Chapter 12. Settling Into Academy (Also Doing Fluffy Happy Things)
The dorms are filling up slowly. The earliest arrivals are, ironically, the people who live the furthest. I guess it makes sense, with the abysmal state of logistics in this world. Travel is unpredictable so they depart with a lot of spare time to account for possible mishaps along the way. Which translates to them entering the dorms first. Thankfully, the actual assignment of rooms is done by the staff on a preplanned basis, so that there are less conflicts between the students about who gets to live where. I say less because there is still a low-key struggle for better accommodations and available planters. Me tossing out eleven of them into the pool had created something of a commotion, with people rather busy batting their respective social standings against each other to score some for their own room.
In the same time, everyone and their dogs have been told just who put the extra planters out, and this created a curious push among higher-ranked students to "donate" one or more of their preassigned ones in order to... what, actually? Show that they're no less humble than me? Goodness. People. Just... stop. You are vitally dependent on those flowers, you need the variety. You're not me, you can't casually violate the noocoactus that is imposed by the global belief that flowers are vital to magic. As the clamor in the main hall grows in volume, I... need to act. It grates on me. It makes me annoyed that people are so dismissive of their GROWTH and so overattentive to the momentary fame.
Walking onto the table and releasing a bang of air (Minor cantrip, just use air magic to vibrate the air to make a sound. Everyone knows that one.) is sufficient to make everyone shut up and look at me.
"Dear students." - I begin, - "I am Alyssa Gillespie, and I wish to address the situation with planters."
And they're still listening. Good. Very good.
"It is true. I had requested a number of planters assigned to my room to be returned to common use." - I continue - "However, you should know that I did not do this for the sake of looking humble."
And now the glances are turning calculating. They're wondering about my motivations.
"As many of you already know, I have had introduced a number of new products to the line of wares my father's county offers. This is due to my interest in alchemy and crafts. I intend to focus on those disciplines first and foremost, as they are the subjects of study that I am both interested in and strong at. Therefore, I need LESS of a flower variety, because I have to work around the limitations of commoners who would be crafting my creations once I am done researching them properly. Conversely, I need more table space for all my experiments and research materials. It is this consideration that made me request a number of planters to be removed - I needed to make extra space for more tables. Since I already occupy one of the biggest rooms that are not reserved for royalty, this was really the only reasonable option I had to make my workspace truly comfortable for me." - and that is very literal truth I'm speaking, which, much to my amusement makes Tsunbaka in the background flinch and stare at me with wide eyes. Not to your expectations, shortstack? Well, I'm just getting started.
"Therefore, I implore you not to hamper your own growth by trying to donate planters you will need if you have any aspirations for learning battle magic or intend to pursue scholarly matters. I also implore you to comport yourself with appropriate decorum and make sure the extra planters available are given to people who truly need them, rather than awarded to those who's social standing is the firmest. Honestly speaking, the squabbling for an extra POT OF SOIL should be beneath anyone who dares call themselves a noble. Are we not the pillars of the nation? Are we not already respected and held as the exemplars everyone should strive to be? Would we not diminish ourselves by being petty over a piece of pottery and a sack of earth?" - fuck, getting a bit too fired up here. Time to cool it down. Let's round it up nicely.
"So, with that in mind... Please gauge your needs appropriately. Consider what is to be your focus, and what flower assortment and variety you will need for it. Assess the number of planters at your disposal critically. Is it enough? Is it lacking? Is it in excess? Make your consideration and adjust the number to fit your expectations. Ask the esteemed professors of the Academy for their opinions, they have been teaching here for years upon years and should have very good ideas on what number of planters should be optimal for your aspirations. Be the students the Academy should be rightfully proud of." - and that's a wrap. I take a shallow bow and step off the table with - "That is all I wanted to say. Thank you for listening and considering my words."
The hall is filled with thoughtful murmurs as I cut through the crowd, and I see a number of students already departing in the direction of professoratorium. It is a little early to be certain about it, but I do have a feeling that I rolled the dice on that speech check well. Now, however, I need people to internalize the notions I've espoused and give them some time to work through the discussion and rumor that will doubtlessly spring forth. And since there is little else for me to take care of right now, I elect to go look for Moon Unit and see if she's amenable to a stroll through a city or something. Aaand, I'm being waylaid. Help.
