The towering spires of Eldralis Academy came into view as Kaelen crested the hill. The sight took his breath away. Built into the cliffs overlooking the vast, sparkling Azure Sea, the academy looked like something out of a legend. Its alabaster walls gleamed in the sunlight, runic carvings glowing faintly along the edges of the stone. Towers spiraled skyward, and the faint hum of magic hung in the air.
Kaelen adjusted his satchel and the pouch at his side, steeling himself as he passed through the massive iron gates. The grounds bustled with activity: students in robes of varying colors hurried to and fro, carrying tomes and scrolls. Laughter and chatter mingled with the distant sounds of spellcasting practice.
A robed figure with sharp features and a clipboard approached him. "Name?"
"Kaelen Forrester," he said, trying to sound more confident than he felt.
The man glanced at his list, then nodded. "Welcome to Eldralis Academy. You'll find your dormitory assignment in the west wing. Report to the registration hall after you've settled in."
Kaelen thanked him and followed the winding path toward the dormitories, trying to take it all in. The sheer scale of the place was overwhelming—he'd never seen so many people, let alone so much magic being casually displayed. A group of students practiced levitation spells in the courtyard, their laughter echoing as one of them lost control and floated upside-down.
He finally found the west wing, a grand stone building with arched windows and intricate carvings of magical beasts adorning the facade. Inside, the dormitory was bustling with activity. Kaelen navigated the maze of hallways until he found his assigned room. It was small but cozy, with a bed, a desk, and a window overlooking the sea.
Kaelen set his belongings down and took a moment to breathe. His journey here had been long and strange, and now that he was here, the enormity of it all was sinking in. He pulled out the pouch of cards and set it on the desk. They glimmered faintly, as if sensing his thoughts.
"Alright," he muttered to himself. "Time to see what this place is really about."
---
The registration hall was a sprawling chamber filled with rows of desks where clerks processed new students. Kaelen stood in line, feeling increasingly out of place. The other students wore polished clothes and carried themselves with an air of confidence, while he felt like a farm boy lost in the middle of a city.
As he approached the desk, a voice behind him drawled, "Well, what do we have here? Another village rat trying to play sorcerer?"
Kaelen turned to see a young man with slick blond hair and piercing blue eyes standing a few feet away. His robes were of a finer cut than anyone else's in the room, and his expression was one of pure disdain.
"I'm sorry," Kaelen said, keeping his voice steady. "Do I know you?"
"You don't need to," the boy sneered. "But you'll learn quickly enough. Name's Malrik Ashford. My family practically built this academy. People like you… well, let's just say you won't last long here."
Kaelen bristled. "And why's that?"
"Because this place isn't for charity cases," Malrik said, his smirk widening. "It's for the best of the best. And you, peasant, clearly don't belong."
Kaelen clenched his fists, but before he could respond, a deep voice cut through the tension.
"Hey, Malrik, why don't you pick on someone your own size?"
Kaelen turned to see a half-orc towering over them. His gray-green skin and tusks were imposing, but his expression was relaxed, almost lazy, as if Malrik wasn't worth the effort of a real threat.
Malrik scoffed. "Stay out of this, Ren."
Ren crossed his muscular arms. "Or what? You'll cry to your daddy? Go on, Ashford. You're embarrassing yourself."
Malrik shot a glare at Kaelen before storming off, his robes billowing dramatically.
Kaelen exhaled, the tension leaving his shoulders. "Thanks," he said to the half-orc.
"Don't mention it," Ren said, grinning. "Malrik's a snake, but he's harmless. I'm Ren Talvorn, by the way." He extended a hand, which Kaelen shook gratefully.
"Kaelen Forrester."
"Nice to meet you, Kaelen," Ren said. "You looked like you could use some backup."
"Yeah, well, I didn't expect to make enemies on my first day," Kaelen said with a wry smile.
"Welcome to Eldralis," Ren said with a chuckle. "Come on, I'll show you around. Oh, and Ayla's going to love this."
"Ayla?"
"You'll see."
---
Ren led Kaelen to the dining hall, a cavernous room filled with long tables and glowing chandeliers. At one of the tables sat a gnome with wild orange hair tied back in a loose braid. She was surrounded by scattered books and a half-eaten sandwich.
"Ayla!" Ren called.
The gnome looked up, her bright blue eyes sparkling with curiosity. "You're late, Ren," she said, her voice quick and melodic. Then she noticed Kaelen. "And who's this?"
"This is Kaelen," Ren said, gesturing toward him. "Just arrived. Malrik was being a jerk, so I figured I'd bring him to the cool table."
"Nice to meet you," Kaelen said, offering a smile.
Ayla hopped off her chair and extended a hand, which Kaelen shook. Her grip was surprisingly strong. "Ayla Brightwind, aspiring artificer and full-time genius. Welcome to Eldralis! Ignore Malrik; he's a pompous windbag."
"Noted," Kaelen said, feeling more at ease already.
As they sat down, Ren and Ayla began filling Kaelen in on the academy's culture, classes, and quirks. Ren was a laid-back but fiercely loyal half-orc who specialized in combat magic, while Ayla's mind buzzed with a thousand ideas at once, her passion for tinkering and invention infectious.
For the first time since he'd left Greythorn, Kaelen felt a spark of hope. He didn't know what lay ahead, but with companions like Ren and Ayla, he felt like he might just find his place in this strange new world.