by StrixCattus
...Ah. Hello? I'm sorry, do you need something from me? ...I see. Not to offend, but if you're visiting Beauchêne as a prospective student, there are more interesting people to talk to than me. Oh, no, I'm not busy. I'm just surprised, is all. Typically people don't... talk to me.
The girl stands up from the library table and puts away a stack of papers covered in runes. You can't parse a single line—no matter whether you've taken an interest to runespell, this is a much higher level than anything you've encountered before. She is a student, right? You haven't accidentally bothered someone
way above your station?
by StrixCattus
You've probably heard about the buildings that make up Beauchêne, but I know it's not quite the same as seeing them firsthand. Currently, we're in the Qiwynne Library—did you know it was named for the first noble family of Verresel? They were in power when Beauchêne was founded, before the name died out and was replaced with Amella. Still an Eagen line, and they can still trace lineage to the Qiwynnes, but the name has changed. Speaking of names, mine is Umbra. I suppose I'm now your tour guide.
Umbra leads you out of the library. The building's grey stone facade, complete with scroll-holding gargoyles and branches and acorns carved around its massive front doors, is just as impressive the second time you see it as it was the first. You don't stick around for long, though, as Umbra walks surprisingly fast, and the two of you are soon outside a three-story building with cobbled stone walls and a green-shingled roof, the only ornamentation being an oak leaf design around the handles of its doors.
by StrixCattus
You'll probably spend a lot of time in the library, especially if you focus on runespell or take a variety of non-casting classes—which you ought to—but the classrooms are just as important. This is the Meara Building, after Meara Qiwynne. It's the second-oldest building on campus—for a while it was just this and the library. All Runes and non-casting classes are held here, as well as a few classes from other schools of magic.
Next are three buildings in a similar style, the only differences between them being their size and the shape of the designs around the door handles. Umbra doesn't even pause to take them in as she continues talking.
by StrixCattus
These three are Maple, Birch, and Pine, the three on-campus residence halls. The upper floors of Maple and Birch are separated by gender—Maple is all-male, and Birch is all-female. The ground floors and Pine are coed. Pine is the newest by... I believe perhaps a century or so, and from what I remember it contains some sort of housing community thing... yes, I do live off-campus. No surprise you guessed it. Most students choose to live in the dorms as they're cheaper and more convenient, but I prefer the privacy of having space to myself alone.
Umbra takes you past two more buildings before heading for the school's gates, ignoring the towers scattered across campus. One is a sturdy-looking two-story building, with an open-roofed tower at one corner. Some of the windows seem to be reinforced, and you can see in the back a section that looks almost like a smithy. The other is the most modern building you've seen yet despite being made from the same stone as the rest, with a sleek appearance, smooth roof, and wide windows. Through them, you can see a few students sitting at tables, food set out in front of them. They look like they're having a good time chatting with one another.
by StrixCattus
Here we have the Jaybeak building, school of hands-on magic. It was named for Ne Veilxe Jaybeak, an enchantress who lived in Verresel about two centuries ago. All enchantments and alchemy are meant to be done within this building, and usually under professor supervision. Of course incidents do happen, but Beauchêne has a very pristine record. Everything that has occurred was wholly isolated. This final building is Thomás, which was fully renovated... I think only around twenty years ago? Even before then it was one of the newer buildings, but it's very modern now. It's our dining hall, as you can see, named for Vellor Thomás. He invented the second-most efficient refrigerator runespell, but he was a graduate of Beauchêne, and I'm sure they're very proud of it.
You pass through the school's gates, walk for a minute along the outside of the wall, and at last Umbra stops walking at the base of a tower. It's pretty impressive to stand this close to it—you're certain you know what this is, even though you arrived in Verresel by carriage.
by StrixCattus
This final building is, of course, the tower housing Beauchêne's teleportation circle. While the building is owned by the college, it serves the entire town, so the doors are never locked and aim away from campus. It also protects from unsavory individuals sneaking onto campus during lockdown... or from misguided ones arriving when the school is closed and getting trapped inside.
