Chapter 403: Graduation II

A few more days went by where I had nothing to do but pack, repack, fret, worry, compete with Auri in ‘who can burn more’, prepare for my thesis defense, and cuddle with Iona.

“You’re sure you’re okay with Exterreri? I’m not pressuring you to do something you don’t want to? It’s not just because of me?” I asked for what must’ve been the… 60th time or so.

43rd a quick review of my memories said.

Iona sighed.

“Elaine, I swear, if you ask me this question one more time, I’m going to tickle you. Until you beg for mercy, and then I’ll keep going. YES. I am sure. Why don’t you read a book?”

“I am! And writing in my spellbook. [Parallel Thoughts] for the win!”

“Go read more books.”

She did have a point. My book-access was about to sharply go down.

Blessedly, the time came to present my thesis before I could annoy Iona into breaking up with me.

“All ready?” Marcelle asked with Ratcatcher.

I nodded, filled to the brim with a frenetic, nervous energy. This was it. This was the time. I’d prepared and over prepared for this. Checking over my notes. My evidence. Rehearsing questions. Then going a little too far, and paying for someone to help pretty me up. Hair, clothes, makeup, nails, everything. Cost a pretty penny to go into the town to get it done - no student practitioners here - but it was worth it.

Shame I didn’t have [Pretty] anymore, this would’ve been good for a few levels.

Iona, Auri, and even Fenrir tagged along, eager to watch and support my thesis defense.

The trip to the grand stadium - the grand stadium - was practically a blur. I knew the whole thing was going to be an event, but I hadn’t quite realized the sheer scale of the event.

An island wide broadcast went out as we were almost there, echoed not only in the four keystone languages, but in a dozen other popular languages as well.

“Attention all students, professors, members of the School of Sorcery and Spellcraft, and town members. If any of you have an interest in medicine, history, linguistics, people, literature, teaching, or just flat-out leveling for watching an event, please make your way to the Grand Stadium.”

Iona and I traded looks.

“BrrrRRRRRrrrpt!!” Auri made an impressed noise. A speedster blazed past us, through the main gates of the Grand Stadium, and we hustled through before too many others could cause us trouble. Fenrir flew up with Iona, and perched on the platform designed for large fliers.

Marcelle, Ratcatcher, Auri, and myself waited in one of the antechambers as an inquisitive crowd started to filter in. It was the two break weeks between quarters, and most students were taking a break, or didn’t have much to do. The practical promise of leveling - regardless of class - just for watching an event was enticing. I’d be tempted to show up to such an event. Worst-case, I could just read in the stands.

“I need to get going. Best of luck. Ratcatcher is going to stay with you. You’ll know when to make your entrance.” Marcelle vanished down another passageway after that.

In no time at all, I heard her magically amplified voice speaking.

“Welcome one, welcome all, to a very special thesis defense! Yes, you heard me, today’s specially broadcast event is a thesis defense, one like you’ve never seen before, nor will you ever see again. Yes, I’m including the ancient Immortals among us in this. You too have never seen a thesis defense like this, nor will you ever see one again, and depending on your speciality, I can almost guarantee a level. But first! Let me introduce to you all our panelists. We will start with the head of the Department of Medicine, Professor…”

Marcelle then went on to list virtually every single professor

in the medicine, biomancy, history, and a few other departments. I had a good 80 or so members on my panel.

“Now, I’m sure you’re all wondering what could cause such a stir. What thesis gathered so many people here today, that has caused such interest. Has there been some revolutionary breakthrough in the field of medicine? Was the Riddle of Aelia solved? Not today! The School of Sorcery and Spellcraft accepts theses written before students attend the School. Pushing the boundary of knowledge is pushing the boundary of knowledge, no matter when or where. What I have for you is something ancient. Blasted through time, born before every known Immortal alive today and young enough to compete on the School’s combat team, deceived by the fae and founder of medicine as we know it today, it is my great honor to present - Elaine of Remus!”

I looked at Ratcatcher and he gave me a quick nod. I exited to confused murmurs from the crowd.

Marcelle had simply introduced me and the panelists. She hadn’t done the reveal yet. Explained why we were here.

