed the larger the reaction, and the more horrified they were. It was the same in his world. People with wealth and influence sheltered their children. Yet, because of this, certain people stood out. Some were saddened but still used to death. Others, like Kaz, had dispassionate eyes. A few looked at the ring on his finger with greed. Storage rings represented resources to be used or traded. ¡°Now then, back to it. A few housekeeping matters. You can¡¯t leave the school until you¡¯ve passed, with sufficient merit, through three years of schooling. The exact time that it takes depends on the student.¡± Kaz¡¯s heart raced. He felt trapped. It wasn¡¯t like he had anywhere to go. His mother¡¯s family disowned her and his father at best wanted nothing to do with him and at worst wanted him dead. With his eyes closed, he forced himself to take a calming breath, counting back from ten. Fear and anger wouldn¡¯t help, and he refused to let his emotions rule him by lashing out. He needed a plan. That was what these three years were for; acclimatize to this world. ¡°No!¡± a boy with black hair, and pale, gaunt skin said. ¡°I didn¡¯t agree to this. Let me out! I don¡¯t belong here.¡± He was biting his nails, eyes shifting around the room. ¡°I¡¯m better than this. There¡¯s a mistake.¡± He ran to the barrier, banging his fist against it. ¡°I don¡¯t want to die.¡± The headmaster laughed, a booming sound that shook the room. Kaz splayed his legs, a hand on the barrier steadying him. It was like the headmaster was the room. Even after he stopped laughing the room rattled, dust falling from the ceiling, accompanied by a symphony of creaking wood. Several beds broke, but in the next breath, they were magically repaired. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief when the room stopped shaking. ¡°A mistake? Maybe, we have a few of those. People have historically sent mistakes here, whether you remain as such is up to you, but that doesn¡¯t change the fact that you can¡¯t leave. Though you¡¯re welcome to try.¡± The crying started again, softer though, afraid to attract attention to themselves. ¡°Can we graduate early?¡± pink-dress-princess asked. ¡°No. There is a three-year minimum mandatory attendance, but your life can be more comfortable.¡± The stone face smiled, trying to make a reassuring expression, but as the rock pulled and cracked at the edges, it looked terrifying. Kaz guessed they were like actors in a play, an amusing distraction for the headmaster rather than students. He didn¡¯t like it. He was used to a certain level of respect. Kaz had worked hard to earn it based on his strengths and achievements. ¡°How can we be more comfortable?¡± pink-dress-princess asked. ¡°Hmm, what a good question. You have to do this and that, maybe a little more of that. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll figure it out.¡± This look suited the headmaster better. It was malicious and filled with devilish glee. ¡°Is it that you don¡¯t have an answer or won¡¯t tell us?¡± A red-faced boy with more bravado than common sense was glaring at the ceiling. It took a unique type of stupidity to knowingly behave with so little care for the consequences of your actions. There was another rumbling laugh that had the room shaking. ¡°Hmm, I wonder which it is? What will you do if I don¡¯t know? What will you do if I don¡¯t want to tell you?¡± The headmaster cocked a curious brow, his face pushing further out of the stone and towards the boy who promptly fell on his ass. ¡°No wonder you haven¡¯t had any students for the last five years.¡± The arrogant boy was speaking, arms crossed. He tried his best not to look intimidated but stepped closer to his two muscled friends and shifted from side to side. ¡°Ahh? Hmm, what a lovely surprise. Nine dukes spread across three nations, and everyone has a son attending Killingworth this year. That takes me back to when I was a stud¨C¡± The nervous boy glanced at Kaz, giving himself away. The only question was¨Cthe thought slipped away as a shout drew his attention. ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous, Antonius is going to Mola Academy. And I find the insinuation that the Duke of Aquileia has illegitimate children to be crass and insulting. He''s known for his fidelity.¡± It was the crying girl from before. Kaz wasn¡¯t impressed. She was beautiful but reeked of desperation. The heavy set of her face made it seem like she was marching off to war. ¡°Another idiot bites the dust.¡± The purple-eyed boy from earlier inched closer, before mirroring Kaz and leaning against the barrier. ¡°Rock, paper scissors for the bottom bunk?¡± ¡°Wrong person. I don¡¯t like sharing.¡± Purple-eyes, Kaz really needed to learn some names, quirked a brow before shrugging. ¡°Really? I don¡¯t either.¡± They shared a smile before turning back to the drama. Antonius¡¯s girl was clutching her throat, tears streaming down her face, and her mouth was moving but no sound came out. Ah, Kaz could see the appeal. There was a weakness to her: a softness that appealed to a man''s instincts to protect. She looked like a busty K-pop idol using the innocent concept. If the world hadn¡¯t fallen to shit, he felt like that might be his type. Now, he had no interest in women. ¡°Don¡¯t interrupt me, child, especially not to hark about Marcus¡¯s virtues for which he has only a few. As for fidelity?¡± The stone eyes focused on him. Kaz¡¯s plans to fly under the radar died a swift death. The nervous boy looked even more worried, and others who¡¯d only shown passing interest in him glanced at him for a little longer than necessary. Their eyes were missing the confusion of the rest of the students. ¡°I don¡¯t know the whole story, nor do I wish to comment on it, but I¡¯m the first son from the first wife, though I¡¯m the younger brother. A miracle born of true love and fidelity.¡± Purple-eyes dissolved into laughter. Pink-dress-princess looked shocked and then determined. Arrogant-boy looked sick. Nervous-boy looked scandalized. Discount-K-pop idol looked confused, then disbelieving, and then determined. Red-hair ponytail looked hungry and Kaz was the last piece of meat. A lot of the girls had that look. ¡°Thanks,¡± Kaz said to the Headmaster. ¡°You¡¯re welcome,¡± the headmaster said with twinkling eyes and a grandfatherly smile. ¡°Now, no interruptions, I¡¯ll finish going over those rules. Magic is a costly endeavor and time is money.