The boy dusted himself off and casually approached the knocked-out thugs. Zayn watched in confusion, unsure of what the boy was doing.
"What are you—?" Zayn exclaimed, his voice full of surprise as he saw him rummaging through the thugs' pockets.
The boy didn't seem bothered by Zayn's reaction. He calmly pocketed a few coins he found, letting out a disappointed sigh. "Really? This is all they had?" he muttered, his voice low and sounding more bored than anything.
After tucking the dagger back into his waist, he approached Zayn, his expression now calm. "You okay?" he asked.
Zayn nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine. But enough about that—why did you take their money?"
He shrugged casually. "They were going to do the same thing to us. I was just repaying the favor," he said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Besides, they probably stole it themselves. So if I take it from thieves, it's not really stealing, is it?"
Zayn frowned, snapping back, "That doesn't make any sense."
The boy grinned, ignoring Zayn's protest. "Anyway, I'm Riven Arkwright," he said, changing the subject.
Zayn sighed but decided to let it go for now. "Zayn Eldrion," he replied, introducing himself as well.
Riven tilted his head. "You wouldn't happen to know where the school is, would you?"
Zayn shook his head. "I was looking for it too."
Riven smiled. "Oh, then we can find it together."
Riven motioned for Zayn to move closer as they both studied the map. He pointed to the teleportation station he had just gotten off from, and Zayn showed him where he had arrived. After a moment, they traced the route to the school, noticing it was situated on the east side of the capital—a significant distance from their current location.
"I guess we'd better start walking," Riven said nonchalantly.
Zayn blinked in disbelief. "Are you crazy? That's at least six kilometers away!"
He suggested they order a carriage instead. Riven hesitated, clearly reluctant to spend money, but after a brief pause, he agreed. They stepped out of the alley into the bustling street, and for the first time, Zayn got a proper look at his companion.
Riven wasn't what Zayn had expected. They were about the same height, though Riven appeared slightly taller. His hair was jet black, but unlike Kael's, which reflected light, Riven's hair seemed to absorb it. What caught Zayn's attention even more were the unusual white strands wrapping around his head, just above his ears, giving the impression of a band of light in stark contrast to the darkness of his hair.
As Riven spoke, casually chatting about the capital and its layout, Zayn found himself distracted, unable to focus on what he was saying. He was too captivated by Riven's strange appearance. His gaze drifted to Riven's eyes—pupils as black as his hair, absorbing light in the same way. They looked cold and merciless, an unsettling contrast to his calm demeanor.
"Huh? What were you saying?" Zayn stammered, trying to snap out of his daze, but he couldn't finish his sentence. He was too focused on those dark, eerie eyes.
Suddenly, Zayn stumbled, his balance thrown off by the strange tension he felt, but Riven was quick. He grabbed Zayn's arm and pulled him up effortlessly.
"You okay?" Riven asked, his tone concerned.
Zayn blinked, feeling a little disoriented. "Yeah… yeah, I'm fine," he replied, though deep down, he couldn't shake the unease he felt around Riven.
They found a carriage easily, and as they settled in for the ride, Riven's demeanor shifted to one of eagerness. He was more than happy to pay for some meat kebabs from a vendor they passed, offering Zayn one with a casual smile.
"Delicious, right?" Riven said, taking a hearty bite.
Zayn chewed thoughtfully before asking, "Mmh.So, where are you from?"
Riven glanced out the window, his expression momentarily distant. "I come from a small town called Alioth," he replied. "It's in the western part of Myrria—a cold place with snow all year round. I prefer the heat of the capital, though."
Zayn nodded, trying to envision a snowy town. "Sounds nice, I guess. What about your parents?"
At the mention of family, Riven's face clouded over for a brief moment, a flicker of something unreadable in his expression. Zayn caught it, a knot forming in his stomach as he wondered if he had just stepped on a landmine.
After a brief pause, Riven answered, "I live with my dad. He owns a tavern."
"Oh, cool," Zayn said, eager to lighten the mood again. The carriage rolled along the streets, the sounds of the capital enveloping them.
