The entire hall stared in silence as Rai peeled himself off the floor in a dramatically comical fashion, clutching his cheek and groaning like a wounded actor mid-performance. Rose let out a sharp, satisfied "Hmph!", folding her arms with a smug smile. It was clear she thoroughly enjoyed watching Harchell plant a flying kick right into Rai's face.
Harchell marched up to him with the righteous fury of a betrayed empress. "How dare you flirt with other women? Have you forgotten about me—and Rose?!"
Rose's eyes widened as her face turned scarlet. "I have nothing to do with this!" she barked defensively, immediately looking away—even though everyone in the room knew that wasn't remotely true.
The rest of the hall tried—and failed—to look away from the juicy drama unfolding in front of them. Awkward glances, stifled giggles, and secondhand embarrassment flooded the room.
Rai finally managed to stand upright, brushing dust off his uniform with exaggerated dignity. "I did nothing wrong. I was just making the ladies feel welcome," he said with a grin, turning to wink at the mermaids.
The mermaids giggled and blew kisses back at him, completely unbothered. A few even batted their lashes, thoroughly enjoying the attention.
Harchell's expression darkened. She grabbed Rai by the ear with the precision and wrath of a schoolteacher catching a delinquent mid-prank. "Well, Mr. Casanova, you're not leaving my side for the rest of the day!"
Rai yelped, flailing helplessly as she dragged him toward their seats like a misbehaving child being hauled away from a candy shop.
Gale and Baruss, sitting on either side of Rai's now-vacant chair, tried their best to stifle their laughter. Both had their hands cupped over their mouths, shoulders trembling as quiet chuckles leaked out. A few wheezes escaped here and there, betraying their efforts.
Meanwhile, Arietta, Aromas, Mammoth, and the rest of the class were having a good laugh of their own, shaking their heads at the absurdity of it all as they finally returned to their seats. The tension that once filled the hall had been completely replaced by lighthearted relief.
Rai slumped in his chair like a sulking child grounded for stealing cookies. Harchell stood beside him, rattling off rules of conduct like a stern instructor issuing a lecture on morality.
Rose, sitting nearby, leaned back with a smirk. Everything had turned in her favor—and she hadn't even needed to lift a finger.
Harchell ascended the podium with the grace of a queen and the authority of a general. As she walked, every student instinctively bowed their heads—not out of fear, but in sheer respect for the elven dean. Her long, snow-white hair cascaded down her back like a silken waterfall, swaying with every poised step. She radiated an ethereal beauty, the kind that could silence a room and bring the proudest men to their knees.
A true high-born elf, Harchell was the embodiment of elegance and power—distant, composed, and untouchable. She cared little for formalities, and even less for the petty politics of academy life. Her focus was razor-sharp, her standards uncompromising. And yet, there was one baffling exception to her cold detachment: Rai.
Despite the countless greetings and respectful gestures aimed at her, Harchell didn't lower her head once. She moved through the hall like a royal who had long grown used to admiration, her presence alone enough to command order. Pride clung to her like a second skin, and even the most arrogant nobles shrank in her wake.
Just as the hall fell into a composed silence, Pragaya entered with his usual dramatic flair—laughing heartily and stroking his long white beard as if he'd just walked in on the punchline of a joke only he understood. His relaxed demeanor was a striking contrast to Harchell's solemn elegance. Still chuckling, he made his way toward the podium, the sound of his footsteps echoing lightly across the marble floor.
Around the room, students exchanged amused glances, a few still chuckling under their breath. And somewhere near the front, Frost Silver remained stiff as a board—completely traumatized, pale as ice, and visibly shaking from whatever spectral terror he alone had seen moments before.
Pragaya stepped forward, his deep voice rising above the murmurs. "Alright students, calm down." Gradually, the hall quieted, the air thick with curiosity.
"Today, I have an important announcement to share."
A wave of anxious energy swept across the room. Whispers stirred like wind through leaves. Kromus, usually composed, wore a faintly tense expression—he already knew what was coming, having discussed it with Pragaya beforehand.
