Alex began each of his next three mornings with determination burning in his chest. The air in Verdemire was thick and humid, carrying the faint scent of damp earth and moss. The magical swamp seemed alive, its sounds a symphony of distant croaks, chirps, and rustling leaves. Despite his surroundings, Alex focused solely on his routine. He walked the winding paths of the college, his steps crunching softly against the gravel paths that seemed to glow faintly underfoot.
By mid-morning, Alex found himself at the local training fields, an open clearing surrounded by towering trees whose gnarled roots twisted unnaturally. Students sparred in pairs or practiced spells against animated training dummies that reacted to their strikes with exaggerated movements.
Alex picked up a simple longsword from the rack, its blade gleaming faintly under the magical lanterns overhead. The weapon felt heavy in his hands, its balance unfamiliar. He swung awkwardly at first, trying to mimic what he had seen in video games and movies. Laughter echoed from nearby, other students smirking as they watched his clumsy attempts.
He ignored them, gritting his teeth and focusing on the rhythm of his swings. Sweat dripped down his forehead, stinging his eyes. His breath came in labored gasps, but he pushed through. He needed to build strength and endurance. If he was going to make use of his Enhancement magic, he couldn't remain out of shape.
Later that day, Alex decided to delve into the mysteries of Haverix. The Omniscarium, a colossal crystalline structure, stood as a beacon of knowledge in the center of the campus. Its immense, shimmering walls seemed to pulse faintly, like the beat of a heart.
Inside, the air was cool and smelled faintly of parchment and ink. The sheer scale of the library was overwhelming—towering shelves stretched endlessly in all directions, filled with books that glowed faintly with magical energy. Floating platforms carried students between levels, and enchanted constructs resembling humanoid automatons glided silently, offering assistance.
Alex approached one such automaton, its sleek metallic form polished to a mirror shine. Its voice was flat and monotone but oddly polite. "How may I assist you?"
"Where should I start?" Alex asked.
"At the beginning," it replied, turning away with mechanical precision.
Alex chuckled to himself, shaking his head. He supposed he deserved an answer like that. He thought for a moment then decided history was as good a place as any.
He settled at a wooden table that seemed to sprout from the floor itself, its surface covered in intricate carvings of vines and leaves. Opening a book titled The Foundation of Haverix, Alex was drawn into the story of the university's creation.
Countless years ago, five dragons—Korrinoxia the Paradox Weaver, Xanthanos the Silent Death, Aloria the Infinite Architect, Auravax the Holy Flame, and Merilitha the Life Warden—escaped their crumbling homeworld. The Dark Gods, malevolent entities of unimaginable power, had brought ruin to their world. Seeking refuge, the dragons combined their immense magical abilities to create a demi-plane, a sanctuary outside the known laws of space and time.
From this haven, the dragons forged Haverix, an institution dedicated to training magi and warriors who could one day oppose the Dark Gods. The dragons, wary of corruption, refused to lead directly. Instead, they appointed Haverix the Eternal, a mortal of great wisdom and strength, as the university's first dean.
The dragons' last gift was the creation of the Omniscarium itself, carved from the dragon Chronos's crystalline heart. The tome referred to this era as the Golden Age of Discovery.
The book abruptly skipped over the period known as the Rift Wars, offering only a cryptic note: For more information, please submit a written request at the front desk. Frustrated, Alex couldn't help but wonder why such a significant period was shrouded in secrecy.
The final chapters of the book detailed the Modern Age, mentioning the creation of the Aexion Tournament as a way for students to settle disputes safely. It also described the founding of the Sentinels, a group tasked with protecting the university and its outings. The text hinted at numerous mysteries, from spectral appearances of past deans to the supposed presence of phoenixes bringing fortune to students.
Alex closed the book, his mind racing with questions. Haverix was far more than just a school—it was a battleground of ideas, history, and magic.
On the second day, Alex returned to the training fields. This time, he chose a mace. The weapon felt awkward in his hands, its weight uneven, and his swings lacked precision. His arms burned after just a few minutes, but he pressed on.
By the time he was done, his shirt clung to his back, and his hands were sore from gripping the weapon. He wiped his brow and headed back to the Omniscarium, determined to focus on understanding magic.
The section on magical theory was an elaborate maze of shelves, each aisle glowing faintly with runes that shifted as he passed. Alex found a book titled The Essence of Mana and settled into another carved wooden chair to read.
Mana, he learned, was the lifeblood of magic, a universal energy that flowed through most worlds. To cast a spell, a mage had to shape mana into a desired effect. The process wasn't without cost—mana was drawn from the caster's internal pool, and overuse could lead to exhaustion or even death.
Each spell involved balance. Fire, for instance, requires mana to generate heat while pulling energy from the surrounding air, leaving the area colder. Every element had its opposite—fire and water, life and death, mind and gravity. This duality governed all magic.
Alex also discovered that most people possessed only three or four affinities, usually at a modest grade of C or lower. His own five affinities, with several at A, were nearly unheard of.
Frustratingly, the texts offered no guidance on how to cast his first spell. They did mention that certain environments could reduce the cost of spellcasting, such as practicing life magic in Verdemire. However, they also warned of dire consequences if spells went awry.
On his third day, Alex began his routine with a morning workout. This time, he practiced with a spear, its longer reach feeling slightly more natural than the mace. By the time he was done, his arms ached, and his legs felt like jelly.
Determined to break out of his shell, Alex decided to spend the afternoon socializing. The Verdemire common area buzzed with activity, students chatting and trading stories. He spotted a few familiar faces from his tour group and decided to join them.