I'm Finally Here

Here I am. The campus of The Dryden Magical Academy. There are cobblestone streets going off in many directions with apprentice mages and instructors moving from building to building. The buildings themselves vary in size but share the same stone architecture. I'm looking for the administration building.

Walking a few paces to a fork in the street I find a post with various marked arrow signs. Ah here it is. A few arrows pointing left one of which says administration. Left it is. Three buidings down on the right hand side of the street is what I'm looking for. Administration. It's a large building four stories tall with a tower at it's center flanking the walkway leading to the front door are two braziers burning the same purple flames as the ones by the gate, a common architectural feature of the buildings on campus. The front double doors are made of heavy oak.

Inside the building the floor is polished white and light gray marble. Directly in front of me is an information counter between two marble staircases with brass Bannisters.

Sitting behind the counter is a ratman with brown fur wearing a green instructor's robe and gold rimmed thick spectacles. When I get to the counter he looks me up and down as if he's looking at a scientific specimen." Didn't anyone teach you any manners. It's customary to take your hood off while indoors and why are you barefoot? Don't you own a pair of shoes? I swear you humans."

Oh goody a prissy ratman. I take my hood off." I apologize sir I didn't mean any disrespect. As for my shoes I did wear an old pair of sandals but just right outside the gate I um...stepped in something rather nasty and I had to throw them away."

His gaze and tone of voice soften." I see. Let me guess dog dung, am I right?" I nod my head yes too embarrassed to speak." There's no shame in it young lady. It's happened to all of us here at one time or another. It's Archmage Tinnomon's dog Ralphie. That's why nobody says anything. Well that and he is a sweet dog once you get to know him, poop not withstanding."

Well there goes the idea of kicking the dog's owner in the nuts, can't punt the Archmage's balls after all. "I'm sure he is a good boy. Um I have an appointment with...." I take out my appointment card and read the name on it." Ms. Baines in the admissions office."

"Yes Ms. Baines. She's just up the left side stairs second floor office number 206. It's four doors down on the right side." He grins sheepishly. " Just knock on the door until she invites you in."

I just realize I forgot to introduce myself to him. "I'm sorry sir I forgot to introduce myself proper, I'm Ariadne Chapman." I offer my hand and he stands up from his chair to shake it. " A pleasure to meet you Ms. Ariadne Chapman. I'm Mr. Alexei Sahnaad. Your apology is accepted and I must also apologize, I see some humans do have manners after all. Now remember she's just upstairs left staircase second floor right side of the hall office 206. Please knock until invited in."

And so up the stairs I go. Here it is office 206 and the wooden door has... quite an odd knocker. It's a bronze relief of a man with an expression of pain on his face. He has his hands on his head and his legs spread. He's nude. His penis is average size but his testicles are large and well...there what you knock on the door with. There's a bronze strike plate protecting the wood of the door. That's what you ...for lack of a better term bang the balls against. Well here goes.

I knock three times and I hear the sound of a man crying out in agony." Aaaghh!" Nothing, no invitation to enter from the other side of the door. I grasp the balls in my hand again and bang them once into the door, harder this time. "OohhhhOooww!" A howl of excruciating pain.

Feminine laughter from the other side of the door. "Please do come in. I don't think poor old Reginald can take anymore knocking."

Here I go. An interview to decide my future.