Pragaya clasped his hands behind his back, pacing slowly. "This year, we've decided to try something different... a special assignment."
The murmurs rose to a low rumble. Confusion and speculation spread like wildfire. What kind of assignment? Why now?
Then, with a smile tugging at the corners of his aged face, Pragaya declared, "This intake has shown exceptional promise—particularly among the first years. It would be a shame not to test their potential to the fullest."
While many students tensed in apprehension, one boy beamed with anticipation—Rai. His eyes practically sparkled as he leaned forward in his seat, already burning with excitement at the idea of a new challenge.
Pragaya caught Rai's expression and smiled knowingly. Even Kromus, in spite of the apprehension he harbored, couldn't help but admire the boy's unshakable enthusiasm. Harchell, Rose, and the rest of Rai's companions wore soft smiles. This wasn't surprising—it was exactly the kind of reaction they'd expected from him.
Pragaya finally concluded, his voice steady and firm:
"So—for this year alone—we will be sending eight students on a special expedition. One that will test their skills, resilience, and growth as future masters of magic. It will push you to your absolute limits."
Rai was nearly vibrating with excitement, barely holding himself together in his seat. Gale sat beside him, gently tugging at his sleeve in an effort to keep him from bouncing off the walls. The mermaids, ever entertained by Rai's uncontainable antics, giggled among themselves. Meanwhile, the male mermaids watched him with barely-concealed envy.
Pragaya continued, "The eight students who will go on this expedition will be selected by drawing lots. And the one who will draw them... is Allseer."
A collective murmur spread through the hall as the crystalline orb known as Allseer rolled in from the side. With a brief shimmer, it transformed into its towering golem form, drawing gasps and wary stares from several students. Some looked confused, others downright nervous.
But not Rai.
"I'm not leaving my chance to be on this expedition to luck!" Rai shouted, rising from his seat. "I want in!"
All heads turned. Elites sneered in annoyance; demi-humans, on the other hand, looked at Rai with something close to admiration. His earlier support for them hadn't gone unnoticed. The female mermaids looked enamored, the males—decidedly less so. Gale sighed in that familiar, resigned way of his. Baruss just chuckled. Harchell looked as though she were already preparing a lecture, and even Rose wore a small smirk, as if saying, Of course he did.
Pragaya's expression softened into a wide, proud smile. "Do you, my boy? Do you truly want to be part of an expedition that will demand everything from you—skill, strength, wit... and magic you don't possess?"
Scoffs rippled from the elite side of the hall, their arrogant sneers like nails on a chalkboard. But Rai didn't so much as flinch. Their opinions meant nothing.
Harchell and Kromus watched him quietly, as if awaiting the inevitable.
And then Rai answered with the same fire he always had.
"I don't care if I have to claw my way to the top. I will reach the pinnacle—one way or another."
Pragaya's grin widened, delighted despite having anticipated the response.
"So be it. If your conviction runs that deep, then I'll make a special exception." He turned to Allseer. "Rai will be the first participant chosen for this expedition."
And with that, he turned to Kromus and gave him a knowing wink.
The scene shifted briefly to a warm-lit chamber deep within the academy—a flashback from earlier that day. Pragaya was seated in his overstuffed chair, stroking his beard with amusement as Kromus, Leviticus, and Lara stood before him.
"Headmaster," Kromus asked, ever the pragmatist, "how are we going to make sure Rai is selected for the expedition? Are we... going to rig the selection?"
Pragaya and Allseer, resting in his crystal sphere form beside the table, both chuckled knowingly.
"Kromus, my good friend," Pragaya replied, "you underestimate the chaos that follows Rai like a loyal pet. Knowing him, he won't leave anything up to chance. He'll leap from his chair, shout something absurdly dramatic, and demand to be part of the expedition. And since I'm a generous, understanding headmaster who lives to fulfill his students' dreams—"
He raised a finger and smirked,"—I'll grant him his wish. Foolproof plan."
