Arc One: Awakening

Chapter 3: The Wonder of Innovation

"All of this was made by hard-working hands, you know. From the spires to the bridges, to the arch windows. The carriages and the clicker horses. Every light. Every tick of technology we rely on. Everything, Altair, was formed in the mind and brought to life by inventors and innovators."

Josephus swept a hand across the pavements of Northern Mora, concealed by the mist and rain rolling over the hilltop city. A few mellowed bulbs from the manufacturing houses fought through the fog to guide the citizens and reflected along the soaked cobbles like spilled oil. Thumping jingles of passing clicker horses kept the rambling inhabitants from getting too close to the roads as their wheels jarred down the street and sloshed rainwater into the gutter.

Wandering by his side, his son craned his neck to gape up at the soaring spires and the overpasses connecting them. Stone effigies guarded the base of each archway, judging them from atop their podiums. Beads of rain dripped down their dark diamond sceptres and arrested the light from the street lamps, calling upon every citizen to witness the glory of their accomplishments, even in a deluge. We built these roads you walk on, they seemed to say to him. We made the city you call home.

"Cardin's Tower!" Altair enthused, pointing up at the highest spot in Mora poking through the low clouds. The glass domes circling the pillar of their society peered over the pointed roofs as though they wanted to watch the city bustle below them. "And the Citadel Academy!"

"You'll be able to see it even better when we get to the Innovator's Guild," Josephus said, grinning at his son's wide-eyed expression of wonder. "The gardens have flowers from all over Solgarde, and sometimes, they can be seen from the guild's upper floors."

"Can we go into the Citadel to have a look at them?"

"Unfortunately not. It is an esteemed institute, only for the brightest minds."

Altair's brow creased, and he tilted his head up at his father. "But you are clever and you didn't get a place."

Protecting the slim bag tucked under his arm, Josephus glanced around at the saturated architecture and the scurrying feet seeking to escape the rain.

"I don't think there is anybody wiser than you, so it can't only be for the brightest minds," Altair continued. "Maybe you were too smart for them."

Josephus exhaled a small chortle and ruffled Altair's mop of unruly brunette curls. "Is that so?"

"Or they couldn't see how clever you are."

"Or there is a lot of potential in this city and only a few places available at the academy," Josephus offered. "It's not always about how clever someone is, it's about their willingness to study. Everybody starts out not being very good at things, but the more they learn, the more they grow. If somebody is likely to become great, the Citadel will identify that and nurture it."

"But didn't you have potential when you were younger?" Altair asked.

"At seventeen, I was arrogant," Josephus replied. "I thought I knew everything about inventing, and I showed off. When I got my rejection letter, they commended me on my intelligence, but told me I was not a good fit because I could not show a willingness to learn. So I suppose I did not have the potential then, no."

Carriages sped by and drenched the pavement in puddle water. The drains dragged the brunt of it back before it could reach the doorways of the businesses, but for the people walking in it, many found their socks soaked and shoes all but ruined.

"Do you think I'll get into the Academy?" Altair questioned in a voice so full of doubt that a heart-rending pang shot through Josephus's core.

"I know it," his father said. "You have always wanted to learn, and I'm certain that when you apply, they will be so blown away by how eager you are, you'll get a place there and then."