[Scene Loading, ]
[Location: Leoncrest Estate - Wild Forest]
[Date: August 7, y. 485 of the Fourth Age]
Zeke spent one more day in the Capital City, gathering supplies and information with an enthusiasm that surprised even himself. When the preparations were complete, his father hired a carriage adorned with the Godfrey crest, faded but still proud, and Zeke loaded his modest belongings inside.
As he prepared to depart, Agrian approached the carriage window, his expression uncharacteristically soft.
"Do us right," his father said, voice thick with an emotion Zeke had rarely heard from him. "You're going to do well."
"I'm going to maintain our honor," Zeke replied, straightening his shoulders. "We'll make it through this."
"I know we will." Agrian's mouth twitched into what might have been a smile. "Go now. I'll see you when term breaks."
His father stepped back, and Artax limped forward, leaning on his cane. He rested a hand on the carriage door and peered inside with a mixture of pride and concern.
"Make alliances," Artax advised. "Watch your back. Don't be afraid to ask questions."
"Got it," Zeke said, offering a confident grin he didn't entirely feel. "I'll be alright."
With a crack of the driver's whip, the carriage lurched forward, rumbling through the Capital's north gate and onto the road beyond.
The journey north took Zeke through vast agricultural estates that supplied the Capital's endless appetite. Farmhands toiled in fields that stretched to the horizon, harvesting wheat that gleamed golden in the morning sun. Orchards heavy with summer fruit alternated with vineyards where workers sang as they pruned dense vines.
Watching a group of farmers laughing together as they paused for lunch, Zeke felt a momentary pang. Their lives seemed straightforward, unburdened by crumbling family legacies or impossible trials.
"No," he told himself firmly. "You have a responsibility. No use shirking it now."
Besides, he admitted privately, the simple life had never really suited him. Even at his most idle, he'd sought adventure and excitement, just within the safe confines of the Godfrey estate.
By early afternoon, the farmlands gave way to ancient forest, massive oaks and towering cedars forming a dense canopy that filtered the sunlight into dappled patterns on the road. Occasionally, Zeke spotted a cottage tucked among the trees or a woodsman working with ax in hand, but civilization grew sparse as they pressed northward.
When they reached a swiftly flowing river cutting through the forest, the driver called down from his perch.
"This is the boundary of Academy territory! From here on, you're looking at your home for the next while!"
Zeke leaned out the window, curious. The horses forded the shallow river, water splashing against their hooves, and continued along a road that became increasingly wild and rugged. Several times, Zeke could have sworn he saw flashes of movement among the trees, students practicing spells, perhaps, or woodland creatures startled by the carriage.
Once, he distinctly saw a ball of blue fire arc between the trees before disappearing with a soft pop. Magic, without question.
The road steepened dramatically, the horses straining against their harnesses as they pulled the carriage up a sharp incline. When they got to the top, Zeke looked out.
Spread below him was the vast domain of Leoncrest Academy. Ancient forest dominated most of the landscape, but the terrain varied dramatically. To the east rose craggy red cliffs where Zeke spotted tiny figures scaling the vertical faces. To the west glimmered an enormous lake, its surface disturbed by what might have been tentacles or perhaps just especially vigorous fish. In the distance, snow-capped mountains punctuated the horizon.
And at the center of it all stood Leoncrest itself.
A massive wall of gleaming white stone encircled the inner grounds, punctuated by watch towers where flags snapped in the breeze. Beyond the wall, Zeke could see training fields and what appeared to be elaborate gardens before his eye was drawn to the academy proper, an enormous castle that defied conventional architecture.
Towers of varying heights and designs rose like a stone forest, some impossibly tall and slender, others squat and imposing. Bridges arced between them at different levels, and stained-glass windows caught the sunlight, sending prismatic reflections across the grounds. The central keep dwarfed even the grandest buildings of the Capital, its battlements adorned with statues of knights and mages in heroic poses.
As they approached, the massive iron gates swung open soundlessly, not pushed by guards, but moving of their own accord, the metal glowing faintly with arcane sigils. The carriage rolled through and across the perfectly maintained grounds.
Now inside the walls, Zeke saw that what he'd taken for simple training fields were much more. Arenas dedicated to different combat styles dotted the landscape, some with ordinary practice dummies, others containing strange mechanical contraptions or animated golems that sparred with students. In one field, two young men dueled with swords wreathed in flame while an instructor watched critically.
Near the wall, a group of students in blue robes practiced levitation, floating several feet above the ground while attempting to maintain precise formations. Not far from them, others in green appeared to be manipulating plants, accelerating the growth of seedlings into flowering vines within seconds.