Kromus didn't look convinced. He furrowed his brow.
"Sir, what if—for some reason—he doesn't react the way you expect?"
At that, all three of them—Pragaya, Allseer, and even the usually stoic Leviticus—burst into laughter.
"It's Rai," Leviticus said with amusement. "Of course he'll react that way."
Kromus stared blankly at them, baffled, and the scene transitioned back to the present—Kromus still wearing that same perplexed expression as Pragaya shot him a wink from the podium.
"How the hell did he know…? Can this old man actually see the future?"
The question echoed in his mind as he stood silently, trying to process the absurdity that had just played out exactly as predicted.
Rai was already throwing his own little victory celebration—arms raised, grinning from ear to ear, acting like he'd just returned from the expedition with a legendary artifact in hand. His friends surrounded him, a familiar mix of amusement, admiration, and concern in their expressions. Gale, Baruss, and the others hovered nearby, trying to keep him from accidentally tearing the hall apart with his excitement.
Pragaya, still standing at the podium, gave a small laugh. "Alright then, let's get on with the process of selecting the other seven—"
But before he could continue, another voice cut through the air like a blade.
It was bitter. Familiar. And still shaking ever so slightly.
Frost Silver.
The younger brother of Frost Kromus had finally recovered enough from his earlier humiliation to regain his composure—and his pride. Rising from his seat with clenched fists and trembling fury, he declared, "If that worthless fool gets a special exception, then I demand the same! I'm the strongest student here!"
His outburst was a spark to dry grass.
Almost instantly, a wave of murmurs turned to outcry as several elite students stood and began voicing similar demands, each louder and more entitled than the last. The air in the hall shifted with tension, voices rising in arrogance and disorder.
The smile on Pragaya's face faded.
His expression grew cold.
"I see," he said softly, his voice eerily calm. "Perhaps… I was too hopeful."
And then, the air cracked.
A sudden burst of suffocating pressure surged across the hall—Pragaya's magic, flaring like a tidal wave. It was intoxicating, overwhelming, like gravity had doubled. No explosions. No hand gestures. Just sheer raw presence.
In an instant, the room fell into terrified silence.
Chairs creaked as students sat down without needing to be told. Some trembled. Others paled. Even the loudest rebels now looked like frightened children caught under the gaze of a god.
Kromus and Harchell stood their ground, but even they wavered slightly, struggling to keep their balance as the immense pressure bore down on them. This was the full weight of Pragaya's authority—the fury of a man who had built a haven for potential, only to see it spat on by the arrogance of privilege.
Rai was frozen.
His own emotions clashed violently inside him—shock, frustration, anger, and something deeper.
Fear.
Not of Pragaya himself, but of the yawning chasm between them. This… this wasn't even the summit. Pragaya wasn't the Elmag. And yet Rai couldn't even stand up straight under his pressure.
His thoughts swirled, raw and heavy.
"What the hell am I even doing here? Can I really reach beyond that? Is this… hopeless?"
But then, something in him snapped—not in despair, but defiance.
He clenched his fists. Gritted his teeth.
"Shut up, Rai. Don't be a fool. You either reach the top… or die trying. There will be no in-between."
And with every fiber of his being, he forced himself to stay upright—resisting the crushing force of Pragaya's aura. Not out of pride.
But because he refused to kneel.
Gale,Rose,Baruss and every other student in the hall had a similar reaction, Until now, most students had only seen the playful, eccentric side of the wise old Pragaya. None had truly witnessed his fury.
Rose, trying to remain composed, could only gape inwardly. "What is this freakish power?" she thought, her eyes wide.
Gale, trembling in his shoes, tried to psych himself up. "Just don't shit your pants, Gale. You can do it." Unfortunately, he said it a little louder than intended—loud enough for Bruss to hear.
Bruss, already straining under the pressure, turned to him in disbelief—just as the words registered. That was all it took. Caught completely off guard, he lost his footing and hit the floor with a loud thud.
