A few weeks of teaching the students from the dark lands, and Bercouli sent word to Charles he was having a few kids from the nobility sent over to test Kirim's system. Kirim was eager to prove herself, but she was a fair bit nervous about having nobility in her school already. It would be good to get early experience with them in the school to understand how to handle nobility in the future, but she already knew it would be difficult to drive into the heads of some nobles that they were no longer being fed with a silver spoon, and no longer spoiled for the sake of it. They would have to earn every bit of progress they would make, and they would be judged on their progress and ability just like any other student. Bercouli mentioned he had said it, but the students were apparently more eager to make use of the knowledge of a master at magic than to listen to his words.
"Are you certain you are ready to teach nobility? I understand it was easy for you to incorporate your lessons for the students from the dark lands, but the nobility..."
Charles was worried about Kirim's ability. She had done nothing but surpass his expectations around every issue he thought would be a wall for her. But he needed to keep in mind that walls were nothing to her. He was confident in her abilities, but he was still unsure the nobility would be good students for her school unless they were in a certain stage of life.
"Whatever happens, happens. I will teach them, even if I have to teach them to live like a peasant. If they scream and yell for me to spoil them, to let them off for doing something I don't allow here, then I will keep a record and sent back word of every rule they break. My rules aren't taboos punishable by knights. They are punishable by me. In this school, and the surrounding area within Rulid's borders, my rules are greater priority over the taboo index. Meaning that the class system which allows nobility to abuse the common folk has no place here. I sincerely hope Administrator fixes that soon. She has been back in the light lands for at least a couple of weeks now..."
She had lost track of time in some aspects. She was enjoying her time being a teacher until that point. Filling up the school with at least base decoration, teaching her students everything from the basics in magic to intermediate types of magic use, and everything from basics in fighting with every weapon type she knew, to the very art of how pugilism could enhance their ability with weapons. How to hunt. How to survive. It was all in small doses, but she was confident in their growth already. It would take time for it all to set in for them, time and consistency. Growth is an effort after all, not something achieved immediately upon learning.
Charles gave Kirim a warm smile. Any sense that he had once been a cold integrity knight gone from the fact he was serving as Kirim's assistant with the school. He was her connection to the integrity knights, the nobility, and the rest of the light lands. She was stuck in Rulid until she would get the school set up enough she didn't need to be perpetually present. She still wanted to explore the light lands after all, as a desire.
"Your other students have certainly been progressing quickly. I'm always so impressed at their quick growth. I do wonder if the nobles who will be here soon will break the trend of quickly growing students..."
Kirim shrugged.
"Speculation on it doesn't really matter when we don't have much to go off of on their identities right? We'll deal with them when they get here. They'll be here this afternoon right?"
Charles nodded. He was exhausted. After becoming relaxed, he didn't want to suddenly have to act like the typical integrity knight just because some nobility were showing up. He would be putting on his armour again for the first in two weeks, since he received his school uniform from Kirim.
As far as Charles' ability was concerned, he had been tested by Bercouli on how much he had progressed as an integrity knight in the short time he was learning from Kirim a few short days prior. Charles couldn't defeat Bercouli in a duel, but neither held back and Charles held his own fairly well. It was to be expected he wouldn't match Bercouli yet, but he caught Bercouli off guard several times because of the combination of magic, sacred arts, and a few weapon types being expertly woven together for differently advantageous set ups. Bercouli praised Charles in his massive growth, but said to keep up the training. Only a few days later and he was sending in nobility...
Kirim sighed and began writing down more letters to rural communities of the light lands and dark lands. She was introducing herself to the communities as the principal of the new Light and Dark Academy, and letting community leaders know in the letter that she was preparing to receive more students, but only two per settlement for the time being would be accepted. She didn't want to push her luck with bringing in too many students at once. She was doing well with her current students. Phenomenally, in fact. But she wanted to get things really moving. Some teachers started on their growth. Some reputation out there to prove that the lands could work together toward a common goal – self improvement and greater awareness of the world around them.
The door to her office rattled a little with a gentle knock. She knew from the type of knock that it was Selka.
"Come in."
Selka opened the door, closed it behind her and walked up to the desk Kirim was sitting at. She took an envelope from under her left arm and placed it on the desk.
