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I clutch the pendant Ciel gave me tightly. My mind chaotically creates visions of what the Land of Nod might look like. Some images are terrifying where others are more light hearted. Will I be greeted by gods that support the cause? Will I be ambushed by gods that align themselves with the Nephilim? Will they be warring with each other over my arrival? I have no idea what I will be walking into and hope that what little powers I have access to will be enough if something happens.
I take a deep breath and exhale slowly drawing the sigil on the door of my room. I have to do this alone because Ciel wasn't invited to come with me. I'm not sure what the motive is exactly behind not allowing him to come with me, but I have to learn to leave the nest and fly. I just hope I don't land on my ass, or worse. The sigil on the door glows red signifying to me that it’s working. Opening the door I see a portal of black swirling mist. The color scheme of the Land of Nod’s portal choices isn't ominous at all.
I close my eyes and step through the portal. Stepping through the portal feels like walking through a sheet of ice water followed by a warm breeze smelling heavily of copper. I open my eyes and I'm pleasantly surprised by what I see. It looks like what I would imagine a large college campus would look like. The campus is green and full of life. Students walking to and from buildings, and just lounging in the sun. The sun is odd though. All the light has a blue tint to it. It wasn't really noticeable at first, but as my eyes adjusted I noticed the blue hue hanging in the air.
At the center of the campus is a massive building eight stories high towering over the other buildings. Spaced out evenly around the massive building are six other buildings. The other buildings are large and ornate in nature but only four stories high. I take it all in just staring at all the activity unfolding before me in what feels like a group of cathedrals surrounded by one massive park.
“There you are David. I have been expecting you, but not late.” Says a rough voice.
The voice came from behind me causing me to turn quickly in a sort of jump scare kind of fashion. It’s the god Anubis whose voice I had heard. I am a bit taken aback by his choice of dress. I’m expecting Egyptian robes and gold headdresses, but what I got is even weirder. Anubis wears green skater looking shoes laced with white shoelaces, burgundy colored slacks, a tie dye kitten tee shirt, and a pinstripe black vest. His choice of clothing has to have a story to it, but I'm slowly learning that beings of power just tend to do what they want and don't care how others perceive them.
“I’m sure I can assume you’re David by your response. Come now, we have a lot to do and it's going to be very time consuming even if you manage to pass all your classes the first time. Hold your questions until we get to my office and we can talk more there. It’s not safe to talk in the open for not all gods are happy to have you here.”
Anubis and I walk towards the massive building's entrance. Students bow and greet Anubis as he walks by only calling him sir. I start to get a good feel for how Anubis runs his school even if he looks slightly out of place for the role of running a school. I follow Anubis into a building and down a series of hallways.
“David, the main building consists of the teacher and student dorms, dining hall, facilities, and a few privileged areas. The main building is also heavily warded if we were to ever experience the school being attacked by any means. Please continue to hold your questions and follow me to my office”.
Well, it turns out that Anubis's office is on the eighth floor and there are no elevators, just lots and lots of damn stairs. The whole way up to Anubis’s office the students won't make eye contact with me. I know this, because I find myself staring quite a bit. Some of the students don't look quite human, but that's not too surprising when the headmaster has a jackal’s head for a head.
“Have a seat David. Before I get started do you have any questions?”
“Well, I'm kinda speechless at this point sir. I didn't know this place even existed until recently.”
“Stay alert David, for you will learn quicker that way, here is what you will be experiencing during your stay with us on the campus. As of tomorrow you will begin your six year course-”
“Whoa hold on! Six years? Ciel said we were running out of time and you want me to stay here six years? He did tell you the fate of the world is at risk here right?”
“Relax David, for time works differently here in the Land of Nod. Time like light is a force that reaches out and when it has reached out as far as it can it loops back on itself forming the infinity shape. Now this shape is also layered with each time cycle forming a tightly fitted spring, the infinity spring. Now there are parts of the coiled spring that touch mostly in the center of the infinity spring. Some of these spots form what are called time bridges, not to be confused with a time rift. Time rifts technically are spaces that have improvised bridges. Now time travel ist really a thing but because of these bridges in time we can manipulate the flow of time and even catch glimpses into the past and rarely into the future since time is in a state of flux and the future isn't set until it happens. What all this means to you is it will feel like six years here but for your body and those you left behind only six days would have passed. See, the time flow affects your aging-”
“Please stop and just give me a moment.” My mind is starting to melt just like Ciel said it would if time was explained to me in any capacity.
