“Good.” The professor nodded. “Almost an exact quote from the introductory course’s materials. I’d advise you to think of everything you’ve learned over the duration of a course instead of just parroting what the text says. Your answer is incomplete. How else can a dungeon form?”

  Another student near the front volunteered an answer. “Sometimes the gods—” The young woman paused. “Occasionally, dungeon lords and their domains produce beasts too powerful to control. They’re either born when the dungeon lord is still recovering from godfall and creates a monster during their panic, or the creature has survived in the dungeon for years, found success killing delvers, and got strong enough to break free of their lord’s control.”

  “Good!” the professor exclaimed, smiling. “This module will cover the distinctions between the two dungeon types, the two types of lords, and the conditions necessary for beast-born dungeons to solidify.”

  Another hand shot up. The student sat somewhere near the middle of the several-hundred-strong class. “Will we study dungeon beasts and boss-class monsters, too?”

  “We’ll cover boss-class beasts and how they ascend to such ranks but won’t spend much time on regular dungeon creatures,” the professor answered. “Any other questions before we begin?”

  “Will there be any rift field trips or beast cadavers⁠—”

  “No, but this module is compulsory if you want to study rifts or dungeon flora and fauna. We’re here to build a foundation so you can branch out into more specialized studies and delve into independent research.” A wave of groans passed over the lecture hall. It started at the front of the room and died just past somewhere near the middle. “I know this might feel like basic stuff, but it doesn’t matter what department you’re in or aspire to join. Dungeon Studies, Arcane Research, Production, and War Mage aspirants all need to complete this module at a reasonable level.”

  “Can we finish the module early if we exhibit adequate comprehension?” another student asked.

  “No,” the professor replied. “This is a purely theoretical module. A two-hour exam will be used to test your competence. You need sixty percent to pass and at least eighty to qualify for some of the greater research modules. That’s enough questions now. This might just be an induction lecture, but we’ve only got two hours and a lot to cover.”

  The lecture didn’t cover anything new. Handouts passed around the class covered everything they would learn over the next four months. It marked the start and end dates for all topics, the mid- and end-of-semester exams, and what they’d cover. The professor continued with his introduction and a light summary of everything covered in the introductory novel. Nox took notes while Lillin stared ahead, her nose crinkling as if something in the air smelled foul. He didn’t question her and focused on the lecture.

  The pair parted ways after the lecture. Nox headed to Intermediate Mana System Theory while Lillin stayed in her seat for the beginner version of the module. He didn’t need to leave the building. Two flights of stairs and three wrong turns later, he found the lecture hall just after the tenth morning bell. It was a third the size of the last, and the class appeared even smaller.

  Nox couldn’t help but wonder why Kris had enrolled him in the module. It wasn’t a compulsory module, and he struggled to see how the research-focused class would benefit him as a delver or alchemist. Then the professor arrived. Instead of passing out handouts, she wrote the syllabus on the chalkboard.

  Foci, Foci Development, and Evolution

  Planet and Moon Formation

  Binary Star Systems

  Understanding Essence

  The final two topics of the module intrigued Nox. Queen Mercer’s library had a few research papers on mana systems with two stars. They mostly discussed the challenges of such an endeavor and only listed a couple of anecdotal instances where it resulted in scarred circuits and death from intense mana burn.

  As an alchemist, he was already familiar with essence. However, he mostly used elemental energies. In the real world, arcane essences came in all shapes and sizes, and since Nox’s magic now revolved around them, expanding his understanding felt compulsory. He tried his best to follow the catch-up lecture, but his eyelids grew heavy. The professor’s monotonous drone didn’t help. Nox’s propped-up head almost slipped off his palm and slammed on the desk as he struggled to stay awake. It took the professor throwing chalk at someone else in a similar state and yelling at them for Nox to push the drowsiness away and focus.

