The Skyhome Academy

Emma followed Lady Rose as they made their way across the expansive courtyard before the Skyhome Spire. The grassy field contained large, white marble statues of famous mages, stone paths, lamps, trash bins, tables, and benches. Some of the statues contained embedded nexus crystals. There was also a central pole topped by the Graylands flag. A number of lecture halls surrounded the courtyard, which extended from the spire to the castle gate set within the outer walls.

The Skyhome was defended from the sides and below by thick stone. But attacks from above were warded off by a massive arcane shield. Though the magical warding was invisible, its effects could easily be observed. It allowed in air, but only limited water vapor—so the unusually low clouds outside the floating castle today simply ceased to exist along a spherical edge.

A flock of birds reached the shield as Emma watched. Rather than collide with it, they were deflected and continued up along the edge. It was fortunate the spell functioned that way, or the academy would have an appalling number of avian deaths to answer for.

The handmaiden and her noble soon arrived in a seldom traveled corner of the campus surrounded by two of the outer walls and a pair of buildings. This area had many low quality statues, and about forty cadets waiting in a group. Standing among them was Lord Jame and one of his soldiers. Ladies Alice and Avice were fawning over him as usual.

“Are you excited for your first combat practice?” Rose asked Emma.

“Yes, My Lady.”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t convince my dad to train with you. A head start would have made this semester easier.”

“It wouldn’t be fair to expect him to take time away from his own daughter for the sake of a servant.”

“I guess. But it’s a shame it has to be that way—I think of you as almost like a sister.”

“You’re too kind, My Lady.” And Emma did consider herself fortunate—Rose showed her more consideration than most serfs received. However, she felt more servant than sibling.

“Lady Rose, Emma.” The girls turned and saw Simon approaching from the gathered cadets. The handmaiden waved to him.

“I’m glad you decided to come,” Rose told him.

“It’s like you said, we should get a jump on training.” He then gave her a glum look. “Though I can think of better ways to spend a Saturday afternoon.”

“Are you kidding? These are the only lessons I actually look forward to! And I want to get in all the practice I can for this summer’s tournament.”

“I still can’t believe you’ve entered.”

“No first year’s ever won—but I want to make history.”

“Very bold of you, My Lady,” Simon said with a smile. Emma nodded in agreement.

He looked past the girls before continuing. “Looks like the royals are gracing us with their presence.”

They both turned to observe the approach of the two most prominent cadets, each with a pair of bodyguards. Princess Mei wore her hair up in an elaborate style. Emma felt a pang of jealously over how effortlessly beautiful the girl looked, even in a field uniform. But then, she felt the same way about Lady Rose.

“I can’t wait to see the prince in action,” Rose said eagerly. Simon frowned slightly at this, but she did not appear to notice.

As the royals drew closer, she moved to meet them. Both peasants followed her. “Prince Robert, you’re looking very well today,” she addressed him.

The royals stopped, and he nodded. “Thank you, Lady Rose. I’m privileged to see you again.”

“We’re so fortunate to have a cadet in our class who’s been to the front lines.”

The prince gave a slight laugh. “Truthfully, I’ve only been involved in a few minor skirmishes. My father’s insisted that I not face any real danger until after I become a squire.”

“You’re too modest, My Lord.”

During all of this, the princess had glared at Rose. Emma feared becoming the focus of that intense gaze. The royal had a commanding presence that was impossible to ignore, though she knew better than to stare.

“Must you waste time with this girl?” Princess Mei asked.

The prince chuckled. “I know that you don’t enjoy exchanging pleasantries, My Lady. But it’s still necessary.”

“So you say.” She then tugged at her collar. “I might feel more talkative if my clothes didn’t itch all over. What an absurd custom—wearing a uniform for a military I’m not a part of.”

“I’m sure you’ll get used to it, My Lady,” Rose reassured her.

“That’s fine for you to say—you must wear peasant fabrics all the time. The elegant and beautiful have higher expectations.”

“…⁠I can’t believe you just said that,” Rose muttered.

“Modesty is a trait of lesser minds such as yours.” Princess Mei’s bizarre proclamation caused the prince to briefly frown. “In fact, you look to be some landless ‘noble’ whose anemic wit precludes an understanding of the finer things in life.”

“My family is landed. And I’m not stupid—I scored in the ninety-second percentile on my entrance exam.”

“That would be impressive…if not for the eighty percent cutoff for academy acceptance. You’re merely average among the cadets. I tested into the ninety-ninth percentile—a sign of a royal bloodline if there ever was one.”

Rose scoffed. “What nonsense! Everyone knows that intelligence is more important to learning magic than bloodlines. My handmaiden came from a long line of serfs, and she had a perfect exam score!” Everyone looked to Emma. In that moment she wished she could vanish.

“Do we have a peasant prodigy among us?” Princess Mei asked in disdain.

The serf could only meet the gaze of the princess for a moment before looking to the ground. “I…um…I must have gotten lucky on the test, My Lady.”

“We’ll see who has the highest class rank at the end of the year. I intend to achieve a greater mastery of magic than you could ever dream of. …⁠And then you’ll both understand just how much bloodlines matter.”