"This letter came for you from the Yelta region. And this one..."
She grabbed another letter out of her waist pouch and placed it on the desk.
"This one came for you from the Thomas family head in Centoria."
Kirim sighed and put down her quill, opening the second letter placed down first.
Greetings, Principal Kirim.
We at the Thomas family household have heard much news of your Light and Dark Academy. The progress you have achieved in such a short time has intrigued us. We would like for you to consider shedding the foolish idea of teaching the ignorant masses, and partner with us for a life of wealth and prosperity. We would readily provide you with anything within our power to give in exchange for closing down your school and abandoning your students. If you do not comply with shutting down your school, I will have my private army attack Rulid when word comes back to me of your response.
With great respect and expectation, Gerard Thomas.
Kirim crumpled up the paper and tossed it up in front of her, reducing it to ashes in the moment it wouldn't set anything else on fire. She went on to the other letter.
Greetings, Principal Kirim.
We in the domain of Yelta would like to support your Light and Dark Academy's growth. Word from Centoria has guaranteed that it would be foolish not to support your work with the academy. We will have two students arriving in Rulid with this letter. I eagerly await news of our people becoming wonderfully successful with the knowledge and experience they obtain at your academy.
With the greatest respect and honor, Rin Yelta.
Kirim blinked her eyes in surprise. The letters were written in very similar handwriting, but the civility of one could not be compared to the other in tone. Both were obviously nobility for their experience in writing, however one had the interest of their domain and the growth of their people, while the other had the intent of starving people a free service everyone very much deserved to eventually have available. She placed down the letter from Yelta and smiled.
"Quite the different in reaction to these letters..."
Selka had a concerned expression.
"The letter I burned was from a noble asking me to close down the school and work with him. The second letter was from a supportive domain leader who sent two students with the letter. Have you let them into the school?"
Selka shook her head.
"I wasn't sure if they were students or not. I'll go retrieve them immediately. Oh, and before I forget to mention, the burned letter arrived with a carriage. What should I do about them?"
Kirim was ready to jump down on top of the carriage as soon as she heard. She calmed herself with a few breaths and stood up.
"I'll go with you and meet them while you bring the students in. I suspect the rude noble is here to hear directly from me but brought a letter just in case I had some wall to communication."
She nodded and the two of them left, Charles accompanying them. Charles was worried about the encounter to come with whoever was representing the rude noble. It would be even worse if it were the noble in question with a backing of guards.
When they reached the lobby, they could see those parked outside, waiting. There were two teenagers at one end of the entrance in clothes which were at least not rags, but not impressive at the least, and the other end of the entrance was a carriage drawn by some kind of giant lizard, with a knight attending to it with greens and another three knights were standing by the door of the carriage. Charles sighed and Kirim shrugged. No matter how many fighters the noble brought, they were in her territory. The noble wouldn't get away with abusing their power at her home.
"Them right? I'll take care of it. You can accompany me for this if you like, Charles. I believe you're ready to start welcoming students, Selka. So you can bring in the students from the other end."
Selka nodded and smiled before heading to the windowed doors near the students. Kirim went at the same pace to meet with the other "guests". On the other side of the door, the knight tending to the lizard adjusted to converse with her first.
"Greetings. Would you be the principal we called for?"
She nodded.
"Yes, my name is Kirim and I am this academy's principal."
He bowed.
"It is a pleasure to meet your esteemed self. My master wishes to meet with you."
"Ask him if it's fine I bring an integrity knight as a witness to our conversation."
The knight bowed again, and swiftly went to the door of the carriage, knocked twice and spoke through the door when it opened. A moment later of them exchanging words and a shout came from the carriage.
"Just bring them here dammit!"
Kirim sighed and began walking forward, meeting the knight part way.
"I assume you heard at least the end there?"
Kirim nodded.
"The whole thing but it doesn't really matter. I'm ready to meet him."
He shivered a little, but opened the door of the carriage the rest of the way and bowed signalling them to enter. Charles followed, assuming since Kirim didn't tell him otherwise that he was welcome to go into the carriage with her. The door of the carriage closed behind them and Kirim took in the atmosphere of the carriage. It felt cramped with her, Charles and the plump noble across from them. Aside that, it was disgusting with the overlapping of scents and odors which became utterly repulsive. Trying to mask odor with pleasant scent was only so effective. She understood how bad it was, and where it was from. The noble was filthy beyond belief. Completely unclean.