¡± A Few Rules Someone paid the headmaster to expose him. Kaz could feel it in his bones. There were at least two groups after him; the one who instructed nervous-boy, and the one who paid the headmaster to expose him. They weren¡¯t working together because their objectives clashed. Nervous boy wanted to take care of him quietly. The headmaster¡¯s actions put him at the center of attention and painted a target on his back. The headmaster and his mother were similar. She was a money-grubbing misery and when the apocalypse started they found out she was like a pack rat hoarding resources. For a moment they thought she knew it was coming, but she¡¯d been raised to prepare for any scenario. ¡°No. How do we make our lives more comfortable? Answer my questions, by order of¨C¡± The boy¡¯s face matched the color of his shirt, a deep read. His hands clawed at his throat before he crumpled to the ground. The students close to him backed away, but after a few concerned glances, they pretended he wasn¡¯t there. ¡°Tsk. nothing special,¡± the headmaster said, giving the boy a disappointed look. ¡°Refrain from interrupting. Students will be muted if they speak out of turn. Whether it will be permanent is up to the whims of fate.¡± Hands flew to throats, and heads bowed. The space around the boy widened as if he were contagious. The color had drained from his face, but he could breathe now even if his mouth moved with no sound coming out. Some of the pitying glances turned to amusement. Kaz didn¡¯t care. Only a fool would act out of turn, and he wished there were a few more to test the waters. It saved him from taking unnecessary risks. ¡°The term lasts ten consecutive months with a two-month winter break. Tomorrow the first of January is the start of term and classes begin at nine o¡¯clock sharp. You will meet your year supervisor who will explain more about your classes. The first class is compulsory, but past that, there are no attendance requirements. How each student decides to spend their time is up to them.¡± Anorak, January. Words that shouldn¡¯t exist. His mother spoke English, but her pronunciation was always off. Pieces slotted together. Kaz¡¯s head dropped, making a note: Worlds connected? That wasn¡¯t the picture his mother had painted. The ring on this finger burned, the temptation of his mother¡¯s journal stronger. She¡¯d made it seem like a unique occurrence, ending up in a different world. Focus. Classes Mandatory. He wrote. Kaz didn¡¯t know enough about magic to be skipping class, but even if he did attendance wasn¡¯t required but the headmaster didn¡¯t say what was. Focus. Kaz forced his head back. Ignoring the kink in his neck from looking up. ¡°You are standing in Abyss Dorm. This dorm does not have restrooms or a dining hall, and you will remain here until you meet the qualifications to change dorms. The house mistress is Mrs Pots, she''ll answer questions you have about your stay in Abyss Dorm. She is also responsible for assessing your qualifications to change accommodations. This dorm has rules and I expect you to follow them. If not, you will receive demerits. Demerits carry different weights depending on the infraction.¡± The figure paused, the stone face freezing between expressions. Kaz sighed. There was a disturbing pattern emerging. Withholding information seemed standard among mages. They¡¯d been told a lot, but no specifics. What were the rules of the dorm? What happens if you get demerits? Kaz wasn¡¯t certain that the house mistress would answer those questions. Or¨C he glanced at the ring on his finger. Maybe she would, for a fee. After all, time is money. ¡°Sorry for that. There was a slight mix-up with the spell matrix.¡± Three students appeared, their clothes rumpled and their faces a tangle of emotions. ¡°Where was I? Ah, yes. The dorm ha¨C no. That¡¯s not it. Yes, here. Your uniforms will be ready for you in the morning. You only get one set so treat it with care. The standard uniform includes a badge, white jacket, black pants, shirt, and shoes. Please be careful with your badge. If lost it will carry a hefty penalty.¡± The headmaster stopped speaking, a stone eyebrow raised. There was a hand in the air. Kaz couldn¡¯t see who it belonged to, but it was on the boy¡¯s side of the room. It shook and dipped down, but the boy kept it in the air. ¡°How adorable. What can I do for you?¡± The face pulled out of the wall further, leaning down towards the area where the boy who held up his hand was. The grandfatherly look on the headmaster¡¯s face made Kaz¡¯s skin crawl. ¡°Windows?¡± Windows? Kaz peered at the back wall but couldn¡¯t see anything. ¡°Ah¨C¡± The headmaster snapped his fingers and black, wooden, panel windows snapped open. Kaz realized the rattling sound from earlier and the draft was coming from the windows. He couldn¡¯t see them before because the windows were painted black, and the outside was pitch black, allowing no light. ¡°Quite refreshing aren¡¯t they? They will remain open. The room needs proper ventilation since there are so many students. I assure you, we have a fully stocked med bay should any student need its services.¡± Refreshing wasn¡¯t the word he¡¯d choose. Also, there would be a lot of injuries among the students. The boy who asked the question would have a target on his back. It wasn¡¯t his fault the windows were open, but people needed someone to blame. ¡°Any other questions?¡± Feeling courageous another hand popped up. ¡°Yes,¡± The headmaster said. ¡°Where will the girls change? The boys can see.¡± The voice started strong but trailed off. Kaz could see smirks and leers on many of the boys'' faces. The head tilted to the side. The amused smile he¡¯d worn melted away. ¡°Less amusing. That depends on the person, doesn¡¯t it? The beds at the front of the room have a sectioned-off area that provides privacy. Also, privacy spells are a staple in any mage¡¯s arsenal.¡± According to his mom, mages didn¡¯t start practicing magic until they were older. The most gifted started at fifteen and sixteen but were limited to null spells. Had that changed? The people in the room pressed closer. ¡°Back up,¡± purple-eyes barked. The boys took an involuntary step back. The ones left near the barrier were Kaz and nine others who looked amused instead of threatened by purple-eyes outburst. ¡°Not enough beds,¡± Another boy said, eyeing Kaz. Kaz glanced at him before looking away. He raised his hand. Kaz preferred keeping a low profile, but that didn¡¯t mean he¡¯d cower. Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. ¡°Young Aquileia¨Cwhat puzzles you?¡± The headmaster¡¯s amusement was back. ¡°I go by Huxley.¡± The sound in the room increased. Groups reformed, and glances were thrown his way as heads were bowed in discussion. ¡°Do you?