An awkward silence fell between them for a moment until Riven broke it. "Enough about me. What about you, Zayn?Where are you from?" Riven asked, leaning forward with interest as the carriage rolled along the road.
Zayn smiled, looking out at the passing people. "A small village by the sea, far south of here. It's hotter than the capital, for sure. The wind carries the salt from the water, and everything feels... slower, quieter." He paused, a faint smile crossing his face. "I'm starting to miss the quiet. And my family—especially my younger brother, his name's Kael. He's always trying to outdo me in everything."
Riven nodded, glancing at him. "Must be nice, living by the sea."
"It is," Zayn replied, but his eyes flicked to the horizon. "You'd like it. But it's not exactly exciting. Not like this place."
As they turned a bend in the road, Kai's expression shifted. He pointed out the window. "There. That's it—the academy?"
The words barely got out of his mouth. He was in utter disbelief at the sheer size of the entrance. Massive archways rose high above them, each carved from smooth, pale stone, with intricate patterns running along the edges—symbols and runes Zayn didn't recognize. Flanking the archways were towering columns, thick and ornate, stretching upward until they seemed to disappear into the sky. The columns were adorned with engravings of mythical creatures, each one so detailed they almost looked alive.
Behind the archways, a massive iron gate stood open, inviting students inside. Beyond the gate, there was a steady stream of people—other students who looked about their age—walking through, chatting and laughing as they moved toward the school grounds.
In the distance, Zayn could just make out the main building. It was grand, with towering spires and broad windows that shimmered in the sunlight. Lush green lawns spread out on either side, dotted with vibrant flowers and tall, ancient trees that provided shade for groups of students.
"It's massive," Zayn exclaimed, staring up at the towering entrance, his mouth slightly agape.
They both stepped down from the carriage, still in awe of the grandeur. Riven casually handed a few coins to the driver, who tipped his hat in return before riding off. Zayn barely noticed, too entranced by the sight of the academy before them.
As he took in the sight of the academy, he suddenly noticed a commotion behind him on the road. People were scattering, trying to get out of the way of an approaching carriage, far more ornate and elegant than the one he and Riven had arrived in. Curious, Zayn turned to Riven and asked what all the fuss was about.
Riven laughed softly, as if surprised Zayn didn't know. He explained that the carriage belonged to one of the three dukes of Myrria, second in authority only to the king himself. "He must be bringing his kid to the school," Riven mused casually.
Zayn tried to get a better view as the carriage approached the academy gates, but the crowd made it difficult to see clearly. As the carriage passed through the gate, he noticed the security guards bowing deeply, a clear sign of the duke's status. Riven nudged him, suggesting they should head inside.
They presented their admission letters to the guards as they entered the school grounds. By now, a large crowd of students had gathered near the grand carriage, all craning their necks for a glimpse of the duke. "Looks like everyone wants to see the duke," Zayn commented, still trying to understand the level of excitement.
Riven smirked and teased him, asking if he'd been living under a rock. Of course they wanted to see the duke—people of such high rank didn't just walk the streets for commoners to glimpse. As they moved closer, Zayn's attention was drawn to the carriage door, where the driver held it open with a reverent air.
First, a man stepped out. His regal presence immediately commanded attention. He was tall, with blonde hair neatly tied into a ponytail, a finely trimmed beard, and an air of authority that was impossible to ignore. His clothes were immaculate, his bearing one of effortless nobility. The duke.
The next to emerge was a woman, and as Zayn caught sight of her, his breath hitched. She was stunning—possibly the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Her lush silver hair flowed gracefully down her back, shining in the sunlight, and her piercing green eyes seemed to hold an almost otherworldly allure. She wore a flowing white dress that matched perfectly with her hair, her mannerisms refined and captivating.
Finally, another figure appeared, this time helped out of the carriage by the duke himself. It was a young girl, with the same striking silver hair and elegance as her mother—an almost perfect replica. Zayn blinked in disbelief, barely able to comprehend the scene in front of him. Even Riven, who seemed hard to impress, looked slightly taken aback.
