Ingenium Academy: Capitulo Uno

[IHateMakingNames]

Outside of the dorms, near a patch of trees, a little wild boy was sleeping. Khan had been dropped off at the academy two weeks ago. At first, he tried to escape, but soon realized he was to far from his clan and couldn't track his way back. Then he returned to the academy because he couldn't catch his own food, and needed to eat.

For the next week he lived around the school, raiding the mess hall every now and then, and trying to figure out what to do. He didn't understand the language everyone spoke, but he picked up a few words from the time he was captured by the merchants and his time spent at the academy. He gradually accepted the people at Ingenium to be his new clan, though he was reluctant to live with them.

The academy didn't have anyone who could understand Khan, since he spoke something only used in his clan. They sent out some people to try and find some one from his clan to talk to Khan, but have been unable to locate them yet.

The students gathering to sign up for classes were causing a lot of commotion, which woke Khan up. Seeing the students gathering, Khan assumed something important was happening in the clan. So, he grabbed his pick-ax and headed towards the sign up area.

[mauve]

Emma was already awake when the knocking came at her door.

"You awake in there?" came a voice; a not-entirely-happy voice. Emma looked over at the door from where she stood at her dresser, fixing her hair and clothes as best she could with the aid of the small hand-mirror she had brought from home.

"Yes I am, thank you," she replied politely. She wanted to make a good first impression with the staff of the acadamy, although it seemed as though this particular individual could care less about Emma's manners.

"Ye'd better be down at the sign-ups right quick, girl," the voice grumbled. "Won't be waitin' fer you ta fix yer hair." Heavy footsteps marked his departure, followed soon after by another round of yelling and door-pounding down the hall.


Moments later, the girl found herself entering the courtyard. There were already quite a few students waiting to sign up for classes, so she quietly made her way through the crowd.

[Raiden]

Thomas stood alone in the courtyard. The servant had left him, on the quiet order of the young master.

He had a strange look on his face. Some might think it was arrogance, being surrounded by those of a lower class than himself. Others would think it was exhaustion. Even more would think he was shy. He was none of those things.

He was....just quiet.

[Truce]

Curel was somewhere in the crowd, though he wasn't sure where. He mind was busy thinking about what his mother wanted him and, more importantly, what he wanted for himself. He knew that she would want him to become a sorcerer and follow the path she had taken, and the concepts didn't seem difficult to him but...

Magic really didn't interest him, at least not more than anything else did.

[mauve]

Emma tried to look over the heads of her fellow students, but couldn't see what was happening up ahead. She frowned and put her hands at her hips. What if she was in the wrong line? She didn't want to start out the school year trying to fix some horrible mistake.

Name: Emma Fletcher.
Intended Major: Arrow Fodder

She smiled at the grimly funny thought. She had better find out what was going on. The easiest way would probably be to ask her fellow classmates, she supposed.

There were several other students up ahead, just sort of standing, like she was. They all looked quite bored, or at least busy thinking of something else. One seemed to be wandering aimlessly, not really paying attention to much of anything. Another, nobility by the looks of his clothing, wore an expression that Emma couldn't place. Boredom? Disdain? Who knew? Yet another seemed to have simply fallen off the roof. Probably not the most talkative group, Emma thought, but she needed some information and they were the people closest to her. Clearing her throat politely, she stepped forward.

"Excuse me," she said. "This is going to sound somewhat stupid of me to ask, but does anyone know what's going on up there, or where we're supposed to sign up for classes?"

[Truce]

Emma's voice pulled Curel back to reality, reminding him that he himself had no clue what was going on. It was really sad, since he was sure his mother had lectured him exactly where to go and what teacher to sign up for, but at the time he hadn't really been concerned.

However, he had arrived a couple weeks earlier, and had heard stories from the upperclassmen. One said that you simply signed up for them (though, he couldn't remember how), another said that there would be some sort of test (again, he wasn't really interested at the time), and another said that they would have to wear a smelly old hat that would sort them into classes (this one...he was pretty sure was just a stupid lie).

In the end, he turned to Emma and shrugged. "Who knows? A creepy guy just walked into my room and told me to come here, so..."

[neyo the king]

Steve had slowed down, now that it was evident that he wasn't late. In fact, he was suddenly glad that he wasn't early. He could imagine the early birds standing in the middle of the courtyard, only to be trampled into the ground by this mess.

Ah, well, might as well mingle. He thinks to himself, and proceeds to scan the crowd for somone to chat with.

[Ryu Kurai]

Infisil kicked his horse, struggling to hold on as the nearly 1000 pound beast sped up. Well, technically, it hadn't been his horse last night. Served whoever right for not tying up their horse. She was a real beauty too, light brown fur and a white mane. She reminded him of a clidesdale almost. You just need to hold on to valuable posessions like these He thought to himself, thinking about the ten gold he had lifted from a woman's purse three nights ago. She had been careless too, and her carelessness was going to get him into the magic school. According to his sources, today was the day he needed to sign up for classes. He said "Yah," spurring the horse again, lightly. The school's massive walls came up into view, and he remarked at how brightly the sun was shining. He squinted, coming up to the wall and gate.

