Chapter Three:
The region of Aquiloria unfolded in the distance every settlement filled with towering spires, academies of science and the arts, libraries packed with books and eager readers, and a convention for “steampunk”, Drakonsarius had no idea what that weird Aquilorian thing was, but it seemed familiar. He had travelled to the meritocratic region, guided by the cryptic notes in the journal that detailed the seventh Ætharch: The Voidcaller. He found four gifts that he was shocked to receive in his little airship, with its clockwork components happily ticking and whirring to themselves while the steam hissed its disapproval. The first was a longsword. The hilt was a miniature dragons head with red and gold colouration, and the glistening double-edged bladed emerged from the dragon's mouth. The second a shield painted with an ornate version of the Dragoons emblem, a dragon poised to strike. The third was a poleaxe. An axe head was affixed to one side, the other a hammer, and lastly, a spearhead projected from the haft. A weapon that components a more sophisticated fighting style rather nicely. The final gift birthed great curiosity in Drakonsarius, it was his own suit of armour, but it had been modified with magic, each plate subtly glowed in the light of the airships small lantern, hinting at the magical changes.
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Drakonsarius continued to read as he traversed above the empty streets in the early golden hour. One passage in particular leaps out at him:
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Journal Excerpt – The Seventh Ætharch:
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"As I delved into the shadows cast by my fellow Ætharchs, the enigma that is the Voidcaller presented itself in the most perplexing manner. It is as if he exists simultaneously as a legion of individuals, a symphony of discordant whispers that defy the boundaries of singular identity. "The Voidcaller is the conduit between the Æther Gods and their worshipers. His chosen public guise, the Adeptus Echoist, reflects his instrest in sound and academic past. To confront the Voidcaller, one must go through the Academy of the Adept, who remain ignorant of the Covenant like the rest of the world. To anyone seeking to destroy the Covenant, heed this warning—The personalities that seem to manifest within the Voidcaller may well be the insidious influence of the Æther Gods themselves. He can not be taken by surprise, for he hears the whispers of those dark entities that lurk beyond the veil. The temptations offered by the various personalities should be refused at all costs, for succumbing to their allure may seal one's fate in the shadows of eternal servitude, the Voidcaller must be eliminated first otherwise the others will be nigh-impossible to find”
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Drakonsarius spots a particularly large academy, comes to the conclusion that it must be an Academy of the Adept, and lands the airship on a pad exactly for that purpose, near the front of the large Academy. Drakonsarius, equipped with all his gifted gear, walks up to the front door, each step punctuated by a light clank. He had his visor up to appear less threatening to the mostly peaceful scholars. He opens the large wooden door and enters.
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The Dragoon finds himself in the reception of the Academy, a space that reflected the diverse pursuits of knowledge within its walls. The room bore witness to artwork depicting Adepti in various fields of study. At the other side of the room was a cleric, hard at work, separated by a barrier from the rest of the area. Drakonsarius walked up to the barrier, his armour clanking along the way. The clerk, a small, bookish man with a slightly hooked nose, glanced up from his desk, spectacles perched on the tip. He paused his meticulous work, delicately stopping the inkwell and setting the quill down with precise movements He cleared his throat, and in a snarky, rather nasal voice “And what, good ser, brings thou to the esteemed Academy of the Adept in Artè, capital of the meritocratic region of Aquiloria?” the clerk inquired, his nasal voice carrying an air of condescension. "I assume not to engage in the refined pursuit of knowledge, considering the... differences in our respective orders." The clerk's gaze flicked to the emblem on his breastplate as he awaited Drakonsarius's response. Drakonsarius, noting the clerics tone, raises an eyebrow and remarks, “Quite the change from the clang of swords at the Citadel. But I am afraid you assume wrong, I seek a great scholar to refine my knowledge. Is there any chance you could point me in the direction of such an enlightening presence?”
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The cleric responds doubtfully, “Ah, a warrior seeking wisdom, how quaint. Well, we do have our esteemed scholars of various subjects. The Grand Library on the third floor houses an extensive collection of knowledge. Feel free to explore, though I doubt it will be as exhilarating as the clang of swords that thou art accustomed to.”
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Drakonsarius, annoyed at this small man talking down to him, replies simply with “I will make my way to the Grand Library then, perhaps there, i will discover something or someone that broadens both my mind and my understanding of your academic pursuits.” He moves through the door out of the reception and deeper into the Academy, deciding to ask someone less...blatantly rude where he might find the Adepetus Echoist, on the way to the library he passes students, each different to the previous; marble columns, sculptures, and artwork depicting an array of things, until he arrives on the the third floor and enters the library.
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Drakonsarius strides into the Grand Library, greeted by towering shelves of books and the faint scent of aged parchment. It is empty at this time apart from a young, robed figure he spots, engrossed in a tome. Approaching the sole occupant, Drakonsarius mentally notes the timid manner of the figure. He clears his throat, causing the person reading the book to start violently, his eyes widening in surprise. He hastily closes the book and looks up at Drakonsarius.
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“My apologies for giving thou a shock, I was hoping thou could help me with something, I need information.” The Dragoon calmly states. “What do you need? Questions? The robed man asks, his eyes darting around the massive library with suspicion. “Who art thou?” Drakonsarius inquires, his gaze steady but respectful, recognising the cautious nature of whoever is before him. "I am the Trainee Adeptus Æther," the young scholar responds, his voice carrying a touch of uncertainty. "May I know the purpose of your visit?"
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“I am in search of an Adeptus,” Drakonsarius replies. “I’ve heard they possess knowledge beyond ordinary scholars, and I seek guidance in a matter of great importance.” "There are many Adepti in the world, and soon, I will join their ranks," the Trainee Adeptus Æther explains, a sombre note in his voice. "My mentor, the Adeptus Mechanical, was tragically killed during recently.”
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“What can thou tell me about the Adepti here in Aquiloria?” Drakonsarius queries, attempting to narrow his search. “I... I know a fair amount. There are several Adepti here, each specialising in different fields. We collaborate, research, and contribute to the world advancements. to ask directly, “Is there one studying sounds and phenomena associated with them, such as echoes?
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The Trainee Adeptus Æther’s eyes widen with a mix of dread and disbelief. “T-The Adeptus Echoist? I hope to never see that man again, In one lecture he covered, he seemed to change every time he spoke. Just being in the same room made me uncomfortable. You can find him in his office, on the bottom floor, in the right wing of the Academy. I-I have no idea why you would seek him out of all the Adepti in the world.”
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“One last question: What do you study?” the Dragoon asks curiously. The Trainee Adeptus Æther smiles weakly at this and replies “T-The most beautiful and the most dangerous thing in existence, though I think it will be the death of me someday.”
Drakonsarius thanks him and leaves the library, his will steel hard, and his body filled with anticipation, he powers down the halls of the Academy to confront the seventh.
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