Luckborn

The Academy's mail room stood in one corner of the Hall of Assignments, tucked beneath a wide marble staircase. It was a narrow room, lined with shelves that strained under the weight of parchment bundles, twine-bound packages, and delicate paper constructs in various stages of flight.

Otter stepped inside, scanning the space. Student clerks in brass-trimmed uniforms manned the counters, their fingers ink-stained and their patience visibly fraying. At the far wall, dozens of golden tubes spiraled upward like an elaborate brass organ. Occasionally, a rolled-up letter would zip through one, vanishing with a mechanical whirr.

"Next!"

The clerk's voice startled him. Otter shuffled forward, facing a lanky boy with drooping eyes. The brass nametag on his chest read "Harvick" in neat, engraved lettering.

"Message or parcel?" Harvick droned, not bothering to look up.

"Message."

"Destination?"

"The Divine Enclave." Otter paused, lowering his voice. "I need to send something to Sage Raphine."

"Mm. Tricky." Harvick's eyes narrowed, considering. "Conduits don't get regular post. You'll need something magical. Faster the better, or it might get stuck in their wards." He gestured to a tall lacquered board behind him. "Options are there."

Otter glanced at the board.

Standard Post — 1 Credit. Delivered within two days. No enchantment.

Express Courier — 4 Credits. Delivered within a few hours. Requires precise magical tracking.

Paper Bird Construct — 6 Credits. Enchanted for swift delivery. Flies directly to the recipient.

Mirror Link — 15 Credits. Real-time magical communication.

Otter grimaced. Fifteen credits for a mirror link was steep. The Express Courier was tempting, but he really wanted something faster.

"The paper bird," he said, "Is that a guaranteed delivery?"

Harvick nodded lazily and slid a small square of parchment across the counter. "Write clearly. No more than fifty words."

Otter hesitated. Fifty words? How could he explain the significance of Gale's journal, the gods, and the compass in so few? He gritted his teeth and scrawled a brief, urgent note.

Sage — Need to talk. Big discovery. Gods involved. — Otter

It would have to do.

Harvick snatched the parchment and muttered a quiet incantation. The paper trembled, then folded itself with crisp precision. Wings unfurled from the center, forming the delicate shape of a bird no larger than Otter's palm. Its inky eyes blinked once before it gave a soft flutter.

"Go on, then," Harvick said, handing the tiny creature to Otter. "Send it off."

Otter stepped aside, cupping the fragile bird in his hands. Its paper feathers rustled, as though impatient. With a breath, he lifted it skyward.

"Find Sage Raphine."

The construct launched into the air, its wings flapping in swift, determined strokes. It sailed through the chamber, dipping past the brass tubes before darting out a narrow window. The last flash of white parchment disappeared into the golden evening light.

Back in his dorm room, Otter sat at his desk, his textbooks open but forgotten. He tried to focus on Kaos Wars of the Second Age, but the words blurred together. His thoughts raced. What if Sage didn't reply? What if the message didn't make it through the wards?

A half-eaten roll sat on a crumpled napkin. Even that had lost its appeal.

The hour dragged. Milo had left earlier, muttering something about a "minor alchemical mishap" and promising to return before curfew. The dorm was unusually quiet. The silence gnawed at Otter's patience.

He rubbed his temples. Come on, Sage. Please.

Then there was a tap at his window. He crossed the room in a hurry and opened it. A paper bird fluttered inside and landed neatly on his desk. The parchment unfolded itself, revealing Sage's elegant handwriting.

Meet me at the Fountain Courtyard tomorrow at dusk.

He breathed a sigh of relief and turned back to his studies.

The midday sun was heating up the Academy's sparring yard. Spring was right around the corner. The days were getting longer, and the temperatures were rising to a pleasant level during the day. Enough to make some students shed outer layers during Combat Basics.

Students paired off across the sand, their movements fierce and determined. Otter stood, feet planted firmly, his blunted rapier locked against his opponent's.

Callum gritted his teeth, pushing hard. He was stronger than Otter. Most students were. But Otter had learned to move with purpose. No wasted steps. No reckless swings. Just control.

"Adjust your guard," Instructor Horvan called, his sharp eyes tracking every motion. "Good. Keep him off balance."

Otter obeyed without hesitation. He twisted, angling Callum's blade aside, then delivered a swift counterstrike. Callum barely blocked in time, stumbling back.

"Nice work," Horvan declared, a flicker of approval crossing his face.

Callum scowled, but Otter offered a respectful nod, lowering his sword. "Good match."

The larger boy grunted something in return, his pride clearly bruised. Otter didn't linger. As the instructor called for new pairings, Otter handed off his practice weapon and grabbed his water flask. His heart thumped, but in a good way. The months of training were paying off.

"Hey, Otter!"

Jasper's voice cut through the clack and clang of practice weapons. Otter turned to see the tall young Fighter approaching, dark curls damp with sweat. Unlike most of the other students, Jasper's grin was entirely unbothered by the day's exertion.

"You're really holding your own out there," Jasper said, nodding toward the sparring ring. "You've gotten a lot better with that rapier."