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°What an interesting year. What is your question young Huxley?¡± ¡°What are the school''s policies regarding conflicts among students?¡± Kaz crossed his arms over his chest, his body loose, and a calm expression on his face. ¡°Life and death duels should only be conducted in the arena, petty squabbles in the dorm will be settled by the housemaster or mistress should they get out of hand. Conflicts are necessary for growth, and it is in their resolution that we find growth.¡± Kaz smiled, his eyes meeting the boys closest to him. ¡°Are you used to fighting young Huxley?¡± Kaz opened his mouth to speak before snapping his mouth shut. His body straightened the veneer of civility melting off. The answer to the headmaster''s question rattled in his brain, wanting to crawl out of his throat. ¡°And what should I call you, headmaster? I should at least know the name of the man forcing me to do things against my will?¡± ¡°I have forced you to do nothing, and I have gotten the answer to my question anyway. Your mother was a silly one, and I can¡¯t say I care for your father past his gold, but the sum of them has produced something interesting at least. It¡¯s Headmaster Onukss. I thought I was a little famous.¡± ¡°I had an unconventional upbringing because of a shady deal between my parents. What can a boy do?¡± Kaz spread his hands, shrugging. ¡°Yes, unconventional is one word for it.¡± A scroll sparked into the room and floated to Kaz. ¡°That will help with the bloodlust leaking off of you. There are creatures attracted to it, and we wouldn¡¯t want too many students dying this early in the school year. Well, you have a half-brother and a cousin attending this year with you.¡± The crowd parted and two boys marched out. Their faces made it clear they were forced to walk. ¡°Not as strong-willed as you, though.¡± Kaz didn¡¯t grab the scroll. He didn¡¯t trust it. ¡°I thought I¡¯d hidden that?¡± he said, ignoring the two boys. ¡°To some. To most. But there are those with a sensitivity. Grab the scroll young Huxley. Nothing you do can stop it, and everyone would prefer if I didn¡¯t get serious.¡± The headmaster was right. Kaz couldn¡¯t fathom how strong the other man was, he just knew he¡¯d lose a confrontation. Kaz clenched his teeth before reaching out and touching the scroll. It unfurled and bathed him in a golden light before burning up. He didn¡¯t feel different. The Headmaster made Kaz uncomfortable, and the feeling the headmaster was hiding information didn¡¯t sit well with Kaz but he understood two underlying messages. If you wanted something you had to fight and earn it. And, the strong dictated the actions of the weak. It was similar to his old life to a scary degree. ¡°Any more questions?¡± the headmaster asked, scanning the crowd. ¡°Princess Zyaire? Lord, there are a lot of Eytels this year. Young Gram? No? Selene? I thought there would be more questions.¡± The headmaster looked around but no more hands were raised. At least he wasn¡¯t the only one singled out. ¡°Alright, moving on to the next order of business. On each bed, there is a cultivation manual. It is your lifeline to magic. It will help you increase the quantity of mana and the amount of mana determines how far you will progress on this path.¡± Thank you¡¯s echoed through the room. Some students were so excited they forgot they¡¯d be muted if they spoke out of turn. Though being cut off mid-laugh didn¡¯t appear to dampen their joy. Why specify quantity? Quality? Is this like the cultivation he did before? How will mana react to Z-factor? His list of questions kept growing. Since his mother developed the meditation manuals on earth, he could assume they were similar. Those manuals had low, mid, and high ranks. Low-rank manuals were common and had few requirements for use. Mid-rank manuals had specific requirements, usually an elemental affinity. High-rank manuals cost a lot of money¨C Half your weight in gold¨C Kaz remembered a bedtime story his mother always told him. To pass through the abyss, you had to pay the devil half your weight in gold. It could be nothing, but he didn¡¯t think so. He wrote it on a fresh page. ¡°What is he writing?¡± ¡°He wants to seem spe¨C¡± Kaz didn¡¯t waste time looking at them. The manual given was low-rank, he didn¡¯t need to see it to know. Mid-rank manuals could probably be bought or found in the library, and the students with high-rank manuals would have gotten them from their families. That thought led to another. What was happening with the system? The blue screen was still there with nothing on it. It was designed to teach and should have a selection of manuals, but as of now, he could only hope his mom had put a high-rank manual in his ring. There was an emphasis on quality and quantity with orgone and he didn¡¯t think it was different with mana. ¡°Ah-¡± The headmaster said, pulling Kaz from his thoughts. ¡°To all of you planning to use external books and items, I hope you have them memorized. Anything without the academy¡¯s seal will be destroyed if withdrawn from storage items. Your uniform badge doubles as a marker. Earning merit opens several functions of the pin. One function is a stamp that allows you to use non-school-issued items on campus.¡± The headmaster ignored the hand that went up. He was probably avoiding explaining how you earned merit or having to expound on the other functions of the badge. Kaz could guess at least one. It was identification and allowed the school to track students. If Kaz designed them, there would also be a way to spy on students, audio and visual. ¡°Any more questions?¡± Several hands were in the air being waved around. ¡°No? How unusual. Are you sure there are no more questions?¡± ¡°Si-¡± The voice was cut off and the speaker, who Kaz could just see at the middle line on the girl¡¯s side, crumpled to the floor. ¡°Last order of business, a word from your house mistress.¡± ¡°I am Mrs. Amy Pots. You will refer to me as Mrs. Pots and nothing else. The dorm has one entrance; the teleportation circle you are currently standing in. Each student can enter the room three times per day. Naturally, there is one exit which you can see at the front of the room.