Reif shook Ari awake at the first light of dawn. She hastily ate a meager breakfast before setting off with her father, who constantly urged her to keep pace. Clutching the golden envelope in her arms, she guarded it against sporadic gusts of wind that threatened to snatch it away. The paper shimmered in the frosty morning light, catching the sun's first rays like a flicker of flame.
The city had yet to awaken. Its streets were empty, devoid of the usual bustle. The aftermath of yesterday's festivities lingered in the haphazard litter cluttering the alleys. Ari's nimble feet darted around the debris as she tried to match her father's longer stride, their path clearing as they moved further from the grime of the Docks district.
The scenery transformed as they moved deeper into the heart of the city. Ari gaped at the brightly painted houses of the wealthier districts, captivated by the unfamiliar sights. She had rarely ventured beyond the Docks before—her trips to visit her eldest brother in the West Gate district could be counted on one hand. Each new sight filled her with the wonder of discovery, and she drank it all, the colors and details imprinting themselves on her memory.
Upon reaching one of the Academy's gates, they were met by a towering ten-meter wall that enclosed the continent's most prestigious institution. The Academy was a world unto itself, restricted to all but the privileged few. Myths about its concealed wonders had proliferated far and wide, spreading as swiftly as wildfire.
The gate stood open, but that did not mean one could enter the premises. Ari squinted, noticing subtle distortions at the entrance, akin to a mirage-like haze above a sun-scorched road. It was a barrier. Anyone foolish enough to touch it would receive an electrical surge strong enough to send them hurtling backward.
Ari and Reif stopped just short of the threshold. To their surprise, the gate appeared unguarded.
"Hello?" Reif's voice echoed off the towering walls. "Is anyone there?"
No response came back. Growing impatient, he called out several more times into the opening before a distant rattle reached their ears. A man clad in brown leather armor soon followed the sound.
"Eh… Could you be a little quieter, please?" the man grumbled. "What's your business?"
"We're here to see Cassem Toaro. Take us to him. Now," Reif demanded in a sharp tone.
The guard raised an eyebrow. "Do you have an appointment? No one's scheduled for this hour." He scratched his cheek, more out of habit than actual itchiness.
Reif's frustration simmered beneath the surface, but he kept his composure. "No appointment," he admitted. "But he's expecting us! This is Ariella Lorage." He gestured to Ari. "The recipient of yesterday's golden envelope handed by Cassem Toaro himself. And I'm her father."
The guard studied them both, deep in thought, his eyes lingering on the shimmering paper in Ari's arms. "Wait here," he muttered. "I'll confirm."
Ari cast a nervous glance at her father. (That was definitely a lie; Master Toaro can't possibly be expecting us. What if we're turned away? Will we just go home?) Her mind churned with doubt and faint hope alike. Perhaps her father would not be able to interfere with her dreams after all.
Anticipation hung heavily as the minutes crawled by. Despite the rising sun, the morning chill stayed, biting into Ari's skin. She cupped her hands and breathed into them for warmth, so focused on the act that she failed to notice the familiar rattle and the guard's return until he loomed before her.
Startled, she stepped back as he crossed the barrier. He held two wristbands in his hands.
"Wear these," the guard instructed in a flat tone. "Once you enter, the bands will tighten and guide you to Master Toaro. Stay on the marked path, avoid disruptions, and show respect to the Academy's inhabitants. When your business is finished, leave immediately." His gaze hardened. "The bands will alert us if you deviate. Understood? Go now."
Reif seized Ari's arm and pulled her forward. As they passed through the barrier, the only noticeable change was the sudden constriction of their wristbands. Ari tried to loosen hers right away—even just a little—but it clung stubbornly to her skin, as if fused.
Her next thought was about the direction they should take. She looked around for the guard to ask him, but he was gone. Just then, Reif tugged her again, this time away from the entrance, and a moment later she saw it: the faint trail of glittering motes forming at eye level, marking a path forward. Was this the wristband guidance the guard had mentioned? She was unsure, but her father took the lead, pulling her after him.
