Chapter 38: Mystic Rabya (1)

Chapter 38: Mystic Rabya (1)

Xerxes trudged numbly back to his room after hearing the announcement. He felt happy for Gandash. A little bit. But at the same time, he felt a vaguely uncomfortable prickling sensation in his heart.

Opening the door, he found a brown envelope sealed with wax. The front had his name on it. Inside was a folded piece of parchment paper.

Seer Xerxes,

You have been assigned to dorm room 372.

Your primary teacher is Mystic Rabya in the Black Jackal classroom.

Good luck.

He crumpled the paper and envelope together and threw them in the waste bin. Then he started tossing his belongings together.

My teachers a Mystic? he thought. Thats it?

He felt a bit let down. All of the recent lectures and training had been by Archons, or the headmaster himself, who was a High Archon, leading him to assume his teacher would be one of them. His mood dipped. Were all the teachers lowly Mystics, or was it just his teacher?Updated from novelb(i)n.c(o)m

Guess Ill find out soon enough.

Gandashs belongings were already gone. Had the school sent people to handle that? Was his friend already getting special treatment?

He suddenly thought back to his conversation with Purattu not too long ago.

I guess its better to be an officer? Xerxes had asked.

Yes, Purattu had answered. If nothing else, the pay is better.

His lips tightened. Good job, Gandy. Getting richer by the day, I see.

The halls were busy as students packed their belongings and headed to their new sleeping quarters. When he stepped into dorm room 372, a grin appeared on his face.

Xerk? said Enusat, peeping over the edge of one of the top bunks. Xerk! Youre with us?

And then Katayoun poked her head into the room, and Xerxes foul mood evaporated completely.

Is this the Black Jackal classroom? she asked.

Hey, Kat! he said, a bit more loudly than he intended. Lowering his voice, he continued, Yeah, this is Black Jackal.

See, I told you, she said to her companion as she stepped into the classroom. It was the same olive-skinned young woman who had been in Katayouns carriage when they arrived on their first day.

Have a seat anywhere you like, Xerxes said, gesturing at the table in front of him and immediately feeling stupid for his wording.

He felt Kashtiliashs elbow jabbing him in the side.

Smooth, the bearded Seer said in a low tone.

Shut up, Xerxes whispered.

Before there was any further chance for talking, Mystic Rabya entered the room. It was obvious who she was, not just from her robes, but from the way she carried herself. She was attractive, with arching eyebrows and full lips, but was clearly on the older side, with wisps of gray in the black hair that she kept tightly braided and bound with bronze bands.

Hey, Jad whispered, gesturing with his finger. Look!

Mystic Rabya carried a bundle of papers under one arm and had a pack and a weapon slung over her shoulder. A longsword.

Oly shit, Enusat whispered.

Watch the language, Rabya said, casting a look at Enusat.

Sorry, the big-nosed Seer said, looking abashed.

Im not a prude, the teacher continued, putting the papers onto the lectern before placing her sword and pack onto the table. But Id prefer to keep things professional.

Stepping back to the door, she shut it.

Now, first things first. The blood oath.