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Wearing Power Armor to a Magic School (119/?) WiP 1
🕑 Added 2025-03-01 21:00:08 +0000 UTCHey everyone! Here is the Work in Progress for Chapter 119 I hope you guys enjoy! :D
21 Hours Later
20 Minutes following the conclusion of Professor Articord’s class.
The Transgracian Academy for the Magical Arts. En Route to the Apprentice’s Tower. Local Time: 1720 Hours.
Emma
Ilunor did, in fact, find the current impasse to be quite unacceptable.
So following a surprisingly tame lecture courtesy of Professor Articord — on topics that seemed to once again reinforce the Nexus’ perpetually-expanding, forever-discworld — we now found ourselves barreling head-first into the unknown.
But at least we weren’t alone.
“OHHOHOHOHOHO— WHAT?! WHY DIDN’T YOU START OFF WITH THAT?! OF COURSE I’d be happy to entertain this discourse, M’LORD!”
Though whether or not that was a boon or a burden… was most definitely up in the air.
But I knew one thing was for certain.
The fact he was able to make it work was definitely the most magical thing I’d seen him do so far.
Because through some odd combination of wishy-washy words, with enough empty and vapid grand sweeping statements… he was able to actually convince the overly-dramatic Apprentice Ral Altaria Del Narya Sey Antisonzia the Second — henceforth shortened to ‘The Bridge Apprentice’ — to take us to Larial’s office.
…
Or at least, as close to Larial’s office as was possible.
As our destination technically wasn’t her office, but instead, the bridge apprentice’s.
“If I mayyyyy— while this is NOT my prerogative nor duty, my own exploits behooves me to ask! Why is it that you have kept your drake-jockeying exploits hidden for so long, M’LORD?!” The apprentice practically bellowed out, eliciting the attention of literally everyone currently sharing our hallway.
“Oh, shush now my dear fellow! I am nothing if not a modest man! I mean, why else would I have even entertained the thought of leading this sorry troupe I call my peers if it weren’t so?” The deluxe kobold jeered, garnering a vapidly friendly, snooty laugh from the likes of the apprentice.
“A drake-rider, and a gentleman! It would be an honor to discuss your aerial exploits, M’LORD!” The man replied boisterously. “I am, after all, something of a sky-jockey myself.” He chuffed through an uncomfortable series of haughty, nasally laughs. “So if you would be so willing, perhaps we may trade stories of this GENTLEMANLY pastime?”
“Of course of course! Where would my manners be if not with those who have earned their place amongst the skies!” Ilunor continued the mind-numbing flattery… until he didn’t. “Though, of course, I assume we can disregard pretenses if you would be so earnest.”
“Pretenses, M’LORD?”
“Let us not be beside ourselves, apprentice. We both understand the ultimate conclusion of this discourse, no?” Ilunor continued, his social facade contorting to a more coy one. “Why else would the Second-Apprentice-Lead of the Student’s Flying Organization be so forthcoming with this discussion… if not to offer me a place amidst their ranks?” Ilunor went for the jugular there, causing the apprentice to stiffen up, if only for a moment.
“Am I THAT much of an open book M’LORD?” He grinned cheekily.
“Perhaps I am merely an expert at deciphering the abstract and profound.” Ilunor spoke in a way I rarely saw him do. As he went back to flattering the man, inflating his already eccentric ego. Though seconds later in the midst of their collective laughter, did Ilunor finally glance sharply in my direction, as if to remind me of our ad-hoc plan as we finally crossed the threshold and into the apprentices’ tower.
“Remember Cadet Emma Booker, our plan is not to court this buffoon, but instead, to play the spymaster! Now, it is commonly known that the apprentices live, breathe, and work in their own exclusive tower, similar to the faculty’s. Thus, all we require is a passing stroll through their offices, and a glancing mention of Larial’s, at which point… I would humbly demand that you utilize two of your manaless creatures. One to confirm the whereabouts of the green book, and the second to act as our permanent sentry within her office.”
