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Wearing Power Armor to a Magic School (107/?) WiP 1
🕑 Added 2024-11-17 00:14:13 +0000 UTCHey everyone! Here is the Work in Progress for Chapter 107 I hope you guys enjoy! :D The Revised Version for Chapter 106 will be released some time before the regularly scheduled release of Chapter 107 as my editor is still working on it! :D
The two parade floats showed no signs of stopping.
A fact quickly corroborated by the EVI.
[Warning! Collision imminent!]
So, without hesitation, I made my moves.
With one arm picking up the diminutive ferret — his whole body elongating like a slinky in the process — and the other arm poised to deploy the much-dreaded grappling hook, aimed just above Auris’ float.
[Grappler trajectory confirmed! Proceed?]
However, no sooner were those calculations made, did the figureheads of both floats suddenly come to their senses, ordering their respective hallway-sized ego-machines to an abrupt halt.
Though, it would quickly become clear that this wasn’t done for the sake of the pedestrian.
Instead, the two parties seemed to be first and foremost preoccupied amongst themselves.
“Does Lord Auris Ping of Pronarthiarealm, fellow peer of the Transgracian Academy for the Magical Arts, yield to the Class Sovereign candidate, Lord Qiv’Ratom?!” The hamster-like Rostario shrieked bombastically, earning nothing but an annoyed grunt from the bull.
“No, I do not yield!” Ping shouted back, prompting Ladona to push forward with what I assumed to be a rebuttal.
“Does Lord Qiv’Ratom of Baralonrealm, fellow peer of the Transgracian Academy for the Magical Arts, yield to the Class Sovereign candidate, Lord Auris Ping?!”
“No, I do not yield.” Qiv declared with a surprising degree of class compared to his bullish counterpart.
All of this culminated in both would-be candidates shifting their attentions down from their thrones, towards both me and the ferret merchant lord.
“Do, you, Cadet Emma Booker of Earthrealm, fellow peer of the Transgracian—”
“—Academy for the Magical arts, yadda, yadda, yadda…” I interrupted, letting my annoyance be known. “First of all, let’s take a step back. What’s all of this is actually about.” I gestured frantically towards either float, decorated to the brim with mana-enriched metals glistening with not just random specks of light, but outright patterns that ranged from flowers to intricate engravings, to even the signatures of either ‘candidate’.
That question, whilst received with a series of nods from Qiv’s group, seemed to be enough to give Ping the ‘ammunition’ he needed to strike back.
“HAH! The newrealmer once more shows her true colors, as one so lacking in the deeper nuances of the dynamics of power beyond mere feats of physical strength.” He taunted, eliciting an uproarious series of laughs from his float-members and followers, prompting me to tap my feet in response.
“You must have quite the selective memory, Lord Ping, as if I recall correctly… you of all people had first hand experience with a certain library card belonging to yours truly.” I stated bluntly, my hand tapping the pouch housing the aforementioned card in the process. “I assume that the library doesn’t just hand out these things for ‘mere feats of physical strength’ now does it?”
The bull’s eyes grew wide at that retort, Ladona’s spindly hands seemingly the only thing keeping him from simply leaping out at me, as she gently massaged his shoulders in an attempt to calm him down.
It was Qiv’Ratom however, who’d fill me in, clearing his throat to garner all of our attention. “Please be reasonable, Lord Ping. It’s not everyday a newrealmer arrives with little to no context for our civil practices. It’s simply unreasonable to assume she has an answer to every question, so let’s try to enlighten her in a civilized manner, yes?”
The bull refused to respond, simply shrugging as Qiv momentarily took the reins of the conversation. “What you see before you are floats, newrealmer. Simply put, they are part of a long-standing tradition, made with the intent of spreading awareness of a student’s declaration of intent in their campaign for the position of Class Sovereign.”
“Right.” I nodded in acknowledgement. “So… I’m guessing the class sovereign is like, the de-facto leader or representative of the year group or something?”
“Correct, newrealmer.” Qiv responded tactfully. “It is a position which only one may hold, for the duration of the entirety of the year group’s enrollment within the Academy.”
Cogs started turning in my head at that revelation, as it quickly became clear how Class Sovereign wasn’t probably a clean one-to-one analog of Class President, but was once again probably yet another twisted mirror-version of the institutions back home.
So even the humble Class President isn’t safe from Nexian-ification, huh?
“I’m assuming that there’s no voting involved then, is there?” I responded with a sigh, garnering a nod from Qiv, and an indignant huff from Ping.
“Specify… voting, newrealmer.” The bull replied with a dismissive chuckle.
“Oh come on… I know you guys at least have some concept of it.” I began with an exasperated sigh. “You know… the process of choosing officials in positions of power, or policies, by declaring or casting your preference for said official or policy.”
“And exactly why would we ever put such a time-honored and storied position to the whims of the esoteric inclinations of the ravenous masses?” Ping responded with an indignant huff. “Yes, you are correct in assuming that the concept of voting is not beyond us. But the act of voting, of casting your decision, is one which must be made amongst equals of heritage, pedigree, and titles. From the peerage council of class sovereigns, to the privy council in His Eternal Majesty’s court, the act of voting is sacrosanct, and must be reserved for those deserving of it. And even then, council decisions, no matter how unanimous, must ultimately always be subject to the will of the highest sovereign by decree or birthright.”