"Yeah," Otter said, then lowered his voice. "Ever since I got that proficiency."

"I still can't believe you got one." He stepped closer, lowering his voice. "Listen, I wanted to talk to you. After class."

Otter blinked. Jasper wasn't the type for heartfelt conversation. Otter considered him more than an acquaintance since the events of the simulation, but maybe not a friend. Not yet, anyway. Jasper was one of the Academy's rising stars—the kind of student who was already thinking about the Adventurer's Guild. He didn't let a little thing like doubt get in his way."

Find this and other great novels on the author's preferred platform. Support original creators!

"What about?" Otter asked, trying not to sound suspicious.

"Just wait for me after practice," Jasper said, already turning away. "It's important."

Before Otter could press further, Horvan's voice boomed. "Back in line!"

Jasper gave a parting nod and disappeared into the crowd, leaving Otter with far more questions than answers.

When their lessons were over, Otter lingered by the gate to the training yard, nodding at people as they left. After a few minutes, Jasper appeared.

"Thanks for waiting," he said coming to a stop beside Otter.

"You're not exactly known for the whole 'let's talk after class' routine," Otter replied. "You've piqued my interest?"

Jasper laughed. "Let's walk and talk." He jerked his head to the side and strode off, Otter keeping pace beside him. When the crowds had thinned significantly, Jasper continued. "You took Understanding the System last semester, right?"

"Yeah."

"How'd you do?"

"Pretty good. 96% overall."

Jasper whistled. "That is good. Listen, I'm having a bit of trouble with that course. I was wondering… well, I was wondering if you'd be able to help me out."

Otter gave him a sidelong glance. "You mean like tutoring? Or something else."

Jasper's cheeks turned slightly pink, and he rubbed the back of his neck. "I guess you could call it tutoring. I just need somebody to explain things in a way that makes sense. I like Overseer Blackwood and all, but the way he talks kind of goes over my head."

Otter nodded. When Blackwood got on a roll, his lectures tended to be lofty to say the least.

"Have you talked to him about it?"

Jasper rolled his eyes. "Yeah. Who do you think suggested I ask you?"

"Oh." For a moment, Otter was speechless. He didn't realize Blackwood thought so highly of his grasp of System mechanics. "I mean, sure Jasper. I'd be happy to help. If I can."

Jasper let out a deep sigh, then stopped walking where the path they were on branched off. "Thanks, man. Can we start this evening?"

"Yeah, I guess so. Are you okay with coming to my room?"

"Sure."

"Okay. I don't have Library duty tonight, so say six?"

Jasper nodded. "Great. See you then." He hesitated. "Um, don't tell anyone, okay? I'm a little embarrassed about it."

Otter clapped him on the shoulder. "Nothing to be embarrassed about. But I'll keep a lid on it, anyway."

"Thanks." Jasper turned and jogged off.

Later, Otter was stirring a dark brown liquid, meant to be a base for other potions. If done correctly, the base would be shelf stable for quite sometime and would serve as a foundation for other ingredients to be added to later for making myriad alchemical concoctions.

"Bennett!" Professor Salien's voice cut through the lab. "You are stirring too fast! You look like you're trying to whip cream."

Otter stopped and gaped.

"Don't stop, Otter," Milo told him. "Just slow down."

"Huh? Oh, right."

Milo screwed up his face. "What's going on with you? You seem addled or something."

"I learned something big last night, Milo. Real big. I want to tell you, but I need to wait until everyone's together. And no one else is around."

Milo stared at him. "Okay." He lowered his voice to a whisper. "Does this have something to do with the Restricted Section?"

Otter nodded vigorously.

"Okay. I'll grab Liora and we'll swing by after dinner."

"Sounds good."

Otter ran into Erin a little later. He told her Milo and Liora were coming by after dinner for some big news and she should come too.

"Want me to tell Levi?"

"Yes, please."

He dropped by the Library to tell Piper, too.

***

At six o'clock, there was a knock on his door. He hurried over and opened it. Jasper stood there with an armload of books.

"Hey."

"Hey. Come on in." Otter was so excited about sharing the news with everyone, he'd forgotten Jasper was coming over, too. "Uh, I kind of double booked myself."

"What?"

Otter had no time to explain because just then, Levi came running down the hall and skidded to a stop outside Otter's door. "Am I late?"

"No." Otter said.

Piper arrived next. Then Milo and Liora showed up. Then Erin.

"You invited Jasper?" Levi asked, his tone incredulous.

Otter looked at Jasper, whose eyes were wide and face was turning red. "Yeah. Look, he was an integral part of our team in the simulation. I wanted to bring him in on this."

Erin nodded in understanding.

Jasper's expression changed to one of confusion.

"Look, I don't think my room is big enough for all of us. Let's head down to the common room and see if it's taken."

Unsurprisingly, it was empty. A magical fire crackled in the hearth. Levi threw himself down on a couch and Erin perched on an armchair. Milo and Liora plopped onto a smaller sofa while Piper lingered by the window. Jasper stood to the side, arms crossed, a slight frown pulling down the corners of his mouth.