The panelists were something fierce. They were on what I could only describe as a ‘short’ bleacher, twenty to a row and stacked four high. They loomed over the spot I was clearly meant to go to, peering over glasses and papers at me.

Maybe a third had been previously convinced of what was going on. This was news to the rest of them.

I could only imagine how hard this would be if we hadn’t done all the prep work ahead of time.

“Elaine of Remus. Elaine. Her name means ‘healer’ in nearly every language. One has to wonder - what were her parents thinking when they simply named her ‘healer’?”

Marcelle either had a talent for public speaking, or more likely, had developed the skill over her long immortality. She paused a moment for a brief chuckle.

“I’ve mentioned Elaine is ancient. She is so ancient that she predates her name meaning healer.” Marcelle paused and grinned. I could see the coin slowly, oh so slowly, starting to drop for a few people. A single breathy “Impossible.” A jaw unhinging.

“Indeed, there is strong evidence that she is single-handedly responsible for the word ‘Elaine’ taking on the meaning it has. Mortals and Immortals, Elaine here wrote the original draft of the Medical Manuscripts. Not an early copy. Not an early contributor. The original. She is the first author, the one who got the idea. Who took charcoal to bamboo, and penned the foundations of medicine as we know it today.”

A slow murmur went through the crowd as people processed and realized exactly what Marcelle had said. She let people talk for a few seconds, before seizing the moment and carrying on before someone else could butt in.

“Now, these claims are extraordinary. Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. Elaine will take more normal thesis questions after the evidence is given. Next is the woman who needs no introduction. Director Flora.”

Needs no introduction? I’d never heard of the woman before! I’d never met her in all of this!

And yet, as a flower unfurled near me and an old lady in dazzling white robes stepped out, I realized I did know her. She was the one who’d stepped in with the skinwalker.

“I am Flora. I too was born in Remus, although I came here today the hard way.”

There was a brief round of chuckles at that.

“While I never had direct knowledge or interaction with Elaine, she was active in a similar time and location that I was in. Without giving away too many of my own secrets, I am satisfied that Elaine is who she claims to be.”

The witch in white - Flora - didn’t even give me a look before dissolving into a flurry of pink petals, dancing on the wind.

That summary seemed useless to me, but I wasn’t well versed in Immortal politics, Flora’s reputation, and what weight her words would have. A number of professors looked impressed, and were quickly twisting and talking with each other, dozens of rapid conversations held at speeds only high level Immortals could manage. Flora’s words clearly had significant weight to them, and I only spotted three frowns in the crowd.

Looking good, looking good.

By Flora’s own words, she was ancient. Like, five times older than Night had been when I knew him. It reinforced my belief that Night could be around. One person had made it from Remus until now. Why couldn’t a second one?

Wait.

WAIT.

Artemis’s School of Sorcery and Spellcraft had been founded during my era. Flora claimed to have been from Remus, around my era. She was at a School with the same name. Was this School the sam-

“Next up, I would like to present our resident [Archivist]

, Ratcatcher.” Marcelle announced after a carefully calculated - I assumed - time had passed. Damn her for interrupting my musings! “He specializes in tracing signatures and their lineage.”

The goblin stepped forth next to me, and handed out dozens of folders, then began to speak.

“Welcome. Please take a copy of my paper and pass the rest along. Thank you. Elaine is an interesting case, given the extreme age of the signature, the sheer prevalence of the Medical Manuscripts, and the tens of thousands of different signature lineages associated with such an old work. Elaine’s signature against contemporary works - Specifically, the Yaris branch - is a stunningly low 41.90% match, which is normally entirely disqualifying. The specifics of where and how the signature matched is the subject of the paper in front of you, for those of you willing to delve into the technical details. Given the extreme age in question, and the utter lack of precedent for a signature so copied over the ages, and a survivor claiming to be the author in question, I deemed it reasonable to continue investigating. The Rudolf line was next, and…”

Ratcatcher was no Immortal. He hadn’t been given the chance of multiple lifetimes to polish his social skills, goblins weren’t exactly famous conversationalists, and his job in the archive didn’t exactly have a constant whirl of people coming in and chatting with him.