"Greetings, Principal Kirim. I hope you enjoyed my letter."
She sighed.
"Thank you for visiting me personally. I have some things to say about your letter, but please express yourself."
She invited him to explain himself in as polite a way as she knew.
"I believe I explained myself well in my letter, but if you want to hear it again from my mouth, I suppose I could offer that time to you. I hope in exchange you will give me my demands."
She nodded, her expression frozen in a polite smile. She wasn't giving him anything he wanted, but she would hear the drivel from his mouth before telling him his lack of authority over her.
"I want you to partner with me, teach only those I deem worthy and collect money using your academy. You're sitting on an enterprise that will change the world. Yet you're speaking of leaving money out of it. Giving to everyone regardless of their birth. This is unjust, absurd, and completely unfair to us light landers who fought for generations to be where we are. If you do not comply with my demands, I will have my army descend on this village and destroy everything in sight, including your flimsy giant building imitating our great cathedral."
Kirim sighed and enchanted her breath with a cleansing agent to wash the noble, extinguish the stench in the carriage, and then dry it off all in one go.
"I will not comply with your demands and no army will arrive here. I assume you haven't heard the most important details from Sir Bercouli, blinded by your unfathomable greed and sense of entitlement. This land belongs to me. You are not within the bounds of the taboo index's protections right now. You are in enemy territory should you persist with this abhorrent attitude. I suggest you leave with your tail between your legs before I find more reason to send you back crippled. Nobody gets special treatment here, and according to the taboo index and the rules of this land, a criminal who threatens one above their station will suffer consequences delegated by their superior. I have heard your drivel, cleaned the stench of your foul carriage and would now bid you farewell if you persist in making demands of me because of your worthless nobility."
His face contorted in rage, further bent as she told him how disgusting he was, how powerless and yet antagonizing his words were. What he was bringing on himself by ignoring the most important detail Bercouli had stated to the nobility.
"Get the hells out of my carriage!"
Kirim blinked her eyes closed and sighed one more time.
"Has no parent ever told you that if you don't have anything nice to say...you should say nothing at all? If not, I believe this lesson starts with your upbringing. You were failed from the beginning by being raised not as a person, but as a businessperson. You want me to turn something every person should have the right to, into a way to make money. Money is unimportant to me. I would rather people feel indebted to me and only provide what I need when I meet them, which I require little if anything at all. This place isn't meant to be another person's wallet either. If you aren't a prospective student, you are not welcome. I would gladly educate you on your wrongful upbringing should you desire to correct your disgusting features."
She nudged Charles, and he shuffled out of the carriage.
"Wh-what was the purpose of bringing the integrity knight with you?!"
She stepped out of the carriage and faced him once more.
"He's a student here just like the rest of my students. And he is also here to enforce the taboo index should I forget something since I'm not aware of all the details within the index. If he didn't speak against me within the carriage, then he finds no fault in my words. He didn't speak against you because I gave him no room to tell you off for your actions against the rules here and within the index you were breaking. You're getting a pass here if you leave now or become a student. However, if you become a student and abuse my other students or try too hard to separate them from me, I will let him carry out the punishment on your sorry self."
Gerard stuttered and spluttered without saying anything for a minute before he got something understandable out. His words were revolting.
"You're just a useless weak dark lander! Why in the hells would an integrity knight side with you over a noble?!"
Kirim closed her eyes, grabbing him by the collar of his wrinkly over sized shirt and pulling him out onto the front steps in front of the academy. His guards moved to protect him, but Charles stepped in front of them, barring them from interrupting with her judgement.
"A display is in order. You believe an integrity knight is the epitome of strength in this region. You are wrong. The only person possibly stronger than me in this region is Administrator. She gave me free reign to do as I please here. I only desire to teach, to learn, and to explore the region. Speaking against me is speaking against the very person you listen to as the words of the gods. But it seems words aren't enough to prove to you my ability. I created this academy, but since you didn't see me do it, that would be irrelevant. So I will display an example of what I can do."
