Seventeen
Mundane School
In the wide green fields between the outskirts of the white city of Capihul and fringing on the borders of the grey mountains, sat one of the oldest structures on Atlantia, Pitach-rhok. Once, it was used as a weapon building facility where the settlers crafted machines to patrol the seas and skies around the island protecting it from an invasion. However, when the wars they feared did not come to the misty shores, Pitach-rhok was transformed into a place for young minds to grow. Though most of the laboratories were changed into classrooms and most of the storage spaces emptied of weapons, there were still remnants of the past in the lower levels of the campus. Deep tunnels carved from the early labourers lead below into a lightless cavern where the underground sea lay. They hadn't ever been fully explored by modern Atlanteans, however over the centuries, students would travel these tunnels and end up being swallowed by the black waters. Students and staff were forbidden to venture into the underground, although every few decades, there was always that one who would sate their curiosity over safety.
Despite the dangers below, the surface provided visitors with comfort and support. The architects believed in keeping the old areas in homage to their ancestors while adding new construction around the campus, to give a strong sense of history and evolution through its halls. Giant granite and sandstone bricks layered the squared pyramid structures while every pillar that held balconies had faces of old deities carved into them. A fountain on each pyramid's peak would cascade a waterfall on all four sides of the structure, creating small rivers leading to a granite-gilded lake in the centre of the school. This is where all the classes took place. The emerald gardens were decorated with native Atlantean trees and shrubs. Sometimes silver monkeys would wander the paths and play in the fountains. Smaller pyramids made of marble littered around the central campus. They housed the students for the most of a semester.
This is the school that Olanta fought to keep Delta in. She had been kicked out and transferred to four different schools in the past eight years since her last home tutor had expressed a desire to leave. Listening and watching her mother make promises and deals with various headmasters in order to keep her in would soon after result in Delta being permanently removed. Her grades weren't the issue; in fact, she excelled in all her subjects and even challenged herself to take on extra work out of boredom. However, deliberately missing most of her classes, telling teachers they would be more successful as sardine breeders, fighting with other students on the grounds and a plethora of other offences kept her out of most places. There was another element that no one considered to add to her plight. Ever since Delta was enrolled in her first school, it was revealed that she was a mundane. Teachers knew this and often had to make special accommodations for her psi-disabilities during lessons. Her peers latched on to this and used it against her at every convenience. Delta was never free of this torment and no matter how expensive or how exclusive the school, it was all the same to her.
The deep rumble of the bell echoed amongst the campus; she felt the vibrations crawl up her legs as she stepped along the grey stones in the yard. It was her first day back for classes. Unlike all the rest, she remained at the school, as there wasn't much for her at home. The younger children slowed their chase before making their way to the main pyramid, while the older children lazily rose from the lake's edge, still trying to squeeze in every second of the sun's touch. Delta slowed her pace, watching the other students make their way into the building. She knew them very well and they knew her. She melded amongst the crowd, keeping her distance from the group as they entered the foyer. Two boys and three girls, with their ringleader, a tall and athletic girl, named Shandris were approaching. Her narrow face and long teeth gave Delta the impression of an unfortunate result of a human and equine fusion. Yet her eyes like two golden nuggets shined to those that met her gaze. They wandered over to Delta's face before Shandris’ face tightened into a smirk.
Delta pulled her stare to the path, watching her velvet boots climb over the polished granite steps. In her peripheral, the younger children skipped off to their own lecture hall, while her peers were herded to theirs. Several rows of cushioned seats screwed into the rock overlooked a stage for professors and presenters. Artificial lighting leaked in from the oval ceiling, projecting a sickly hue over everyone’s faces that instantly aged them by ten years. Professor Yunn patiently stood on the stage, directing his unfocused gaze over the students taking their place in the rows. His eyes met hers as he gave her the faintest nods. He was a human man in his late middle ages. However, his eccentric and unblinking yellow eyes and dishevelled beard gave him the appearance of someone far older. His shoulder-length pale blonde hair was streaked with grease that sat around his dry and wrinkled skin; straw-like beard strands sat on his chin that flapped when his mouth moved. Long yellow nails grew from the tips of his bony fingers; he usually used them like a comb through his frizzy beard before speaking.
“When you're all ready,” Yunn's voice projected in the miniature stadium, “I would like to welcome you back from your homes to your one true home: school.”
