Upperclassman Talk

"Maximus! Remember the boy we told you about last winter?" explained Hina.

"I do," he answered, strolling into the circle to prove the tallest among his friends, his body well-built, eyes of brilliant navy and balanced nose exuding a handsome intelligence at a single glance. "What was his name? It was –" paused Maximus, seeing Elwin looking up at him. A flash of instant recognition swept across as a glint in his eyes. "Elwin Eramir, am I right?"

"Hmm?" mused Hina, observant of his expression. "Did you two know each other?"

His cover was about to be blown! Was he about to reveal that he was the Astral Knight? No, Astral Knight was a name that he gave to Maximus's figure, because Maximus didn't reveal his name back then. Elwin ran out of words to say, but –

"Yes! I met him by the docks while out on an errand. It must've been a day before you found him at the Kosmogorov station," answered Maximus. "All this time I was wondering whether the boy I met were the same person in your story."

So Maximus was the Astral Knight! But what was he doing back then and there? Elwin leaned forward to ask, but Maximus held a finger to his lips in the split moment his friends looked away, giving a cool wink to Elwin that only he could see.

Elwin nodded back with an equal measure of care.

"What serendipity! Looks like DEIA AETERNITAS has some part in our reunion then," remarked Leonardo.

"Indeed. Good to have you with us at Aeternitas, Elwin," praised Maximus. "How are you finding the Academy so far?"

"It's been – well, classes haven't started yet, so I can only gauge from stuff that happened since arrival. I was a bit overwhelmed at first by the grand scale of everything, and the responsibilities that the headmaster confided in us, but I'm taking it in good stride. I'm ready to learn and train."

"Astutely articulated," said Maximus, giving him a fist-bump. He remembered that Elwin asked about how he could become better at his Maht.

"Speaking of the tournament last year, was it hard? How did all of you beat Tzarina and her team?" probed Elwin.

"Hahaha!" Sandora guffawed, tousling Elwin's hair. "You remembered Tzarina from our conversation back at the inn? Precocious!"

"Quite an epic battle it was, us versus her team," quipped Leonardo. "We were among the last four squadra remaining in the final round. Though as to the battle – we can't tell you what they were, haha. Headmaster's orders. Let's just say we pulled a secret card."

"What card?"

"An application of a lesson from experimental philosophy. The Four Elements can perform incredible feats when they come together," said Hina, giving a single wink. "For us, it was a reaction between molecules. Might be useful to you, too."

The Viatira took seats along the Fradihta.

"Aren't House members supposed to dine with one another?"

"Good catch. Most of the time. But some leeway is given to the consuls every now and then, so they can maintain the friendships made in their Franen. The Houses compete with one another for competitions within Aeternitas, but there are times when we as Aeternitas face off against other academies across the Republics. The consuls of each House are usually brought together as a team to represent Aeternitas as a whole, so it's good to catch up like this every once in a while to see how everyone's doing," replied Maximus.

"That's cool. So even if you end up selecting four different Houses, you can still maintain your bonds?"

"That's right. But don't neglect your duties as consul for your House! You're supposed to be their leader," cautioned Sandora.

"Can you teach us in private? As in how to win the tournament and all that?" Katherine requested, an expectant gleam in her eye.

"I'm afraid not. We would need to relinquish our responsibilities as consul," Sandora replied, rather curtly.

"But you will see us from time to time during your Franen at Aeternitas. And of course, permanently, if you join one of our Houses," consoled Leonardo. "Join House of Tera. We gotta build our ziggurat higher. The ziggurat must grow."

"In your dreams! Our giant tree will blot out the sun long before your ziggurat does," jested Hina.

"Hey, don't throw shade at the Sun, or we're going to bring down our sunbeam reflectors so you guys don't get any hot water," quipped Sandora.

"Ah, don't get ahead so far," interjected Maximus, holding up a finger. "Remember House MANASURA is by the lake, and we pump the water? Without us, good luck getting a shower at all," he joked.

They all broke into heartfelt laughter, slapping each other's back and shoulders.

Elwin, Isaac, Mirai, and Katherine all looked at their upperclassmen as if peering a hint at their future.

From away, surrounded by not just three of his mates from yesterday but half a dozen new he made this morning, Lucian looked at Elwin and his kismets among the Vianen consuls in fuming disdain.

***

The skyward amphitheatron echoed with the ruffle of fabric as the one-hundred-and-sixty Fradihta took their studious repose. On the stage of the amphitheater stood Professor Aionia, flanked by the Four Masters of the Arts, Professor William standing tallest among them, followed by Professor Thales, who nearly matched his height. They observed the Artens ahead without a word.

"A fine welcome and top of the morning to you," announced Professor Aionia, "on your first day at Aeternitas."

"Before your classes begin and you race off in earnest, I'd like to make a few important start-of-term announcements."

"First, regarding the matter of campus grounds: you may travel anywhere you wish within the Academy bounds. However –" she paused, assessing the audience, "should you choose to sojourn to Aienwater outside, you must return by 9 o'clock in the evening, and notify us in person. This time will extend with privileges when you become an upperclassman."

"Second, you will find that the Sacred Forest of AIEN lies immediately north beyond the campus grounds. There is a stone bridge over a waterfall that leads into it. You must not cross this bridge."

There was a fleeting movement of murmurs. Professor Aionia waited until it subsided.

"Finally, while one's foundational curriculum is unchanged, you are tasked from now until the end of Tanayasna to choose one Tanaar who shall guide you in your first-year. This gives you... about two weeks."

A Tanaar? Elwin thought. This wasn't in the guidebook.

"While there are twenty-seven other distinguished professors at Aeternitas, you will only get to see them as you climb the ladder for more specialized fields of the Arts as upperclassmen – as Viatira, Tunir, and Senatir."

Professor Aionia continued. "You will, however, see the five of us quite regularly as Fradihta. This will allow us to gauge and discover your aptitude, while you can find out whose teaching style fits you best."

"Recall that the term 'Tanaar' is derived from DEIA TANA, who educated the young Astinel Arcana after she took him in from the streets of the eponymous city. It is by her instruction and guide that Astinel Arcana matured into an honorable young man from his tarnished beginning as an orphan-thief, and became a general that freed the republic and its people from the tyranny of Jin. It is his legacy that you now rest upon, and by extension, DEIA TANA as well."

"Likewise, your Tanaar will coach you on all manners of decisions: your studies, your careers, your troubles and concerns regarding the haphazard labyrinth of being. Who you choose will therefore make or break your future."

"When you choose a Tanaar, say, Professor Thales," respectfully referring to the Master of the Waters, "you will travel and take classes together with those who've also chosen him to be their Tanaar. Consider this your 'Tanaar group.' At nine-thirty in the morning, you will convene for half an hour of exercise – in the afternoon at four, an hour with your Tanaar for a reflection on the day's learnings."

Katherine's hand shot up. "Professor, isn't choosing a Tanaar much like choosing one of the Four Houses?"

"Perceptive indeed. Consider it a flavor for your second-year onwards. You can use this opportunity to find your fit before you fully commit next year."

Whispers swept the crowd in anticipation.

"Now then, I hope your legs are ready for what comes next."

"Ready for what?" murmured the Fradihta.

"The campus tour."