She surrounded him immediately in a prison with only enough space for him to see out of. He wouldn't be able to move. She launched him up to the very pinnacle of the watch tower, spun him around, returned him to the ground, laid his prison down face up and conjured a fireball over her hand which was so hot to those without resistance it would make them combust. He screamed continuously. She then drenched him in the prison and the prison itself to save him from the heat, and then stopped using magic to throw him up into the air with her own hands.
"I GIIIIIIIVE! LET ME GO YOU WORTHLESS PEASANT! RELEASE MEEEEE!"
"I will not release you until you beg properly for forgiveness. The word peasant doesn't belong here. Speaking down to me doesn't belong here. Demands don't belong here. Beg forgiveness. Apologize for your disgusting behavior and assumptions. Apologize for every wrong you have ever committed on someone just because they were a commoner or peasant in your eyes."
She held him upside down, glaring at him in his eyes. She wanted not to come off as a child to him. But as a terrifyingly powerful presence given the blessing of the one who represents the gods of the light lands. He would be a message to the rest of the nobility that the time of nobility has come to an end as far as she was concerned.
He whimpered, trying to find some defiance in himself, but a little more of a shake and he buckled while crying further.
"PLEASE! PLEASE I BEG OF YOU! NONE ARE PEASANTS BEFORE THIS WEAK AND USELESS SWINE! YOU ARE EQUAL TO THE VERY ADMINISTRATOR HERSELF! PLEASE FORGIVE ME! I'M SORRY FOR BEING A DISGUSTING EXCUSE FOR A HUMAN! BUT MOST OF ALL I APOLOGIZE FOR ALL THOSE FUTURES I DESTROYED WITH MY OWN WORDS AND HANDS!"
Kirim was still disgusted with him, but at least for the time being she turned him over so the blood wasn't draining to his head and threatening to make it pop. She also freed his head from the prison.
"Now, you have three options. Leave here and spread the word to your fellow nobility in Centoria that the time of nobility is coming to an end. That they should invest personal time in self betterment here. To swallow their pride in their generations of disgusting enslavement of the masses. Abusing the taboo index won't last much longer after all. Administrator told me of her regret in letting nobility have so much power through the index. She's working on correcting her mistakes within the index which allow for such horrid inequality. Such abuse is not permitted. The only reason I'm allowed to dole out such punishment to you right now is a combination of my rules and the index cooperating. My rule of only the principal being allowed to dole out punishment to troublemakers in this area, and the taboo of only a superior being able to punish."
She paused for a moment, and took a breath, smirking.
"The second option is to become a student yourself and send back a letter to tell your family that you are trying to understand how great this academy will become, how good it currently is. And the third option is to stubbornly stick to your old ways and try to have your escort guards attack me, The third option would be filled with regret, because I have difficulty holding back enough to spare weaklings when it's a snap reaction."
The knights who were already in a disagreeable state because of Charles holding them up seemed ready to leap at her even if it meant being skewered by Charles. The driver dashed around Charles as the others held him up and thrust his sword toward Kirim's face. She didn't even close her eyes as she faced him and the approaching blade. It stopped. It didn't even get close to her. It stopped more than a foot away from her, and the knight fell over, overtaken with surprise that she was able to respond at all to his attack while she held Gerard with her magic. He'd never heard of simultaneously using sacred arts or magic, and she was just using layers of magic.
"If you really thought for a moment that you stood a chance at hitting me, you are decades away from being able to so much as catch up. Either become my student and learn your place, or leave peacefully in ignorance with your vile master. Either way, I'm cleaning up a mess. Sending you to Administrator to have her clean you up, or cleaning you up myself in a way you'd very much...dislike."
The knight who tried striking her emanated a foul stench himself as he realized how terrifying a situation they were in.
"Sir, in the carriage! We must away!"
Gerard stared and muttered at Kirim in his terror. He had never been treated in such a way by anyone. He had never been talked down to. He had never been punished before. It took a while for it all to sink in. He angered the wrong person. He had angered people before, but for the most part he could buy off anger and move on without thinking much about it, but it utterly failed with Kirim. She had no interest in money. She had no interest in his version of power. She was so powerful, and it was obvious she was holding back by a massive degree. Should she not hold back, he wouldn't be surprised if she could wipe the entire area off of the world while leaving a massive crater.
