A Quest for the Stars

“I did it.” Lenoria dragged her feet across the campus gate and looked at the sundial posted on the courtyard. “And with twenty minutes to spare!” Once she made it across the gate, she stretched her arms and legs as if she’d just woken up from a good night’s sleep. She unfolded her white coat, dusted it off, and donned it before moving on. “I should have just left it here instead of taking it home, but at least there’s no tears.”

The girl had stumbled upon two dogs on her way - both of them black with collars and two feet in height - and both playfully circled and jumped around her. This frustrated her as she had to stretch her arms skyward to keep her coat barely out of their reach. As this happened, a couple - both humans, male and female - only observed from distance, laughing and sneering.

“It’s okay, they won’t bite,” both would tell her, laughing as they did.

“That wasn’t the problem.” The girl was annoyed, but at least she made it to the Artificers Guild unscathed. She looked around the area, pleased that her arrival caused a few of the students to glance her way. The majority of them were underclassmen who still had some years left before their own graduation, and if there was ever a time to get a confession from someone, today would be the day.

Another graduate sporting a white overcoat caught up to her. She was a young elven woman with black shoulder-length hair and gold earrings with a small turquoise gemstone encrusted in each one. She was slightly taller than Lenoria but, like most elves, she had a more slender frame. “Good morning, Lenoria.”

“Yo! What’s up, Clara? Did you just get here?”

A look at Clara, thanks to Midjourney.

Clara smiled. “Yeah, I stayed up late trying to get my reading done and got a little carried away.” Tears streamed from the elven woman’s eyes. “I didn’t even have time to put on my perfume.”

Lenoria dug beneath her coat and pulled out a red vial a moment later. “Rose scented. Thank me later.”

Clara squealed and grabbed the vial. “You’re a life-saver!” The vial unleashed a mist spray at the tap of the cork. “Thank you! It smells great!”

Lenoria waited for Clara to finish spraying herself before speaking up again. "What were you reading, anyway?"

"I finally got around to your recommendation. I really liked 'Stars and Knights,' but it's a shame the author is taking his time with the sequel. I thought the ending was bad, but everything else is enough to redeem it."

"I told you it was good. Hehe." Lenoria’s amused look quickly shifted into a frown when her eyes met those of another student in a white coat at the door of the building. A lone fly hovered above his balding head. He was overjoyed to see Lenoria but the feeling was not mutual. “Uh oh, creep alert straight ahead,” Lenoria warned her classmate.

The balding man adjusted his bowtie. “Good morning, Lenoria! You’ll be happy to know that I’m fighting to get that restraining order lifted!”

“Didn’t ask, Thomas,” the girl said with a deadpan tone, and she continued her way inside. The balding man blocked her path and refused to let her through. With a stern expression, the girl gave him an irritated “What?”

Thomas placed his hands behind him and looked away in a timid manner. “You see, since we’re graduating, we might not see each other again. So, I’m throwing a party at my place!”

Lenoria did not hide her discomfort. “A party? I’m sure it’ll be fun, but Clara and I have a book date tonight.”

“We do?” Clara received a quick elbow nudge to the stomach from Lenoria. “Oh, right. We’re going to read and review ‘I Was A Ghoul Reincarnated Into Another World’ which is, like, 600 pages long for the first volume.”

Lenoria shrugged. “As you can see, our hands are tied.”

Thomas’s expression turned sour. “You like girls now?”

“Not that kind of date.”

There was a look of desperation in Thomas’s eyes. The girls stepped back as he tried to lean forward enough to invade their personal space. As they backed away, he stepped closer and closer. “W-well, how about I just take the party to your place, then? I’ll bring the drinks and we’ll party so hard neither of you will remember a thing!”

The girls exchanged awkward glances and, without warning, suddenly rushed past Thomas for about ten feet before stopping. He kept his cool, but the girls could see he was getting frustrated.

“Thomas, give it up.” Lenoria crossed her arms. “And you better scram before the student council finds you. They’re the ones enforcing that restraining order, and I don’t mind fetching them if you don’t knock it off.” She signaled Clara to go inside with her, and both girls continued on their way to the school auditorium.

