Stepping off that riverboat and onto the commercial docks of the Mancer District was like stepping into a whole new world. Gone was the sleek glass and concrete of the city, replaced instead by rustic stone brick and wooden beams. He could see arches and spires built in distinctly antiquated style, reminding Cobalt of architectural styles from the 1500s, with a lot of flourishes and additions from the early 1900s. As soon as the Incubus stepped off the gangplank, he found himself feeling a lot more at ease to be surrounded by such history. The air smelled fresh and was unpolluted by the sound of vehicles. All around him, he could see demons dressed in clothes that almost resembled uniforms; neat blazers and shirts mostly, though if there was a uniform policy of some kind, it didn’t seem to be terribly strict.

  “All good?” Wexford asked, stepping off the gangplank alongside him.

  “This place… its amazing,” Cobalt breathed, staring at the ivy and moss clinging to the walls of the port authority building.

  “Sure is. Used to be an Imp settlement, I think.”

  “They built all this in the middle of the river?”

  “Sort of. Originally the island was pretty small before they expanded it artificially and redirected the Airocs around it.”

  He tapped his foot on the ground.

  “Apparently there’s a whole system of pipes and waterworks underground that they diverted the river water through to power their machines back then. Interesting stuff, but it’s all defunct now,” the Fallen explained, the confidence in his voice betraying his status as a student of history.

  Cobalt smiled, feeling right in his element. Imps were famed for their mechanical prowess, having built up a lot of their knowledge base from reverse-engineering human devices, so it stood to reason that their forebears would find a way to harness the might of the river. But before he could ask Wexford any of the myriad questions he had buzzing in his head, he began to walk towards the stairs leading up to street level.

  “Step lively, Cobalt; plenty of time for investigating later,” he called over his shoulder.

  “A- Ah, of course. Lead the way.”

  With his cane tapping off the stone steps and Lydia following close behind to ensure he didn’t fall, he followed his guide up into the Mancer District proper, and found his breath somehow being taken even further away.

  This place was a paradise. Old, cobbled roads, ivy-covered buildings, wrought iron fences interlaced with plant life, red tiled rooves, towers and spires built from hand-carved stone… And all around him, Cobalt could see demons of all stripes sitting at outdoor cafes with stacks of books by their sides, or engaging in conversation as they travelled down the opposite side of the road.

  In the back of his mind, a dim memory flashed of a place much like this, where the sky was blue overhead, and he was surrounded by humans. A university.

  “This place… this is a college, isn’t it?” Cobalt asked, staring up into the windows of a library as they passed.

  “Even better. The Mancer District houses multiple universities, educational campuses and independent research institutions, covering nearly every faculty and topic you could possibly think of. Furnace may be famed for its industry and tech sectors, but this island right here is an intellectual powerhouse all of its own,” Wexford explained, turning a corner.

  The Incubus stared up towards the horizon, where a massive clock tower dominated the skyline. It was just past midday, and yet the hands were stuck at just a few minutes before midnight.

  “Muigoloroh Tower. Clock hasn’t worked in centuries, but sure that’s what phones are for these days. It houses the Mancer District administrative offices,” Wexford told him, following the Incubus’ gaze.

  “Muigoloroh…” he breathed, dazzled by the light playing off the ancient clock face.

  “You’ll be getting a closer look soon enough; that’s our destination.”

  Cobalt’s eyes widened.

  “Our desti-?! The admin offices?!”

  “Of course. You’re going to be working here, aren’t you?”

  He stared at his feet, suddenly feeling a lot more self-conscious. His family made it seem like his new job was going to be something simple and low-key, not a position in a high-ranking university! He wasn’t even qualified for something like that! And even then, shouldn’t he be going straight to whichever institution was employing him? Applying directly at the nerve centre of the Mancer District was a little…

  An involuntary shiver ran through Cobalt’s body, urging Lydia to place a hand upon his shoulder.

  “Are you alright, young master? Do you need me to carry you?” she asked gently.

  “N- No, no I’m alright. Just a little overwhelmed. Let’s get a move on, shall we?”

  Up ahead, Wexford nodded.

  “No time like the present. Hop to it.”

