I took a deep, steadying breath as I pushed open the imposing timber doors and stepped into the soaring entrance hall of the Ascendent Academy. Crimson curtains trimmed with gold and arcane symbols hung from vaulted ceilings supported by rows of marble pillars. Intricate glyphs and sigils of power were etched into the polished stone walls and floors, resonating with latent dimensional energies.
Sunlight streaming through lofty stained glass windows dappled the chatting students in multicolored glows as they traversed between lessons. But what really grabbed my attention was the wide variety of races and attire on display from the academy attendees - many clearly not fully human.
I spotted hawk-faced birdmen with feathers instead of hair, wielding wooden practice staves. A pair of foxgirls with cute twitching ears gossiped nearby, their books clutched close to traditional kimonos. In one shadowy corner a boy with tiny horns curling from his brow intently scribbled notes while his long spaded tail curled around his chair leg. And those were just a few of the more mundane sightings!
This Ascendent Academy that the mysterious Lilith woman had brought me to was clearly home to more than just gifted human dungeoneers. All manner of mythical beings and talented mages gathered here under one roof.
"A place where exceptional talents of myriad backgrounds can unlock their true potential without arbitrary societal limits," Lilith had claimed when she led me through a shimmering portal to this towering campus floating amongst the clouds like a mythical avalon.
As someone who had commanded the fundamental forces of space and time but lived paycheck-to-paycheck in a dingy rented apartment, I could relate. Perhaps this school could help me grasp the great destiny foretold across repeating visions...
Caught up in marveling at my new surroundings, I suddenly noticed Lilith beckoning me towards an arched hallway branching off from the main hall. Scrambling to catch up to my recruiter through the bustling crowds, we soon arrived at an oaken door bearing a glowing rune for "Headmaster".
Lilith gave three precise knocks. A muffled voice answered back, "Enter."
Pushing the door open revealed a circular office as large as my entire apartment. More glyphs marked the domed ceiling enchanted to display a dazzling view of the cloudscape and sky outside. Bookshelves stuffed with arcane tomes covered every inch of the curving walls except where paintings of mysterious robed figures stared down.
In the room's center sat an ornate claw-footed desk positively buried under stacks of loose papers and half-unrolled scrolls. Quills scribbled across some documents seemingly of their own will. And seated atop the mess was a pot-bellied bald man with nut-brown skin and an impressive curling silver mustache. He wore a dress shirt, vest, and trousers all embroidered with shimmering spell threads.
The man - presumably the headmaster - glanced up distractedly from his work through a jeweler's looking glass as we entered.
"Lilith, welcome back," he rumbled amiably with a smile. "And this must be our newest diamond in the rough."
He rose with a grunt, joints creaking like he had already lived multiple lifetimes over. But sharp eyes peering over that voluminous mustache showed no signs of fading wit or energy. Extending one ink-stained hand in greeting, he bowed slightly. "Headmaster Orius Von'Alistair, at your service."
I shook back. "A pleasure, sir. I'm -"
"No need, no need," Orius interrupted, waving me off. "True names hold power. We shall grant you a new one during initiation if you wish it. Now then!" Clapping briskly, he settled back into his high-backed chair. "I understand you've exhibited startling talent over spatial manipulation energies during your first dungeon forays."
I nodded, still feeling the exhilarating rush of those initial reality-rending displays. "I used the abilities to escape some nasty situations. But controlling them further has been...challenging." That was putting it lightly after the Komododon fiasco.
"Indeed, indeed," Orius said, steepling his fingers. "Raw talent alone only carries one so far. Which is why our little school exists!" He spread his hands, gesturing expansively around the academy grounds through the charmed ceiling. "To take uncut gems like yourself and transform you into true master alchemists over the realm's deepest magics through rigorous study!"
Settling back he fixed me with a piercing stare. "The real question though - do you have the dedication and discipline needed to walk such a path? It shall not be easy..."
I thought back instantly to the throne-wielding conqueror versions of myself from those strange future visions, commanding the elemental forces of creation on a whim. That was my fated peak to reach...no matter the hardship.
"I'll do whatever it takes, Headmaster," I answered solemnly. "I intend to stand above all others one day. This power is my destiny."
Orius listened silently before his mustache twitched with a knowing smile. "Very well. Such conviction is the critical first ingredient. Now then, let us get you properly situated..."
Over the next hour I filled out stacks of admin scrolls in triplicate, received my orientation packet on academy rules, and listened to lectures about curfew regulations and appropriate use of meta-energies around civilian populations. Honestly most of it went in one ear and out the other. All I could think about was finally starting combat ability training with the luminaries Lilith had teased. Surely that waited just around the corner now!
At long last, Headmaster Orius dismissed me with instructions to report to the novice combat arenas first thing tomorrow morning. I could barely contain my excitement as he handed me a leather necklace with a glowing rune pendant for locating my assigned dorm quarters. This must be the stepping stone to my long prophesied ascent into the pantheon of supreme dungeoneering legends!
Practically skipping through the arched hallways I eventually located my new lodging - a cozy single room filled with polished oak furniture. MY grin split wider as I took in the shelves filled with advanced grimoires on spatial manipulation and warp theories. A four post bed with what looked like real feather pillows and velvet quilts awaited after so many nights tossing in lumpy cot springs. Even my own private bathing chamber gleamed invitingly behind a curtained doorway with magical glowing tiles.
Tossing my meager belongings onto an empty shelf I sank backwards with a happy sigh onto that plush bed. Maybe staying here long term to properly master my talents was a good call after all...
Especially once training started in earnest tomorrow! Laughing eagerly into the empty room I kicked my boots off and settled back onto the nest of downy pillows with interlaced fingers. Soon enough dungeon bosses across the realms would come to fear the name I would claim here. And theifying thrones between worlds would be just the beginning!