Chương 70: The Nature of Boons

LANCE walked down to the Supreme Dean's office with energy to spare. This was it, when the adjudicator would announce their decision and he would know if the academy and the wider religious network would invest in his island. He doubled his pace. When he arrived outside Dean Morgan's office, he righted his clothes once, to make sure he was nice and tidy, then knocked gently on the door.

"Come in," came the dean's response. He entered the large oak double-doors and closed them behind him.

"Dean Morgan, thank you for summoning me! Is this about the status of my island, perchance?" Thinking himself too forward, he reversed course.

"Where are my manners! Apologies, Supreme Dean Morgan. How are you?"

"I am fine, pupil Chaucer. Thank you for asking, though. And yes, it is about the status of your island. Leo Neo and I have spent many hours in deep discussion on this topic. Finally, we have come to a decision." Lance waited with bated breath — what would it be?

"Our decision," the dean continued.

"Is to invest within your island." Elation erupted through him — they were going to invest with him! It was official! His island was to become part of the denomination! WOO HOO! Seeing his look of bliss, the dean rushed to add, "but only on a provisional basis!

I want to make clear we do not approve of this joint training session with the dragonkin and had the circumstances of our world been any different — had the order of the day not been to unite with our onetime adversaries to protect our world from the coming Horror — we would have declined investment with you."

"I understand, sire. Moving forward, what is to happen? How might I aid in the process?" Lance was going to be as accommodating as possible. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

"In the coming days, a denominational ship will be dispatched to the island. That ship will have on it a number of laborers, priests, and students who will act as the island's assistance force helping you set up proper temples, schools, and the like. They will help your former bandits and former slaves in their formal education as well as productive skills they lack. Now, that is just the earliest bit of our interaction," Dean Morgan paused to gather his breath and thoughts.

"If the interactions among the assistance force and your island goes well and progress is made, deeper investments might be made. However, that will depend on how effective the dragonkin join training goes. Dragons are destructive creatures at the best of times."

"Of course," he replied.

"I will be sure to talk to the dragonkin leadership about limiting damage to buildings and surrounding lands. They are coming to my island as guests, so I do not imagine they will take too many liberties." The look the supreme dean gave him said a different story, but he wasn't about to argue with the dean on this matter.

It could be a mistake that he invited the dragonkin for join training, but he didn't think it was; training with the dragonkin people would be beneficial, not only from a fighting standpoint, but from a cooperative standpoint. If the joint exercises went well, they could be replicated across the lands. Humans and dragons standing shoulder-to-shoulder? That would be a force to be reckoned with!

"In any case," the dean continued.

"Expect the ship to arrive within a couple of weeks. Be sure to be present on the island at that time."

"No worries, Mister Morgan, I will be there! You can count on me!" The meeting ended soon after with handshakes and worried glances from the dean. Anxiety with everything aside, Lance thought the meeting had gone well as it could have gone. Considering the alternative, that is, of him not receiving any funding from his denomination. He rushed to the library. It was time for him to find a book on teleportation magic or at least transportation magic.

He had to find a way to bridge the gap between school and his island, otherwise, he would fail in his first duty. And as sure as the flames of perdition were hot, he was not about to let that happen!