'The Studium'; Sharlayan's prime institution that stood above all the others. It wasn't the first, but its graduates made Sharlayn, if not the world, what it is today. Back in the Eorzean colony, there were plans to found a 2nd Studium, alas, the Exodus put a halt to that.
Garlemald spent no small amount of effort to make ground on Sharlayn soil. After the incident with the dragons, Gaius Van Baelsar couldn't afford an expedition to the abandoned colony.
The Sharlayans remained a fabled mystery to Garlemald as a whole; they only knew it was home to scholars.
Now here was Bayn Slobasch. Once an imperial soldier for the empire, here so many others would've killed to be.
Alphinaud took to the entrance and opened the doors.
"Welcome to Sharlayn's own Studium." he said with a bow.
To begin with, the building already looked large from the outside. Bayn noted that the smallest insight was the reception area. He was told the bulk of classes had concluded for today, but the halls were still filled with students. He could swear he saw beastmen among their number.
The floors were built with marble and paved with a pattern of blue diamonds down the center.
The pillars holding up the second-floor railing also had a touch of blue along the top. Down the center path was a statue of a jar, pouring water down to a stone basin.
Bayn recalled something similar at the port.
As Alphinaud led the group through the area, he went into detail about the Studium's founding from the Sixth Astral Era, and the 12 original Archons. Bayn only knew one by name, though, as any soldier stationed in the XIVth should.
Nyunkrepf Nyunkrepfsyn, the Rogedadyn who selflessly saved what he could of humanity before the floods began in Eorzea.
With his own hands, he built a vessel that would carry humanity to a new age, keeping hope alive, until he had to land that vessel in Gyr Abania.
Right on top of a mountain.
After Ala Mhigo was claimed for the empire, there were petitions to have that very ship taken for study.
However, Gaius Van Baelsar would have none of it, and backed by the emperor none questioned his reason, but he would tell us all the same.
Such is a testament to the strength of man, and here shall it stay a landmark for all those to see true strength of will.
Humanities strength. Nyunkrepf's Hope.
Alphinaud continued showing the nearest empty classroom, and Bayn couldn't find one thing outside of the desks and chairs he recognized.
Once again, he was confounded by constructs that functioned by aether. So Alphinaud says. According to the 11-year-old, the constructs before him were manikins to practice healing magic on.
To demonstrate, Alphinaud channeled aether into the lifeless doll and made it sit up straight.
"With tools like this, it was no wonder he could produce such a healing bullet." Bayn thought.
Moving onwar,d Alphinaud brought them another area with display cases of books, tools, artifacts, and odds&ends to name a few. Among the knick-knacks were small animal cages. There were also more of those first-aid manikins as well.
Searchers Meet, he called it.
To put it in fewer words than Alphinaud, it's like a large supply closet for the whole Studium. Should students or faculty be in need of supplies or equipment, Searchers Meet would provide. What they didn't have could be specially ordered to a Gleaner.
A miqo'te female in yellow waved them in towards the front desk.
"Master Alphinaud, Mistress Alisaie, and Miss Hext, good day to you. One moment please, and you can leave your delivery by the bookshelves if you would." She said to Bayn, confusing the group. Lyse snickered.
"Oh, he's not a gleaner! We're giving a tour!" Alphinaud said.
"Honestly, do you see him wearing green!" Alisaie said angrily.
"Oh, forgive me, sir, you just have the looks of a well-traveled man as all!" The Miqo'te in yellow said frantically.
"What's a Gleaner?" Bayn asked.
"Gleaners are individuals who procure samples and specimens worldwide for the many institutions in Sharlayan, including The Studium. They run their guildship at the port, I believe. Near or far, they will procure what you need." Alphinaud explained.
"Within reason." the miqo'te said.
"What qualifies as outside of reason?" Bayn asked.
"Like trying to procure an extinct species, not a fossil, but a living specimen. You wouldn't believe how many of those requests we've had to talk down. Then there's the issue of securing items from Imperial Territories without interference. Places like that require authorization from the Forum to begin with, and then it's up to the Gleaner to do the rest on their own." the receptionist said.
