The hall master's office was always summed up in one word: chaos. The office was wide and spacious, and behind the large oak desk stood floor-to-ceiling cube shelving. Filled with books, scrolls, files, and other necessities. That came with running the whole hall. Yet, despite, or more like because of, that shelving, the desk was a mess. Books were stacked in piles around the desk sides. From floor to desktop, the books stood. They almost appeared to be part of the desk designs. Paperwork was in too many piles on the desk. There were definitely more paper stacks there than yesterday. Pens and stamps were scattered in a semi-line across the top of the desk.

Instead of seeing a grand room. With its rich black carpets, gilded paintings, and posh seating area. It was, in spirit, a grand space. Not despite that, but more because of it, Dusk saw a man who was working very hard. He also saw a man who was very good at what he did. There was nothing wrong with that, though it was the first time he had seen it. He had seen the dark-tanned hall master drop a few shades in color. His parents never saw the chaos of the everyday workings of the space. The small room that sat alongside this one was kept clean; he only used it to dump all the chaos when his family visited. Dusk had even helped him move things in there on occasion.

Dusk felt that the organized chaos was homey. The office felt more lived-in than his own room. He had never seen the hall master not be able to find anything; he always knew where something was when he needed it. Dusk had vowed to give it a try once he had his own place. He wouldn't dare try it before then. Like Sage, he feared the response of not his father but his mother. Thinking about it gave him a deep shiver, like the curse of someone walking over his grave. That was his mother to him. A cold and fearful wrath that could befall at any moment.

“Dusk,” a puff of smoke, popped up from behind the mess. A brown, graying head lifted itself out from behind it. Soft brown eyes sparkled at him with ingrained happiness. That reflected his son's kind nature. Standing up, he came around, revealing a firm, toned body that was a clear result of his hard work in cultivation. Dusk held no talent in cultivation; being a mage by blood, magic would be his expertise. Even if only the basics were open to him now.

"Hall, Master Sage,” Dusk said. Forgoing the slight bow in the hall master's previous request, “Thanks for having me,”

“Always so formal,” Sage chuckled, dropping his outed pipe to his pile of paperwork. “Please call me Sage, at least for this last day.”

“Last day?” Dusk asked, and he could hear the hopeful voice in his own voice. Bringing a hand to his mouth, he cleared his throat, a bit embarrassed. “Did the letters come in?” Sage ushered Dusk to the sitting area. Between a couch and a chair was a stone table. Without the aid of magic, he doubted he would be able to move the table. Made from the same material as the building itself, it blended well into the room. On that table sat two letters.

“See for yourself,” Sage said, settling himself into the chair with a creak. Dusk felt his heart skip a literal beat. It took all his willpower not to ravish those letters. His pride wouldn't let him; he didn't have much to call his own. All he had real control over was how he presented himself. And by the laylines, Dusk would not let that go! Walking over with a calm and easy pace, Dusk sat down on the large couch across from Sage.

“Which should I open first?” Dusk said, his palms sweating at the million thoughts running through his head. Most of them were negative.

“I would recommend the one on the right,” Sage tapped his finger on the pale white envelope. It was thick and tied with a fine ribbon that sparkled in the light. He took that one with trembling fingers. He saw his first name scrawled in large script. Flipping it over, he could feel the paper was more like cloth. A thick wax seal was on the back in an unusual pastel blue color. The design inside the seal had his breath catching in his throat. An outline of the classic cut of a round diamond. “Here, use this.” Sage handed him a small silver letter opener.

“My thanks,” Dusk said, taking it and piercing the envelope's corner. It had to be at least an inch thick; he hoped that meant good news. A tingle crept over his fingers, and Dusk dropped the letter back on the table. Sage was quick to move, shying away from the letter and bringing himself around to block Dusk from it. Dusk stood up from the couch, ready to bolt. Sage had a better skill set to deal with whatever threat appeared than he did.

“Good morning.” A blue light flowed from the envelope when it finished opening itself. This light rose and revealed a short, curvy woman. She wore a simple gown that fell straight to the floor from under a voluminous bust. Dusk couldn't tell the color because her transparent figure was one color, blue. Her hair stopped in a chin-length bob; it couldn't take away from her long, fluffy rabbit ears. She came across as young and dainty with her small features, but her voice was firmer than iron. It spoke of age and wisdom that were far beyond her young appearance. Like with advanced martial artists, you couldn’t tell the beast folk by their appearance.

“Greetings, as your country would say.” She placed her hand on her chest and gave a small bow. Both he and Sage relaxed. “I am here to congratulate you on your entrance to Lapidary University.” She tilted her head and gave a full smile from lips to eyes. “Congratulations Dusk. Welcome to Lapidary!” She vanished, and a building appeared. Dusk recognized it right away from the school's flyers.

“We have included your school robe.” Reappearing, her hand waved, and sparkles drifted down. From the light image of the rabbit beast woman. It split around Sage, who was taking small steps to get out of the way of the letter's message. The glowing sparkle of the magic swirled itself around Dusk. He took a deep breath and froze. The magic set his skin into a wave of tingling sensation, very similar to when his foot feels asleep. It didn't hurt, but it was uncomfortable, and if it went on for too long, he felt like his whole body would go numb.

The magic settled itself on Dusk's shoulders, falling in a wave of white. It rushes down over his arms until the sleeve ends with a large opening at his wrist. He raised his arms and admired the classic bell shape of the magic user's robe. Looking down, he watched the fabric finish with a lifted flare before resting at his ankles. To think it all fit inside that one envelope. Dusk thought that he had never thought of using magic in such a creative way. There is so much to learn. Dusk was eager to learn; he longed for it.