¡± Kaz could imagine a stern woman with her hair pulled back into a bun, extending a stiff arm towards the door. As it was, there was only a voice echoing through the room. ¡°You can leave as often as you like. Curfew is from one to three in the morning. My office hours are from nine to five. Students can make an appointment through the interface on their badge. Please make appointments early. If there is an emergency, please tap your badge and say emergency. This function is not to be abused. Your badges have not been assigned, so if you need help say the word emergency. There are more students than beds this year, as such, some students will have to sleep on the floor. There are bed rolls in the chests in the middle of the room. At the front of the room, are fourteen beds with assigned trunks that have perks for the students who claim them-¡± Kaz laughed. They wanted to start a fight. He caught the eye of purple-eyes who wore a similar grin. ¡°Students must sit on the bed for five minutes for their mana signature to register. Students cannot change beds unless the previous occupant changes dorms. Bedrolls are not assigned and students who use them should refold and replace them after use. A word of caution; if you sleep in the teleportation circle at any time other than curfew you risk being stepped on. Out of care, I will warn you to leave early to make it to your first class.¡± More hands shot into the air. Even Kaz was tempted to raise his, but he was sure they weren¡¯t answering any more questions tonight. As expected, the headmaster ignored the students. ¡°A round of applause for Mrs. Pots. It will be a week before her office hours open, but a dorm head will be chosen to take any complaints until then. Volunteers?¡± The hands disappeared. ¡°Yes, young Green- ah, there are a few greens this year.¡± Snickers sounded through the room. ¡°Young Scott, thank you for volunteering¨C¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t.¡± Kaz recognized that voice. It was from the beady-eyed boy earlier. ¡°I remembered you did.¡± The headmaster¡¯s expression turned pensive. ¡°Is my memory going in my old age? No matter. Since there is nothing else, I will leave you to settle in.¡± The face melted into the stone with little fanfare. It was there in one moment and gone in the next, making Kaz think the theatrics at the start were on purpose. A clap sounded through the room, and they scattered. Students spread like oil between the sardine-like bunk beds. Kaz reached his bed before most of the others even started moving. ¡°How the fuck is he that fast?¡± ¡°What did they feed him?¡± ¡°Argh!¡± ¡°Someone help me!¡± You¡¯re in my way.¡± ¡°You stepped on me.¡± ¡°Guys, calm down, do it orderl-¡± ¡°Shut up and get out of my way.¡± It was chaos. Katz sat on his bed and watched. Fight? Kaz took the bed farthest from the door. It had a wall to two sides and was a double bed in a room full of single bunks. Kaz didn¡¯t get comfortable. He sat on the edge of the bed, his feet spread wide, wrapping his hands with gauze and tap. His brass knuckles had disappeared the second he brought them out of his space. ¡°Fuck, your fast.¡± Kaz looked over. Purple-eyes was breathing heavily but had a grin on his face. ¡°I was sure I¡¯d beat you,¡± he said. His eyes moved down to Kaz¡¯s fists. ¡°You box?¡± he asked with a wrinkle to his nose.¡± ¡°No.¡± Kaz hadn¡¯t been trained to fight. As a kid, he¡¯d taken a couple karate lessons but preferred watching cartoons on Saturday morning over class at nine. In terms of sports, he was convinced he was going to be the next Ronaldo after watching the World Cup and was at football practice every afternoon. Maybe he would have done it, if the world hadn¡¯t ended. As it was, he should have taken kickboxing. It didn¡¯t help with killing zombies he didn¡¯t want to get up close and personal with them, but it worked for dealing with humans. ¡°You look like you box,¡± Purple-eyes said, twirling a knife between his fingers. ¡°If I pull a knife, the person I use it against isn¡¯t going to walk it off. My fists, they have a chance.¡± Kaz looked up, eyeing the boy walking towards him. There was a sneer on his face. ¡°You¡¯re talking tough.¡± It was one of the heavy-set boys who¡¯d flanked the arrogant boy. Kaz looked around him to see his twin standing guard as the arrogant boy watched on with curled lips. Kaz looked down the line. All the other beds were taken, and the challengers watched Kaz. Did he look weak? ¡°It was a warning but if you stay here, you¡¯ll be an example.¡± He didn¡¯t look convinced. ¡°Sure.¡± Kaz stood shaking out his shoulder. Don¡¯t kill him. He focused on that thought. The boy pulled a knife out and charged at Kaz. He stabbed down, aiming for an eye. Kaz brought up his hand, his forearm connecting with the boys. Pushing his hand to the side left the boy¡¯s torso open. Kaz stepped forward, driving his fist through. The second he did, he knew he used too much force. His fist connected hard to the boy¡¯s right side. The liver shot had the boy screaming and dropping to the floor as he vomited. He crouched over the boy, who whimpered, trying to worm away. ¡°Call for help. I clipped your rib and it might have caused internal damage.¡± Kaz was sure it had. The boy was incoherent, his eyes unfocused and slipping in and out of consciousness. ¡°You,¡± Kaz said pointing to his twin. ¡°Take him and call for help.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t move,¡± the arrogant boy said. Kaz straightened, retaking his seat on the bed. ¡°I don¡¯t care if he dies. Take him or not.¡± The arrogant guy sneered, crossing his hands over his chest, and seemed determined to wait Kaz out. ¡°Are you sure you want to do that?¡± Another boy said, looking around. ¡°You''re going to get in trouble.¡± He was on the top bunk in front of Kaz¡¯s bed. Kaz huffed a laugh. ¡°Life and death duels should only be conducted in the arena, petty squabbles in the dorm will be settled by the housemaster or mistress should they get out of hand. Conflicts are necessary for growth, and it is in their resolution that we find growth.¡± Kaz parroted the headmaster. ¡°These,¡± he said, gesturing to the room and the fights happening ¡°, are petty squabbles. If I¡¯d meant to kill him, I was to go to the arena. If that wasn¡¯t my intention but it happened, the house mistress will handle it, and if you haven¡¯t figured it out, fighting is expected, if not encouraged.¡± Kaz crossed his legs, taking a more relaxed posture. ¡°To the victor the spoils.¡± ¡°Beastly like your whore of a mot-¡± Kaz was in front of him in a second. The arrogant boy closed his eyes expecting a hit that didn¡¯t land. Kaz opened his fist and gave him three light slaps on his face. ¡°It¡¯s cute that you think that¡¯s a provocation.¡± Kaz strolled back to his bed. ¡°I over-prepared,¡± he said, flexing his fingers. ¡°We¡¯re not beast. We fight with magic,¡± another boy who¡¯d settled on a bunk said. ¡°Okay, fight with magic.