The Jackal's Song

Chapter 13: Admissions

Another week passed, and Senu focused on preparing for his admissions evaluation for Harmonious Accord. He had submitted his application and received notice of an appointment where he would be evaluated on his skills. The specifics weren't provided, so he tried to divide his practice time to cover all the essentials that the college taught: combat, music, performance, lore, and magic.

As a jackal, he'd studied history since he was a small child, and music had always come easily to him from a technical perspective. Unfortunately, that didn't translate well to his relationship with the Universal Symphony required to access the Arcana using bardic magic. He was better at leveraging his innate connection to the Seelie, but his powers were quite limited. Much like his music, his technical knowledge of magic was significant, but he struggled in the application.

In preparation, Senu practiced the bardic spells he used most often: summoning lights and minor illusions to supplement his performances. He knew a handful of other spells, but they were often exhausting to use, requiring significant rest after just a few invocations. Ever since journeying into the Dungeon with Terrance, he felt that he'd gotten stronger, but he didn't feel like he was yet at a level that the admissions committee would respect.

Nevertheless, he practiced, determined to make as strong an impression as possible.

He also purchased a set of fine clothing to wear to the event. Unfortunately, that had come at a significant cost. That, plus another week's rent and his application fee to the college, meant that he had already spent the money he'd earned working for Aria and then some. He expected to work extra hours at the warehouse this week just to pay his rent.

But he felt confident that this was the right action. He wanted to be a bard, and the Harmonious Accord was the best school for that, possibly in all of Vinyot, but at least in this corner of the Beast World. He knew that if he were accepted, he would be the first jackal ever to be admitted. That in and of itself would be noteworthy, but he also worried that he might be held to a higher, unfair standard because of that.

Still, he worked, he practiced, and he readied himself.

When the day finally came, he left home just after dawn (he had passed on his shift at the warehouse that night, just to ensure he was well rested) and made the long walk to Southbank and to the doors of the prestigious school.

The receptionist was warmer with him than she'd been the first time they'd met, though her demeanor was still detached and professional. About thirty minutes later, he was being introduced to the faculty. Senu almost tripped when he spotted the distinctive combination of brown, gray, and white lupine fur belonging to Vennick Alaric.

Alaric was no bard, but he was known for academic connections and his patronage of the arts. His presence here made sense as Senu considered, but he still hadn't been expecting it. He'd studied the three masters who were supposed to be the current faculty here. He noted, in observing the three sitting behind a long table at the end of a hall, that Alaric was in the place of a master he had expected, a male equine.

The other two, Masters Valeria Sanguine and Silas Dree, a Tradewind Fox, and a Sloth, were where they were expected to be, however. They watched him enter with impassive expressions. Alaric was the exception, who had an unexpected warmth in his smile.

“Ah, Senu, yes? You used to perform at the Royal Stag?"

The jackal bowed. “Ah, yes... Master Alaric?" He hadn't seen this wolf since that night in the alley when he and Andrus had been fighting. Seeing him in such a different state was confusing. 

Alaric's smile didn't falter. “Yes, that is correct. I have recently been appointed to the role of Master here."

“Ah, I see." He wasn't sure if he should say more, but settled on a “Congratulations, Master Alaric."

“Oh, thank you. Did you ever get that missing lyre back?"

Senu shook his head.  “No, sir. But I was able to replace it."

“Ah, well, I suppose it worked out then. I look forward to seeing how you've improved."

One of the other masters, the sloth, cleared their throat. “First, some business," he said slowly. “I am Master Dree, the headmaster here. Master Sanguine and Master Alaric are the other members of this council. I recognize that the admission materials you were provided indicated otherwise, but Master Ferrous has agreed to take a more passive role in the school for the time being, though he will still be mentoring his current students. Will that be a problem for you?"

“I see," Senu said. “I did prepare some questions for Master Ferrous, but I am certain that you all will be able to answer them when the time comes."

Dree nodded. “Very good. Then we will start with the interview portion. We have read your application and know your basic situation. So I would like to begin by hearing your interpretation of the Universal Symphony. What is it that calls to you?"

Senu swallowed. He'd practiced this several times, but now that he was under the scrutinizing gaze of three masters, his nerves were hard to keep down. He knew that every word he said here would be seen as part of a performance and would be judged accordingly.

“Ah, well," he paused for a breath to collect his thoughts. “I see the Universal Symphony as the music of the world, the heartbeat of the earth, the wind, the fire, the water. It's the combination of sounds that make up our lives. And when we find that part of ourselves that hears the Symphony, when we join our voice with the chorus, we can impose some small measure of our will on it to access the Arcana."

“An interesting summary," Alaric said. “What would you say to a wizard or sorcerer who had a different perspective on the Arcana?"

He'd been prepared for something like this. “There's no doubt that there are other ways to access the Arcana and other types of magic in the world. However, they are also part of the same whole as the Universal Symphony, even if they don't perceive it the same way."

Master Sanguine leaned forward, her bright red fur and green eyes giving the appearance of the embodiment of wildfire. “What about the relationship of the Symphony to Nature and the Divine? Where do you see the distinction?"

“I view it much the same way. Distinct, but still part of the same grand tapestry. The Divine is the concept that moves us to action, the Arcana is the force that reacts to those actions. Nature is the world around us and the tools that we use to shape our actions. The Universal Symphony is the way that they come together, the connection between all life."

Master Dree leaned back in his chair, nodding. “A good answer, if a tad rote." The sloth rubbed at his chin with a long clawed finger. “What of the jackal perspective? Your people have always been cryptic about such things. What do you have to say about their relationship to the Symphony?"

