The applause still echoed faintly in Luca's ears as he followed the tide of students out of the assembly hall.
His steps were unsteady, his hands trembling at his sides. Around him, the chatter of students rose and fell like waves, their excitement filling the air.
"That was incredible," a girl said to her friend. "Aurelia's speech? She's going to be a legend, I can feel it."
"Kael's intensity, though," another student chimed in. "He's practically daring the rest of us to fail."
The words pricked at Luca's thoughts, feeding the pit of unease growing in his chest. They're all so confident. Like they already know their place here.
Luca pulled his cloak tighter around himself, his gaze fixed on the floor. He felt like a ghost, drifting unnoticed through the bustling crowd. A part of him hoped it would stay that way.
The corridor opened into a sprawling courtyard bathed in morning sunlight.
The space was alive with energy. Students clustered together in conversation, their robes fluttering lightly in the breeze. Others stood apart, practicing simple spells. A boy a few feet away conjured a flickering flame in his palm, its warm light catching the admiration of those around him.
Luca hesitated at the edge of the courtyard, his chest tightening. The atmosphere was too vibrant, too full of life. Every laugh, every shout of excitement felt like a reminder that he didn't belong here.
Nearby, a tall girl with braided hair gestured sharply, and the air around her shimmered as a gust of wind swirled upward. She laughed triumphantly, earning claps and cheers from her friends.
Luca took a step back, his hands curling into fists at his sides. They're already leagues ahead of me.
The weight of the assembly hall's speeches settled heavily on him.
"The world does not wait for the weak."
Headmaster Greystone's words cut through his thoughts like a blade, sharp and unrelenting.
"I'll show them," a voice nearby snapped. Luca turned to see a boy scowling at his friend. "Kael isn't the only one aiming for the top."
"You better hope you're good enough," his friend retorted.
The tension in their exchange was palpable. It wasn't just ambition driving them—it was survival.
Luca's stomach churned. I can't let them see me fail. I just have to stay out of their way.
The dining hall was no less overwhelming.
The high ceilings were enchanted to resemble a clear blue sky, the light shifting subtly as if the clouds outside moved in tandem. The room was vast, filled with long wooden tables packed with students. Conversations echoed across the space, overlapping in a chorus of excitement and nerves.
Plates of food materialized in front of each student as they sat—bowls of steaming soup, thick slices of bread, roasted vegetables glistening with oil. The smells were rich and enticing, making Luca's stomach twist uncomfortably.
He hovered at the edge of the room, scanning the crowded tables for an empty seat. Everywhere he looked, students were laughing, sharing plates of food, or leaning in close to exchange whispers.
Finally, Luca spotted an empty spot at the farthest edge of one table. He moved quickly, slipping into the seat before anyone could notice him.
A plate appeared in front of him, gliding through the air and landing gently on the table. The bread was warm, the soup steaming, the vegetables perfectly roasted. It should have been comforting, but Luca's hands stayed frozen in his lap.
Just eat, he thought, staring at the food. You need it.
But his appetite was drowned out by the noise around him—the laughter, the chatter, the occasional bursts of magical light as students showed off their skills. He felt like an intruder in their world.
Lay low, he reminded himself. Don't stand out.
"Mind if I sit here?"
The voice was bright and cheerful, cutting through the haze of Luca's thoughts.
He looked up to see a girl standing across from him, balancing a tray piled high with food. Her green eyes sparkled with curiosity, and her auburn hair was tied back in a messy braid.
"Uh… sure," Luca said, gesturing awkwardly to the seat across from him.
The girl plopped down with no hesitation, shoving her tray onto the table with a loud clatter.
"Thanks!" she said, flashing him a grin.
For a moment, she focused entirely on her food, devouring it with an enthusiasm that made Luca feel even more out of place. Then she looked up, tilting her head as she studied him.
"You're Edric, right?"
Luca stiffened. "Uh… yeah."
"Thought so," she said, nodding as she took a big bite of bread. "I'm Sera. First-year, scholarship student, and probably the worst spellcaster in the academy."
Her bluntness caught him off guard. "Nice to meet you," Luca said cautiously.
Sera grinned. "You too. So, what's your affinity?"
"My… what?"
"Your Essence Affinity," she said, waving her bread in the air like a wand. "The type of magic you're best at. Mine's Aqua. What about you?"
"Umbra," Luca replied hesitantly.
Sera's eyebrows shot up. "No way. Shadow magic? That's awesome!"
"Is it?" Luca asked, his voice uncertain.
"Of course!" Sera leaned forward, her green eyes alight with interest. "Umbra's rare, right? You could probably do all kinds of sneaky stuff—like turning invisible or setting traps. Way cooler than water magic. All I can do is accidentally flood my boots."
Despite himself, Luca chuckled softly.
"There it is!" Sera said with a grin. "A laugh. I knew you had it in you."
Her energy was disarming. For the first time all day, Luca felt a flicker of relief.
The training yard behind the academy was enormous, bordered by high stone walls and lined with racks of weapons and enchanted dummies.
The air was filled with the hum of magic as students practiced spells and techniques under the watchful eyes of instructors.
"Quiet!"
A booming voice silenced the yard instantly.
A tall man strode into the center of the yard, his dark robes trailing behind him. His sharp eyes swept over the students, his presence commanding absolute attention.
"I am Professor Draven," he said coldly. "Welcome to Practical Magic. Your goal here is simple: survive. Whether that means defeating your opponent or avoiding death long enough to escape, I don't care. What I care about is results."
Luca's stomach sank as Draven's gaze passed over him.
"Now," Draven continued, raising his staff. "We begin with the basics. Each of you will step forward, enter a practice circle, and cast a defensive barrier using your Affinity. If you can't manage this, don't waste my time."
The line of students shuffled forward nervously. One by one, they stepped into the glowing circles and summoned their barriers—shields of fire, water, wind, and stone crackled to life around them.
When it was Luca's turn, his hands trembled as he raised them, trying to focus.
At first, nothing happened.
Snickers rose from the crowd.
Draven's voice cut through the whispers like a blade. "Umbra. Show me what you can do, or get out of my yard."
A surge of frustration rippled through Luca. Shadows flickered around his hands, curling outward in jagged tendrils. The barrier formed, weak and uneven, but it was there.
Draven raised an eyebrow. "Barely acceptable," he said flatly. "Fix it, or it will break when it matters most."
Luca stepped out of the circle, his legs trembling.
"Nice save," Sera whispered as he returned to her side.
But Luca didn't feel like it was a save. His chest ached, his breath shallow. I'm barely scraping by, he thought. If I don't get better, I won't make it here.