{"sf1_id":707812,"sf2_id":"deP6Wl3n","title":"00 - The Fool","author":"Nhoggy","words":1273,"posted_at":"2014-05-21T19:34:00.000Z","tags":["Equine","No-Yiff","Plot Development","Story Progression","Story Series","The 78","world building"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/707812-00-the-fool","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/deP6Wl3n","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/3b/77/3b779ca3-ed0c-444f-83bd-e36f80f75d3e","description":"#2 of The 78\n\nThe Fool symbolizes the beginning of a journey. The first steps one takes. Sometimes, it is clouded by uncertainty of the future. Sometimes it is filled with only the jubilation. Nevertheless, the start of a journey is when one is but a fool -- full of a room to learn, inexperienced, and waiting to become wise.","content":"The world awaited! \u0026nbsp;How could he _not_ be excited?\n\nHis whole body alight with warmth. \u0026nbsp;His heart rushing. \u0026nbsp;Jubilation elating him, leaving him weightless. \u0026nbsp;He threw his belongings into a trunk. \u0026nbsp;Humming, all the while. \u0026nbsp;So giddy, he thought butterflies swarmed his insides.\n\nOooooh immortals, he couldn't wait!\n\nThe silver-furred equine couldn't contain himself. \u0026nbsp;He wanted to jump off the walls, charge up and down the hallways -- whooping for joy. \u0026nbsp;Every few moments, he chuckled.\n\nThere was so much to learn! \u0026nbsp;And not so long before he set out to learn it!\n\nIn piling everything he owned into the trunk, he caught sight of himself in a mirror. \u0026nbsp;He paused and fiddled with his hair. \u0026nbsp;A long, untame thing, braided partially in a long tail which rested on his shoulder -- running the length of his form with a series of ties to contain it. \u0026nbsp;He grinned.\n\n\"You look fine, Stephric,\" he assured himself. \u0026nbsp;His smile felt uneasy. \u0026nbsp;Light. \u0026nbsp;Like it could fall from his face at any moment.\n\nHe couldn't stop it from being there, though. \u0026nbsp;Despite the swarm of flutter-flies in his belly, he still smiled.\n\nWho wouldn't?\n\nAnother mirthful chuckle, and he continued piling his belongings into the trunk.\n\n\"Stephric,\" a woman's voice echoed into his room, \"Did you remember underwear?\"\n\n\"Yes, mom!\" he called back.\n\n\"Are your robes clean? \u0026nbsp;Did you pack a brush for your fur? \u0026nbsp;How about a comb? \u0026nbsp;Your hair is terribly unruly when uncombed!\"\n\n\"Yes, mom!\" he repeated. \u0026nbsp;The equine opened his door, to see the smiling face of his mother. \u0026nbsp;His own smile returned to his face. \u0026nbsp;By now, his cheeks hurt a little. \u0026nbsp;But he didn't care. \u0026nbsp;Why should he, when such an opportunity lay before him on the road ahead?!\n\n\"I've got everything,\" he assured, \"_Relax_. \u0026nbsp;I know what I'm doing.\"\n\n\"I know,\" his mother huffed, and then took gentle hold of her son's face, \"I know you do. \u0026nbsp;You always do, sweetie. \u0026nbsp;But I'm going to miss you.\"\n\n\"Aw, mom, c'mon,\" Stephric sheeped. \u0026nbsp;\"It's just gonna be a few leagues away. \u0026nbsp;I'll come visit. \u0026nbsp;I'll write every day. \u0026nbsp;You know I'll miss home, too.\"\n\n\"Yes.\" \u0026nbsp;His mother beamed. \u0026nbsp;Her eyes were gleaming, with such joy. \u0026nbsp;_So much_ pride in them, that she even blushed.\n\n\"Your father and I... we're _so_ proud.\" \u0026nbsp;She nodded. \u0026nbsp;\"You know this means so much. \u0026nbsp;And the prestige!\" \u0026nbsp;She giggled, unable to contain herself, \"_Just_ think. \u0026nbsp;My son. \u0026nbsp;My beloved, beautiful son. \u0026nbsp;Accepted! \u0026nbsp;At the universtrang!\"\n\nStephric hugged his mother. \u0026nbsp;He chuckled, once more. \u0026nbsp;\"Yeah, mom. \u0026nbsp;It's...\" he paused, trying to find the words, \"It's...\" \u0026nbsp;He still couldn't find them.\n\nShe stroked her son's mane. \u0026nbsp;\"Yes, sweetie.\" \u0026nbsp;Her face seemed incapable of any expression besides the smile which dominated it so. \u0026nbsp;\"It is.\"\n\nHe pulled back from the embrace, but kept his grip of her arms. \u0026nbsp;\"I'm going to miss everyone, mom. \u0026nbsp;But I'll think of you, dad, and everybody -- every day.\"\n\n\"I know you will, sweetheart.\"\n\nStephric grinned. \u0026nbsp;\"I'm almost finished packing.\"\n\n\"Go get finished. \u0026nbsp;I'll get breakfast done.\"\n\n\"What'cha making?\"\n\nShe only smiled. \u0026nbsp;\"You'll have to finish packing to find out. \u0026nbsp;Oh! \u0026nbsp;And don't forget to wash.\"\n\n\"Haha, all right mom. \u0026nbsp;I will.\"\n\n...\n\nMirth retained, Stephric stood among so many others in the station. \u0026nbsp;Railships still amazed him. \u0026nbsp;He got giddy anytime one soared by, or stopped -- or, really, anything -- through the great stone station.\n\nBuilt of marvelous arches and countless columns, the incredible railship port marked something important.