**Leanne Nolan's Log, Supplemental**
**Shire Base – Central Command Hall District**
**USS Discovery Command recording**
**41 days after Rothgard's Fall**
The future rises from the soil.
One stone at a time.
The Republic begins here.
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Golden morning light spilled across the wide clearing like honey poured from the heavens. The air was crisp and carried the scent of fresh-cut pine and damp earth. Birds called softly from the treeline as Leanne Nolan and Jasmine walked side by side down the broad avenue that ran through the heart of the Central Command Hall district.
Jasmine's dark hair was pulled back in a simple braid, her traveling cloak replaced by practical wool and leather. Leanne walked with her usual quiet confidence, a stylus tucked behind one ear and a glowing tablet in her hand. There was an easy, comfortable familiarity between them — the kind that came from weeks of planning the impossible together. Jasmine stopped at the edge of the great open field and turned slowly in a circle, taking in the cleared land with quiet wonder.
Leanne smiled softly. She tapped her tablet, and a small, shimmering blue hologram bloomed into existence above her palm — a detailed, three-dimensional projection of the entire Republic Academy compound. The central field, the surrounding school buildings, and the tall, multi-story college building beside it slowly rotated in the morning light.
Jasmine's eyes widened as the hologram appeared. She leaned in, mesmerized. "By the stars, Leanne… look at this place," she said softly. "When you first spoke of a 'school compound,' I imagined something like the old noble halls back in Rothgard — one grand building where the children of the wealthy would gather. But this… this is something else entirely." She gestured toward the glowing model with both hands, her voice filled with quiet awe.
"A great open field in the center for play and sport? And then separate buildings? One for the little ones, another for the older children, and yet another for the young adults? It feels almost like building a small city just for learning. In my world, the children of nobles were taught in castle chambers by private tutors. The rest learned only what their parents could teach them in the fields or workshops. The idea of entire buildings dedicated to nothing but teaching… it feels like something out of the old legends."
Leanne nodded, her voice steady but full of quiet passion. "It is ambitious," she said. "But necessary. This is the Republic Academy. Central play and sports fields here in the middle — open green space where children can run and play together. Surrounding it, the main school buildings. One for Kindergarten through 5th grade — bright, welcoming rooms where the youngest learn their letters, numbers, and the joy of discovery."
Jasmine studied the hologram closely, her expression a mixture of wonder and thoughtfulness. "And then the Junior High building for 6th and 7th," Leanne continued. "That's where they begin to stretch their minds. Advanced mathematics, applied sciences, and early lessons in how a Republic actually works — rights, responsibilities, voting, and the rule of law."
Jasmine nodded slowly, then hesitated. Her expression grew more serious. "Leanne… there is something important we must not forget. Magic." She turned to face her friend fully, her voice steady but filled with quiet intensity.
"In this world, magic is not some rare curiosity. It is part of life itself. Every village has its hedge witch, every noble house its court mage, every battlefield its battle mages. If we build schools that teach reading, mathematics, and governance but ignore the training of mana and spellcraft, we will be doing our children a great disservice. Magic can be a force for great good — healing, construction, defense, even farming — but it can also be dangerous if left untrained."
Leanne listened carefully, her expression thoughtful. Jasmine continued, her voice gaining strength. "I suggest we include a dedicated **Magic Education Plan** as part of the Republic Academy. Not just as an elective, but as a core pillar alongside the academic and vocational tracks. The younger children can learn basic mana awareness and control — simple cantrips, meditation, and the ethics of power. As they grow older, those with talent can enter specialized magical tracks — healing arts, elemental manipulation, protective wards, and even advanced spell theory. We can blend Rothgard magical traditions with whatever structured methods your people can offer."
She looked back at the glowing hologram, her eyes shining. "Magic is a gift of this world. If the Republic is to thrive, its people must learn to wield that gift responsibly. Let the Academy be the place where the next generation of mages are not feared or exploited, but properly trained and guided." Leanne smiled, clearly impressed.
"You're right. We'll add it to the curriculum. A dedicated Magic Education Plan — starting with basic mana literacy for all students, and advancing into specialized tracks for those with aptitude. We can even integrate it with the mana-electric technology courses." Jasmine placed a hand over her heart, visibly moved.
"Leanne… when I was a girl, education was a privilege reserved for the highborn. Most children never learned to read beyond a few prayers. Now you speak of schools that will teach every child — rich or poor — not only letters and numbers, but how to safely wield the very power that shapes our world. That is the foundation of everything we are trying to build."
Leanne placed a gentle hand on Jasmine's shoulder. "Then let's walk the full perimeter, my friend. I want to feel the true size of what we are building. This isn't just a school anymore. This is the beating heart of the Republic." Jasmine nodded firmly, her gaze steady. "Then let us go build it — together."