The Crimson Jewel
The elaborate paintings and elegant statues rushed by Phineas. The smoldering torches that normally lit the marble halls of the academy cast twisted, sinister shadows along every nook and cranny. He didn't stop to inspect the scene though. He couldn't stop. The most important thing was that he get as far away as possible from his pursuer.
Soft footfalls echoed throughout the hallway. Phineas tried his best to avoid letting the webbing along his toes slap against the floor, which would almost certainly give away his position. Then he saw a chance to hide: a small alcove he knew contained a hidden door behind the tapestry that hung within. He threw the cloth aside and pushed the door open, fell inside, and closed the door behind him as quietly as possible.
He sat, back against the door, and caught his breath with deep inhales that pierced at the stitch in his side. This room was safe for now. He had never told Colin about it. He would leave in a few minutes, after he caught his breath, and when he was sure that he was no longer being chased.
Or he could escape out the window, he thought. It had to be at least one in the morning, and the city's light system was sure to be off for the next few hours, barring a few dim street lights that were essential for the night workers. It would be risky, though. This room was on the fifth floor of the Academy. One wrong move on the way down would spell certain doom for him. There wasn't a better choice, though. He had to escape.
The window creaked open, letting in the humid cavern air. He could see the wet portions of the nearby cave wall glisten in the street lights. That was good. The reflections would give Phineas more light to start his descent down the side of the building. The small outcropping ledge was slick, and his clumsy tail made balance tricky, but he straddled his way over to the portion of the building which connected with one of the city's rough natural walls.
Finding proper hand and footholds was extraordinarily taxing in the low ambient light, but Phineas soon found a good place to start. Climbing down was proving to be one of the most difficult things he had ever done. His fingers and toes scraped along the rocky surface, and soon ached from supporting his body's weight on such small areas. About half way down, he decided to stake a small break and climbed onto the third story ledge of the Academy.
His heart was still pounding, but the fear had left his system somewhat. He was going to make it. The pursuer would hopefully have lost the trail by now and would be searching some remote portion of the building. A cool breeze licked at Phineas as he sat on the ledge, relishing his accomplished escape.
But then a terrifying thought hit Phineas. Morescano was hundreds of feet underground and underwater. A breeze here was a physical impossibility unless there was a wind magi nearby. His heart froze as he felt a cold paw slide onto his own. He whipped his head around to see the gaunt, sunken face of an otter staring back at him, eyes burning a hole into Phineas's soul.
Phineas screamed and lost his balance. He plummeted, spinning around in mid air to see the emaciated figure looking over the ledge. The wind rushed by Phineas's ears. Terror engulfed him until his thirty foot free-fall was ended on a pointed metal fence that surrounded one of the small gardens of flowers that flourished in the subterranean environment. Phineas felt several spikes rip through his body. The figure gazed at Phineas with a malevolent smile as he gasped out muffled cries of pain. Soon, the raspy voice faded into silence, and the figure walked around the ledge of the building, turning a corner and vanishing from sight.
...
With a panicked yelp, Phineas shot up to a sitting position, the nightmare still lingering on the fringes of his mind. His paws shook as he peeled the blankets back, letting the cool night air waft over his body. When he had calmed down enough to think properly, he got up and went over to the sink to pour himself a glass of water.
He couldn't keep going on like this. The nightmares were getting worse, and he wasn't sure how to go about getting rid of them. Phineas tilted the glass against his lips and let the cool liquid run down his throat. A sense of serenity washed over him like a protective coat. He smiled weakly. He knew he could always count on water to help him feel better.
Shuffling back to his bunk, the otter laid back down, looking over the cabin. For the price he'd paid for the ticket aboard, it wasn't much, but it still had all the basic necessities. And it was his home for now, at least until he reached Tilshire. He let himself slowly drift back to sleep, trying to keep his mind on his new life, and away from Morescano.
...
Phineas lay on his bunk several hours later, head propped up on his elbow, and gazed out of the nearby porthole. The expansive view of the rolling sea of clouds, breaking occasionally to reveal a cluster of dim lights that marked a small city or the serene, deserted beauty of the night landscape, stretched infinitely to the point where the ebony night sky met with the white waves of the cloud bank. The otter wasn't used to flying, let alone in one of these new contraptions. Still, the view was something new and exciting to him, especially compared to the usual dank, cavernous landscape of Morescano.
He still found it hard to believe that something made of steel could have the ability to fly, especially to heights that even wind magi had a hard time reaching. So far though, the contraption had worked wonderfully. It had taken off from the dock outside of the city's entrance with surprising haste and was en route to Tilshire. The canid capital city was sure to bring a plethora of opportunities to Phineas, and the prospects excited him.
His farewell had been one mixed with tears, scoffs, and disappointment. He knew how unusual it was for an otter, especially one lucky enough to be born and raised Morescano, to run off and travel the world. Phineas rushed at the chance to leave and bought his ticket for the steam-driven behemoth. He felt the departure was worth it as the shifting sea of clouds began to slowly diminish, showing larger and larger chunks of landscape. The scene made him realize how big the world was. Perhaps it was even big enough for him to find redemption.
The otter turned away from the porthole and stood up, checking the pocketwatch that lay on the nightstand. It was a quarter to eight in the evening. The ball would be starting shortly, and he wanted to be present, despite his lack of companionship. After all, it wasn't often that anyone got to be present on the maiden voyage of a ship, especially on one as bizarre as this.
Phineas opened his trunk and shuffled his clothes around, looking for his formal attire. One by one, he pulled out the pieces: a sapphire vest and matching bowtie, a white shirt, black slacks, and a pair of crisp spats. Putting on the outfit took some work, but the overall effect was worth it. The otter looked quite regal: the vest and bowtie in particular helped emphasize his eyes. After smoothing down the tiny wrinkles in the outfit, he left the room and headed for the main hall of the zeppelin.
The hallways of the zeppelin bustled with crowds of people all scurrying to make the dedication ceremony and following ball. Most of them were rats and mice, although the occasional feline, canid, or mustelid appeared in the mayhem. He did see an otter couple at one point, but they were an older pair, not anybody he knew. The closer he got to the main hall, the more isolated he felt. Still, he'd rather have isolation than embarrassment and shame, and figured that this would only mean that there wouldn't be anyone to bother him during his meditation and study later.
The oak doors of the main hall stood open as Phineas entered. The otter took in the glamorous room: large chandeliers hung from the ceiling, the plush carpet bore extravagant patterns, and small enchantments of fire and water danced overhead in elegant patterns. Silken garnet drapes adorned the upper walls of the hall; the lower portions were glass, giving an astounding view of the night landscape. Even with his privileged upbringing, Phineas had never seen such a grand display.