Umbra laughs as though there's some joke in her words you're not privy to. She begins to turn, seemingly to head back to Beauchêne's iron gates before you'll be expected anywhere else, when another voice interrupts.
by StrixCattus
What, you're showing someone the college and you're just going to turn right back around the second you leave its gates? Beauchêne must really love you for that. And I thought we were over this—hey, new kid. You don't really expect to stay in Beauchêne's little isolated community for four years solid, do you?
by StrixCattus
Enough, Felm. I can't just drag someone on a trip across Verresel that they didn't sign up for. Are you sure you're not just sore about being banned from campus? We're going back to Beauchêne so they can return to their family before it gets too late in the day. Not to mention, you're one to talk about isolation. I'd have assumed you'd be all for it.
Despite Umbra's words, she seems to have locked herself in a staredown with Felm, neither willing to back down. You have to admit, you're just as curious about the city as you were the school—and you'd
really like to hear the explanation behind Felm being banned from campus.
by StrixCattus
Well, the people have spoken! Sorry, Umbra, I know you wanted to go back to the library and hole up by yourself, but it looks like we're giving them the
proper tour today. Course, you can leave and let me take over from here, if you want.
by StrixCattus
As though I'd leave a villain alone with a defenseless student. You might try to brainwash them or something. No, it's much safer if I stay so I can keep an eye on you—and, yes, return them to their family in an at least
somewhat timely manner.
So Felm is a quest villain? Or was, judging by how he grumbles something about his father not allowing him. This is getting more intriguing by the minute, though you do have a feeling you shouldn't get your hopes up for learning the full story. Maybe you can look something up in the paper when you have the time—quest villains usually end up in the news.
The first stop on your newly-expanded tour appears to be a restaurant of some sort, with a wooden exterior covered in yellow-and-red paint that has only just begun to peel. A sign in the shape of a chicken hangs perpendicular to the storefront, and through the windows, you can see a few patrons talking over their meals.
by StrixCattus
This is the City Chicken. Their fare is of course almost exclusively chicken dishes, and it's pretty greasy and cheap, so this is one of the most popular restaurants for college students. Not as though I often eat there, but you can see them filtering in in the evening. Sometimes I like to hang around near curfew just to see them all rush back in a panic.
by StrixCattus
Right, that is another thing to mention. Beauchêne is strict about its security—we can talk further about the measures they take at a later time, if you like—and maintains a strict sunset curfew. Anyone within its gates at sunset will be within them until sunrise, and anyone outside the gates will need to find lodging elsewhere.
Next on the list is a building you figured might be in Verresel. While it's not immediately obvious from the construction mimicking the wattle-and-daub the building must have been originally made from, the gleaming metal sign placed directly on the wall and spanning over the front doors makes it clear.
by StrixCattus
This is, of course, the Verresel Adventurers' Guild. You might be aware of the college's feelings towards adventurers, but to erase all doubt: it hates them. Adventurers draw conflict, typically in the form of dungeons, and dungeons are the bane of a productive education. Of course, Beauchêne can't issue a blanket ban on adventurers, so it merely prohibits multiple students from claiming membership to the same party, to minimize the risks.
by StrixCattus
For the record, that's the real reason I'm banned from campus. I couldn't become a student regardless, but if Umbra and I weren't registered in the same party, I could come and go just fine. Shame she didn't want to keep quiet about it—I think it'd be funny if we caused the school to panic and shut down again.
by StrixCattus
Shame indeed. I don't.
This next building is a temple of Dornara. Of course there are many temples of varying sizes scattered across the city, and you might find your own god to worship outside of the more popular channels, but Dornara's temple is one of the largest and most... popular in Verresel.
You catch Umbra's double meaning, there. The panic from Myvvol and Utar's disappearance was only a few weeks ago, and you were one of the many who flocked to the temples in the hopes that some god knew what was going on. This must have been the center of the flocking in Verresel. Makes sense everyone would rush to a goddess of fortune-telling.
The building in question has a domed roof that seems to be made from some sort of blue stone, set atop marble walls that form what looks from your angle to be a hexagonal shape with an elongated entryway in front. Elevated stained-glass windows line the walls, though they're too far above your head to see through them.
by StrixCattus
That's all but two of the important buildings, isn't it? There are other shops and restaurants and temples, but I'm sure you don't care to drag them around to every location they could possibly be interested in. Shall we save the Coyote for last?
by StrixCattus
Visiting the Coyote as a final stop sounds appropriate. If it's all right with you both, I'd like to treat our visitor to something to eat—it is the least I could do after allowing them to be dragged around town for so long. Though—what is the other stop? I can't think of anywhere else we might possibly—unless—surely you can't be implying what I think you are?
