How To Stay Immortal

Chapter 5 - Master Draculesci

Hearing the boys innocent question, Master Draculesci, who originally only wanted to know why the ground floor had turned silent like a graveyard but fell under the spell of a five-year-olds puppet making ability, awakens from his daze. If he ever told anybody that the ability to create puppets of a five-year-old was on par with his own, who would believe him?

Still standing on the stairs leading down he is the first one regain the ability to speak, so he hardly laughing says. ''Hahahaha! You have more than just past boy. I don't even hesitate to give you a scholarship if you want one! What's your name boy?''

''Dante Elcraft, sir.'' The young brown haired boy dressed in common clothing tells him, surprising him with manners uncommon even for the aristocratic students of Worthington.

''Elcraft eh?! Didn't we just admit someone from that family already?...'' Asks Draculesci still assuming Dantes common background before saying with a shaking head. ''... That doesn't matter anyway if I take you as one of my students! Do you want to become one of my students?''

Bowing his head Dante says. ''Dante Elcraft has seen Master.''

''Good, good student Elcraft. Can you now recall your raven so that we can move upstairs and have a proper conversation?'' Asks the old scholar, not expecting the raven of a five-year-old to be able to do so.

Reaching the second floor Master Draculesci is greeted by boys raven sitting on the sh.i.p.s bal.u.s.trade.

''Did it work?'' He hears his student Micah ask behind him.

Moving aside to give room to his two students the scholar says with a poker face. ''It naturally returned. As it can be expected from one of my students latest creation.''

While being guided by his master and accompanied by Micah Dante is disappointed to neither sees his older brother nor his mother while being lead into a spacious office filled with macaroni desk, leather sofa, bookshelves and what not.

''Please sit down...'' Draculesci tells him, before turning to Micah asking. ''... What are you still doing here? Don't you have examinations to overlook?''

''But master I still have to give the boy his grade?'' Try the student to explain by showing Dantes incomplete examination papers.

Snatching the papers from his student the old scholar says. ''Thanks. I will take it from here, you are excused to leave.''

Sitting down beside Dante while reading the incomplete papers, the old man asks after looking at him. ''Now student Elcraft what do you want to know?''

Thinking about the order of question he has, Dante remembers his mother, so he asks. ''Is it possible for me to force a fellow student to hand over his property to me?''

''That's a tricky question... Many variables to consider...'' The old man says seriously considering his every word. ''... Generally yes. By forcing an equal exchange you can get your hands on another's property. What is it that you want? More important who do you want it from?...''

-Do I tell him? I am currently only 5 years old and he is my master. Some say master for a moment a father for life... what to do?- Dante thinks but Draculesci takes the choice from him by saying. ''We are master and student for a short amount of time, so no pressure. Tell me when you are ready. Any other questions?''

Taking out the flyer from his pocket he asks. ''What doesn't this tell one about Worthington Academy?''

Seeing the flyer the scholar begins to laugh. ''Hahaha. Very good question! The answer is everything important. Let me explain...''

More than half an hour goes by before Draculesci stops talking and Dantes' head is spinning from all the information. Concentrating on recalling everything, the five-year-old thinks.

-Never thought that Worthington Academy was so complicated... There are three houses, well technically four, but the fourth seems to be mostly empty. Houses at Worthington are both the living and learning communities for its students. Each year's group of students in the same house shares the same dormitory and many classes. The houses compete throughout the school year, by earning and losing points for various activities. The house with the most points wins the Golden Eye, allocating a significant amount of funds to their field of research.

The fields of researches and their representative colors are doll making green, puppet forging red, ascension blue and healing yellow. This competition breeds rivalries and victimization between the houses, the greatest of which is that between the puppet- and doll makers and victim of this competitive system the healers who are chronically unable to complete.

The four houses are rather separate entities. Each has its own Common Room and dormitory, its own table in the Great Hall, laboratory and students mostly share lessons with classmates of their same house. There is no rule against students from different houses mingling, but in practice, a good majority of social interactions occur within the same house. Each house had one teacher who acted as its Head of House. Draculesci being the Head of the House of Ascension.-

Thinking out loud Dante asks. ''What is the difference between a doll and a puppet? Aren't they the same?''

Chuckling Draculesci says. ''Oh, boy you really are not of the prestigious Elcraft family... Then let me tell you the difference... Puppets are basically biological machines. However, complex you make them you will never get them to be lifelike. For that reason, most puppets are made from animal corpses because it is believed that living animals are basically running on a natural program, a program that puppet makers aim to copy.

Contrary to puppets dolls are basically reanimated beings. Via binding the soul to the owner, the formally dead come back to life. With the focus being on the restoration of souls instead of artificially creating one, a being with a sufficiently large soul, to begin with, is needed. For that reason and that reason only are doll makers mostly using human corpses.

Is your answer sufficiently answered?''

While emphatically nodding Dante says. ''Yes, my master.''

Looking at the clock on the wall Draculesci says. ''So late already?! I am sorry young Dante, but our time is running out...'' Rummaging around in his desk the scholar hands Dante pieces of paper saying. ''... Here take this...'' Seeing Dantes face he explains. ''... It is the supply list for the first years and your provisional Identification.''

''Thanks, master.'' The five-year-old says, walking out of the office. Just after leaving the office Dante unfolds the first paper.

-First-year students will require:

+ Uniform:

- Three Sets of Plain Work Robes (white or grey)

- One Pair of Protective Gloves (dragon hide or similar)

- One Winter Cloak (Black, silver fastenings or white, golden fastenings)

Please note that all student's clothes should carry name-tags at all times.

+ Books

- The Standard Book of Runes and Formations by Miranda Goshawk

- A History of the Nine Realms by Baltimore Gumshot

- Theory of Life by Advert Draculesci

- A Beginner's Guide to Anatomy by Emerica Swiss