  “Ygg appeared around the same time as the advent of magehood almost two centuries ago,” the professor said. Some took notes, but the others just stared. Arcane history wasn’t a part of her course, but she drawled on about the beginner module and related courses. “I’d suggest you take Arcane History next semester. It’s worth knowing your roots. The great druid, Flint Woodson, chose this beautiful land as his place of death, and the magical ash sprouted from his corpse. He claimed it was the daughter of the mythical world tree, Yggdrasil, but we don’t have enough evidence to confirm the claim. It was thanks to his efforts we gained the power to break free from the gods’ tyrannical rule and start the age of man.

  “The records aren’t clear on exactly when Woodson University was established, and Dean Myrina Woodson’s memory is starting to fail. She and the first council members created the current star-cored mana system we now use. It’s more efficient than the random collection of core systems the first mages used and the reason for our ongoing success in the battle against the gods. I believe certain organizations in the Imperium utilize other systems, but there’s a reason why close to half of the student body is from the great empire.”

  After class, Nox encountered a familiar face. The many identical corridors had him going in circles as he looked for the building’s exit. Nox’s stomach rumbled, demanding lunch, and he picked up the pace. After an indoor checkpoint, he found himself in the Dungeon Studies part of the circular building. Finding the main staircase proved easier, but he ran straight into Edward on the final landing before the ground floor.

  The stepbrothers stared at each other, wide-eyed. Edward appeared dumbfounded, and his entourage hesitantly glanced between the pair, exchanging confused looks. Meanwhile, Nox looked for an opening between the small group of men and women to flee.

  “What are you doing here?” Edward asked.

  “Same as you, Eddie,” Nox said, putting on his best smile. “I’m trying to get an education.”

  “How?” He frowned. “Mother banished you. You cheated your way in, didn’t you?”

  “No. It’s not that simple when you have to pay your own way. I’d love to hang around and catch up, Eddie⁠—”

  “It’s Edward!” Eddie hissed, and one of the girls in his group giggled.

  “—but I really have to go.” Nox checked his manameter. “My next class is in thirty-three minutes, and I’m desperate for a spot of lunch.”

  “You’re not bluffing!” Edward’s eyebrows rose. “You’re really a student here.”

  Nox hopped over the railing to the ground floor when the group didn’t part for him. He had already descended half the flight and didn’t have long to go. He bent his knees as he landed and marched away briskly, resisting the urge to look over his shoulder. His stepbrother’s shocked face was comical, but the time crunch was real.

  Kris had paid for entry to the worker’s cafeteria for two months. The university had four of them littered around campus. All of them stood closer to the bordering wall than Ygg’s base. It took Nox ten minutes to find the closest cafeteria. Clear signage between buildings kept him from getting lost. It had already taken him five minutes to leave the central building. Now, he only had twenty-five minutes to get his food, eat, and return to the Department of Dungeon Studies for his last and longest class of the day.

  The line heading into the building moved swiftly. Someone at the entrance checked his identification and consulted with a long, alphabetized list. Once satisfied, the woman stamped him with a brand that sank into his skin. It didn’t burn like the sigil-gaining procedure.

  Because of his lack of time, Nox opted for the easiest-to-eat food. Long tables with benches on either side occupied the giant hall’s center. Meanwhile, an assortment of stalls sat against the walls. They plied diners with wraps, sandwiches, bowls of soups, stews, porridges, skewered meats, and a lot more. The diners wore the standard-issue Woodson University coats or simple coats. Nox guessed the cafeteria fed students of similar financial status, low-ranking university staff—the city-size campus needed a small army of maintenance staff, dock workers, messengers, porters, and a lot more—and noble students’ servants. He didn’t get much time to explore the options.

  By the time Nox got his hands on a sandwich stuffed with roast beef, pickled cabbage, and horseradish, only fifteen minutes remained before the start of his next class. He ignored his craving for a cup of sweet, citrus tea and started his journey back to the university’s central building, relying on public fountains to quench his thirst.

