The Front Office

As Adrien and Arthur made their way down the long corridors of the facility, the ambiance shifted subtly. The usual hum of activity was present, but there was an added sense of purpose in their steps. Arthur led the way with a casual air, his hands tucked into his pockets, while Adrien followed closely, trying to take in every detail of their surroundings.

The front office was located at the end of one of the main hallways, marked by a pair of large wooden doors with intricate carvings that gave the place an almost regal feel. Arthur pushed the door open with a casual motion, revealing a room that was both welcoming and official. The walls were lined with dark wooden paneling, and the floor was covered in a plush red carpet that absorbed the sound of their footsteps. A few chairs were scattered around for waiting students, but the room was otherwise empty, save for the figure seated behind the front desk.

The secretary was a young girl, likely only a few years older than Adrien, with long silver hair that fell in soft waves down her back. What immediately caught Adrien's attention, though, were her wings—feathery and delicate, they extended gracefully from her back, giving her an ethereal appearance. Her eyes were closed, and it quickly became apparent that she was blind. Despite this, she moved with a practiced ease, her hands expertly organizing papers and tapping away at a typewriter that clicked rhythmically under her fingers.

"Hey, Fay!" Arthur greeted with a grin, his voice carrying a mischievous edge.

The girl, Fay, turned her head slightly in their direction, her expression calm and composed. "Arthur," she acknowledged, her voice soft but firm. "What do you need this time?"

"We've got a newbie here," Arthur said, clapping Adrien on the back. "He needs his starter Mercury. Think you can help us out?"

Fay nodded, her fingers moving deftly across the desk as she reached for a small ledger. "Of course. What's your name?" she asked, tilting her head toward Adrien.

"Adrien Vesperis," Adrien replied, a bit nervously. He wasn't sure how this whole system worked, but Arthur seemed to know what he was doing, so he followed his lead.

Fay opened the ledger, her hands gliding over the pages as she found the entry she was looking for. With a small, almost imperceptible smile, she retrieved a small card from a drawer and handed it over to Adrien. The card was simple, with his name engraved on it and a number that indicated his starting balance of Mercury.

"There you go, Adrien," Fay said, her tone gentle. "This card is your access to the Mercury system. You can use it at the cafeteria, the store, or anywhere else on the grounds. Just be sure to keep track of your balance."

"Thanks," Adrien said, taking the card and feeling a sense of relief. It was one less thing to worry about in this strange new place.

As they were about to leave, Arthur leaned in close to Fay, his grin widening. "By the way, Fay, you've got something on your face."

Fay paused, her fingers hovering over the typewriter. "Do I?"

"Yeah, right here," Arthur said, reaching out as if to brush something off her cheek. In reality, he was placing a small, harmless sticker on her face—one shaped like a smiling sun.

Fay, of course, couldn't see the sticker, but she could hear the laughter bubbling up from Arthur. She sighed, a patient but long-suffering expression crossing her features. "Very funny, Arthur," she said dryly. "You know I can't see whatever it is you just did."

Arthur chuckled, clearly pleased with himself. "That's what makes it funny."

Adrien couldn't help but crack a small smile at the exchange, though he felt a bit guilty laughing at Fay's expense.

As they left the front office and made their way toward the store, Adrien took a moment to examine his card more closely. He hadn't had much time to think about the Mercury system before, but now that he had the card in hand, he felt the weight of responsibility.

"How much does it cost to eat here?" Adrien asked, turning to Arthur as they walked.

Arthur shrugged casually. "Depends on what you're eating. The basics are covered by your daily Mercury allowance, but if you want anything special or extra, it'll cost you more. The key is to budget wisely, especially if you want to save up for anything cool."

Adrien nodded, mentally noting the information. "So, how do you budget?"

Arthur grinned. "Simple. I eat what's cheap and hoard the rest. You never know when you'll need extra Mercury for something important—or when you'll just want to splurge on a treat."

They arrived at the store, a well-stocked room filled with everything from school supplies to snacks. The shelves were lined with items that ranged from practical to luxurious, all with small price tags attached in Mercury.

Adrien's eyes widened at the selection. "So this is where you get your supplies?"

"Yep," Arthur said, grabbing a few items off the shelves. "Just remember, you can spend as much or as little as you want—but once you're out of Mercury, you're out until you earn more."

Adrien nodded, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the choices. He knew he'd have to be careful with how he spent his Mercury if he wanted to make it last. As he followed Arthur through the aisles, picking up a few essentials, he couldn't shake the feeling that this place, despite its outward appearance, held many secrets.

As they moved past a shelf lined with books, one particular volume caught Adrien's eye. It was a thick, leather-bound tome with an ornate cover that shimmered slightly under the store's dim lighting. The title, written in elegant gold script, read The Compendium of Magicks: A Complete Guide to All Known Magical Arts.