"Now that's nobility," Riven muttered quietly, as they both stood watching in awe.
As Zayn continued watching, another figure emerged from the carriage—a second girl, but in stark contrast to the silver-haired beauty. Her hair was a dark shade of blue, almost like the deep ocean, and her eyes matched. She was tiny in comparison, much shorter and more delicate, almost fragile-looking. Zayn furrowed his brow, leaning toward Riven.
"They don't look like they're related," he noted quietly, glancing between the two girls.
Riven shrugged, smirking a little. "She's probably a servant. Nobles often bring them along, especially when sending their kids to schools like this."
Zayn watched as the two girls, along with the duke and the noblewoman, were escorted toward the main building. The security guards cleared a path, ensuring no one got too close to the prestigious family. "Looks like they're getting them enrolled too," Zayn muttered, still captivated by the whole scene.
Riven stretched and started walking toward the building. "Well, let's get ourselves registered before the crowd gets any worse. The last thing I want is to stand in line all day."
Zayn followed, glancing back at the noble family one last time before heading toward the registration area. Inside, the building was just as grand as the outside—wide corridors with polished stone floors, towering windows that let in streams of sunlight, and faculty members moving about, directing students to different desks.
After a long process of filling out forms and receiving various documents, Zayn and Riven finally walked out, freshly registered as students. Both carried a small stack of papers, among them a detailed schedule and orientation guide.
Riven scanned one of the documents as they walked. "Looks like our level assessment will happen in the next few days."
"Level assessment?" Zayn asked, peering at his own papers but not finding much detail.
"Yeah, it's to see what kind of skills you've got and the level you're in.Most people are at level 1.They'll figure out where to place us, probably rank us or something." Riven looked unbothered by it, but Zayn could already feel a small knot forming in his stomach.
As they walked through the school grounds, Zayn turned to Riven, curiosity getting the better of him. "Hey, by the way… what's your level?"
Riven raised an eyebrow, then grinned. He stopped and opened his hand, palm up. In an instant, a small holographic screen appeared above his hand, glowing faintly. Black writing scrolled across it.
LEVEL: 1
TYPE: VOID
STRE: ???
SPE: ???
VIT: ???
INT: ???
MAG: ???
Zayn stared at the screen, blinking in disbelief. "No way you're level 1. You took down those two thugs in the alley like it was nothing."
Riven shrugged casually, the hologram disappearing as he closed his hand. "I don't know, man. That's what it says." He glanced sideways at Zayn.
"Void magic, huh? So that's how you canceled that guy's magic back there."
Zayn frowned, handing over the documents he'd been holding. "Here, hold these." He then mimicked Riven's gesture, opening his palm.
A similar holographic screen appeared, but this time, the text was in red:
LEVEL: 1
TYPE: ENERGY
STRE: ???
SPE: ???
VIT: ???
INT: ???
MAG: ???
The stats were still hidden, showing only three question marks like Riven's screen, but the red color and the "Energy" type caught Riven's attention.
"Huh, so you're level 1 too. But your type's different. Energy…" Riven mused, his voice trailing off. "That's interesting."
Zayn stared at the red screen for a moment, then dismissed it with a wave of his hand. "Yeah, but it doesn't make sense. You've clearly been in more fights than me, and with Void magic on top of that. We've got to figure out how this levelling thing works."
They continued walking, the conversation settling into a thoughtful silence until Riven suddenly stopped.
"Wait. Do you even know where you're going to be living?" Riven asked, his eyes narrowing.
Zayn froze, realization hitting him like a punch. "Damn it… I don't have anywhere to stay."
Riven burst into laughter, though there was a hint of sympathy in his tone. "Well, that makes two of us. Guess we'll have to figure that out real quick, huh?"
Zayn groaned, rubbing the back of his neck. "You'd think they'd give us some kind of housing, right?"
"Maybe they will, once we ask. Or maybe we'll just be stuck wandering around till someone takes pity on us," Riven replied, still snickering.