1:02 PM, 24th of December, 1728

  The campus did indeed start just past the court, signified by a semi-walled off area, massive in its size. The walls were, of course, made of the same marble as everything else, as well as the buildings inside those walls. They had an ancient look to them, though they were beautifully kept, looking as if they were polished every day.

  The frontmost area, just past the open gate, was made up of gardens. There were dozens, each split up by pathing, some centered by fountains, and others by statues. The statues looked oddly out of place, carved out of a different stone than the rest of the city, likely created after the mass blanching that took place following the God of Truth’s death.

  The university itself was also unbelievable in its size, with the main building being much larger than the court.

  People filled the plaza, some looking to be in a rush, running to the next classes that they were already late for, while others simply strolled around enjoying the breathtaking scenery.

  Alexander walked up the steps to the entrance and through the front door, confused as to where he should go next.

  All signs were written in the Elysian language that appeared all around the city, leaving him clueless about the meaning of any of them. He would soon need to learn this language if he was serious about becoming a scholar.

  Choosing not to wander around for hours mindlessly through the massive building, he asked for directions, as he usually did.

  A guard was standing by the front entrance, watching him as he approached.

  “Yes? How can I help you?”

  “I want to become a scholar. How can I go about getting in touch with the headmaster?”

  “Hm. She should be in her office at this time of day. If you head upstairs, the signs will lead you there.”

  Alexander scratched his head, a little embarrassed.

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  “Well, about that, I can’t actually read your language.”

  The guard scrunched up his face but chose not to speak his mind, instead walking by Alexander towards the staircase, looking back as he spoke.

  “Alright, come with me, I’ll show you the way.”

  The second floor was lined with classrooms along each wall. Alexander looked through an open door, surprised to find the class filled to the brim with students.

  At the end of the hall was the headmaster's office, though Alexander wouldn’t have any idea by just looking at it, with the text by the door being in a language he couldn’t read.

  The guard left him at the door and returned to his position, leaving Alexander with only one thing left to do, and so, he knocked.

  No one answered.

  He stood there for a few minutes, unsure of what to do, but decided to knock again.

  Again, nothing.

  To his left was a bench, presumably meant for waiting for the headmaster, so he decided to do just that.

  He sat there for a very long time.

  Hours had passed, and he was now familiar with every groove and bump on each of his hands, studying them throughout his boredom.

  As he began to doze off, he felt the rush of air caused by the door to the office opening. Able to react in time before it really opened, he snapped out of his daze, trying to appear presentable to the person exiting.

  She poked her head through the door, looking down at Alexander as he sat on the bench.

  Her eyes were a vibrant blue, almost the same color as Alexanders', though her hair was jet black and her complexion was even paler than his own. She looked to be in her early thirties, leaving Alexander to wonder how someone so young could be the headmaster of the only university in a city centered around knowledge.

  “What’s up?”

  The response threw him off a little, and before he could respond, she continued.

  “You’re here to be a scholar, right? Here, come in then.”

  She opened the door all the way before leaving and sitting at her desk.

  “Take a seat, please.”

  He entered, sitting in a chair across from her.

  Before he could speak, she again spoke first, leaning in as she did.

  “You do know the terms already started, don’t you? It’s not standard to let someone enroll in the middle of the term.”

  “I do, but I just arrived here only a few days ago, and in those few days I’ve already come to the conclusion that I would like to become a scholar.”

  “Alright then, what do you have to offer me in exchange?”

  Unsure of what she meant, Alexander tilted his head to the side.

  “Sorry?”

  She sighed, “In exchange for my letting you enroll late. Don’t you have some interesting piece of knowledge you can share with me? Anything at all?”

  “Do you know me from somewhere?”

  She leaned back in her chair, putting her leg up onto her desk, and tilting her head back, counting on her fingers as she spoke.

  “Well, I know your name is Alexander. I know you lived under one of the domes. I know you were arrested by Charles under suspicion of being a thrall. I know you had a little incident involving the book of Truth during your trial.”

  She tilted her head down, her eyes meeting his blindfold.

  “I know you’re faking apparent blindness, too. But what I don’t know is why, or how. I also don’t know what it was like living under that dome, or why you decided to come to the City of Truth. So tell me, would you?”

  Alexander’s heart beat faster as she listed off each of his secrets, though his Authority stayed silent.

  “And how do you know all of that?”

  “That’s exactly what being a scholar is all about. We learn anything we can, and everything intrigues us, those of us who really take it seriously, anyway. You can’t seriously expect the headmaster to be completely clueless as to who one of the most interesting people who set foot in her door is, can you?”

  “I guess not. And for starters, I never claimed to be blind; everyone just assumed I was.”