The night was one of secrets. A thick, white mist enveloped the village, as if a cloud of silence and anticipation hung over the wooden cottages. Alric, a teenage boy whose life until this night had been confined to farming and fishing in the small village of *Derinford*, now took shaky yet determined steps. Ahead of him glided a man in a black robe. No words had been exchanged between them, but Alric knew this man held the key to his destiny—a destiny revealed hours earlier in a shocking confession: **Magic blood flowed in his veins.**
Their journey began through the dense forests of *Wilderwood*. Ancient oak trees with gnarled branches cast eerie shadows on the ground. Crumbling leaves crackled beneath Alric's boots, releasing the scent of damp soil and centuries-old mysteries. Occasionally, the screech of an owl or the rustle of unseen creatures echoed from behind the trees. Alric clenched his hands to hide their trembling. Each step carried him farther from his simple life and deeper into the unknown.
---
### **The Gate of Morcandra: The Blood Trial**
After hours of silent trekking, the forest abruptly split, revealing a colossal arch of black stone. Dark green ivy coiled around its pillars like living serpents. Golden symbols—carved in an ancient language Alric could not decipher—glowed faintly on its surface. The black-robed man pressed his palm against the stone and whispered in a voice that seemed to rise from the earth itself: *"Only true blood may pass."*
Suddenly, the symbols blazed with golden light, filling the air with shimmering sparks. Alric froze. The man turned to him. *"Place your hand on the stone. If you truly descend from the ancient sorcerers, the gate will open."*
Alric trembled as he pressed his palm to the cold surface. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, a sharp pain shot through his hand, spreading like wildfire through his veins. He stifled a cry, but before he could pull away, the symbols erupted in blinding light. With a thunderous groan, the gate swung open, releasing a gust of icy, sweet air. The man smirked. *"Your blood is true… Welcome to Morcandra."*
---
### **The Hall of Eternity: First Encounter with Magic**
Beyond the gate, the forest vanished, replaced by a luminous cobblestone path flanked by trees whose branches arched like welcoming arms. Moonlight bathed the stones in silver-blue hues, and tiny orbs of light floated in the air, resembling fallen stars.
Alric reached out to touch one. It burst with a chime-like sound, scattering glittering dust. *"These are spirit echoes,"* the man explained. *"Remnants of magic left by students who trained here centuries ago. Morcandra is not just a school—it is a living archive of power."*
As they walked, ghostly faces flickered among the trees—echoes of past masters or students lost to time. Whispers in forgotten languages swirled on the wind, and Alric's awe deepened with every step.
---
### **Morcandra: The Beating Heart of Magic**
The forest parted to reveal a sprawling estate. A five-tiered stone tower spiraled toward the clouds, its walls draped in bioluminescent moss glowing indigo and violet. Stained-glass windows depicted dragons, phoenixes, and mythical beasts, while stone griffins with ruby eyes guarded the gates.
In the courtyard, students practiced spells:
- One group conjured fiery birds that circled the sky.
- Another chanted over withered trees, coaxing them into bloom.
- A trio hovered on a floating carpet, struggling to steer.
The air hummed with laughter and the scent of exotic flowers. Alric paused to watch a red-haired girl levitate a stone with her mind. When their eyes met, she grinned—and the stone clattered to the ground.
---
### **Lady Elyra: Keeper of Secrets**
The man led Alric through vaulted halls lined with moving portraits. The painted figures whispered as they passed: *"The last heir of House Elsin… Could it be him?"*
At the end of the corridor stood a door carved from *Yeldra wood*—a rare material found only in forbidden forests. Its surface bore the image of the Tree of Life, roots plunging into the earth and branches brushing the stars. The man knocked twice, and a woman's voice called, *"Enter."*
Inside, a circular chamber stretched beneath a domed ceiling painted with constellations. At its center stood a crystalline table swirling with storm clouds. Behind it loomed **Lady Elyra**—a tall woman with hair like moonlight and eyes shifting between storm-gray and ocean-blue.
*"Alric Elsin,"* she said, her voice both melodic and commanding. *"Your ancestors founded this school. Their bloodline was thought extinct… Yet here you stand."*
She raised her hand, summoning a crystal orb. Within it, visions unfolded: ancient wars, sorcerers bending fire and water, and the fall of House Elsin to betrayal. *"Magic is both gift and curse. Will you be shackled by the past… or master the future?"*
---
### **The Western Tower: A New Beginning**
Alric was guided to a sparse room in the western tower. A wooden bed, a desk cluttered with dusty tomes, and a window overlooking the *Valley of Shadows*—a forbidden realm where failed sorcerers were said to wander.
At dusk, golden light fell on a book titled *"Memoirs of Adrian Elsin."* When Alric touched its pages, the words leaped into the air, forming a hologram of a white-bearded man (Adrian) teaching spells to students.
Suddenly, Adrian's voice boomed: *"If you see this, my blood runs in your veins. Beware… Shadows of betrayal linger here."* The image faded, and the book snapped shut.
---
### **First Night: Visions of Fate**
That night, Alric dreamed of a hall of shattered mirrors. Each reflection showed a different version of himself: a radiant sorcerer, a shadowy creature with blackened veins. From the mirrors, Lady Elyra's voice echoed: *"Every choice alters your path… But remember—your blood holds the truth."*
He awoke to the chime of crystal bells, signaling dawn. Through his window, sunlight spilled onto the training grounds—where his first lesson awaited.