The Interplanar University, # 8— "The Elite and the Lamb, Part One"
- David Parker
- Oct 3, 2023
- 4 min read
[Short stories. Images generated by hotpot.ai]
Harry was first grouped with Miriam within weeks after the orientation to the type of classes they would attend at Havenforth, the interplanar academy. Accustomed to a quite different regimen, Harry had the eyes of a fresh student. Hogwarts far behind him in a former sphere of Reality, he was in the same student body of, besides non-humans, adherents to different Auspices of Creation. One of those was the Auspice of Manifest Tech, and whether you called them Technocrats or Technophiles, many would take offense. They frequently believed in overwhelming deference to the Sciences, and were wont to ideate the primacy of Science, which the most stalwart members of The Ethos and The Moslem Bloc readily associated with idolatry.
Their location was the god-like Academy at the nexus of all worlds, Havenforth University, which was theoretically accessible to the entire Cosmos with an intricate network of portals and pocket dimensions. It was believed the Academy was a celestial incarnation of one of the Sevenfold Spirits of God, which the Disciples of Havenforth maintained was accurate.
Miriam hailed from the same world as Hawk Helsworth, where there existed a form of magic, expressed as ‘ether’, as well as mecha (giant robots), along with accompanying hyper-advanced technology. Miriam’s origin was an elite of Astralus, an Elysium-type orbiting techno-society that had hyper-privileged elite citizens, who played games and conducted experiments with the surface-dwellers, which they referred to as Lambs. Their assumption of the inferiority and the right to subjugate the Lambs was deeply ingrained into their minds, and the incredibly advanced technology, human development, and power of the elites meant that their role as an ubermensch in their minds was difficult to dislodge. However, Miriam was not without pity for those called Lambs, and her deportment of mercy towards them would be the smallest of footholds in the minds of Harry and his like-minded peers.
The unlikely pairing of Miriam and Harry took place in an entry-level course, called Celestial and Planar Conflicts, which did its level best to express the nature of rivalry and enmity of the most well-known factions in the Metaverse, from a scholastic perspective. Miriam would absorb the information academically, acknowledging that which was grounded in facts, and discarding implications that were not yet proven, which was a practice that many students did not embrace. Discussion took place as pairs, which was tenuously mediated by a professor.
“So, well, it seems like,” said Harry, pausing for thought, “— well, I don’t understand how my origins factor into these things. She cleared her throat. "Referring to what, exactly?” said Miriam. “Well, in my world, non-wizards were completely in the dark.”
Miriam was politely silent.
“Anyhow, after all my history, I don’t really see the need to choose a side in all these Conflicts.” “Do you exist in a vacuum?” she said.
There was a pause.
“Ehr— no?” “Now that you’re here, what would your side be?” said Miriam. “Well, I want something to believe in. But Ethos was always a muggle thing, and the Bloc doesn’t seem much different to me. And all the other factions are, well…” “Don’t seem to go anywhere?” “Yes, exactly.”
She offered her take.
“If we adhere to the Sciences, they will be able to systematically parse the secrets of the Universe.” “Alright, then,” said Harry.
There was some silence.
Then he said, “How does magic factor into Science?” Miriam cleared her throat, “Magic is simply a phenomenon that Science hasn’t examined.” “Nonsense,” said Harry, “You wouldn’t believe what I’ve been through..." and then Harry cited numerous examples of pure magic, including ghosts, thestrals, and parseltongue. Mere sciences could only explain so much.
She said nothing.
“Well?” “When you’re a Lamb, that might seem true.” “A what, now?” “Surface dwellers. Never been to the Spire.” “Which is what?”
The rest of the conversation didn’t go so well. Harry didn’t really like Miriam’s presumed superiority, even though her advantages were real. However, many of her postulations were somehow unanswerable, even though the contradiction also seemed obvious. Harry had met Dumbledore after temporary death, had seen the interactions of good and evil manifested in spells, had seen Love become magic, and he knew Evil was real. Yet the Technocrat seemed to pose questions that he’d need weeks to answer, and yet he already knew the answer. He had lived it.
Harry told himself if he minded the teachers, the answer would become plain. He eventually warmed up to Miriam, as she was intelligent and had poise, and was easy on the eyes. He generally hated these dialogues, but also considered them a challenge. He had faced many trials, and he’d win at dialogue just as he had won his other battles. But in truth, he inwardly balked that this was even necessary, no matter how advanced Astralus was.
What kind of wizard would write off magic as anything but magic?
*-------------------------------------------*
Think about it: I’m resolved to write 30+ short stories a month, complete with beautiful illustrations. Combined with my unique writing style, innovative ideas, and unlimited creativity, I’m making magic happen in your life. Two comic books cost eight bucks, and it’s the same stuff you’ve been hearing about for at least fifty years. Voluntarily pay me at least five bucks a month, and you’ll know you’re getting your money’s worth. Be a team player, and we’ll all make some magic happen together. Swain and the Rising Dawn Society can’t make it without you, fellas. Donate via Venmo, Paypal, or GoFundMe, and I’ll be all hands on deck. Hell, I could be doing 60 short stories a month if I had some motivation to do so
Here’s the info:
Venmo: David Parker @TheRat2k1 . GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/439c79b7
Comments