Chapter 2 #2
“My what?”
“Apologies. The necklace I asked you to remove. ‘Dummy’ is its nickname because it makes you look any ol’ dummy when you wear it.”
I put it back on.
She continued, “I realize this is all happening very quickly for you. New magic typically find the first month or so to be disorienting, but many have gone before you and overcome the same challenge of knowing one day that magic was a work of fiction to knowing that it is, in fact, real.”
“Understood.”
“You can move in today, and start tutoring tomorrow.
Classes begin two weeks after that. School uniforms and laundry are provided, and we will send someone to fetch your personal effects on your behalf.
Have a list ready in the morning for what you'd like them to bring back. Your family will believe a version of the truth, that you were offered a prestigious scholarship, and a little bit of coercion magic will keep them from questioning it too deeply. The same will be done for your employer.”
I felt bad bailing on my uncle like this. He did me a favor by bringing me on. Disappearing on him without notice was a dick move.
But did I want to list junk on eBay or learn magic? Not a hard question to answer.
“Will you accept our offer and join us here at Farrun University?” The Dean asked.
“Wait! Don't agree yet. Ask her about library hours.”
“Umm… when is the library open?”
“6 in the morning to 10 in the evening.”
“Ask for 24-hour access.”
In my head, I said, “That seems excessive.”
“You're undead now. You won't sleep.”
“What the fuck? I'm undead?”
“That was also in the contract in plain language.”
I asked Dean Pernel, “Could I be granted 24 hour access? I have a lot of studying to catch up on, and I keep late hours.”
“Reasonable request. We can accommodate it with some stipulations, but otherwise, yes.”
“Thank you. I’d like to start reading tonight, if I can.”
She studied me. “I suppose I shouldn’t stand between a student and knowledge. I will arrange for your library access to begin tonight. Does that mean your answer is ‘yes?’”
“Does enrolling come with any other restrictions or requirements I should be aware of?”
I parroted the question to the Dean.
“Our code of conduct. Fights with, or acts of aggression against, other students are prohibited. We teach combat magic, but no one incapable of managing their temper is fit to be a wizard. Zero tolerance. One strike, and you will be removed from campus. I should note that mind manipulation magic is considered an act of violence as well. The rest of our rules are common sense in that vein.”
Hartwell interjected, “I would add that you pick your school of magic at the start of your sophomore year. That’s a decision you have to be prepared for because you have to test into your school of choice.
Choose early. Practice early. You’ll do a thesis project for your fifth year, and that will determine if you graduate. ”
“Five years? Not four?”
“Students on the new magic track follow a five-year program,” he replied. “Old magic students have four-year tracks, but many of them take a fifth year to put more time into their thesis.”
Dean Pernel pressed the home button on her phone to check the time. “It’s been great meeting you, David. I’m afraid I have another appointment.”
“So regular phones work here?”
“Modern magic is closely integrated with modern technology. Our world can’t afford to fall behind in either.”
I was about to ask for her to explain that last bit in more detail, but Hartwell put a hand on my shoulder to usher me out.
Back outside, Hartwell pointed to a dorm on the other side of campus. It was a straight line from here to there, so I wasn’t likely to get lost, which was nice because Hartwell bailed on me abruptly.
“I also have an appointment,” he explained, “so you will have to walk the rest of the way on your own, I’m afraid. You’re in room 533. Your tutoring schedule will arrive first thing in the morning. Do me proud, David. Make your time here at Farrun worthwhile.”
Hartwell offered an exaggerated bow and departed for the lobby.
“A longer tour would have been nice,” I said in my mind.
“The moment you agreed to enroll, you had served your purpose and were of no more use.”
“What are you talking about?”
“He is a recruiter. Delivering you to the doorstep and convincing you to enroll were his only objectives.”
Byron was technically correct, but still, I was brand new to absolutely everything about my current situation. A little bit more handholding would have been nice.
Hartwell was already gone, so I started walking.
The campus was quiet with no active semester in session, but as I saw earlier, some students were already here.
Four female students lay out on towels in swimsuits, tanning in front of the dorm buildings I passed, and a few other students were scattered about the quad, reading on benches or under trees.
It was a very college-brochure-type scene.
“Not going to comment on the women?”
“You asked that I not.”
“We’re going to be stuck with each other for a while, I think. I read your autobiography. A lot of what you got into won’t fly in the real world. This world, I mean.”
“Little of that was legal in my world either.”
“It’s more than that. I can’t massacre a tavern of rivals and walk away.
Even here on a magic campus, there are cameras everywhere.
Everyone has a smartphone, so they have cameras in their pockets at all times and aren’t afraid to record you.
Killing, stealing, conning, polygamy, and probably a dozen other things I’ll think of later will quickly be found out and punished. We have to follow the rules.”
“I had not taken you for a paragon of virtue.”
“Your bar for that title is really, really low. By this world’s standards, I’m not. I’m just asking that we avoid getting arrested.”
“Very well. I agree that we will be linked for some time. If a Light spell is treated as remarkable, I have little hope for developed and refined soul magic being readily available.”
“Let me change, and we’ll start looking.”