  As they travelled through the narrow streets and wide-open avenues between colleges and campuses, Cobalt took his time in observing the academics all around them. Sure enough, there didn’t seem to one set uniform policy, though everyone around him seemed to favour blazers or jackets emblazoned with the crests of their favoured institutes. However, there was something else as well. Nearly every student he passed seemed to wear an accessory – be it a tie, barrette or armband – of a specific colour, bearing a specific crest separate to the one on their clothes. Green, red, yellow, pink and occasionally blue, he wanted to stop and ask what the deal was, but Wexford just brushed his question off and urged him forward.

  “Nearly there,” he said, “no sense in getting caught up in anything now.”

  As ever, Cobalt couldn’t really argue with that.

  Eventually, their long journey finally came to an end at the foot of the Muigoloroh Tower, which looked much bigger than he first expected. Plants and even entire trees grew from the ancient stonework, and when he turned his attention down to the front doors, he could see a constant stream of demons in neat suits heading in and out of the building. Wexford gave Cobalt a reassuring nod and brought him inside to the foyer, which looked surprisingly modern despite its antiquated exterior. Tiled floors, sophisticated front desks, a cadre of elevators at the back of the hall… It brought to mind the floor plan of a bank, for some reason.

  “They run a tight ship here, so don’t make a habit of showing up unannounced. They hate that,” Wexford whispered, bringing them over to one of the many receptionists.

  The woman behind the desk – a sallow-skinned Nymph – looked up at them with watery eyes as she typed away on a computer.

  “Can I help you? Anyone wishing to make an appointment must-”

  She cut herself off upon noticing the Incubus in her midst, stunned by the very sight of him. Clearing his throat, Wexford leaned on the desk.

  “Andre Castrel, Literature and Linguistics, Mancer Constituent College of History. I believe the Archdean is expecting us?” he asked in a hushed tone.

  Blinking a few times, she typed furiously into her computer before returning her rheumy gaze onto the trio before her.

  “… He’s cleared his schedule for you. Um… Please take elevator three up to his office at your convenience,” she replied, gesturing to the elevators at the far end of the foyer.

  Thanking her, Wexford headed straight for them, stopping only upon noticing the – frankly – terrified look on Cobalt’s face.

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  “… Archdean?!” the Incubus breathed.

  The Fallen waved his concerns away.

  “There’s so many collegiates here they needed to elect someone to keep them all running smoothly. Really, think of him as more like a mayor than a dean.”

  “Why am I going to see someone called the ‘Archdean?!’”

  “I feel like that’s more your business than mine.”

  Summoning an elevator, he gestured for Cobalt and Lydia to step in. With one hand holding the door open, Wexford leaned forward and hit the very top button on the panel.

  “This is where you and I part ways, however. Good luck up there.”

  “Wait, what-?!”

  He pulled his hand away, and the doors slid shut. As the lift began to rise, Cobalt collapsed back against the wall, his cane almost slipping out from under him as he tried to steady his nerves. There was no need to panic, and yet he was panicking anyway. This was all moving a little too quickly.

  “I will not abandon you, Master Cobalt; I am still by your side,” the Oni told him, leaning down to meet his eye level.

  “I- I know, Lydia, I’m just… a little nervous.”

  “This Archdean is nothing to be afraid of. I’m with you.”

  “Right… of course.”

  It took a few minutes for the elevator to finally come to a stop. The doors slid open, revealing a large, wide-open office. Shelves filled with rolls of parchment lined the walls and statues flanked the carpet leading up to the wide desk sitting before the far windows. Behind the desk he could see a luxurious leather chair, though its occupant had turned to face the window.

  “Mr. Trayer, I presume?” called a voice from the other end of the office.

  Cobalt didn’t answer for a moment, taken aback by the voice’s pitch. It was much higher than he expected.

  “U- Um, yes sir,” he replied, taking a step forward.

  “Excellent. Take a seat. Make yourself comfortable.”

  Nodding shakily, he hobbled forward towards the chair in front of the desk. Sitting down, he nervously held his cane across his lap as Lydia took up her post beside him, still clinging to their luggage.

  “What do you think of the Mancer District?” the voice of the Archdean asked.

