A little ways away, in a cozy, dimly lit magic shop filled with the scent of old books and herbs, a soft ringing echoed from the back room. Mr. Brookfall, hunched over an ancient tome, looked up with mild curiosity. He tapped the small, enchanted button on the desk, causing the glowing crystal above it to flare to life. To his surprise, the face of Ms. Raven appeared before him on the communication mirror.
"Well, well," Mr. Brookfall said with a raised eyebrow, leaning back in his chair. "It's been quite some time. To what do I owe the pleasure?"
Ms. Raven's expression was stern, though a small, knowing smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "I need your help with a student we've just taken in. He's showing talent that we haven't seen in a long time, and he needs guidance—someone who can help him understand his strengths while keeping a close eye on him."
Mr. Brookfall's curiosity deepened. It wasn't often that Ms. Raven called for favors, especially not ones involving students. "What makes this student so special that you need me? You've got a solid team of instructors at the academy, and as you know, I retired years ago. I'm quite comfortable running my shop now."
Ms. Raven didn't waver, her voice steady. "I understand you've retired, and I know you're content with your shop. But this boy... what he's capable of, and at such a young age, it's something I don't think we can handle properly without your expertise."
Mr. Brookfall's eyes widened slightly, a flicker of recognition passing across his face. He leaned forward, his voice more intrigued now. "This boy... is he ten years old, by any chance?"
Ms. Raven paused, caught off guard by the question. She narrowed her eyes slightly. "Yes. He came to the academy today for an entrance test, and with the skill and power he displayed, we need someone who can help him reach his potential. I wouldn't be asking if this wasn't urgent."
Mr. Brookfall leaned back in his chair, his mind racing. A memory surfaced, a vision of a young boy he'd encountered not long ago. He'd sensed something remarkable in that child—raw, untapped power. "I believe I know the boy you're talking about. If it's who I think it is, then yes, he is quite talented. More than that, he's full of potential—and danger, if not handled properly."
Ms. Raven let out a small sigh of relief, though her expression remained composed. "Then you understand why I'm asking. We need someone who can guide him, someone who knows how to bring out his best without letting the worst take over."
Mr. Brookfall nodded slowly, already picturing the challenges ahead. "Alright. I'll do it. If this boy is who I think he is, then I agree—he needs careful guidance. I'll come by the academy tomorrow to meet with you and the boy, and we can discuss classes, schedules, and how this is going to work."
A small smile crept onto Ms. Raven's face. "Thank you, Brookfall. I know you have your way of doing things, and I wouldn't expect anything less. But I trust you with this."
Mr. Brookfall gave her a wry smile in return. "You know me, Raven. I don't take on students lightly, and when I do, I have full control over how I train them. If I'm going to be this boy's mentor, then it'll be on my terms."
Ms. Raven nodded, understanding his terms without argument. "I wouldn't have it any other way."
With that, the call ended, and the glowing crystal dimmed. Mr. Brookfall leaned back in his chair, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. He couldn't shake the image of the boy from his mind. If this truly was the same child he'd crossed paths with before, the academy was in for quite the challenge.
Back at the academy, Ms. Raven leaned back in her chair, staring at the communication crystal for a moment before closing her eyes. "I hope I made the right choice," she muttered softly to herself. "Brookfall can handle him, I know that. But... can he protect Leo from himself?"
A few hours passed before Leo stirred, blinking his eyes open to find himself in a white room, the soft glow of the infirmary's magical lanterns casting a gentle light over everything. As he tried to gather his bearings, his body feeling heavier than usual, a head peeked around the corner. It was Mrs. Amber, the academy's healer, her face lighting up with concern and relief when she saw Leo sitting upright.
"Oh, you're awake!" she exclaimed, rushing to his side with a worried look. "Please be careful, Leo. You got knocked around quite a bit in the simulation, so take it slow. Let me check you over to make sure you're alright."
Leo nodded, though he felt fine—just a little tired, maybe, but nothing out of the ordinary. He didn't mind the attention, though, and let Mrs. Amber do her work.
"What happened to me?" he asked, his voice a little groggy. "How long have I been out?"