An awkward laugh broke amongst the students. Delta couldn't keep her smile down as she settled on a chair closest to the headmaster. It didn't last long when her eye caught Shandris and her lackeys who found seats directly behind her. She could hear Shandris’ bony knees scraping against each other and her rose perfume filling the space. Delta was almost convinced that she swam in it.
“Some of you may be aware that last semester we caught a couple of students trying to break into the tunnels below the school. Fortunately, it wasn't any of you, wise and older ones, but the punishment of breaking these rules is worse than death: it's suspension!” Yunn's face grimaced, the chuckles echoed, but there was a lick of seriousness in his words. Brilliance and madness were one in Yunn.
“Sounds like something a mundane would think of...” Shandris' voice savoured every syllable. Delta's jaw tightened, she fought to keep her focus on the headmaster, while trying to turn a deaf ear on the snickering behind her.
“Now, for some good news: The Academy of Atlantia has contacted Pitach-rhok College offering the finest students to join their ranks. However, these positions are extremely limited and will be extremely competitive,” Yunn said as he threw his arms out in excitement.
The assembly garnered a little reaction from the announcement, to the slight disappointment to the headmaster, but Delta found herself keenly interested. Pitach-rhok College couldn't hold a candle to the Academy. It was the finest educational institute on the planet; even off-worlders would send their children to study there. It was the one school Delta had never gone to, not even her parents would be able to sweet-talk her seat in their elite ranks. The Academy was built next to Capihul's library and museum, and there was a teleportation nexus installed inside allowing members to travel to similar institutes not only internationally, but interstellar in a blink. People of all ages were welcome, and each student was allocated a personal teacher for all subjects who also acted as a mentor, practically eliminating the need to converse with other students, to Delta's delight.
Yunn glanced towards her. His golden eyes partially lightened. Sensing her intrigue brought him some joy. They knew each other well since he was the school's headmaster and Delta had taken several trips to his office over the months. Yunn was a brilliant man who helped design a piece of the device to allow for teleportation from house to house. He could have been the wealthiest human to have ever lived, but he rejected his deserved fortunes. Instead, he gave away his blueprints and chose to pursue education. Yunn taught her father too and out of loyalty, he gave her chances that others wouldn't have had.
As the headmaster continued his announcements, Delta felt a solid mass rub against the muscles in her back. It pressed in deeper and it took her a moment to realise that it was the bone of a knee cup, Shandris' knee. Annoyance rose in Delta's chest. She wanted to turn around and slap that useless girl's limb from her body, but she fought against the tides as she focused on Yunn's words. She moved her torso forward in her seat, easing the press against her back. Low, breathy chuckles escaped from the miniature tyrants behind her, but Shandris replied to her evasiveness. She felt a sharper and harder push in her back, this time pushing into her spine. Annoyance boiled into anger and Delta stopped moving forward. Her focus on Yunn was straining each second as the nob of the knee pressed deeper into her flesh. She imagined pulling up Shandris by her foot and twisting her ankle, hearing the crack and a scream coming from her mouth. She imagined grabbing the girl's coarse hair and tossing her over the podium like a rag doll, while the audience gawked. She imagined slapping her palms against all the gang's cheeks and then stomping Shandris' toes. Instead, Delta was relieved that none could sense her violent thoughts.
Her fantasies rose to her mind and her muscles tensed instinctively readying themselves to live out one of them. This wouldn't have been her first physical altercation, but it would've been in front of a crowd and her headmaster. If people like Shandris would only understand violence, then maybe they would leave her be, at least in school. A glimmer of reason pushed through her mind. If she did anything stupid, it will ruin her chances to enter the Academy. It might even get her kicked out of Pitach-rhok and then, on top of all that she will have to face her mother. Sweat dampened her forehead as Delta forced deep gulps of air, fighting to keep her bestial rage contained and silent.
“That's all for today. Now, resume to your regular classes,” Yunn said before stepping off the stage.
Students lifted from their seats, murmuring loudly as they made their way for the chamber's exit. Delta blinked at her surroundings; it was all over so fast. She felt like she had returned to her body. Shandris stepped down from the seats. Her long face spun around and gave Delta a wink before vanishing into the crowd. Delta sunk in her seat, waiting for the last of her peers to leave, wanting to be alone. Her eye caught Yunn's head above the students. She bit her tongue as she slowly made her way to him.
“Professor, I have a question,” Delta said, steadying her voice.
“Questions are a great start,” Yunn said looking away, his head made small repetitive bobs as if he were counting the heads of the students.