\n\nHe'd never been beyond the grassy plains and rolling hills. \u0026nbsp;Their beautiful sunsets, which bathed the whole known world in ombre rays of honey and gold. \u0026nbsp;Would such sunsets also be seen in the universtrang?\n\nNervousness crept into his being. \u0026nbsp;Ushering a wintery chill into his limbs.\n\nHe drew long breath through his nostrils. \u0026nbsp;His stomach swelled. \u0026nbsp;The air smelled of engine grease and people. \u0026nbsp;He looked around. \u0026nbsp;Others looked nervous, too. \u0026nbsp;Also first-timers, he figured.\n\nIt reassured him, seeing those uncertain faces. \u0026nbsp;It wasn't just him, then. \u0026nbsp;Unsure, but anticipating such incredible days ahead.\n\nWhat would the sages be like? \u0026nbsp;Everybody spoke so reverently of them.\n\nHis thoughts were drowned out, by the roaring metal-on-metal scream of a slowing railship. \u0026nbsp;His stomach leaped. \u0026nbsp;It did turnabouts. \u0026nbsp;And flips. \u0026nbsp;The railship slowed into his section. \u0026nbsp;Its engines hissed. \u0026nbsp;And its doors opened at the behest of guards.\n\nTheir uniforms were incredible. \u0026nbsp;They wore lamellar armor -- strips of overlapping leather -- atop white robes and red trousers. \u0026nbsp;Tucked into their boots, the trousers seemed a little baggy. \u0026nbsp;But the way they were tucked-in, Stephric thought they matched perfectly with the guards' vambraces.\n\nHe eyed the straight-bladed shortswords on their hips.\n\nSomeone called out: \"Platform niiiine!\" \u0026nbsp;This was his. \u0026nbsp;Stephric started forward. \u0026nbsp;His first steps seemed heavy. \u0026nbsp;Too heavy. \u0026nbsp;But he strode on, finding each became lighter than the last.\n\nHis stomach became a pit. \u0026nbsp;The butterflies still. \u0026nbsp;He swallowed.\n\n_This is it_. \u0026nbsp;He thought. \u0026nbsp;This is the beginning. \u0026nbsp;_This is where my journey starts_.\n\nHe approached one of the guards. \u0026nbsp;Uncertain. \u0026nbsp;\"Sir? \u0026nbsp;Excuse me?\"\n\n\"Hm?\" \u0026nbsp;the guard turned to him. \u0026nbsp;His hand, always on the handle of his shortsword, never moved. \u0026nbsp;\"Lost, lad?\"\n\n\"No, not really. \u0026nbsp;This is the train to the universtrang, right?\"\n\n\"Yep.\"\n\n\"Where do I bring my trunk? \u0026nbsp;Do I just...?\"\n\n\"Over there,\" the guard aided, gesturing with a gloved hand. \u0026nbsp;He pointed the way, and Stephric's gaze followed.\n\n\"Ah!\" \u0026nbsp;He saw it, now. \u0026nbsp;A place where everybody was loading students' trunks. \u0026nbsp;\"Thank you so much, sir.\"\n\n\"Mhm.\"\n\nStephric hurried over. \u0026nbsp;Fear knotted into the pit of his stomach. \u0026nbsp;Twisting it like rolled bread-dough. \u0026nbsp;_What if I'm too late? \u0026nbsp;What if that's the limit? \u0026nbsp;And because I didn't see it immediately, they won't accept me?_\n\nHe tried to push the thoughts out, still striding the same direction.\n\nA conductor spotted him.\n\nHe froze.\n\nThe conductor approached.\n\n_What if it was a mistake? \u0026nbsp;And they don't know I'm supposed to be here? \u0026nbsp;What will mom and dad say?_\n\n\"Universtrang student?\"\n\n\"Er... yes, sir. \u0026nbsp;Stephric Tietelbum.\"\n\nThe conductor nodded. \u0026nbsp;He didn't even pull out any list, or check anything, or demand some sort of badge. \u0026nbsp;\"You want to get that loaded up. \u0026nbsp;The railship will leave as soon as everyone's luggage is on board.\"\n\n\"Oh, don't worry -- by the way,\" the conductor continued, \"You'll get your stuff back, of course. \u0026nbsp;It'll be delivered to your dormitory. \u0026nbsp;As long as it's labeled.\"\n\nStephric nodded, but for good measure looked at his trunk anyway. \u0026nbsp;He spotted his name on it. \u0026nbsp;And then felt a bit less out of place. \u0026nbsp;Warmth rolled across his back and chased away much of the fear. \u0026nbsp;This was the right place. \u0026nbsp;And this dream, this acceptance into the universtrang, just as real.\n\n\"Thank you, sir,\"\n\nThe conductor smiled and nodded. \u0026nbsp;\"You just give me the trunk, and then get yourself onboard.\"\n\nStephric relinquished his trolley, and after another expression of his appreciation, he went towards the railship. \u0026nbsp;Unsure of which door maybe he was meant to take, he boarded it, and then found himself a seat.\n\nThe oblong cabins of metal-and-wood weren't so disorienting. \u0026nbsp;And now that he was aboard, he felt his place solidified. \u0026nbsp;Just the task of finding a seat, left.\n\nIn no time, he found one.\n\nSitting alone, in an empty compartment, Stephric wondered what lay ahead. \u0026nbsp;Would he find friends? \u0026nbsp;Would he find foes? \u0026nbsp;Would the univestrang turn out to be all which he anticipated of it?\n\nHe didn't know.\n\nHe didn't have those answers.\n\nBut, he knew, one thing for certain.\n\nThis was the beginning, of a journey he'd never forget.\n\n  \n  \n\n","series":{"name":"The 78","next":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/708229-01-the-magician.json"}}