The road led them between towering structures, but to Ari's dismay, the buildings fell short of her expectations. She had imagined grandeur and elegance; instead, she was greeted by somber gray stone framing modest windows. Everything looked so normal, so boring—utterly mundane. But as they moved on, her initial disappointment faded. Ahead stretched a park, vast and enchanting, pulling all her focus. Her eyes widened, brimming with wonder.
It was the largest park she had ever seen, dwarfing the Docks' plaza—the only other open space in the city she knew well. And it was green. Everywhere. Gargantuan trees, spread in irregular patterns across the area, grew isolated from each other like scattered islands. Their puffed-up crowns with long horizontal branches brought to mind the image of mushrooms. Between them, winding pathways snaked through arrangements of colorful shrubs and hedges, forming labyrinth-like patterns. Benches lined the trails, inviting passersby to rest and relish the beauty beneath nature's embrace.
But it was fountains that mesmerized her most. Water shot upward in elaborate patterns that changed over time. But not all the water fell back to the basins; some droplets remained swirling in the air. They formed complex liquid structures and flew between other fountains in a show of a never-ending chase.
The park was almost deserted, with only two girls sitting under a tree, engrossed in their books. Ari judged they could not be much older than she was. Were they students? The possibility thrilled her. Soon, she might be the one sitting there. Then, she noticed both girls wore sleeveless dresses, and the realization dawned on her: she no longer felt cold. The temperature within the walls provided a pleasant warmth.
Busy admiring the surroundings, Ari nearly forgot the purpose of their visit. By the time the reality tugged her back, they had already crossed the park. The glittering motes led them to the massive double doors of the building ahead. Uncertainty gnawed at her as she pondered the looming conversation with the examiner. What would her father say to him? Would she dare to say anything? Her grip tightened on the golden envelope, the paper wrinkling under her fingers.
Reif approached and knocked on the door. When no answer came, he grabbed the handle and pushed. One side creaked open into a dim interior. He entered without hesitation, dragging Ari along.
They crossed a long, straight corridor flanked with sealed rooms. At its end, the path split to the left and to the right. Motes, glittering brighter in the darker space, directed them to the right. Turning the corner, they saw the trail of particles leading them to a plain wooden door, one of many lining the corridor.
Ari's heart thudded as her father raised a hand to knock. But the door swung open before his knuckles touched the frame, halting him mid-motion. He froze with his arm in the air.
"Enter," a familiar deep voice rumbled from within. They followed the invitation.
Cassem Toaro's spartan office comprised little more than a huge wooden desk, scattered papers atop it, and a lone, austere chair that lacked upholstery. No decorations, no luxury—only functional simplicity. Ari found it hard to believe someone of the man's stature worked in such conditions.
"Ah, an unexpected visit," Cassem Toaro said, his sharp eyes locking on Reif with a faint smile. "How fortunate, really. Today happens to be the one day of the month I entertain petitioners." He leaned forward, steepling his fingers. "So, tell me—what can I do for you?"
Reif stood silent for a moment, taken aback by the casual arrogance radiating from his opponent. The anger he had built through the night boiled in his veins. This man was the reason he had to be here today, in this vile sanctuary ruled by the cursed people he so loathed. The people who sought to take his daughter and twist her into something monstrous.
His restraints broke. His fists came crashing down on the desk. "You!" he shouted with pent-up fury. "I know what you're doing! And I'll be damned if I let you! You think you can just steal my daughter? Turn her into some dark creature? She's Bandawi, untouched by the Power. Leave her alone!"
Ari flinched at the violent outburst, but her father was not done yet.
"You'll regret this—you'll regret crossing us, crossing our people! Stop this madness!"
Cassem Toaro's composure remained unshaken, his expression as immovable as stone even as Reif's face burned with rage. With the calm precision of a man in complete control, he rose from his seat.
"I believe you've misunderstood something, Reif," he said.
Ari shuddered at the abrupt change in ambience. All traces of cordial warmth in Cassem Toaro's voice had vanished.
