CHAPTER 19: Welcome

"The Academy is every Highborn's dream and every Lowborn's nightmare."

-anonymous Macerian passersby

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Obsidian Torrens Academy, Kingdom of Maceria, Obsidian Empire

Aramar 11 AE

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"You didn't seem to enjoy the attention," Yvaine remarked without looking back.

They were walking along the northern ramparts. The same wall where Keys bled just the night before.

The forest stretched to their right. Beyond it, the dark precipitous peaks of the Blackmargin overshadowed the forest and even up to the Academy. To their left, the towering spires of the different buildings of the Academy poked from the ground.

"No," Nash replied.

He's a man of few words. Yvaine casually turned around to face Nash without stopping her stride.

"I know what it's like," she said, now walking backward.

"No, you don't."

That took her by surprise. He's rude.

"The attention they give you is negative. The attention I get is positive," Nash said. His gaze was on the dark peaks. North.

"True," Yvaine replied, catching herself. "But it's attention nonetheless."

Nash did not reply. He just looked at her and pursed his lips. He seemed to want to say something but deliberately held himself back. She heard that slaves are usually timid. But she did not expect him to be so blunt. Fine. She turned her back at him and continued walking. Silence.

"What's a Renegade?" Nash's voice finally called from behind.

"Where are you from?" she called back, smiling to herself.

"South," Nash replied.

"How far south?"

"Far."

"I take it you don't have Renegades where you're from?"

"I'm a slave."

"Was," Yvaine corrected.

"Was a slave," Nash acknowledged.

"You probably just call them differently," Yvaine offered. "Renegades are people who can wield the Torrent. Minus the training."

"Mm-hm," Nash said. He appeared itching to be elsewhere. All business. Yvaine decided not to force the small talk and just stick to her assignment.

"That's Asphodel Forest," she started, gesturing towards the forest. "Do not go out there on your own. It's replete with Vilkasvarg. They weren't that many two years ago, but now they're out almost every night. We usually hold Martial Classes there though. We just did, yesterday. And somebody died. I don't know if we'll be officially allowed back there anytime soon."

They ascended a flight of stairs that led to a battlement. On this elevated platform, Yvaine halted. From here, they could see the entire Academy when facing south. The Skybow arced permanently plastered on the sky.

Yvaine pointed and recited the different buildings of the Academy. "There's the library. We just came from the indoor Martial Class training grounds below, the lecture halls are over there, the canteen is just beside that. The big cathedral at the center is the Church of Eidos, and all the spires you see on the right are the Torren towers."

Nash nodded at each one.

"Any questions?" Yvaine asked.

"What's an Axemplar?" was Nash's immediate response. She forgot about that.

"Highborn Torrens," she answered.

"They're not Renegades?" Nash's confusion was apparent.

"Yes, and No," she explained. "Renegade is the collective term for all untrained Torrens. Torrens who graduate are classified into Axemplars and Revenants. Highborns who graduate always end up as an Axemplar. Lowborns usually end up as Revenants."

"What's a Revenant?"

She expected that question.

"Us," she replied simply. "Or well, that's what we're going to be. Torrens who aren't Highborns."

"And the difference is?"

"I don't know," Yvaine honestly replied. "Well, I do know that Revenants undergo a process called Revenation," she clarified. "It's supposed to be painful. But the pain will be worth it." She said the last statement with conviction.

"Why?"

"Because Revenation supposedly unlocks your innate potential. You become a far more powerful Torren. A hundred times more powerful."

Nash only nodded, seemingly satisfied with her answer.

"One more thing," Yvaine said. "Boys and girls only mingle during class hours. We are an exception right now because Ser Marcus expressly granted our time together. If you fancy a lady Renegade, keep it to yourself."

Nash snorted. "Not a problem. Am I granted the same protection?" He raised an eyebrow with this question.

Yvaine burst into laughter.

"What?" Nash asked. "What's so funny?"

Yvaine controlled herself. "Oh, nothing. I, uh, I just didn't expect that to come from a boy. Always thought most boys around here would jump at the opportunity."

"Well." Nash was smiling. "As you can see, I'm not like most boys around here."

He does have a literal point. Yvaine regarded him for a while. Lowborn girls like her don't usually go after Lowborn boys. And they do not dare go after the Highborn boys. It's usually the other way around. But the Academy's law on zero tolerance for sexual harassment of women seems to apply even to the Imperial family. However, she has not considered the scenario of Highborn girls going after Lowborn boys. Perhaps the love affair between Priscilla and Keys was not that mutual after all. Keys was Highborn, yes, but Priscilla was still way above him in the hierarchy.

"I don't know," she finally replied. "I think you better ask an Archon. Because I do know of certain Highborn girls who would stop at nothing to get what they want."

Nash just nodded. They both looked at each other in uncomfortable silence.

Nash finally broke eye contact and returned his gaze to the Blackmargin. "Um… are there any other rules I should know about?"

"Oh." Yvaine cleared her throat. "Most of them will be given to you tomorrow." She trailed his gaze to the Blackmargin. Nash finally voiced her expected question.

"What's that mountain over there?"

"The Blackmargin. And it's not a mountain. It's a plateau. You'll encounter that in Geography or History one of these days."

"And beyond that?"

"Nobody really knows. At least nobody among the students. It's too far away and you have to go through Asphodel and Bercoven. See that bump in the tree canopy?" Yvaine pointed to the far outer boundary of the woods where the canopy seemed to suddenly rise. "That's where Asphodel ends and Bercoven begins."

"So nobody's been there?"

"Nobody came back to tell their story."

Nash held his chin in contemplation.

Yvaine considered him and snorted at the impression of his thoughts that popped into her mind. "Listen, whatever it is, the students have a saying that goes, 'only the brave ventures into Asphodel, only the fool ventures into Bercoven.' So you might as well forget about it."

Nash just smiled.

"Which reminds me. First," Yvaine held one finger up. "Never, ever, try to leave the Academy on your own. As Lowborn Renegades, we were conscripted. Highborns have it easy because they were 'enrolled.' To them, this place is a school. For us, it's a military training facility that doubles as a prison. Our only chance of getting out of here is as a Revenant or dying in the process."

Nash remained silent and just nodded. She didn't think it was a problem because it doesn't seem like Nash has anywhere else to go in the first place. The more serious issue is the second one.

"Second," she held out two fingers. "Never, ever, pick a fight with Highborns. Yes, they will make your life miserable whether you like it or not, but if you fight back, you will lose it. We only really have two options as Lowborns when it comes to other students – alive and miserable, or dead."

"So," Nash said, ostensibly connecting the dots. "All boys cannot harass any girl. But Highborn boys can bully other boys. And Highborn girls can bully other girls."

"Well. If you put it like that, yes. But bullying is technically not allowed. It still happens though. The only law this place is adamant about is the zero tolerance for sexual harassment of women from all men." Then she added, "and the no-leaving of Lowborns."

"Thank you," Nash said.

"You're welcome," Yvaine replied.

"I'm Nash, by the way." He extended his hand. A genuine handsome smile crossed his face.

"Yvaine," she took his hand, smiling as well. Waking up late did have its perks after all. "Welcome to the Obsidian Torrens Academy, Nash."