Leo stayed in the infirmary for another hour, with Ms. Amber watching him to ensure he was fully recovered before letting him go. Finally, she smiled warmly and said, "Well, I'd say you're good to go! I'll have someone show you to the student housing and to your room. Once you're settled in, head over to the dining hall for lunch. In your room, you'll find a few items that'll help you get around and store your belongings."
Leo thanked Ms. Amber, then followed an assistant down the winding hallways toward the student dorms. The walk was a bit longer than he'd expected—almost like walking two blocks in his village. When they arrived at the student housing building, students were everywhere, chatting and laughing. A few turned to stare as they recognized Leo, the new kid who had just passed the academy's intense entrance exam.
Before Leo could feel too overwhelmed, Darian came running over with a big grin. "Hey! I'm glad to see you again! I'm guessing you got in if they're showing you to a room."
Leo smiled, feeling relieved to see a familiar face. "Yeah! They told me I'll be meeting my mentor tomorrow, and I'll get my schedule then."
Darian raised an eyebrow, puzzled. "A mentor? Why'd they assign you a mentor already? What class are you going to be in?"
Leo was eager to share the news. "Ms. Raven said I'll be in the third-year intermediate classes, and that Mr. Brookfall will be my mentor."
Darian's jaw dropped. "Third-year intermediate? And Mr. Brookfall?" He tried to hide his shock, but it was hard to believe. Leo, only ten years old, was being placed three years above his age group—a decision almost unheard of.
"What?" Leo asked, noticing Darian's reaction.
Darian looked at him, still a little stunned. "Well, Mr. Brookfall isn't just any teacher. He's a pretty big deal around here. He used to be the principal, and he's the reason our academy even started the mentor system in the first place. When he was a student, he was just like you—way ahead in skill and magical knowledge for his age. They moved him up two years, but even then, he was still beyond everyone else. The other students… well, some of them didn't like being shown up, so they pulled pranks and even tried to bring him down with spells and charms."
Leo's eyes widened as he listened, realizing that Mr. Brookfall might really understand him.
Darian continued, "After he graduated, Mr. Brookfall decided to stay at the academy. He was offered all sorts of jobs—some at other, bigger academies—but he turned them down. He spent years working with students who showed great talent. Over time, he became the principal and started the mentor system so that kids who needed extra guidance could have someone to turn to. And when a really special case showed up…" Darian pointed a finger toward Leo, "he, or a few select others, would become that student's personal mentor."
Leo nodded, understanding his situation a bit more, and why his parents had never sent him to a school despite teaching him everything they could while he was growing up. "Well, I hope I don't have the same issues. I'm not here to show off; I'm here to get stronger. Hopefully, Mr. Brookfall can help me with what I need to work on."
Darian looked both amazed and excited. Having someone so young in his class, especially someone the academy called Mr. Brookfall out of retirement for, was a big deal. "Well, I'm glad to say you'll be in the same classes as me, so I'll have your back too. Don't worry," Darian said, puffing his chest out a bit and trying to look bigger.
Leo smiled, appreciating Darian's support, though he couldn't help but notice how much taller Darian was.
After chatting with Darian and finally reaching his room, Leo said his goodbyes. Before closing the door, Darian handed him a small card.
"When you get your Echo Amulet set up, tap this card to save my magical signature," Darian said, showing Leo his amulet. "That way, we can talk on them or find each other if needed."
Leo thanked Darian and stepped into his room, pleasantly surprised by its size. It had everything he needed—a bed, a desk, a wardrobe, a bathroom, and a sturdy box at the foot of the bed. He walked over to the box, his curiosity piqued and opened it to find four items waiting for him.
The first was a small, enchanted bag with a note attached: "This bag has an enchantment. Apply a small pulse of magic to link it to you. It can hold up to 10 cubic feet of non-living matter, accessible only to you, except in special cases where the principal can review its contents if necessary."
Leo smiled, marveling at the enchantment. Having a bag that could carry so much would be invaluable. He set it aside and reached for the next item: his own Echo Amulet. The dark blue crystal embedded in silver felt warm to the touch. He placed it carefully on the desk, eager to set it up later.
The third item was a watch-like device, labeled as the EchoMap Dial. Its accompanying note read: "This device functions as a watch and also contains a map covering the academy, nearby town, and surrounding area, roughly ten miles. It has an enchantment that allows it to expand its mapped area. You can set a 'home' location—if you're within 200 miles, the Dial will guide you back."
Leo slipped the EchoMap Dial onto his wrist, pulsing a bit of magic into it. The dial warmed as it synced to his magic, and he set this room as "home." As the map appeared, he could see details of the academy and town, including locations where beasts might be found, plants grew, and each building stood.
After testing the EchoMap Dial, Leo picked up the last item in the box: a school uniform. He hadn't seen other students wearing uniforms, so he was puzzled until he found a note in the pocket.
"This is a key piece of student attire. It allows the academy to know your location, provides protective enchantments, and can self-repair. The uniform can take the form of any non-metal, non-luxury fabric item. To change its look, simply focus on the style you want and apply magic to it."
Leo grinned as he realized why he hadn't noticed any other uniforms—everyone had made theirs look unique! He put on the clothing and willed it to resemble his casual clothes from home: a blue linen-like shirt and tan hide pants with a cloth interior. Now dressed and fully equipped, Leo turned his attention to the Echo Amulet.
Grabbing it, he focused and sent a pulse of magic into the crystal, which glowed a cool blue before dimming. Confident it was ready, Leo tapped Darian's card to the amulet. The card vanished, and a faint, swirling blue energy appeared inside the crystal, indicating the connection had been made. Unsure how to initiate a call, Leo held the amulet and thought of Darian.
Almost instantly, a warm voice filled his mind. "Hey, Leo! Looks like you got it working! I'm calling from my amulet so you can see how to reach out next time."
Leo's eyes widened. "Darian! This is amazing! I didn't realize it would be so… instant!"
Darian chuckled. "Yup! Pretty cool, right? Now we're all set up. You won't get lost in this place with all that gear. Ready to meet for lunch? I'll show you where to sit."
"Absolutely," Leo replied, grinning.
Walking to the cafeteria, Leo followed Darian, who had gathered a few other students along the way, including the girl Leo had seen during the entrance exam. As they entered the large, bustling room, the sounds of laughter and clinking dishes filled the air. Students lined up at various counters, each serving different types of food. Leo looked around, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves in the crowded space.
Darian led them to a table near the center of the room, and they settled in just as a server approached to take their order. Before they got started, Darian introduced everyone. "Leo, this is Sera," he gestured to the girl from the exam, "and these are Alaric and Mira," he added, nodding to the other two students with them. Each of them smiled and greeted Leo with friendly nods, clearly curious about him.
"So, Leo," Sera said as they glanced over the menu options, "what made you decide to take the entrance exam here? I mean, going for third-year classes right away is… ambitious."
Leo chuckled a little, feeling the pressure but determined to stay confident. "I've been training with my dad since I was little," he said. "Coming here was a way to push myself further—and maybe learn some things he hadn't taught me yet."
Mira gave him an approving look. "Well, we could always use someone ambitious on the team. And Mr. Brookfall as a mentor? That's… big."
Leo nodded, still wrapping his head around the idea. "Yeah, I'm starting to get that impression," he admitted, trying not to sound too overwhelmed.
Darian clapped him on the shoulder. "You'll be fine. Besides, with your skills, we're going to have a solid team for any practical exams or challenges," he said with a grin.