“Quite busy,” I said while looking at the massive plaza that was filled with thousands of people applying to the College of Advancement. The application forms were being filled out with great intensity. Most people were a few years older than me. There were some people my age and some older people filling out applications as well. We had shown up early to beat the rush, but other people had the same idea.
“Indeed. We need to find where you should go,” Healer Melon said. There were several guards directing people and elite guards in the background watching over everything.
“Excuse me, pre-selected applicants?” I asked a guard.
“You should go on over there. Under the golden banner with the College’s symbol,” he said. I looked where he was pointing.
“Thank you,” I replied. Healer Melon and I made our way over. A stern looking woman had a clipboard in front of her and was standing in front of the roped off area in front of a building.
“Name,” she said as I we approached.
“Justin Burnstock. My letter of acceptance from The Mathemancer,” I said. Her frown and stern look softened quite a bit as I handed the documentation over.
“Mister Burnstock, your arrival is expected. Your prompt arrival on the first day of admission is welcome and appreciated. The man with you is your retainer?” she asked.
“Yes, Healer Melon of the Five Star Institute of Healing,” I replied, and she nodded.
“Excellent. You have been assigned Staff Member Melody as your entrance guide. She is one of the best.”
“Isn’t there an interview?” I asked and the old woman nodded and glanced at the sheets in my hand.
“Indeed, there is. I see you have your status sheet already prepared, which is good. We will verify several of the skills and ensure that you are entering the school under your own desire. But the pre-admittance screening has been waived.” I got to skip a step, which was nice. “Now just find Staff Member Melody inside by asking the attendant and you will be taken directly to the school.”
We went inside the building, and I let the attendant at the doorway know that I was looking for Staff Member Melody. A middle aged woman with a big smile came over. I noticed most of the people were humans, not dwarves.
“Mister Justin Burnstock?” she asked me.
“Yes, Staff Member Melody?” I asked.
“Indeed. I have the name badge and everything,” she said with a smile while gesturing at the gold name badge or her breast. It had her picture and name on it. The picture was some other material besides gold, showing her appearance in high definition color. It wasn’t a painting, but some new technique of artwork. “Are you ready to head to the College?” she asked.
“Yes,” I replied.
“And, you sir. A retainer?” she asked.
“Yes. Healer Melon from the Five Star Institute of Healing,” he replied and she nodded.
“Rare we get a healer as a retainer. But as a healer you are welcome. Come, let us go to the elevator to get to the College,” she said. We followed her through a long hallway.
“What happens now? I was told I got to skip the pre-interview?” I asked.
“We screen most applicants with a pre-interview before admittance. It is rare that someone gets fast tracked like you. It requires more than just connections or wealth. Only the Dean can approve such things. Once we get to the College, I will be reviewing your status sheet and doing a final confirmation regarding your skills. Then I will be assisting you with class selection and settling in. I am also your advisor for your time here in the College of Advancement,” she said.
“I am guessing most people don’t get individual treatment?” I asked.
“Normally students are arranged in groups of ten. With those who have more promise getting better advisors. For most staff members it is a second responsibility on top of their primary responsibilities like food preparation, security, or other staff services. However, I am a full time advisor, here to assist students that have a high likelihood of reaching graduation,” Melody explained.
“That is good to hear. I have a lot of questions and I have already reviewed the course book for this year,” I said as we reached a large metal elevator. It was big enough to fit four magical carriages.
“That is good to hear. It shows your attention to detail and desire to improve. Both traits that will help you reach graduation and become a full graduate of the College of Advancement,” she replied.
We stepped inside the elevator. There was only a single person at the controls. The door quickly closed and we began to ascend. “Not waiting for other people?” I asked.
“No. They can group up down below for when the elevator returns. There is no need to wait for others. You must embrace this mindset. If you aren’t first and getting ahead, you are already falling behind,” she replied.
“Don’t worry, I know how to work hard and get ahead. I am probably the most advanced student in relation to their age your College has ever received,” I replied.
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“A bold claim, but a possibility. You are at the minimum age we allow entrants that have received approval from the Dean himself. That isn’t simple,” she replied.
“My ears,” I muttered.
“Just the pressure change from the air. Swallow while keeping your mouth open to equalize the pressure in your head,” she replied.
“So, the College is above Undercraft?” I asked.
“Yes. It allows us to take advantage of the city, while remaining separate. Supplies, people, and other goods go up and down this elevator at all times. It has an alloy steel structure of incredible strength surrounded by a layer of rock. There are two separate safety mechanisms, so no need to worry about falling. Or an accident. And now here we are,” Melody explained.
“That was quick,” I replied.
“There is passive runework reducing the effects of acceleration making travel up and down incredibly quick,” Melody explained as the operator for the elevator opened the doors. We were hit with a cool breeze that felt incredibly fresh. I had to blink my eyes several times due to the bright light in the sky.