Instead of responding with words, Felm breaks into a run, and Umbra begins chasing him down in what seems like an instinctive move before she catches herself—but your curiosity is still piqued, and you have no intention of stopping.
You finally end up at the base of what looks like an abandoned warehouse with a few extra windows along its walls, accessible only through an alleyway. Felm pulls open the double doors casually, and you follow him through to a surprisingly tidy lobby. Electric lights, comfortable chairs, wooden reception desk, and everything. Umbra arrives soon after, panting heavily, and it's this that draws the attention of the girl sitting at the desk, feet propped up and holding a clipboard in her lap.
by StrixCattus
Well, never thought I'd see you two popping in again, especially not so soon. In case you thought otherwise, the kid's not one of ours—trust me, I'd know. Though if you're offering up a new recruit... name's Rena Hue. I'm not technically running the Guild, but I'm still the only one here who really has their act together, which is basically the same thing.
by StrixCattus
We have no intention of giving them up to you, Rena. This is a prospective student of Beauchêne, to whom Felm insisted upon introducing the Thieves' Guild.
by StrixCattus
Of course I did! It's an integral part of Verresel that provides an essential service! Were you planning to paper over the parts of the city you don't like? New kid, pay attention. Verresel exists in a delicate balance between the three most ubiquitous forces in Deus. The college despises the risks adventurers bring to the city, but can't wipe them out because the citizens love them. The adventurers would certainly like to erase the illegal thief activity, but they're so reliant on the other guild they'd collapse without it. The thieves are constantly working to gather intel on and subvert the college, but one wrong move and they'd all go up in flames. It's all a delicate balance one misstep away from collapsing into a—
Umbra, seemingly having had enough, clamps her hand over Felm's mouth and drags him out of the Thieves' Guild. You follow her as she doubles back to the college, and near the school's gates you come across what seems to be a misplaced medieval inn. The roof is covered in red-and-orange shingles that seem to mimic the sky at sunset, and the similarly-painted hanging sign reads,
The Sunset Coyote.
by StrixCattus
This marks our final stop—which, yes, I am now enforcing. We've kept this poor student long enough. This is the Sunset Coyote, the inn which serves those unfortunate enough to be caught outside Beauchêne's gates at sunset without other lodging options. They also serve food, so if you'd allow it I'd like to treat you to something. Consider it an apology for keeping you so long.
The three of you settle into a booth in the corner—the inn's dining room is almost completely empty at this time of afternoon, so it's a quiet and restful place to end your tour. A woman whose nametag identifies her as Mama Rosé comes to take your order, and you tune out Umbra and Felm's bickering over who's paying for Felm's drink as you take in the place.
It's a cozy-looking setup, with warm wooden floorboards and what look like genuine torches in sconces on the walls. The walls are intermittently adorned with paintings of sunlit meadows and the like. You almost feel a little sleepy by the time Mama Rosé returns with your order.
by StrixCattus
It's a decent place, isn't it? I've heard the rooms are quite small, but given that most patrons are only interested in staying for a night, I'd say that's a sensible decision. Besides, the rates are favorable for students, and from what I've heard, the dining alone makes this place appealing to a wide range of people. It's... unique.
Right, you've noticed that. The menu—which seemed to last all day—contained only breakfast foods, and there wasn't a single alcoholic beverage to be found. You suppose it makes sense, given the target demographic would be college students grabbing something to eat on their way back to Beauchêne.
Once done with your food, you head back to the college. The sun is already starting to approach the horizon—you hadn't noticed how long you'd been out. At least you have a much better idea of what Beauchêne—and the town containing it—would be like if you attended.
by StrixCattus
Okay, we're back at the wall, so I guess I've got to leave. See, how's that for being mature? Anyway, new kid, here's hoping you come back in the fall and make things interesting. Gods know the place could use it.
by StrixCattus
I believe what Felm is trying to say is that we'd be honored if our tour is what leads you to choose Beauchêne. Wherever you study magic, though, I'm sure you'll end up enjoying it—and I suppose this school certainly isn't for everyone. You've probably got an idea of how strict they can be here already.
You say goodbye to Felm as Umbra leads you back onto campus, and finally part ways outside the library. You've got a lot to think about after that tour. Which reminds you—you'd better find a newspaper archive and look up Felm's name. When could he have been a villain? It was probably well before the panic over Myvvol and Utar, which gives you a lot of ground to cover.
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