"Are you a freaking kindergartener, man?! Come on, pull yourself together—jeez!" Baruss snapped, glaring up from the ground while still struggling to resist the weight of Pragaya's magic.
All across the hall, students were either bracing themselves, sweating buckets, or just barely staying upright under the crushing pressure of the headmaster's aura.
Then Pragaya's voice rang out, low and commanding.
"Allseer. Pull out the first name from the selection."
With a faint hum, Allseer's crystal body rolled forward before reshaping into his golem form. His glowing hands hovered above the massive scroll containing the names of every student in the academy. A spark flickered, and a single name floated up.
"Rai."
The word echoed through the silent hall.
In that instant, Pragaya withdrew his immense aura, as if flipping a switch. The invisible pressure that had blanketed the room vanished, and the students collectively gasped for breath. One by one, they straightened, shakily returning to their seats.
Pragaya turned his gaze toward Frost Silver and asked, voice calm but chilling:
"Now... do we have any more issues?"
Frost Silver, still pale and seething, simply shook his head. He said nothing further—but in his heart, the hatred boiled deeper.
Kromus and Harchell exchanged knowing smiles. They were well aware that Rai's name hadn't popped up by chance. Pragaya's overwhelming mana outburst served two purposes—first, to remind everyone of who truly held authority in the academy, and second, to create just enough chaos for Allseer to quietly make a last-minute switch and ensure Rai's name was drawn first.
The grand hall was now dead silent. Even Rai had settled down, if only for a moment.
Pragaya, ever composed, continued with a calm smile, "Now that we've resolved that... let us proceed with the selection of the remaining seven participants."
Allseer, still in his golem form, raised an arm toward the glowing crystal scroll hovering above him. The magical script shimmered as names began to shuffle. One by one, they appeared in the air:
"Gale Crimson."
"Frost Silver."
"Baruss Bromach."
"Rose Scarlet."
"Finnian 'Finn' O'Gleirn."
"Lyra Willowind."
"Kael Drak'Thar."
The moment the list was complete, a tidal wave of murmurs erupted through the hall. The first four names weren't shocking—those students had just been at the center of the earlier uproar—but the last three?
Unknown. Mysterious. Not a single student in the crowd had heard of them before.
Pragaya's eyes narrowed slightly. He had rigged only one name: Rai's. The rest were chosen at random by Allseer's core protocol. Yet Gale, Baruss, and Rose—three of Rai's closest allies—had also been selected.
"Now isn't that interesting…" he mused silently, his gaze drifting toward the group. Harchell and Kromus shared a look, each sensing the strange coincidence. Or perhaps… fate?
Meanwhile, Rai had completely lost his mind—in the most Rai way possible.
"Did you hear that, Gale? We're all going on the expedition together! WOOHOOOOO!" he howled, nearly launching himself off his chair. His arms flailed in the air like a toddler with fireworks.
Gale, frozen beside him, looked like he'd aged a decade in a single moment. "Why me…" he whispered, his voice trembling. "I'm going to die. I'm actually going to die. Something's going to eat me down there. And if not that, Rai will probably set off a cursed trap just to see what happens…"
Baruss, ever the stoic, rolled his eyes. "Shut up, Gale. Grow a spine. You're embarrassing us."
Gale turned to him with a deadpan expression. "I'm embarrassing you?" he said dryly, nodding toward Rai, who at that exact moment had climbed onto his chair and was spinning in circles like a child on too much candy.
Baruss sighed, defeated. "...Okay, fair point. No changing that clown, I guess."
Rose, on the other hand, sat silently with her hands folded beneath her chin, her mind turning.
"This doesn't feel right," she thought, eyes narrowing. "Rai, Gale, Baruss, and I—all chosen. What are the odds? This wasn't random. Not entirely." Her suspicion only deepened. "Something bigger is at play here. The selection feels... intentional."
And somewhere far above, Pragaya's gaze lingered on her, as if he already knew what she was thinking.