"What are you up to?" - well, hello to you too, sunshine. Really, what is Tsunbaka's major malfunction? Does the word decorum mean anything to her? And this is happening just as I SEE Moon Unit, and she is well within the hearing range, too. Bother.
"Pardon me?" - let's make her spell it out. I honestly don't feel like dealing with Tsunbaka right now.
"What's with the false humility? Why are you making everyone give their planters to commoners?" - she growls, her arms swinging around in agitation. There is a circle of people forming around us already. Bother bother bother BOTHER!
"Lady Selene, I have no idea why are you so hostile, and frankly, I don't even care. But to answer your question - I genuinely believe that Academy is the place to foster personal growth, not a place to peddle influence. This is the establishment we attend so we could be worthwhile assets to our domains. Furthermore, I do NOT advocate giving up planters willy-nilly. I advocate approaching your education with reason and common sense and partake in resources as would befit your growth best, without hoarding more than you can use or giving up what is critical for your own success. Each noble attending the Academy is my possible future ally and trade partner. What reason could I have for not wanting them to be able and strong? And each commoner attending the Academy is a future asset for my domain or one of my allied domains. Why wouldn't I want them to be as capable as they can be?" - I return, easily slipping back into speech-making mode - "It is in my best interests to offer whatever advice and help that I can spare to see everyone grow. It's common sense, really. Who does not want their future to be brighter?"
She chokes on her answer and looks lost. And angry. But mostly lost. As if she expected some kind of script to be fulfilled and was betrayed by her expectations. Oh well. I cast a look around, meeting the eyes of many a student. A lot of them look thoughtful AND appreciative. I guess the sentiments I espoused are not something commonly said, even if everyone understands this much on some level. "While on that note, everyone..." - I continue - "Should any of you have a desire to discuss alchemy or crafts with me, my door is always open for well-mannered visitors."
I leave her standing there, still grasping for words, and stroll towards Moon Unit without looking back. Honestly, at this point there is literally nothing to be had from the conversation other than pointless and silly bickering, if she chooses to press the topic nonetheless. At least my elven waifu is looking appreciative of my words. "Hello there." - I offer to her, stopping at a respectable distance - "I was wondering if you'd like to go on a stroll with me. There are many places in the city I've yet to see and some company would be well appreciated."
She smiles and steps closer, hooking her arm with mine. "I'd be delighted to, lady Gillespie." - she offers gently.
"Ah, just call me Alyssa. We are friends, aren't we?" - I offer to her as we leave the premises.
___
The bazaar in the capital is pretty sizable. Unlike our county, where one plaza is sufficient to hold all of it, in the capital bazaar had to be subdivided into fourths, with shops and offices lining the perimeter of each densely. This naturally lead to subdivision of wares. There is Farmer Square, Craftsman Square, Merchant Square and People Square. Farmer Square is fairly obvious, this is where all sorts of food is being sold. In bulk or in detail. While we do take a quick stroll through it, I don't expect to be shopping here much. This is going to be Bridgit's job, I think. Craftsman Square is more interesting, it is the area where artisans set their booths. Smiths, woodcarvers, glassblowers, pharmacists, jewelers... Interesting to see, and I will likely be visiting here a lot.
I allow myself an indulgence of buying a brooch for Moon Unit who accepts it in good graces. She is very interested in the cure for cold, which is being already sold here. It actually creates a bit of a kerfuffle as the pharmacist recognizes me and attempts to give me a report on the profits of the booth. I have to dissuade him from making a production out of it, but he thankfully accepts the "I'm just shopping, send all reports to father as usual" fairly quickly. Moon Unit leaves the stall with a six-pack of cures, though, and I can feel her burning curiosity as we depart.
"...Yes, I invented this." - I finally break - "Yes, I will teach you how to. It's not that complicated, really."
"You're a curious one, Alyssa." - she muses - "Could it be you are divinely inspired?"