Soon, the hall was filled with the murmur of conversation as three hundred people waited for the ceremony to begin. Phineas padded slowly around the room, ducking and weaving through the crowd, hoping to hear conversation subjects familiar to him. Most of them, however, revolved around the zeppelin and its inner workings. Figures, he thought. Guess it would make sense that a bunch of engineers and craftsmen would only talk about the ship. He slunk off to a chair near a back corner of the room and waited for the captain to take the podium.
...
The ceremony was interesting, even if the captain was a bit long winded. Phineas watched the dozens of couples glide along the room in a waltz. The rat went on about the dawning of a new age, how machines would soon be the defining aspect of Chauntwell, and how the need for magic would surely diminish as their mechanical skills progressed. Phineas scoffed at these claims. He thought that no matter how useful or ingenious a machine was, magic would always have a place in the world. The magi council would ensure it, even if it meant risking another war.
The otter stood up and padded along the glass wall, grabbing a flute of wine from a passing waiter as he did so. The scent of flowery grapefruit hit his nostrils as he inspected the light yellow drink. A Riesling, he noted before drinking. The sweet liquid filled his stomach with a small fire. He stared out at the starry night sky for a moment. It was getting late, he thought. A long day lay ahead of him tomorrow in Tilshire. He started to pad to the doorway of the hall, leaving the pirouetting couples to their dance, when a warm paw touched his shoulder.
Phineas turned around and saw a tall fox in a jade tuxedo and, oddly, a thick pair of goggles not unlike what the other engineers of the ship wore. "Hey there," he said. His voice was deep and reassuring. "You weren't about to leave now, were you?"
"I, uh... err..." Phineas was at a loss for words, the earlier wine starting to interfere with his brain. "I suppose I was. Not much for me here at the moment, and I thought I might try to be more productive with my evening. Why do you ask?"
A grin spread across the fox's muzzle and he folded his arms. "Well, that's a pity. Here I was hoping to have the honor of dancing with a nice looking otter. But, if you have things to do tonight, I guess I'm out of luck, aren't I?"
Phineas was taken aback at the fox's request. He was sure he hadn't made any real efforts to be noticed, couldn't think of why the fox would approach him in particular when there were several other available males and females scattered around the hall. He rubbed his paw along the back of his head and glanced down, stammering almost inaudibly to the fox. "I, well... I guess I can stay a bit longer, if you really want me to."
The fox beamed at Phineas, taking the otter's paw in his own. "Fantastic! Shall we begin, then, or would you prefer to wait for the next song?"
"I think this song might almost be over... it might be best to wait for the next one."
"Just as well, then," the fox said, letting go of Phineas's paw. "I actually prefer to acquaint myself properly before a dance, anyways. My name is Renard, an esteemed engineer of this fine vessel. And whom might I be having the pleasure of this dance with tonight?"
The otter felt his ears swell with warmth, unsure if it was from the alcohol or from the charm and manners the fox displayed. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Renard. I'm Phineas."
Renard smiled, running his thumb absent-mindedly along the edge of Phineas's paw. "Phineas is a lovely name, especially for a captivating guy like yourself," he said.
"Thank you. You know, back at the Academy, everyone had a nickname for me, but to be honest, I didn't approve of it, and I'm glad it's behind me."
The fox's eyes lit up. "Academy? You mean the Magi Academy of Morescano? I had no idea you were a magi! I assume you specialize in the water arts, right?"
"Well... not exactly..." The music had shifted to another song, and the crowd began to transition to a tango. "Anyway, you wanted to dance? Now's a perfect time to join in." The otter got up, offering a paw to Renard. The fox rose to his feet, and they padded out onto the dance floor.
Renard proved to be an elegant dancer. His feet moved fluidly along the floor with precision. Phineas, however, had to focus hard on keeping up with the fox and to avoid stepping on his feet during the more complicated steps. With a few suggestions from Renard, though, the otter quickly improved his coordination.
"There we go, I think you're getting the hang of it, Phineas," the fox said, tail swaying happily behind him. "Well, now that we've got you dancing like a pro, I'd like to find out a little bit more about you. You told me you weren't exactly a water magi earlier. What did you mean by that?"
Phineas turned his head away with a pained look. "You know, it's not something I want to talk about..."
"Fair enough, then. Do you mind if I ask you what you're doing on the Crimson Jewel, then? I've been to a fair number of places, and I rarely see an otter outside of Morescano. You must have something big planned if you left."
"Oh, I do. I'm heading to Tilshire to study at the Arcane Halls. After that... I'm not really sure. Perhaps I'll go to Korlic. It'll be nice to see the world. I'm already enjoying the trip so far. Morescano is just so... dank and depressing. The others may like it, but I was never really one to live underground, or underwater, or whatever you want to call it."
Renard's eyes stared just over Phineas's shoulder, seemingly lost in thought. A few seconds of dancing passed before he spoke. "Those are some pretty big places you plan on going to. You sure you have what it takes to make it in the world? It can be rough, if you aren't properly prepared."
"I hope I have what it takes," Phineas said in a nervous tone. "Not like I have much of a choice, really." He trailed off at the end of the sentence and pulled his paws to his body. "I'm sorry, I should get going. It was a pleasure to meet you, Renard. Perhaps we'll see each other again sometime before we reach Tilshire?" The fox frowned for a second before regaining his composure.
"Very well then. It was an honor meeting you as well, Phineas. But... could I ask for one more thing before you go? Could I... may I be permitted a kiss from you? I had a lovely dance, and I'd love to have something to remember it by."
The music changed tempo, and the crowd begun spinning around in a dance that Phineas was unfamiliar with. Was the fox really asking him for a kiss? He barely knew the guy. It had been a very entertaining dance, though, and he was rather cute...
"I guess there's no harm in a kiss," he said.
Smiling, the fox rested his paws on Phineas's sides and leaned forward. The otter stood on his toes, meeting the fox's lips for the kiss. A warm, electrical feeling flowed through Phineas, intensified by the small rubbing motion of the fox's paws at his sides. The otter put his paws on Renard's sides and returned the motion, coaxing a small yip of delight out of the canid. They stood like that for a few seconds before Phineas, feeling more adventurous from the glowing sensation welling up within his chest, nibbled and licked at the fox's lips.
Renard pulled back, wearing an ambivalent smile. His inner ears were flushed red. "That was... much more than I could have hoped for. You've done me a great kindness, tonight, Phineas. I wonder though... would you be willing to do me one more kindness? It would mean so much to me."
The otter's head swam with glee, Renard's scent lingering in his nostrils. He hadn't felt this happy since the mishap at the academy, which made it easy for him to tell the fox yes. Renard smiled and reached into his pocket, pulling out a sealed envelope. "Could you take this envelope for me? I'm not sure if I'll be disembarking in Tilshire, and my uncle was hoping to get word from me if I had arrived safely. It would mean so much to me if you could deliver it to him."