Then, a sudden eruption came from the demi-human section of the hall — a literal explosion of energy and noise. Cheers roared as the Dragonoids jumped to their feet in a frenzy of celebration. At the center of it all was Kael Drak'Thar, one of the newly chosen students, flailing around like an overcaffeinated child at a festival.
He radiated the same chaotic energy as Rai — wild, unrestrained, and impossible to ignore. While the rest of the hall remained stunned or murmuring in confusion, Kael was already bouncing from one Dragonoid to another, throwing punches into the air and shouting, "LET'S GOOOOO!" His companions howled in excitement, matching his fire with their own.
Kael looked mostly human — but only from afar. Up close, the differences were clear. His sharp, expressive features were paired with a wolfish grin, and subtle fang-like canines peeked out whenever he smirked. His eyes were his most striking trait: reptilian slits glowing with red-yellow sparks that danced like living fireworks — hypnotic, dangerous, and untamed.
Though his skin appeared smooth and human-like, black dragon scales shimmered along his shoulders, arms, collarbone, and spine — armor-like patches that flickered subtly under the light. A sleek, ridged tail extended to his mid-thigh, pulsing faintly with glowing veins whenever his energy spiked.
His academy uniform? Worn with absolute disregard. Sleeves ripped off, coat half-buttoned, fire-proofed bandages wrapped around his hands and the base of his tail. Even his boots were scorched — evidence of more than one self-inflicted explosion.
Kael wasn't just a student. He was a walking, grinning, fire-happy menace — and he had just been officially unleashed.
Then there was Lyra Willowind. Petite and delicate, she looked less like a student and more like a living forest sprite — which, in truth, she was.
Her long, flowing mossy-green hair shimmered faintly, threaded with glowing strands that pulsed gently with her emotions. Sometimes it was braided with living blossoms or fresh leaves that seemed to bloom and curl in response to her mood. Her bright emerald eyes held a leaf-shaped pupil, their glow soft yet vivid, with intricate veins visible like the lines in real foliage. Her ears were slightly pointed, framed with petal-like ridges that subtly marked her as Fae-born.
Her skin had a soft, pale hue — sun-kissed only in feeling, not in color — and under moonlight, she shimmered with a quiet bioluminescence. The enchanted robe she wore was a modified version of the standard academy uniform, interwoven with living vines and buds that regrew daily. The flora gently rustled even without wind, as if whispering secrets only she could hear. A faint scent of dew and pine clung to her, and small insects — ladybugs, glowing moths, and the occasional dandelion sprite — gathered near her whenever she was calm.
And yet, despite the ethereal elegance, Lyra did her best to make herself look small, shrinking in her seat as if the floor might swallow her whole. Her shyness was palpable. She tugged at her sleeves, trying to hide behind her cascading hair, her expression quietly pleading to be overlooked.
But her Fae companions had other ideas.
A swarm of celebrating forest spirits — tiny fairies, playful pixies, mischievous wisps, and glittering barklings — fluttered around her, dancing in circles, giggling, tossing bursts of glowing pollen in the air. The commotion they caused was anything but subtle.
"Guys, it's not that big a deal… please stop making a fuss…" she murmured, her soft voice barely more than a whisper.
Naturally, no one heard her.
Completely drowned out by the festivities of her overenthusiastic companions, Lyra sat in silence, cheeks slightly flushed, awkwardly trying — and failing — to go unnoticed in a spotlight of magic, leaves, and sparkling laughter.
And finally, the most peculiar of the newly selected trio—Finnian "Finn" O'Gleirn. A leprechaun barely three feet tall, but with a presence that demanded attention. His wild moss-green curls puffed out from beneath a tilted cap, almost resembling leafy tendrils. His golden eyes sparkled with mischief, each one swirling with a spiraled, clover-shaped pupil that seemed to glint whenever a new scheme entered his head.