"I don't think you know what The Forum is, do you?" Alisaie said.
Bayn shook his head no, making Alphinaud light up. As he began to clear his throat to speak en masse, Alisaie covered his mouth with her palm.
"Perhaps you should finish with The Studium before you take him on a full tour of Sharlayan, brother?" Alisaie hinted with a bit of annoyance.
Thinking it over, Alphinaud nodded.
"Fresh off the boat are we?" the miqo'te asked.
"I only got here yesterday." Bayn said, surprising her and the twins as well.
"Well welcome to Sharlayan, where is it you hail from friend?" she asked, extending a hand.
"Garlemald." Bayn said bluntly, grabbing the receptionist's hand in turn.
It was then that the demeanor of the receptionist changed drastically. Alisaie and Alphinaud followed suit.
The room grew quiet.
Lyse's smirk immediately disappeared as she began to check the corners of her eyes. Bayn didn't speak it loudly, but he was heard to be sure.
"Is that right?" the receptionist asked. She began to focus on the third eye on Bayn's forehead.
"So that thing on your head?" Alisaie asked. Alphinaud took a look at Bayn's third eye and rubbed his chin.
"Our father told us Garleans had white eyes on their heads." Alphinaud said.
"I'm half-garlean, that's why my third eye is black." Bayn said, pointing a finger towards the pupilless sphere.
"Do you see out of it?" Alisaie asked, squinting.
"In a way. I don't see it in the traditional sense. I can sense shifts in the aether of things." Bayn explained.
"That's fascinating, Lyse. I think we found where to begin for your thesis! Lyse?" Alphinaud said.
Lyse was still eyeing her surroundings meticulously. The other faculty in the room were whispering among themselves as they eyed Bayn.
"YES, we should talk about it after the tour!" Lyse said, changing to her cheerful tone. This didn't go unnoticed by Alisaie, as she looked at the blonde questionably.
"Oh, there I go again, I haven't even shown you the astrology auditorium, or Learners Meet! Please, this way!" Alphinaud said happily.
At his behest and Lyse's indirect urging, the group moved on, leaving the rigid air of Searchers Meet.
No matter where they went, though, Bayn could feel the eyes of passersby. Such things he was already used to at his old schools.
Compared to that, this was nothing...
Bayn simply focused on how excited Alphinaud was to show him around this institution he was proud to be a part of. From what he'd heard, Alphinaud was the youngest applicant the Stuidum ever had, and on his first day, he had a big speech.
"My life's goal is naught less than the salvation of this star." Alisaie mocked with a snicker, embarrassing her brother slightly. Lyse finally cracked a smile, a real one.
Bayn laughed softly as he remembered a speech similar to his days in secondary school. A visiting royal family member visited one day and pledged the unification of the world under Garlemald's banner.
In essence, they seemed alike, but Bayn found Alphinauds much more sincere....and less hostile.
Back to the tour itself, Alphinaud brought them to the Astrology wing. There was a student holding a planisphere in his palms, as cards revolved around it.
Alphinaud explained that this art was developed from card divinations of old, and the decks they used were themed after the Twelve, such as Thaliak.
Not that Bayn knew the name. As part of the XIVth, the only member of the Twelve anyone knew by name was Rhalgr, he was the patron god of Ala Mhigo and the center of their religion. But that was over and done with even before Gaius invaded.
Bayn never put any interest in learning much of the Twelve since he was still making his way to Pilus at the time.
Alphinaud pointed out that the Ewer from the main hall was what he carried Nymeia's tears in. Another name he did not know. The 12 was more or less another mystery to the Garlean Empire.
For the sake of time, Alisaie urged they press on before Alphinaud talked for days on this subject alone.
The next location they would see is Makers Meet. It was a science lab of sorts. Chemical experiments, spellcraft, tool crafts, and all with hit-or-miss results. A lot of misses...
Alisaie chortled, seeing the unending catastrophes on display. Out of pity, Bayn unleashed a healing bullet on some poor professor before they left. He didn't notice, but Lyse was an instant from uprooting him. Lucky for he,r the twins didn't notice.
Alphinaud showed them more classrooms, each more unique than the other. The child spoke true, there was no limit to the subjects of study here.
