The Jackal's Song
Chapter 14: Shadowed Paths

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Soon after arriving home, Senu received word that Terrance was waiting for him at the Stag, and the jackal all but ran from his apartment to share the good news with his friend. The familiar warmth and chatter of the inn were almost enough to make him forget about the last time he was inside when the owner had fired him. He spotted Terrance at a smaller table in a corner, a large tankard in front of him. The wolf seemed preoccupied, and Senu's jubilation faded somewhat.

“Hey," he said, his tail still wagging despite himself. “I got in!"

The wolf forced a smile. “Oh, good. I... sorry, I forgot that you were doing that today." He took a long pull from his drink. “I guess it went okay?"

Senu shrugged. “Yeah, for the most part. Is everything all right?"

Terrance set his mug down and let out a grunt. “Not really."

“What's going on?"

“Well," Terrance said, looking into his glass. “It's Marco. I don't know what the hell to do with him."

Senu sat down across from his friend, his good news momentarily forgotten. “Did something happen?"

He shook his head. “Not exactly. He's been walking in his sleep. Creeping out some of the other pups. Plus I keep catching him wandering around near that damn fortress again. The Dungeon isn't there anymore—I checked—but the place still makes my fur stand on end, and I'm worried about more cultists showing up. A few of the townsfolk in Saltspray Grove say they've seen strangers about at night. I've been patrolling more often, and even have some of the others helping out, but we haven't caught anyone yet."

“Has Marco seen anyone like that?"

“No. He says he was just curious. He's always been like that. Smart and hard-working, despite being my youngest. He usually listens, but I can't seem to get him to now. Ever since we got him out of that place, he's been acting strange. Not like himself."

Senu's ears splayed as he thought about the young wolf. “The nightmares haven't come back, have they?"

Terrance shook his head. “No. He says his dreams are fine. But I know what he's experiencing is still vivid. The other night, I found him standing in the middle of the field, barepawed and shivering. When I asked him what he was doing, he said he was following the 'whispers.'"

“The whispers?" Senu's brow furrowed. “What does that mean?"

“I don't know," Terrance admitted, his voice tinged with frustration. “He said he heard voices calling to him, telling him to come back outside. I thought it was just the after-effects of what happened to him, but now I'm starting to wonder if something else is going on."

“I... I'm not as good as Hake, but I could try to visit with him. Maybe learn what has him preoccupied."

Terrance considered. “Well, what your brother did seem to help. I just don't want to mess too much with my kid's head, you know?"

“Sure. I'm just not sure if there's any other way I can help."

Terrance let out a low breath, then rubbed a paw through his headfur. “I doubt you can. But thanks for trying anyway." His smile returned, this time a bit less forced. “Besides, it sounds like we should be celebrating."

“I had planned to," Senu said. “But if you want to talk about Marco more, I don't mind."

The wolf shook his head. “No. I was just in town for some business and figured we could have a drink or two before I head back. Truly, I'm happy for you. I know you really wanted this."

 His tail swayed a bit more, but he kept it subdued. “I did. But, I'm still going to need to figure out how to pay tuition."

“Aria's helping you out, yeah? They said you'd been doing good work."

“Oh, definitely. But 4,000 is a lot of gold. I was thinking of trying to get a loan, but I don't have anything for collateral. So that leaves..." He trailed off.

“Another Dungeon," Terrance said after a few minutes. “Gods, Senu. Don't take this the wrong way, but I really hope there isn't another one around here."

“You said you checked out the Fortress again?"

“Yeah. It's just crumbling stone now. No monsters. Hell, it looks like most of the interior is collapsed."

“Guess that also means no treasure."

“Unless you're selling cobwebs and old stone, no, probably not."

“Hmm."

The two talked for a little while longer, discussing the admissions process and Senu's plans for the future. Senu shared his excitement about starting at the Harmonious Accord, while Terrance offered some advice and encouragement despite his own preoccupations.

“You're doing it, Senu," Terrance said as things were winding down. His enthusiasm no longer sounded forced, though Senu suspected he was still preoccupied. “I'm proud of you. Leaving home to chase a dream takes guts, but you're sticking to it."

“Thanks, Terrance. It means a lot coming from you," Senu replied, feeling a bit more at ease. After a moment of quiet, he added. “I can't help but worry about Marco. If there's anything I can do…"

“I know, Senu. And I appreciate it. I just don't want to put too much pressure on him. I might try to take him back to that priest. Luciano. But I'll give it a few more days."