  Getting lost and exploring on the first day had its advantages. Nox learned the location of several classes and lecture halls and identified low-traffic corridors. He successfully finished his lunch by a quarter to one in the afternoon and entered the classroom at the same time as the ancient professor.

  “Good afternoon, class,” she said, waving at Nox to take a seat. The class contained less than thirty students, and most appeared closer to twenty than sixteen. A handful of them appeared as old as Nox, if not a few years his senior. “I’m Dean Myrina Woodson, one of the founders of this humble institution, head of the Department of Dungeon Studies, and I still occupy a seat on the university’s council. Some call me the last living druid and the best Shaper alive, but I’m humble enough not to use such titles officially.”

  Dean Myrina winked and got a couple of polite chuckles from the class. “We, now-mostly extinct druids, were known as builders and protectors of all life. The great Yggdrasil and the first druid, Gaia, tasked us with safeguarding the realms of the living from the Void and the god-like entities that rule it. I’d like to think my father and I succeeded at safeguarding this world, at least. No Void Lord has penetrated this dimension since Ygg planted her roots in your soil, and I’ve successfully eliminated all who worshiped them since my arrival.”

  The ancient woman paused and looked around the room as if trying to remember her purpose. “Sorry, I got off track for a bit. It happens occasionally when you get to my age. Anyway. We druids were predominantly Shapers, and I’ve been at it for a couple of centuries now.” Dean Myrina raised her hands to chest level and pointed her palms toward the ceiling. “My mana system differs from yours, but I have dominion over water, earth, and light.” As she spoke, a sphere of each dominion manifested and floated six inches above her outstretched palms. They took up orbit around her. “As a result, I have experience Shaping liquid, solid, and energy. You’ll find no better teacher than me for the school of magic. If you wish to learn under me, I expect you to attend every class, arrive on time, and do the work I assign to you. Any failures may result in you requiring to repeat this module and determine your access to the advanced units.”

  A young woman in the front row raised her hand. She spoke when Dean Myrina gave her permission. “Is it true what they say? Is this a mostly practical class?”

  “Yes,” Dean Myrina answered. “As the dean, I have far too many responsibilities and don’t have the time to assign homework and correct papers. I’ll give you reading materials, but Shaping is an art form that relies on visualization and intent. Displaying adequate Shaping skills will be enough to complete this course. Since you’re all beginners, our focus will be creating a planetoid, assigning it a relevant Shaping focus, and then getting the mana level to a minimum of sixteen. You’ll be excused from this course once you meet the aforementioned requirements and can successfully and consistently cast an apprentice-ranked Shaping spell. If anyone already meets these requirements and failed to find a seat in the intermediate course, I’d advise you to leave now. Deceiving me and then trying to win favor will get you nowhere. I will find out eventually, and you’ll pay for wasting my time.”

  A couple of twenty-something-looking students rose from their seats, looking sheepish. They quickly gathered their things and left the classroom. Once the doors closed behind them, Dean Myrina had a young woman in the front pass around a list of reading materials, and the lesson finally began.

  THIRTEEN

  WOLFHAMMER’S HOWL

  “The City of Ygg is small. Its location leaves it vulnerable to all sides. The walls might be enchanted, but an army of siege mages can rip through it with little trouble. And the prize? Don’t get me started about the prize. Who wouldn’t want the world tree’s endless mana under their control? We can’t risk it, though. The Woodson line nurtures Yggdrasil’s daughter and keeps our future alive. We need the world tree to ensure our future generations continue growing stronger and the dungeon lords remain in their domain. We need the damned druids as much as their tree.”

  —Emperor Oliver Morraine

  Dean Myrina’s Shaping class was four hours long, lasting all afternoon, but it passed in a blur. She didn’t stop at the introduction and had everyone start basic Shaping exercises. Then she hobbled around the classroom, noting everyone’s skill level and stage. The dean adapted the drills accordingly and provided everyone with basic guidance.