"It seems as if I have shaken him a little too much. I will permit your group to lodge in the dormitory for three days at most. Past that, you will have to make a decision on whether you leave or stay. If you don't leave, I will make you all students."
The knights escorted their lord into the school through the doors when she opened them again. She continued leading them up to the dormitories.
"I will provide you food if you are otherwise unable to procure food. I'll leave a familiar in your care so you can contact me if you need me."
The knight who had attacked her, the head knight of the group sighed.
"I'm deeply sorry for imposing on you, after attacking you."
He said it through grit teeth. He didn't want to take her up on the hospitality, but the priority was taking care of his lord, and taking his lord back on the road after such a harsh shaking up, he could become worse off.
"It's no big deal. Let it be a lesson to your lord that such actions in the future would be beyond foolish. I would gladly teach proper manners to him. He should give up on material wealth however. Such a thing is worthless in my opinion, but that is his choice after graduating should he become a student. The biggest thing he would need to keep in mind from his experiences, is that aside myself, everyone is equal here and abuse of others would be tantamount to expulsion. Expulsion from here means you are not to be trusted anywhere, and you can't earn your way back in. I am rather lenient, so long as discrimination and abuse aren't present. So do inform him when he's more aware that such things are considered taboo."
Fifteen floors up and then left into a tower on a magic disc meant for quick traversing, they stopped at another lobby with several doors.
"Feel free to pick any of these rooms. Here's the familiar I will assign to you so you can contact me and you won't be stuck all the way up here with only the long way back down. Tell the familiar when your master has regained himself."
She summoned a familiar in the shape of a black rabbit with wings. It sat on the shoulder of the knight and chattered with its teeth a little, flapping its wings so to tell Kirim it was ready to work. Kirim nodded and when they vacated the disc she was on, she descended immediately. Back in the ground lobby, she noticed that Selka was still adjusting the pre made uniforms for the new students from Yelta.
"How is your introduction proceeding here?"
Selka nodded lightly, keeping most of her focus on the adjustments.
"Just finishing."
The students couldn't help their curiosity.
"You were meeting with that noble before, weren't you? What happened?"
Kirim sighed.
"That...was a result of a very bad introduction on his part. He demanded for me to shut down the school or demand money from my students. So I explained the rules to him and his nobility got a little too much into his head."
The Yelta students stared in surprise.
"Remind me not to break academy rules, please..."
Kirim giggled and waved a hand in front of her.
"Don't worry about it so much. We have few rules here to follow and the serious ones he broke were discrimination and attempted abuse of power. He holds no power here, even being a noble. Every person here besides myself is equal. Trying to abuse others, especially one more powerful than yourself triggers taboo as well, so he was feeling the effect from that."
The students stiffened up, realizing who they were talking to.
"We apologize for any rudeness..."
Kirim shook her head, a deep sigh escaping her.
"You weren't rude in the slightest and I hadn't introduced myself yet to you, so don't worry about being rude. I'll let people know when they've been rude to me. On that note, I must introduce myself to you. I am principal of the Light and Dark Academy, Kirim. Welcome."
The two bowed deeply and stood back up.
"It's an honor to meet you, principal Kirim."
The two of them spoke in sync. Kirim was a little surprised. They were well mannered, and they understood immediately what they needed to do.
"I'm Nessa, of the Yelta household."
"I'm Yulie, eldest daughter of the huntsman of Yelta."
Kirim nodded in response.
"Very good introductions. I will let Selka continue introducing you to the academy, but first you must accept a lesson. Do you have any knowledge of magic?"
The two shook their heads. Kirim explained what magic was, how it was used, and taught them how to do basic magic. It was interesting to her how quickly even outsiders completely new to the concept picked up on it. They were what she was hoping for with the school.
"Keep practicing, and you may soon be able to do anything you can imagine."
They parted ways, and Kirim checked in on the magic class and the weapons training classes. They were going well, and seeing how well Eugeo, Kirii and Alice were doing as teachers was making her feel accomplished. They were above and beyond her expectations. They were excellent teachers, and they were learning more as they went. She was proud of them.
It was the pride of every teacher to see their students grow, and she was already achieving that.