“EVI?”
“Yes, Cadet Booker?”
“You got those drones ready?”
“Affirmative. INFIL-DRONE01a… STATUS… READY TO DEPLOY. INFIL-DRONE02a… STATUS… READY TO DEPLOY.”
“Good, just be ready to deploy them the moment we find our opening.”
“Acknowledged.”
“Cadet Emma Booker!” The bridge apprentice quickly turned in my direction. “I can only IMAGINE the sorts of awe-stricken faces to be garnered once the taming of sky beasts and the introduction of aerial vehicles finally reaches your realm!”
I responded with a tired nod, defusing the man’s intentions as he went back to the mindless back and forths with Ilunor.
Our walk through the Apprentices’ Tower was surprisingly normal all things considered.
As unlike the faculty tower, there seemed to be markedly reduced instances of geometry-defying anomalies.
If anything, it seemed to resemble Dragon’s Heart tower… if only a little bit more dressed up.
With white and black checkerboard marble floors adorning the lobby, and chandeliers appointing practically every hallway intersection that led way to the magical elevators.
Indeed, there seemed to only be one set of stairs in this entire tower. Though not grand, what it lacked in size, it more than made up for in verticality. As this spiral staircase quite literally went all the way up about thirty or so stories.
We passed by hundreds of Elven portraits on our way up, through the second, third, fourth, and then finally the twentieth floor.
At which point, Ilunor was practically gasping for breath.
“Apologies M’LORD! I’d have assumed—”
“Is. This. The. Apprentice’s. Office. Floor?!” The Vunerian managed out in between unsteady breaths, leaning against one of the ornate pillars, and pointing at what was effectively a hallway with door upon unmarked door.
“Indeed it is! Now, my office is just this way…” The man continued, walking down the elongated corridor.
At which point, did Ilunor finally strike, in between bouts of vapid conversation.
“Does the Academy insist on keeping your doors so… bland? So completely… unadorned?”
This prompted the man to stop, as he cocked his head in Ilunor’s direction.
“Without any form of personal embellishments as is the case with any noble occupying any of His Eternal Majesty’s ministries?”
“That ISssss Academy rrrregulation, M’LORD!”
“For shame.” Ilunor tutted. “‘Tis but a blank canvas. Just think… if given the opportunity, what brilliant gilded works would you adorn your door with, Apprentice?”
This one question… opened up the floodgates of torrential yapping. As seconds bled into minutes, prompting me to turn to the EVI.
“It takes a yapper to know a yapper, but I assume I don’t go that far when I really get into it, right?”
“ERROR: Query is unquantifiable.”
I was about to question exactly what the EVI meant by that, if it wasn’t for Ilunor’s gambit quickly panning out.
“Now, what would you say Apprentice Arlan Ostoy would prefer?”
“Oh, that dark and brooooody sycophant?! Why I’d assume his door would be completely gone! Buried! Entirely overrun! Hidden, entombed, and interned beneath the crests and sigils of those victims of his insincerrrre FLATTERY!”
“I can understand perhaps why personalization would be quite troublesome then.” Ilunor chuckled. “But, even so, I doubt it would be an issue if his office weren’t adjacent to your own, no?”
“HAH! While that may be so, there are others whose… aesthetic differences would be entirely unacceptable!”
The conversation snowballed on from there.
As both Ilunor and the apprentice continued down the hall, discussing the minutiae of each and every apprentice’s supossed aesthetic preferences, until finally, we reached Rila’s door.
“Jackpot.” I sighed inwardly, practically drained from having to sit through all of that.
But I still couldn’t deploy the drones though.
I needed just the right window of opportunity…
“Here, allow me!” The apprentice beamed, opening the door to his office, while utterly enamored by Ilunor’s conversation.
He’s distracted.
“Deploy!”
