After dinner, the group felt recharged, and Leo said his goodbyes, explaining he wanted to get ready for his meetings and testing tomorrow. He waved to the others and followed the directions on his enchanted watch back to his dorm room. "This watch is really handy," Leo thought as he walked, its soft glow lighting the way. He was deep in thought, reflecting on the day's events, when he noticed a group of older students gathered near the dorm entrances.
One of the students, tall and lean with black hair and a sly, sharp-featured face, noticed him and stepped in his path, placing a firm grip on Leo's shoulder. "Hey, kid," the student sneered. "I don't believe I've seen you around here before. You lost, wandering into the third-year section?"
Leo looked up at him, noting the height difference. "No, I'm not lost. I'm actually in third year, too," he replied calmly, though he felt uneasy as he noticed the others moving in to surround him.
The student's grip tightened, and he gave Leo a contemptuous look. "A third year? You've got to be kidding me. Some child like you could never be as strong as me. My family hired the best tutors, and I even have a mentor for advanced training. There's no way you're on my level."
Leo realized what this was about—the student wanted to show he was stronger. "Look, I'm not trying to show off," Leo replied, attempting to defuse the tension.
Before he could say more, the student's hand shot out, a sharp impact slamming into Leo's face. Ice crackled from the student's knuckles, sending a wave of cold burning pain across Leo's cheek as he was pushed back against the wall.
"Shut up when your superiors are talking," the student growled, an arrogant smirk on his face.
A familiar feeling of anger began to rise in Leo, the same one he'd felt in the simulation. With a flicker of gray in his eyes, he drew upon a time spell, forming a zone that slowed everything within twenty feet. In that instant, the students around him were frozen in sluggish motion, their shocked expressions barely registering what was happening.
Leo stepped forward, gathering a dense coating of earth around his fist. He delivered a punch to the black-haired student's chest, breaking the time spell as his fist made contact. The student was hurled ten feet down the hall, landing hard against the floor, unconscious.
Breathing heavily, Leo turned to the other students, his eyes warning them not to try anything. But before they could even process what had happened, a calm voice cut through the tense silence.
"Well, I suppose I arrived just in time," Mr. Brookfall remarked, striding toward them. He glanced down at the unconscious student lying at his feet. "Leo, it seems we should have that talk a little sooner than I'd planned."
Leo's heart raced as he looked up, confusion clear on his face. Why is the shopkeeper here? Then, a memory surfaced—when he met with Mr. Thorne, he'd referred to the shopkeeper as "Mr. Brookfall." This wasn't just any bystander; this was his soon-to-be mentor.
Leo took a shaky breath, still reeling from the sudden confrontation. This wasn't at all how he'd imagined his first meeting with Mr. Brookfall would go. But as he looked at Mr. Brookfall's expression, he was surprised to see not anger, but a hint of intrigue.
Mr. Brookfall's gaze flicked from the unconscious student to Leo. "Well, that was quite an introduction," he said, voice calm but firm. "I'd heard you were talented, but this was… unexpected."
Leo gulped, his face reddening slightly. "I didn't mean to… I just wanted them to leave me alone. I didn't want to cause trouble."
Mr. Brookfall's eyes softened just a bit, though his gaze remained intense. "An understandable reaction. But part of your training will be about knowing when to act, and how to temper your abilities in situations like this." He glanced at the students nearby, who were watching warily. "There's more to strength than skill alone. Remember that."
Leo nodded, a sense of calm replacing his initial shock. He hadn't planned on this encounter, but now, standing here with Mr. Brookfall, he felt a renewed sense of understanding and patience from him.
Mr. Brookfall called over a nearby teacher to assist with the unconscious student, instructing them to bring him to the infirmary and report the incident to Ms. Ravon. "I won't tolerate anyone attacking others out of their incompetence," he said sternly.
Once that was settled, Mr. Brookfall walked with Leo back to his dorm. As they walked, Leo looked up, curiosity mixed with a bit of awe. "So, I'd heard a little about you when I learned you'd be my mentor, but I didn't realize we'd already met."
