章 15: Letters
Michael quickly scanned the letter before addressing it to the academy. The flickering candle on the table cast long shadows, barely illuminating the room. In his hands, he held a brass seal, ready to finalize the letter.
With practiced efficiency, he melted crimson wax, letting it drip onto the folded parchment. Pressing the seal firmly, he stamped the emblem of the Emerald Castle into the wax, leaving an intricate insignia. To ensure the letter's secrecy, he added another layer of wax, covering the address, then stamped it again. The seal read: **"Address sealed, open only when sending."**
Satisfied, Michael jumped from his chair and hurried through the hallway, his footsteps echoing against the stone walls.
"Sir Michael, anything I can assist you with?" A courteous Emerald City Guard approached, bowing slightly.
Michael handed the letter to him. "You know the drill—send it discreetly," he said, before turning and disappearing back into the throne room, leaving the guard alone with the letter.
The guard stood still for a moment, following protocol by waiting until Michael was out of sight. He'd learned his lesson after being reprimanded for leaving a superior's presence too early in his training days. Glancing down at the sealed letter, he pocketed it and made his way out of the castle, avoiding interaction with the other guards.
Outside the castle gate, a horseman rode by, his saddlebags bulging with letters. "I've got 48 letters for Sir Michael," the mailman called out, extending the letters to the guard.
"Yeah, and I've got a special message for you," the guard replied, handing over the sealed letter.
The phrase **"special message"** was a code for extra secure deliveries. Without a word, the mailman slipped the letter into his coat pocket and rode off.
A few miles down the road, another mailman on horseback appeared beside him. "Hey, I need to send a special message. Can you give me a hand?" the new rider asked.
The first mailman nodded. "No problem. I've got one special delivery already." He pulled out the letter stamped with the Emerald City Guard's seal.
The second mailman squinted at the seal. "Mason Wolfe?" he asked in surprise. "Didn't expect to be delivering something for someone that high up. What's yours?"
"Not sure," the first mailman replied, carefully pocketing both letters. "Even the address is sealed. It's all hush-hush."
They continued their ride, delivering over a hundred letters as the day passed and the sky darkened. As the night approached, the mailman hurried his horse, knowing he couldn't risk holding onto the two special letters any longer.
He reached the Emerald City Post Office just before closing, slipping inside unnoticed. Wiping the sweat from his brow, he made his way to the back of the building. He discreetly placed the two letters into a small, nearly invisible crack in the wall, a drop point used for secure letters.
In the underground vault, an elderly clerk spotted the letters falling into the box. "Oh, two special messages," she said, excitedly passing them to her colleague. Her slender co-worker carefully shaved off the seal, ensuring no trace of the sender's identity remained, then slipped the letters into a separate box above the ceiling for the next stage.
Hours later, another worker collected the letters and blended them with the rest of the day's mail. By morning, the once 'special' messages were indistinguishable from the others.
---
Inside the academy's admissions office, staff worked tirelessly to process the flood of new applications. The sheer volume reflected the academy's influence across the land.
The office itself had little authority beyond recording names. The final decision on admissions was left to higher powers, but the processing team was crucial in maintaining the academy's growing reputation.
"Hey, have you heard anything about the Sterlinguard family lately?" a young clerk asked as she processed George's letter.
"Sterlinguard? Aren't they the ones from Stonespike?" her older colleague replied.
"Yeah, the fallen family... Seems like one of the last surviving members wants to join the academy," she mused, handing the letter over.
"Hmm, isn't everyone in that family dea—" The man stopped mid-sentence as Seraphina Starlight entered the room.
Seraphina, the academy's headmistress and one of the most respected witches in Emerald City, cast an intimidating presence. The room fell silent as every staff member focused on their tasks, hoping to avoid her gaze.
Seraphina glanced briefly at George's admission letter, but her expression revealed little. Without a word, she turned and exited the room.
Outside, waiting for her, stood Gideon, the headmaster of the non-magic sector. His large, imposing frame made him look more like a warrior than an academic. "How's the batch of recruits looking?" he asked.
"There are a few interesting candidates... and plenty of barbarians, of course," Seraphina replied dryly.
Gideon grinned, his broad shoulders shaking slightly. "Good for me. Sounds like the non-magic sector won't be falling behind in the academy championship this year. Have you heard the latest rumors?"
"Rumors?" Seraphina asked, curious.
"About spies infiltrating the academy. Look out the window—they've sent two Emerald City Guards to investigate." Gideon pointed, his thick finger directing her attention outside.
Seraphina peered through the window and spotted Donovan and Mason Wolfe entering through the academy gates. She recognized them immediately—both had been academy students under Gideon's non-magic division.
'So, the rumors have some truth to them,' Seraphina thought, watching the two guards as they moved through the courtyard. 'Why else would they be sent back here?'
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TheOtherChadGuy
TheOtherChadGuy Thanks for reading, and thank you for the gifts and the power stones! If you have any suggestion for my novel, just comment, and I will happily consider it. Thank you very much for reading!
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