"...Maybe. Dwarves in my domain do believe I am the conduit of Argyl's wisdom already." - I admit quietly - "Don't take it too seriously, please. I'm certainly not intending to call myself god's messenger, but I'm willing to help if they truly want to send a note through me every now and then." Pausing, I chuckle lightly - "But honestly, even if the gods speak through me, they didn't care to let me know about it. I just try to make things better for everyone. It should be good enough, no?"
She giggles, the tinkle of laughter making me swoon inwardly - "My, my. Would it be anyone else in your place, they'd trumpet it from the highest mountains. You really like your actions to speak for themselves, don't you?"
"Well, it does work, doesn't it?" - I reply nonchalantly - "We will need to backtrack to Farmer Square for the ingredients, if you truly wish to learn today. Or I can send my maid to get them tomorrow, if you can constrain your interest until then."
She looks at the pack she's holding, then shakes her head - "Let's continue our stroll, Alyssa. It would be uncouth of me to cut the outing short just because I'm excited about a new medicine."
___
Merchant Square. The place where foreign merchants congregate. They sell all sorts of exotic wares here. While I'm just canvassing the market so far, I just have to give in and buy that satchel of pepper. The "sell at the weight of coin" thing is really prevalent here, they literally weigh the spices against the gold coins offered in payment. I suppose it does help with the edge shaving problem, at that. Moon Unit is intensely curious, but I can see her being.. less than enthused about the pricing. She is not rich, after all. That is to say, she DID depart from the Evergreens with sufficient nest egg in gold and jewels to live comfortably until she earns herself a standing commission from one of the lords, but compared to actual nobles like me, her means are modest. I honestly want to spoil her, but I have a feeling she would be offput by excessive generosity. So instead, I resolve to treat her to a nice peppered omelette once we get back from the walk.
Other than spices, there are many trinkets and curios that I leave off for later. A cursory glance shows them to be mostly knick-knacks of no inherent value other than "came from lands far away", but some warrant further examination. Later. I have enough on my plate for now as is. I do, however, purchase an elaborate hookah and a sack of assorted molasses for it, arranging for it to be delivered to my dorm in the evening. Call me hedonist if you will, but hookah is one of the things I honestly did not expect to see, but not willing to miss on. Moon Unit expresses her curiosity about the contraption, and I have to extend an invitation for her to join me on trying it out. Honestly not sure how well she will take to smoking, but I'm game for it, if she is.
And this is when we end up on People Square. Which, frankly speaking, is a mix of fairgrounds and flea market. There are games (mostly consisting of throwing various objects at the targets) and refreshments to be had. I am genuinely surprised by my companion gravitating towards dagger-throwing booth, and even more impressed when she deftly nails the furthest target three times in a row, coming off with an embroidered headband that she presents to me proudly. Obviously, I tie my hair with it immediately. Hnnng. SO CUTE. MUST HAVE.
We sit down at the outdoors table of a surprisingly modern-looking teahouse. The tea is very well steeped, though I really think they could do even better once they learn to add mint or bergamot or... (Mental note, look into buying a teahouse or gaining partial ownership of one, if viable.) The sweets they offer are horrendously expensive, but that is to be expected for "genuine zukerrohr cakes". Which, on further examination are small cakes with filling made out of shredded apple, sugarcane juice and cinnamon. I feel glad for not letting Moon Unit know about the price, she'd be awkward about it and I'd be awkward right back.
"You know?" - she offers pensively - "I have a complaint."
"...Oh? What's wrong?" - I inquire, doing my best to play it cool while panicking internally. What is wrong? What did I do wrong? Why? There were no signs of... Of... whatever it was. WHAT it was? Oh fuck's sake, why I can't have good things...
"You see, I have had been asked out by men before and enjoyed it." - she muses with a coy smile - "But after this outing? Why, I fear you have had spoiled me for men forever."
Oh thank heavens it's a compliment. I... heave out a relieved sigh. Sorry. But... Just... Argh. She pats my hand comfortingly.
"Sorry." - she offers, her smile growing - "But you really set the bar high. It might take a literal prince to match your gallantry."
"Any man who deigned to treat you any less than a princess is a blind fool then." - I reply mustering all the smoothness I ever had. Judging by the ever so light blushing, my reciprocation hit the mark well.
