Shadowcroft Year 3 - Chapter Two

A NEW SHADOWCROFT CHAPTER EVERY MONDAY!

CHAPTER TWO:

Logan swiped a fresh cup of coffee from one of Treac’s walking steampunk trays. He was pretty sure those powdered-sugar dough rings wouldn’t rot—there were enough preservatives to keep even his mold from taking hold—so he’d have to find something else for his digestion pit under his bed.

He glanced Inga, eyes darting toward binder stuffed full of papers on her lap. What was that for he wondered idly.

“I don’t really want to talk about my summer. Can’t we just talk about our classes?” Logan asked. “So there’s a chance we’ll take the tournament class. If we get chosen. And we’ll have a cultivation class with the new teacher, and Inga is right. I hear he’s pretty impressive. He takes his students all over the multiverse, to different worlds rich in different kinds of Apothos. It should be amazing. Chadrigoth is excited to be training under him.”

Marko snapped his fingers. “Chadrigoth! Right! That’s my secret. You know how he woke up covered in chocolate sauce? I know who pranked him. Three guesses.”

Treacle finished off the bundle of wheat he’d been eating. “The Gelatinous Knight would be too obvious. So it’s the Gelatinous Knight. Or Nemoy. Or both of them. I would guess both of them.”

“You didn’t need three guess,” Marko bleated. “It’s because you’re so smart.”

Logan knew all about that. Chadrigoth had been staying in the Azure Dragon’s common room, sleeping on a couch. He’d been an easy target. “Chadrigoth knew who it was. It’s not like GK can walk around without leaving a slime trail.” Logan dropped his head. “He laughed. Chadrigoth laughed and called them scamps. And he kept finding chocolate sauce on him for days after that. Still, that cheerfulness. I hate to say it but—”

“Is this your secret time?” Marko asked.

Logan rolled his eyes but finally nodded. “Fine. My big secret is that I’m kind of liking Chadrigoth. He spent the summer either working in the Tartarucha Cells or dismembering me, but he wasn’t vindictive about it. He even apologized every time and offered me a ton of really solid advice. Rockheart is pretty sure that Chadrigoth is close to getting to A-Class, which means he’s probably not going to graduate with us. Looks like he might get bumped a year—academic fast track. I’ve got to admit, I think I might miss him, which is definitely not something I ever expected to say.”

“And we’re talking about Prince Chadrigoth,” Marko asked.

“Yep,” Logan replied.

Marko titled his head to the side. “We’re talking about the same Prince Chadrigoth that tried to kill all of us. Like more than once. That Prince Chadrigoth? The Abyss Lord?”

“Same guy. Like I said, I can’t believe it myself.” Logan itched his cap. “Remember last summer, when I got so frustrated? It was endless torment, and I didn’t make any progress. This summer, Chadrigoth made it bearable. Also, hanging out with Professor Ikgix was interesting. He gave me some techniques that have really helped me take advantage of my knots. I also have some gossip. I guess it’s gossip. But we should probably talk about our classes.”

“Classes! Yes!” Inga opened her binder. She sifted through pieces of paper. “So I talked about my two electives, Cosmic Etymology and Shadowcroft’s Archivist. But we’re going to have the three other classes together. Either we’ll be taking Advanced Dungeon Theory, or—fingers crossed—we’ll be selected to participate in the interschool tournament class. We’ll also have our third-year cultivation class with the new teacher, plus Cruelty Incorporated: The Ethics of Destruction. That’s our dungeoneering class. It will cover everything we need to know about dungeoneers. The most dangerous guilds, current up and comers to watch out for as well as various historic dungeoneers.” She drummed her fingers on the binder in excitement. “There’s also a whole unit on the logic fallacies that raiders often use to justify their greedy, universe-destroying behavior. I’m very excited about that one, though I’m not sure who is teaching it.”

Treacle sighed. “I’m guessing you figured out our electives as well?”

Inga waved the paper. “Obviously.” She’d taken apart the course list and made all sorts of notes on the classes. “I’ve had access to curriculum for a month now. And I talked at length with Madame Gammy and Shadowcroft.” She snorted. “So, yes, I think I know what’s best for you.”