Otter paced back and forth in front of the fireplace, organizing his thoughts.

"So," Levi drawled, "what's this big revelation you've been dying to share? Please tell me it involves secret treasure, ancient curses, or at the very least, a rogue automaton."

Otter shook his head, though a small smile escaped. "Not quite. But it's still important. Maybe more important."

Levi sat up, suddenly intrigued. "More important than rogue automatons? I'll be the judge of that."

Otter didn't bother answering.

"Remember how Professor Quisling was letting me read Emrys Gale's journal?"

"How could we forget?" quipped Erin. "It's all you've talked about for a week."

"Right. Well, last night, I had a break-through. I uncovered invisible writing in it."

Milo sat forward. "I've heard of spells that can do that. How did you find it?"

"Spell candle."

Milo nodded.

"Anyway, here's what I found." He reached into his satchel and pulled out the notes he'd meticulously transcribed from Emrys Gale's journal. The glow of excitement was still fresh, like a spark that refused to burn out. He spread out the notes on the low table, smoothing the creased paper flat. The words were hastily scribbled in his neat, slanted handwriting. "Tell me what you think."

They all leaned in, the firelight casting a warm glow over the parchment. Levi's lips moved as he read, though it was clear he was more eager for Otter to explain. Erin, ever the methodical one, scanned the words carefully.

Jasper, to Otter's mild surprise, was watching just as intently.

"Well?" Levi prompted. "It's mysterious, sure. Gale really went for the whole 'ominous prophecy' thing. But what's the actual big reveal?"

"You don't see it?"

Levi looked again, squinting. He might be great with puzzles, Otter thought, but this is a riddle.

After a few moments, Otter couldn't stand it anymore.

He knelt, pointing to the top of the first section.

"The first letter of each passage," he said, "if you read them like an acrostic—"

Levi squinted. "C… O… M…" His grin spread. "Wait. No. No way."

"P," Liora read aloud, her voice barely above a whisper. "A… S… S…"

"Compass," Erin finished.

"I knew it!" Piper cried. "I knew there was some secret with that thing."

"Wait," Liora said. "What about that line: Seek not in temples nor in vaults, for no stone chamber holds it. Isn't the compass in the Library which is basically one big stone chamber? Doesn't that mean the compass isn't what you're looking for?"

Otter nodded. "Yeah, that threw me, too, but that part of the riddle isn't talking about the compass."

Jasper finally spoke up. "He's right. The last line of the previous stanza is talking about the way back. That's what's not found in a vault or stone chamber. I think the compass does what compasses do, it will point you in the right direction."

"Bingo!" Otter beamed. "The way back is just that—a way. A path to follow. It isn't contained at all."

Levi leapt up from the couch. "We're going on a treasure hunt!"

"Hold on," said Erin. "What's the treasure? What will this compass even lead you to? Don't you think that's important to know?"

Otter's face warmed with excitement, though he tried to remain focused. "The fact that Gale went through so much trouble to hide it means it's important."

"Maybe it's a weapon," Liora said. "If Kaos is on the rise, that would be helpful."

Her words hung in the air. No one wanted to dwell on that possibility, but none could deny it.

"Maybe," Otter finally admitted. "But not like a sword or something. This feels bigger."

"Whatever it is," Milo said, "it mattered enough for him to risk someone finding it centuries later. He was leaving a trail."

"And we're going to follow it!" Levi was ready to go looking now.

Otter nodded. "Yes, but we're going to do this right. There's a lot more to this riddle than just the compass."

"All that talk about the gods," offered Erin.

"Yeah. We need to know what we're getting ourselves into. And I don't know enough about the gods to make any connections there. But I'm meeting with Sage tomorrow evening. She knows a lot more about that stuff than I do. Hopefully, she'll have some insights."

"Smart," said Erin. "We don't want to jump into something without knowing the risks."

"Let's reconvene the day after tomorrow and talk about the next step."

Everyone agreed and went their separate ways.

Everyone except Jasper. He just waited around until it was him and Otter again. "Some study session."

"Sorry about that. Like I said, I double booked myself."

"What do we do now? I know I wasn't supposed to be here for that meeting." He looked uncomfortable. Otter felt it too.

"That's up to you, I guess. If you want to be a part of this grand adventure, then you are. I don't know how much I believe in fate or The Fates, but I definitely believe in luck after everything that's happened. So, I think it's a good thing I double booked myself, that you were here for this. You have a different perspective than the rest of us. And I think that's important." He paused. "But I also believe in freedom of choice. If you want nothing to do with any of this, pretend like we're a bunch of hair-brained lunatics pursuing illusions of grandeur, or even if you think you should report us—that's up to you. I wouldn't blame you. And I'll still help you out with studying, no matter what you decide."

Jasper looked at him for a long moment. Otter wondered what he was thinking, saw different expressions play across his face, before he spoke. "Of course I want in. I feel like I'm missing out on a lot of back-story, but I'm sure you'll fill me in." Jasper glanced at his wrisplay. "Now, we still have an hour or so before curfew. How about we start that tutoring session?"