“If someone were interested in entering the Academy of Atlanta-,” she began, but Yunn snapped his head to her.
“I've already addressed on how to enter during the assembly,” he said as his brows scrunched.
“Sorry, my mind was on other things. Could you please repeat for me?” she said, revealing a toothy grin.
“Fine, fine, let's make it easy. Here's a list of criteria you'll need to achieve before you can be considered for the position,” Yunn dug around in his loose navy trouser pockets before pulling out a thumb-sized data crystal and planting it into Delta's hand, “you already fit most of the criteria, you just need to put in more effort.”
“More effort? My grades top my year level, even those above me. I can recite nearly every verbal lecture and written document I've seen and heard just once,” she said as one of her brows rose.
“When you can be bothered coming to the classes and not just watch them from your dorm. The Academy looks at everything from a potential candidate, their entire history, Delta. Even unsavoury professor and peer encounters, which you have an extensive record of,” he said crossing his arms.
“But you know I work best on my own. It's not my fault that people here are too stupid to understand me,” she crunched her bottom lip after seeing a tick of annoyance skitter on her headmaster's face, “so, you're saying there wouldn't be a point in attempting to apply?”
“Not at all, in fact, I implore you to do it. Your mind would be an excellent fit for their curriculum, but you need to keep yourself clean from trouble until the semester's end,” he said as he stepped back from the chamber.
“I'll just have to convince the board I'm the best student, then,” she said rolling her eyes.
“No, just convince me,” Yunn said before turning around and disappearing down the foyer's staircase.
Delta sighed and followed down the steps. She looked down the lengthy squared hall; a couple of students she recognised had walked into another lecture chamber. Her classes had already begun, but no one would expect to see her attend. Now alone in the cross halls, she gave another sigh, louder than was needed before turning down the long corridor as she dragged herself to class.
~
Days spun into months, the seasons grew colder, and the mountains were in a constant shroud of dark grey clouds. The air still held the water in it; the cold humidity would cling on the skin, expelling more heat. The grass had lost its colour and was always damp to the touch. Even the trees had shed their leaves and returned to their many months of sleep. Students and professors spent fewer days out in the courtyards, only ever travelling there out of necessity. Delta enjoyed the winter but had a dislike for the cold winds that regularly blew through the campus. She bundled her thick pressed woollen coat around her chest and neck into a neater V-shape, her gloved hands tightened the wide studded belt to keep her clothes from opening in the growing winds.
The sun was hidden behind silver clouds, but there was enough light to find her way to the main pyramid from her dorms. The day had finally arrived. Her spirits were at an all-time high, but she worried she might faint before the Academy's board members. Delta had kept her end of the bargain with Yunn. She hadn't missed a single class since the headmaster's announcement at the beginning of the semester, and she had avoided any potential scuffles with Shandris and her crew – mostly by avoiding social contact altogether. Her achievements had not gone unnoticed. Yunn had recently notified her parents about her recent success, and for the first time, Delta no longer dreaded answering Olanta's calls. Durun had congratulated his daughter but was hurt that she didn't tell him the news herself. It's better when someone of authority tells them, she thought, that way she could keep some credibility with her family.
Her eye caught her body’s reflection in the still lake. She stared down and carefully stepped to its edges, inspecting every detail of her appearance. With every passing day, Delta looked more and more like her mother. She was endowed with the sculpted cheekbones, gold almond-shaped eyes and thickened brown lips. With a flick of her silvery hair, she strode to the pyramid's entrance. Stepping into the foyer, there were several students lounging on creamy sofas and thick carpets with an assortment of large and supportive floor pillows. The doors to the main chamber were shut. Delta stepped closer to the walnut wood and traced her fingers along the carved figures in its face. They weren't anatomically correct, but the traditional Atlantean art style was taken into great consideration. Every figure in every still scene was recognisable from history. It was obvious, the carver had gone through painstaking lengths to detail their faces and fingers. Thin gold layer cased the weapons and armour on the figures; the large square frames that depicted scenes from the modern Atlantean city and its technology were positioned at the foot of the doors but reverted to earlier points in time the higher her eye travelled towards the peaks.
To Delta's surprise, the top frames didn't depict the human settlers arriving at the island. Instead there were figures descending from golden stars and becoming more human the closer they reached the earth. She was sure this lesson was not covered by the history subject at school. Perhaps it was a metaphor from the artist and homage to the ancient native Atlantean beliefs, but those scenes held her interest enough to forget why she was here.
