Xiacran Tower(On Hold)

The Tower

When they dock the boat on college grounds, he can't imagine it would be far to the Tower due to its size already, but the walk is long and the Tower again grows larger. 'It is truly magnificent.' Inigo thinks, 'The stonework seems to have symbols etched into each stone, I wonder there is some kind of pattern.' As he focuses on the symbols he can almost see different colours glowing.

"So, What do you think?" Cassius asks the wide eyed boy, snapping him out of the daze.

"It's incredible, am I going to live in here?"

"Of course, the dormitories are upstairs. You will need to be registered to be assigned a room, but you are free to use a guest room till then. After you..."

Cassius says as they approach two solid large wooden doors. The doors open as if of their own accord with each step Inigo takes, the inside of the college is finally revealed.

The entrance was grand, high ceiling and the entire width of the tower. In the centre there is a fountain with a glowing stone ball, giving off blue light, balancing by rotating on top of the gushing spout of water.

The stone fountain has been sculpted into two large feliar spiralling together upwards with jaws open to the heavens, where the water is gushing from. So powerful it keeps the glowing stone sphere afloat.

Although the sun is setting, it is as bright as day inside due to four silver, flower shaped chandeliers, hanging down from the ceiling giving off a bright, almost white light.

"Welcome to Xiacran Tower." Cassius walks ahead of Inigo and points to the stone benches surrounding the fountain. "Please, put down your bag, take off your coat. I need to speak with Arch-Mage Sallus, I will be back down shortly."

Cassius walks off towards the grand staircase on the opposite side of the room. The staircase splits mid-level into two curved staircases running along the south wall to the next floor

Putting down his bag, and removing his coat as instructed, Inigo takes a closer look at the fancy stairs, and he notices the same symbol etched on either side of each step. Observing the room felt strange but somehow familiar. If the rest of the college is like the entrance, then it would be more than he had ever imagined.

When Cassius returned, Inigo had gotten a little bored and was walking in circles around the fountain.

"I apologise for the wait. The Arch-Mage would be happy to have you here at the college a bit earlier than usual and has granted me permission to give you guidance these next few days. There are a few matters that I still need to attend to before I can give you my full attention so we will start bright and early tomorrow morning. As for now, I will give you a quick tour on the way to your room and show you what the college has to offer."

"Thank you so much, I have been waiting for this since my parents told me about this place," Inigo says throwing his bag over his shoulder and coat over his arm.

"I wish I had come sooner..." Cassius' expression changes from befuddled to composed and takes a few steps towards the staircase. "Please, if you would follow me. This is the ground floor, it's just an entrance but a place to meet if the class is to be held outside."

Cassius then starts to climb the stairs, Inigo follows. As the stairs split, Cassius guides Inigo to the left-hand staircase.

They approach the next floor. "The second floor is the theatre, displays and concerts are held here. Also, once a week, before classes begin, the whole college will be assembled and be addressed with any news or upcoming events."

Directly ahead of Inigo are steps to the third level curving along the wall of the tower. To his left, wooden benches cascading in height towards the south end. Peering to the north end, a stage can be seen, the red curtain open, empty, and in shadow. Taking the stairway straight ahead Inigo gets a better view of the grand stage. Gold inlay in the patterns carved into the stage exterior.

The next floor was the communal eating area, numerous tables with two benches on either side. The kitchen was built in with long-serving windows, pots and pans can be seen hanging on the back wall of the kitchen as Cassius guides Inigo to the next level.

'Strange,' Inigo thinks. 'I'm not getting tired, my legs should be starting to burn by now with all those stairs.'

Cassius leads Inigo past the classrooms of the next few floors and yet Inigo still isn't feeling fatigued.

"This is the Botany floor, past those doors, it is hard to remind yourself that you are indoors..."

"Why aren't my legs hurting by now? Is it anything to do with those green symbols" Inigo cuts off the mage, pausing the tour.

"You can see the green glow?" Cassius asks looking impressed.

"Why? Can't everyone?" Inigo asks.

"No, most need to train that skill, it took me years of concentration to finally view the glows of glyphs. Even now I would need to focus slightly to view them. The glyphs on the stairs here are a kind of rejuvenation glyphs, that's why you aren't getting tired whilst climbing the stairs, any energy used within the glyphs is replaced. You could run all the way to the top and never tire."

"That's incredible," Inigo's mind races. "How do they work exactly?"

"It's complicated magic, there is a class you can take in the third year to teach you the skill," Cassius replies. "You would also need to be adept in enchanting to be considered for the class."

Whilst Cassius continues his tour on the way up to the guest rooms, Inigo tries to take in all the information given. They pass all the floors for classes, past the library till finally, they were at the guest rooms where Cassius takes his leave to let Inigo settle in for the night.

Exciting!

If you liked this part please consider giving a vote :)

JM