"I... sure, Renard, I'd be happy to. Where does he live in Tilshire?" Phineas replied. Something about the fox-Phineas wasn't sure what-made him say yes. Perhaps it was his eyes. The deep, emerald irises gleamed with a reassuring warmth. It could also be the residual effects of the kiss they'd just shared. Or, Phineas realized, it could be the wine he'd drunk earlier. Regardless of the cause, though, he was now committed to Renard's request.
"Oh, you really are a sweetheart, aren't you, Phineas? He lives in Tilshire's old town, just a few blocks from the Arcane Halls. I figured you'd be passing by there anyway if you're going to train at the school. Here's the letter, and thank you so much!" The fox handed Phineas the envelope, then pulled his engineer goggles over his eyes. "Now, if you don't mind, duty calls. I can only be gone for so long before the boss'll notice. Take care, Phineas, and good luck!" He padded off into the crowd with a noticeable arch in his tail and a spring in his step.
Good luck? Thought Phineas. What in the world would I need luck for? He looked down at the envelope and saw something written on it in small, precise cursive. 'Open in private as soon as possible.' Did that mean him? Surely a note to Renard's uncle wouldn't bear such a notice on the envelope. He wasn't normally one to pry into other people's business, but he could see no other person that the note could be meant for.
Phineas left the main hall, clutching the mysterious note in his paw as he walked back to his cabin. He passed several other passengers along the way, nodding courteously at them as he strode by. He soon reached his cabin, though, and threw the door shut as he walked inside, claws tearing at the envelope to reveal the letter inside. With baited breath, he read the contents of the letter.
To whom it may concern,
I'm sorry for what I'm about to involve you with, but believe me when I say it is for the greater good of the world. I picked you because you seemed like someone I could trust not only with the task at hand, but with my life and the life of my partners, and believe me, that's something to be proud of. If you haven't noticed by the time you read this letter, I've slipped you an item of great importance. It is absolutely vital that you get it to Archmagi Torrence at the Arcane Halls in Tilshire. It is very possible that the crew aboard this ship will try to stop it from leaving their possession. Do not let them have it, and avoid its capture by any means necessary. If I've succeeded in my mission aboard the Crimson Jewel_, I'll meet you at Torrence's office tomorrow._
I really do apologize for thrusting such an enormous task on your shoulders, and I promise I will make it up to you when I arrive, barring my capture or death. May the gods watch over you.
Phineas read the letter over three times before he reacted in any way. He dropped the note and immediately began patting himself down, looking for any evidence that this wasn't some sort of cruel joke Renard was pulling on him. Much to the otter's horror, however, a he felt a small bulge in the lower right pocket of his vest. His heart was racing now, hands quivering with a terrified anxiety as he reached into the pocket to retrieve the mystery object. This wasn't the sort of thing he was cut out for. He wasn't a spy or a criminal, and he thought that he might have just agreed to something that was way over his head.
His paws found the object. A smooth stone, from the feel of it. He pulled it out and inspected it, and realize that it wasn't just a stone, but an uncut amethyst, not much bigger than a cherry. The gem shone with a glow that Phineas felt was unjustified by the relatively low lighting of his cabin, and holding it felt-there was no other way to describe it-intoxicating, as if the violet gem seeped raw, empowering energy.
Phineas's fear began to melt into excitement. He had a suspicion as to what the gem might be, but had only ever read about such artifacts back at the academy. He ran to the sink in his cabin and filled the pitcher he'd grabbed from the nightstand with water, then set the liquid filled container on the floor in the middle of the room. He took up the basic casting stance he'd learned so long ago and began to focus on the water, holding the gem firmly in his paw.
A surge of energy rushed through his body, and he could feel the water as clearly as he could feel the whiskers on his face twitching from the magic flowing through his body. The liquid had become an extension of his consciousness, an effort which usually drained the otter of every ounce of concentration and energy he had. He lifted the water from the pitcher in a steady stream and begun to whirl it around the room in swift circles, giving the illusion that a giant translucent serpent was gliding around the cabin. He blinked after a moment, focusing on his next spell, and the water instantly froze. The now crystalline stream of water came crashing to the floor, shattering into hundreds of shards of ice.
Panting with excitement and power, Phineas forced all the ice shards back together, melted them into a large ball of water, and slid the liquid back into he pitcher. His suspicions were confirmed. Renard had somehow come across a focus. It was no wonder he wanted it kept safe. Many of the rodents on board would kill a magi on sight for possession of such a powerful item.
Phineas sat in silence for what felt like an eternity, pondering his options. On the one paw, helping Renard out would be a surefire way to gain favor with the magi of Tilshire, and he was positive he'd need as much favorable ground to stand on as possible if the magi there were to be coerced into accepting him as a student. No doubt the Morescano Academy had already sent word to the other school in Chauntwell about his incident. On the other paw, he thought, he would be lucky to escape with his life if he were caught. He knew how merciless rodents could be; it was why Morescano had stayed out of the war.
He set the amethyst on the nightstand, coming to a decision. He would do it. It wasn't as if he had much choice at this point anyways. If he did turn the thing over to the rodents, they would probably use any means they had to find out where he'd gotten it from. A chill surrounded his body as he took off his clothes, and he wondered if it was only due to the cabin temperature. He grabbed the gem again, clasping it tightly in his paw, and slid under his blanket, hopeful that sleep might come tonight.
...
The remainder of the flight was surprisingly uneventful for Phineas, other than the resurgence of the nightmare. By the following afternoon, though, the Crimson Jewel had arrived in Tilshire, and he was gathering his belongings, getting ready to disembark. The purple gem lay comfortably in his pocket, and as far as he knew, no one on board besides he and Renard were any the wiser about its existence.
Squeezing through the throng of people all clamoring through the hallways of the ship proved to be difficult and annoying, especially with the trunk of his belongings, but he finally found his way to the exit ramp. The familiar scent of the sea greeted the otter as he padded down the ramp, although Tilshire's climate proved to be much warmer than the area surrounding Morescano. He was glad he'd dressed lightly today, otherwise the heat would get to him. It still might, if he wasn't careful.
The sound of waves lapping at the coast sounded throughout the air. Phineas walked along the Tilshire docks, seeing numerous conventional ships being loaded and unloaded by a wide variety of people, although he noticed that several crews contained at least one otter in their ranks. Probably water magi, he assumed. A captain would pay a king's ransom to keep one on board. He'd keep that in mind; it was a great way to avoid travel expenses, and the zeppelin ticket had drained him of most of his savings.
The city itself was much more modern than he could have imagined. The cobblestone roads teemed with horses, carriages, and the occasional mechanical transports; automobiles and trolleys, if he recalled correctly. In the distance, most likely the edges of the canine capital, tall towers spewed smoke into the sky, tinging it to a darker shade than its seashore counterpart. Tall brick buildings, ranging in color from bright orange and deep red to marble white towered above the otter, collecting into a group of towering skyscrapers which Phineas guessed must be the downtown area of Tilshire. That was where the Arcane Halls were supposed to be, so he set off in that direction.
