Entoma stepped out of the Gate and took a long look around. 'Hoburns… city of Queen Calca, a lot of history here… none of which I care much about. But, as new world cities go, I guess it's alright.' The city was clean of course, it was a matter of city pride. At her feet, Entoma saw a looming shadow, she looked over her shoulder and beheld the Black Temple. The first of its kind in not just the Empire, but the entire New World. Built by Neia Baraja before she rose to the heights of power, it was no longer the largest of temples… but it would forever be the first. As such, to many it was sacred ground.
Beyond it, near Gascon's Fountain where parents came to sprinkle their newly born children's heads with water in the hopes that they would inherit the courage of their first martyr, was the school.
Entoma walked around the great temple and through the busy streets, to many, the city itself had become a sacred place, as it was Neia Baraja who took charge of the reconstruction and saw it through. The brutal purging of corruption left red marks here and there about the city as stern reminders that 'The corrupt will not long endure'.
Around her walked elves, orcs, goblins, giants, and overhead a dragon passed by carrying one of Governor Enri's wartime innovations turned transport systems for the mail. The great beating of its wings caused her flowing maid outfit to flutter even from that distance. As cities went, it was now the second most cosmopolitan in the Sorcerous Empire, and it showed. Demihuman settlers from the Abelion Hills, former elven slaves who chose to settle in the north rather than return to their homeland, or some from the Theocracy who decided this was preferable to a place of bad memories.
Bartering for all manner of goods took place with such noise that even a block away, Entoma could hear it. That faded more as she came closer to the school, built in a large horseshoe shape with a field of green in the center and four stories tall just for classes, it was now on par with the Imperial Magic Academy. It did not only teach just magic, it also prepared the priests of the faith. The building was made of rough cut granite at the base and had five sets of stairs carved of the same gray material. Above that it was simple red brick, with the entire area surrounded by an iron fence and a single gate to lock it down from common entry at need. The stairs, two on the wings and one in the center, led to first floor administration buildings, according to the sign Entoma saw from where she stood at the fence opening. 'If I need to meet an instructor… possibly there?' Entoma gave it a shrug, abandoned the sign at the gate and walked over the grassy field making her way toward the nearest set of stairs.
The students were dressed mostly in white one piece uniforms that hung down like flowing robes just above their ankles, leaving dark traveling shoes exposed. They carried bags on their back and wore brown pouches at their sides, some bore weapons, others wore steadily darker shades of the same clothing… some even wore full fledged light armor in deep black. Where they walked, white robes stepped aside and saluted with hand over fist, moving on when it was returned.
Entoma ignored all that, ascended the stairs, and pulled open the wide heavy wooden doors. These were more ornate than the simple stone and brick. They were dark, heavy wood with a mirror polish that held engravings of the faces of past martyrs such as Gascon, Moira, and more. They were set in heroic poses, making Entoma wonder, 'Did they really look like that?'
She set aside the question and entered the building, the floor was of lightly colored soapstone and her feet echoed over it as she walked to a reception desk behind which a goblin sat. "What can I do fer'ye." He asked with a jagged, toothy grin when he looked up at her from where he sat.
He was clad in green and brown, and a glance behind him into his office revealed the others were more variably dressed, definitely more 'individualized' than the student body.
"I'm looking for the Explorer class magic instructor, she's here on a temporary visit, her name is Keeno." Entoma replied.
The little green goblin flicked the tip of his nose with one finger, as it bobbed up and down a bit, he laughed, "Miss, you could have just said 'Explorer Class' and that'd be enough. They've got only one class room on the whole campus, and the teachers for that just rotate. In fact, the one you want…" He stopped and reached down beside him, then opened a small wooden drawer. Inside, Entoma could see a number of papers sitting up within folders. He licked his finger tip and shuffled faster, then yanked one up with a loud 'Aha!' and the shuffling noise ended.
He looked down at it, "Yep, room three two three. Up the stairs around the corner and follow the hall till you find it near the center."
Entoma gave a courteous nod, and walked away. She kept her distance from the goblin, and therefore she was quickly out of sight, hearing him say, "They get younger every year."
