The Beginning After The End novel Chapter 340

Chapter 340: Burden and Stakes

To either side of the well-dressed bearded man, the Ascenders Association guards were giving me curious stares, and the two Casters in line behind me muttered something about “the high mage.”

Amusement—and something else, something hungry—glittered in the man’s eyes as he bobbed his head respectfully and gestured into the building. Turning on his heel, he moved away with the light but confident strides of a warrior, leaving me in a small entry chamber flanked by guards.

Though the entrance was uninspiring, stepping out into the wide hall beyond was anything but. I had thought the Aramoor Ascenders Association building had been impressive, but this place had more in common with a temple or palace than a simple guild hall.

The walls, ceiling, and floor were white stone—brighter and cleaner than marble—and carved columns broke up the room every twenty feet or so. Golden runes were inset into the floor in the shape of pathways leading from one section of the hall to another, and I could see the shapes of beasts laid out in jade in several places as well.

The walls were hung with dozens of tapestries depicting ascenders within the Relictombs battling against aetheric beasts. One large tapestry caught my eye; it showed three men in golden armor surrounded by a swarm of carralions—the clawed, babyish creatures I’d fought in the convergence zone.

I followed the man through the hall in silence as we moved swiftly past the grand tapestries and decor. My gaze lingered on the extravagant artworks, wondering if these depictions were common tales that any passing Alacryan would recognize.

After passing a series of desks and comfortable seating areas, we made our way up a narrow staircase tucked away in one corner of the main hall. This brought us to a balcony surrounded by black iron railings, and led into a large office that overlooked the hall below. New episodes will be published on light‍nove​lpu​b.c­om.

Despite the lack of conversation during our journey, it was clear he was comfortable with the silence, or perhaps his position. The way he slid into his seat behind a massive desk carved of ebony and inlaid with gold filigree, then kicked his heels up on the lavish piece of furniture, suggested the latter. He waved at a plush chair in front of the desk, and I took a seat, never taking my eyes off him.

“So, here you are.” The man grinned, but I could see the snarling grizzly wolf behind his amiable mask.

“I’ve just completed my preliminary ascent,” I said, businesslike. “I need my new badge.”

“Oh, I’ve already seen to it. My assistant will be up with it any minute.” His smile cut into something more sly. “And I bet you have a whole dimensional storage artifact full of accolades to turn in too, right?” His eyes went pointedly to the ring on my finger. “Clever of you, to keep it from the Granbehls.”

I sat up straighter, my lip curling into a sneer. “That matter is resolved,” I said coldly.

He raised his hands innocently. “Don’t misread me, Ascender Grey. That whole affair was bad for business—our business.” His grin took on that sly quality again. “That little named blood doesn’t have any power here in Central Dominion anyway. No, I was being quite serious: you’ve shown yourself to be quite clever. Follow the light‍nove​lpu​b.c­om platform for the latest episodes.

“So, how did you manage it?”

I let the question hang in the air while I considered my answer. It didn’t help that I couldn’t be sure which “it” he was referring to.

Not wanting to give anything away about myself, I finally said, “I’m not sure what you mean.”

He slid his feet from the desk and leaned over it, eyeing me hungrily. “How did you secure the posting at Central Academy? An unnamed ascender, fresh from his prelim...it’s unheard of.”

I let out a sigh. “Complications often arise from knowing too much.”

It was the man’s turn to let my words hang for a moment before he leaned back and laughed, an uncontained, mirthful guffaw.

“That may just be the most pleasant way someone has threatened me,” he beamed, pointing his fingers at me. “I like you, Grey! Damned but I like you.”

‘You’ve managed to attract yet another weird one,’ Regis chortled.

Ignoring my companion, I scanned his desk to see if the man in front of me had a nameplate somewhere. “I’m afraid I don’t—”

“Vritra’s name, where are my manners? My name is Sulla of Named Blood Drusus, but everyone around here calls me Sul. I’m the high mage of this little establishment.” The mage gestured out over the hall below.

“Do you welcome all new ascenders like this, Sulla?” I asked doubtfully.

“No,” he said, leaning back in his chair. “I certainly do not. But then, not many new ascenders are given a principal’s badge after a single ascent, or made a professor at the most prestigious academy in Alacrya”—I didn’t think it was possible, but his grin grew sharper—“I wanted to see you for myself.”