¡± Kaz knew he was taunting him. The boy got red-faced. It showed how fragile they were, in both body and mind. ¡°You don¡¯t know it either,¡± the boy said, sounding like a grade-schooler on the playground. ¡°Never said I did.¡± The boy whose ribs he¡¯d cracked wasn¡¯t looking good. His breathing was unsteady, he convulsed, and he was drenched in sweat. Kaz looked at him and was relieved he didn¡¯t feel glee. He was always scared he¡¯d become like those hunters who reveled in ending a human life. It was easy. Fighting was addictive, there was an allure to the thrill and challenge. It got your blood rushing, the same way a drug did. ¡°I¡¯m Tristen Eytel,¡± purple-eyes said, introducing himself. He got up and walked towards Kaz. Kaz noted that no one made a move toward Tristen''s bed. In fact, most of the challengers had moved elsewhere and claimed beds. The remaining stragglers were still eyeing him. Influence and power. They assumed he had neither, and they weren''t used to death, but a broken and bruised body wasn''t uncommon. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! ¡°I¡¯m Ignacius Kaz¡¯myr Blake Huxley,¡± he said, standing and holding his hand out, palm up. This is important Kaz¡¯myr. Always say your full anime when introducing yourself. If you introduce yourself first, wait with your palms open, facing your side and your right leg behind your left. If you''re the second person to give your name, it¡¯s on you to initiate a handshake and your palm must be facing up to show you aren¡¯t casting a spell. Are you listening? Tristen¡¯s posture was perfect, but it was awkward- like he didn¡¯t use it often or had only recently learned. Kaz¡¯s posture might look similar. He¡¯d learned it sometime this morning. Hell, he didn¡¯t know how long he¡¯d been here. The constant darkness didn¡¯t help with telling the time. He¡¯d been banned from wearing his watch. ¡°Au..Au¡­Audacious,¡± the arrogant boy said, rallying. The second bulky boy watched his brother with scared, nervous eyes, but didn¡¯t step away from arrogant-boy. Tristen noticed where he was looking. ¡°The Griffen family is a vassal of Orce Duchy.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Kaz said. The cultural significance was lost on him even if he knew what the word meant and represented. However, he knew enough to stir up shit. ¡°Well, they drew the short end of the stick. They have a lot to worry about if they swear fealty to him. He¡¯s this callous now, they expect it to get better? Hope?¡± ¡°Are you going to ignore him calling you audacious?¡± Tristen asked. ¡°He pissed his pants and is trembling. It¡¯s hard for me to focus on the words coming out of his mouth.¡± Kaz didn¡¯t want to be part of this spectacle, but they held the room¡¯s focus. ¡°I didn¡¯t.¡± There was an angry squeal. The arrogant man spun, pointing at a boy with silver hair the same color as Kaz¡¯s. ¡°You¡¯re going to let him claim that name?¡± The boy looked mortified at being pulled into the situation. ¡°Ignazio!¡± ¡°What do you want me to say? If he wasn¡¯t allowed he couldn¡¯t even introduce himself as Huxley, you know naming magic as well as I do! In this school, calling himself Huxley? If he didn¡¯t have permission, he¡¯d be dead!¡± Kaz looked at the boy who was his cousin. Ignazio anger was a mask for terror. He was as pale as the boy with the busted rib. He looked like he¡¯d seen a ghost. There was something he was missing. Our name means something. It¡¯s our birthright. Remember that Kaz¡¯myr. He wanted to pull out his hair. Kaz looked at Tristen, but he wore a shit-eating grin and only shrugged his shoulders. The next bed over had its curtains drawn. Ignazio turned away, pulling the sheets over his head. ¡°Spinless.¡± The arrogant boy slapped his remaining guard. ¡°Do something! I want that bed!¡± ¡°You can claim another, it¡¯s not like the last two won¡¯t give up their beds,¡± a boy tried to reason. ¡°I want that one.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll go and take it.¡± ¡°Do you know who you¡¯re talking to?¡± ¡°You want to try and take my bed,¡± Tristen asked. ¡°Hmm, brother?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t call me that.¡± The arrogant boy¡¯s words were low and guttural. ¡°We are not the same.¡± Tristen¡¯s smile widened. ¡°I agree. I¡¯m better.¡± The arrogant boy didn¡¯t send his goon after Tristen, he didn¡¯t shout. He was upset, but¨Crespectful. Kaz raised an eyebrow at Tristen, who snapped his finger. A tiny flame appeared before blinking out. He felt so stupid. His fists didn¡¯t matter here. Magic did. ¡°That¡¯s all?¡± Kaz opened his palm, forming a black sphere for a second before it winked out. There was a booming laugh from Tristen, and the nervous energy in the room spiked. Kaz could almost feel the other boys distance themselves. The arrogant boy¡¯s reaction was even greater, he fell on his ass, scuttling back before turning on all fours and crawling away. The bulky bodyguard dived for his brother. ¡°Help.¡± A young woman with wild blond hair appeared, looking down at the two boys expressionlessly. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you call earlier? Never mind, forget I asked.¡± She stepped closer, resting a hand on their shoulder before disappearing. It looks like shadow step. Kaz thought. It was a move he developed when his space powers reached level three. It wasn¡¯t that she disappeared. Instead, she stepped into a void space that shortened the distance between two points. He glanced at the door, only hearing it close instead of seeing her. ¡°What,¡± he asked Tristen. ¡°I didn¡¯t say that I could, but I didn¡¯t say I couldn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Why not do that from the start?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t cross my mind. I¡¯m sort of used to solving things with my fist.¡± ¡°And you don¡¯t box?¡± ¡°Why are you saying box like it¡¯s a dirty word?¡± Tristen leaned against his bedpost. Kaz wasn¡¯t polite and sat. ¡°It is. Boxing is a blood sport usually fought by slaves who¡¯ve had their magic sealed.¡± ¡°Huh, my step-father-¡± ¡°Stepfather?¡± A voice shouted. It was nervous boy. Kaz had seen him watching anxiously but didn¡¯t focus on him since he didn¡¯t make a move. Tristen started laughing again, and Kaz held his head. He realized that he could never fly under the radar. Kaz might have spatial powers but he was as subtle as a bull in a china shop. ¡°Yes, stepfather. The person my mother married after she and my father divorced. He¡¯d also the father of my half-brother or my other half-brother-¡± ¡°Half-brother,¡± he squeaked. ¡°You need to stop cutting me off when I speak,¡± Kaz said. Tristen, as usual, was laughing. ¡°Back to your bed, shoo.