“Very well David, for you will learn of all this during your studies here with us. I will outline what you will be learning while we wait for your room and study materials to be prepared for you.
In year one class you will be studying the laws of magic. The basic do’s and don'ts of magic and how to control such forces. Sounds simple enough but there is a lot that goes into casting magic for it is all about skill. If you lack skill, the spell you are casting will always have the chance of killing you.”
“Killing me!” What the hell has Ciel gotten me into?
“Like I said David, you will learn about it all in your first year class. In your second year class you will learn all about portals. Traveling is an important focus of a mages training for the divine track magic users closely as well as the Nephilim. Here they can not see you, but you’re working for them so you at least don't have to worry about them. If you ever have a run in with the Nephilim that you can't handle you can at least escape to regroup with portal magic under your belt.
In your third year you will be studying shield spells. Shield spells cover a whole lot more than you would think. Besides protecting from physical harm, shield spells can cloak a user, shield you from temperature changes, and even be used to trap water or air. Some shield spells focus on reflection while others even have scrying-like abilities. The limit of shield spells really just depends on the creativeness of the mage.
Fourth year class will focus on what we call blast spells. These kinds of spells focus on attack and can be used just as creatively as shield spells. Be forewarned now that these are the spells that people tend to get themselves killed due to lack of skill. Not because they got into a duel and got hit by a blast spell, but because these are spells that are easy to over power. You will understand what I mean by this David upon completion of your first year studies.
Fifth year you will be learning telekinetic spells. The intro into this is learning how to push, pull, and levitate objects of various weights with your energy. Once you have mastered that you will learn how to shape your own personal energies in ways to further manipulate other energies and elements.
In your final year you will learn how to conjure. This is a skill set that has most often cost people their lives. Not because they casted conjuration wrong, but because the divine powers see conjuration as a process of creation and they reserve that right strictly for God.
David, it looks like your room is ready and your first year books have been delivered to your room. I would advise you to go straight to your room and get some rest. The dining hall is always open to you at no cost and serves a variety of food. Get in good with the staff and they will even do requests.”
“Yes sir.” It’s all I can think of saying with all the information I just had dumped on me.
My body feels like lead getting up from my chair. The hours of listening to Anubis talk has weighed down my mind as well. Anubis doesn’t say anything as I head to the door. He carries on stoically treating this whole situation like it’s some big mission. In a way I guess it is. Grabbing the door knob I can't help but feel a sense of nostalgia. I feel just like I would right before leaving my office to go give my sermon to my congregation. Boy, how much my sermons would change if I had to give one after all I have been through. I'm sure I would enjoy the look on their faces as I talk of higher powers and cosmic forces. Telling them of ancient beings God has pissed off in order to give us a fighting chance to exist.
I'm sure such a speech would change their lives, or maybe it wouldn't do a damn thing because I have seen it all and know of it first hand, but I felt it all before I ever saw any of it. It makes me sad because deep down in my gut I feel some people can see all I have seen and just deny it anyway. It just makes all this so much more important because the only way any of humanity will have a chance to understand the world, or even just themselves better is if I save them all first.
“Well I'm off to go learn how to cast magic missile into the darkness.”
“After seriously explaining all that to you David, you just had to go make a dad joke level comment. I would strongly advise you to leave your sense of humor in your dorm room. The teachers here will not take kindly to the slightest sign of not taking their instruction seriously. Do you understand what I am saying David?”
“I do, sir. I’ll keep it to myself and show the teachers the respect they deserve.”
“One more thing David before you go.”
“What would that be sir.”
“You actually only have one day to learn each modality of magic, so you will only study here for six days, but trust me each day will feel like a year. You will still be given the books for all six years of schooling but you must have them read before the seventh day. I just wanted the opportunity to see your reaction to my explanation of time, and Ciel seemed quite amused by the thought of me explaining it to you.”
“There is no chance in Hell I can learn six years of information in six days let alone casting magic!”
“You underestimate the mantle you have received. It will affect your mind, body, and whole perception of the world. The book Ciel gave you is also a very powerful teacher. It knows all that has been spoken out loud so it would be hue of you to continue your studies once you have left using the powerful history within that book. The world isn't as limited as you once knew it David. The power you have received is not to be taken lightly. You will find your first year books in your dorm. You may go now.”