Bayn was all the more pleased that they didn't seem to notice how the atmosphere changed at his presence in any given space.
With so little left to show, the group arrived at the empty auditorium, Leaners Meet. Bayn couldn't help but snicker at the naming pattern of this institution.
With no one around, Alphinaud took to the center stage and cleared his throat.
"With that, we are at the end of our grand tour. We hope you've enjoyed your stay at our Studium." Alphinaud said, making Alisaie's eye roll.
Lyse and Bayn applauded happily. Bayn then noticed another set of clapping that wasn't coming from Alisaie.
"Yes, grand presentation, grand my boy!" An elderly elezen man said from the higher seats of the auditorium, clapping cheerfully.
"Scholarch Montichaigne, sir! My apologies, I'll see myself out!" Alphinaud said in a panic, to the joy of his sister. Lyse also grew pale and began stammering.
"Oh it's quite alright, my boy, I only wish I could've given you a bigger group to lead." Montichaigne said with a chuckle.
Bayn looked at Alphinaud and Lyse to see they were still to shocked to speak properly.
"That's Headmaster Montichaigne Mongrignois, also one of the members of the Forum. Comes over for dinner sometimes. Hi uncle!" Alisaie said.
"A good day to you young Alisaie, and to you Miss Hext, I hope you are well. I heard we had a new visitor in our grand institution. A new upcoming student, perhaps?" Montichaigne asked as he walked down the stairs to the podium.
Bayn analyzed the headmaster and couldn't help but compare him to his previous headmasters in Garlemald.
Men adorning cold demeanors and dressed in attire akin to military uniforms worn by High high-ranking officers. Men who served in the military. Men who looked down on half-breeds. Bayn had many encounters with his headmaster following incidents of violence. None he started, but would always finish, for better or worse.
Looking at this man, however, he did not sense one ounce of hostility—none of the cold pitiless tones taken with him time and again.
Rather his demeanor was warm and his voice was ever cheerful. It was daunting.
He was dressed in all white, but compared to the students and teachers his robes were a different beast. Bayn hadn't met one badly dressed Sharalayn since arriving, but there was something fancier about Montichaigne's attire.
In the absence of Alphinaud's and Lyse's response, Alisaie spoke.
"He's Bayn, it's his first time in Sharlayan." Alisaie said.
"Bayn, tis good to meet you, where is it you're coming from?" the headmaster asked, extending a hand. Lyse nearly choked anticipating his response.
"Ala Mhigo." Bayn said. Lyse sighed in relief.
"But, I'm from Garlemald." he added, nearly making her scream.
"Oh is that right, splendid! I wondered if we'd ever get an aspiring applicant from the provinces. Despite being a school based in the aetherical arts, I assure you, you'll find a suitable discipline here." Montichaigne said.
Bayn thought on how to respond. Bayn, not being a full blooded Garlean meant he was capable of learning magical arts, and there were some mages that lived in Garlemald. Not that they would practice their craft without a legitimate threat in the vicinity. Purebloods, at least in the capital, distrusted magic to the point that it was unofficially banned from being performed in public.
Even then, the mages that made their way in Garlean society weren't the type his father could trust to teach him. Bayn already had educators who didn't care much for him.
Rather than go into too much detail about that, Bayn decided to keep it brief.
"I can manipulate aether well enough, but I've never used magic before." He said.
"Is that right? Well, while you're here, why don't we have a demonstration? You don't mind, do you, Alphinaud?" Monti asked.
"No! Not at all sir!" the elezen youth said frantically.
Taking Alphinaud's place at the podium, the 4 youths stood before the Scholarch as he began to arrange an assortment of stones upon the table.
"Among the many practiced arts in magic, the practice of such magic involves the use of aether to bring forth phenomena by their will alone. It's fair to assume this practice is the most commonly seen. There are other ways, of course, for instance-POOF" A book appeared out of thin air and fell into the Scholarch's hands. He opened the book to show a series of symbols, numbers, and shapes upon the pages.
"Arcanima." Monti said.
"I'm not familiar with the term." Bayn said. Alphinaud began to respond, but Alisaie shushed him to let the Scholarch continue.
