Chapter 5 – Graduation Day
Training progressed quickly for Donnia. She was able to have fun doing it, but knew that it was dire circumstances that allowed her to be there. Only about 50 people answered the summons. So far, all had proven worthy.
However, no one could pass Donnia in attack procedures. Having practiced what her father had taught her for over 12 years gave her a slight advantage. Some of the students did not always like how Commander Herban treated them, but he wanted them to be prepared for any possibility.
Her teachers always commended her for her abilities. She may not have been the best when she came in, but she was quick to learn and her teachers knew she was meant for greatness.
As the day of her graduation neared, rumors began spreading that there was cure for the Wailing Death. During their training none of the students knew what was going on outside of their little world. Donnia didn't really know what the truth was. If there was a cure she hoped that it was being put to good use.
The morning of her graduation she rose early and dressed in her armor. It was nothing grand, for she could not afford much, but it would protect her. She grabbed her greatsword and the rest of her few supplies and left her room. Just as she left a familiar face was there to greet her.
"Pavel! What are you doing here?" Donnia recognized him as one of her frequent customers at Grot'yah's shop.
"Receiving training just like everyone else. I wondered who all of the teachers were talking about when they referred to their greatest student, but now I know it was you all along." Pavel had indeed heard from the teachers that she was the fastest learner and most diligent student in the entire Academy.
Donnia blushed, "I don't think I'm really all that grand. There are so many other students here who had so much more experience than I did in so many other fields, I don't know how I could be the best."
"That's why you're the best. They all thought they were good, and never practiced. You could always be found in the training halls practicing while everyone else wasted time. From what I hear you're going to get a special recommendation from Lady Aribeth."
"Are you being serious? Lady Aribeth herself will give me a special recommendation?" Donnia could hardly believe what Pavel had just told her. Lady Aribeth de Tylmarande, a paladin of Tyr, was in charge of the Academy. She was very powerful and very famous. She sat at the right hand of Lord Nasher Alogandar. To receive such high praises from her was beyond anything Donnia had ever imagined for herself.
Pavel grinned back at her, "You deserve nothing less. The ceremony starts in 30 minutes, I suggest you hurry."
Donnia hugged him and rushed from the dormitory. She passed several students on her way, all talking about the rumor of a cure. She went into the training halls where she ran into Commander Herban.
"Donnia, you must hurry. You don't want to be late for the ceremony," Herban called to her. "Lady Aribeth should not be kept waiting."
That comment stopped her in her tracks. Yes, she did believe Pavel and what he said, but only to a point. It meant so much more to hear it from one of her teachers. "So it is true then. Lady Aribeth will be there to give me that special blessing and recommendation?"
Herban let loose with rare laughter. "Of course it's true. My best pupil should not be overlooked. But don't just stand there. Get on in there for the ceremony."
At a loss for words, Donnia continued down the hallway to the great hall where the graduation ceremony would be taking place.
A guard stood outside the door, barring passage from anyone who did not belong there. However, when he saw Donnia approaching he greeted her and congratulated her on her accomplishments while at the Academy. Donnia smiled in return and walked through the door the guard held open for her.
There were about five other students Donnia recognized in the hall. Lady Aribeth stood at the far end of the hall. Slowly, Donnia approached her, not wanting to appear too eager.
"Lady Aribeth, I amâ€," Donnia started.
"Donnia Thensbane needs to introduction in the walls of the Academy. I have heard great things about you from all of your teachers. They tell me that you are their best student."
"Lady Aribeth, I don't feel that is fair to the other students," Donnia protested.
Aribeth smiled, "The other students feel it is completely fair. They agree with your teachers. Many of them told me how diligently you practice, even after getting it right once, you go until you don't get it wrong again. However, plans have changed. After the ceremony I must speak with youâ€Wait. Did you feel that?"
Donnia did feel it, and braced for the oncoming attack.
In a flash of light, four mages teleported into the main hall and began to attack the students and Aribeth. In the amount of time it took Donnia to unsheathe her sword, two students had already been killed by the mages' powerful magic. She ran to Aribeth's side where she was fighting one of the mages. Distracted by Aribeth, the mage did not account for Donnia's attack. He fell quickly, but two others still remained.