He wore a patchwork adventurer's vest draped over a refined academy coat that had clearly been altered to fit his size—though not without struggle. On his hip dangled a jingling satchel filled with mysterious charms and gleaming hex-coins, while a magical pipe puffed faint green wisps from his mouth as he cheerfully weaved through the legs of taller students.
"Right, lads!" he hollered in a thick, unapologetically Irish accent. "I'm bettin' I'll be the one who saves all yer arses from a giant dragon!"
A chorus of snorts and laughter erupted from his fellow leprechauns, who were already forming a makeshift betting circle behind a row of chairs. One of them cackled, "Ye can't even save yerself from a bloody ant, Finn, stop wafflin', would ya?"
"Why're ye laughin' for?! I'm bein' seerious!" Finn snapped, puffing out his chest with all the pride of a pint-sized warrior. He waved his arms dramatically, nearly toppling over when his pipe slid off balance.
The moment didn't last.
One of his friends tossed a hex-coin at his head, and before long, their corner of the hall had devolved into what could only be described as a full-blown pub-style brawl, right in the middle of the academy selection ceremony.
"Just watch, ye ugly gingers!" Finn shouted, tangled under two of his cousins. "I'll be the bloody hero of this mission, ye'll see! You'll all see!"
Rai looked around at the wildly diverse crew that had just been selected and beamed with uncontainable excitement. "This is gonna be the best adventure ever!" he shouted, practically vibrating in place.
Gale, standing beside him with a thousand-yard stare, muttered under his breath, "Great… now we've got two more lunatics to babysit on top of that." His eyes flicked toward Kael and Finn, whose combined energy was like mixing fireworks and whiskey in a tornado.
Frost Silver, meanwhile, stood stone-faced. Far from thrilled, he clenched his fists at his sides and stared daggers into the floor. Backing out now would mark him as a coward—something he couldn't afford. But the thought of joining this misfit crew made his blood boil.
"Tch... if these fools get in my way," he thought darkly, "I'll just kill them and blame it on the ruins." His quiet fury simmered beneath his cold exterior, the hate in his heart flickering like a cursed flame.
Up at the podium, Pragaya clapped his hands together like a teacher announcing a field trip. "Right then, children! Now that we have our eight brave souls, you'll be guided to the Harappa Ruins by none other than Kromus and Harchell. So—off you go!"
All eight turned to him, stunned.
"Wait, already?!" they exclaimed in unison.
"Yup!" Pragaya replied with a cheerful grin, spinning on his heel. "Chop-chop, off to your probably-not-doomed fate!" He laughed heartily, hands tucked behind his back as he disappeared into his chambers like a satisfied prankster.
Rai and Kael were practically bouncing with excitement, eyes sparkling with anticipation.
"Adventure awaits, Gale!" Rai shouted, grabbing his friend by the shoulders and shaking him with unhelpful enthusiasm.
Kael let out a wild cheer, sending a small puff of flame from his nostrils. "Let's goooo! I hope there's a boss monster! Or a volcano! Or both!"
Rose, however, stood frozen, a hand to her chin, clearly spiraling into panic.
"Oh no, I didn't even pack enough lotion... What if my skin dries out? What if there's no sunshade? What if—" she whispered rapidly to herself, her voice trailing into a worried hum.
Meanwhile, Gale had fully collapsed onto the floor, curled into a defeated fetal position.
"You know what? Death here doesn't sound so bad. At least the monsters won't use my organs as garnish."
Baruss let out a long, tired sigh and rubbed his temple.
"Dude... that's disturbingly specific. You need to stop watching horror dramas at night."
"Alright now," Harchell spoke, her voice both commanding and seductively elegant, "the rest of you may return to your usual schedules. As for you eight—move it. It's time." She turned gracefully, gesturing for the chosen students to follow, while Kromus took the lead ahead.
"Where are we going?" Rai asked with a gleam of excitement in his eyes.
"To our deaths," Gale muttered bleakly, his tone completely drained of hope.