Although he had heard many things about Tilshire, he had never actually been here before, and quickly became lost among the twisting roads and tall brick buildings. An hour of aimless wandering passed before Phineas, exhausted from walking and from the heat, sat down on a bench in a marketplace. Several people bustled about and merchants hawked their products from small stands lining the street. A trolley carrying dozens of people chugged by, a large cloud of steam billowing behind it.
Phineas saw the steam as a tainted blessing. He could use it to cool himself off, if he was skilled enough, but working with particles so small was something he had only tried briefly-and with results he didn't care to recall at the present time-before the academy expelled him. Plus, he thought, w_hat if it happens again?_ He couldn't bear the thought of another mishap.
The wisps of steam were beginning to dissipate when he remembered the gem in his pocket. He recalled the power he'd had when using it, and figured grabbing some of that vaporized water would be child's play with it.
He grabbed for the gem and held it tightly in his paw, keeping both hidden in his pocket, and reached out for the steam. The vapors swirled around and condensed, forming a small ball of water, which he brought close and sprinkled over his head. He sighed relief and slumped in his chair, grateful for the small relief from the heat.
"Hey, you, otter! What do you think you're doing! This is a magic-restricted area of the city!"
Phineas's eyes shot over to where the shouting had come from and saw two large rats in official looking uniforms marching over to him. He put on a false smile to hide the his sudden worry. Damnit, he thought, there's magic-restricted sections of Tilshire?
The rats reached Phineas, and the smaller of the two spoke. "Citizen, are you aware that you just performed magic outside of the walls of the Arcane Halls?" His voice was calm and smooth, but Phineas could sense a venomous intent under the layers of honeyed voice, reminding him of the charismatic bullies he'd dealt with in Morescano. "You know that such practices have been forbidden outside of those walls."
"Actually," said Phineas, "I didn't know, and I'm not a citizen. It was an honest mistake, and I assure you it won't happen again." He clutched tighter at the gem in his paw. "If you could, though, tell me where the Arcane Halls might be? I seem to have lost my way. I'd be eternally grateful if you fine gentlemen could help a poor otter out."
The smaller rat gave a sick, twisted grin. "I'd be more than happy to, if you'll do us a kindness in return, Mr. Tourist. I'll gladly give you directions to that... place... if you'll submit to a search. Protocol, you understand? We can't just let an offender, even an ignorant one, walk off scot free. Our superiors would have our heads."
Phineas's heart began to pound, blood and adrenaline rushing through his body. They'd find the focus for sure if he submitted to a search. His thoughts raced through his options. He could stay and hope for mercy, but that wasn't likely. He could also run, praying to every god he could think of that they weren't ranked high enough in the guard to be carrying those new pistol things. Making up his mind, he abandoned his luggage and darted for an alley across the street as quickly as his paws would carry him.
The rat guards shouted, and Phineas could hear the sound of metal being unsheathed. He breathed the best sigh of relief he could while in full sprint, knowing that they didn't have guns. It would make escape much easier.
The alley, unfortunately, was narrow, and Phineas was too short to reach any of the fire escape ladders that lined it. The rats were in hot pursuit, much quicker on their feet than the otter had anticipated. He swung past a corner to a path that branched off from the main alley and found himself back in the marketplace. Dozens of wolves, foxes, dingoes, and other species of people meandered about the area, going about their day as if nothing was amiss. Phineas dived into the crowd, hoping his small size and the numerous scents would be enough to lose the rats. He shoved through the wall of people, getting the occasional reprimand from someone, but he didn't care. His heart and mind were racing, and all he could think of was eluding his pursuers.
He saw another small alley between two particularly busy stands and pressed his way to it, knocking down a few people in the process. Phineas looked behind him to see if he was still being chased, and saw the two rat pursuers pushing through the crowd, pushing their way towards him.
The alley he'd found was dank and exuded a rotten smell. Definitely more unused, he thought as he ran, paws splashing through the foul puddles that dotted the alley. The small path twisted and turned, forming an intricate maze between the brick buildings. The sound of sprinting paws behind him faded into silence, and for a moment, Phineas thought he'd lost them. Luck, however, wasn't smiling over him, and he heard the sound of footfalls splashing through the puddles once more behind him.
Phineas dashed around corner after corner, trying to elude the rats, but soon found himself faced with a brick wall. He was trapped, and would have to fight. He grabbed for the focus and gripped it tightly in his paw, taking up the battle stance he'd learned so long ago, and waited for the crescendoing footfalls to round the bend. He shook with anxious anticipation, wondering if he could pull enough water from around him to properly fight them off. The footsteps sounded only feet away, now, and he braced himself for attack. Then something he hadn't expected happened.
A fox in tattered brown beggar's clothes rounded the corner, racing toward him. It took Phineas a second to recognize him as Renard. He had a determined look on his face as he sprinted toward the otter, reaching out and grabbing him by the collar when he came close to him. "Down!" he shouted as he pointed at a manhole cover. Phineas nodded and helped the fox pry the slab of metal open, then climbed down the ladder, the fox following behind him.
The rancid stench of the sewer hit Phineas's nose like a ten ton weight. From the small portion of the sewer that was illuminated by the manhole opening, it looked just as disgusting. He found the floor and stood, waiting for the fox to meet him. Renard climbed down to the bottom, then grabbed Phineas by the shirt and slammed him against the grimy wall of the sewer.
"What in the hell did you think you weredoing?!" he shouted at the otter. His eyes were furrowed in rage, every muscle in his face emanating animosity. "Do you realize that you could have compromised my entire mission, not to mention give those bastards even more of a foothold in the world than they already have? Why didn't you just deliver the focus to Torrence like I told you to?"
His paws were shaking, and the grip was beginning to hurt Phineas. "I'm sorry," he whimpered, "I didn't... I just wanted to cool myself off. I didn't think I'd cause any trouble. I'm so sorry."
The hold tightened and Renard's teeth were bared at the otter. "That focus is one of the keys to us taking out Nathaniel, and we cannot afford to lose it. If it were up to me, you'd be begging for mercy by the time I was done with you. But," his grip lessened a bit, and Phineas slid down the wall, able to touch the ground with his feet now, "You're a magi and can still be useful to us." He growled the last few words and shoved Phineas to the ground. "Now, if you'll kindly hand that focus back over to me, we can be on our way."
Phineas pushed himself to his feet and glared at the fox. "Okay, but will you at least answer a few questions for me?"
Renard sighed and reached out his paw, waiting for Phineas to hand over the gem. "If you insist, but do it while we're walking. Those guards won't be unconscious for much longer, and I don't want to risk them finding us."
