The young man gets angry, probably because his situation is not of public knowledge.
"Follow me". Instructs Natvoshka, walking towards what i believe is an Enclosed Amalgam. The entrance embedded in a thick tree, teaching me that the shape of the Enclosed Amalgams can vary in extraordinary ways.
{Do I need more Mentality to discern which sites or constructions are Enclosed Amalgams?. It would be dangerous to walk into one without noticing it}.
Crossing the hollow trunk, a chilling frosted wind soaks through my bones. The oxygen in the environment is high and clean, making me slightly light headed.
{This must be at the top of a small mount}.
My mistake is quickly rectified, approaching the wooden railing, leaning to observe the surroundings, and the sight ahead, is breathtaking.
Gigantic trees that would make sequoias look like little saplings, yellow meadows further away, and many tribal settlements scattered across the landscape.
{Holy shit!. This is a tree!}.
The construction is carved in the tree trunk, using entirely organic materials. Fluorescent mushrooms instead of lamps, translucent fibers replacing the window's glass, and softened wood, was treated to pave the floors.
The strange exoticism is captivating, intoxicating even, which is why i trail to the back of the group, following them by reflex, descending to a chamber two floors below, where i can see short amber skinned women that do not exceed three and a half feet of height, dutifully attending an infected spot in the trunk, removing bright red worms that were eating and dehydrating the tree.
{Their clothes are living leaves!. I mean. I have a biorganic bodysuit, still is not the same…}.
One of the three short women hugs Esdren's leg. "Seeth". She says, opening her mouth, and placing her palm on the young man's groin.
"Get away thing!". He screams scornfully, shaking his leg in panic, kicking the short woman's chest.
The leaves at the front of her clothes become layers of dry vines, similar to a broom, while the back is plagued with cotton flowers and dandelions, cushioning her hard crash against the wooden wall.
Natvoshka steps behind Esdren. "What do you think you're doing, Pretty Boy?. This isn't the way we treat our closest allies".
"That thing touched me inappropriately!". He complains ashamed.
"What a big scandal over a trifle. You should be grateful, it's an honor to have a Gombbler willing to empty your balls. No wonder your Family is on the brink of extinction!". Says Natvoshka, clearly determined to emphasize this fact every chance she gets.
"And whose fault is it?!".
"Your Family's!. For being weak and stupid, following «The Ethmeron ways»". Natvoshka burst into laughter, only her understanding the joke.
Meanwhile. The Gombblers growl in a language that sounds like grunts, groans and burbs, with occasional pants, moans or gagging noises.
Still, during the rambling, the three cover their forearms with rose stems, the tips of long slim thorns protruding from the knuckles.
Frowning deeply, their noses twitch cutely, sniffing profoundly, forgetting their rage, observing themselves like if a new juicy gossip was silently discussed.
Natvoshka's laugh stops with the opening of the gate opposite to the stairs. The frame is emitting a feeble film of transparent golden light, yet, it gives a somber vibe.
"This is the «Truthful Route», created by the Gombblers to allow the entrance only to those who have Embryons without using Spirituality to brainwash the creature. If you don't want to lose your Embryons, or cannot cross this hurdle. Go back to the Lyceum and take another course, this lessons are unfitted for you. Last warning".
Several try to cross the division, bouncing as if they had hit a vertical tombling.
Other Freshmen get stuck like insects in a spider's web, trembling erratically, then sent violently backwards.
I'm ready to go, but the three Gombblers stand in my way, circling me with little hops.
"Doo-Doo Dump".
"Boo-Boo Bump".
"Poo-Poo Pump".
Each of them make unintelligible noises, except for those weird words, until they stop their dancing around, pointing at me with wide smiles, unanimously calling me. "Sheet Teeker".
Esdren laughs. "That sounds like Shit Taker. Are you a Coprophagous?. Disgusting".
{Do these Gombblers know about my Profession «Sodomizer»?}.
"Pure Scion of the Vecturion, stop flirting with the Gombblers. You'll have time to fuck them after the lesson".
"And he'll eat their shit too!. Hahaha". Esdren remarks, which bothers me more than it should, a drawback of the Stats, clearly interfering with my personality, though i am fully aware now, enabling me to have partial control to measure my rash actions.
Finally is my turn to pass, crossing without problems, almost as if it there were no obstruction in my way.
At the end of the corridor, the architecture design changes. From natural and organic, to cold blocks of hard maple cobblestone, creating a high vaulted semicircular hall that has several entrances in it's curved side, showing many technological or natural styles in this passages.
{Did i just cross another Enclosed Amalgam?}.
My thought is swayed after glimpsing my Fiancée's silhouette, who is part of another group, chatting with Ines and the Elven Amazon.
Nevertheless, both don't come close to me, which can be attributed to the presence of Natvoshka, a Member of the Nydrikoff House.
Of course, they are not the only ones i recognize, Bridgette is in a group adjacent to mine, while the group in the middle is presumably conformed by Sophomores, since the Silver haired damsel that bumped into me yesterday in the Library, is part of them.
The Professors gather and exchange a few words with the Sophomores, separating into a line. They randomly call Four Freshmen, integrating Teams of Five, interlacing their hands to simulate the shape of a Pentagon, each person serving as a sort of node.
In my case. Ines it's at the top, the Yellow of Spirituality coating her voluptuous silhouette.
At her right is Natvoshka with the White of Radiance, who is designated as our leader too.
Esdren represents the Blue of Mentality. With Bridgette illuminated by a Red hue of Vitality, while i am the Black of Ordinance.
"Alright Freshmen, the opportunity you have is priceless. It's the only occasion you will be entitled to use the Relativistic Portal without merits. Despite it's activation is consistent every week. The right to use it is only granted to the best students and Professors in the Lyceum. And like the name suggests, the time in there, is relative, raging from Five up to Sixty days. May Lady Avrora Miuller smile upon you with a long rewarding stay"…