Author's Preface
After settling in, Casimir left his dorm and headed back to the main building. The temperature dipped as evening approached, and it began to snow. A few latecomers, lugging their bags, passed Casimir by.
When he got to the main building’s lobby, Sully rose from his desk. “Perfect, that did not take too long.”
“I did not have much to unpack.”
Sully escorted Casimir out of the lobby and down a corridor to the nearest stairwell. They climbed the metal steps up several flights. Casimir turned to his cousin with anticipation. No one else is here, so it should be fine.
“How are you? After everything that happened?”
Sully cracked a grin. “I’m fine, but now isn’t the best time for small talk.”
“Alright.” He isn’t taking any chances.
“But I am happy to see you are well despite your ordeal.” Sully’s eyes twinkled.
I missed you, too, Sully.
They reached the admissions wing on the top floor. Casimir had to catch his breath from the arduous climb.
Casimir noticed Sully looked at him, concerned. I’m still out of shape.
Grey cubicles of paper pushers and discarded dreams dominated this floor. Silence filled the halls instead of the sound of ringing phones and typewriters. He followed Sully down the row of cubicles until they reached the Chancellor’s office and knocked on the door.
“Come in.”
Sully opened the door into the Chancellor’s grand office of metal inset furniture, grey hues, and decor of fire-breathing amphibians. The heavy curtains behind the Chancellor’s desk were drawn. Light only came from the lamp on his desk and the crackling fireplace. Staring into the flame with his hands folded behind his back was Chancellor Salamander. Sully nudged Casimir forward and waited by the door.
Casimir entered further into the room. “Chancellor Salamander, you ask me to come see you.”
“Yes, please have a seat.” He gestured with his left hand while still facing the fireplace.
Casimir rolled his eyes. Such a bizarre power play, too dramatic .
He sat in the steel grey chair across from the Chancellor’s desk and waited for him to finish his moment. Salamander turned around, and Casimir got a good look at his face. He looked like he skipped a night of sleep. I guess even he is affected by torpor.
“How is everything? Did you meet my nephew?” Salamander asked.
“Yes, I did.”
“Good, here is your schedule.” Salamander slid it across the desk.
Applied Aetherian Patterns and Applications, and Intro to Alchemy on Mondays and Wednesdays. Then I have Intro to Weaver Battle Tactics and Aetherian Theory on Tuesdays and Thursdays. All Fridays are marked as work with Salamander.
Casimir’s gaze left the paper. “So what will I be doing with you on Fridays? Filing paperwork?”
“Yes, and anything else I see fit.” Chancellor Salamander chuckled. “I’ll teach you while getting free labor from you. Typical of most apprenticeships.”
“Alright. I guess this is fine.” Casimir did not hide his disappointment.
“Where is the enthusiasm? Most would plot and scheme to be in your position.”
“My apologies, I didn’t mean to come across as ungrateful, but the circumstances around this arrangement still weigh heavily on my mind.”
“The fact that you were forced into this?” asked Sully.
“Yes, that is part of the reason.” Casimir folded up the schedule and placed it inside his coat pocket.
Chancellor Salamander sighed, slightly annoyed. “Regardless of the sordid events that led you to your path as a Weaver, you must make the best out of it. We are here to support you.”
“Thank you.” Casimir paused. “Is there anything else?”
Chancellor Salamander sniffed. “Yes, one more thing, you need to head down to Nurse Feverfew’s office for a check-up. She will call for you once a week. ”
Casimir scratched the back of his neck. “Right. I heard from Cornelius, but why is it so frequent?”
“Wielding Aether puts a strain on the body. This is a necessary precaution, especially due to your unusual circumstances.”
“Of course.” Another inconvenience.
After he was dismissed, Casimir exited Salamander’s office with Sully trailing behind.
“I’ll show you where the nurse’s office is.” Sully shut the door behind them and smiled at Casimir.
Casimir groaned. “I hope it is quick.”
After descending to the first floor, Sully directed Casimir to a room near the lobby. The nurse’s office had ventilation, but the sterile scent of stinging antiseptic lingered in the air.
“See, that wasn’t so bad, was it?” asked a voice as soft and smooth as sable’s fur.
Casimir saw a young nurse with a smile as pleasant as her voice, placing a Band-Aid on the arm of a brunette girl with glasses.
She has the run-of-the-mill features and plain brown hair of a commoner, but that is the norm for younger Weaver families.
Nurse Feverfew looked up the moment Casimir stepped into her room and smiled. “Have a seat over there. I’ll be with you soon.” She motioned to an empty bed.
“Yes, ma’am.”
He glanced at a nearby cart that carried a clipboard and a metal tray with a syringe and four samples of the girl’s blood. Then he sat down on the empty hospital bed and watched Nurse Feverfew pat the girl on the shoulder, while the girl bashfully giggled.
The brunette girl’s face turned red from embarrassment. “I know it is silly, but I’m just not used to it.”
Nurse Feverfew nodded with a sympathetic look. “I know, I felt the same way during my first check-up as a student here.”
“Oh wow, really?!”
“Yes, I’ll tell you more about it next time. I have another student waiting.” She glanced at Casimir. “Now, remember to eat something, drink plenty of fluids, and avoid any strenuous activities.”
“Ah, yes,” The brunette girl looked at Casimir timidly and slid off the bed. “Goodbye.” She gave him a curtsy and hurried out of the room.
I guess not all commoners are as casual with nobles here.
Nurse Feverfew grabbed her clipboard and redirected her full attention to Casimir. “Your name, dear.”
“Casimir Mindrattler, the Chancellor, sent me. He mentioned something about a weekly checkup.”
Casimir observed Nurse Feverfew head over to the metal sink and wash her hands.
“Yes, it is the perfect way for us to check your progress and catch any degenerative Aetherian diseases before they become irreversible.” She shook her hands over the sink before drying them with a clean towel. “Since you are from an established Weaver family, it should not be as much of an issue for you, but it is better to be safe than sorry.” Once Feverfew finished drying her hands, she grabbed a clean needle, alcohol, cottonballs, vials, and a bandaid, and placed them neatly on a metal tray on her cart.
Casimir furrowed his brow when he got a better look at the contents of the cart she rolled next to him. Eight vials. That is double what the girl had?
“Is there something a matter?” Feverfew looked at him, concerned.
“Isn’t eight vials excessive?”
She patted him on the shoulder. “Mr. Mindrattler, don’t tell me you are afraid of needles.”
Casimir sat up straight and answered sharply. “No, of course not.” He rolled up his sleeve and presented his right arm to her. Maybe they are asking for more because of what Sageman did to me?
She giggled softly. “Don’t worry, I’m just kidding.” She sterilized his arm with the alcohol-dipped cotton swab. “I promise you won’t notice a thing.”
“You don’t need to—” He felt a pinch and turned to see the vial fill up with his blood. Wow, she is efficient.
Feverfew filled up the vials, and she labeled each of them with his initials and the date. “There, all done. Make sure to eat something, drink plenty of fluids, and avoid any strenuous activities.”
“Thank you, it was a pleasure meeting you.” Casimir hopped off the bed.
“Of course, I hope you enjoy your time here as a student as much as I did.”