The wide doors slid open; a teenage boy stepped out of the hall. Yunn appeared from behind, mouthing a 'hello' at sight of her before gently pressing the doors back together. Delta smiled and steadily stood back. She tried to catch a glimpse of the board members inside, but the gap was too narrow for her to see any details. She turned around to ask the boy what it was like, what they had asked him and what did he tell them, whether he was successful. Her last question was answered when he approached a panel of three; their faces were high and bright with joy that was followed by congratulatory embraces. Delta felt a sense of pride for him, yet a prang of worry clenched her chest at the thought that he might have filled her position. Perhaps he didn't get into the Academy at all, maybe they were just proud that he was even considered, she thought. This uncertainty wouldn't plague a telepath, although the laws state that uninvited scans are punishable with mandatory communal service with psionic inhibitors placed on perpetrators until their debts have been paid. Perhaps being a mundane had its perks.
“Delta?” a quiet voice called which broke her mental tangent. Her neck flexed to see a young man of similar height; her eyes adjusted to the grown face of the child she met at her greatfather's funeral.
“Karu, you're schooling here?” she said as she twisted towards him.
“Oh no, just here for the interview panel, anyone from this area can apply. Almost thought you were Olanta, how have you been?” he said with a genuine smile.
“Since the funeral, I'm surprised you even remembered my name,” she sheepishly said.
“How couldn't I? Almost drowned that kid, what was his name?” he said while he tapped his chin.
Delta rolled her eyes and through gritted teeth uttered his name, “Anobus...”
She could never forget it. Particularly her mother wouldn't allow her to forget it – to move on. It was after the 'incident', as her father graciously put, when she was placed into school to learn how to improve communication and cooperation with other people, they said. Delta knew she was just a constant source of embarrassment to them.
Word spread like a grass fire with other dignitaries and socialites, but now the tables had begun turning, and her parents felt pride for their only child for the first time in her life.
“That's right. Wouldn't be surprised if he never wanted to be around water again,” Karu said as he looked in the distance.
“That's ancient history now, we've all grown up,” she quickly said as her mind darted to more pressing matters, “why do you want to go to the Academy?”
“Xeno-politics mainly, it'd be nice to actually go to some of these worlds the interstellar Federation keep droning on about and meet some fresh cultures,” he said.
“My mother does a lot of that, there's more boring meetings and less sight-seeing than one imagines,” she saw the light in his eyes diminish a little, “although, that's what she says.”
Karu nodded his head as he looked around the foyer where the other applicants waited for their turn, “I wonder what kind of person the Academy is looking to take in this year. There's a massive contrast of people here.”
“How do you mean?” she said turning to see his view.
He extended his finger to a boy resting on floor pillows, “he's a creative genius, probably can design better buildings in Capihul,” he turned to point at a girl resting her back against the stone wall, “she's the best martial artist I've ever watched, can fend off and overpower a group of attackers and can withstand a psi-deepscan,” then to another young boy, “he can play any instrument, he mastered the Arinu harp at age six.”
Delta bit her tongue as she looked at the some of the best young minds in her presence, a flutter of envy and fear circled through her chest.
“Don't worry, it's easy to feel inadequate to a lot of these people, but I can assure you that they're feeling and thinking the exact same thing about everyone else here,” he said as he gave a wide smile.
She wanted to believe him, and for a moment, she almost did. Karu didn't seem to fit as a liar, however, if he remembered her after all these years, then he would remember she was mundane. Perhaps he would make a wonderful politician.
“Thanks, Karu,” she said as her lips curled into a smile.
“Delta Ungbrahe,” Yunn's voice called from behind. She swung around to see him standing in the partially opened doorway. She didn't even hear the sliding doors open. The flutter of nervousness expanded in her belly as she took a deep breath and her smile widened before stepping into the main hall. Karu whispered 'good luck' as Delta followed Yunn into the chamber. The doors gently closed behind her. Delta saw four older men and women sitting in a row of seats at the very front. They politely smiled at her as Yunn pointed for her stand on the podium before taking his place beside them.
“Greetings Delta, thank you for coming to meet us today,” said one of the women; her white bangs covered the hairline around her face and a wide gold nose ring hung above her lip.
“Pleasure is mine, thank you for having me,” her response was automatic; she hadn't even considered which words to use before she spoke. She was in a daze, but by the way they looked at her she must have appeared confident. Even Yunn seemed pleased.
