The sun had barely risen, and Elba was startled awake by the sound of Lucas banging on a pan with a spoon.
"Wake up, Elba! First day of class, can't be late!" Lucas shouted with an energy that didn't seem fitting for such an early hour.
Elba groaned, pulling the covers over his head. Lucas was relentless, his lively nature impossible to avoid. He moved around the room like a whirlwind, talking about random things — the cafeteria food, the strange students he'd seen the day before, and how they should grab a snack before class.
"You've got to keep moving here if you don't want to fall behind, newbie," Lucas grinned, throwing one of Elba's pillows at him. "Come on, don't be slow!"
Elba finally gave in and sat up. As much as Lucas could be overwhelming, he knew his roommate meant well. But this morning, as Elba slowly got ready, the reality of his situation hit him hard. He found himself staring at his reflection, remembering the mornings when his mother's soft voice would call him out of bed. He used to walk to school with his father, always stopping for a brief chat, before meeting his friends and— Thornessa. His heart ached as the memories of those normal days returned to him, days that felt so far away now.
"It's all useless now," he thought to himself as he forced the memories away. His parents were gone, his life had taken a sharp turn into the unknown, and nothing would ever be the same again.
With a deep breath, he left the room with Lucas, who was still chattering away. They walked through the academy grounds, which were bustling with students heading to their first classes. Elba tried to push the loneliness aside, focusing on the present.
As they approached the classroom building, Lucas stopped and patted Elba on the shoulder. "Alright, newbie, this is your stop. I've got my own class to get to, but you'll be fine. Best of luck with your first lesson!"
Elba managed a weak smile, watching Lucas head off down the hallway. As he stepped into the classroom, his nervousness grew. The room was enormous, with high vaulted ceilings and rows upon rows of desks made of dark, polished wood. Intricate designs of dragon scales and wings adorned the walls, and large windows let in sunlight that bathed the room in a warm glow. In the front, a grand chalkboard stretched across the entire wall, with arcane symbols and runes etched on it, still faint from the previous class.
The sheer size of the room was enough to make Elba's heart race, but what truly stopped him in his tracks was the sight of a familiar face. Sitting across the room, in the middle of a group of students, was Thornessa.
His breath caught in his throat as their eyes met. She smiled warmly, the same smile that had always made him feel like everything was okay back in their hometown.
"Oh my, what are you doing here, Elba?" she said, standing up and walking towards him, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
Elba's heart was still racing, but now for a different reason. For a moment, he felt a sense of relief, like a small piece of his old life had followed him into this new, terrifying world. But then, the weight of everything that had happened crashed down on him again. His parents, the attack, his escape — all of it. He forced himself to keep it together, giving Thornessa a small smile.
"A lot of things happened," he said quietly, avoiding her gaze as he moved to his seat. "I got stuck here. Good to see you, though."
Thornessa seemed to sense the shift in his mood and didn't press further. She gave him a nod and returned to her seat. Elba sat down at an empty desk in the back, feeling a strange mix of emotions. Seeing her here felt like a connection to the past, but he couldn't afford to get too attached to those memories right now. There were more pressing things to worry about.
As he settled into his seat, another student approached him. This one had striking blue and green hair that was tied together at the ends, giving him a regal, almost majestic appearance. His eyes were sharp and inquisitive, and his presence commanded attention without even trying.
"Mind if I sit here?" the boy asked with a friendly smile.
"Not at all," Elba replied, grateful for a distraction from his swirling thoughts.
"My name's Mayura," the boy said as he sat down, his eyes glinting with intelligence. "Feather of the Peacock, if you didn't catch that. And you are?"
"Elba," he replied, shaking Mayura's hand. "Nice to meet you."
"So, first day, huh? I remember mine like it was yesterday," Mayura said with a chuckle. "Don't worry, it's not as bad as it seems. Most of the instructors are tough but fair. What's your element?"
"All of them, apparently," Elba said, still feeling strange about it.
Mayura whistled in surprise. "That's impressive! Not something you see every day. You're going to have your hands full, though. Learning to balance all the elements is no small feat."
Elba appreciated Mayura's calm and friendly demeanor. The conversation flowed easily between them, and it helped Elba relax a little before the class started.
Just then, the door to the classroom swung open, and the instructor strode in. He was tall, with a presence that demanded respect. His eyes, cold yet knowledgeable, scanned the room, and he held a staff in one hand that crackled with faint sparks of energy. He turned to face the students, his voice booming throughout the hall.
"My name is Professor Arctus," he said, his voice sharp and authoritative. "I will be your magic specialist. I will teach you how to use and perform spells — and how to survive. For all of you here — dragon blood, vampire, demon — the path will be hard. Magic is not a toy. It is a tool, a weapon, and sometimes... a curse."
Elba swallowed hard. This was it. The real work was about to begin.
"Be prepared," Professor Arctus continued, his gaze sweeping across the room. "Today, we begin the journey that will determine whether you have what it takes to stand among the greats. Now, open your spellbooks and let us begin."
And with that, the class began, a heavy silence settling over the room as every student braced themselves for the challenges ahead.