Chapter 18

“Because historically,” someone said, drawing a collection of eyes her way, “powerful adventurers end up as tyrants.”

It was a face Natalie recognized: the girl with long, straight red hair, who Natalie had formed a poor first impression of back in the barracks. She had had a certain arrogance to her face, even still. The amused quirk to her lips almost said that this question was ridiculous—but she’d answered anyway, because who else, if not her?

“Exactly,” Harper said. “And ‘historically’ might even be too gentle, as if it’s a trend that’s done and over with. Fun fact. How many countries, can any of you tell me, are ruled by dictators?”

“Individuals, or oligarchies?”

Natalie’s head turned; the speaker this time was a girl with short, neat black hair and round spectacles. Her response was timid, and she quailed when everyone’s attention turned to her. At a guess, she hadn’t even meant to answer, but was intrigued enough by the question she’d responded instinctively.

“Mm,” Harper said. “Let’s rephrase to, totalitarian rule enforced by an overwhelming power advantage, granted by their class. Groups or individuals, either or.”

“Twenty or so?” the same girl said.

“Of?”

“Forty seven nations?”

Harper seemed impressed. “That’s right. Twenty-two of forty-seven. Nearly half of all nations—despite the modern age—are ruled by individuals, or groups of individuals, who abuse their gods-granted power.”

She raised her eyebrows.

“You can see the PR nightmare, yeah? And Valhaur, and most of the Tascian continent, have of course come to understand the monstrous, unethical nature of such rule. But, we have millennia of distrust to work past ... and even our nations don’t have clean hands in that regard. Not even in recent history.”

That was true enough. Natalie’s thoughts flickered to, as most of the student’s surely did, The March of Three Kings—that bloody event only four decades back.

“So, it’s an uphill battle we’re fighting to make people trust us. Which is why,” she emphasized the last word, “Tenet students—the best of the best when it comes to adventurers—cannot be seen by the general populace abusing their powers, or acting an idiot.” Harper leaned back. “I’m side-tracking. The point: public relations quests. Tenet seeks to foster good will from the general population. They don’t pay the best, but they’re great from a difficulty-to-pay standpoint. Maintenance, cleaning, public events, honestly sometimes just showing up and looking pretty. Worst these sorts of quests get are monster exterminations, and only ones you’re overqualified for—again, to improve confidence, and the general populace’s image of us.”

Harper breathed in.

“Kay! Taking too long on tokens. Lots more to go over—check out the quest boards, or chat your friends up to get more ideas. There’s all kinds of shit you can do. Extracurriculars, tournaments, research assistance, and some you wouldn’t expect, ‘specially if you’ve got a weird class, something helpful in, like, construction, or,” She shook her head. “Whatever it is. Okay. Moving on. Classes and daily life.”

Natalie sat up straighter. Though the brief on tokens had been interesting enough—surprisingly so—class would be the most pervasively relevant topic in her life. And more than her classmates, Natalie didn’t know what she was in for, not besides in a general sense.

“You’ve all taken a look at the schedule on the pamphlet, I assume?” Harper asked.

Natalie had. They’d been given tri-fold papers filled with all sorts of information. She hadn’t had a chance to read it in depth, but she’d scanned the tight-cramped text. Natalie idly opened the pamphlet up and took a second look at the schedule.

7:00 AM - Wake Up

8:00 AM - Training Facility, Conditioning

9:30 AM - Spars

11:00 AM - Lunch

12:00 PM - Academics

3:00 PM - Extracurriculars

5:00 PM - End Academic Day

11:00 PM - Lights Out

“It’s self explanatory,” Harper said. “But there’s a few things worth bringing up. First, eight a.m. conditioning. It’s less structured than you think. This is your warm-up and exercise time, for the fighters, or your mental training time, for the casters. You won’t have an instructor assigned. That said, plenty are available, should you want or need one. Or do your own thing. All you’re required to do is sign in and be there.”

“Next, academics at noon. You’ll have your own schedules for that—some of you are exempt to certain class, some of you aren’t. Most likely, expect to see public relations, intro to delving, and monster 101. You’ve gotta really try to fail these courses, but it happens. But really, just give it an effort. Not even your best effort ... just an effort. That’s really all it takes. Tenet’s not expecting geniuses. Don’t be the second year retaking 101s.” She shrugged. “Or, like I said, do. I’m not your mom. But it’s pretty embarrassing.”

“Five p.m. is the end of the academic day. Now, I hope this doesn’t mean you’re done—have some ambition. Extra training, spars, whatever, but if you’re done at five each day, you’re not going far. Assuming you’ve made it to Tenet, that probably won’t be an issue.”

“Finally,” Harper said, “eleven p.m. Lights out. That means curfew. Yes, you have a curfew. But, it’s only for being out in Aradon. Inside Tenet’s walls. And like I’ve been saying—don’t fuck around when it comes to this. If you break curfew and make it back without incident, it won’t be the worst thing in the world, even if you’ll be getting community work for it. But, break curfew, and do so while making an idiot of yourself...” Harper grimaced. “Just don’t. I’ll leave it at that.”

Harper breathed in. “And finally ... one of the real reasons I’m giving this briefing, rather than the faculty—the fact I can be candid. Everyone ready?”

Everyone looked around, perplexed. Natalie didn’t know where Harper was leading with this, either.

Harper put her hands on her hips and frowned at the collection of students.

“Don’t get someone pregnant,” she said sternly, “and don’t get pregnant. Use condoms.”

A stir went through the crowd, obviously not expecting the turn in subject. Natalie just smirked, amused—then paused, because, uh, that was actually a more applicable warning to her than most. She’d already mused over how she would need to be careful in that regard, but damn, with the thing between her legs, she had to worry from both ends, didn’t she? Both getting someone pregnant, and becoming.