Phineas nodded, reached into his pocket, and pulled out the focus, handing it over to Renard. The fox snatched the gem from Phineas's paw and stuffed it somewhere underneath the ragged cloak he wore. "Thank you," he said. "Now, follow me. I know these sewers better than anyone. We'll be at the Arcane Halls in no time."
Renard stretched out his paw with an upturned palm and muttered a few words. A ball of fire erupted just above his paw, lighting up the dark tunnel that lay ahead of them. He then began padding down the tunnel. Phineas gawked at the fireball in Renard's paw. "Wow, I didn't know canids could use fire magics," he said with awe.
"Not many can," said Renard. "But I learned a few tricks from a ferret friend of mine during the war. Not sure where he's at now, though. Heard rumors that he's doing recon work in New Dansmouth, but I can't be certain about that." The dank tunnel was silent for a minute before Renard spoke again. "So," he said "you said you had questions? Ask."
Phineas's mind was buzzing with questions. The first one he had spilled out of his mouth before he could even think about it. "I've had one thing on my mind since you gave me the letter. Was anything on the zeppelin, you know, real? Did you mean anything you said?"
Renard's ears went back in the dim light of the flame. He didn't look at Phineas. "I had to do what I had to do. I thought you'd be more likely to do what I asked if I worked my way into your emotions. You understand, right?"
Phineas felt like someone had thrown his chest into a vice. His mind sunk, and he felt fairly close to disappointed tears. "I thought as much," he said. "I guess I was hopeful. You sounded so sincere though. I felt like... like you actually cared."
"I didn't say I didn't care. I just realize now that it was for the wrong reasons. It was idiotic of me to delve into the past," Renard said. Phineas couldn't help but notice a small change in the fox's tone, a pang of guilt and hurt that hadn't been there before.
"What do you mean by that?" Phineas asked.
"It's not something I want to get into or that you need to know," Renard shot back. "Ask me about anything else."
"I'm sorry, I was just curious," Phineas said guiltily. He thought for a second, then asked, "Where did you even come across a focus? Aren't they supposed to be-"
"Rare, yeah," Renard cut him off. "And most of the ones we know about are unfortunately locked away in New Dansmouth's capitol building. They pilfered them during the war in hopes of weakening us." They rounded a bend, and Phineas could hear the small splashes of a draining pipe echoing from nearby. "They know that if we were to get our paws on enough of them, we might be able to strike back at them."
"Why strike back, though? What's the point of spilling more blood over something that's said and done?"
The fire above Renard's paw intensified, and he spun around, hackles raised. "You weren't in the war. I know you weren't. Your entire city sat back and watched those monsters plunder our homes, burn our land, kill our families. You could never know what pain those people caused us. I want them to suffer for what they did to our country... and to me." Phineas looked closer at Renard, and he could see tears forming around his eyes, reflecting the firelight.
Phineas shrunk back, wringing his paws together. "I'm sorry... I didn't know..." he whispered. Renard turned around and continued down the tunnel, albeit at a slower pace. "It's okay," he said. "I just don't like thinking about what they took away from me. What he took away from me."
They walked along in silence for a couple of minutes, meandering through the tunnels, before Phineas spoke again. "Um, Renard, if you don't mind me asking, but I don't think you answered all of my question. Where did you get that focus from?"
"The organization I'm part of got wind that a focus was being shipped from Morescano to New Dansmouth on those zeppelin things. Naturally, this was an astonishing opportunity, and they sent me to acquire it. I infiltrated the engineering teams a few weeks ago to gather information. After that, it was a simple grab-and-run operation."
"Then why did you need to pawn the thing off to me in the first place? What did that accomplish?"
"I'll tell you later, if Torrence allows it. We're here, though." Renard said, pointing at a ladder with the paw not controlling the ball of fire. He snuffed the flame out, plunging them into darkness, but Phineas could hear Renard climbing the ladder. He followed suit, hearing the loud scraping of metal on concrete, and a shaft of light beamed down from the street above.
They climbed out of the sewer, and Phineas saw that they were in a courtyard of sorts. Tall ivory buildings boxed them in from all sides. Tall leafy bushes lined the pathways between buildings, giving the appearance of natural hallways. Renard mumbled something about needing a shower, then directed Phineas to the entrance of the tallest building in the complex. A few people passed by them as they walked, mostly wolves and foxes, but a stray cougar sat in a small alcove, poring over a large book and muttering to himself as he read.
"What's a feline doing here? I thought you and Akitsugahara didn't get along very well." Phineas asked.
Renard shrugged. "We still don't, to be honest, at least not on a political level. But the higher-ups here insist that we can't turn away anyone who wants to learn, especially if they're gifted in multiple schools of magic. I don't mind, so long as they keep to themselves. Here, this way," he said, and ushered Phineas into the building.
Their padded footfalls echoed throughout the empty marble hallway. Phineas couldn't help but notice the lavish purple drapes that framed the small alcoves or the pieces of art they contained. They made him feel more at home, like he was back at the Morescano Academy. After being lost and chased earlier, he felt like he could use some semblance of familiarity.
They soon came to a large wooden door, which Renard rapped his paw on loudly. A muffled voice said "Come in," and the fox opened the door. Inside was a small office cluttered with curious objects and countless books. An elegantly carved desk stood near the back of the room, and behind it was a wizened looking gray wolf in a black frock coat. He nodded at the fox, saying, "Hello Renard, always a pleasure to see you." His gaze then fell onto Phineas. "And whom might your guest be?"
"Someone I picked up along the way. I actually wanted to talk to you about him later, if you have the time." The fox kept a cool composure, but Phineas could see his tail twitching nervously. "But first, I have something you might be interested in. Here..." He pulled the purple gem from his pocket and set it on the desk.
The wolf smiled at the pair of them. "I'm glad you managed to find it, Renard, but you should know that proper manners should never elude you. I don't know how many times I need to remind you." He got up and walked around the desk, extending a paw to Phineas. "It's a pleasure to meet you, good sir. My name is Archibald Torrence. I'm one of the professors at this institute. I hope our little rascal here hasn't gotten you into too much trouble on the way here, Mr..."
"Quinn, sir. Phineas Quinn. Glad to make your acquaintance, and no, he hasn't. Not much anyway, and he was kind enough to get me out of it."
"I suspected as much when you both came in. You reek of the sewer. Trouble with the new guards, I take it?"
"Yeah, well, we wouldn't have had any trouble if Phineas here had just been a good little boy and kept his magic to himself. Flaunting that little water ball trick in front of the guards was one of the stupidest things I've ever seen," Renard cut in.
"I was hot, okay? Plus, I wanted to see what I could do with that focus. And how do you even know what I did, anyway? Were you tailing me?" asked Phineas, turning to Renard.