“Of course. Just let me know if anything changes or if you think of something I can do to help."

Terrance nodded, but his gaze kept drifting back to his tankard, a deep furrow etched into his brow. “I just wish it was something I could understand. Ever since the Invader War, the world's become a strange place. Sometimes I just don't know if an old wolf like me has a place in it."

Senu reached across the table, placing a reassuring hand on the wolf's arm. “You'll figure it out, Terrance. Just take it one day at a time."

The wolf managed a weak smile, but the worry in his eyes was unmistakable. “Yeah. One day at a time."

There was another pause, and Senu put down a few coins to settle the tab for the both of them. “Thanks for spending some time with me Terrance. I should get going. Marco will be happy to see you before it gets too late."

Terrance looked relieved but tried to hide it. “Yeah, you're right. I should check on him. Thanks for understanding, Senu."

“Anytime. And promise me you'll tell me if I can help?"

Terrance stood, clapping a hand on Senu's shoulder. “I will. Take care of yourself, Senu. And congrats again on getting into the Harmonious Accord. I know you're going to do amazing."

“Thanks, Terrance. Take care, and say hi to Alesia for me."

With a final nod, Terrance left the inn, his steps heavy with the weight of his worries. Senu watched him go, a mixture of concern and hope in his heart. He stayed at the table for a few more moments, finishing his drink and gathering his thoughts before heading home himself.

***

Lunch with Master Sanguine was a bit of an awkward affair, but Senu did learn a lot. Classes were out of session for the summer, so only a few students were still present. Since he arrived somewhat early, this allowed him to explore the campus, which felt even larger with the absence of the usual crowds. The main building was enormous, its grand facade reflecting a blend of late Renaissance architecture and modern magical sensibilities. Intricate stone carvings adorned the exterior, depicting scenes from legendary bardic tales, while sleek, enchanted lanterns provided a warm, ambient light that flickered softly with magical energy. Tall, arched windows allowed natural light to flood the spacious halls, highlighting the polished marble floors and richly detailed tapestries that lined the walls.

The interior was just as impressive, with a dozen lecture halls featuring high vaulted ceilings and frescoes of historical events. The library was a vast repository of knowledge, filled with shelves that reached the ceiling and required ladders to access the higher tomes. There was a dining hall with long, communal tables made from dark wood, and a variety of performance halls and practice rooms equipped with enchanted acoustics to enhance musical and vocal performances. Lounge areas for studying were scattered throughout, each one furnished with plush chairs and magically sustained fireplaces that provided a cozy atmosphere.

Outside, there was a large field equipped with facilities for training in arcane, melee, and ranged combat. Enchanted targets and dummies moved with lifelike agility, offering students a dynamic and challenging training experience. The dormitories set a little apart from the main buildings, were segregated by gender per tradition, but in practice, Sanguine told him fraternization was extremely common.

“We only admit adults," she said. “So we don't have to worry about that kind of mess. Granted, some students occasionally cross inappropriate boundaries, but the punishments for such things are severe enough that we only have to expel one or two students a year."

After the tour, they found a restaurant nearby that was mostly empty, save for a few patrons, and they enjoyed a meal in the master's office while talking about what Senu might expect over the coming months.

“One of the reasons I volunteered to take you on as my pupil is that I think you understand how rare an opportunity this is. As I'm sure you've figured out by now, most of our students are the children or beneficiaries of the very wealthy. By the time they come to us, they tend to be very full of themselves, and teaching them is a bit like banging my head against a wall. A student like you might mean more work, but I also expect greater results. Don't disappoint me."

“I won't. No matter what it takes."

The vulpine grinned. “See, that's what I mean. All right, so let's talk nitty-gritty details. You should be spending a minimum of fifteen hours a week in lectures and lessons. Completing assignments and studying should occupy another thirty hours a week, and we recommend practicing—music, magic, and combat—another fifteen hours a week. On top of that, you'll occasionally be required to do some fieldwork, that is, whenever we can find some appropriate Dungeon activity to train you on. Nothing too dangerous, you understand, or too high stakes. We're not looking to get anyone killed, just comfortable with the realities of life as a bard."

He had been taking notes for the last half hour, and he continued that, trying not to think much about how he was going to find time for everything. Already, he realized he might have to reduce his time at Aria's to one or two nights a week.

“Now, you'll be expected to maintain a certain level of personal presentation. That includes your clothing, your grooming, and so on. The idea is that as long as you're in public, you're ready to perform. You represent the school and your brand as a bard at all times, which means you need to be at your best as often as possible."