Mrs. Amber smiled as she finished her examination. "Well, you seem fine now. But in the simulation, even though it's not real, your mind and body experience everything as if it is. You took quite a beating, and it knocked you out for a few hours. Now that you're awake, let me call Ms. Raven. She'll be able to answer your questions better."
With a warm smile, Mrs. Amber left the room, leaving Leo sitting in silence, his thoughts racing.
"It felt so real," Leo murmured to himself. "The hits, the fire... the fear. But I did it. I took down those beasts. I told you, Mom, I'll help you next time. You just have to trust me."
He sat there, reflecting on the battle he had faced in the simulation—how raw it had felt, how intense. Minutes passed before the door creaked open slowly, and Leo looked up to see Ms. Raven step inside.
"Leo, I'm glad to see you awake and in such good shape," she said, her voice warm but with an undertone of seriousness.
"Thank you," Leo replied, managing a small smile.
Ms. Raven pulled up a chair and sat down next to him, her expression soft but thoughtful. "I'm sure you have a lot of questions. Let me start by saying—you passed. We would love for you to join our academy."
Leo's eyes widened, a grin spreading across his face. He felt a rush of joy but was too weak to do much more than smile. He wanted to leap up and hug her, but his body still felt limp, the aftereffects of the simulation weighing him down.
Ms. Raven noticed his effort and raised a hand gently. "Don't push yourself too hard. That was your first time in the simulation, and it can leave you feeling numb for a little while. It'll wear off soon."
Leo nodded, relaxing back into his pillow, but the excitement was still bubbling inside him.
Ms. Raven continued her tone a mix of pride and practicality. "We've decided to place you in the third-year intermediate class. Based on your abilities, it should be a good fit. And you'll be assigned a mentor—someone to help guide and support you while you're here at the academy."
Leo's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Third-year intermediate? But... what about the other students from the test? Will they be there too?" He couldn't help but wonder if he'd be separated from the group he'd started with, and how they would see him now.
Ms. Raven smiled at his curiosity but didn't address it directly. Instead, she said, "As for your mentor, we've chosen someone special for you—Mr. Brookfall. He'll be arriving tomorrow to meet with you and discuss your classes and schedule."
Leo's mind raced. "Mr. Brookfall... that name sounds familiar." He tried to place where he had heard it before, but it eluded him. It was as if the name was linked to a distant memory, something just beyond his reach.
Ms. Raven studied him closely, noting the way he seemed to be processing everything. She decided to shift the conversation. "Leo, can I ask you a few questions about your home and your family?"
Leo blinked, brought back to the present by her gentle tone. He looked up at her, and after a moment of hesitation, he nodded.
Ms. Raven leaned forward slightly, her gaze soft but curious. "Who are your parents, Leo?"
Leo hesitated, his mind flashing to memories of his home, his family, and the days before he had come to the academy. His mother's face appeared in his mind, her gentle smile, the way she had always encouraged him to be strong, to protect their village. His father, too, had played a big role in shaping who he was, but something inside him stirred—something he didn't fully understand yet.
"My mom... her name is Elowen," Leo said quietly. "She's strong. She taught me to be brave. And my dad... he taught me magic when I was really little. He said it was important that I learn."
Ms. Raven nodded, sensing there was more beneath the surface. "And your father? What's his name?"
Leo hesitated again, his fingers fidgeting with the edge of his blanket. "His name was Aldric Wildehart. But he's... not with us anymore no one has seen him or my mother after the attack."
Ms. Raven's expression softened. She could feel the weight of Leo's words, the pain that lingered beneath them. "I see. I'm sorry, Leo. It sounds like they were both very important to you."
Leo nodded, swallowing hard. "Yeah, they were. My mom still is I know she is ok and I will find her."
Ms. Raven reached out and placed a comforting hand on Leo's shoulder. "Thank you for sharing that with me. We're going to make sure you're safe here, and that you have everything you need to grow—not just as a student, but as a person."
Leo offered a small, appreciative smile. "Thank you, Ms. Raven."
As Ms. Raven stood to leave, she looked back at Leo, sensing that there was so much more to this boy than met the eye.