"Y-You know my name," Reif stuttered, taking a shaky step away from the desk.
"Of course I do." Cassem's lips curled into a dark grin. "That's my job."
He moved around his desk and approached Reif with predatory grace. Reif retreated step by step, the fire in his eyes dimming as the distance between them shrank. Ari pressed herself to the nearest wall.
"Let me explain how things are." Cassem's voice was cold as steel. "Your people glorify that petty resistance to the Power, celebrating it as some sort of blessing. Or a gift. But how did it ever help you? The Empire's campaign on your lands could hardly be called a struggle. You couldn't defend yourselves. Not in the slightest. And it's not because we are cursed. It's because what you cherish so dearly is a disability. Your entire nation is like someone who lacks a sense of smell and insists it's an advantage because they're unfazed by farts."
Despite Cassem's words, Reif's pride and belief were unwavering. His breath came in sharp bursts, but his eyes lit ablaze with newly found defiance.
(Lies. Empty taunts from a cursed being. This heinous monster batters our people and tries to belittle them. None of what he says is true. We're pure, unmarred by the evil Power, and it doesn't matter what those abominations say. Their words are nothing more than the screeches of putrid creatures.) His nose flared with disgust. Finding renewed resolve, his body tensed, every muscle coiling for the confrontation.
Yet as he prepared to lunge, Cassem's voice turned glacial. "What do you hope to achieve? Do you truly think your innate resistance has any merit?"
Reif's body buckled without warning. He collapsed to the floor like a marionette whose strings were cut. Helpless, he lay there, paralyzed. He could not move. He could not breathe. His wide, panicked eyes darted around the room in a desperate search for something to fight off the invisible force that pinned him down.
Cassem stepped closer to the choking Reif. "See? Your feeble resistance is as insignificant as an ant beneath my boot. You believe you know the Power because you stand against us? I alone could slaughter all your tribes one by one." He paused, taking in Reif's helpless form. "But the crucial point lies elsewhere. The Empire doesn't concern itself with your people's archaic grudges or naïve hopes. It sees the broader horizon, the encroaching storm that threatens to swallow all in its path. We need Great Mages; we require them to be our bulwark against that storm. Who else will protect us? And by 'us', I also mean your people."
He paused again to let his words sink in. Then he continued, his voice growing soft, but the menace lingered beneath the surface. "Your delusions make you see shadows where there are none. Your daughter, whether you accept it or not, is blessed with a gift, and unlike yours, it's a real one. That means it's the Empire's business now. Your disobedience won't be tolerated. Your stubbornness, this foolish bravery, will not change your daughter's destiny. Understand this, if nothing else: The Empire's will is absolute."
The crushing force eased, and his lungs filled with air. He gasped once, twice—violent breaths shook his chest. Color flooded back to his ashen face, but his limbs trembled as he pushed himself upright. Though his eyes burned with resentment, his lips stayed sealed.
"As for you, Miss Ariella,"—Cassem's attention shifted to Ari, his voice softening further—"your journey now promises not only prosperity but a higher calling. The path you are on will bring you not only a good, rich life but also a duty to the entire continent. Embrace it, for with unparalleled might come boundless responsibility. Don't let your past hold you back. You are starting a new life." He smiled, and for the first time, it seemed genuine. "Welcome to the Grand Academy of Tramiria."
He returned to his seat, dismissing them with a wave. "You may leave."
Reif recovered from the assault and moved to usher Ari out, eager to escape this suffocating room.
"Ah, I almost forgot." Cassem's voice halted them. "Bandawi traditions regarding those with the Power are rather… severe, are they not? You have a reputation of exiling, even executing, those among you who can wield the Power, correct?"
Reif hesitated, hand outstretched to open the door, his mind racing to discern the motive behind Cassem's words.
Cassem did not wait for Reif's response. "Captain! Please come in!" he called. A stern-faced man clad in an imperial uniform entered a moment later.
"Master Toaro." He gave a curt nod.