Torrence cleared his throat loudly. "Wait a minute, you two. Phineas, what do you mean by that? Did you have that focus in your possession?"
"Yeah, Renard slipped it to me on the zeppelin while we danced so I could protect it. Why?"
Phineas could see Torrence's eyes narrow and his brow furrow. "Renard, would you care to explain to me why you put an innocent civilian into such a dangerous situation without cause? Your mission was to retrieve the focus and lay low for the rest of the flight. I see no reason why that would require you to pawn it off to anyone else."
"Well," said Renard, "I figured that since I was already on the ship and well undercover I could do a few extra things while I was on board. I wanted to make sure the focus got to you in case things went south."
Torrece looked positively furious when he heard this. "Phineas, I think you'd best wait outside in the hallway. Renard and I have things to discuss."
"But I have a few questions I'd like-" Phineas began, but Torrence cut him off with a booming, "Now, Phineas!" Phineas shrunk back and creeped out of the room, looking scared and a bit hurt. He sat on the cushioned bench across the hall from the office. From the other side of the door, he could hear muffled shouts, although the words themselves had become unintelligible. Probably a spell to deter eavesdropping. He sat there for around fifteen minutes, the heated shouting simmering down into inaudibility, before Renard flung the door open. Torrence was behind him with a black, semicircular object in his paw, one end pressed to his ear and the other inches from his muzzle. "Come on, Phineas, we need to lay low for a while while Torrence deals with what he calls 'blinded judgment.'"
Phineas jumped to his feet. "Wait, blinded judgment? What does he mean by that, Renard? What did you do?"
Renard turned away from Phineas and started down the hall. "Look, we need to get somewhere safe. A patrol of rat guards is probably on their way as we speak, and I don't particularly feel like explaining myself to them. Torrence told me that you need to come with."
Phineas reached out his paw and grabbed hold of Renard's arm, stopping him in place the best he could. "I'm not going anywhere until you explain to me what he meant. You've lied to me, toyed with my emotions, and thrown me into a mess that I'm not sure I care to be a part of. You owe me an explanation."
Renard's head spun around with a glare. His ears flicked back, and his hackals raised. "I'll tell you whatever I damn well feel like telling you, but once we're hidden. We need to go though, or they'll find us. Let's move!"
Phineas dug his heels into the tile floor the best he could, resisting the force of the foxes attempts to leave. It despite his efforts, though, Renard was slowly inching forward. "No, Renard. I won't go until you tell me."
"Suit yourself," he said, and with a sweeping grace Phineas didn't think the fox was capable of, he spun the otter around and faced him. A split second later, the fox drew back his fist and threw it at Phineas, knocking him squarely in his left eye. Stars exploded in front of the otter's vision before the whole world faded to black.
...
Phineas awoke, opening his eyes before a stabbing pain around his eye forced them shut again. He let out a low, pained noise and pressed his paw to his eye, trying to recall what had happened. As he did so, a familiar voice said, "Three hours... not a personal best for me, but I'll take it." Phineas opened his unhurt eye to see Renard slumped against a nearby stone wall, illuminated by the flickering light of a lantern. The shadows cast by the lantern's flame enhanced the somber expression he wore.
The memory of what happened in the hallway came back to Phineas. He pushed himself off of the cold stone floor and rushed over to confront the fox. "You punched me! All I wanted was an explanation and you punched me! What in the hell is your problem?"
The canid sighed, looking away from Phineas. "Look, I told you we needed to leave, and you weren't cooperating. I had to do something or the guards would have caught both of us. For what it's worth, I'm sorry about the eye."
The otter could feel the bruise begin to swell. He removed his paw, wincing at the increased pain it brought. "You didn't have to hit so hard to knock me out though. I'll be lucky if I can use this eye by the end of the day." He looked around the room, seeing a large round table with a candelabra at the other end. What he didn't see, though, was a door. "Renard, where exactly did you take us?"
"It's a secret meeting room for the organization I'm a part of. There's a hidden doorway in the basement of the building we were in that leads to here. Only opens with the correct spell, and is virtually undetectable to the untrained eye. The we'll be safe here while the guards search the place."
Phineas was confused. "I thought we lost the guards when we went into the sewer. Did they follow us?"
Renard shook his head, pushing himself off of the ground, then started to pace around the musty room. "You're not what they're looking for right now. They've got their sights set on something much bigger than a simple magic infraction."
"Like what?" the otter asked.
"Well, me. I've been a thorn in their side for quite some time. Makes me damn giddy to know that, too. Those bastards wanted a place in the world, and they got it, but I have no intentions of making their lives easy." Renard sat down at the table and began to run his claws along the wooden finish.
"So they want to catch you. That's all fine and well, but that doesn't explain how they knew we were here," said Phineas, sitting down across from Renard.
"It's Torrence's fault. Called the docks to have the zeppelin searched. That of course meant that a whole squad of soldiers would be sent here to investigate and interrogate." He growled under his breath. "I tried explaining to him the significance of my plan, but he wouldn't hear a word of it. The man can be so short-sighted sometimes."
"Short-sighted?" Phineas asked.
"Look, it doesn't concern you. The whole thing's already been torn apart, and I'm going to get my tail chewed off even more than it already has once Torrence comes to collect us. Just drop it."
Phineas looked down at the table and stroked the webbing between his fingers with a claw. "Fine, but could you at least answer me one more question? I promise I'll leave you alone afterward, but it's been on my mind since the sewers."
Renard's ears flicked back in annoyance and he slumped over the table. "I guess so. What is it?" he said wearily.
"If you didn't pick me out of that crowd on the Crimson Jewel because you liked me, why did you pick me?" Phineas asked.
Renard looked up at the otter with an ominous glare. "That's going into some pretty personal space, Phineas. I really don't want to talk about that, especially not with you."
"So there is a reason then. I want to know. What made me stand out to you over the countless others that were on that ship?" Phineas stared into Renard's eyes, looking intent.
"Fine, you want to know?" Renard spat. "I seem to recall you were pretty reluctant to talk about your schooling, about why you left Morescano. Tell me what's got you so shy about that, and I might consider opening up to you. Deal?"
Phineas considered the offer for a minute. Renard didn't seem to think much of him anyway, and he wanted to know what had drawn the fox to him. What did he have to lose if Renard reacted badly? But what if Renard did? He didn't know how long he'd be stuck in this room with the fox, and he wanted things to be as pleasant as possible. Plus, discussing it would only make the reality of his mistake that more real to him. He bit his lower lip, then spoke. "I... I guess I can."
The fox nodded, leaned back, and propped his feet up on the table. "Take your time. It's not like I'm in any rush right now." Phineas went through his head, dredging up scenes and details he'd tried to bury since leaving Morescano, a painful process for him, and did his best to steel himself mentally.