The carriage followed the circular drive that led to the main entrance, stopping before an enormous statue at the center of the courtyard. The bronze figure depicted a warrior with noble features, a sword at his side and a scroll in his outstretched hand.
"Morris de'Godfrey," the driver announced proudly. "First of your line to complete the 34 Trials at Leoncrest. Bit of family history for you!"
Zeke studied the statue with newfound interest. He'd heard the name in family stories but had never paid much attention. Now, facing the same trials that had tested his ancestor, the connection felt meaningful.
As Zeke retrieved his trunk from the carriage, the driver tipped his hat. "Good fortune to you, young master. You'll need it."
With that encouraging farewell, the carriage departed, leaving Zeke alone before the towering entrance. The massive doors, oak reinforced with bronze bands inscribed with protective runes, swung open as he approached, responding either to his presence or perhaps to the Godfrey signet ring his father had insisted he wear.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
The entrance hall beyond exceeded even the Senate Chamber in grandeur. Vaulted ceilings soared overhead, supported by columns carved to resemble ancient trees. Stained-glass windows depicted famous battles and magical discoveries, their colored light creating patterns across the marble floor. Between the windows hung tapestries showing the crests of noble houses alongside scenes of students completing the various trials.
Zeke spotted the Godfrey crest prominently displayed on several, alongside depictions of knights battling dragons, scaling mountains, and standing victorious in tournament arenas.
"Zeke de'Godfrey?"
He turned to find a tall woman approaching, her bearing so straight it made Zeke instinctively stand taller. Her robes of blue and white identified her as a member of House Byron, and the silver circlet around her severe bun marked her as a senior instructor.
"That's me," he replied, offering what he hoped was a respectful nod.
"Instructor Stela de'Byron," she said crisply. "I'll be showing you to your quarters." Without waiting for acknowledgment, she turned and began walking, her strides precise and measured.
Zeke hurried after her, lugging his trunk. The woman didn't offer to help, which he suspected was the first of many tests.
"The fall term begins in one week," she informed him as they walked. "You'll see many more students arriving in the coming days. Terms follow the seasons, three months each with two-week breaks between them. Students may return home during breaks or remain at the Academy."
"Who stays?" Zeke asked, genuinely curious.
"Those whose homes are distant," she replied. "Those dedicated to extra studies. And those who find Academy life preferable to their home situations."
Zeke filed that information away, suspecting it might help identify potential allies.
"Leoncrest consists of twelve towers, each with its own purpose," Instructor de'Byron continued. "Male dormitories are in Tower One, female in Tower Two. The remaining towers house classrooms, libraries, laboratories, and faculty offices."
They passed through corridors where display cases held artifacts that radiated magical energy, ancient weapons, strange devices, and crystalline formations that hummed audibly as they passed. In one hall, the portraits lining the walls moved subtly, the painted eyes following visitors.
"We operate under a strict curfew," the instructor continued. "In your dormitory by eight, lights out by nine. Exemptions may be granted but must be obtained in advance."
"What about emergencies?" Zeke asked.
Instructor de'Byron glanced at him, one eyebrow slightly raised. "Emergencies are, by definition, unpredictable. Should one occur, the Academy will make appropriate allowances, assuming the emergency is genuine."
They reached an elaborate spiral staircase with a large bronze "1" embedded in the adjacent wall. As they began to climb, Zeke noticed the steps were worn in the center from centuries of use.
"Punctual attendance is both expected and demanded," the instructor continued. "Tardiness will result in discipline determined by individual professors. Five unexcused absences will result in expulsion."
"Seems reasonable," Zeke replied.
The instructor stopped abruptly, turning to face him with an evaluating gaze. "I understand you've had minimal preparation for Leoncrest. The Academy is demanding even for those who have trained their entire lives. The 34 Trials have claimed many promising students."
Instead of intimidating him, her words kindled a spark of determination. "I'll give it everything I have."
"You'll need to give more than you currently possess," she replied, then resumed climbing.
They ascended floor after floor, passing dormitory levels filled with activity as returning students prepared for the term. Some glanced curiously at Zeke, while others were too absorbed in conversations about summer adventures or academic challenges to notice.
On the tenth floor, Instructor de'Byron led him down a circular hallway lined with doors. The tower's design meant the hallway wrapped around the central staircase, with wedge-shaped rooms extending outward like spokes on a wheel.
She stopped at room 1012, produced a key, and opened the door before handing the key to Zeke. "This will be your quarters."
The room was indeed wedge-shaped, wider at the window-wall than at the door. Two beds stood against opposite walls, each with a desk nearby. A wardrobe occupied the narrow end of the room, and a small attached washroom contained basic facilities. The window offered a spectacular view of the grounds, particularly the red rock formations to the east.
