The Coriolis family. By pioneering new land every generation, they’ve claimed the reputation of a great noble family. By assimilating the traits of creatures from their conquered wilderness, they’ve become frighteningly strong. By flattening mountains and sinking islands, they’ve made even the imperial clan wary. And now, displaying the typical white hair and red eyes, Coriolis’ newest monster is... amiably gossiping with another student?
“All I know about Heircheet academy is that it’s considered the best, but this looks rather… poorly maintained”
Theon Coriolis looked at the rundown buildings at the entrance of Heircheet.
“The Heircheet estate spans the entire mountain range. This must not be the academy proper, they say its location is secret. You really know nothing? Surely you’ve heard something about it, like how all the graduates are crazy? Actually, I heard a much worse rumor”
The prospective student’s expression became grave.
“Apparently, Heircheet is the only academy without student-teacher romance!”
“...no, isn’t it normal to forbid that?”
“Right!? You also understand: forbidden love is a must for any student. But here it’s not forbidden or anything, they just don’t… that can’t be true right!? It’s my last chance to back out before we enroll, what should I do?”
“It’s too late, you can’t escape your fate. No matter what.”
A grating metallic metallic voice interjected.
“A floating mask?”
The students failed to comprehend what they were seeing.
If I squint I swear there’s someone wearing the mask, but I can’t seem to focus on anything but the mask. It’s like the mask supersedes the wearer.
Theon thought it didn’t quite look like a floating mask.
The expressionless silver mask made its way to a platform in front of the students.
“Now that I’ve fetched those trying to escape their fate, it’s time for me to explain it. I am the principal of Heircheet academy, you may address me as principal Silvermask or simply principal, not ‘mask principal’ and absolutely not by my first name. I also happen to teach the only mandatory class: conspiracy. As you may already know, students are divided into 5 grades: dust, copper, iron, silver and gold. Let me make this clear from the beginning: you all in the dust grade cannot leave, and you cannot see students from other grades. It is absolutely impossible to do so until you pass my conspiracy final exam and reach the copper grade. So do your best to pass my exam or you’ll be stuck here forever. You will enter with only the clothes on your back, with no money, no artifacts and certainly no attendants. Of course, while you’re here, you’ll be granted an allowance of basic necessities. One by one, you will present your admission letter—stop trying to destroy it, I have copies—and I will assign you to a dorm according to your status: commoner, soldier, priest, noble or creature. This is all done out of my deep consideration to enjo—*cough* avoid conflict. How uncomfortable would you feel with those ‘others’ in your dorm? No need to thank me. Alright, line up now dust balls.”
Stolen novel; please report.
It seems those are fellow students. How will the blue flaming one fit at a desk?
Theon looked towards a translucent flaming quadruped the size of a carriage. Beside it was a head-sized floating eyeball, as well as a young man with a parrot on his shoulder.
“Yeela fletcher, to the poor dorm. Next.”
Before long it was Theon’s turn.
“The new Coriolis, enrolled in the noble dorm naturally”
The principal let on no hint of surprise, but it was truly shaken by what it beheld.
“What about this—”
“Don’t worry about the artifact, it’s already been arranged.”
Theon had pointed to the black choker around his neck, the only thing between the mask and the source of its surprise: an absolutely titanic mass of mana. Deeper than the sea and wider than the heavens, it roiled with the intensity of a thousand suns, throttled to a trickle by the artifact. Yet just this trickle felt heavier than a mountain, granting Theon an unusually large presence.
“Hey, how come he gets to bring an artifact!”
“And what has your peasant family contributed to Heircheet? Straw? Next.”
“An Ingram? I’m quite sure the entire Ingram clan collectively ascended last year. Well, so long as you’re a noble on paper, off to the snotty brat dorm you go. I can’t wait to see how… vigorously you’ll be received! Next.”
“W-wait, principal. Is-is it really true that there’s no student-teacher romance here?”
“...I’ll pretend you never said anything.”
The mask, despite its eternally neutral expression, somehow conveyed a look of utter disdain.
“You were also a noble?”
“Well, as long as no one pays close attention…”
“Don’t worry, I don’t exactly fit in with the noble students either. The Coriolis title is not hereditary, so I don’t technically have a title until I pioneer new land like my predecessors.”
“So you were indeed a Coriolis. Is it true that your ancestor defeated imperial champion Dobrek, and then turned him into a woman?—Wait, who are those people forming a circle around us?”
“Alright dust balls, try not to vomit.”
Heaven and earth swapped places, the shadows shuddered, and reality turned inside out — a colossal power had manifested, one Theon tried his best not to resist.
Suddenly, it was not rundown buildings before them, but ornate halls with impeccable gardens. Sunlight reflected off of tranquil water features, and wisps of color danced in the distance.
I’ve entered a dream paradise.
“BLEUAARHGG, EURK—guh”
“Gulp”
“Rrrrgh, HURG”
I take that back.
Theon cringed at the puke symphony.