Comments
Michael Halpern
her Pistol is basically a PDW like the P-90, but a lot more powerful
A B
But Carter is a woman and we will depend on you for these p-90 mags. I mean. A good anti-material round to a dragon head from a mile would make a point too
Marshel Helsper
The Acela chapters mention Ornithopters flying around. Lots of "manaless metal beast" options there.
Salvatore Page
I just wanted to come here and say this. I so want there to be a moment where Emma thinks she’s talking to the EV, gets so confused and says this line out loud “am i talking to me?”. somewhere random where a lot of people hear it. I think that would be awesome.
Anders Mostue
The irony is that the bugs are literally built like bugs
Duplicitous Michael
Thought about that too, would be a nice SG-1 reference if so.
Michael Halpern
nah for the weapons fair, she's going to do a "Weapon of terror- Weapon of war" demo
A B
I’m wondering if she will ask permission from pliska/chicks to make non ceremonial dragon hunting weapons. Then they watch her 3d print a few MANPADS, some suite mounted rockets and broadly more dakka you have a manufactorum in your dorm…. Tis but a tiny one
Duplicitous Michael
That was one of the things I’ve brainstormed for the future Pliska Weapons convention. I was thinking maybe she builds a UCAV, but purpose built for combat so it would have a full combat payload(Railguns, Gatling guns, lasers, etc.) and the Nexus learns the power of *Brrrrrrrt*🤔
Michael Halpern
also the scorch marks from the self destruct system will get noticed even if they drones themselves aren't. besides bugging everything is a rookie move,
Gabu
Right I assumed that was more or less the intention, it just wasn't very clear exactly how that was being accomplished. It seemed like he really only identified two doors, his own, and the one they asked him about.
SoylentPudding
Rather than ask directly about one office, he got the apprentice to identify the offices off all the other apprentices.
Michael Halpern
Just imagine Emma building a tilt rotor or tilt jet at some point...
Willow Arkan
not exactly, more finding the right door among all the doors of the various apprentices, while not alerting the guy they are using that they have an interest in larial's door in particular. So to have him point it out, without asking him to do so, Ilunor made a jab about their doors being boring, which given they are all nobles or close enough is weird since they otherwise love over-adorning shit. Thus getting into the topic of door decoration, by first asking how this particular apprentice would do it. Then parleying that into a wider conversation about what other apprentices would, in this one's opinion, do to their doors. Last part of the intrigue is that again they don't want to arise suspicion by mentioning Larial's name, so instead Ilunor starts with this other apprentice to get the ball rolling, so that eventually they reach Larial's door just as part of the topic at hand and not because they ever mentioned her by name. It's a complicated and time consuming way to get the apprentice to give them what they want without ever having to ask for it.
IHasArms
I cannot wait for the flying class, and all the noise Emma will make with her jetpack.
Willow Arkan
also what they expect us to fly a condor or something
Willow Arkan
as funny as that would be, from an opsec perspective the more spy drones there are the likelier it becomes that one is detected and when the manaless nature of the things is determined it's not a huge leap for certain individuals in the know to trace it back to her.
Xylophone Smith
emma might as well bug the whole school while she's at it
Michael Halpern
“I can only IMAGINE the sorts of awe-stricken faces to be garnered once the taming of sky beasts and the introduction of aerial vehicles finally reaches your realm!” well yes, but not for the reasons you think... Earth will be thinking "zoom juice" for passing 800c
Skrzynek
Arlan is the apprentice with magical darkness covering his face. Also, Rila is the elf in the medical wing that Emma visited last chapter. JCB surely meant "LARIAL'S door" here. But I agree - while it is sorta deducable that there are names on the doors, I don't think it's explicitly stated.
Georg Kranz
Arlan =📗 Rila =🚑
TheEagerReader
So is the gang going to steal the book? It would be possible for Emma to do that via drones
Gabu
It wasn't entirely clear to me what was going on with the discussion and doors in the hallway. I get that they asked about the door of a different apprentice (Arlan? Have we met that person yet?), but what did that have to do with finding the door to Rila's office? Was it just to distract him?
Matt Null
Hope it goes well enough~
