The beautiful early morning vista. The bountiful valley that spread far and beyond her sight, with only the most distant of hills and mountains following the edge of the world.
Or the city situated on the ramp leading to a plateau overlooking the valley, sprawling outward on the plateau with massive fortification walls. A larger sprawl of smaller communities spread throughout the slightly hilly terrain. Distant echoes of bells rang with soft chimes, and as if on cue, carts laden with tiny citizens slowly worked their way to and from the nearby city–a bustling sprawl of buildings southbound, near the river. Distantly, she could make out more tiny moving figures–people, maybe, going about their morning routines.
The buildings of the lower city were designed for durability, featuring steel beamwork, brown stone, and tan facades that varied in color, compared to the lighter stone she'd seen from an excavation quarry on the way in. Deep-sloped roofs, ornate chimneys, and small towers rose above the skyline. Wooden trusses accentuated the structures, with proper paved streets weaving in and out. Several major roadways connected to smaller ones throughout the city, just like the branching veins and arteries of a human body.
But the miniature city sitting atop the plateau...She knew exactly what it was.
Rivilat Academy of the Awakened. A bastion of academia and research for many centuries. A place her heart knew was home, without fully remembering the reason why.
The academy itself was a walled-off area surrounded by cliffs on three sides--a natural fortress, almost. The stone-and-steel reinforced walls ran on the open side to the south, and seemed overbuilt. Neska theorized they were built to withstand a siege, even. The cliff forming that stone island overlooking the valley was impressive; it appeared to be at least several hundred feet high. She could make out some porosity in the cliffs, with tiny flecks of white and brown flitting about–maybe birds nesting in the inaccessible retreats? Vines and other daring vegetation draped down at some locations.
The sprawling campus occupied most of the plateau, consisting of large open fields and pathways between the areas. Many boxy-shaped buildings were scattered about, with a clock tower standing prominently above them, another large square building with rows of buildings, and tiny tapestries fluttering on minarets. The brickwork was different–darker, more neutral colors formed the color patterns. Squat buildings looking not dissimilar to the garrison in Bergin formed roughly one quadrant of the campus.
The spaces that weren’t dedicated to academics and training were covered with small trees, and, she surmised, were large swaths of vegetation, a medley of flowers, and crops.
And in the center, a massive building of several floors, squared against the cardinal directions, with rows of glass overlooking the valley. The roof itself seemed to have a series of smaller structures, and…were those more of the large winged beasts taking off from it?
“Rivilat Academy. The Awakened part was tacked on early in the war, after academics threw their best minds at finding solutions. It’s a jewel of the nation,” Nevin concluded.
It was also a fairy tale fortress. It felt like a clenching ache in Neska's heart, seeing it again, even though it only felt like seeing it for the first time.
“It’s…beautiful.” She had to speak slowly, though her words still took on a slight hissing accent. Great. I hope I don't sound like this the entire time I’m a lamia. I’ll have to practice tongue twisstersss…oh damn it, now I’m doing it in my head!
Nevin glanced at her from his mount. “Were you here before? I mean…you know, before…”
Before I died? Grim to think about. “I…remember it. Brief flashes. Good memories. I think.” She hoped that the sense of warmth and happiness she’d felt then still held today.
“That’s more than most,” Nevin said. “Even with monsters at the figurative gates… It's sights like this that remind me what we’re fighting for. Well, let's move on. I’m sure the headmistress will have many questions. We'll stop at medical first.”
“They have a medical wing?” Juni asked, sounding enthusiastic.
“Fully staffed. Each Awakened species has somewhat unique medical needs, when healing poultices and regen potions are insufficient. The training can be…well, thorough. If it's not at the top of places I’d trust, it’s damn close to the top. Plus, it’s handy to have a robust healing center nearby. They also research the Awakened, too. Volunteers are always appreciated.”
The road to Rivilat soon became bustling with carts as people left their homes and farms brought their goods to the city. Military patrols on horseback, along with workers carrying various tools, some of whom hauled stone-filled carts. Presumably, to repair the damage the tunnel viper had caused.
They were going to need a bigger shovel or class powers to fix that mess. Neska hoped that those tunnels had fully collapsed and couldn’t let any more monsters behind the lines.
The gate of the lower city looked foreboding, made of solid steel, with decorative trim depicting metal vines. The entire central portion of the door had extra banding reinforcements, with a map of the city streets emblazoned on it. Runes had been traced into the metal, flickering with passive energy.