"The arcane art of arcanima comes from the Southern Seas, in between calamities, it made its way to the continents of Eorzea and Sharlayan. You see, my boy, while wielding magic formed from the pure will of the caster, this approach expedites that process by having the aether focused through geometric symbols that have already calculated the process by which the aether takes form." Montichaigne explained, as he pointed out the stones on display, each a different color and shape.
He grabbed a red spherical jewel stone and presented it with the grimoire page.
"As you can see, those same calculations are engraved upon a stone, and in conjunction with the grimoire, one can summon forth a familiar to their side. I'm sure you've heard of a carbuncle?" Montichaigne asked.
"I've heard of them, but I've never seen one." Bayn said.
"Oh, joy, allow me to demonstrate!" Montichaigne focused his aether into the grimoire and jewel. The pages glowed, and the jewel began to float before them. The aether amassed itself around the stone and took form.
A blue cat-like creature appeared before the 4 youths, the red jewel nestled into its forehead.
"This, my boy, is the product of arcanima, a carbuncle, a familiar like no other." Montichaigne said joyfully. Lyse was all too pleased to take the creature in her arms as she rubbed its fur.
"That is to say, this is but one of many types of carbuncles." Montichaigne activated the grimoire again, and the stones behind him began to react. Each took the form of another carbuncle with a different-shaped jewel in its forehead, and a different color of fur.
Lyse instinctively grabbed each one to nuzzle their cheeks.
Bayn could only note how typical the twins took this display, if this didn't impress them then what did?
"Any questions so far, maybe you'd like to try your hand at it?" Monti asked the young half-garlean.
Bayn inspected the grimoire at Montichaigne's invitation. While he could make only guesses at the symbol arrangement, Bayn steadily gained an understanding from the mathematical formulas.
As he peered at the carbuncles, he noticed that stones remained unused on the podium.
"How come you didn't use those stones?" Bayn asked.
Montichaignes grin grew bigger as Bayn caught this detail.
"When manifesting a familiar, it's important to consider aetheric balance and composition. That ruby carbuncle over there has its aetheric balance shifted to fire, and so I used a stone that also had an affinity towards fire-aspected aether, a ruby stone." he explained.
With years of experience using aetheric cartridges, Bayn gained a solid understanding. Translating the process of manifesting aether to a mathematical equivalent was a challenge by itself.
Factoring an aetherical balance would likely require more equations on top. From Bayn's standpoint, it sounds like it would be simpler to cast spells from the book and nothing else.
But he was all too curious. As he studied the conjured grimoire, he saw the pack of carbuncles return to the podium and return to being gemstones. To which Lyse could only frown.
"If you'd be so keen, why not try it for yourself. On the next page of that grimoire, you'll find an outline to use as a reference for manifesting a carbuncle. Of course, start where you feel most comfortable." Monti said.
A pen appeared upon the grimoire as Bayn looked over the stones. Taking each one in hand, he noted that none of the inscriptions were too alike, and that 2 had no inscriptions had none at all.
Two small oval-shaped gems. A pair of black and white opals, barely the size of his thumb. Bayn scanned the outlines and began writing on a blank page. The twins peeked over his shoulder, examining the grimoire, while Lyse looked away uninterested. Montichaigne hummed to himself as Bayn focused on writing his formulas.
After a lengthy amount of time going back and forth between pages, Bayn finished writing down the formula for his spell.
As Bayn placed the black opal on the page, he took a breath and channeled his aether into the grimoire. The group watched as the opal jumped from the page and floated above Bayn. The twins looked in awe as the aether began to take shape. A white, slender mass began to form the opal. It didn't seem to be the typical form of a carbuncle.
It was taller, and the ears weren't floppy. The body was that of a slender fox rather than a feline or squirrel. The tails of a carbuncle were usually three-pronged, but this creation had a singular tail with three protrusions. As the fur began to manifest, no sooner was it ripe with color. From its head to its midsection, various colors grafted themselves on the familiar's body.
At last it was manifested, a carbuncle like no other in Sharlayn's History, eyes black as the stone upon its head.
Opal