“I don’t get women. They say they can’t find a man, but when a nice guy like me comes around, they’re not interested anymore…” Thomas snapped his fingers. “I just have to find an opening, that’s all. Then she can see how much of a gentleman I am!”

***

The girls continued their conversation as they hurried through the halls inside the school. Signs were posted on the walls, giving students and visitors alike the directions to the auditorium, so no one got lost. Naturally, the girls followed the signs without looking at them.

“Do you have any plans for the future?" Clara asked.

Lenoria had given her future some thought. “I’m not sure, yet. I’m thinking about picking up odd jobs and maybe start a repair business.” That was the short-term goal. Lenoria was grateful for the knowledge and skills she picked up at the Guild, but she wouldn’t feel relieved until she received her diploma. She would figure everything else out once she left the campus for good.

“Oh, I-I see. Mind if I helped you out, then? I got nothing going on, so...”

Lenoria’s smile returned. “Don't you have goals, too? You could make some money even as an adventurer.”

"Adventuring's a little dangerous, don't you think? Besides, what would I even do? Wear a skimpy outfit and dance the nights away?" Clara smiled nervously, but her eyes soon indicated some inner reflection. "That doesn't sound too bad, though. But Dad always said we should take our time making decisions, and I have a handful of lifetimes to decide on what I want to do."

"Oh, right. Elves live a long time, huh?" Lenoria stopped. "You know, maybe you should take advantage of the Guild's resources."

Clara blinked at her twice. “After everything that’s happened to you? I'd rather stay poor than be in their debt."

"Hey, just because I want nothing to do with the Guild doesn't mean you should be the same. I heard it has financial aid for people who qualify. You should try it out, at least!" Lenoria took a guess on what Clara was trying to do, and that was to stand with her in solidarity. But Lenoria already chose her path, and she believed Clara should do the same for herself instead of being a follower.

The elf girl always tried to make ends meet, but judging by her worn boots, weathered staff, and tattered legwear, she wasn't always successful. Despite this, she never burdened Lenoria for loans or anything of the sort and always stood with her through every hardship. Clara may have been a far cry from the proud high elves, but her elven pride not only extended to herself but also those she cared about.

Lenoria could not have asked for a better friend. It was for this reason Lenoria didn't want to drag her to a future Clara may not want to be involved in.

"I don't know, Lenoria. Between all the scandals and the bullies, I don't want to be here any more than you do."

"Are you trying to convince me, or yourself?"

Clara snapped a shocked look at Lenoria. "I, um, well-"

“Don’t even worry about me! If you’re still undecided, you still have time before- Whoa!” A sudden pat on the back had enough force to knock Lenoria to the ground. She straightened up and looked to see who was getting kicked next. “You!”

A blonde woman matching Lenoria’s height looked down on her condescendingly. Her gothic purple dress accentuated her buxom figure and thin yet toned biceps perfectly. The scent of lilac clung heavily in the air.

“Excuse me, Lenoria. Sometimes I forget how frail you really are.” The woman cackled the proverbial noblewoman’s laugh. “Or maybe I don’t know my own strength. Please forgive me.”

The fiction-savvy Lenoria believed that every hero had their rival, and the woman before her was acknowledged as her equal by the rest of the students. For better or worse, her rival for the past four years was the resident bully. From a glance, both girls were similar. But those who have been around them long enough would know that they were completely different people.

Clara helped Lenoria stand. “What do you want, Anne?”

Anne Steiner. After endless prompts, this was the best I could do, further proving that AI is rarely perfect.

“Oh, I just wanted to congratulate Lenoria for making it to the top three of class of ‘59.”

Lenoria perked up. “Top three? Have the grades been posted already?” She wanted to believe it, but she knew better than to express hope in front of Anne.

“They were posted early in the morning. They’re down the hall on the right if you don’t believe me.”

Lenoria eyed Anne suspiciously. “And since when did you care about my grades?”

“Oh, I just can’t hide anything from you, can I?” Anne shrugged and feigned a look of innocence. “There is the matter that I’m in second place.”

Lenoria’s face remained disinterested, but she felt a massive brick - labeled ‘Loser’ - hit her on the head in her soul.