“The Dean is to the Class Sovereigns, what His Eternal Majesty is to the Privy Council.” Qiv concluded, garnering what was perhaps one of the few nods of acknowledgement from Ping.
“Right, so, if not voting… how exactly is the Class Sovereign chosen?”
“By Dean’s decree, of course.” Ping responded with a self-satisfied smile. “Haven’t you been listening, newrealmer?”
“If we’re being pedantic about it, that would be the answer.” I replied with an annoyed grunt. “But I meant the actual process, Lord Ping.”
“The prerequisite to even entering the challenge is to be a member of the top seven peer groups by points.” Qiv answered. “Following which, a test of strength, a test of knowledge, and a test of magical prowess will be required.”
“These tests differ from year to year, but it is the final test, the Quest for the Sword, which remains the same year after year.” Auris continued, taking the mantle of answering from Qiv.
Comments
Bradiation
Swapping “But I meant the actual process, Lord Ping” to something like “But I meant the de facto not de jure process, Lord Ping” could be a good way for Emma to show that earth has a complex and robust legal system.
Willow Arkan
these silly nobles are their silly sword pulling quests.
Michael Halpern
laser,
Michael Halpern
i bet one of the challenges will be cutting a piece of metal, without touching it.
Lokyar
He's already attempted murder on their peer group. It could readily be argued that anything they do to him is justified. Unfortunately the politics involved mean self defence is not necessarily enough - it must be proven; humiliation may also be more vicious a weapon than the gun in Nexian halls.
ThomasMC
What’s all of this is actually I think the second 'is' is redundant right?
Gamerdestiny6
Self regenerating Punching Bag!!
Steve
I have a question I keep forgetting to ask: do you pronounce EVI as ‘ee-vee’ or ‘ee-vee-eye’ ?
UC-79
Is Etholin just hanging skinkie'd from Emma's gauntlet while they talk? Hope the grand exit makes up for it lol.
MaybeASquid
Yeah but I'm doubtful they can bring back the memories perfectly after some hollow points to the brainstem
SpaceFan839
You are thinking too small, making said Amethyst dragon her pet on the other hand.
UC-79
They can heal just about anything, so she doesn't have to be gentle.
King Jerkera
That would be a great HFY moment indeed.
Steve Desamos
There’s that
Gabu
I didn't mean specifically in the case of the class sovereign, but just more generally. For a series about a magic school, while there has been quite a bit of magic her inability to actually use said magic hasn't really come up much. The closest we got was the PE class, but her armor let her bypass that in a somewhat subtle fashion. At some point though a class is going to demand she demonstrate at least some kind of magical ability and when she very obviously and blatantly uses tech to accomplish it instead it's going to be a tipping point.
I Dare Korval
Kill an Amethyst dragon.
I Dare Korval
Gabu, there is nothing stating she has to pass all the tests (if that were the case there could easily be no Class Sovereign for years). Passing the most tests is probably how it is decided, with the Sword test being a final tie breaker.
I Dare Korval
It wouldn't surprise me if that's exactly what the Dean is hoping for. He's on her side, but has to be very careful about it. But like her, malicious compliance is an option (aka she passed the tests so he didn't really have a choice).
I Dare Korval
Can't happen. As long as her peer group is in the top 7 by points, one of them has to vie for the Class Sovereign or loose so much respect and prestiege they may as well kill themselves (figuratively and possibly literally). And since Emma is clearly the center of her peer group, it has to be her. If I were her I'd politely point out (aka mock) them for such a guady and tacky waste of money on these floats that will not do a thing to improve thier chances of becoming Class Sovereign. The Dean is obviously above and unimpressed by these things clogging the hallways, only the 4 tests matter to him. And the nexian students obviously will always know the points each peer group has (as well who the top 7 are) and who is the leader in each group. As such, going to such wasteful expenditures to state the patently obvious names as to who will be trying for Class Sovereign is pretty much just vainglorious foolishness.
Gabu
Called into the deans office, "Cadet Booker! Did you put your name in the goblet of fire?!". That aside, at some point this is going to have to get around to the whole magic part of magic school and how they react when she blows a giant smoking hole in something with her pistol instead of throwing a fireball at it.
Skrzynek
I'm looking forward to it~
Skrzynek
How about Thalmin or Ilunor wanting to candidate?
ArdenW
Illunor will want to be Sovereign from their peer group.
Ultimatecalibur
She already meets the Top Seven Peer Groups part, she won a test of strength, she has a library card the only qualifier she has yet to pass is a test of magic.
MaybeASquid
At some point Pings going to go full zealot psychopath and we're gonna find out if self-defense is legal
ArdenW
Just waiting for Emma to go, "Coolio. Well boys, I have no intention of getting caught up in Class Soverieng politics. Lord Qiv, little thought this may mean, you have my support for your bid to be Class Sovereign. Have fun, boys."
Skrzynek
I have a feeling that Emma is gonna end up as an unwilling Sovereign...
just_some_guy.
... First? Oh good, how is Emma going to skunk Ping at this endeavor?