¡± Tristen sat on Kaz¡¯s bed, grinning at him. ¡°Your fun. I don¡¯t think there will be a dull moment around you.¡± ¡°I like dull. I¡¯m aiming for a dull three years.¡± Kaz said, not sure if he was lying or not. ¡°Want to explain that to me?¡± Kaz said, indicating his half-brother, and his cousin who poked his head out and was looking at him in shock. ¡°Assume I grew up under a rock.¡± ¡°A rock you had to fight for your life under?¡± Tristen asked. His purple eyes were deep, and despite the grin on his face, his eyes weren¡¯t smiling. Kaz started undoing the bandages on his hands, sort of miffed he¡¯d wasted his time doing it in the first place. ¡°Something like that.¡± ¡°They didn¡¯t expect your mother to remarry,¡± Tristen said. ¡°It¡¯s well-known how obsessed your mother was with your father. It¡¯s why she forced a marriage and why he had to divorce her.¡± Kaz¡¯s mother was apathetic about his father. A marriage of convenience, she¡¯d said. ¡°I guess that¡¯s one version of events.¡± Ding. Registering Ignacius Kaz¡¯myr Blake Huxley. Assessing. ¡°Okay, shows over.¡± Kaz kicked Tristen off the bed and pulled the curtain closed. Hamster Wheel Kaz watched the blue screen, frustration welling up inside of him¡ªso much fanfare, for nothing to happen, well not nothing. He¡¯d been stuck on a loading screen which was a unique torture he never thought he¡¯d get the pleasure of experiencing again. Maybe, as a bonus, it functioned as a big clock. That was important. It was a core function because Abyss Dorm was pitch black. It never changed, and the lights were always one. Looking on the bright side wasn¡¯t working. He was driving himself crazy. Kaz glanced at the screen for the thousandth time, but it hadn¡¯t changed. His mother could call it what she liked, but it was a comprehensive gaming system. It also deepened his suspicion that this world''s connection to Earth was deeper than his mother knew. [Status] {Skills} {Quest} {Storage} {Shop} {Map} Name: Race: Level: Class: Experience: Strength: Agility: Stamina: Soul Force: Mana: Perception: HP: Loading¡ª--- He covered his face with his hands, groaning. Exhaustion tugged at him, but he couldn¡¯t sleep. It was easy to blame the system but to begin with, he wasn¡¯t the best sleeper. Years of keeping one eye open to survive didn¡¯t lend itself to healthy sleeping habits. Kaz scoffed, Who are you kidding? He pressed the heels of his hands against his eyes. Last night was a manic episode following his panic attack. It was easy to spot in hindsight: insomnia, racing thoughts, impulsive and high-risk behavior. He should have seen it coming and prepared better. The last few days were stressful and he¡¯d been overstimulated. Then the mess of yesterday didn¡¯t help. I didn¡¯t even get to say goodbye. Chirp. Chirp. Something soft brushed against his cheek, pulling him out of his swirling thoughts. Kaz opened his eyes. Looking down, he was face to face with large googly eyes affixed to a black cotton ball. Chirp. It hopped about his chest. Kaz moved slowly, extending a finger. It chirped, hoping close to rub against him. ¡°What on earth are you?¡± Kaz laughed at his silly joke. The tension in him eased. Kaz¡¯s breathing evened out. He guessed cute things worked to reduce stress in any world. His instincts weren¡¯t screaming run, so whatever it was didn¡¯t mean any harm. Probably. Kaz wasn¡¯t sure how well his instincts worked in this world. And all friend-shaped things had turned deadly in his old one. Chirrp. It hopped up and down excitedly. Kaz opened his palm, waiting. It examined it for a moment before hopping on. It was accustomed to humans at least. He sat up and lifted the creature closer. He blinked. It blinked. Kaz ran his finger down its body. The creature was a tiny, ninety percent fur, hamster¨Cthat chirped. He¡¯d seen a girl with horns, but this little fluff ball made it hit home he was in a different world. ¡°Thanks,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯d feed you if I knew what you ate.¡± The little thing grew bored and hopped away, dashing for Tristen¡¯s bed. Kaz checked the system. It was four o¡¯clock and he had his uniform¨C there was no reason for him to stay here. He pulled out his notebook and froze. He turned it over in his hand, half expecting it to disappear. The headmaster¡¯s ominous warning rang in his mind, but there was proof that external materials could be used in Killingworth. Was it because he had it on him when he came? The gauze hadn¡¯t vanished either. Kaz took a sandwich out of his storage space. It didn¡¯t disappear. As he munched on it, he looked inside his storage space for a book he¡¯d be willing to risk. There were a lot, but they were also relics from a world that would need years to recover. The miniature cat facts book didn¡¯t seem important on its own, but¨C Chirp. Kaz looked down. ¡°Back again?¡± The cotton ball hopped on his lap, communicating his desire in a universal language. Kaz opened his palm and he hopped in. He scratched at it until the little thing jumped off to explore his bed. He pulled out a blank notebook, and nothing happened. Resting it on the bed, he took out an ABC book, again, nothing. He took out a dictionary with the same result. Could the rule not apply to books from Earth? Or, was it his storage space? It didn¡¯t use magic. Theoretically, there was no way for them to tell he was removing items from it. He looked at the storage ring on his finger. He took up the empty not book and put it in the ring. A second later, Kaz took it out, only for it to catch on fire. A grin spread across his face. That was convenient. There was a loud screech-like chirp. He looked down at Fluffy, rummaging through his sandwich. ¡°What are you doing?¡± As if to answer his question, it devoured the mutated lettuce before Kaz could stop him. He just managed to snatch away the tomatoes and it wasn¡¯t happy. ¡°You can¡¯t eat it.