"Do you know where the dining room is?"
"Of course. It is on the same level as the storehouse."
At the exit from the tunnel their attention was caught by a pair of elves, a boy and a girl (her suit, unlike the men's, was peach-colored), discussing some text under the 'clock'. It was the school's Code of Conduct, mentioned by the Principal. Despite the objections of the tilfing, who was afraid of being late for the dining room, Tim still decided to at least briefly familiarize himself with the document. It would be quite reasonably to cite it here in here:
- The Jelshah School of Magical Arts is the only school in the Universe that teaches all types of magic.
- Only those chosen by fate, whose abilities to magic are beyond doubt, can receive an invitation to study here.
- The school Principal sets the internal regulations, and students are required to follow them.
- The school administration provides its students with everything they need for study and living.
- Students must attend classes. In case of absence or inappropriate behavior the teacher has the right to impose a penalty at his own discretion.
- During the day students have the right to move freely around the school grounds, except for specially designated places.
- During the night, students must not leave their rooms.
- In the case of misbehavior a punishment is inevitable. Nothing will escape the Magic Eye!
- Students who succeed in sorcery mastering are encouraged with the opportunity to graduate from school early. In exceptional cases, they are granted a ticket to the Academy of Magic with the prospect of sooner or later becoming a teacher of magic.
- May the magic be with you!
"Why do I have to be cooped up at night? What if I want to go to the toilet?" The elf girl was indignant.
"Well, they'll probably let you go there!" the pointy-eared boy answered her with a laugh. "I'll keep you company if you're afraid."
"Thanks, I'll make my own way somehow! But how will we know when the day ends and the night begins?"
"Maybe one of the ghosts will tell us?"
"Fie! They are so unsympathetic!"
"You don't like them either?"
"Absolutely not. They're undead! We, elves, love living nature!"
"Me, too," said Tim, and Ri-Bo nodded in agreement.
"There are rocks all around!" the elf girl complained. "How are we going to study Nature magic if there's not even any grass here?"
"Maybe a greenhouse is in one of the caves."
"Let's ask the teachers! For sure they will be present at the dinner!"
"Nice idea. At the same time we’ll find out about the change of day and night!"
"Most likely the eyes of cool colors like blue and violet are responsible for the night hours, warm colors like yellow and red – day hours accordingly," Tim noticed thoughtfully.
"Why do you think so?"
"Just guessing."
"So, the local clock looks that way?" The elf girl was interested in it. “It’s original.”
"Not all watch the time on the chant of birds and moths fluttering. I wouldn't be surprised if we don't meet them here."
"Oh, that would be very sad! It's a pity I didn’t think to take Yulluk with me!"
"It's her pet. Now she will remember him every day and shed tears," the elf boy explained humorously.
"As if you don't care about Uppigi's fate!" the elf girl retorted indignantly.
“Of course, not. Let's hope our doubles will take care of them no worse. By the way, my dear, after such a long conversation it would be impolite not to introduce ourselves to our new acquaintances. My name is Eliavin, and this is my twin sister Eliavel (they really do look very similar, although they are of different sexes, Tim noted to himself). And who are you?”
"I'm Timothy."
"And I'm Ri-Bo."
“I beg your pardon, “Tim coughed. “Upon arrival at school, next to me was a black-haired, long-eared girl with crimson lips. Is she also an elf?”
Eliavin and Eliavel's faces twisted in disgust.
“Drowes! Dark elves! Cruel and vicious creatures, worse than even orcs!”
“You are not saints either, my so-called light brothers,” a mocking voice was heard from behind.
A drow, dressed in a peach uniform, looked in their direction defiantly.
“You were passing by, so go on,” Eliavin answered sullenly.
"Cute in appearance and rude in communication – that’s it, the true face of a light elf," The drow quipped, smiling coquettishly at him.
“Don't even think about bothering my brother, or you'll regret it!” Eliavel got angry.
“Really? I wonder how?”
“You'll find out now!”
A swarm of disgustingly buzzing insects, hybrids of large flies and hornets, appeared in front of her and rushed towards the dark elf. But it didn’t have time to cause any harm: the ghost flying nearby instantly appeared between them, destroying the spell.
"Attacking your mates is a serious violation of the Code," it said with a nasal twang. "I will report it to the administration and you’ll be punished accordingly."
"It wasn't Eliavel's fault!" Eliavin stood up for his sister. "It was the drow’s fault!"
"But she wasn't the one who cast the attacking spell," the ghost was adamant. "Please be tolerant of each other."
“Got it?” The drow stuck out her tongue at Eliavel and blew a kiss to Eliavin. “Ciao! See you later!”