I ground my teeth. This was exactly the kind of attention I wanted to avoid.

‘Maybe you shouldn’t always make such a spectacle of yourself then,’ Regis commented mockingly.

“I’d just like to get my badge, exchange my accolades, and be on my way,” I said with finality, making it clear that I’d like to end this interaction. “I still need to check into the Student Administration Offices and get settled in. It’s been a long journey here.”

“Ah, of course,” Sulla responded professionally, but the slouch in his shoulders and the way he leaned back suggested that he was slightly put out. “Once again, I’ve let my enthusiasm override my good sense. But promise you’ll come back soon, Professor Grey. I’ll make sure your trip won’t be wasted.”

After selling the majority of the treasure I’d taken from the Spear Beak tribe, I escaped the Ascenders Association building and the high mage’s probing questions, then proceeded straight for the Central Academy campus, eager to meet with my contact and find my rooms, which I hoped were quiet and free of any more probing eyes.

The black iron gates had opened of their own accord when I approached. On the other side, the close confines of the city streets were left behind in favor of wide walkways bordered by short hedges.

A fifteen foot wall of white stone wrapped around the campus, encircling it and setting it off from the city. The gates opened into a semicircular plaza, from which three paths branched away toward clusters of school buildings.

Dozens of young men and women in the black and azure uniforms of Central Academy were milling around the plaza, some chatting animatedly while others sat quietly on benches or in the grassy lawns between the hedges. A few cast me curious glances, and I realized that Briar had been right: I stuck out in my plain traveling clothes, even more than if I’d come to the academy in full battle attire.

Directly across the plaza from the gates stood the Student Administration Offices, a castlelike complex with a dozen peaks and spires that seemed to loom over the campus entrance. The central path from the plaza went straight through this building, under an arched tunnel lit with bright globes that hung from the roof.

A woman in tight-fitting white battle robes was standing just outside this tunnel, her eyes casting around as if looking for someone.

As I approached, making my way toward the open entryway into the offices, her amber eyes stopped on me, traveling up and down my body several times. Blonde hair tumbled in waves over her shoulders, bouncing in a way that seemed to defy gravity when she hopped in place before taking a few quick steps toward me.

‘Her hair isn’t the only thing that defies gravity...’ Regis said suggestively. ‘If you die, can she be my new master?’

Why wait? I answered, pushing with my aether as if I intended to expel the shadow wolf from my body.

‘Hey!’ Regis groused. ‘No need to get pouty.’

The woman dipped into a shallow bow as we approached. “Plain clothes, gorgeous eyes, too young by half...you could only be our new level one Melee Enhancement Tactics professor, right?” She beamed at me and bounced on the balls of her feet. “I’m Abby of Blood Redcliff. I teach a couple of higher level wind-specialization Caster courses.”

“Um, hello,” I said, caught off guard by her forwardness. “I wasn’t expecting—”

“A welcoming committee?” she said with a happy laugh. “Well, a shy guy like you might not want to hear this, but you’re pretty much a celebrity around here already.”

Damn you, Alaric, I thought grumpily.

“Anyway, I just really wanted to be the first one to meet you, after everything I’ve heard.” She gave me a winsome smile, twirling a lock of her golden hair around her finger. “Did you really break the containment chains at your trial?”

“I’m sorry, I’m late to meet my contact in administration,” I said stiffly, stepping around her and making my way toward the door.

A surprisingly strong hand caught my elbow. “It can be kind of overwhelming here at first. I’d be happy to show you the ropes, Grey. You just let me know, m’kay?”

With a wink, my fellow professor released me and turned away.

I was distracted as I made my way into the administration offices and announced myself to one of the young clerks at the front desk. He gave me directions to a fourth floor office where Alaric’s contact could be found, giving me a bemused smirk when I admitted I needed to hear the instructions again.

‘You okay, chief? What’s got you so rattled?’

First the head of the Ascenders Association, then this other professor...We’re getting way too much attention, Regis.

‘You’re thinking of cutting and running.’ It wasn’t really a question since he could read my mind.

No...yes...I don’t know, I admitted. I don’t like feeling trapped.

Regis barked out a laugh in my mind. ‘You just spent three weeks in jail.’

Stone and bars weren’t holding me. I chose to stay, let that play out. I was trying to avoid drawing too much attention.