  Nox struggled with the exercises more than expected. He created clear crystals out of the mana in his core and attempted to shape them into geometrical shapes, but all of his attempts failed. The mana obeyed him in its raw form, following his will. However, he needed help finding the same success with crystalized essence.

  “Shaping, like Manipulation and Reinforcement, is mastered through repetition and practice. Your mind and mana circuits must get used to the exercises and patterns. The fact that you can already do it with raw mana is amazing. It won’t be long before you can repeat it with essence glass.”

  Nothing changed before the end of the lesson, but Nox felt a familiar tingle around his left bicep. It was the Sigil of Artisan. The tattoo sensed his intent and was helping him with his Shaping. He recalled similar sensations when actively nurturing the Sigil of Immunity by exposing himself to alchemically brewed toxins. The new sigil was helping him with his Shaping endeavor. The dean had called it a tool for building, so he understood why the sigil made the same connection. He hoped it would accelerate his progress.

  After the class, he met Lillin for an early dinner. She had found Beginner Manipulation just as challenging. They were both mentally exhausted. Their mana circuits burned from trying to form new channels, too. Nox felt extra discomfort in his arms, especially around the mana burns. Then they shopped for gems to power the portable alchemy kit and the vents before calling it a night.

  It felt as if barely a minute had passed before the manameter’s alarm function forced him out of his hammock. However, eight hours had passed since he went to bed. He dressed and ascended the stairs to the sub-basement, hoping Lillin was up, too. She wasn’t. Nox had no choice but to poke her awake. The young woman slept like the dead, and it took considerable effort.

  “Leave me alone,” Lillin said. “I’ll eat you.”

  “The same threats mean little after eighteen years,” Nox replied. “C’mon. You’re going to make us late.”

  “What is it?” she hissed. “I know you like to wake up at the ass crack of bloody dawn, but I need my rest.”

  “Combat class begins in an hour. We need to freshen up and eat.”

  Lillin groaned, sitting up. “We should’ve never come here. You and I could’ve gone to the Imperium or joined a free city guild, worked up the ranks, and⁠—”

  “You know that would’ve taken too much time.” Nox prodded her harder. “We can’t give up just because it’s difficult. I failed at Shaping worse than you did at Manipulation. Don’t you want to relieve all that pent-up stress by humiliating some young masters?”

  “That does sound fun.” She sighed, sitting up. “I want to see more of your bow, too.”

  “I doubt I can consistently reproduce whatever I did against the Cloud Hunter. It’ll probably take at least a Shaping planetoid before I can produce full essence glass projectiles.”

  “Fine. I’ll just settle for humiliating spoiled young masters and ladies.”

  The apartment only had one washroom. They took turns relieving themselves and washing up before heading to the nearest cafeteria for breakfast. The smells of grilled sausages, thick-cut and honey-drizzled bacon, and eggs beckoned Nox. It pained him to resist, but he couldn’t afford to stuff himself too much before a physically intensive lesson. So he settled for porridge with chopped nuts and sliced preserved peaches. On his way to a table, he saw a stall with soft-boiled eggs and gave in. He joined Lillin with two on his plate.

  Unlike Nox, she had a plate piled high with meat and sweet treats. She shoveled the food into her mouth with gusto. The upcoming combat class didn’t deter her. Lillin stuffed herself and went back for seconds. The vendors gave her the stink-eye, but Nox had learned long ago that she didn’t care what others thought of her. That was his job. He often wondered whether she used spatial magic to expand her stomach’s capacity so that she could engorge herself. However, Lillin’s stomach didn’t swell, no matter what she ate.

  The university’s clock tower struck six just after they reached the large, rune-lined terrace that would serve as their classroom. It sat on the dungeon studies department’s roof, overlooking the sprawling city below. Ygg’s rough trunk bordered one side, and only a railing protected them from the drop on the other. Sun lamps floated above the training area, bathing it in warm light despite the giant tree’s shadow and the thick canopy above.