The day before The Grand Academy of Arcanthia would open its gates, Owen and Emily closed Midnight Tavern for the first time in months.
No signs.No announcement.Just a quiet morning and a promise fulfilled.
Today was for Froy.
They walked together through the city, passing bustling squares and sky-lit walkways until they reached one of Zolon's arcane warp points—one of thousands scattered every 3.5 kilometers across the capital.
The structure was simple: a marble circle inscribed with glowing runes, hovering slightly above the stone.
But when Froy stepped near it, something shifted.
A map—massive, complex, alive—flashed into his mind.Every district, every landmark… even the name "The Grand Academy of Arcanthia" shimmered like a star on the horizon of his thoughts.
He gasped softly.
Emily gently squeezed his hand.
Owen smiled and said,
"Alright. According to our regulars, all we have to do is focus… and think about where we want to go."
He looked at the two of them, then added with a playful grin,
"Let's go see what the sky looks like from above."
They closed their eyes.
One breath.One thought.
The Grand Academy of Arcanthia.
The world shifted.
And when they opened their eyes…
It was a miracle given form.
A floating kingdom in the sky—vast, breathtaking, alive.Marble towers kissed by golden sunlight.Massive trees with crystal leaves swayed alongside arcane generators humming with ancient power.Bridges of glowing stone arched over rivers of stardust.Creatures of air and light glided between hovering domes, while rune-bound automata tended to floating gardens.
It was beauty beyond imagination.A union of magic, nature, and technology—refined to perfection.
A place where every dreamer who set foot here wished to return.A place that refused to be explained by words alone.
It was not just a school.It was a monument to the impossible.
Froy's eyes lit up like twin stars.
"Wow! This place is incredible!" he exclaimed."The air's so fresh up here… and the magic-tech—so cool!"
Though The Grand Academy of Arcanthia floated high above the clouds, there was no pressure change, no chill from the altitude, no thin air to make one dizzy.Those problems had been solved ages ago—back when floating continents were still an ambition, not a reality.
Owen chuckled and placed a hand on Froy's shoulder.
"Alright, son. Let's go find somewhere to stay near the Academy, so you won't have to walk a marathon before the test."
Emily smiled warmly and walked alongside them, her voice soft but full of strength.
"Froy, just do your best. No matter what happens—we'll be right here.""And if you pass… you might get to see Amie there, too."
With that, the little family made their way toward the Academy's residential district.Finding a room nearby wasn't easy—most inns were either booked solid or obscenely expensive.But Owen didn't flinch. Business had been good—very good. They could afford it.
They finally secured a cozy suite in a high-rise built into a spiraling crystal tower.It overlooked the outer walls of Arcanthia, where students from every corner of the world were beginning to gather.
There were thousands—maybe millions by now.
And yet… it never felt crowded.The floating domain of the Academy spanned over 3,000 square kilometers.There was room enough for them all.
And still—more than enough room for legends to be born.
Normally, the dormitories surrounding The Grand Academy of Arcanthia were reserved exclusively for official students—those who had passed the entrance trials and earned the right to reside within its hallowed grounds.The rooms were free of charge, supported by the Academy's immense wealth and magical infrastructure.
But therein lay the catch:Less than 1% of all applicants passed the entrance exam each year.
To survive the trials, one needed more than basic skill.You had to excel—truly excel—in at least one field:Combat. Magic. Theory. Alchemy. Enchantment. Strategy. Or something entirely different.
Show exceptional ability, and you might pass instantly.Fail to meet the standard… and you'd be dismissed without ceremony.
Yet, before any trial began, there came the pre-screening.A preliminary examination—silent, automatic, merciless.Thousands were eliminated before they even reached the true test.
Some called it unfair.But in a place like this… potential wasn't enough.
Only those ready to rise could stay.
Fortunately, The Grand Academy of Arcanthia maintained absolute order—even in matters of housing.All dormitories within the floating domain, whether public or elite, were overseen by the Academy itself.Each residence had staff assigned, and each was magically tethered to the greater arcane system of the school—like organs within a living, flying kingdom.
When the time for registration arrived, every dorm offered a convenient service:direct warp access to the Academy's evaluation site.Of course, this came with a "small" fee…
—500 silver.
Well."Small" was relative.
Still, it was worth every coin.
And no, there would be no overcrowding.
The Academy had planned for that.
Each warp station sent applicants to different testing zones—independent dimensions, built for one purpose: pre-screening.Upon arrival, each candidate would be greeted by a hovering, translucent screen—a holographic interface designed to evaluate them instantly.
No staff.No warning.Just the test.
Should one fail the basic criteria…They would be forcibly ejected from the dimension, their chance gone before it began.
Some called it brutal.Others? Efficient.
The Academy called it: necessary.
Froy knew all of this.He had memorized every detail.
And still… he sat quietly by the window, letting the weight of it all wash over him.
Froy looked cheerful.Bright-eyed.Eager.
Or at least… he seemed that way.
No one could tell if it was real—or just another flawless performance.
And if it was an act… then gods help the world.Because it was perfect.
The night before the test, Froy sat by the window of their rented suite.The view outside was breathtaking—a seamless blend of nature and magic.Crystalline trees shimmered in the distance. Floating lanterns drifted like stars.Veins of glowing mana ran through the city like rivers of light.
It was beautiful. Almost peaceful.
Almost.
His eyes narrowed slightly as a memory surfaced—soft, warm.
"You know, Froy," Amie had said once during a holiday visit,"The final part of the entrance exam… it's a duel. One-on-one. You fight someone else for your spot. It's terrifying… but also kind of fun."
Froy smiled faintly.
"A duel, huh…"
He whispered to himself, eyes still fixed on the world outside.
"Guess it really will be a battlefield full of monsters in human skin."
He knew the kind of people that would be drawn to a place like this:Prodigies. Blessed. Cursed.Children born with gifts so overwhelming they could bend elements, crush minds, or tear apart space with a glance.
And then there was him.
He had no divine power.No sacred bloodline.No destiny carved in gold.
But what he had… was enough.
Where strength failed, he would use cunning.Where emotion lacked, he would wield understanding.And where others sought victory—he would seek control.
Tomorrow, The Grand Academy of Arcanthia would open its gates.
And it would remember his name.