¡± He didn¡¯t know what effect orgone would have on creatures in this world. On Earth, everything mutated, doubling in size, even plants became carnivores. Kaz shuddered, remembering his run-in with a mutated corn plant. As he listened to the incessant chirping, he was reminded why he never kept birds. ¡°No,¡± he said pushing at Fluffy¡¯s forehead. Kaz wasn¡¯t sure if he was anthropomorphism Fluffy, but he was sure the little cotton puff stomped off in a huff. Kaz stifled a snicker when it turned back to look at him. He transferred the items in his storage ring to his storage space and was surprised at how much there was inside. There had to be a method for him to know what was inside without removing every item. Mana signature? That was how the bed and badge were registered. But, he¡¯d been wearing the ring for a while and nothing had happened. Maybe it belonged to his mom. She expected him to transfer the items over to his storage space. They hadn¡¯t had time to discuss all the little details. Could the answer be in her journal? He could access that now. Or was he overthinking things? This was a fantasy world. Kaz took out a pin and pricked his finger, rubbing a drop of blood on the gem set in the ring. There was a buzzing sound in his head and then he knew the ring was empty. This whole morning reminded him how prone he was to overthinking¨C the answer was often the simplest solution. Speaking of answers. Kaz took out a dictionary. Anorak: British, Informal- a person who is extremely enthusiastic about and interested in something that other people find boring. A boy in a fantasy world used very British slang to call Kaz a nerd. One mystery was solved but it was a piece in a larger puzzle. Call it instinct or premonition, but Kaz felt all the breadcrumbs led to the same place. ¡°If he wasn¡¯t allowed he couldn¡¯t even introduce himself as Huxley, you know naming magic as well as I do! In this school, calling himself Huxley? If he didn¡¯t have permission, he¡¯d be dead!¡± His cousin¡¯s panicked expression. Other boys watching with weary, but reverent stares. His mother¡¯s vague, but determined words. What would his gingerbread house look like? Huxley. It wasn¡¯t special to him. He¡¯d used it all his life with little care about where it came from. Kaz paused, as he thought about it- the name Huxley was also very British. He turned the thought this way and that but didn¡¯t have enough information to work with. It was a problem to be explored another day.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Kaz bit his lip, should he? He wanted a bath and they couldn¡¯t detect when he took things from his storage space. No. He wasn¡¯t sure if they could or couldn¡¯t tell when he used his storage space. All he knew was the spell they had in place wouldn¡¯t destroy the items he took out. It wasn¡¯t worth the risk to enter his space. Kaz tried to bound off the bed, but it was closer to a sluggish crawl. He went to the trunk at the foot of his bed.
  1. One extra uniform
  2. One map of the campus
  3. Seven transportation tickets
  4. Seven copies of Killingworth Incomplete Student Handbook
  5. One student progress summation.
Kaz put up the extra uniform¨C more than a little grateful for it. He had to figure out how and where to wash his clothes. The urge to bang his head on the bedpost was strong, but he pushed it away. Next was the map, and Kaz had to do a double take, the house mistress¡¯s warnings taking on a new meaning. The campus was massive. Its scale resembled a city more than any university campus he knew. The golf cart in his storage space was whispering sweet nothings in his ear from the beyond, heck his bike was straight up screaming his name. He reached for the transportation tickets wondering how to use them. Not that it would do him any good. He didn¡¯t know where his classes were. The map, while having the buildings numbered, did not have a key or a legend that told you what the buildings were. It was unhelpful at the basic function a map should have. Kaz felt that if another person were here he¡¯d be ranting at them. Kaz chuckled. He sort of hated the feeling of being led around by the nose. The map led to the tickets, which led to the handbook to tell him how to use it. A book he couldn¡¯t open. Kaz tugged at the cover but it didn¡¯t give. He tried a drop of blood, but that didn¡¯t do anything. Banging it on the ground like a toddler also proved unsuccessful. He was about to set it on fire when the silver shine of his school badge caught his eye. He closed his eyes and bit his lips, taking deep breaths, trying not to lose his temper and his sanity, what was left of it. Even if he¡¯d grown up in this world, he didn¡¯t think he would have any better luck navigating this school. Kaz pressed the badge to the front of the book. The words on the cover scrambled, rearranging to say: Kaz¡¯s Incomplete Student Handbook. The book flew out of his hand and started floating. The summation that he hadn¡¯t touched, turned into a golden beam of light and flew towards the book sinking into it. The light disappeared and the book fell into his hands. He turned it over and read the cover. Ignacious Kaz¡¯myr Blake Huxley¡¯s Student Handbook (1%) ¡°Hmm. Yeah. No. Not today satan.¡± Kaz put away the lighter, he couldn¡¯t remember taking out. Kaz wasn¡¯t sure. This school seemed determined to test his sanity, but just maybe, his student handbook was a scavenger hunt puzzle he would have to complete before he could read. Kaz gave a dry chuckle, reaching for the map which, as expected, turned into a golden stream of light. The pitch of his laugh took on a slight hysterical quality. Ignacious Kaz¡¯myr Blake Huxley¡¯s Student Handbook (5%). The map was valued more than his report card. Kaz hesitated, but couldn¡¯t resist. He opened the book and couldn¡¯t hold back his relief at seeing a completed map. He was in building one, Abyss Dorm, and his class was in building three. His relief died a swift death. It was too easy. The house mistress'' warning rang in his ear. She had to know that fourteen students would have a map. Even if it wasn¡¯t to scale, at best or worse it was thirty minutes to an hour''s walk. Or he could be overthinking it. This was an advantage for students who claimed one of the coveted beds. It didn¡¯t matter. Kaz turned the page. Then everything reached a boiling point, and he threw the book against the wall. The heavy thud made him feel better¨Cnot as good as he would have felt setting it on fire, but soothing enough that he didn¡¯t rip out the pages when he reached for the book again. Name: Ignacius Kaz¡¯myr Blake Logan Year: 1st Year Demerits: 5 Dorm: Abyss Individual Assignment: Report to the White Tower for Physical at 8 am Group assignment: First Class at 9 am Teacher Assessment: Teacher Comment: Ignacius is a hard-working student who applies himself fully in class. He is a team player but should focus more on his individual assignments. Talia Eytel. It was good to know teachers everywhere gave generic comments on report cards-no, that wasn¡¯t the point. When did he get five demerits? Fuck. The barrier. He¡¯d tried to cross over to the