“Amazing,” Dusk whispered, rubbing the very real fabric in between his fingers. It was more like a coat than a robe to Dusk. Thick and soft, he tugged at it; it seemed very durable and very plain. Dusk could see some students taking issue with it; the female ones would hate the plain nature of it.

“Please remember that even out of school hours, you need to wear the robe. You can wear what you like underneath.” Her finger came up in front of her face in a standard lecturing pose. “There will be strict punishment for those who don't wear their school uniforms.” That dealt with that, Dusk thought. Of course, the school would be on top of such simple issues.

“Our other school rules are here.” Another wave of magic brought out a small book, about the size of his palm, to rest on the table. “These are simple rules. They're something you should already be familiar with; common sense.” She folded her arms under her chest, boosting her already large bosom. “If you have common sense, you will have a great school life.”

“Documentation about your cabin or dorm Depending on your entry form choices,” A folded and wax-sealed piece of paper fell alongside the school's rule book. “Your teleportation token.” A large silver coin dropped on the table, rattling and spinning in a circle before settling. “We advise you to come as soon as you can to get settled. Classes start in July.” Folding her hands in front of her, she bowed her head down to almost her knees.

“We look forward to seeing your talents grow.” Raising her head, she nodded once. “I am Deputy Headmaster for the university, Professor Quartz.” With those words, she and the letter that carried her message dissolved into fine blue dust. Gone, like it hadn't happened at all.

“Donmiad country is a different place!” Sage placed a hand on Dusk's shoulder. “Congratulation! I knew they wouldn't reject you.” With acceptance, came citizenship, it made it harder for people outside Donmiad to get in. Yet he did it.

“My thanks,” Dusk said blankly. A deep part of him had expected to go with his second plan, running blind. Even if the second envelope held bad news. He did it; he was heading to a new country, which was about as far away as he could get. He wanted to slump on the couch and rest his head on its back. Sag with the relief he felt take hold of his heart. His pride held him upright and had him sitting back down on the couch with care. It felt odd to wear a robe.

“Let's check out your housing details,” Sage said. Helping Dusk out by offering him something to focus on.

“I said I would pay for a cabin,” Dusk said, grabbing the wax-sealed paper.

“You buy them outright at Lapidary, right?” Sage asked, handing over the falling letter opener. Both of them stiffened until the wax seal came off with no light. “It’s supposed to be teaching you the value of land.”

“Yes, you buy it outright, and how you treat it depends on how it resells.” It was to teach the value of a home and land. A trait that many adults didn't have in his age group.

“I can't see that ending well for most of them,” Sage chuckled, his eyes looking off into his past. “I wasn't the most...” Sage stopped and shook his head. “Let's say my wife made me a better man.”

“Many of them were in bad shape,” Dusk agreed when he was filling out the forms. He had seen the cabins and had sought out the worst-looking, cheapest one.

“You won't have a problem unless you go wild with the freedom.” Sage joked, and Dusk shook his head, opening the thickly folded paper. “And get someone pregnant, like me.” Sage laughed, Dusk shook his head, and the hall master had several kids, Ginger being the youngest currently.

“That will never happen.” Dusk said, smiling at the document that stated that he was now the owner of Cabin One Hundred. The cabin had cost him ten platinum, which would be enough for a commoner to buy their own small cabin outright. Then the cost of schooling was three platinums a year.

“Are you going to be okay? Financially?” Sage stood up and walked to his desk as he spoke. “I know you couldn't earn martial coin, and common coin will not get you far.” Sage picked up his pipe from the top of his papers. Martial coin was exclusive to the country of Redneval. No one could use it outside the country, and the common coin's value was half that of the martial coin.

“Father was always generous with giving me universal coins.” Dusk said his father was always benevolent with his allowance. Being born into a Black family had its financial perks. Not spending a coin of that lent a hand in setting him up in his new life. The Universal coin was worth much more than both the Redneval coin and the Donmiad coin. Dusk had saved up a nice sum.

“Duke Ben... he is a good man.” Sage said with some cation.

“He is, if you can survive the rest of them.” Dusk laughed and turned his head to refold the paperwork. He tossed it into his spatial storage with a simple thought. How spatial storage works depends on the user. To Dusk, it was a place he created and used with thought.

“Are you sure you want to?” Sage said, lighting his pipe and giving it a long drag. Letting it out in a long tail of smoke.

“I'm sure.” Dusk met Sage's eyes. Not wavering when he felt Sage build up his power in his aura. Not in a threat, but in a manifestation of his question. Did he want to disavow his family? It would mean breaking all ties. Never acknowledging them or being acknowledged by them again. Dusk could only keep his unwavering gaze in Sage's eyes. It was getting hard to breathe, and if anyone asked him to move, he wouldn't be able to lift a finger off the couch.

“I am sure, Hall Master Sage.” To say he had no regrets about the decision would be a lie. He could wish for them to change and for a gentle family. The reality was that they wouldn't change, and though his father tried more than the rest of his family, that didn't change anything. A love for martial arts and fighting that went far beyond normal. Shivering with a cold sweat, he repeated his words. “By the laylines, I swear it.”

“Then it's time to read that second letter,” Sage said, and the pressure was immediately off. Dusk placed a hand on his chest and took a deep, ragged breath. Dusk put up one finger, asking without words for a moment. Sage laughed out puffs of smoke, taking his time to settle back into the chair across from him. Cultivators, like Dusk, thought the word was a curse word. They're all the same.