We stepped off the elevator, which closed behind us and began to descend. We were in a large courtyard, with the elevator building behind us. It opened directly to multiple roads that converged on the elevator. Up above in front of me, there was a massive tower, looming over everything. There were buildings below it, then a large amount of carefully manicured grounds as good as the Burnstock estate. Then there were some more buildings and then a large wall around the perimeter.
This was the College of Advancement.
The pinnacle of learning skills and advancing them quickly. “Welcome Mister Burnstock to the College of Advancement. The premier educational institution in the entire world, overseen by the Dean, the Supreme Legend The Mathemancer. For the next several years, you will compete against other students to graduate from this elite institution, ascending to even greater heights,” Melody declared proudly while gesturing with her arm at the massive institution.
“It is huge,” I said.
“Of course it is. It is a practically a small city. With almost 32,000 students, 20,000 staff members, 1,000 Assistant Professors, 180 Professors, 40 legends, 7 Assistant Deans and course tracks, and 1 Dean this is the pinnacle of education both figuratively and literally,” she proudly declared.
“The central tower is reserved for the Dean and controls the defenses for the College, where the Professors and Legends live. The defenses include the ward to protect us from the harsh weather up in the Ice Capped Mountains. The surrounding buildings are controlled by the seven departments and Professors. That is where you will take your courses. The outer buildings are for the students and staff members. Now let’s get you through your final interview and registered,” she explained.
We followed Melody to a nearby building nearby. “First one Melody?” an older man asked.
“Yes,” she replied.
“Well interview room one,” he replied and we made our way into the room. Melody gestured towards a chair which I sat in. There was a table in front of me with an orb.
“This is a truth orb. Please remove any items that might conceal your status and place them in this tray. You can also set your status sheets to the side, over here,” she said. I took off one of my rings and put the status sheets to the side.
“Good. I will be using various skills to check your answers and your status. If you have lied on your status sheets, now is the time to say so,” she said.
“I filled them out yesterday, so they might be a level or so higher today?” I said in a questioning tone.
“That is fine. A level or two off is not a big deal. But anything three or more levels would require a more in depth investigation and require me to get my supervisor. So there shouldn’t be an issue. Now I am going to ask you to put your hands on the Truth Orb. I will also use my skills and ask you questions. Any questions or concerns?”
“No,” I replied and put my hands on the crystal orb in front of me. It began to glow yellow.
“Only answer yes or no. Have you entered this College and this place under false pretenses or with the intent to cause harm or disruption?”
“No,” I replied, and the orb glowed green. I felt surge in Mana from Meldoy as she kept a hand outstretched towards me.
“Do you plan to cause disruption or intend to harm the environment, students, staff, or professors while you are studying the College?”
“No,” I answered.
“Have you been forced to enroll to the College against your will?”
“No,” I answered. The orb was still green but there were some specks of red.
“Is your status sheet that you have submitted truthful to the best of your knowledge?”
“Yes,” I replied and it glowed green.
“Excellent, you can remove your hands.”
“That’s it?” I asked.
“Yes. Painless and simple. With your age, did a parent pressure you to attend?” Melody asked.
“My mother encouraged me, but ultimately it is my decision,” I replied and she nodded.
“That is fine. We just don’t want students who don’t want to be here. That would waste time for everyone. Some encouragement is expected and is fine. Healer Melon, you will have to be asked similar questions as well,” she said.
“I understand,” he replied. He passed all the questions with ease and had to show his identification from the Five Star Institute of Healing.
“Excellent. Now stand against that wall. I will take your photograph and get a silver identification made up for you,” she said. We both got our picture taken and the camera was taken out of the room by another assistant along with the crystal orb while we sat back down at the table. She still hadn’t looked at my status sheets.
“You are enrolling as a silver student. We rank people similar to the Adventurer’s Guild, but not based on level, but based on ability to learn. The 9,000 students admitted through general admission start off as copper. The 1,000 recommended students start off as silver. During the class rankings in six months your status can change. The top 10 students in each year are ranked gold along with assistant professors and top staff members like myself,” she explained.
“Do I get more privileges?” I asked.
“Better housing. Professors will look upon you more favorably. And priority course selection,” she explained.
“I thought each course didn’t have an entry limit?” I asked.
“The main courses we offer don’t have a student limit. But there are around 300 sub-courses offered by Assistant Professors on more esoteric skills while they refine their teaching methodology. These courses are limited and often change,” she said.
“Why would students take them?” I asked.
“The College might offer incentives if people take the courses or they have something specific in mind they want to learn. They could also be combat skills or higher tier skills which often require personalized instruction if a proper teaching methodology hasn’t been discovered. With a dedicated Assistant Professor overseeing these courses, the students get a boost from the Assistant Professor’s skills,” she explained and I nodded at this. I had been focusing on the main courses and didn’t plan to change that unless something specific caught my eye.
“Now this will be your map. Trust me, you will need it. I have included a map to my office and the hours I am present there. If you need to get a hold of me, leave a message at my office. Then we have the rulebook and main course book.” I nodded as she handed over all the materials.