“Why do you want to study at the Academy of Atlantia?” said one of the men. His silver hair was shaved except for a very thin braid that stretched past his chest.
“Because your curriculum is the best in the world, if not, this spatial sector. Nearly everyone who's graduated from your faculty has gone on to be someone remarkable. I could gain so much in a very short span of time, and I feel like you could gain a lot from me,” she said as she watched their faces accept her praise. Her true confidence grew as her fear waned with every word she uttered.
“Thank you for mentioning that,” said the man as he lifted a tablet with an assortment of short-range holographic writings, “you haven't had ideal encounters with some of your peers and professors, and had to be removed from previous schools, how would we know that you'll be any different with us?”
Delta's confidence halted and started sinking. She had suspected that they were aware of her previous incidences, but the perfect answer was already drawn in her mind.
“That's a very valid concern, I cannot excuse my behaviour for that time. However, I'd like to preface I was a much younger person,” she glanced over to Yunn, “when my headmaster announced that you were coming here, I knew this was my chance for self-improvement and focusing on developing my talents. He's witnessed my changes and his words carry more weight than mine,”
Their heads nodded in agreement. “Your headmaster did speak highly of you and was astounded by your change, but we remain sceptical,” said the nose-ring woman.
“Why were you having so many behavioural problems?” said the other man, who still shared most Atlantean features except for his thick black hair.
“I was home-schooled in my early years; it was difficult to adjust in a classroom full of other students when I had only known one teacher at a time to learn from. Which is why I'm so attracted to your program,” she was getting tired from justifying her actions in the past to a group of strangers.
“Understandable, but life provides us with moments of contention, at times we need to do things we don't like, to satisfy, uphold the status-quo,” said a previously silent woman. Her appearance was unremarkable, yet in her simplicity, it made the hairs at the back of Delta’s neck stand.
“That's what I'm beginning to understand. Without acknowledging one's history, how could one know the future or comprehend the present? History has always been my passion, as you can see in my records, even during my worst years,” Delta said. Her posture remained high and sure, but her heart ached to move on.
“Your grades are consistent and considering all of your previous educators’ comment on your extraordinary mind, which you have demonstrated in your recent months and before us today, I believe you would make an ideal student,” said the man with the tablet scrolling across the illuminated screen.
Delta's lips lightly trembled and her only response was a short bow of her head as she couldn't utter words of gratitude. Her chest swelled with so much air, she thought she could levitate. After the last semester, her efforts had been noticed by the Academy and in spite knowing her colourful background they were willing to open their doors to her.
The four board members rose and so did Yunn. “We would like to extend our offer to you, Delta Ungbrahe, to the prestigious institute: Academy of Atlantia. A formal invitation will be documented and sent after you leave today,” said the woman with the nose ring.
“The most astounding thing is, despite your disadvantage, you have exceeded all expectations,” said the man with the thin braid.
Delta's chest tightened; her cheek nervously twitched at his words. “Excuse me, but to what disadvantage do you speak of?”
“Your psionic disability, of course. We haven't ever had a student who was a mundane, but all necessary steps will be taken for you to keep up with the other students,” the bland woman said.
Her heart pounded in her chest as all the blood rushed to her head. “I never considered myself disabled...”
The man with the black hair lifted his hand and nodded. “That's understandable. However, there would be slight inconveniences. Had we not known you were Olanta Ungbrahe's daughter-,”
“You've spoken with her?” Delta couldn't hide the rising anger in her blood.
“She contacted us and made all necessary information available.”
Her skull throbbed as if she had grown a new heart in it; she didn't even know who spoke; all their forms melded into one. “You wouldn't have accepted me if it wasn't for her, correct?”
“Delta, that's not-,” Yunn began speaking, but it was already too late.
“My efforts aren't strong enough to hold on their own merits, apparently,” she said as she eyed all the board members, “since this is your first time offering a mundane a place in your school, allow me to be the first mundane to reject your pathetic offer.”
The horrified faces of the board members brought some pleasure to Delta's rage. She looked at her headmaster's face full of sorrow, the only person she felt guilty for disappointing. Before anyone could utter a word, Delta swooped down from the podium and stormed to the double doors and pried them open with all her adrenal-filled strength. The other students waiting in the lobby fixed on her. Even Karu tried to stop her, but no one could halt her charge. She slipped outside into the cold winds, and once she was out of all sight, she bolted to her dorm room; unable to hold her icy tears back any longer.
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