Luther and Elise traveled in the carriage, their gazes fixed on the changing scenery leading them to the academy. The journey, though relatively calm, was charged with emotion. Elise, her eyes sparkling with anticipation, turned to Luther.
"Are you nervous?" she asked with a light smile.
Luther, leaning back in his seat, shrugged. "I wouldn't say nervous… more like curious. Though, after everything we've seen, I'm not sure if I should be."
The carriage finally arrived at its destination. As the two stepped out, their eyes met an impressive sight: the academy rose like a giant of stone and glass. The buildings were majestic, with towers reaching toward the clouds and wide staircases leading to enormous doors adorned with magical engravings that glowed faintly. The grounds were impeccably maintained, with cobblestone paths winding through gardens filled with exotic flowers.
"It's… massive," Elise whispered, unable to take her eyes off the structures.
Luther nodded. "People tell me that all the time," he said, trying to keep a straight face.
"I-I didn't mean that, idiot…" Elise retorted, playfully punching Luther's arm as he struggled to stifle a laugh.
Afterward, the two followed the rest of the group of students gathering in the main courtyard. There, a young man wearing an insignia on his chest, evidently a senior student, awaited them with a confident smile. He wore the academy uniform, but his had golden details indicating his status as a final-year student.
"Welcome, newcomers," he said in an energetic voice that resonated throughout the courtyard. "My name is Darius, and I'll be your guide for today's tour. The headmistress has tasked me with introducing you to the academy before her welcome speech."
Darius paused briefly, allowing the murmurs among the students to subside before continuing.
"First, I'll show you to your rooms. Follow me."
The group trailed behind him as he led them to the dormitories, located in a separate building from the rest of the academy. The dormitories were spacious and well-lit, with two clearly marked wings: one for boys and one for girls.
"Each of you will have an assigned room, but the rooms accommodate four people, so you'll be sharing with some of your peers," Darius explained. "Here, you can rest, study, and… well, try not to get into trouble. The rules are clear: no one crosses into the rooms of the opposite wing. Don't come crying to me if you end up punished in your first week."
There were a few nervous laughs from the group as Darius led them toward the gymnasium. The structure was imposing, with large windows that allowed natural light to flood the space. Inside, there were various designated areas for different types of training. A large ring sat at the center, surrounded by bleachers, alongside several spaces for magical combat.
"This is where you'll have your magical combat classes," Darius continued, gesturing to the gym's sections. "Tournaments and duels are also held here every semester. So, if any of you think you're prodigies, this is the place to prove it."
The group murmured in awe, some already excited to showcase their skills. Darius then guided them outside to the training grounds. The open area was outlined by magical circles that glowed faintly.
"This is the outdoor training field. You can practice your magic here without worrying about destroying the gym," he joked, earning a few chuckles.
One student raised a hand, pointing to a closed-off area where figures practiced with swords. "What's over there?" they asked.
Darius glanced at the area in question and nodded. "That's the training zone for the Knights' Department. You don't need to worry about those weaklings. At the academy, we have several departments: the Knights' Department, for those who want to waste their time training to become mere kingdom knights; the Magic Department, for those who aim to stand out and make something of themselves by training as combat mages; the Arcane Department, full of nerds studying magic or something. They used to innovate and discover new magic types, but they haven't achieved much in decades; and finally, the Alchemy Department."
The mention of alchemy sparked murmurs among the students. One asked curiously,
"Alchemy?"
Darius, realizing he had almost forgotten to explain, grinned sheepishly. "Haha… Didn't think anyone would care about that. Alchemy was very relevant before the summoned ones arrived in Aether. However, with advances made by the Arcane Department in mana studies, alchemy became obsolete. Nowadays, few study it, and there are rumors that the department might close this year if they don't get enough students."
The comment drew laughter and mocking remarks from the group. Luther, though silent, frowned slightly. Something about how Darius spoke of alchemy piqued his faint curiosity.
Finally, Darius led them to the library. It was a colossal building, with glass walls and columns that seemed to hold up the sky. Inside, many students were left speechless upon seeing the endless rows of bookshelves rising to the ceiling, connected by walkways and staircases.
"And this," Darius announced with evident pride, "is the academy's crown jewel: our library. Here, you'll find books on anything you can imagine—history, magic, alchemy… if anyone cares about that," he added with a smug grin.
Before he could continue explaining the library's history, a voice interrupted through the magical intercom system.
"All students, please proceed to the main auditorium for the welcome speech."
Darius sighed and gestured for the group to follow him.
"Well, that concludes our little tour. Now, get ready. The headmistress isn't one to repeat herself."
Luther, Elise, and the rest of the group followed Darius in silence to the main auditorium. As they approached, the murmurs of hundreds of voices resonated within the grand building. The auditorium doors, made of dark wood carved with magical symbols that glowed faintly, opened to reveal a vast space filled with students.
The auditorium was dazzling. The seats were arranged in an ascending semicircle, offering everyone a clear view of the central stage. On the ceiling, a grand magical mural displayed a dance of moving constellations that glowed with a soft, soothing light. Hundreds of students already occupied most of the seats, their conversations filling the air.
"This is amazing…" Elise murmured, her eyes taking in every detail.
Luther nodded, barely able to respond. The size of the place and the energy in the room were overwhelming.
Darius led them to a few empty seats in the back row. "Quick, sit down. It's about to start," he urged.
Luther and Elise sat together, watching as the auditorium lights dimmed until everything was shrouded in darkness. A single spotlight illuminated the far end of the stage, focusing on a wooden podium adorned with golden engravings that seemed to shift and shimmer with each blink.
An absolute silence fell over the auditorium as a figure began to walk toward the podium. The woman radiated an imposing presence, her black robe adorned with golden embroidery reflecting the stars. Her silver hair fell in gleaming waves over her shoulders, and her piercing blue eyes seemed to see through everyone in the auditorium.
When she reached the podium, her voice resonated with a calm yet authoritative strength that commanded attention.
"Welcome to the Ethelia Magic Academy. I am Ethel Arannis, your headmistress."