And with a victorious gait she walked away towards the dining room.
Tears welled up in Eliavel's eyes.
“It's unfair! If I'm guilty, then so is she!”
“Just don't cry! No point in giving the drowes a reason to make fun of you!”
"I knew that they are insidious and love to provoke, and succumbed nevertheless…"
“Until you come face to face with them, you won't fully understand it.”
“They look a bit like vampires,” Tim noted.
“Who are these?”
Tim had to give a brief explanation.
"Spot-on!" Eliavel immediately cheered up. “I wouldn't be surprised if they really drink blood!”
"Hey! Are you going to have dinner?" two other elves hailed them from the stairs.
"One moment!" and twins hurried to join them.
"We need to hurry too!" Ri-Bo got nervous. "While we were chatting with the elves, a lot of people passed by!"
“Please tell me, which eye is lit now?” the gray-skinned girl with ashen hair addressed them - the same one who stood first in line.
Tim looked back at the circle of the eyes. The pink eye was glowing brightly. Had the dinner really started already? They really needed to run! However, he considered it impolite to simply brush off his classmate.
“The pink one, of course. Don’t you see it?"
“Alas, I can only distinguish shades between black and white. Color vision is not available to me.”
“Then let's do it this way: you draw a circle with the eyes on paper, and I'll sign each of them, and then you'll always know what time it is.”
“Oh, thank you! And why didn't such a simple solution occur to me?”
On the way to the dining room the girl had time to tell them that her name was Chilajt and she was a gorgon.
“And, of course, with your gaze you turn people into stone,” Tim joked, remembering the myths of Ancient Greece.
“Oh no, just paralyze for a while,” the girl answered in all seriousness.
“Come on, that can't be,” Ri-Bo didn't believe it.
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“Doubt it?” Chilajt smiled slyly, shaking her curls. “Then look me in the eyes.”
“No, no, thank you, another time is better.”
The dining room greeted them with a festive atmosphere - multi-colored lights shone brighter here than anywhere else, cheerful music played, and ghosts, transformed into funny little people, danced in a circle in the air. Most of the seats were already taken - they really were among the last. By the wall opposite the entrance there was a table for teachers, all five of whom were already here. Noticing the appearance of Tim, Chilajt and Ri-Bo, the goblin impatiently waved his hand - come in, don't linger, we're just waiting for you. Then he seated himself at a separate table off to the side of the teacher's table; sitting nearby Agyg already licked his lips in anticipation of the meal.
However, someone was even later - the last one to arrive was a blue-skinned boy whose lilac locks stuck out in all directions. The door slammed behind him meaning all festive dinner participants are inside. And it was a signal for Sir Pulsok's throne speech.
“First of all, let me congratulate you on the beginning of your studies at our school! Here you will learn everything related to magic, and our teachers will help you with this! By the way, since they are also present here, you can ask your questions, but only one for each teacher. Everything else will be afterwards, in the gray everyday life, and today we have a holiday! Here, in the dining room, special ‘kitchen’ magic is in effect, and today it is turned on at full power. You only need to imagine any dish, and it will immediately appear in front of you! Everything you could only dream of at home - now there are no restrictions!”
Several students clapped their hands, and soon others joined them including Tim, Ri-Bo, and Chilajt. After Tim finished clapping, he felt hungry. To imagine what he wants most of all? No problem! Fried chicken with a crispy crust, sprinkled with aromatic spices, fresh from the oven, of course! Even when thinking about it, any mouth will water!
"Wow, you did it!" Ri-Bo was happy with his friend’s success.
His own view of a feast for the stomach was expressed in a wooden basket filled with biscuits resembling oat ones. But the dish that appeared in front of Chilajt almost made Tim sick - a porcelain bowl filled to the brim with earthworms! He had to enjoy the chicken without looking in its direction and thinking about gorgons’ taste preferences. He chose to look at his new classmates. It seemed that one of the girls had horns - Ri-Bo would have someone to butt with. And that one had ashen hair: Chilajt wouldn't be left without a company of her fellow countrymen, either.
Most of all were elves, maybe a dozen. But drowes were in sufficient quantity, too; taking into consideration their attitude towards each other, conflicts are inevitable. Five anzimars, the tilfings will have a hard time. Besides it, three tattooed persons were here, a boy and two girls. Three orcs were heartily eating big pieces of fried meat. A few of the red- and lilac-haired boys and girls were sitting together; despite the difference in color not only hair but also in their skin they were chatting with each other in a friendly way. The freckled boy at the next table looked like an earthling, but for sure it had to talk with him.
“Students, I warn you right away: do not take the dishes from the dining room! As soon as you cross the threshold, they will immediately disappear and return to the kitchen!”
