Military Airspace

Eighth Entry, July 28th, 3016NCE.

I previously mentioned how secretive mages were, right? I was still understating it.

The Academy was located inside the Arsheiz Military Airspace Compound, a place not easy to enter, or to leave. Due to its huge economic impact, though, it was located inside the city, and not away from the civilian population as one would expect.

An inheritance of old military facility, the Airspace was gigantic. It was a military territory surrounded by fences (probably electric) as far as my eye could see. Furthermore, I saw several buildings barely at the entrance, while Lady Isabel said there were even more underground.

Once we reached the first security checkpoint, Isabel showed her ID and was let right through. The SUV then turned right on the following intersection. She explained:

"Ten minutes going in that way," She pointed left, to the north pole. "...you would get to the actual military compound. The Academy is tecnically renting some of their space to make the facilities, but they don't hold any power here at the main campus. In fact, it's quite the opposite."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Well, no one is willing to offend a mage, is all."

I slowly nodded. 'That's mages for you...'

Five minutes later, we passed through another checkpoint unbothered and unimpeded. There was not even anyone on sight. As soon as the fancy SUV made it through the line of the gate, it started closing. It is worth to say that the walls were probably more than 3 meters thick. It was not a barrier that could be easily trespassed.

"How did we get through without anyone checking?" I was curious.

"Oh, but they did."

"Hm?"

"We have been monitored since we stepped foot into the Airspace. Perhaps even earlier." The beauty answered.

"There's a mage observing us since back then?" Mother deduced aloud.

"Uhum. The military personnel don't tend to put that much attention into people going to Academy grounds. There are mages on security duty around the clock, so..."

"They can see inside the car with magic, then." My father concluded.

"And probably hear us, too." Lady Isabel added.

"Did you notice the detection?" I asked as my hairs stood on end.

"The spell? No. I can only detect such small vibrations once I get to... Rank 4. Maybe higher."

"So a strong mage can spy on anyone he wants from anywhere he wants?"

"That's about right."

Something told me that answer was incomplete, so there was nothing else for me to say, I just focused on watching the surroundings. Some time later, deep inside the walls, Lady Isabel uttered while turning the sides of the car almost transparent:

"Welcome to the National Academy of Magic: Arsheiz Campus."

It was clearly a complete city. The sprawling campus was adorned with countless state-of-the-art buildings that blend contemporary architecture with a touch of mystical elegance. Towering spires, adorned with the same indigo-blue colors of Isabel's suit, rose against the backdrop of an almost setting sun, creating an ethereal feeling. Modern buldings of the same height stood side by side with them, with a silver color pallete.

However, the residence of the mages were quite a ways back still, to our north. The car would have to go through the impressive town before it got there.

And speaking of which, it was nothing short of charming. Small buildings and chalets were built in a circle around the town square, the latter which had a single protruding white obelisk. Joined with a roundabout and a fountain, they formed the center of the town. I would have to check it out later.

Not only was the town bustling with people on this Saturday afternoon, but there also appeared to be a food festival going on. The road was occupied by cars and pedestrians alike.

Despite the 'magical' scenario, there weren't any people flying or trowing magic spells at one another, so that, for one, was a bummer. 

To our west was a beautiful forest of shimmering pine and elk trees. A small mountain could be seen with another building on it, so there was probably something else there.

To the east, behind more town buildings, was some sort of facility with a yet unknown purpose.

After she gave a few moments for her passengers to take in the scene, she explained:

"That's the Campus Town, Misiones. The first Dean made sure to gather everything his mages would need right by their doorstep. I also have to admit that it's pretty convenient."

"Are all of them... mages?"

"Of course not. Do you think mages are like weeds for there to be so many? They were all hired to work here, and since their salaries and living standards are so good, they just don't ever want to go back." She just forgot to mention the alluring possibility of meeting and marrying a promising mage. 

"How many mages are in here?"

"Counting the mages-in-training, there should be around 10,000 official students. See those spires and buildings up ahead?" She pointed to the series of modern buildings and spires to our north. "Those are the classrooms and some of the labs, as well as the Academy staff's offices."

"It's crazy how this place is still hidden to this day! So where are we going to sleep? At the town?" I hadn't seen anywhere else we could stay.

"Your parents will live there in the future. As for you, you will be sleeping with the other trainees at the dorms. Look forward to that. But that's not going to be today. Today, you will all probably be assigned a guest room in the Spire."

Lady Isabel answered any of my following questions with a 'Yes', a 'No', or simply silence. She was apparently tired of speaking with me.

Once we finally arrived at the tallest spire's lobby roundabout, Lady Isabel Piëch told us to speak with the receptionist. We alighted the car, and she left saying she had more work to do somewhere else.

We all stretched ourselves and took a breath of air. There was no way to know what to expect from then on.