It was enough for Entoma to snicker in spite of herself as she disappeared up the winding spiral of stairs to the third floor.
The long hall was mostly empty, but the many classes she caught glimpses of as she passed were filled to capacity with students. "Now… put more force into your voice, project! Shoulders back!"
She heard, and passed by.
"When you see the weak, it is easy to feel smug, but should we, Mickha, what do you think?" Entoma heard from another, and passed by.
"When your flock calls for leadership, you must be ready. Remember that the death of Justicar was possible only because somebody was ready to take the right lives, and drew others to them to follow orders." Entoma heard from another class, and walked on.
So it went, with her overhearing rhetoric, philosophy, speech, military sciences, and more until at last she found the room she wanted.
Unlike the other rooms with double doors, this had only one, and unlike the others, it was closed.
Entoma reached for the handle, then stopped. "Crystal dagger!" A small feminine voice shouted, it wasn't 'exactly' the same, but it was close.
'It can't be.' Entoma thought and listened, her touch lingering on the brass handle.
There was a crash within and the sound of something falling, "Magic is one of the most vital abilities of an Explorer Class Priest. If you want to die gloriously, join one of the Penitents. If you want to live for a higher cause, practice your magic, increase your mana, and learn how to use it to best effect."
Entoma heard enough, she turned the handle and opened the door, inside were twelve students all in light black armor, bearing the standard trio of weapons one would expect of the Black Priests. A bow, a sword, and a heavy gloved empty hand.
The instructor turned toward the door as soon as it began to open, and even behind the masks they wore, in fact because of the masks they wore, they knew one another instantly.
Keeno stood near the back holding up her fallen wooden target, her students sat on either side of her, but the target fell from her fingers when she saw the maid demon make her way within. "You." They whispered in hushed tones at the same moment.
"Class dismissed early for the day, practice today's lessons and tomorrow we meet out on the training grounds." Keeno said and waved them toward the door. The students rose with barely any noise and Entoma stepped within to allow the various black clad students to depart.
When the last of them exited, Entoma reached out and shut the door just a little harder than she needed to, the clap of wooden door on wooden frame was the only noise in the room for a moment. "So, your name is Keeno. I never knew that." Entoma said, her spindly arms crossed, "If I'd known, I probably wouldn't have come, even if my friend suggested you."
"Well… it wasn't an invitation so…" Keeno waved toward the door. "You can leave if you want."
"I'm already here." Entoma pointed out, unmoving.
"So you are." Keeno answered and crossed her arms in like fashion, similarly unmoving. Then she added, "But I don't know why. Did you want a rematch? It's been… how many years?"
"Long enough, not that I've forgotten, but we are on the same side now." Entoma pointed out.
"We are. But if you're expecting an apology from me-" Keeno began, but Entoma shook her head.
"No, why would you apologize, you just attacked me, nearly killed me, and called me an ugly thing nobody would want to serve them, all for the crime of defending myself against attack after I tried to avoid fighting. Why would that merit an apology?" Entoma said with a viciously scathing voice.
"You were fighting my sisters, all I saw was a monster." Evileye answered.
"That's why you wore a mask, because if you took it off, the very sisters you love, would have turned on you and taken your life. Why is that?" Entoma responded in kind.
"Because…" Keeno began to relax her defensive posture, "because before His Majesty's reforms and the opening of their eyes, I would have been a monster too." She didn't meet Entoma's eyes, but the very way she said it was sincere enough that Entoma felt her point was made.
"So… if it isn't for a rematch, why are you here, it wasn't to become a priestess, I'm sure." Keeno asked, and when that was asked, Entoma herself began to relax the same way, letting her shell coated arms fall at her sides.
"For that, I want to speak privately. Do you have an office?" Entoma asked.
"Of course, follow me." Keeno said and walked down the wide steps, past the maid demon, and toward the door.
Entoma followed at Keeno's back, her mask had no eyebrows to raise, but she could find no hint of caution or fear when she followed the woman down the hall, and in her mind she had to admit… 'That's a very good start.'