"For the love of magic, just shut up already," Baruss snapped, slapping the back of Gale's head in exaggerated frustration.
"Would you all stop whining and walk already?" Rose sighed, flipping her crimson hair with practiced elegance. "We'll find out when we get there." Her striking beauty drew more than a few glances, rivaling even Harchell's commanding allure.
As the group trailed behind their escorts, the two demi-humans—Kael and Finn—abruptly shoved past the others to get closer to Rai. Among the demi-human students of the academy, Rai had become something of a legend—a rare human who treated them like equals.
Kael threw an arm around Rai's shoulders. "Hey man, big fan. Let's blast our way through this mission!" His voice had a deep, crackling timbre—dragon-like yet still human.
Then his arm exploded.
"Oh crap—sorry! That was an accident!" Kael panicked, frantically pulling his arm back. Smoke drifted around them, and the group froze.
Kael, Finn, and even shy Lyra instinctively tensed up. This was usually when everything went wrong—when people shouted at them, cursed them, humiliated them. Their hearts pounded with dread.
Kael began to sweat, his words shaky. "I-I didn't mean to… Please, Rai…"
Finn and Lyra inched back. They'd seen this happen too many times before. One wrong move and they were monsters again in the eyes of others.
But as the smoke cleared, Rai looked over at Kael—not with anger, not with fear, but with gleaming wonder in his eyes.
He stepped forward, grabbed Kael by the shoulders, and grinned ear to ear.
"DUDE. What the hell was that? That was sooooo cool! Blow up again—I wanna see how you do it!"
The three demi-humans stood frozen. It took a moment for the reality to sink in.
No disgust. No insults. No flinching away.
Rai had pulled Kael back in without hesitation—laughing, touching, smiling. To others, demi-humans were dangerous, dirty, "other." But to Rai, they were just friends. People.
For Kael, Finn, and Lyra… this moment changed everything.
Now they knew for sure—Rai's earlier speech wasn't just empty bravado. It came from the heart.
Kael tried to stammer out a response, but his wildly wagging tail betrayed his true emotions. It thrashed behind him like a dog greeting its owner after a long day—frenzied, joyful, uncontainable.
Lyra and Finn let out synchronized sighs of relief. Their shoulders eased, and the rest of the team—save for Silver—wore warm, almost disbelieving smiles.
"C'mon, man! Stop keeping me in suspense—explode now!" Rai said eagerly, clapping Kael on the back like they'd been childhood friends. Kael blinked, still at a loss for words. "I... I don't think that's a good idea, man," he mumbled sheepishly.
Suddenly, Gale yanked Rai by the ear and bellowed, "THE MISSION HASN'T EVEN STARTED AND YOU'RE ALREADY PLOTTING TO KILL US?!" His nostrils flared, and steam practically billowed out.
"Shut up, Gale! I just wanna see his cool explosions!" Rai countered, yanking free and bounding back to Kael's side like an excited puppy. "Explosions. Now. Please."
Kael stared at him—eyes wide, mouth open—utterly speechless. All he could do was smile, genuinely and softly, overwhelmed by the warmth and acceptance.
Then came a voice from below.
"Oi! Hey there, laddy!"
Rai spun in every direction, confused.
"Who said that?"
With an exasperated grunt, Finn leapt up and smacked Rai squarely on the back of the head.
"I'm down here, you gobshite!"
Rai looked down, stunned.
"Who left this child unattended?"
His eyes shifted to Rose as if accusing her. She immediately blushed, her expression turning flustered.
"Why are you looking at me, idiot?!" she snapped, turning away with a huff, her hair flicking like a curtain.
"That's a grown-ass man, Rai," Baruss said, palm to forehead.
"Whaaaaaaaaaaaaat? Really?!" Rai crouched, inspecting Finn again. The beard. The pipe. The little hat. It all clicked.
"Holy crap... we have tiny men in the academy?! That's so awesome!"