"All right, I'm ready," he said a few minutes later. "Well, I liked school, I really did. Training was fun, the other students were nice, and all around enjoyable. I didn't do too badly in my classes, but, well... I was prone to making mistakes." He looked away from Renard as he said this. "Most of them were fairly minor. You know, things like breaking a fountain, accidentally flooding a bathroom... real stupid things. But about two weeks ago, something else happened."
Phineas brought his hands together and wrung them profusely. The image of the scene already flared in his mind, the contorted face making him wince. "I didn't mean to do anything wrong. I was just training with another student, Colin Gresley. We read about a technique in the library that looked very useful, but equally complicated. It was a way to pull water out of the surrounding air giving you an unlimited supply of material to work with."
His heart hammered faster with every word. It felt like it wanted to leap from his chest, to somehow escape from having to relive the scene again. Still, however, he continued. "I should have known it was something beyond our ability. Even some of the teachers didn't bother with it. But we decided to try it anyway. Things went well for about an hour before anything happened." Phineas could hear the agonizing screams of Colin in his mind now. Tears flooded to his eyes, trickling down his face. He brought his paws to his eyes, carefully avoiding too much pressure over his bruised one.
"I... I concentrated as hard as I could, hoping to do it, Suddenly, I heard Colin screaming for his life. It was short lived though. He was... gods, it only took seconds. I had no idea what had happened until I saw the water in my grasp, tinged to a sickly red." He slumped onto the table, sobbing quietly. The memory had been much more painful to recall than he had anticipated. Renard, though, interrupted him.
"If I'm understanding this correctly, you pulled the water out of him instead of the air?" he asked.
"Yeah," replied Phineas, his voice quavering. "It was horrific. His body, his face... I never want to see something that hideous ever again. And his parents, the way they looked at me when they found out... I'm a monster."
Renard sat in silence, looking as if he were contemplating something. "You know," he finally said, "I know of the spell you're referring to. That's a pretty tricky piece of magic you managed to pull off. Not bad at all."
Was Renard actually congratulating him for murder? Phineas looked up, eyes locked on Renard. "I... I killed someone, Renard. A life was ended because of my actions, and yet the first thing you say is 'Good job with that little death spell?' You can't really be that callous, can you?"
Renard shrugged with an indifferent look. "You call me callous, but I've come to terms with the fact that death happens. You can't spend every waking minute of your life worrying about keeping people alive. They have to go sooner or later."
Rage was beginning to replace Phineas's sorrow. The casual way Renard just wrote off the value of life infuriated him. "You bastard. You can't really think that, can you? Of course people die, but we can't just throw away every ounce of compassion we have!"
"Phineas... I used to care, okay? But those days have long since passed for me." Renard's face had reverted to a somber expression.
"Whatever. We had a deal though. I told you, now you tell me," Phineas said, voice filled with venomous contempt.
"The deal was," said Renard, stressing the last word, "I might tell you if you told me, and since you've gone and gotten yourself all fussy with me, I don't really think you need to know." Before Phineas could retort, a section of the stone wall opened up, and Torrence stepped into the musty chamber.
"The guards have gone for now, but they're sure to come looking around again. Thanks to you and your little stunt, Renard, I'm now on the city guard's watch list. It's going to make running things around here quite difficult indeed."
"You didn't have to tell them about the explosives, Torrence. You wouldn't have any problems with them if you'd just kept quiet about it." Renard snapped.
"Explosives?" Phineas asked. "What explosives?"
"Renard, I have things to discuss with Phineas, alone. Go wait up in my office so I can deal more with you later."
"But sir, I-" Renard started to say.
"Now, Renard, or you'll be in much more trouble than you already are." Renard scoffed, turned, and left the room. Torrence turned to Phineas with a smile. "I'm sorry you had to see that, lad. That boy can really be a handful sometimes. Today, for example." He rubbed his temples gently with his index fingers. "I sometimes worry if he's a bit too blinded for his own good."
Phineas nodded. "Blinded wouldn't be the term I'd use. He mentioned explosives though. What was he talking about?"
Torrence sighed, sitting in the chair that was occupied by Renard just moments ago. "The fool thought he'd strike a blow against the rodents by destroying the Crimson Jewel with magical explosives he'd placed on the ship. They were set to go off in two days time when the zeppelin was en route to Morescano. I called the threat into the authorities, though. I can't allow for so many innocent lives to be wasted, regardless of how crippling the attack might be against the rodent forces."
Phineas's jaw dropped, not believing his ears. "He was going to kill hundreds of people just to blow up that damn zeppelin? Gods, why do you even bother with him? The guy is completely insane! Just a few moments ago, he was casually going on about the meaningless of life."
"I know, I know, Phineas. He's a brilliant magi, however, and he wasn't always like this. He was a kind, benevolent person. He hasn't ever been the same since Silas."
"Silas?" asked Phineas. "Who's that?"
"Alas, I feel as if I've said too much. I have enough to deal with for now, and I feel no need to add salt to the wounds Renard will shortly be receiving from me. Now for the matter of what to do with you..." Torrence said, looking over Phineas as if he were a strange object of interest.
Phineas chimed in with vigor in his voice. "Sir, I was really hoping I could stay here for a while and study. I gave up almost everything I had to buy the tickets for the ride here, and..." Phineas paused, finally realizing that in his haste to escape the marketplace, he had abandoned his trunk on the sidewalk. The same, sick feeling from moments ago gripped his stomach once again. "Oh gods, my trunk! It's still in the market! I have to go get it!" He made a motion to race to the door, but Torrence grabbed the back of Phineas's collar and yanked him back with a strength Phineas would never have guessed the wolf had.
"Your trunk is gone, Phineas. If the guards didn't confiscate it, then someone else has already raided it. You can look for new things later, though. I'm not finished with you yet."
"But-" Phineas started, but Torrence interrupted him. "But nothing. I will compensate you for your losses later. It is the least I can do for you after Renard dragged you into this whole affair. Now, you were talking about something, I believe?"
Phineas nodded slowly, picking his story back up. "I've given up everything I have to come here and study, sir. I would be humbled if you could let me enroll here. I know I don't have the money to cover it, not yet anyway, but I want, no, I need to keep training. I... I owe it to someone."
"Colin Gresley? I would have thought you would have given up magic after that debacle." Torrence said.
Phineas was stunned, his heart racing once more. "You know about that?" he said meekly, wringing his paws together. How had Torrence found out? Did he listen in on the conversation Renard and him had just had?
"Don't think I don't know who you are, Phineas. The Morescano Academy has sent letters to the other institutions of the world, including here, documenting your little mishap. You were extremely foolish to try such advanced magic without the proper training, and even more so for bringing another student along with you. What was one of the first things they taught you there?"
