The magically powered carriage made its way across the frozen roads with little problem. After only a short few hours of travel, the walls of the capital city already came into view.
Zeke and his friends climbed to the foremost part of the vehicle, taking up a position just behind the driver. The man looked back at them for a moment but didn't tell them to leave. Zeke imagined that it would get pretty boring up here alone for hours. He was certain the man was happy to have some company.
As the metropolis started to come into view, the boy recalled what he had learned about the city. He knew that the capital of the empire of Arkanheim was called Magusburg. The city was known for its grand magical academy and powerful mage guild.
Many of the greatest mages in the empire called the capital their home, and it was said that the city's very air was infused with magic. The imperial palace, where the ruling Emperor resided, was located in the center of Magusburg. From what Zeke had heard, it was a sight to behold, with its intricate architecture and magical defenses. It was known as the safest and at the same time one of the most beautiful places in the empire.
The capital was also home to the most influential noble houses. The city was the political center of power, with the four great factions, all gathered in one place. The reason why all the powerful families had their seats in the city was obvious. All the noble heirs and scions hoped to get accepted into the renowned Magical Academy. The Elementium had a reputation for producing the best combat mages in the empire.
Zeke didn't know anything about the inner workings of the noble families. His knowledge was limited to what he had heard from gossip and rumors. All he knew for certain was that at the top of the nobility stood the four Great Families. Which consisted of the strongest mages of the four elements: Fire, Water, Earth, and Wind. As well as the fifth family, which was often left out because of its unique position.
The fifth family was known for producing great generals, as well as being the emperor's family. They were apparently masters of Mind Magic. These noble houses held a significant amount of power and influence. Many of the heroic tales he had heard growing up featured members of the four great noble houses. A lot of them were admired by the populace. Zeke didn't have any experience with nobles himself. All he knew was according to what he had heard from wandering bards.
In his hometown of Feldstadt, there was no resident noble family. The Mages who governed the territory had visited only a few times in Zeke's memory. And they never stayed for long. From their brief appearances, Zeke gathered that the nobles found the rural area unpleasant. They seemed to prefer the excitement of the city.
When he asked his father about them, the man shrugged and said, "Who knows, nobles are strange."
His mother offered a more cautious opinion, warning him, "You should keep your distance from them, Zeke. Most nobles don't see commoners like us as their equals. Be mindful of how you act around them."
Despite his mother's warnings, Zeke's experiences with the nobles of Feldstadt were uneventful. His initially raised guard against them had relaxed again over the years.
As the carriage made its way toward the gate, Zeke's excitement grew. He couldn't wait to meet the other young mages and to see how he compared to them.
The capital was home to the Elementium, the best magical academy in the empire. Zeke was eager to prove himself there. Furthermore, he hoped to make friends with some of the young talents from the powerful Feuerkranz family. Especially if he ended up being confirmed as a Fire mage. The prospect of joining the ranks of one of the great families was both daunting and thrilling.
The boy couldn't wait to see what the future held. He had heard that almost all Mages who were exceptionally talented would join a noble family during their four years at the academy.
It was not uncommon for noble families to adopt talented mages into their ranks. This was a practice that even the four great houses followed. This treatment was of course reserved for only the most talented elemental mage to emerge from the commoners. It was seen as a great honor for both the individual mage and the adoptee's birth family. The arrangement also often provided a better life for their next of kin. They would be given the resources and support to live a peaceful life of luxury. Zeke knew of several families in Feldstadt that had received those benefits.
His father, however, had nothing but contempt for them. He often said that they lived off the money they got from "selling their child".
Zeke, as a commoner with no last name, saw this as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. He had no intention of breaking off contact with his family, but he still wanted to support them. If he was able to impress the members of the Great Families during his evaluation, he could achieve multiple goals at once. He would not only be able to fulfill his dream of becoming a powerful mage, but he would also be able to provide a better life for his parents and sister. The thought of this filled him with excitement as the carriage drew close to Magusburg.
The carriage entered the city through the south gate, and Zeke couldn't help but marvel at the sights and sounds of the bustling metropolis. The streets were crowded with people of all shapes and sizes, all going about their business. The boy had never seen this many people in one place. His hometown only had around a thousand inhabitants, after all. Zeke could see more than that on every market square they passed.
The buildings were tall and imposing, towering impressively over the people in the streets. For a kid who grew up in a farming village, the houses of the capital appeared like palaces. It was only after his gaze turned inward, towards the real palace, that he realized this was how the commoners lived here.
Zeke had hoped to see some of the other races, such as elves or dwarfs, but for some reason, all he could see were humans. This didn't dampen his excitement much, though.
Their train of carriages soon had to take a detour in order to avoid the most bustling parts of the city. Zeke noticed that they were passing through a poor district. Here the streets were less crowded, and the buildings were in disrepair. Many of the people on the streets looked ragged and worn, their clothing tattered and stained. Some begged for spare change, while others huddled in doorways, trying to stay warm.
However, despite the poverty that permeated the air, there was still a sense of community here. People greeted each other warmly, and the camaraderie among the residents was palpable. Zeke couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt as he watched the people of this district struggle to get by. He vowed to do all he could to help those in need if he was given the chance.
As soon as the carriage entered the crafter's district, Zeke was struck by the abrupt change in atmosphere. There seemed to be a very different energy in the air. The sights and the sounds of the bustling area were a stark contrast to the lifeless beggars' quarters. The many streets were crammed with individuals. He could see people of all ages, all of them busy at work.