All this to politely say that while Ratcatcher was correct, and technically going over everything properly, he was boring as sin. I had to use [Sunrise] three times on myself to keep my eyes open and look interested.

“... in the end, the part that convinced me more than any other was the System.” Ratcatcher was finally winding down. The professors that had been stated as part of the Department of History looked like cats that had been dropped into a vat of cream, while a few of the Department of Medicine professors looked confused and lost. Two were playing cards under the table with each other, and I was a little offended.

Only a little. Ratcatcher was boring. Thorough, convincing, but he’d gotten everyone on board forty minutes ago… and was mostly just rereading the paper he’d just handed out to everyone.

“I have gained twenty levels directly related to my investigations here. Looking into an imposter or conwoman wouldn’t be nearly as rewarding, and I believe only the true author could provide such experience. Any questions?”

“Yes, I-” One professor opened his mouth and started to ask a question, only to wither under the combined glare of literally every single other person in the stadium. Except Ratcatcher. The demon sitting next to him clasped one massive hand on the clueless professor’s shoulder, and she leaned in to whisper something to the man.

Marcelle clapped her hands.

“Thank you Ratcatcher for the thorough explanation.”

“You’re most welcome.”

He tilted his hat at the assembled professors, and walked away.

“Ratcatcher brings up an interesting point. Levels. Being around significant figures tends to cause more levels and experience than being around people who haven’t accomplished much. Those who are blessed to discuss philosophy with Long Zhi, long may he protect this School, can confirm. I am embarrassed to admit that it was only in Elaine’s third year that I noticed my own leveling rate had dramatically increased. Seven levels. Seven levels in three years, and we vampires drew a short straw, usually only getting one every decade. This led me to suspect something was going on, and I chased down hundreds of false leads before Elaine came to me with her revelation. Cross-checking with other professors and students - many of them sitting here today - has indicated a moving locus of levels. Those who have taught Elaine in medicine or biomancy have reported increased levels. Those who have worked with her, or assisted with her own biomancy work have gained surprising numbers of levels compared to their peers who have not. A few have been offered powerful classes that look and sound strange - [Assistant to the Founder] being one such example - but all neatly and directly tie back to Elaine. I have presented my example of levels, you will now hear from others.”

Thus began the veritable parade of people coming forward and adding their testimony. Some knew what was going on ahead of time, others hadn’t. Some professors added in their weight.

An [Authenticator] from the island’s auction house came around, although I didn’t think he was that helpful. Of course I’d written it, and I had to use modern supplies for it. Still, he was another mango in the bowl. Never could have too many of those!

Throughout the storm I stood there in my robes, carefully watching each of the professors without saying a word myself. Careful not to stare at anyone too long. The picture of a healer.

The healer.

The Elaine.

It was fun to see how many levels I was handing out to the various professors, every silent ding! another nail in the coffin.

That might not be the best analogy.

Only one storm could blow forever, and it wasn’t this one. Things started to wind down, and it was my turn.

“Thank you all. Now, this is still a thesis presentation! We’ve gotten the background and evidence that Elaine is capable of presenting the work in question, and that she is indeed the author. With that said, now it’s time for the healer in question to take the stand, present her work, and have the capable men and women of the panel decide if it’s good enough.” Marcelle finished with a wicked smile. Someone sputtered and choked at her words.

“If it’s good enough!?” She cried out in protest.

“Shhh!” Another one silenced her.

I stepped forward and laid down my scrolls in front of the panel.

“I am Elaine of Remus. I would like to present my thesis to the School of Sorcery and Spellcraft. It is my collection of notes and understanding of medicine, collated and written in a single location to try and spread my knowledge.” I kept it simple, knowing I was in for a brutal grilling.

If nothing else, the examiners would be salivating at the chance to level. They quickly got an order to ask questions in, and an agreement not to cut me off as I was answering. The chance to level was too good.

“Elaine. I’m a big fan. How did you get such knowledge, at such a young age? Is your work a compilation of other scraps of knowledge? Walk me through how it was made.”