Marko piped up. “Now there’s a phrase I’ve heard my entire life. I used to fight it. Now, I’m embracing it. If you want to figure out my life, it’s less work for me. Tell me what I’ll be studying, Inga.”

Inga didn’t pause. “You and Logan should both take Brews, Beers, and Bubbles – Alchemy For Everyone. As much as love and value both of you, you’re miserable at crafting.  Mastering basic alchemic concepts should help you overcome that particular deficiency and it will be interesting for both of you. Marko likes beer. And Logan—”

“—is basically a drug dealer,” Marko finished. “If nothing else, it will help him measure stuff in ounces, pounds, grams, and micrograms.”

“I am not a drug dealer,” Logan spurted. “I mean, sure, technically I have some fungal spores that have narcotic properties, but I’m only going to use them as lures. We’ll get the drug dealers into my dungeon, and then we’ll kill them.” Logan was kind of horrified by what he’d just said. However, that was the job.

“An alchemy class does sound interesting,” Logan conceded.

Inga rolled her eyes. “That’s because it is interesting and perfectly suited for your build. It will also look great of your transcripts.. Now, Marko, you really need to learn how to use your Apothos as effectively as possible. So I think you should take Professor Nekhbet’s Dungeon Accountancy class. He’ll go through the evaluation process that the Department of Universal Dungeon Efficiency uses to audit dungeons. I was going to take it, but instead, I just went through the Department’s standard operating procedures. I have a solid understanding of how their process works and the criteria they use. It was enlightening to say the least.”

Marko sat motionless, just staring at her. “You just said a lot of super boring words. Inga, I love ya, but I’m not going to be taking another class from Nekhbet—not unless someone forces me at sword point. And even then, I might just consider dying.  Especially if both Nekhbet and math are involved. And I’m not a numbers guy, Inga. I’m pure poetry, babe. Pure. Poetry.”

“That’s why you need this class!” Inga said, getting visibly upset. “You need to understand the metrics behind the dungeons.”

Marko shook his head. “Sorry. I talked with Professor Toothbyte over the summer. He had some suggestions of his own. I’m still in the process of figuring it all out, but once I do, you’ll be the first to know.”

“I can’t say that I’m not devastated on a fundamental level,” Inga replied stiffly, “but I also expected you might feel that way. Just consider it.”

Treacle leaned forward. “What about me?”

Inga gave Marko one last frown then turned her attention to the minotaur. “You were easy. I’m sure Professor Crucible talked to you about this already, but there’s an advanced off-world crafting class called The Mercy of Manifesting Armor. You have to apply, but I’ve already taken the liberty of doing that for you. It’s at the Waldorf School of Strategic Learning. You wouldn’t start until after the Forevergreen Festival.”

Treacle burped up cud and chewed it. “Yarp. I know about it. It’s taught by one of Professor Crucible’s brothers. They don’t get along. Even so, our Professor Crucible suggested it. Speaking of poetry,” he said, stealing a sidelong look at Marko, “Professor Crucible also thought I should take Ruenic Haiku: Utilizing Power Word Syllable Poetry.”

“Wait? There’s a class called Ruenic Haiku and you didn’t think I would want that one, Inga?” Marko knocked one of his horns with a furry fist. “Time to get new friends. I would love a runeic haiku class.”

“It’s advanced crafting.” Treacle swallowed his cud noisily. “You wouldn’t like it. It’s going to be challenging even for me.”

“You’ll love it,” Logan said, though again, he was surprised that haikus were a thing out in the big multiverse. For being so poor in Apothos, and so far away from everything, stuff from Earth had an awfully strange way of popping up in the strangest places. He still remembered when Shadowcroft had mentioned how much he liked the second Thor movie, which was insane considering how much better Thor: Ragnarök was.

“Guess that just leaves me, Inga.” Logan found this helpful. There were a ton of different classes, and Inga did have the inside scoop on a lot of them. She was bossy, without a doubt, but she was also very helpful and she always meant well.

Inga rifled through her papers. “So, you and Marko are doing the alchemy class together. I’m hoping you’ll encourage him to make something other than beer.”

Marko lifted a finger and offered her a watery grin. “Unlikely!”

