Eren followed the mysterious woman—who had introduced herself as Headmistress Seraphina—through the glittering halls of Aetherwell, still trying to make sense of everything that had just happened. The academy was a place of impossible beauty, unlike anything Eren had ever seen. Towering spires of smooth stone seemed to shimmer with an otherworldly light. The air itself felt charged with magic, the same way the pendant had felt when he first touched it. The walls were adorned with glowing runes that pulsed softly, filling the corridors with a warm, inviting glow.
He had heard stories about Aetherwell from the village's elderly residents—tales about its founding, about legendary wizards and witches who had once studied there—but none of those stories had come close to describing the reality. The academy felt alive, as if the very stones had a soul.
"Where… where are we going?" Eren finally asked, unable to keep his curiosity at bay.
"To the Great Hall," Seraphina replied, her voice gentle but firm. "It is where you will meet the others—those who, like you, have been chosen to study here. We have much to discuss, and much for you to learn."
Eren nodded, though his mind was still reeling. Other students? Had he truly been chosen? What did that mean? He felt a strange sense of both wonder and trepidation as he followed her down the corridor.
As they approached a grand set of double doors, Seraphina paused, turning to face him. Her expression softened.
"You're nervous," she said, not as a question, but as a quiet observation.
Eren nodded, though he hadn't realized it was so obvious. "I don't even know what I'm doing here. I'm not like… like any of this. I'm just—"
"Just a boy from Braelwood, yes," she finished for him, her smile reassuring. "But your blood runs deeper than you know. You are part of something much larger than yourself now, Eren. This place will help you understand who you truly are."
Before he could respond, the doors to the Great Hall swung open. Eren was struck by what he saw.
The hall was immense, stretching far higher than any building he had ever seen, its ceiling lost in the mist above. The floor was a polished marble, covered in intricate patterns that seemed to shift as if alive. Long tables stretched across the room, filled with students who were laughing, talking, and eating together. The air was filled with an aroma of strange, tantalizing foods that Eren had never encountered before.
As they entered, the noise died down, and all eyes turned toward Eren and Seraphina. The students' gazes were a mix of curiosity and quiet interest, as if they had been waiting for his arrival.
"Everyone," Seraphina called out, her voice ringing through the hall, "this is Eren Ashford, our newest student. Eren, welcome to Aetherwell."
A murmur of greetings rose from the tables, but it was a soft, welcoming sound—none of the harsh judgment Eren might have expected. The students didn't stare at him with suspicion or expectation. Instead, they seemed intrigued, as if they were eager to learn about this new arrival.
Eren, still feeling unsure, stepped forward with Seraphina, his heart thumping in his chest. He noticed that the students weren't all the same age—there were older teens, perhaps around seventeen or eighteen, alongside younger students who couldn't have been older than Eren himself. They all had one thing in common: an air of purpose, of confidence in who they were.
Seraphina guided him to an empty seat at one of the long tables. As he sat down, he felt the weight of all the eyes on him, but it wasn't uncomfortable—it was more like a gentle curiosity.
"You will learn much here," Seraphina said, lowering her voice just for Eren. "This is not just a school. It is a sanctuary for those who protect the balance of magic in the world. You will soon understand your role here, but for now, focus on making friends. The bonds you forge will be the foundation of everything you do."
Eren nodded, though his mind was still swirling. He was still trying to grasp the enormity of the place—the implications of his arrival.
At that moment, a girl with bright, curly hair and a mischievous grin slid into the seat beside him. She was dressed in robes of deep green, her eyes twinkling with curiosity.
"You're the new kid, huh?" she asked, her voice light and friendly. "Eren, right? I'm Kaia Starling." She stuck out her hand, and Eren hesitated only for a moment before shaking it.
"Yeah, I… I guess I am," he said, still a bit unsure.
"Well, don't worry," Kaia said with a wink. "You'll get used to it. This place can be a bit overwhelming at first, but you'll figure it out. You're not the first new kid, and you won't be the last."
Eren smiled faintly, grateful for her easygoing nature. It was strange, but her words made him feel a little less like an outsider.
"Thanks," he said. "I don't even know what I'm supposed to be doing here."
Kaia laughed. "Don't worry, none of us did when we first got here. You'll learn, trust me. And you've got time—Aetherwell doesn't expect you to be perfect right away. Besides," she added with a grin, "you'll probably be too busy with magic to be worried about anything else."
The conversation was interrupted as another figure approached, a tall, dark-haired boy who had been sitting at the far end of the table. He looked at Eren with a measured, almost solemn expression.
"I'm Soren Nightshade," he said, his voice quiet but firm. "You'll need to pay attention here. Things aren't always as they seem." His eyes lingered on Eren for a moment longer than necessary before he turned and walked away, his cloak trailing behind him.
Eren frowned, but Kaia merely shrugged. "Ignore him. He's just a bit… serious. You'll get used to him too."
As the night went on, Eren began to relax, albeit slowly. The food was unlike anything he had ever tasted, each dish more tantalizing than the last. The students around him seemed to embrace him easily, though the quiet tension between some of them—especially Soren—left Eren with more questions than answers.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the evening ended, and Seraphina stood to address the room.
"Tomorrow, we begin your lessons in earnest. You will meet your professors, and you will begin your training. For now, rest. Tomorrow is the start of your journey."
As the students began to rise and exit the hall, Kaia gave Eren a wink and a wave before disappearing into the crowd. Eren stood as well, following the other students out of the hall and into the grand courtyard, his thoughts racing.
It was real. Aetherwell was real. And somehow, he had ended up in the very heart of it.
As he made his way to his dormitory, the pendant around his neck seemed to hum with life once again, as though it were reminding him that his journey had only just begun.