Rose briefly put a hand on Emma’s arm, and the serf managed to raise her head once more. Then Simon spoke. “My Lady, are you so sure that your bloodline will always be royal? The latest word from the Middle Kingdom is that there’s widespread unrest. And the city of Henglong has fallen to a warlord.”

“A trivial setback,” she answered impatiently. “There can be no doubt that my government will slaughter its traitors and restore order—and we won’t take over a decade to do so.”

Simon looked as if he were about to speak again, but Prince Robert stepped protectively before the princess and interrupted. “That’s enough. Are you trying to upset her? …⁠This is the second time you’ve spoken out of turn in my presence, Peasant.”

The citizen balled his hands into fists. Rose suddenly stepped in front of him, facing him and blocking his view of the prince. “Hey look, the professors are finally here!” she said nervously to Simon. “Why don’t we all enjoy a fun day of learning—one that doesn’t include picking a fight with the fourth in line for the throne?”

Emma noticed that the royals’ bodyguards had all tensed. But Simon finally relaxed and stepped back, allowing Rose to turn toward the prince once more.

“You might want to reconsider the company you keep, Lady Rose,” Prince Robert said in irritation. But he then gave her a reassuring smile. “Not that I’d hold his boorish behavior against you. Have a good day.” Rose nodded. The royals and their bodyguards then moved to join the crowd of cadets.

Both the handmaiden and her lady breathed a sigh of relief. Emma looked around, and noted the slow approach of three professors and Lord Spellshield. Two of the instructors she recognized immediately from her classes with Rose—Mages Charles Highcastle and Isabel Ramos. The former was the assistant professor of arcana. He was a heavyset, balding man with gray hair. As for the telekinetics professor, she floated slowly along as she always did. Her uniform trousers were pinned up against her legs, which came to an end some inches above where her knees would have been. The serf realized that the last member of the group was Assistant Professor Akintola, based on her lady’s description. He and Mage Charles were carrying wooden boxes.

As Emma was considering the new arrivals, Rose took Simon aside. “What were you thinking?” she whispered to him in concern.

“I have every right to share my opinion,” he said bitterly, matching her volume. “That pompous ass spoke to me like I’m dirt, even though my family is wealthier than most landless nobility.”

“I’m not saying you shouldn’t speak,” Rose explained defensively. “But you can’t act threatening toward royalty. Even landed nobles can get in trouble for that!”

Simon finally took a deep breath and calmed himself. “You’re right, My Lady,” he said, no longer whispering. “I’m sorry that I misunderstood. And snapped at you.”

“It’s fine. I don’t always keep my temper under control either,” she admitted sheepishly.

The academy staff finally arrived before the cadets, who stood at attention. They did not salute, however—Emma had learned from Rose that such gestures had been abolished in the Royal Armed Forces when officer rankings had become less family-based. Apparently, landed nobles had resented saluting the landless.

Professor Akintola and Mage Charles put their boxes down, while Mage Isabel sat on a pedestal beneath one of the statues. Lord Spellshield gave a slight wave to his daughter. Rose reluctantly returned it, while a few cadets stifled laughter at her.

“As you were,” Mage Isabel called out. The cadets relaxed. “My colleagues and I have agreed to hold these optional combat practices for your benefit. Don’t waste our time.”

Emma noticed Lady Alice whispering something to Lord Jame. Mage Isabel floated toward the noble girl, far more rapidly than usual. “I realize that most young women here have no plans for front line service,” she continued, looking down on the startled cadet. “But you’ll need to show some competence to pass your courses. And you still might be forced to defend yourselves even if you serve in a non-combat role.”

Mage Isabel slowly returned to her perch on the statue. She then looked around in annoyance and continued more quietly. “Not even fifty showed up.”

“We’ll get several hundred the week before the semester combat exams,” Mage Charles informed her in his usual clipped and sour tone.

“Teenagers…” She then raised her voice once more. “Some of you had no opportunity to train before you came to the academy. So instead of getting into target practice or a mass exercise right away, a simple duel should be instructive.” She looked to Rose’s father. “Commander, I assume your daughter has had some training?” He nodded. “Cadet Spellshield, come forward.”

“Yes, Ma’am.” Rose walked over to join the academy staff.

“As if we could learn anything from her,” Lord Jame muttered.

Professor Akintola glared at him, while Mage Isabel answered. “It remains to be seen if you’re capable of learning from anyone, Cadet Margas. But why don’t you make the attempt by participating in this exercise?”

“Yes, Ma’am.” The high noble reluctantly stepped forward.

Mage Charles opened one of the boxes and withdrew two bracelets. “These are limiters,” he explained to the gathered cadets. As he spoke, he put one on Lady Rose’s wrist, and the other on Lord Jame’s. “They reduce the mana efficiency of arcane and elemental spells so that they cannot cause injury. The reduction is proportional, so that more talented spellcasters will still maintain an advantage.

“Telekinetic spells are merely limited in range—you’ll be able to use them at full strength, but only to enhance your speed and jumping.