  Cobalt glanced out of the window. Beneath him, nearly the entirety of the island was visible, and the greater city of Furnace just across the water. Despite being on the top floor, he only seemed to be around two thirds of the way up the building.

  “It’s beautiful. I had no idea there was a place like this here,” the Incubus answered.

  The Archdean laughed.

  “Well, that’s just marvellous. I learned a lot about you from Viola’s correspondence, but it told me nothing of your impeccable taste, hah!”

  Cobalt bristled at the mention of that name, but kept his mouth shut.

  “You know, we’ve hosted a fair few graduates from B.I.D. over the decades. Fine students. Fine school. I’m glad to have you with me, I can tell you that much.”

  “Thank you, sir…” Cobalt mumbled.

  “Ah, but where are my manners? I haven’t even introduced myself yet, have I? I hope you don’t mind me saying, but I have a good feeling that you and I are going to get along swimmingly. After all…”

  The chair turned around, revealing a slight Golem dressed in a crumpled suit. His black hair was tied back into a small ponytail, and his face carried a strange youthful vigour. His stature, however, was extremely small. Unnaturally small, even. It took a few moments of staring, but when the truth dawned upon Cobalt, his jaw dropped open.

  The Archdean wasn’t just a particularly minute demon. He was a child.

  “… we have plenty in common, don’t we?” he said with a grin, his eyes glinting mischievously.

  The words fell from Cobalt’s mouth before he even realised what he was saying.

  “Everlast…” he breathed.

  The Golem smiled.

  “I must say, it’s good to finally meet another sufferer of the Child’s Curse, though I dare say you’re a luckier soul than I,” the Archdean said, reaching forward.

  Cobalt shook his hand. Despite everything, he had a surprisingly strong grip.

  “You… got it in the first stage?” the Incubus asked dumbly, finding it increasingly difficult to tear his gaze away.

  “And you were diagnosed in your second. Though I suppose that was a good thing, considering the circumstances.”

  Cobalt didn’t know what to say. Everlast Syndrome was just one of the many things he had been briefed on in the weeks following his awakening; the bizarre condition that stunted a demon’s aging and kept them locked in a particular stage of their maturation. In his case, it was the one thing that had saved him from a much more macabre fate. Though he had never once stopped to consider that it could affect demons in their first stage as well.

  “But again, I forget myself. Here we are rambling, and I still haven’t introduced myself.”

  Reaching up, he adjusted his tie with a smile.

  “Archdean Deanson. Though if we’re being informal, you can call me Dean,” he said, his eyes glinting.

  Cobalt stared at the Golem, wondering if he had heard him right.

  “Archdean… Dean… Deanson?” he asked carefully.

  “Archdean Dean Deanson, yes.”

  “Was that… on purpose?”

  The Archdean leaned back in his chair as he howled with laughter,

  “Rich words coming from an Incubus named Cobalt, don’t you think?!” he cackled.

  A rosy burn rose to his cheeks as he forced a smile. Perhaps Cobalt wasn’t in much of a position to pass judgement on names.

  “Ah, don’t worry; I’m only having a little fun with you. I need to take it where I can get it at my age,” the Golem continued, pulling his chair closer to the desk.

  “… How old are you, if you don’t mind me asking?”

  “Hm… Well, I was born in ’52, so you may do the math for yourself.”

  Sweet hellfire. Everlast had done wonders for the man’s countenance.

  “Now,” the Archdean suddenly said, clapping his hands together, “to business. There’s a position here in the Mancer District that has been open for quite some time, and I do believe you to be the perfect man to fill it.”

  “Are you sure? I’ve been… indisposed for quite some time,” Cobalt asked, feeling a little put out.

  “Oh, I am fully aware of your circumstances, Cobalt. But you needn’t worry. This isn’t about skill or experience; it’s about strength of character, and you stand heads and shoulders above the rest in that regard.”

  The Incubus didn’t know how to respond to that, so he just nodded noncommittally.

  “But before I can get you started, I will need you to do one small task for me first, and that is acquainting yourself with the five Covenants of the Mancer District.”

  “Covenants? Like agreements?”

  “Pacts, guilds, brotherhoods… Think of them like family groups. They’ve been around since before the Mancer District’s official founding, and I fear they’ll be around long after you and I eventually pass. Nearly every student living on the island belongs to one of them.”

