Wearing Power Armor to a Magic School (74/?) WiP 1 (Patreon)

Hey everyone! Here is the Work in Progress for Chapter 74 I hope you guys enjoy! :D

“Only one being I see as the one true god above gods - His Eternal Majesty.”

The entire room suddenly echoed with the sounds of a hundred chairs being forcibly pushed across a variety of surfaces, Auris Ping now leading the charge as a bright ear-to-ear grin manifested itself across his snout. “Forever may he reign!” 

“Forever may he reign!” The whole room repeated, before promptly sitting back down in a flurry of cacophonous noises.

A knowing look was exchanged between the likes of Ping and Articord after that sudden call for reverence, a glance that seemed to cement an underlying narrative that had formed since his first non-sequitur question about the gods. 

“Is there a reason why you insist on bringing up the topic of these idols of a dead world, Lord Ping?” Articord prompted as soon as the last hair-raising, neck-tingling echoes of the scraping of chairs finally died down. 

“Yes, professor.” Auris replied without hesitation. “I do so, out of love and faith for the sanctity of His Eternal Majesty.” The man spoke with a fiery zeal and vitriol, without even the faintest of hints pointing at anything less than complete and utter devotion. 

“By calling upon for further elaboration on the role of the old gods?” The professor shot back, although this time, there was something of a sing-song cadence to her voice. As if she was fully embracing the theater — as Ilunor would call it — between herself and the bull. 

“History is nothing if not the acknowledgement of the failures of the past, to better improve ourselves in the pursuit of the present, in securing a certain and unwavering future. The story of His Eternal Majesty cannot be told in full without first establishing the story of the old gods which preceded him in the eras of folly. For only the full truth, the whole truth, can cast away the shadows of ignorance and free the mind from the shackles of self-delusion.” The bull’s eyes never once wavered, never once flinched, his whole body stood tall and unmoving as I could audibly hear how this speech was given with even more candidness than before; if that was even possible. “All shadows of doubt will wither and falter at the foot of the light of the gospel of the enlightened regime.” 

The professor took a moment to regard Auris’ words with an appreciative smile. A rare instance of being not only satisfied by an answer like she was with Ilunor’s, but instead being genuinely impressed. 

“The truth can be difficult for many to comprehend, Lord Ping. I say this, as someone who has made the pilgrimage of shadows.” The professor admitted through that same polite smile. “With that being said, in any other instance, I would’ve gladly started off with said truths. However, today, as with many things with your year group; the situation is radically different by virtue of those that comprise your ranks.” It was clear, even without a stray glance, that she was talking about me. “The best education is often personalized education, accounting for the needs of every type of student. I have tailored today’s opening lesson to reflect this fact.” 

Silence descended upon the room following the professor’s statement. All gazes rested on the fox as her eyes seemed to be scouring for her next prey, her next subject of interest.

Me. 

“Newrealmer.” Articord announced suddenly, her voice dripping not with any spite or self-righteousness, but an earnest tone of curiosity. “Cadet Booker, is it?”

“Yes, professor.” I replied with a nod.

“As a newrealmer, I understand you may have quite a few questions, such is the nature of innocence from reason, and the regrettable state of affairs that is the squalid ignorance of the natural state. However, I can infer based on the mere fact that you sit here, having crossed the threshold; that you are indeed capable of comprehending and adopting the principles of enlightened civility. You are… a pioneer of sorts, Cadet Booker. In the same way that the first followers of His Eternal Majesty’s enlightened circle took that leap of faith in setting forth into a previously uncharted future, so too are you doing the same by your mere presence. However-” The professor paused, taking a few steps forward up the still-invisible central walkway towards my equally-invisible desk. “-this ignorance goes both ways. For as much as you are ignorant to the ways of the Nexus, so too am I ignorant of the ways of your realm. So please, if you will allow me to indulge in my curiosities, I would like to ask you a few questions. Just to aid in the crossing of this river of ignorance on a bridge of mutual understanding.”

I was… taken aback by the shift in the professor’s angle. 

Because whilst she started off with that typical Mal’tory-grade blanket statement of superiority, she didn’t follow through with it. More than that, she more or less left most pretenses of that posturing behind the further she went in her monologue.

And in a move that no other professor had done so far, she even went so far as to publicly express her humility, and a desire to bridge that cultural gap for the alleged sake of mutual understanding; something that SIOP would’ve fawned over if they were here. 

“Of course, professor.” I replied tactfully, politely, at the very least reciprocating the courtesy she was extending to me. “Fire away.”

There was probably a Nexian catch somewhere. 

However… that remained to be seen, and I wasn’t about to actively reject a gesture of good will if I could help it. 

“Do you believe in fate, Cadet Booker?” The professor asked candidly, throwing a curveball of a question without so much as flinching; her voice never once revealing anything other than an earnest and well-intentioned cadence.

“That’s a question that’s been debated amongst my kind for countless generations, since the inception of the spoken word itself, professor.” I replied diplomatically, SIOP training kicking in almost out of instinct as I felt like I was hitting the ground running. “Given the cosmopolitan and diverse nature of my people, and the policy of my government to accommodate and facilitate, rather than to impose and to dictate - I cannot say for certain whether or not I do.” 

“Are you answering this as a representative of your people, or as you yourself, Cadet Booker?” The professor drilled further, not yet diving into a heated tone of voice, but more so straddling the line between impatience and a cordial sort of academic curiosity.

“That is my answer as a representative of my people, professor.” I answered curtly.

“Then allow me to rephrase my question, Cadet Booker. Do you, yourself, not your government, not your elders or kings or dukes or barons, not even your military superiors up in your chain of command… do you believe in fate?”