"This young lady over here,"—Cassem gestured to Ari—"is our newest student. Gather some men and escort her home. Keep your eyes on her at all times, and once she has her belongings, bring her back. She's already been allocated a room in the dorms."
The captain nodded in understanding, this time with more vigor. The three of them turned to leave, but as they were about to exit, Cassem's voice pierced the air once more.
"Captain, I mean it literally. Keep your eyes on her all the time. It is your sole responsibility until she is on the Academy's grounds again."
*
A sofa. Soft to the touch. Soft to sit on. Ari caressed the plush material, sinking into the cushions' warm embrace. She leaned to the side and plunged her fingers into the softness she had never experienced before—as if she were caressing clouds. But in that momentary bliss, her palm slid over the fabric too fast, and she tipped forward. Her nose smacked into the armrest with an unceremonious thud. She winced, rubbing the sore spot. The absurdity of it all bubbled in her chest; she burst into laughter.
Wiping away the joyful tears, she turned her attention to the pair of crimson armchairs positioned across from it. They lacked the indulgent depth of the sofa but still offered a comfort unimaginable back home. The hard, splintery stools of her old life felt like a world away now.
(This is my home now.) The thought flickered in her mind, still too wild, too surreal to accept.
She took a lingering look at her new living quarters. Beyond the essential furnishings—the bookshelves, the cabinets—something else drew her eye. A carmine carpet stretched across the stone floor, its golden embroidery shimmering in the fading sunlight. She approached the window, letting her bare feet revel in the carpet's dense weave.
Outside, she was greeted by the sprawling greenery of yet another idyllic parkland. She paused, resting her hand on the cool wood of the frame, and inhaled deeply. The air felt different here—cleaner, crisper, more alive. It reminded her of the strange atmosphere she experienced during her demonstration the day before, as though the very air buzzed with energy. The breeze filled her lungs, invigorating her senses, until she let it out in a slow, steady exhale. A quiet peace settled over her, soft and unfamiliar, but welcome.
She stayed still for a moment, soaking in the view, before pushing the casements shut to ward off the creeping chill. Resuming her exploration, she focused on the corner near the entrance, where two enigmatic metal rods jutted from the wall, fused together at their base. As they rose upward, they diverged from one another, curving outward, until their ends twisted sharply back to the wall. To Ari, they looked like a pair of horns. Curious, she grabbed them both, her fingers wrapping around nothing more than cold, indifferent steel.
(What was I expecting, anyway?)
She let go with a shrug, her interest dimming as quickly as it had sparked. Turning away, she strode into the second chamber of the suite—the bedroom.
It could accommodate five people: two dual bunks flanked the walls while one solitary bed rested beneath the window. Beside the beds, the bedroom had a lone but impressively capacious wardrobe. Ari's clothes already occupied a slice of its space.
As for the bunks, she claimed one of the bottom spots for herself. Sleeping under the window seemed unsettling for no good reason. That, combined with the thought of tumbling from the top bunk in the dead of night, left her with the only reasonable choice.
She had paced these rooms multiple times since her arrival at the dormitory. A restless excitement churning within made her incapable of sitting still, but no one had clarified whether she was allowed to leave, so she contended herself with laps, committing every detail of her new environment to memory.
The surreality of her situation still clung to her. What she would not have dared to dream of yesterday had become today's reality. She thought of her father, his silent countenance as they had left Master Toaro's office, escorted by the city guards. The scene had drawn stares and whispers, especially at the Docks, where their procession became the spectacle of the day. The entire neighborhood had watched them pass.
Ultimately, she had gathered her scant belongings, emptying the shelves and drawers of what little she owned, and left. Her family stood nearby in heavy silence as she packed. They offered no farewells, no parting words. A hollow expectation nested in the pit of her stomach; she had yearned for her father to acknowledge her newfound abilities—to be proud. But as she looked around her new home, that flickering wisp of hope was snuffed out. Now she knew for sure the praise would never come.