He considered for a moment. “My people are not a common sight, Master Dree. As I am sure you know. Our blessings from the Seelie have created a distinction between us and other Willful Creatures in the Beast World. However, we still experience the fundamental influence of the three powers as much as anyone else. We hear the music as well as any beast."

Alaric cleared his throat after a few heartbeats of silence. “I'm curious. You would be the first jackal to join this college since it was founded. How does that make you feel?"

He thought about the question.

“Nervous," he finally said. “But excited. I left my home specifically because I want to be involved with the world at large. Most of my people are content to remain apart, but I am not. I can't think of any way to facilitate connections between people than to become a bard."

“What do you think the most important part of a bard's role is?" Sanguine asked.

Again, he paused to consider.

“I don't think there's an easy answer. But I can tell you what I've seen and experienced. A bard is an artist. And artists are meant to inspire and move people. Sometimes we use our skills to fight. Other times we use them to entertain. And sometimes, we simply speak a truth that is hard to hear, and that's enough. I don't believe there is one role that's more important than another, but rather the bard's importance lies in sharing a piece of yourself with someone else. That is how a bard connects to the Symphony, and it is the connection between people that makes the world special."

“Oh, I like that one," she said with a slight chuckle. “All right. I'm satisfied. Can we move on to the performance auditions?"

Dree nodded, but Alaric spoke up.

“Just a moment, Master Sanguine. I still have one last question."

“Oh? By all means," she said gesturing towards Senu.\

“Why did you choose this college?"

He paused. The honest answer was that it was the best one he could reasonably travel to by foot from Feyspring. But he worried that would be less than flattering. Perhaps it was time for a bit of oratory flare. “The Harmonious Accord has a reputation for innovation, a tradition that I respect and hope to join. The opportunity to learn from Masters such as yourselves is a rare and priceless privilege and one that I would be honored to take advantage of."

Alaric smiled. “Priceless? I think you'll find there's a fairly distinct price to pay to attend here, but thank you for your answer." He waved a paw. “Go ahead, Master Dree."

The sloth seemed somewhat irritated to have been interrupted, but he pushed things along.

The next portion of the admissions process was a set of auditions and evaluations of his artistic talent and performative ability in many areas. He played musical pieces on all the instruments he knew: His lyre, of course, as well as a lute, longhorn, and drum—all provided by the school.

He did well with the lyre and felt that at one point his performance, mixed with dance, had suitably impressed all the masters. But when he shifted to the other instruments, his confidence fell flat. He hadn't had the opportunity to practice with these for some time, and it was rather obvious.

Fortunately, he did better when it came time to demonstrate his physical abilities. He expertly completed an acrobatic obstacle course summoned onto the main stage via some kind of magic. He put his newfound strength to use in a display of athletic prowess involving several weights and heavy blocks, and his manual dexterity by juggling a variety of objects, then untangling an intricate series of knots tied into silk rope.

The next series of tests were a kind of oral examination, intended to assess his level of knowledge in a variety of subjects, as well as his oratory ability to present the information in interesting ways. A barrage of questions covering the natural sciences, religion, the arts, language, history, and the arcane were lobbed at him in rapid succession, and though he was certain he impressed with his deep knowledge of most of those topics, he felt his performative ability once again came up short.

Finally, he was asked to demonstrate his magical ability through the performance of each cantrip he knew, as well as many spells as he could perform before exhausting himself. Evidently, not much was expected of him, as the masters did not appear very surprised when he was unable to cast more than a handful of arcane spells before he was unable to summon enough mana to go on. Still, he thought his unseen servant and floating disk were both somewhat impressive, and the perfect delivery of his custom defensive spell got a few words of praise from all three masters.

When it was done, he was given a few minutes to rest while the masters deliberated. They took longer than he would have expected—nearly an hour—but eventually the receptionist, a different one than he'd met the previous week, returned and led him into the hallway outside the main entrance.

“Congratulations," Master Dree said after he'd been shown back into the chamber where he'd spent most of the day. “You've been accepted to the Harmonious Accord. You have 30 days to pay your tuition for the first semester. Master Sanguine will be your primary instructor for now. Her role will be to help you design a curriculum tailored to your interests, balancing out the need to hone your strengths and shore up your weaknesses."

There were a few more congratulations from the other masters, and Senu felt a sense of relief. He'd done it! He'd finally been accepted into a college. “There is still the matter of tuition," Alaric said after he'd had a moment to revel in the achievement. “You'll be expected to put down the funds for a full year before you can enroll in any classes, and as you've been made aware, the expense is considerable."

He nodded. “I'll be able to pay."

Alaric raised a brow. “You sound confident, but 4,000 gold pieces is a tidy sum for most nobles. Are you certain? There are no scholarship funds available here, and your studies will consume most of your time, meaning extracurricular work will not be a viable option."

“Yes, sir. I'm sure."

The wolf seemed intrigued by his confidence, and Senu realized he'd been too quick to speak. “Exactly how do you intend to raise the funds?"

He hesitated. “I'm... not certain yet, but I'll find a way."

Alaric nodded. “Very well. I suppose if it's important enough to you, you'll do that. But do be careful. You are a representative of this school now, and it's important that you live up to that."

“Understood, Master Alaric."

“Good. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a few errands to see to."

Alaric left without so much as a goodbye to the other masters, and Sanguine delivered a rude gesture to the wolf's back as he stepped through the door. Dree didn't seem to notice.

“Well," Sanguine said, looking to Senu, “I'm sure you're tired, but we should schedule a meeting sometime in the next few days to go over everything you'll need and the expectations we'll have for you."

“I can meet anytime."

“Very good. Come back tomorrow at noon. We'll get lunch and talk."

Senu bowed his head. “Thank you, Master Sanguine. Until tomorrow."