Adrien's breath caught in his throat. All known magical arts? That sounded promising—exactly what he needed. His thoughts immediately flickered to the mysterious Anti-Magick the woman had mentioned. If there was any chance of understanding what it was, maybe this book held the key.

He hesitated for a moment, turning the book over in his hands and examining the price tag. It cost 25 Mercury—a significant chunk of his starting balance. Adrien frowned, mentally weighing his options. Spending that much on a single book wasn't exactly budget-friendly, especially since he still needed to eat and buy other essentials. But the pull was strong. He needed to know more about this strange power, about what made him different.

"Find something interesting?" Arthur asked, noticing Adrien lingering by the shelf.

Adrien nodded, holding up the book for Arthur to see. "It's a book about all kinds of magic. I'm thinking of buying it."

Arthur raised an eyebrow. "That's a pretty steep price for one book, newbie. You sure you wanna blow 25 Mercury on that? You could get a lot of other stuff with that amount."

Adrien knew Arthur had a point, but he couldn't shake the feeling that this book might hold the answers he desperately needed. He looked at Arthur, then back at the book. "Yeah… I think it's worth it," he said, his voice steady despite his uncertainty.

Arthur shrugged, a knowing smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Alright, it's your call. Just don't come crying to me if you run out of Mercury before the week's up."

Adrien nodded, already committed. He walked over to the checkout counter, placing the book on top of the other supplies he'd picked out—a few notebooks, some basic writing utensils, and a small pack of enchanted quills that Arthur insisted were essential. The cashier, a tall boy with sharp features and an air of disinterest, scanned the items quickly.

"That'll be 38 Mercury," the cashier said, barely looking up as he bagged Adrien's purchases.

Adrien handed over his card, watching as the cashier deducted the amount from his balance. His heart pounded a little faster, knowing he was now left with just 12 Mercury. It was a risk, but one he hoped would pay off.

As they left the store, Adrien clutched the book tightly under his arm, already eager to crack it open and dive into its contents. He was desperate to understand more about this world, about the powers at play—and most importantly, about himself.

Arthur glanced at Adrien and grinned. "You really are a curious one, aren't you?"

Adrien shrugged, though he couldn't hide the small smile that tugged at his lips. "I just want to know more. There's so much I don't understand."

A sudden, sharp bell rang through the halls, startling Adrien out of his thoughts. 

"That's the warning bell," Arthur said, his voice tinged with urgency. "We've got five minutes before we're late!"

Adrien scrambled to his feet, grabbing his bag and slinging it over his shoulder. The two of them hurried out of the dorm, the echo of the bell still ringing in their ears.

In the corridors, students were rushing in all directions, some with their bags barely hanging onto their shoulders, others clutching books and papers. The usual chatter and banter were now mixed with the hurried footsteps of those trying to avoid being late.

"What's the next class again?" Adrien asked, struggling to keep pace with Arthur as they dodged their way through the crowded hallway.

"Magick Theory," Arthur called back, glancing over his shoulder. "It's one of the tougher ones, so trust me, you don't wanna be late."

They rounded a corner, nearly bumping into a group of older students who shot them annoyed looks. Adrien could feel the tension building in his chest—this wasn't like the laid-back mornings at home where his mother would calmly usher him to the dining table for breakfast. This place had a rhythm, a speed, and he needed to keep up.

Adrien hurried down the hallway with Arthur, the ringing bell urging them onward. As they rounded the corner, they came to an abrupt stop in front of a door marked with strange symbols. Arthur pushed it open, and the two stepped inside, only to be met with a space entirely unlike any classroom Adrien had seen before.

Instead of desks and chairs, the room was lined with sparring mats, training dummies, and racks of various weapons. The walls were covered with tapestries depicting scenes of battle, and the air was thick with the scent of leather and metal.

A stern-looking instructor stood at the center of the room, arms crossed as he surveyed the students filing in. His gaze fell on Adrien, who hesitated for a moment, feeling out of place in this environment.

"Welcome to Combat Class," the instructor announced, his voice cutting through the murmurs. "There are no seats here, only mats and weapons. Find your place."

Adrien's eyes widened as he realized there was nowhere to sit—no desk to hide behind or book to bury his face in. He looked around, noticing that the other students were already spreading out across the mats, some stretching, others adjusting their grips on practice swords.

Arthur nudged him with a grin, clearly at ease. "Come on, this is where the real fun begins."

Adrien nodded, though his heart was racing. He followed Arthur onto one of the mats, feeling the firm padding beneath his feet. The room's atmosphere was charged with anticipation, and Adrien couldn't shake the feeling that he was about to be thrown into the deep end.

***

Want 3 Chapters instantly? Contribute any amount of power stones!