He saw blacksmiths pounding away at their anvils, their strong arms glistening with sweat. He watched as the carpenters and other woodworkers fiddled with pieces of wood. The carvings that emerged from their efforts could only be called artworks. Zeke had never seen anything of the like in his hometown. The air was filled with the sound of hammering and sawing, and the smells of sawdust and metal. The boy was fascinated by the skill and dedication of the crafters. He found himself wondering what it would be like to work with his hands as they did.
Out of the corners of his eyes, Zeke noticed that Markus's hungry eyes roamed over the various stalls. His friend took it all in. From potters shaping clay on their wheels to blacksmiths hammering metal into shape at their anvils. Zeke knew that Markus had always been interested in practical skills. He was very passionate about crafting and building things, perhaps even more so than magic. Zeke had to remind himself sometimes that his friends had dreams of their own. He couldn't just assume that they had the same fascination for the arcane as him.
His friend had a natural talent for working with his hands. In fact, Markus had often talked about joining a guild and becoming an apprentice once he was old enough. Zeke smiled at his friend, happy to see him so excited. He knew that Markus would probably enjoy the crafter's district more than any other part of the city. He just hoped that Markus wouldn't get too carried away and forget about their main purpose. After all, they were in Magusburg for the magic evaluation, not to sightsee. Once they were enrolled in the academy, they could always explore the crafter's district during their time off.
Zeke glanced at Lily, and his mood sank as he saw the fear in her eyes. He had already expected that she would not be comfortable in the hustle and bustle of a big city. But seeing her trembling form in front of him now still made his heart ache. He couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt for dragging her into this. The boy was aware that he was the one who had encouraged his friends to pursue magic. He had made them believe in themselves and their abilities. And now, here they were, traveling to the capital for the magical evaluation, all because of him.
He reached out and gently took her hand, offering her a reassuring smile. As their fingers interlaced, he could feel the familiar spark between them. It was a feeling he had been trying to ignore for years. But deep down, he knew that he had feelings for Lilly beyond just friendship. He tried to push the thoughts aside, focusing instead on trying to calm her nerves.
"How are you holding up, Lilly?" He asked in a soft voice. The girl grabbed onto his hand like it was her only port in a storm. She managed a small smile as she responded.
"I am fine, Zeke. Just a little nervous with so many people around. I think I will manage to calm down before we reach the academy." The girl replied. Zeke could tell that she was trying to force herself to act calmly. With another squeeze of his hand, he tried to soothe her further.
"It will be fine, Lilly. Markus and I will be by your side every step of the way. You don't have to talk to anybody if you don't want to." He said with a gentle tone. In the next instant, however, his face turned slightly teasing as he said. "If you are too afraid, you can hold onto my hand for the rest of the day!"
Lilly nodded and took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. She smiled weakly at him, grateful for his support. The carriage came to a stop in front of the entrance to the academic district. Zeke and his friends gathered their things and prepared to disembark. The carriages were apparently not allowed inside. Only faculty members, shop owners, and students had permission to enter. Zeke waved at the carriage driver as he made his way into the district with his friends. They had been given temporary access tokens for today only.
The academic district was an area teeming with activity. The area was crammed with students of all ages rushing to and fro. Zeke realized that the carriage would not have been able to move around at all in this district. The streets were lined with shops selling all sorts of magical supplies. From enchanted ink and quills to rare ingredients for potion-making, everything could be found here.
The district was completely different from every other part of the city. The houses were constructed in various random styles. They were neither fitting in with the architecture of the city, nor with each other. Some buildings were even towering high up in the sky, making him wonder how they could remain standing. He could even see forested areas in the distance. The boy felt like he had entered a whimsical wonderland where the rules of the mundane world did not apply.
At the center of the district stood the main building of the mighty Elementium. A grandiose, castle-like structure with tall towers and gleaming spires. It was here that the empire's most talented young mages came to study. To hone their skills and unlock the full potential of their magical abilities. Zeke couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the thought of all the knowledge and power that lay within its walls.
Zeke and his friends stepped through the gate, into the district. They were immediately overwhelmed by the sights and sounds around them. As they made their way deeper into the academy, a man called out the names of different villages. The man was demanding people from the same villages stand together. Zeke saw Martin and his friends were already standing in the indicated spot. They were huddled together, gossiping about the surrounding kids. As usual, they were looking smug and arrogant. Zeke narrowed his eyes slightly at the sight of them. But after he remembered his promise to Lilly, he still forced a polite smile and approached the group.
"Hey, Martin," he said, trying to keep the tension out of his voice. "How's it going?"
Martin gave him a haughty look and crossed his arms. "What do you want, Zeke?" he said, deliberately using the nickname that Zeke only allowed his friends to use.
"I just thought we could bury the hatchet for today," Zeke replied, gritting his teeth upon seeing Martin roll his eyes. "We're going to be in the same group, after all."
Martin just scoffed before turning away, clearly not interested in talking to Zeke. The other members of his group frowned and gave Zeke sympathetic looks, they didn't seem to disagree with his proposal. Still, they didn't dare go against Martin's lead.
Zeke sighed and stood a little ways off with Lilly and Markus. He was feeling frustrated and defeated. He knew that he would have to put up with Martin's attitude for the rest of the evaluation, and he was not looking forward to it. Finally, when all the groups were assembled, they were led into the main building. It was time to begin the evaluations that would determine the course of their journeys as Mages – or end their dreams on the spot.