Senu nodded, making a note. “Do you have a uniform?"

She laughed. “No, thank the Beast Mother. Alaric's been pushing us to get one for years, but I think Dree and I would both quit if that happened."

“Really?"

“Really. I like teaching, but this isn't some military academy, and if Alaric wants to turn it into something like that, I'll find somewhere else to take my considerable talents."

She was leaning back in her chair, booted feet on her desktop. That didn't exactly seem in line with what she was saying about personal presentation, but he supposed that the poor etiquette might just be a part of her “brand."

“Right. So no uniform, but high-quality clothing whenever possible."

She smirked. “Basically. Although," she leaned in and lowered her voice, “it's not all that hard to make cheap clothing look more expensive with a few alterations."

“Really? I'll have to thank my father for teaching me how to sew."

She raised a brow. “That works, though I was thinking of more arcane solutions." She wriggled her fingers dramatically, summoning a few small colored balls of light that danced in an intricate pattern.

“I've been wanting to learn more about illusions and disguise."

“Excellent. You can put that on your list of things to do. One piece of good news is that although you will be paying a top-tier price, that comes with access to top-tier facilities. You'll have a private, sound-proofed room in the dormitory. Each room includes a study and practice area, a separate bedroom and feather bed, and a few other niceties that I suspect you'll find a pleasant change of pace. When combined, the libraries here have at least as much as you'd find in the Shimmering Archive, and likely a good deal more magical resources. You'll also have access to every musical instrument you can think of, plus a few dozen more you can't."

“So a king's ransom gets me a king's education?"

She chuckled. “Something like that. Speaking of, Alaric insisted that I ask you about payment. You still have a month before you need to settle up with the bursar, but I know it's a lot of money."

Senu shrugged. “I was hoping to take out a loan, but I don't know who I'd ask."

She frowned. “Don't. Without collateral, you'd just be setting yourself up for a bad time. I'd rather not have to fish you out of the river."

“Then do you have any suggestions?"

Her tail swished. “Senu, if I knew how to raise 4,000 gold in a month, I would be on my private island right now."

He sighed. “I have a good way to make money, but it's hard work, and there's no way I can keep it up when classes start. If I pushed myself all month, that would be around 400."

“That's a far cry from 4,000."

“I know."

A few seconds passed, then he said, “I was considering trying to find a Dungeon."

Sanguine's expression was impossible to read, but after a second, she said, “If you had a crew, it might not be the worst plan. But don't try it by yourself."

He winced. “I already learned that lesson."

She nodded. “I wondered if you were the jackal involved with all that business at that old fort. As I understand it, you're lucky you weren't killed."

He nodded.

“Well, let me know if you figure something out. I'm going to proceed as if it were a sure thing, but if the time comes and you aren't able to pay, you'll have to forfeit your admission. Sorry, but that's a rule I have no say in."

“I understand."

“Good. So, we'll go over the expected curriculum for your first year, and then we can wrap up for now. I'll be here all summer, so you're welcome to make an appointment if anything comes up."

She slid a thick piece of parchment across the desk to him. “This is a list of specializations we can offer you. You'll need to pick one during the first week of classes."

There were far more than he expected. There were specializations in nearly every type of performance he could imagine: music, of course, but also dramatic storytelling, dancing, rhetorical finesse, arcane effects, and a few others. There were also specialties related to a few different styles of magic, and at least two different combat styles. He did notice one of them was blacked out.

“What's this one?" he asked.

She frowned. “That was Ferrous's specialty. I'm afraid we can't offer it anymore."

“Oh."

She shrugged. “Were you wanting to speak to ghosts?"

“What? No."

“Then it's best not to worry about it. For what it's worth, your people's connection to the Seelie means you'd be a natural with illusion magic, so you might consider a specialty related to that, but that's just one option open to you. You showed aptitude in quite a few areas during your admissions exam."

“What's your specialty?"

“Officially, I was trained as a skald. But I can get you started on any of these paths."

“Can I change my mind?"

“Well, for the first two years, things are flexible. If you start on a specialization and we find that it's not working for you, it's not too difficult to change direction, though you'll likely have to work harder to make up. But by your final year, you'll be committed. You might be able to change your mindset and style on your own—many bards do over the course of their career—but that'll be on your time.

“I see. Well, I'll have to think it over."

“Take your time. Let me know if you have questions about anything. In the meantime, you're free to go."

“Thank you for your time, Master."

“I expect big things from you, Mr. Ren. Good luck."