Lost in thought, Ari was oblivious to the approaching footsteps until they echoed in close proximity. She spun around just in time to see another girl bursting into the room. A pair of exaggerated, upright pigtails bounced atop the newcomer's head as she skidded to a halt, her eyes widening at the sight of Ari.
"Whoa! A roommate already!" The girl launched herself at Ari without warning, enveloping her in an enthusiastic hug.
Ari stood frozen by the unexpected contact. The girl was shorter by a head; her face pressed against Ari's chest while her arms wrapped tightly around her waist. Unsure how to navigate the sudden intimacy, Ari awkwardly patted the girl's shoulders.
The gesture prompted the girl to tilt her head up and offer a dazzling smile. "I'm Ria—greatest Death Mage of our time," she said. "We're going to be best friends, I can already tell." As she clung to Ari, her grin stretched impossibly wide, her eyes gleaming like twin stars.
Before Ari could process the whirlwind of energy in front of her, the sound of more footsteps filled the doorway. A group of men entered, led by an elderly butler in a tailored black uniform.
"Little lady, decorum, if you please," the butler said. "You promised your father to refrain from causing a ruckus right away." His eyes wandered over the place before they locked onto Ari.
She felt scrutinized under his gaze, weighed and judged. She noted the impeccable attire of the men, and her eyes fell upon Ria's outfit—a sumptuous, knee-length gown of deep green, accented with frills, short sleeves, and a black sash cinching the waist. The fabric was delicate to the touch, surely worth a small fortune.
Under the butler's unrelenting gaze, Ari pulled back her hands and unconsciously shrank into herself, trying to disappear behind Ria, despite their height difference. She became painfully aware of her own attire—a simple yellow dress she had worn on the assessment day. It was her best and only option for occasions that demanded formality, yet compared to what she saw before her, it was nothing but a worthless rag. She braced for the inevitable chastisement from the butler, expecting him to sternly order her away from his lady at any moment.
Instead, the butler's first disapproving glance landed squarely on Ria. "I deeply apologize for our little lady," he began. "She is not a Death Mage, of course. In truth, her gifts lie with the Power of Life. I beg your forgiveness for her bringing up the forbidden." His gaze sharpened as he addressed Ria. "Little lady, we've discussed this. You must stop joking like that. Such jests are unbecoming."
While Ari stood confused by the turn in conversation, Ria's playful demeanor shifted to one of defiance as she faced the butler. Her voice snapped like a whip. "For the hundredth time, don't call me 'little lady.' I'm not little, you old, senile bastard!"
"My deepest apologies. Memory does elude me these days," he replied with an exaggerated bow and a glint of mischief in his eyes. "As you've reminded me countless times, you are anything but little, little lady." The corners of his mouth curled into a wry smile.
His gentle barb drew an even tighter coil of annoyance from Ria, who released Ari to face him, her fists clenching in fury. "Why are you even still here? Place my belongings in the other room and be gone! I'm so happy I'm finally freed from you. Father should have dismissed you ages ago. No idea why he keeps you around. Probably out of sheer pity for how utterly useless you are."
The butler feigned a sorrowful sigh. "Such words wound me deeply, little lady. I am profoundly sad. It must indeed be the day's excitement speaking. Rest assured, little lady, this will not diminish our affection for you in the slightest."
He nodded to the group behind him. At his subtle gesture, the group moved to the living room. Muffled sounds trailed behind them as they carefully deposited packages onto the floor. Before his own withdrawal, the old servant focused on Ari one more time.
"Young lady," he said. "Please take care of our fiery little lady. She's a handful, but her heart is pure."
Ria's face turned crimson, her voice rising like a kettle nearing its boiling point. With impeccable timing, the butler made his escape, leaving only the echo of a closing door behind.
A heavy, unexpected silence settled over the room after the servants' departure. Ari hesitated, taking a step back as Ria turned to her. The mercurial girl flashed a beaming smile, radiant twinkles dancing in her eyes as she locked her gaze on Ari.
"Now then, where were we?"
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