“For these exercises I suggest that all of you rely on arcane bolts, save those unfortunate enough to have an elemental focus. Wasting mana on more colorful magical displays may appeal to those of a garish disposition, but it has limited utility on the battlefield.”

Mage Charles glanced smugly at Professor Akintola before the latter answered him. “As usual, My Lord, you’re commendably close to offering good advice. Those cadets severely lacking in imagination should avoid elemental magic—they’ll never grasp tactics more complex than pointing and shooting.” Emma was shocked that a peasant would be so flippant with a noble.

“My esteemed colleague, I’m admittedly envious of your imagination—to think that you can picture a world where the elements are still relevant when compared to arcana.”

By their expressions, both men believed that they had won the exchange of insults. Lord Spellshield looked to them in bewilderment before addressing the cadets. “You should all be familiar with the academy rules regarding combat training, but one point is worth repeating. You must yield immediately when enervated. Forcing yourself to cast with no mana reserve taxes the body. It can cause loss of consciousness and illness—even death in extreme cases.”

Mage Charles pointed to one statue some distance off. “Cadet Spellshield, start there.” He then pointed to another far from the first. “Cadet Margas, there.”

“Yes, Sir,” both nobles acknowledged. They hurried to their starting positions and each drew their wands. Lord Jame’s was in the shape of a bejeweled dagger. There was a brief flash of light as each of the pair cast their arcane shields.

“Shields, everyone,” Mage Charles called out. All the spectators also cast the spell—limited magic could still sting badly. Emma did not need a wand, while Simon used the same mass-produced model as Rose.

“Begin!” Though the mage had given them the option to battle at long range, neither combatant took it. Both Lady Rose and Lord Jame chose to quickly close the distance, dashing from statue to statue for cover. They were some twenty yards apart when Rose finally opened fire with her arcane bolts.

The high noble’s counterattack took the form of spheres of acid. A number of cadets gasped in awe. He can already cast acids? One of the spheres hit the statue Rose was using for cover, and some of the splatter attached itself to her shield. Though arcane shields were normally invisible, a shimmer played over one’s body when they repelled an attack.

Emma worried that the lingering damage of the acid would badly tax her lady’s mana supply. But Rose then rapidly expanded and contracted her shield by a small amount. This flung the acid off, and it was her turn to draw an excited reaction from the crowd.

“She’s an arcanist,” Lord Spellshield said proudly to Mage Isabel. “Runs in the family.” She nodded.

Lord Jame began firing acid in rapid, suppressive bursts. He used this increased offense to cover his approach. Soon the two cadets were firing at each other from behind statues only ten yards distant. This led to a number of successful attacks from both opponents. Rose continued to use her shield trick to minimize the advantage of the acid, and it was unclear who had the upper hand.

The noble girl laid down her own suppressive fire, and the barrage of white bolts forced her adversary to hide. Rose used this opening to run from one statue…to another the same distance away from Lord Jame. She then hid behind it before he reemerged. What’s her plan?

“Running away, Lady Rose?” the young lord asked with a laugh. After a moment’s hesitation he proceeded forward, obviously under the mistaken belief that she had retreated directly away from him.

“Lord Jame, she’s⁠—”

It was Lady Avice who had attempted to call out a warning, but she was interrupted by Professor Akintola. “Quiet, Cadet.” Emma found it off-putting that she had so easily taken sides against her childhood friend.

Lord Jame arrogantly continued on. He did make use of cover, though did so facing the wrong way. And so Rose was able to sneak up and attack him from behind at close range. Half a dozen bolts slammed into his arcane shield. His defensive spell flickered, brighter and more chaotic than before. It then failed to turn invisible, signaling his enervation—he no longer had enough mana to stabilize his spells.

“…⁠I yield,” he said bitterly, turning to face the victor.

“I accept,” Rose answered. They dismissed their shields and returned their wands to their belts. The glow around Lord Jame finally vanished.

Everyone else allowed their shields to lapse and offered polite applause, though Simon, Lord Spellshield, and Professor Akintola all clapped more vigorously.

“Woo, Lady Rose!” Simon cried out. This earned him a few stares from the other cadets.

Rose bowed to Lord Jame, but instead of returning the customary gesture he spoke. “How did you do that?”

“You think very little of female spellcasters, My Lord. So I realized that if I disappeared from sight, you’d assume I was fleeing directly away from you to recover.” Her tone was matter-of-fact, even though she could have taken the opportunity to gloat.

“Enjoy your victory, Lady Rose,” Lord Jame said. “I promise you it won’t happen again!” He turned away from her, and they both rejoined the other cadets.

“You were amazing, My Lady,” Emma said.

“Those are the instincts of a mage,” Simon agreed. Rose blushed at this.

A short distance away, Prince Robert addressed her defeated foe. “You ought to be polite to her, Lord Jame. She exposed an error in your thinking before it could harm you on the battlefield. And she was courteous about it, as a proper vassal should be.” The other high noble failed to answer.

Prince Robert looked to Rose and gave her a warm smile, and she stared back in admiration. Simon’s expression soured.

Though Emma had learned something of combat, a different variety of knowledge had made itself more obvious—her lady now had two potential suitors.