"Let me through, I'm here to take classes." He said simply to the guard. The guard gave him a quick once-over, then waved and nodded up to the gate's operator on top of the wall. The huge gates creaked open, and he patted his horse softly on the flank and ushered her inside. He quickly spotted another guard on patrol. "You, there, my good man." He said, urging his horse to a stop in front of the guard. He quickly lept down from his horse with its reins in hand and reached into one of his pockets, pulling out a gold piece. "Take my horse to the stables, if you would." He said in an important voice, putting the gold into the bewildered guard's hand and clasping his hands over it, as though to keep the gold there against its will.

"Um... Alright." The guard said, stuffing the coin in his pocket and moving to take the horse's reins from Infisil. He pulled them away slightly.

"Also, which way do I got to sign up for classes?" He said, locking eyes with the guard. The guard pointed towards the courtyard.

"It's, uh, over that way." He said simply, still a bit confused about what had just happened.

"Thank you very much kind fellow." Infisil said, tipping his head forwards slightly and setting off at fast jog towards the sign-up line. I love how they're so easy to manipulate. After I learn about this power as well, I bet they'll be even easier. Imagine picking someone's pocket from across the room, or reading a general's mind before he uses his plan in battle! I'll make millions! He thought these things as he found the line and got in back of it, crossing his arms and looking at the pockets of the people in front of him to see if they were a bit too heavy.

[Krylo]

As the crowd gathered it became evident that this was a larger group than most months, which, of course, meant more work for the teachers, but it also meant that there would be more students to take on odd jobs around the school--helping with blacksmithing, carpentry, cooking, and hunting. The year would certainly be prosperous.

These were the thoughts running through the mind of Irving Egandvil, the school's dean and propietor, as he watched the students gather and begin to mingle, a low murmur overcoming crowd as they became anxious for the day to begin in truth. Many couldn't wait much longer to begin their training, and others just didn't wish to stand much longer.

So far the students had not noticed him, standing high on a balcony on the building in front of them--one of the many training arenas, which was currently being used for sign-ups, and this was fine by him. He wasn't quite ready to speak yet.

After waiting several minutes for what appeared to be the vast majority of the arrivals to show up, Irving spoke, his voice booming over the crowd louder than should be possible--a simple spell he had picked up over the years, "WELCOME!"

He waited another few moments for the students to silence themselves and turn their gaze to his elderly--though still imposing--form, and then continued his speech, his voice no longer magically empowered, although still strong enough to be easily heard by the mass of students, "I see before me not the huddled masses, not the dirty peasants, not the haughty nobles, and not the poor farmers which ye were before. I do not see before me the rich, or the poor. I do not see the privledged or the poverty striken. I see before me here today only potential! Limitless potential! I see before me the heros and the legends of tomorrow! No longer shall you be farmers, or diplomats! Ingenium shall forge you into greatness!"

Many of the students--mostly the poor and impoverished, whom were unused to being treated better than dirt--let up a cheer at his words which filled them with hope for the future. He waited for them to calm themselves, his hands held out gesturing for quiet, and then spoke again, "Whether ye be here to seek vengence, wealth, or greatness... or even to be a protector of the people, soon your dreams shall be realized!"

Another short spout of cheers, mostly from the same, though now it was a bit quieter, and again he gestured for silence before speaking, "However, such greatness does not come easily. There are rules which must be abided by, and hardships which must be overcome! Firstly, I see that there are a few nobles in our midst today, and, naturally, their families have sent servants along to help them. However, those servants can only get in the way of your training. This is a time to overcome hardship through your own wit and muscle, as such, your servants are, at this moment, being sent home!"

As he spoke, sure enough, a few guards were moving through the crowds and politely escorting away three or four personal servants--amongst them Elena's. Thomas's servant, in the meanwhile had been caught on the way back to the dorms and sent away.

Irving, however, continued speaking, "Further, many of you came with your own weapons and armor, and all with clothes--or at least I hope you came with your own clothes!" he waited a moment for a laugh that never came and then continued quickly, "After today you will all be assigned uniforms based on your progress through the training, any clothing or armor is to be kept in your rooms and only worn on personal excursions outside the school grounds! Further, any and all weapons shall be assigned to you by the school, and you are to use only these in any school activities. Again, you may only use what you brought on personal excursions! This is to ensure that no one is cheated from proper training by allowing their equipment to do the work, and to be certain no one is unduly left behind due to shoddy weaponry! This policy has been shown, in the past, to produce markedly superior warriors! Further, as first years you are all required to take at least four basic weapons classes, and two non-weapon classes. The other two are up to your own discretion. All other rules are posted on the large stone tablet in the center of the school grounds, I suggest you read them once you have signed up for classes. Welcome once more to Ingenium! You come here as masses of untapped potential, but you shall leave as the legends of tomorrow!"

With that the Dean turned and walked back into the building, and the doors of the arena on the bottom opened, revealing dozens of tables manned by students wearing more advanced uniforms. About half were sign-ups for classes, the others sign-ups for school jobs.

[Tarrin]

Johann stood in the courtyard, The cheshire like smile still plastered apon his face.
Only moments before he had walked into his room to find an old man lying on his back in the middle of the floor. Obviously he hadent seen Johann's hammock when he stormed in to wake him up.

Absently, Johann stroked his beard (all three hairs), he already knew which classes he'd be signing up for.
Magical Items I (1)
Magical Theory I (2)
Magical Creation I (3)
Practical Magic I (4)

That left four periods to study his weapons.
Axe Combat (5)
Spears (6)
Closed fist (7)
Wrestling (8)

Yes! that's it, thats the classes i'll go for. Johann thought still stroking his non-existant beard, Then the deans speach finnished.