Mr. Brookfall smiled down at him. "Yes, I noticed your talent right away when we first met. Most students your age can't activate wisp crystals so easily, yet you handled it as if it were second nature. When Ms. Ravon requested I take you on as a student, she mentioned your name, and I couldn't refuse. And after seeing how well you controlled that time spell, with no chant, I can see that you're already well beyond most students." He paused thoughtfully. "My teaching will focus on helping you understand who you are as a person first. When we develop that foundation, your magic will only grow stronger. Right now, you're already ahead in ability, but there's still much to learn about discipline and purpose."
Leo felt a warm surge of gratitude, reminded of his father's guidance, though that thought also brought a tinge of sadness. Still, he knew he had to push forward if he wanted to find his parents. "So, what's the plan for tomorrow? I've been told a few things, but I feel like there's still more."
Mr. Brookfall thought for a moment before replying, "Tomorrow we'll start with a formal introduction, though meeting at the shop and chatting now has covered a lot of that. Then, we'll head down to one of our testing facilities. We'll evaluate which types of magic you're strongest in and where you might need more guidance. After that, we'll sit down to plan your class schedule and discuss some areas I want to train you in myself. If all goes smoothly, we'll be done by lunch."
He gave Leo a reassuring look. "With your acceptance into this program, all finances are taken care of—you should focus entirely on your studies and training. When you go on expeditions or missions with your group, feel free to gather and sell any beast parts, plants, or other items to earn some pocket money. All students receive a daily allowance of one silver, enough for trips out or getting treats from the local bakery."
Leo's excitement mixed with nervousness about the upcoming test. It's probably just a glitch in the machine, but he couldn't shake the feeling that tomorrow would be important.
As they approached Leo's room, Mr. Brookfall asked, "Do you have everything you need—clothes, a jacket? The colder months are coming, and although the student uniforms are enchanted for warmth, having an actual jacket doesn't hurt in winter."
Leo appreciated the concern. "Thank you, but I usually keep a few fire wisps around to warm my area. Though I could use some supplies—paper, ink, things like that."
Mr. Brookfall's amused smile softened as he nodded, impressed by Leo's practicality. He could already tell this student was going to be something special, though he didn't yet know just how much.
After bidding Mr. Brookfall goodbye, Leo entered his room, barely making it to his bed before collapsing onto it. The day had been long, filled with new experiences, friendships forming with his classmates, and a few challenging encounters. Leo felt both grateful and overwhelmed by everything, especially knowing he was on the path to something extraordinary. But he couldn't help thinking of the student who had tried to intimidate him earlier. If only he'd just leave me alone, Leo thought, brushing the encounter aside.
But as he lay there alone, something stirred within him. He remembered an experience from the simulation—something he hadn't tried outside of that controlled environment. Leo closed his eyes, focusing, and began to let his magic flow freely. This time, though, he didn't summon the usual elemental wisps; instead, he called for emotional wisps. In response, fifteen distinct wisps materialized around him, each radiating a different emotion: joy, sadness, hatred, fear, and, hanging back, a dark, still wisp representing death.
The wisps floated around him, creating a swirl of emotions that Leo could feel deep within. Sadness washed over him when near the blue wisp, fear from the gray, and so on. The wisp of death stayed distant, hovering like a quiet observer. Leo felt drawn to it, and with a deep breath, he reached out, allowing himself to connect with it.
Instantly, images flooded his mind. He saw the academy grounds, but they were scorched, the once vibrant courtyards littered with the shadows of battle. In another vision, he saw himself standing helplessly amidst a scene of destruction. Beastmen roamed through the grounds, attacking students and staff alike. The instructors were doing their best to hold them off, their powerful spells casting a barrier of defense. But the beastmen seemed endless, an overwhelming tide.
Then, Leo saw him—the beastman leader, the same one he had fought in the simulation. In the vision, he stood at the academy gates, a grim smile on his face, Leo's body limp in his hand. The vision faded, and he found himself back in his room, breathless.
The emotional wisps around him spun faster, responding to the whirlwind of emotions raging inside him. All but the joy wisp, which lay dim and lifeless on the floor. As Leo looked at it, he realized its light had gone out completely, and within seconds, it dissipated, vanishing as if it had never been there.
Leo felt a chill run down his spine. Was this a warning? he wondered, his mind racing. This vision felt more than a dream or a trick of his magic—it felt like a glimpse into something real, something looming. As he sat in the silence that followed, he resolved to be ready for whatever lay ahead, though he knew he'd have to prepare more than he'd ever imagined.