Magic sparks rained down around them during the battle. The fight was hard, for the mages had the advantage. True, the Academy was a training ground for city guards, but they were not prepared for an attack there.
As the last mage fell, Aribeth ran to Donnia. "I fear that was no random attack. I have a feeling that it was magically linked to me here. You must get to the stables."
Donnia was confused, "What's in the stables?"
"The cure for the Wailing Death. There are four Waterdavian Creatures that are being held there. You must hurry and make sure they are kept safe. Here, take this key, it will allow you passage to the stables. Please hurry! I will stay here and tend to this."
Donnia ran from the hall but was quickly stopped. The guard who had just let her in lay dead before her. A mage stood in front of her, blocking her path. "What?!? I was expecting Aribeth, not some whelp. No matter, I will dispatch of you like anyone else."
Donnia went to attack, but before she could he vanished and two goblins took his place. Goblins tend to be stupid and easy to kill, so Donnia was not concerned about them. What did concern her, though, was if there were enough of those goblins, they could pose a serious problem, especially if they had been trained.
Donnia ran through the halls, braced for another attack, where she once strolled safely. In an instant her world had changed. One thing she noticed as she rushed through the halls was the lack of anyone else. The only ones she ever saw were goblins, no students, no teachers, no one.
She entered the library and nearly wept for joy at the sight she beheld. "Pavel! Thank the gods! Are you okay?"
"Donnia! What happened? Where are the other students?" Pavel seemed as confused as she.
"You are the first person I have seen alive since I left the graduation ceremony in the great hall. Aribeth stayed there to tend the wounded, but it looked grim."
"Where are you headed?" Pavel asked.
"Aribeth sent me to the stables." Donnia was unsure if she should reveal why.
"Could I go with you?"
"Absolutely. I don't want to face this alone anymore than you do," Donnia replied. They quickly headed for the stables.
As they neared the last door before the entrance to the stables, another magical portal opened. This time, not just a mage came through. Several goblins, skeletons, and the mage himself all appeared. With a silent prayer, Donnia launched into battle with Pavel at her side.
The goblins were easily destroyed, the skeletons were tougher, but the mage was difficult. Donnia never faltered. She was wounded by one of his spells, but with Pavel fighting with her, she could stop him from casting while Pavel attacked.
When at last he fell dead, Donnia quickly drank a healing potion and ran into the stables.
What met her was beyond what she was prepared for. She made it just in time to see four strange creatures either run out the door of the stables or vanish in a portal. There were two other men fighting the goblins in the stable. One man was elvish with dark brown hair and an obvious cleric. The other was human with light grey hair. Between the four of them, the battle was over quickly with few injuries on their part.
"What happened? What were those creatures?" Donnia asked the elvish man.
"Those were the Waterdavian Creatures. And with their disappearance, the Wailing Death may kill us all."
The older man burst in, "Who are you and what are you doing here?"
"My name is Donnia Thensbane and Lady Aribeth sent me here to keep to creatures from escaping, but I see I was too late. I am sincerely sorry for not getting here sooner, but the attack on the Academy was worse than I thought."
The elvish man stepped between Donnia and the other man. "You must forgive Desther. He has been on edge since those creatures were first brought into Neverwinter. My name is Fenthick Moss, a cleric for Tyr. If Aribeth sent you then I welcome your help in this matter. Would you be willing to help us beyond today?"
Donnia never paused, "What do you need me to do?"
Fenthick smiled, "Meet me at the Hall of Justice in the city center within one week's time. You will receive your assignment then." With that, he and Desther left the stable.
"Donnia, do you have a moment?" Pavel asked.
"Yes, Pavel? What is it?"
"After all of this I realize now that this is not what I want. I want to go back home and live the simple life again."
"I wish you the best of luck, Pavel. Thank you for your help. I would not have made it without you."
"Thank you, Donnia. I know that whatever they ask of you, you will succeed." Pavel left the same way Fenthick and Desther did.
Donnia took a deep breath and left the Academy. Her first adventure was beckoning.