Inga gave him a scowl. “I’m still made at you. The Dungeon Accountancy class is perfect, but what do I know? I’ve only read over every single class option. For you Logan, I found another off-world class.” She beamed. “It’s perfect. I applied, and they are super excited to have you. It’s a special fungaloid intensive class at Nightfall University called Mastering Mushrooms Magic: Protecting the Multiverse One Spore at a Time. You are extraordinarily fortunate  because they only teach it once every five years. Like Treacle’s class, the fungaloid class starts just after the Forevergreen Festival.”

Marko made a face. “Wait. So Logan and Treacle are only going to have four classes until after the Forevergreen Festival? That’s not fair. I want for class—or no classes, if that’s an option. Five is definitely too many, though.”

“Nonsense,” she said. “We should be happy about the extra work.”

“You might be happy about it,” Marko grumbled. Then he popped up. “I’ll go—because I’m turning over a new leaf—but I don’t have to like it. I’ll tell you what I am excited about, though. The big welcome feast tonight. I love the dancing and the drinking and the celebrating.” He fell oddly quiet. “Though its possible folks aren’t going to be in a festive mood—word in the corridors is that the Threshing didn’t go well. They lost ten students right out the gate. Can you say bloodbath?”

“That’s too depressing to talk about it. Let’s just hope it’s not indicative of the year too come. We could use an easy, normal school year for once. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to settle into my room and get ready for tonight.” She stood and swept out of the common room, offering Marko one last glare before shutting her door shut a tad too hard.

“I think she’s got the right of it,” Treacle said, reabsorbing all of the various clockwork machines that had served them a little snack. “Might try to get an little shuteye before tonight. I haven’t had a good night’s sleep since contracting those damnable flies.” He clapped Marko on the shoulder and give it a squeeze. “Thanks again.”

“Glad to help a friend,” Marko said, not bothering to get up off the couch. “It’s so great to be back, man,” Marko said to Logan as Treacle lumbered into his room and closed the door. “Okay, now that they’re gone, we can gossip. A little bird told me that you and Tet were spending some extra time together this summer too. She hit the Wayfarer every now and again.” He waggled his eyebrows at Logan. “So, spill it! How are things between you two?”

“Just fine.” Logan, Chadrigoth, and Tet had been tight over the summer. Logan felt bad. “Sorry I didn’t visit you more. I just got so wiped out at the end of every day.”

“Such a lightweight, man. Don’t worry. Tet never stayed long. She said she found the noise and people strangely relaxing.”

Logan slapped his buddy on the back. “Tet’s a mystery. But I have another bit of gossip.”

Inga threw open her door. “Oh, that’s right! You have gossip. Do tell.”

“Uh, it’s probably nothing. Chadrigoth and Lady Elesiel broke up. Actually, she’s now with Jimi Magmarty. Things with the First Cohort might be a little tense this year.” Logan then had to correct himself. “Or they won’t be. Part of me thinks Chadrigoth is handling it well. Another part of me is waiting for him to lose it. But he might snap in the opposite direction and become more murderous than ever.”

Marko grinned. “No way. You and he are best friends now. And Tet makes three.”

“You aren’t wrong,” Logan said.

The three of them did have some awkward moments over the summer. Then again, the cat girl could be strange at times. But that came with the territory. She’d grown up in a death cult—that kind of thing would make anyone weird.

“Can I see your room, Marko?” Logan asked.

The satyr wrinkled his nose and shook his head. “Sorry, pal. I unleashed some horrors in there when I bopped in. I’m waiting for them to eat each other before I try and go in there. Don’t want to lose you to some nameless hell spawn that will devour your sanity. We have to brew our beer together.”

“And make other stuff!” Inga called from her room.

That made Marko roll his eyes. But he was kind of enough to shout to her, “You know it, Inga. We’re going to make alchemy. It’s going to be delicious.”

Logan was glad to be back with his friends. Hopefully, their third year would be less intense than their first two years. But with the interschool tournament looming over them like a sword of Damocles, Logan had the distinct feeling that year three might not be any more peaceful than the first two years had been. Although he couldn’t literally cross his fingers anymore—his digits were too thick for that—he was metaphorically crossing his fingers in hopes that some other cohort would be chosen to compete.

Although, he had to admit that if the Terrible Twelfth got past over, he would also feel a little cheated. Some part of him wanted to enjoy the full Shadowcroft experience, and that meant playing all of its strange, reindeer games.