  Cobalt thought back to the colour-coded accessories he had seen before on the academics around him. Things were beginning to come together in his mind…

  “Each Covenant seeks specific qualities in a demon, and there’s a fair bit of friendly competition between the five. Give me a moment.”

  Hopping out of his chair, the Archdean trotted over to one of the shelves by the wall of the office, his hooves clacking off the tiled floors as he retrieved a rolled sheet of parchment. Setting it upon the desk, he opened it up and directed Cobalt’s attention to the first of the five seals depicted upon it, each at the cardinal point of a decorative pentagram.

  “This is Rotalleb, the Covenant of the Mighty,” the Archdean explained, tapping the parchment.

  The seal was red, depicting a clenched fist surrounded by jagged lightning bolts.

  “And this is Sucifenev, the Covenant of the Erudite.”

  This one was green, and depicted a scroll wrapped in wax-sealed ribbon.

  “Here’s Edifrep, the Covenant of the Cunning.”

  The third seal was a dull yellow, and depicted a key detailed with an unblinking eye.

  “This one here is Silibon, the Covenant of the Grand.”

  This seal was a garish pink, depicting a rose encircled by thorns.

  “And of course, we finally come to Amrifni. The Covenant of the… Miscellaneous,” the Archdean concluded, pointing to the fifth seal at the very bottom of the pentagram.

  This one was blue, and depicted a shield that had been cracked straight down the middle.

  Gazing at each of the Covenant’s symbols in turn, Cobalt murmured beneath his breath as he did his best to commit each of them to memory. As he ran through the names, the Archdean reached beneath his desk and retrieved a neatly-folded map.

  “Here you are; this should keep you from losing your way around the district. You’ll want to head here,” he explained, unfolding it as he pointed to a particular area to the west side of the Mancer District.

  It was a large pentagonal agora, placed smack-bang in the middle of the island’s residential area. Cobalt squinted as he read the name of this area.

  “Covenant Plaza… and I just go here?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

  “If you would. Each Covenant has a Head; an exceptional demon in charge of managing and assisting the members of their Covenant in matters aside from their educational. Like a communal big sibling, heh! I’d like you to meet with each of them; get a feel for how things work around here, you know? They’ll be able to teach you more about their individual Covenants than I can,” the Archdean replied, nodding his head.

  Cobalt stared at the map, a little dazed. This was certainly a tall order, but he couldn’t lie; the prospect had him intrigued. Everything about how the Mancer District worked had him fascinated. Five different houses of academic, separated by aptitude… He was surprised to find himself eager to meet their leaders.

  Lydia’s hand pressed against his shoulder, immediately soothing his nerves.

  “I’m sure these ‘Heads’ are of no threat to you, Master Cobalt. And if they are, they shall have me to deal with,” the Oni told him in a soft, reassuring tone.

  “One more thing, if you don’t mind, Cobalt. Could you leave your lovely assistant with me for a while longer? I have much I wish to discuss with her,” the Archdean added.

  Immediately, Lydia’s demeanour shifted. Her grip on the Incubus’ shoulder tightened as she stepped protectively in front of him, her eyes having shifted to a cold, steely glare.

  “I will not leave the young master to wander by himself,” she said resolutely.

  “L- Lydia, it’s alright,” Cobalt said, patting her arm.

  “But-”

  “I’m a grown man. I know how to read a map. And besides, I need to start doing things by myself if I want to get back on my own two feet.”

  She turned to face him, her adamantine gaze tinged with something almost similar to pleading. It flicked from one eye to the other before she sighed and relented.

  “… Of course, young master. If that is truly what you desire,” the Oni said, stepping aside to allow Cobalt out of the chair.

  As he stood up, the Archdean gave him a nod.

  “I’ve already told the Heads of your arrival, so they’ll be expecting you. Don’t worry, Cobalt; they’re all wonderful individuals!”

  Giving his prospective employer a polite nod and farewell, Cobalt stepped into the elevator and hit the button for the ground floor, his heart hammering and his stomach full of butterflies. Swallowing hard, he opened up the map and stared at the twisting roads leading towards the Covenant Plaza.

  “Okay… I- I can do this…”