Arthoms 33rd letter (S2E19)

*Written in Dwarven*
 
 
To my dear cousin Thyria,
 
Aye, today’s been a test o’ patience if ever there was one.
 
Started with a drink at the Garrison Pub, where Ko let slip that Master Opah reached out tae her—said there are Triad members inside the academy. So, naturally, we went tae investigate. I cannae say I had high hopes for this place, but I cannae leave this lot tae fend fer themselves. Not after that Eoin said.
 
The next day, Zy cast some illusion magic, disguisin’ me, Mog, an’ Talu so we could blend in. That was the only part o’ the day that made any sense.
 
First class, an’ the bloody teacher struck me. Right across the face, like I was some unruly child. I had tae fight every instinct in me not tae rip his throat out then an’ there. Bastard’s lucky I’ve got more restraint than I used tae.
 
Then we got quizzed on the Four Wars o’ History. Gave a very in-depth recount o’ the Titan War, because if there’s one thing I actually ken, it’s war. But, of course, some wee shite-stain o’ a student mocked me for it. Without missin’ a beat, I said "I'll fookin’ kill ye," an’ the teacher just nodded an’ said "I'll allow it."
 
Aye. This is the kind o’ school we’re dealin’ with.
 
Class ended, an’ we went tae the yard. I kept tae meself, watchin’ as Ko, Syrus, an’ Yifeng confronted some Mokuna. It started escalatin’, so I got up tae step in, but before I could reach them, they walked away. Strange, but I kept it in mind.
 
Back inside, we had some Chi an’ Spirit nonsense. They started askin’ all these "deep" questions meant tae help us harness our chi. A few o’ them hit too close tae home, an’ I had tae bite me tongue more than once. I’ve rarely got time for introspection when I’m surrounded by this level o’ shite, and here is far from the place for such.
 
Then came the sparrin’ matches.
 
Ko an’ Syrus went first. Ko tried tae trip him, an’ Syrus just shoved her tae the ground like it was nothin’. He won.
 
Then came me an’ Talu. I refused tae fight. Told ‘em plain, I’m nae strikin’ me allies for the sake o’ some poorly facilitated "trainin’." If I’m tae train the misfits, I’ll do it properly, not like this nonsense. Might not be a bad idea actually... Talu insisted, though, so I let her have her fight, against a non-combatant. She ended up hurtin’ herself on me face, tripped me, an’ was granted won.
 
Yifeng an’ Lucid fought next, an’ I enjoyed every second o’ Yifeng tossin’ Lucid around like a wee rag doll. Needless to say she won with little challenge. Much to Lucid's dismay.
 
Mog an’ Zy followed, an’ the whole match was a disaster. Mog bloody slapped himself, Zy tried tae pull his pants down tae trip him, an’ he just pushed her aside. The teacher finally gave up an’ called it a draw.
 
Then we moved tae Arcana Class. Master Opah himself was teachin’, an’ he went ‘round askin’ us about magic.
 
Asked Ko about ley lines.
 
Asked me about druidism.
 
Asked Zy about types o’ magic. She answered Arcane, Education, History, War, an’ Art.
 
The real answers? Arcane, Illusion, an’ Teleportation.
 
I'm sure I needn't tell ye about the targeted nature of these questions.
 
After that, we finally got tae lunch.
 
The others found and opened a letter we’d found in a Mokuna’s bag—it had the location o’ the place the others went tae without me. We showed it tae Opah an’ asked him tae bring the Mokuna tae a classroom so we could question her.
 
She admitted that she’s datin’ a Triad member, an’ he pays her. Said he was arrivin’ this afternoon tae pick her up. So, naturally, we decided tae kidnap him an’ question him.
 
Master Opah said he’d handle the rest internally. I dinnae trust the academy, but I’ll see how this plays out.
 
If this day’s taught me anythin’, it’s that this place is more broken than I thought. I’m nae sure what we’ll find here, but I’ll be damned if we leave without dealin’ with the Triad’s influence—one way or another.
 
Your cousin,
Arty