“My work on portal magic must have grabbed the Headmaster’s attention. I’ve already gotten collaboration offers from the Merchants Guild in Akihabara and the Fishermen Guild in Akranes.” Anne sneered. “What about you, Lenoria? Any offers regarding your golem knowledge?”

Another brick - labeled ‘Not Popular’ - landed on Lenoria’s head. The girl screamed inwardly while outwardly maintaining her composure. “Not yet, but I’m sure third place will get me noticed sooner or later.”

“I’m sure it will! But just in case you get pitiful offers,” Anne pulled a small card out of her belt pouch, “come work for me. I’ll make you so rich you’ll forget about your little golem project.”

Would it be prideful to refuse financial aid from your rival? Lenoria took a mental note of her funds - eight gold pieces and three silver pieces to her name - which were enough to cover rent and basic necessities for another month, but nothing else. She would need more to start on her projects since the guild would no longer offer materials to cover the base cost of the potions and scrolls she would make and sell.

The final brick - labeled ‘Lack of Integrity’ - fell from a greater height and reached terminal velocity by the time it entered head-bonking proximity to Lenoria. But the girl skillfully caught it with a single hand and crushed it to smithereens.

“And what, have you being better than me thrown in my face every five minutes for the rest of our lives? Crafting is not always about the money, Anne. I may not have wowed the instructors like you have, but I joined the Guild to learn! And in the process, I learned how to ease humanity’s way of living.” Lenoria turned around. “I’m not interested.” She walked away.

Anne was left babbling incoherently and failed to grab Lenoria’s attention any further. Lenoria callously continued her way to the auditorium and stopped at a fork in the hallway. A sign hanging above the hallway to the right gave directions to the students’ grades for the year, and she observed as a multitude had gathered to check the rankings.

The girl shook her head and continued on. She smirked to herself which soon transformed into an arrogant smile. “That was so cool! Too bad only Clara was there to witness my coolness.”

No young genius went as far as they had gone in their lives without a little hubris.

***

The auditorium was filled with people of countless races and creeds. Humans sat next to orcs, dwarves sat next to elves, holy men begrudgingly sat with men in gray or black robes. Their attention was not directed at one another, however; instead, they all kept their eyes on the stage at the front and center, where a small group of students in white coats sat on wooden chairs waiting anxiously for the ceremony to start. At the center was the headmaster, an elven man with a slender yet imposing figure.

But to the headmaster’s right on the opposite end from the students was a trio of people Lenoria had never seen before, two with naturally tan skin and a resting look of indifference while a younger blond human boy with fair skin would stare intensely whichever direction he happened to be facing in.

The woman wore a navy-blue military coat with a rapier holstered to her right hip. She dressed elegantly and kept a lithe figure. By contrast, the red-haired man next to her was built like an ox, was covered in steel armor from shoulder to toe, and had a massive axe strapped to his back. From a distance, a red orb was embroidered on the woman's coat and the man's neck scarf.

The boy - youthful in appearance but mature in his composure - wore a steel breastplate with a yellow cloth hanging around his waist. A shield resting by his feet was decorated with the image of a hammer encrusted with cobalt blue gems. A mace was strapped to his waist.

"I know a holy man when I see one. He looks around my age, too." Lenoria's smile turned into a squiggly line. "He's a cutie- Wait, focus, Lenoria! Don't start acting like Thomas, now. Just go up to him, say hi, and ask him out for a cup of espresso! Take it slow."

Lenoria was too distracted to notice Clara coming from behind her, having rushed inside and tripped on a crease on the red carpet beneath her. Clara tumbled forward with enough force to knock Lenoria down.

The students in attendance all pointed and laughed at the girls, but a grand gesture from the headmaster silenced the auditorium.

“Girls, the ceremony is about to start. Take your seats now and I’ll forget this little blunder.”

“Thank you, Mr. Starflower!” Clara immediately rose to her feet. “So sorry, Mr. Starflower!” She helped Lenoria stand and both climbed the stage and took their seats.

Headmaster Starflower scowled, but proceeded with the ceremony. He opened the assembly with a speech about the nature of the Artificers Guild, starting with the opening day in 1551. And every year since then, the Guild and its leaders strived to unlock the mysteries of the world with magic and science and help others in their journey of discovery. The students graduating today will go out into the world to make their dreams become reality while simultaneously representing their Guild with pride.