She didn’t recognize them, not from her limited recollection of Risha’s journals, but they surely carried immense power, if charged correctly. The gate rumbled open slowly as they approached; Nevin barely had to wave.
The soldiers–and citizens–seemed not too surprised by Juni and Neska’s appearance. A few people pointed, and their mouths gaped, as if they’d seen something astonishing. Great. I picked the evolution that is guaranteed to draw the most unwanted attention. I hope the synergy with my witch hexes is worth the effort.
You realize this is a temporary problem, yes? You may be able to reach a more humanoid form, given time.
Well, it’s a step up from the sneers and curious looks I got at the shop. You know who I miss, besides Risha? That little girl, Belle. She wasn’t afraid of me, either. It…it meant a lot, even though I knew her for a short while.
The bravery of youth?
…Something like that. I hope Belle's alright. That little girl deserves better than a world on the brink.
The brief exchange with Vivi kept her from peering around too keenly. The looks she got from a few of the boys were…strange. They were gawking. She didn’t know how to feel about that.
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Juni did. “Not every day you see a mouse monster using a lamia as her mount,” she said with a contented chuckle. “At least the school has spread word of the accomplishments of the Awakened.”
“Have not seen any others,” Neska murmured in a low tone. For some reason, she felt a little conscientious of flicking her tongue out to taste the air and the surroundings. “Think they are staring at you.”
Juni laughed and almost fell, were it not for an assisting hand from Neska. “Me? Did you make a joke, Neska? You’re the sixteen-foot-long serpent woman!”
“I hadn’t noticed.” She felt a twinge in her lips, unable to keep her face straight. Was that what a smile felt like? The reaction fit her mood.
They continued along the paved streets, sloping gently toward the upper city, where the academy was housed. Trees lined the roadways, and a market in a large plaza came to life with people flocking in. Other workers brought in supplies, stocking the shelves and stalls with displays of fresh fish and vegetables, including bright red orbs and leafy greens. A few people ran around supporting the effort, using a misty magical ability that formed ice under the more perishable goods. The buildings surrounding the area were composed of the commonly seen white stone and rough-hewn timber. It was rustic, even.
Maybe it was her opinion, but Neska preferred the more rustic appearance of Peolein. Everything here was…closer together. Entrapping. The coils of architecture were wrapping around her, not the other way around.
The second gate they approached was smaller, but no less fortified. Armed guards in the familiar blue fatigues–and some with green and gold uniforms also appeared jointly, with helmets adorned with silvered visors. The weapons they carried were also unusual–they slung what appeared to be bulky crossbows, with silver tubing snaking across the items, to a cylinder near the buttstock. The bolts on the firing rails were no joke, either.
Nevin and his counterpart indicated they were coming through with a medical priority, and the gate opened within seconds.
Neska squinted at the golden sunlight emanating from the other side of the door as the sun slowly rose past the building heights. The campus paths were well-maintained paver stones, and flowers lined the walkways. This place had a vintage elegance and had weathered decades, if not centuries, of use.
But what took Neska by surprise, and caused Juni to cling a little tighter, were the dozens of students going to and fro. Or, what she presumed were students, and not monsterkind switching sides.
There was one thing they had in common: they all wore matching dark grey uniforms with green trim. But what set them apart was their forms: humanoids with lizard scales on their faces, a student with rocky limbs that looked like a block of granite. A humanoid male with fire for hair and small embers emanating from his palms stood nearby, lazily juggling balls of fire from his obsidian dark hands, unbothered by the heat, and even cracking a joke to someone nearby.
Walking past them, caught up in a conversation, was a girl with a nebula of water surrounding her. Fish fins grew on her back and arms, and gills expanded and contracted along her neck. Her blue hair matched her scales, and she was laughing, and walking with two other students, one whose limbs were…translucent, almost gooey?
Another appeared to be more animal than person, not unlike Juni, looking like a smaller, otter-like creature that looked around, their movements speedy and graceful.
There are so many. By the look of it, all of them were likely on their way to classes, with distant bells ringing. Distantly, she saw some students either running, flying, or slithering along an obstacle course on the far side.
But the moment didn’t last. Jurik coughed softly to get their attention before tilting his head toward a building just down the path. “Let’s get cleared with medical first. There will be time to look, later.”