"You'll be sharing with Ralph de'Arnette," the instructor informed him. "He's a year ahead of you, but, " She paused, expression carefully neutral. "He is currently in the Capital and will return with the others."
Something in her tone suggested Ralph might not be the ideal roommate, but Zeke filed that away as another challenge to overcome.
"If you have questions, my office is in Tower Five," she concluded. "I serve as first-year advisor for all students."
"Thank you," Zeke replied with genuine gratitude. "I appreciate the guidance."
Something resembling a smile briefly crossed her face before she nodded and departed, closing the door behind her.
Zeke exhaled slowly, surveying what would be his home for the foreseeable future. "Well," he muttered to himself, "guess I get first pick of beds."
He tossed his trunk onto the bed nearest the door and began exploring the room more thoroughly. The desks were stocked with parchment, quills, inkwells of various colors, and sealing wax complete with a House Godfrey seal for correspondence. The window had a latch that allowed it to swing fully open, potentially providing an alternate exit if necessary, a detail Artax would have noted immediately.
A knock at the door interrupted his exploration. When he opened it, Zeke found himself face to face with a young man approximately his own age, dressed in fine robes of red and gray. Though they'd never met, something about the visitor's features struck Zeke as vaguely familiar, the sharp nose, perhaps, or the thin-lipped mouth currently curved into a contemptuous sneer.
"Yes?" Zeke asked, keeping his tone neutral. "Can I help you?"
"Only if you want to leave the Academy and never return," the visitor replied.
Zeke raised an eyebrow, matching the visitor's hostility with casual disinterest. "Good to see you too. Have we met?"
"I don't know why you're here," the young man continued, pushing past Zeke into the room without invitation. "I don't know what you think you'll accomplish, but I don't want you here."
"Fair enough," Zeke replied with a shrug. "And you are?"
"Diocletian Minziar." The name was delivered with the expectation of recognition.
Zeke recalled his lessons with Sampson, mentally connecting this arrogant youth with the portly Duke who had attempted to dismantle House Godfrey in the Senate. The family resemblance was now obvious.
"Ah," Zeke nodded. "Your parents are the Count and Countess Minziar from the Blue River district, correct?"
Surprise briefly flickered across Diocletian's face. "So you're not completely ignorant."
"I'm full of surprises," Zeke replied, leaning casually against his desk. "Now, is there a purpose to this visit, or did you just want to introduce yourself?"
"Your presence here is a mockery," Diocletian snapped. "The 34 Trials are legendary, and you're treating them like some game anyone can play. I'm frankly shocked the Senate approved this farce."
"Yet here I am," Zeke spread his hands. "Approved and enrolled."
"You won't survive the first Trial," Diocletian predicted with satisfaction. "Maybe not even the entrance assessments."
"Then you have nothing to worry about, do you?" Zeke pushed away from the desk, moving toward Diocletian with deliberate steps. "If I'm doomed to fail, why waste your time warning me?"
The question seemed to catch Diocletian off-guard. He took a step back, though he quickly masked the retreat by pretending to examine the room.
"Consider it a courtesy," he recovered. "A chance to leave with dignity rather than be carried out in disgrace, or worse."
"I appreciate your concern," Zeke replied with exaggerated politeness. "But I have responsibilities to fulfill. Anyone who stands in my way will discover I'm not as helpless as they might expect."
Diocletian laughed, the sound brittle with forced confidence. "Your wrath? How terrifying." He backed toward the door. "Perhaps it will be entertaining to watch your attempts. Just know, " His face hardened. "I'll be watching your every move. The moment you slip, I'll be there."
With that melodramatic declaration, he slammed the door, leaving Zeke alone once more.
"Well," Zeke said to the empty room, "that was informative."
In truth, the confrontation had settled something in him. Diocletian's hostility was straightforward, predictable, the kind of enemy Zeke knew how to handle. If the worst Leoncrest had to offer was entitled noble sons with grudges, he might survive after all.
Of course, Zeke reminded himself as he returned to unpacking, Diocletian wasn't the real threat. The true dangers would be the Trials themselves, and whoever had orchestrated his brother's "accident" would undoubtedly have plans for him as well.
But those were concerns for tomorrow. Today, he had an academy to explore, potential allies to identify, and a room to claim as his own. The first steps of many on the path ahead.
Grinning to himself, Zeke pulled Artax's journal from his trunk and placed it prominently on his desk. Time to see what other secrets Leoncrest Academy held.
[Scene Close]
[Earned Emblems:]
Heart of the Warrior
[Active Quests:]
[Training Montage: Train to begin 34 Trials]
[Explorer: Take a look around the Academy]
