The Mighty Nein

Previously on The Mighty Nein...

Have-have you heard of the Soltryce Academy?

It is an excellent school.

The teachers are another story.

You ever been to a Cobalt Soul Library?

Nein.

Hello, old friend.

How did you lose your magic?

Someone took it from me.

Did you kill them?

Not yet.

Volstruckers-- all we know is they're trained

by someone in the Cerberus Assembly.

I seek one of your prisoners.

Nein, not the necklace.

I-I need it.

We are all in great danger.

She found me.

Let me tell you a story.

Bren! Breakfast!

Good morning, Mother.

Where is Father?

Boars ruined the fence again.

I will go and fetch him.

Before your delicious porridge gets cold.

Oh, come on!

Thank you, little spark.

Left, left!

Here, let me help.

No offense, kid, but I don't think you can do any better.

Son? You have something up your sleeve?

Pockets, actually.

Now keep it steady.

Amenth-Spaodas.

Well done, boy.

Sorcery!

No-- well, yes. Sort of.

Your father said you could do magic-- but I figured he meant card tricks...

- - A common misunderstanding.

Magic is nothing more than a tool.

Like a hoe or a hammer.

Amazing what this one can do with talent and some old books.

Ho.

Wow, that's a fancy ride.

What is the Empire doing way out here?

Hail King Dwendal.

I presume this is your work?

Pardon me, is there some

kind of problem?

How rude of me.

Trent Ikithon. I am a Professor at the Sol--

The Soltryce Academy.

Shake his hand.

Apologies, my lord.

We don't often get visitors of your standing.

Oh, I am no lord.

Merely a practitioner of the arcane arts.

I heard there was a farmer's son in the Zemni Fields

who had a gift for magic.

This transmutation spell... it shows a high level of refinement.

He's not in trouble then?

No, no. Quite the opposite.

It's been quite a while since I've had a home-cooked meal.

Ah.

Your doing, I presume?

It was an accident.

Arcane Fire.

Sadly, your brick never stood a chance.

Arcane Fire burns hotter than natural flames.

To summon such a spell with no instruction--

that's exemplary, Bren.

It was just in a book, sir.

Anyone can read the words.

But to understand it...

I believe you would thrive at the Soltryce Academy.

I appreciate that, sir.

But my hands are needed here.

We've discussed it.

The tuition is...

We could take some livestock to market.

Darling.

We'd never want to hold Bren back from serving the Empire.

I see.

I'm certain Bren's talent will secure him a scholarship.

And if he graduates, he'll earn more than enough to hire help for the farm.

- - Ow! You stupid--

- Frumpkin! No! -

I am sorry, sir. He's never done that before.

It's quite alright.

See?

- - All better.

In my hand is an acceptance letter to the Academy.

The parchment is enchanted

so that when it burns, the letter will appear in the Admissions Office.

Consider this your entrance exam.

Bren means 'fire' in the old tongue, yes?

Let's see if you can live up to the name.

Voos-caulda.

You can do this, lad.

Voos...

...caulda!

Bren Aldric Ermendrud.

Welcome to the Soltryce Academy.

And to the rest of your life.

- My boy! - Bren, how wonderful.

Oh. Hello.

Hello yourself. I'm Astrid.

The big lunk is Eadwulf.

Come on in.

So... what's your name?

- -

Bren.

You're a long way from home.

Who the hell is she?

Why do people keep trying to kill us

in this goddamn town?

This is not a fight we can win. We need to run.

No chance. This fucker's been following me for weeks.

If we're gonna do this, we need a plan.

Molly, you and I--

Oh, my Traveler! Fjord!

You want a fight,

I'm happy to oblige.

Lebash Nivek!

Wow, that is actually really cool.

As I was saying...

Get sailor boy on his feet. We'll buy you time.

The poison's not reacting to my magic.

Is it bad?

Bad is so negative.

How about we just say "impressively gruesome"?

Could you pick a word and get on with it?

Come on, Fjord.

Caleb!

My guardian goblin.

This bitch.

Yah!

Sorry, I don't do magic.

- -

Payback's a bitch, ain't it?

A-Are the bugs gone?

Wow. We won.

Hooray.

Normally, I love drawing a crowd,

but perhaps we should get the fuck out of town.

What about Goth girl?

I've got more than a few questions for her.

More Townsguard will be here any minute.

Oh,

Caleb and I saw an abandoned farmhouse on the way here.

Fine. Load up.

The fuck, man? We need her alive.

My amulet.

Give it to me.

Now you can no longer hide.

- -

You've got big balls showing up late.

More like his chicken legs were too slow.

Library?

Lost track of time.

Let us begin.

Combat magic can be entirely unpredictable.

In battle, you may find yourself distracted, confounded.

But, above all else, you must protect yourself.

Line up, please.

Now, your task is a simple one.

Come, join me here.

The first three students who do, pass.

The rest fail.

Come.

Surely one of you can reach me.

Ah. Unlucky.