Marked Ones: Advent of the Demon Prince

Chapter 275 Stark Academy

While the elven palace of Aedrider sat at the highest tier of the city, Stark Academy sat one level below it. The academy itself took up most of the tier it sat upon. There were a handful of residential areas for those who ran and worked the shops and businesses on the academy's level. Still, a majority of its buildings were for the academy students and staff.

If one attempted to compare the size of Stark Academy to the Arcadios Royal Academy, then Stark was easily five times larger. It could almost be considered a city of its own. On top of that, if the rest of the capital was filled with technological wonders, then the academy was filled with even more wondrous things than that.

Students and researchers ran all sorts of experiments within the walls of the school's many research laboratories. The academy's studies also consumed nearly twenty percent of the country's production of magical crystals. Jade found herself in awe with every step she took. Every new sight and sound was even more mystifying than the last.

On more than one occasion, she witnessed strange vehicles resembling small, rectangular platforms with room for one person. On either side of the platform were two small wheels. The people riding these machines seemed to control them by simply leaning their bodies in different directions.

Other people walked around with strangely colored potions and armfuls of rare ingredients. Many of them seemed to make Lucius cringe his nose in response to their odors, which brought a smile to Desmond's face.

One commonality that Stark Academy had with the other higher levels of the elf capital was that everyone they saw was an elf or mixed elf. There were no humans or beastmen to be seen on the academy grounds. If that was the case, then Aedrider's mole was likely a resident and a traitor rather than an infiltrator.

"The administration building is only a few more blocks away. The headmaster is there waiting for us." Therentil remained their guide at Princess Letheya's request after they left the palace earlier that day.

The process of leaving was quite the ordeal. Not only did their party leave for the academy, but so did Ayalla and her supporters. She had announced that she needed to return to her own lands and ensure that things were still running as she had commanded. Corva and Letheya both elected to stay and a small argument broke out about who was doing the most to support their dying mother.

Ayalla went on a tangent about how it was pointless to remain by the side of someone in a coma as the queen wouldn't even know she was there. Letheya maintained that it was the thought that mattered and said Ayalla had no proof that their mother was not aware of her surroundings, even if muddled by her condition.

Of course, following proper etiquette, they had to stand there and awkwardly listen to the sibling banter. Since Princess Ayalla was leaving at the same time, she had the right to leave first, and she had no qualms about making them wait for her to be ready.

"We have arrived, please follow me inside." Therentil informed them.

He entered a beautifully decorated building. While the palace was made of geometric shapes with octagonal towers, the administrative building here was a little more traditional. It was made with a mix of stone and wood. Every piece of wood was ornately etched with imagery depicting the elves' storied past.

Therentil informed them that several buildings on the campus depict the founding of their kingdom, an homage to their ancestors' stories. Lady Tenia, whose older sister was the founding queen of the country, filled in any gaps in their knowledge that existed from the text.

The inside of the building looked nothing like the outside. It seemed that the building was originally constructed entirely out of stone. Then had an additional exterior built around it. The inside was made of the same light gray stone as was used in the palace, but the floors were a beautiful aquamarine.

The walls were lined with paintings by different elven artists depicting the beautiful and emotional scenes representing different popular folktales of their people. Along the back wall, behind the receptionist's desk, there were painted portraits of people that Jade could only assume were former headmasters.

"Headmaster Orllan will see you now." The receptionist said quietly while bowing.

She led them up a set of stairs beside the desk and to a large office filled with more ornate furniture. Something Jade had noticed was that every elf in this country really appreciated fine craftsmanship. Even small glimpses through the windows of normal citizens in town indicated they appreciated the finer things.

It made sense because elves lived very long lives. Their smiths, carvers, jewelers, and really any tradesman had centuries to perfect their craft and pass that knowledge on to their apprentices and children. Because of that, even the finest of goods were relatively cheap to purchase.

"Welcome." A sweet voice called out.

Sitting behind a large, wooden desk on the other side of the room was an elven woman with brown hair and brown eyes. Her features were somewhat uncommon among her people, as many elves tended to have hair and eye colors that were a little more uncommon. Jade assumed the headmaster might have been a mixed-blooded elf to receive more standard colors.

"I am Headmaster Orllan. You must be the representatives sent by little Voltara." Orllan flashed them a perfect smile. "Ah, I suppose I should explain my impertinence regarding her position. She is my… Oh, how many removed is it now? Ah, anyway, let's just call her my cousin."

"A pleasure." Desmond said with a bow. Jade followed his example.

"Where's the lab?" Lucius cut through the decorum once again. However, unlike anyone before, Orllan seemed perfectly fine with it.

"Finally, someone willing to cut through the bullshit." She sighed. Her entire demeanor shifted from warm and open, to annoyed and withdrawn. "Look, I don't like that someone snuck into my school and is stealing my research material. The Orichalcum Project is my bread and butter. Someone is trying to keep tabs on me and copy my research data, they need to die."

Lucius nodded. "I understand. Give me full access to your lab, a list of every researcher and student with access. I want everyone. I want to know if they are a living, conscious person who has been in that building. If they are currently dead, show me their grave.

I want to know everything."