Tim gave a start of surprise: he didn’t even have thoughts of taking the plate with the chicken - or rather, what was left of it. But it seemed that someone had such ideas since on some tables there were utensils and cutlery of yellow metal. Of course, it may be bronze…
“I would like to ask,” one of the drow girls dared to ask her question, “When we become powerful sorcerers, won't we be able to conjure up as much gold for ourselves as we want?”
"Oh, certainly, you will," red-haired Master Saag-Kof answered cheerfully. “If by that time you still care about such trifles.”
Laughter was heard and the room became noticeably livelier.
An elf rose from his seat next, but Tim couldn't determine whether it was Eliavin or someone else - he was too far away. In addition, the same uniforms and the traditional for all light elves shoulder-length light-brown hair - try to figure it out!
“I apologize, Masters, the Code says that during the night hours we must be in our rooms, but, unfortunately, there is not a word about when they begin and end.”
"There's nothing complicated about that, and I wonder why Sir Pulsok hasn't enlightened you by now," Master Aerg said rigidly. "Night for all of us begins when the violet eye lights up and finishes when the rifle-green one goes out."
"And how to use the wand?" one of the orcs wondered. There were smiles and laughter again in the dining room.
"Very simply," Master Nimikel took the floor this time. "Those of you who looked at it closely almost certainly found out bulge. If you press it and say the key phrase, the spell will work. We will teach you what words are needed for this."
“Will it work if I say some gibberish?” Ri-Bo commented mischievously. Tim and Chilight shrugged.
“Most likely, nothing will happen.”
“We should try!”
"Only don't blow the whole school to pieces!”
Tim, who had eaten more than half of the chicken, felt a pang of thirst. A glass of not too hot sweet tea would be very welcome now, he thought, and immediately got what he wanted. Just like in a fairy tale!
Seeing this Ri-Bo and Chilajt also provided themselves with beverages suitable for them.
"It seems that the best place in the school is the dining room," Ri-Bo joked leaning back in his chair. "If only the lessons also were held here!"
"And if in addition to set here beds, it would be great at all," Chilajt spoke ironically. "You’ll get bored of even the tastiest dish if it is served every day. By the way, would you like to try my food?"
Having coped with his emotions Tim politely declined the offer. Ri-Bo put a few worms on his plate.
"It’s pretty delicious though the taste is unusual," he mumbled with a mouthful.
"Roots of phiolt plant are one of the most exquisite delicacies for us."
Roots? With effort of the will Tim forced himself to glance at her bowl again. Indeed, 'worms' didn’t move and at closer examination had little in common with earthworms.
"Well, then I also want to taste it," and he put a couple of 'worms' on his plate.
In turn, Ri-Bo offered to treat the tullku from his basket. Biscuits turned out to be something like earthly marmalade and had a bittersweet taste. Having shown reciprocal courtesy, Tim summoned one more dish with chicken.
In the meantime someone decided to ask why the Principal is not with them.
"The Principal is very old and rarely leaves his quarters," Master Ven'A'Sash explained coldly. "But don't worry: he's always with us in spirit."
There was another round of applause, which puzzled Tim: was it because the Principal is very old, or because he's always with them in spirit?
He liked it much more when one of the lilac-haired boys asked what magic was.
"That's a good question," Master Iskitt answered; the color of his hair indicated the same ethnicity as the boy. "For thousands of years the greatest sages didn't stop to argue about it. If anyone is interested in the details, I may recommend the book 'A little about sorcery'. In short, the generally accepted point of view today is the following: magic is the ability to do paradoxical things by the appropriate influence on the universe structure. The essence of this influence is the phrases you should pronounce for required effect obtaining, and success is guaranteed with enough mana."
"And," he added a second later, "I think, my colleagues will not object if I present two points to such a serious student - to encourage his aspirations to master knowledge, of course.”
This time the applause seemed much more appropriate to Tim, and he joined the applauders with pleasure. As he noted, not everyone was happy about its classmate’s success, though. But immediately a whole crowd of people wishing to earn points appeared.
"No, no," the goblin intervened. "One question has already been asked for each teacher, the rest will not be today. Now each of the Masters will demonstrate something of their art, simple but quite illustrative."
The noise in the dining room subsided, all those present were waiting for continuation.
"Since Light magic is undoubtedly the most noble, I’ll start first," Master Aerg declared. "Something simple? Well, let it be True Light."
And with a wave of his wand he created several dazzling white orbs in the air. The ghosts, still dancing carefree, scattered frightfully in different directions as they appeared.
"Do you see? No creature from a netherworld can harm those who have mastered the Light magic to perfection!"