As they continued walking, Finn suddenly jumped forward, puffing his chest with a confident grin. "What do ya say, lad? Let's make a wee wager—whoever slays the most beasties wins!" he said, his thick Irish accent laced with mischief.
"Well, obviously it's gonna be me," Rai shot back with a laugh. "What are you gonna do? One kick and you'd be flying off like a crystal ball on a broomstick."
Finn's cheeks flared red. "Why ya cheeky twig! I've seen rocks with more manners than you! Yer tongue's sharper than a banshee's wail after a bottle of moonshine!" he snapped, hurling a barrage of creative Irish insults while Rai burst out laughing.
Before things escalated, a soft, timid voice tried to cut through the ruckus. "U-Um… p-please don't fight. Let's just… k-keep walking…" It was Lyra, her voice barely above a whisper.
Rai turned, distracted by the subtle glow of the flowers woven into her hair. "Wait—are those real? That's so cool!" He instinctively reached out to touch one.
Suddenly, her demeanor shifted like day to night.
Her eyes flared with a brilliant emerald glow, veins pulsing like leaves in sunlight. "No one lays their hands on the flowers!" she growled, her voice no longer shy, but commanding and fierce. Vines shot out from her robes, entangling Rai's wrist mid-air.
The group fell silent, staring in stunned disbelief.
"O-okay, no touchy flowery… pwease release Rai…" he squeaked, squirming as the vines held him suspended.
Then, as quickly as it had come, the glow faded. Lyra blinked, flustered, and the vines instantly retreated. "I-I'm so sorry, Rai!" she whispered, eyes wide with guilt, her earlier assertiveness gone like mist in the sun.
Rai picked himself up, brushing off his sleeves. "That. Was. AWESOME!" he beamed, his excitement returning full force. "Your magic is all so cool—I can't wait to see you guys in action out there!"
Everyone couldn't help but smile at his unrelenting enthusiasm—except for one.
Silver trailed a short distance behind, his expression dark and unreadable.
"Tch… These fools better not get in my way," he thought grimly. "If they do... I'll just let the ruins take care of them."
Harchell stepped forward, her voice both commanding and smooth as silk. "Here we are at last… The Oculus Nexus—one of the five sacred portals for realm travel."
She gestured toward the colossal structure ahead, and every eye turned to behold it.
Set at the very heart of the Magia Elemental Academy, the Oculus Nexus towered like a relic from a forgotten age. A monumental stone ring nearly fifty feet tall hovered silently above a marble platform veined with glowing prismatic crystal. There were no chains, no supports—just a massive arch suspended in the air, pulsing gently with an energy that thrummed like a heartbeat.
Etched into the obsidian-gray surface were hundreds of ancient glyphs, each shaped like a stylized eye, none quite the same. They shimmered faintly with elemental hues—crimson flame, azure water, viridian wind, and earthy bronze—marking the legacy of those who had passed through this very portal across the centuries.
At the pinnacle of the arch sat a breathtaking symbol: a colossal, multi-hued carving of an eye—The All-Seeing Sigil. Its gaze seemed to pierce through soul and shadow, ever-watchful. This was no mere decoration. According to ancient texts, it was said to represent the gaze of the First Elmag—the mythical sovereign who forged the leyline bridges between realms. The very birth of realm travel had begun through this eye.
Even the rowdy energy from the group simmered into awe.
For a moment, none of them spoke.
Kael muttered under his breath, "Whoa... that's... actually sick."
Rai stepped forward slowly, his eyes wide and sparkling. "So this is what connects all the realms… the gateway to everything."
Gale stared up at it, jaw clenched. "Can't believe they're letting us through that thing."
Finn's hat nearly flew off as he tilted his head back. "Feck me sideways, it's taller than my great-gran's ego."
Lyra, clutching her flower-crown tightly, whispered, "It feels… alive…"
Even Baruss had to whistle. "Now that's something worth writing home about."
Only Silver remained silent, arms crossed and expression unreadable. But his eyes—burning with quiet intensity—never left the prismatic gaze of the All-Seeing Sigil.