I never expected to keep all my secrets, not when how much of the Medical Manuscripts had come from my reincarnation. Hadn’t quite realized it at the time, but as we prepared, yeah. It became obvious. People didn’t seem to flip out that much when I mentioned my history, and I was well-shielded here.

“Best way of explaining it is I’ve been god-touched. Shortening a long and confusing story, I was born with excess knowledge, primarily of a medical nature. My mother was also a healer, and it was only natural that I follow in her footsteps. As I grew up, I got the opportunity to place all my knowledge down in a single place, to try and spread it throughout the city I was living in. Maybe - just maybe - it’d end up in a few extra cities. I had no idea that it’d reach this scale. To loop back around to your question. I stood upon the shoulders of giants - of a completely different world. I can’t exactly claim originality, broadly, but in a Remus sense, I can.”

So much for short and sweet. I thought about discreetly wiping my sweaty palms on my robes, but no. Everyone would see the motion, there was no hiding from so many Immortal eyes.

My answer set off a fresh round of discussions, and a few well-worn arguments reanimated. Did my answer count as I had originally done the work? Or was I simply a collator of others' knowledge? “Both” was a bit of a surprise, wildcard answer.

The conversations and discussions weren’t all done when the next professor in line wanted to ask her question.

“Elaine. The [Oath] written down is quite something. What can you tell us of its origins and inspiration?”

Lyra was an old scar at this point.

“The inspiration is easy. I fucked up. Hard. I was still concerned with the world. With my knowledge. I… didn’t put forth my best efforts. My friend died. I swore to myself - never again. At the time my System was freshly unlocked, and I didn’t have good memory skills. I made my [Oath] on the spot, with what I thought was right. I included it when I wrote the Medical Manuscripts, in case one or two people were interested in it.”

The last part was said sardonically, and I got a number of sympathetic, understanding looks.

The questions continued, prior commitments forgotten, the time limit blown to pieces. I was trying to ignore the crowd, but I had an awareness of my surroundings, trained into me, that didn’t let me quite ignore them. People were coming in and out, but on average, the crowd was growing.

The island was flying fast, against the rotation of the planet. Nightfall came, the moons flashed by the sky, the sun peeked up over the horizon, and minions were acquired to bring snacks and drinks to everyone.

Marcelle finally stepped in.

“Professors, I’m sure Elaine will be happy to meet with you all on an individual basis. However, we have been here a long time. Out of respect for each other’s time, I move that we discuss if Elaine’s thesis is sufficient for graduation from the School.”

I have no idea how Marcelle said that with a straight face, but she did.

A privacy veil shimmered over the professors, but it wasn’t particularly good. Only really stopped sound. [The World Around Me] easily pierced it, and I was able to follow the proceedings.

There was fierce arguing for some reason, with rapid shows of hands as less than half the professors raised their hands, then a different less than half of the group raised theirs. A number of them weren’t voting at all, and people kept switching sides around.

Marcelle put a hand on my shoulder.

“Good job.” She said. “I can’t tell you how impressed and honored I am to have met you, and been your advisor.”

I gave her a crooked grin.

“I’m still me. I was so lost when I came here, you helped me find my feet. You organized all this! I would’ve tried with barely anything backing me up and gotten laughed out of the room, if not outright expelled. Because of you, I had strong evidence. Because of you, I found my feet in this world. Because of you, I’ll be heading to Exterreri after this, to try and make a home. I don’t know how I can say thank you enough.”

Marcelle gave my shoulder another squeeze, and gave me a toothy grin.

“Well, that’s easy enough! When you’re settled in, write me a letter, invite me over, and have a nice bottle of wine ready!”

Finally enough votes got cast one way - was I really that close to getting Silver instead of Gold, or hells, not qualifying at all? - and a large scroll was pulled out. Every present shuffled around to sign the scroll, then the veil dropped.

“Elaine scored a gold on the knowledge portion of her Medical Tracks. After much discussion, we have determined that Elaine’s thesis in Medicine is beyond all standards we have, and she has earned a platinum for her thesis. Given that platinum is an impossible knowledge designation, we hereby award Elaine a platinum grade for her Medicine Tracks. Congratulations.”

I accepted the scroll and the handshake with a tear in my eye.