Lenoria looked at two empty seats behind her, the only empty seats on the stage, which were labeled “T. Carpathia” and “A. Steiner.” She stared questioningly at the other students present, wordlessly asking where the two missing students were.

“Anne picked up her diploma earlier,” whispered a male halfling. “And Thomas, ohoho boy. His restraining order from the entire female student body hasn’t expired yet, so they gave him his diploma away from the crowds.”

Lenoria worded a voiceless “thank you” to the halfling and continued listening to the headmaster’s speech. Once he was done, the ceremony began and he called each student by name. Lenoria paid attention to each student that was called and wondered who exactly was number one, if she was number three and Anne number two. Students were called from descending order, starting from twenty, and there were no gaps in between. Once number six was called, Lenoria’s anxiety grew as the list of possible candidates became smaller and smaller.

Ranking fifth was her own friend, Clara Aurèle, who jumped out of her seat in surprise and clumsily made her way to the center of the stage to grab her diploma and shook the headmaster’s hand. Clara specialized in summoning magic and popularized the summoner class after it had faded into obscurity five years ago.

“That’s my girl,” shouted a male elf in the audience. Clara waved at him with a nervous smile and took back her seat. Lenoria nodded at her with approval and assumed the man in the audience was Clara’s father.

Ranking fourth was Ruby Ratsong, a frumpy female gnome who was a master evoker - that is, a wizard specializing in evocation magic - and often encouraged children and teenagers to play with fire, then encouraged any would-be arsonists to join the Guild instead to study so they could become wizards and work as adventurers. Her methods were deemed unconventional yet effective.

Ranking third, as Anne revealed earlier, was Lenoria herself. People joined the Guild to study magic and science, and those who hadn’t figured out their career by that point often became alchemists, wizards, or any divine caster. But Lenoria picked magical science itself, displaying an aptitude in the artificer class. In the four years she had attended, Lenoria focused on studying about golems - constructs created with metal and magic - and tried to create some in her spare time only to fail miserably.

But her failures only encouraged her to keep going, and she eventually built her first construct: the gear servant, a small gear-shaped robot. Mages already had construct assistants which often doubled as guardians, yet the robotic design of Lenoria’s servant was appealing to the public and it was cheap enough for any adventuring mage to create. While small, a gear servant required less maintenance and could often be left alone for days while a mage adventured away.

A mage worth his salt would never fail to argue that a homunculus is better since organic materials tend to be cheaper. Lenoria, however, would counter that a gear servant only needed cheap metal, oil instead of blood, and could be deactivated at any time. Knowledge in engineering was required, sure, but the servant was still relatively cheap compared to greater constructs.

In the end, the gear servant project never took off and Lenoria kept the prototype as her companion, but some of the instructors praised her for her ingenuity.

Lenoria grabbed her diploma and shook the headmaster’s hand. She glanced at the audience, most just applauding out of respect. Clara’s parents cheered on, and the girl responded with a wave at them. She turned around with a somber expression and returned to her seat.

It was then when the headmaster announced that the ceremony was ending, and that the first and second ranking graduates had already received their diplomas. That’s when Lenoria snapped out of her daze and realized what this had meant. It was a sad reality that two of the people who infuriated her the most were recognized as the best students of the Guild.

I joined the Guild to learn! And in the process, I learned how to ease humanity’s way of living.

Her own words echoed ironically in her mind. She eyed the auditorium seats again, hoping to spot anyone she recognized, but she already knew the truth. There was no way they would attend from halfway across the world.

Her family. Oh, how she missed them.

----------

“Don’t worry, Mom! Don’t worry, Pop! Once I graduate, I’ll get a job with my degree and help out! That’s a promise!”

----------

The headmaster tapped the girl’s shoulder. “Tsukino, would you mind stopping by my office tomorrow? I have a business proposal for you.”

Despondent, Lenoria smiled at the man weakly and nodded.

"Hopefully, tomorrow is the last day we'll see each other. You'll be out of here and I finally get that break I deserve." The two bid farewell and Lenoria climbed down the stage steps. She looked back to the opposite end; the three mysterious people from earlier were already gone.

As for the headmaster, the girl never got along with him, but she was glad to have finally graduated.