girl¡¯s side of the room five times. Kaz tapped his finger against the page. If there were more parallels to be drawn, then using the demerit system from his world after a certain number of demerits accumulated, the student was given detention, loss of privileges, or some other punishment based on the seriousness and frequency of the infraction. What privilege was he on the brink of losing or had already lost? Kaz drew for his trusty notebook. ¡°Fuckers,¡± he huffed. Every student laned by that red line and touched it. And the only privilege they wanted now was to leave Abyss Dorm. That made two requirements he figured out. Kaz needed half his weight in gold and no demerits to change dorms. No, he¡¯d figured out all three. He reached for his badge and took the second appointment slot. Someone had figured it out before him. Then, how should he get rid of his demerits? Kaz reread the assessment, focusing on the teacher''s comment. They hadn¡¯t had their first class, and at first, he assumed she wrote a generic message for all students, but that might not be it. ¡®team player but should focus more on his individual¡¯ Oh. He wasn¡¯t supposed to share the information he¡¯d figured out. Maybe. It was hard to tell with these nut jobs in this school. ¡®applies himself fully in class¡¯ Kaz puzzled that line, settling on going to building three before going to the white tower. He shrugged into his uniform, looking at the six other copies of a book he shouldn¡¯t need. Seven books, seven beds. It was the start of a pattern. Kaz was ready. As he walked to the door, he paused. A team player if some of it had meaning then all of it might have meaning. Kaz wasn¡¯t to neglect the group while maintaining himself as the priority? If he thought about it anymore, he might never leave this room. He walked to Tristen¡¯s bed, tapping the curtain. It was pulled aside to reveal grumpy purple eyes promising pain. ¡°This better be good,¡± he said, his voice roughened from sleep. ¡°What time is it?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Tristen said. Kaz glanced into the murky darkness. ¡°Want to take a guess?¡± ¡°I always get up at five,¡± Tristen said. Kaz looked at the blue panel. ¡°Hmm, then you¡¯ve overslept by ten minutes.¡± Tristen¡¯s head snapped up, deep eyes searching Kaz¡¯s face. ¡°Fuck,¡± he said, scrubbing a hand down his face. ¡°Wait a second, I¡¯ll get ready.¡± ¡°Wait¨C¡± he cut off his words when he noticed curious eyes looking at them. ¡°Can I sit on your bed?¡± Tristen followed where he was looking before motioning him to sit. Kaz sat, pulling the curtain closed. ¡°Go in your trunk, press your badge to the student handbook, and put in the map and student assessment.¡± Tristen looked like he had questions, but he didn¡¯t ask. He opened his trunk. ¡°I have the map and student assessment, but no handbook. I also have a pamphlet but the name is blank.¡± ¡°Fucking teamwork,¡± Kaz said. Seven books, seven beds. Kaz pulled out a handbook. ¡°I¡¯ll trade you a handbook for a pamphlet. Anything else in there?¡± Tristen took the book, pressing his badge to it. A similar phenomenon happened, the book absorbed the map, pamphlet, and assessment. ¡°I have seven transportation tickets, five more pamphlets, another uniform, the map, and seven compasses. What did you find?¡± ¡°Map, uniform, books, assessment, and seven tickets. I also have five demerits and a sketchy not from my teacher.¡± He looked at Tristen and Kaz couldn¡¯t help wondering why he was so open with Tristen. He just liked him. Kaz couldn¡¯t explain it past that. ¡°I have one demerit and no note from the teacher.¡± Kaz laughed, running his fingers over the words on the book¡¯s cover. Ignacious Kaz¡¯myr Blake Huxley¡¯s Student Handbook (10%) ¡°I think¨C you got a compass and I got a note. By the way, make an appointment with the house mistress. More than that, we need the other five here.¡± The grin on Tristen¡¯s face couldn¡¯t be described as anything other than shark-like. ¡°I love this school.¡± Kaz didn¡¯t know what expression was on his face, but it made the other boy laugh. ¡°I think you got dropped on the head as a baby.¡± ¡°I get that a lot.¡± He disappeared and a short time later came with five grumpy boys all holding bundles in their hands. Kaz passed out handbooks and got: another pamphlet, a class schedule, a house point task sheet, a class attendance tracker (no shocker there), and a group project insert. For unique objects, they had: Kaz¡¯s note, seven compasses, seven blank contracts, seven library passes, and seven stable passes. ¡°You only have a note,¡± the boy from the last bed said. ¡°If I didn¡¯t start this little sharing circle all of you would be floundering. Or would you prefer I don¡¯t explain what the note means?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t we already know?¡± he asked, nervously glancing at the others. ¡°Is there any more information on your assessment? The physical set for tomorrow? Do you know how to change dorms?¡± Kaz asked, making notes. There were gasps and more shared looks. Tristen sat, looking like an enforcer with a grin, and crossed arms. ¡°Write up the contracts stating that we won¡¯t share anything we learned here with anyone else.¡± ¡°Not quite,¡± Kaz said. ¡°Who do you want to share with? Your cousin?¡± ¡°You¡¯re a spiteful little thing, aren¡¯t you?¡± Kaz asked. He cut the boy off before he spoke. ¡°I want to trade information with the girls. It¡¯s possible what they got differs from us.¡± Kaz gathered up his portion of the loot and put it away. ¡°You can use your storage item? How?¡± Kaz raised an eyebrow and did his best to convey he thought the boy was an idiot. He didn¡¯t believe the message landed. ¡°They never said we couldn¡¯t use our storage item. They just said we couldn¡¯t use what wasn¡¯t school-issued. School handbook,¡± he said, putting it in and out of his storage ring. ¡°There is a physical at the White Tower at eight. And because I¡¯m not feeling generous anymore, only the first requirement to change dorms will be given for free. The other two will be traded for items of interest.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t do that.¡± ¡°Shut up,¡± A boy with a slurring accent said. He was in the bed next to Tristen. ¡°The handbook is the most important item here. If he wanted your weight in gold for it, you would have had no choice but to hand it over. It¡¯s because he gave it for free you thought you could take advantage of him.¡± The boy squinted his blue eyes. ¡°I¡¯m Cyr¡¯ran. None of that formal bullshit, please. Oh, and do you have any sea folk blood?¡±