Neska noted the metal-stamped sign hanging above the entry. 'Redwinn Medical Center.' The name didn't sound familiar to her.
Nevin opened the double doors to admit the small group inside. Neska noted the building’s oversized doors and high ceilings. They had likely been designed to accommodate larger students. The floor was composed of a smooth, checkered black and white stone, though it had enough texture for her to move on. She could feel the coolness of the tiles radiating along her lengthy tail, though it was not uncomfortable. The walls were sterile white, with medical equipment tucked away in small access rooms to either side of the entry.
Nearby, she could see several rooms, some of which had large, oversized doors that a normal human could not open. She spotted several people flitting in and out, more humanoid nurses and doctors. Or humans with long ears, maybe elven, like Marie. She also saw one woman with scintillating hair and feathers on her arms, currently attending to a student sitting in a wheelchair. They asked them a series of questions about what looked to be an injury to their leg.
Neska found that curious. A human student? Maybe not all the students here were Awakened. Despite the injury, the male student looked at ease and answered the questions calmly.
The receptionist at the front desk was human, as well. She wore a white nurse's cap and scribbled notes onto a notepad at her desk. When she looked up, a questioning glance was etched in her eyes, behind half-moon glasses with metal frames.
“Nevin, I wasn't expecting you back so soon. I thought you were going to investigate the roadway. “ The woman's tone was dry and all business. She raised her brow when she saw Neska and Juni. “New arrivals? Usually, you go through admissions first–” she stopped when she saw the bandages on Juni, and dropped her pen, her face alert. “Goodness, are you two alright?”
“We had an unscheduled entry exam. We had to kill a Tier Two tunnel viper. Three of them, in fact,” Juni replied deadpan. “We got a passing grade.”
"That's the default grade for s-surviving," Neska added calmly. Juni managed to keep a straight face, but Hadley burst out laughing. Even Jurik cracked a smile.
“Is that…” The receptionist didn’t even know how to respond after her words faltered. “I don’t know what’s more surprising. A terramouse hitching a ride on a lamia, or that you fought a very deadly monster on the way here!”
Nevin stepped forward, clearing his throat. “A rotating patrol was killed last night. A tunnel viper trio wiped out the squad, and these two were responsible for handling the creatures. They were already on their way to the academy when they came across the site. I need medical attention for them and the three others with me."
“Yes, right away.” The woman raised her brow and then leaned in, looking at Neska and Juni. She let out a soft laugh. " I hope you've reminded these two that there is a very strict ‘no nibbling on your peers’ policy on the campus.”
Both Juni and Neska sputtered out that such a notion was abhorrent and certainly not an issue. Juni animatedly waved her hands, and Neska’s speech was more tongue hissing than assurances.
Never would I ever! Well, maybe big hugs, but that’s a different thing. But the nurse broke out in an assuring laugh. “I jest of course, sorry. It was unusual to see.” The nurse waved them into an inspection room, filled with small medical tools and several packs of bandages and other healing items arranged on the shelf. “I can see you two are in a rough state, just like the rest of you. Come on in, we'll get you treated. I can't say I remember more than a handful of lamias throughout the entire academy's history. Will you be able to fit in, Miss…”
Neska nodded softly. “Neska. And yes. I should.”
“Aye, and your mousy friend?” the attendant asked.
“Juni,” she answered, her wormlike tail wrapped around one leg. Neska tugged her jacket a little tighter as she slithered into the room, past the oversized door. Behind her, the nurse attendant spoke to a small metallic device, asking for immediate triage response from all available healers not on call.
Inside the room, Neska noted that the walls were covered with various academic-looking depictions of monster species. She couldn't believe that there were this many. She even saw one that looked like a serpent, depicting the major bone structures, arteries, and other factual information. She theorized they referred to these documents when performing exams on students or other visitors.
The amount of knowledge, to intimately know each monster species' anatomy, affinities, and methods for healing them…that must have taken a lot of work.
But she was left with a foreboding feeling when she saw a preserved skeleton sitting on a stand, its structure supported by small metal scaffolding.
What bothered her was that the skeleton was shaped like a serpent. She was unnerved by the empty gaze from the deceased creature's eye sockets.
She hoped it wasn't a former student who had met an untimely end, whose final contribution to the academy was to serve as a medical reference.
(Neska hisses at the author in the background...)
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What kind of companions do you think Juni and Neska will end up befriending? (Could be more than one, so pick three!)