"Light makes no sense without darkness, they are two sides of the same coin," Master Ven'A'Sash intervened. "Let the students see the other side of existence, and bow before its power!"
The blindingly white orbs suddenly turned dead green, and Tim found himself sitting at the same table with zombies. The empty eye pits, black cleft instead of mouth and pus oozing through cracks in brown skin looked so natural that his blood ran cold.
One of the girls shrieked in fear; her scream almost caused a general panic. Master Iskitt's intervention saved the situation.
"Dear colleague, you applied rather magic of illusions, which is within my competence," he softly remarked to the drow teacher, at the same time eliminating the aftermath of her sorcery, "and frightened children into fits."
"If I'd applied the true transformation, they wouldn't have slept through the night," she snorted in answer. "Of course, we shall start our lessons with relatively innocuous things; let them get used to it."
"Well, illusions are illusions," Master Iskitt agreed melancholy, not really listening to her anymore. "Maybe I shall be able to create something more optimistic."
And those present were delighted to discover that their tables were in the middle of a green lawn, surrounded on all sides by a forest thicket. Tim stretched out his hand and touched the stone wall – it had not disappeared anywhere, which meant that they had remained in place, and the visions around were indeed just an illusion. But how believable! Down to the smallest details, like the chirping of insects and aromas, familiar to lovers of forest walks on a sunny summer day.
"I think the scenery can be enlivened a bit," Master Nimikel stepped in.
A unicorn appeared at the edge of the grass-plot, and those who had desire could make certain that it was real by touching it. Tim also dared to do so when the unicorn was nearby. The beauteous beast went around the dining room in a circle and disappeared waving its tail goodbye. All students were in rapture, especially the elves: as it turned out later, just in their forests unicorns dwell.
"And now it is my turn!" Master Saag-Kof cheerfully announced taking his wand in hands. "Nistorg denztirr augrumme!"
The sky was instantly covered with leaden clouds, and a torrential rain poured down. The students hid under the tables to escape it. Fortunately, the downpour stopped very quickly, and the sun shone again, and a warm dry wind dried their bodies and clothes. Tim even felt regret when the wonderful visions disappeared - after the sunny summer lawn, the dining room seemed to him a gloomy damp cave.
"Cool!" Ri-Bo was admired. "No one I know has ever mastered such powerful magic. Except for illusions, but those were not so impressive."
"Not without reason they are Masters," Chilajt smiled. "With such power I could move their table closer to our one, with all the teachers, too."
"Really!?"
"Of course. Because my innate gift is to attract things. Here, look!"
And one of the biscuits moved through the air from Ri-Bo's basket directly into her palm.
"Awesome!" the tilfing was admired again. "You can take things from anywhere, even from under the teacher's nose when he can't see it. And I thought your gift was paralyzing by sight!"
"No, this ability is inherent to all representatives of my people. They say that once it saved us from the ruthless kelgogs."
Tim pricked up his ears. There is a mention of a gift again. What if he has one too? But why doesn't he know anything about it?
"Those who liked the performance give thanks to your teachers!" the goblin’s voice broke him away from the thoughts.
Once again there was thunderous applause, and the feast resumed. Or rather, it slowly began to move toward its conclusion. Everyone had already filled their bellies and was not so much eating as talking, and some were even beginning to feel sleepy. The teachers left the dining room one by one, disappearing into the air. And soon after that Sir Pulsok meaningfully hinted that it was time to finish the meal.
Since they were sitting not far from the entrance, Tim, Chilajt and Ri-Bo left the dining room among the first. And because of that they missed the most interesting event: a brief, snatchy scream followed by the sound of a falling body, and immediately after it - stomping of huge feet. What the goblin was talking after it was not clear, but it was not difficult to guess - the students, who had been lingering in the doorway, flew out like a bullet, and Agyg appeared in the corridor holding in his outstretched arms a pair of elves – a light and a dark ones. Pushing aside one of the tattooed girls he carried them somewhere.
"They're fighting again," Ri-Bo commented merrily. "What kind of people these elves are, they can’t be in peace!"
"Maybe it was a matter of principle."
"Gradually they get used to each other sitting in the same classes," Chilajt didn’t give it much importance. "Thanks for the company, but I have to go. I want to clean my room before nightfall. There is terrible dirt in my room! It's as if the girl who lived there before me didn't even think it was necessary to clean it once in a while! So see you tomorrow!"
"My room is clean, just a little dusty," Ri-Bo boasted. "The former lodger had time not only for magical tricks."
"Mine, too. Well, at least we don't have to hurry to do the clear-out."
And they, along with the others, wandered to the stairs leading up.