As the last of the newly uniformed students filtered out of the massive auditorium, the towering crystal-paneled doors swung open once more, revealing a wide, ascending corridor bathed in a serene, almost ethereal white light. Kael followed the steady stream of students as they moved up the smooth, glimmering steps—until the path abruptly opened into a vista that stole his breath away.
The sheer scale and beauty of the sight hit them like a physical wave.
The Academy stretched out before them in stunning, panoramic clarity. It was a breathtaking blend of organic magic and intricate machinery, a seamless fusion of elegant design and innovative engineering. Towering spires, some crafted from shimmering metal that caught the sunlight, others from luminous crystal that pulsed with inner light, spiraled impossibly skyward, their peaks vanishing into the soft, diffused glow of unseen levitation fields. Wide, translucent roads, seemingly made of solidified light, curled through the air like delicate ribbons, crisscrossed by sleek, silent vehicles that hummed softly with arcane propulsion. Above, glowing train rails looped through the sky in graceful, gravity-defying arcs, the massive transport platforms hovering serenely on pale blue magic circles that pulsed with a steady rhythm, keeping the entire intricate system afloat.
Bridges of pure light, shimmering and solid, linked buildings that appeared to float freely, seemingly unshackled by any earthly foundations. Massive runic arrays, glowing faintly beneath the city's visible structures, were discernible only at certain angles, hinting at the incomprehensible power that sustained the entire magical construct.
This view utterly eclipsed everything Kael had witnessed so far.
Even Renna, who usually greeted most wonders with a smug indifference, paused at his side, her golden eyes wide with genuine, unconcealed awe. "Okay…" she breathed out slowly, her usual cynicism momentarily forgotten. "Yeah. That's… a bit much, even for me."
Kael let out a low whistle, his gaze sweeping across the incredible cityscape. "Says a street."
Before she could retort, a low, resonant humming intensified in the air around them, drawing their attention back to the spectacle before them.
Two gleaming trains—one etched in swirling silver with glowing blue runes that pulsed softly, the other marked with sharp crimson patterns and angular trim—glided soundlessly onto separate raised platforms nearby. Their sleek forms hovered inches above the magnetic tracks, doors folding open with a whisper of contained magic.
"Looks like this is where we split," Renna said, her gaze fixed on the red-marked train.
Kael nodded, a strange sense of unease settling in his chest. He was reluctant to admit it, even to himself, but after everything—the chaotic chase through Highridge, the barbed bickering, the disorienting teleportation—Renna had somehow grown… familiar.
She glanced at him sideways, a mischievous glint in her golden eyes. "Try not to embarrass yourself too much, rookie."
He smirked, a familiar retort rising easily to his lips. "Only if you try not to rob your roommates."
Renna snorted, a puff of air that held a hint of amusement, and turned toward the girl's train. "See you around, rookie."
"Yeah… see you."
With a low hum that vibrated subtly through the platform, the trains accepted their new passengers. Kael stepped into the boy's train, joining a dozen other young candidates, their faces a mixture of apprehension and excitement. Inside, the cabin was surprisingly spacious and pristine, the air subtly scented with ozone. Soft, cushioned seats lined the sides, and the expansive windows offered a full panoramic view of the sprawling city as they began to glide silently along the elevated tracks.
The ride was smooth and eerily silent. For a few minutes, Kael simply stared out the window, his senses overwhelmed by the sheer spectacle of The Academy.
The train curved gracefully upward, passing beneath colossal floating archways adorned with intricate carvings, zipped past glowing billboards displaying animated advertisements, and overtook elegant carriages pulled by mechanical birds with gleaming brass wings. Eventually, it began a slow, steady descent—toward a massive, imposing structure nestled at the Academy's northern edge.
The boys' dormitory was a monolith of dark, obsidian-like stone and intricate silver latticework that seemed to shift and rearrange itself in his peripheral vision. It was surrounded by slender, spire-shaped watchtowers that glowed with faint protective wards and a vast courtyard large enough to comfortably hold a small village. The building rose at least ten stories, its outer walls etched with faint, shifting sigils that seemed to writhe and change when Kael looked at them for too long. The flat rooftop was lined with designated aerial landing pads, some already occupied by sleek, floating carriages and swift academy drones that zipped in and out of the structure.
A stern-faced steward in academy robes waited outside the train platform as the boys disembarked, handing each of them a folded parchment map that glowed faintly and reminding them in a clipped tone: "Your room number and floor are clearly indicated on your key cards. Do not lose them under any circumstances. No one will escort you to your assigned quarters. Consider this your first test—successful navigation."
Kael looked down at the red key card in his hand.
FLOOR 7 — ROOM 47-KN
The card pulsed with a faint inner light, displaying his name in elegant script and an embedded rune that thrummed softly against his skin when touched.
He entered the imposing building with the other boys, weaving past the grand entrance hall with its towering archways and up the wide, spiraling staircases that branched off towards different dormitory wings.
The hallways on the seventh floor were broad and lined with polished stone floors that reflected the soft light, elegant floating lanterns that cast gentle illumination, and motion-sensitive panels embedded in the walls that pulsed with a soft blue light as he walked past.
Along the way, he passed other first-year boys dragging heavy-looking luggage, a few bumping into each other in their disorientation and muttering frustrated curses. He caught snippets of hushed conversation—some complaining about the seemingly endless number of stairs, others gushing in hushed tones about the breathtaking view from the windows.
When Kael finally located room 47-KN, a moment of hesitation washed over him.
Should he expect to have a roommate? The thought felt both intrusive and strangely… welcome.
He pushed open the heavy wooden door.
Inside was a modest but clean and well-maintained room. Two neatly made beds with dark wood frames stood against opposite walls. Two sturdy desks were positioned beneath the large windows overlooking the city, and two spacious wardrobes stood against the remaining wall space. The walls themselves were marked with faint, almost invisible enchantments that hummed with a subtle energy, presumably for temperature control and sound insulation.
Only one side of the room showed signs of occupancy.
A neatly packed travel bag sat beside the right-hand bed, its worn leather trim suggesting a long journey but careful maintenance. A set of mage robes—the deep blue of the academy mages, embroidered with intricate silver thread along the cuffs and collar—hung neatly on the wall beside the wardrobe.
So… a mage. His roommate.
Kael blinked, a small, unexpected smile touching his lips. "Guess I've got a roommate after all."
He stepped fully inside the room and dropped his own considerably less elegant gear beside the unoccupied bed. As he sat down on the edge of the mattress, stretching his tired legs and finally letting out a slow, steadying breath, he heard a soft knock at the door.
Then it opened.
And in walked a boy with neatly combed light brown hair, round spectacles perched on his nose, and a polished wooden staff strapped securely to his back. His expression was calm and slightly reserved—but unmistakably curious as his gaze met Kael's.
Kael met his gaze and offered a short, polite nod. "Hey. I'm Kael."
The boy's lips curved into a faint, friendly smile as he carefully set his own, more organized belongings down beside the unoccupied desk with a magician's practiced grace. "Nice to meet you, Kael. I'm Theo. I suppose we'll be rooming together."
Kael leaned back against the cool stone headboard of his bed, his eyes still flicking towards the massive, glittering city skyline visible through their shared window.
"Yeah," he muttered, a sense of weary anticipation settling over him. "Looks like it."