Phineas racked his memory, bringing back visions of his first days at the Morescano Academy. The enormous lecture halls of the fundamental classes overflowing with students, the inane lectures on theory, the precautions on proper magic usage... but then something his teacher had said came floating back into his memory.
"I was taught," Phineas mumbled, lowering his head and looking away from Torrence, "that magic is far more dangerous than any weapon if mishandled."
"Exactly. Now ask yourself, if you were me, would you let someone who has shown careless disregard for such powerful forces wander around a school full of innocents who know their limitations?" asked Torrence, looking solemnly at Phineas.
"Well, no, but can't you give me a chance? I made a mistake, and trust me, it haunts me every minute of every day. Isn't that punishment enough?" Phineas said.
"I cannot risk it, Phineas. I'm sorry, but you'll have to leave here once I've secured your replacement belongings. Now, I need to leave. Renard has waited long enough in my office." Torrence stood up to leave and began to walk toward the door. Phineas thought quickly. He wasn't going to lose this. Not when he was so close. He bolted from his chair and raced to the door, blocking Torrence from leaving the room.
"With all due respect, sir, I can't accept that answer. I have worked too hard and come too far just to have you turn me away. I told you that I can cover the costs in due time, and I will never even think about casting a spell outside of my skill level again. Please, sir, I need you to let me enroll."
Torrence glared with contempt at Phineas, who had to brace his paws against the frame of the stone doorway to hide the fact that his paws were now shaking with an oncoming flood of adrenaline. "Phineas, I told you my answer. Now move. You're wearing my patience thin."
"Not until you let me enroll. I'll make you do it, if I have to," said Phineas, pouring every ounce of his will into sounding intimidating. He wasn't sure if it was working, as Torrence only seemed to look more furious.
"And how do you plan to do that, if I can ask? I seriously doubt you have the ability to coerce me by force," Torrence growled.
"I don't have to use force," Phineas said, thinking quickly. "The only thing I need is in my head. If you don't let me enroll, I'll go to the rodent guards and tell them everything I've seen here today, including Renard. I'm sure they'd love to find him and the underground organization he works for." Phineas prayed his face and demeanor wouldn't betray how terrified he was at the prospect of blackmailing Torrence. A magi of his power could easily kill him without an effort, or worse if Phineas was truly unlucky. But if Torrence did, then at least he could feel reconciled with Colin.
Torrence's brow furrowed further, his hackals raised. "You wouldn't dare. They would punish you just as severely as us, I assure you, just for mere association."
Phineas's mouth twisted up in a triumphant grin. "I'm not afraid of them, sir. I've lost my home, my belongings, and my reputation. You tell me why I should be afraid of them, or of you." He could see the gears turning inside Torrence's head. The wolf began to pace back and forth, contemplating the situation. After several moments, he stopped and turned to Phineas.
"You've backed me into a corner, Phineas. I guess I have no choice. But I still do not think you should be here. You have four weeks to prove to me that you belong here." Torrence smiled smugly. "And another thing: I do not want you studying water magics. If you are to stay here, you must show me you have a prowess for alteration magics."
"What!?" Phineas said. "But I don't know anything about alteration! I don't even know if I have the ability to wield it, let alone master it. That's not fair!"
"Neither is blackmailing me, Phineas, but if you're going to play dirty, expect nothing else but the same in return. Now, I demand that you let me pass. I direly need to speak with Renard, and you've kept me far longer than was necessary." Phineas stepped aside and cleared the doorway. Torrence started on his way out, stopping only to say, "Wait here. I will send for someone to set up accommodations for you. Your studies begin tomorrow. Don't be late."
Phineas sat alone in the room, watching particles of dust float about in the light emanating from the hallway. Alteration magics, he thought. That bastard is off his rocker. Still, he had managed to get into the school. He would have to study hard if he had any chance of staying, but anything was better than nothing. And if he failed... well, he couldn't fail. That much he was certain of.
He sat in silence for what felt like an hour before a shadow fell across the open doorway. Phineas looked up to see a small-statured husky in long purple robes. His tail swayed back and forth behind him, and he bounced on the balls of his feet. "Hello, I-oh dear, what happened to your eye?" he said.
Phineas groaned, bringing up a paw to his eye to gently rub the tender bruise. "Doesn't matter. It'll get better soon enough."
The husky frowned , but quickly regained his composure. "Well, um...I guess you're the guy Torrence told me to get, then? It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm James." He held out a paw, offering it to Phineas. "And you're Phineas, if I'm correct?"
Phineas reached out and took hold of James' paw, whereupon he was lifted to a standing position. "Er, yes, I am," he said. "So, I guess you know where I'm going, then?"
"Oh, yes. At least, I think I do. I'm still fairly new here myself, and I don't really know where all the hallways and passages lead yet. The older students seem to know all the secrets though. They get around this place with an astonishing speed. I'm sure I'll figure it out, though. Anyway, you're going to be on the sixth floor in the south from what I was told. Not a bad area, although you're probably going to be grouped with the rest of the initiates." The husky continued talking as they walked through the building with a vigor Phineas had only ever seen in inquisitive cubs.
"So it's not that I don't like the robes," James said as they made their way down a sixth floor corridor, "I just think that they're a bit too old fashioned. I myself would really love to have a nice shirt and vest, and maybe a trilby. I'm not one to argue with tradition, though, and it is a nice way to distinguish who's who. Helped me a few times already." He stopped outside an oaken door. "Here we are. They usually have everything you need inside already, but if they don't, just find a teacher or something and they'll be sure to sort you out." He bowed to Phineas. "Okay, I need to run now. Torrence only excused me for the one class, and I don't want to be any later than I need to be. Take care, Phineas, and see you around!" Phineas watched James run down the hallway and disappear around a corner.
He turned to the door and turned the knob, pushing it open. It gave a faint creak as it swung open to reveal a small, bare room, lit by a tiny window that showed off the evening Tilshire sunset. A narrow white bed, a small dresser, and a worn desk were the only pieces of furniture present. Phineas padded over to the dresser and opened the top drawer. A set of vibrant, royal purple robes lay within. He ran them through his paws, taking in the smooth fabric before it truly dawned on him. These weren't just any robes. These were his robes. This was his dresser, his bed, his room. This was his school, at least for now. He sat on the bed, which sagged under his weight, probably from worn springs, and let the warm, wonderful feeling of success flow through him, even if he knew it was only momentary.
The elation did indeed fade, leaving Phineas only with thoughts of the daunting path in front of him and the memories of the past he was running from. He laid down and looked up at the ceiling, counting the tiles and wandering through his thoughts. He soon decided to worry about everything tomorrow. Laying on the bed sent waves of exhaustion crashing over him, and he didn't think he had enough energy to fight them off. He curled up under the blanket, still fully dressed, and quickly fell asleep.
For the first night in weeks, Phineas slept well.