"You're probably wondering why I told you a story from days long past?" Ama'Lein asked, watching me closely.
I gave a silent nod. Even now, I still didn't understand what my talent could possibly have to do with the chosen or the gods.
"Your talent is the mark of one chosen by the goddess of chaos, Ges," the dean said calmly, not taking his sharp gaze off me.
"If you accept it, you may gain not only the abilities of a swordsman, but also the talent of a mage."
I tried not to avert my eyes, though the dean's words forced me into deep thought.
If everything Ama'Lein said was true, didn't that mean the other gods could once again choose followers as well?
What would come next, then? Another war?.. Or something far more dangerous?
All the dreams that had been haunting me this entire time... so it had been her. The goddess of chaos, Ges.
But why now? And the most important question—why me?
I could ask all of these questions to the goddess herself, but I had no idea how to return to that dream again.
After hesitating for a moment, I finally asked:
"And how do I accept her mark? Is it enough for me to simply say, 'I agree to become your chosen'... or does it work differently?"
Hearing my question, Ama'Lein unexpectedly laughed and leaned back in his chair.
"No. Words alone will not be enough," he answered calmly.
"To accept the mark, you will have to undergo a ritual. And only if the goddess accepts you as her chosen will a connection be established between the two of you, and along with it, you will receive a portion of her power."
The dean fell silent for a moment before his voice turned noticeably more serious.
"But I am obligated to warn you, Trey. If you decide to undergo the ritual, then you must be prepared to conceal your abilities until you become strong enough to resist anyone who might wish to use you."
His gaze sharpened like drawn blades.
"Otherwise, the fate of a slave awaits you."
I swallowed nervously.
He wasn't exaggerating. If anyone learned about me too early, my life would quickly turn into a hunt.
After a brief pause, I gave my answer.
"I'm willing to undergo the ritual. But how am I supposed to do it if I know nothing about it?"
Ama'Lein gave a slight nod.
"I will help you perform the ritual."
After a short pause, he continued:
"But in exchange, you must ask the goddess Ges where the other gods are and whether they intend to return to this world. That will be my price for helping you."
I silently accepted his terms.
I would have to ask the goddess why she had decided to return, where the other gods were, and why all of this had begun now of all times.
But I had a question of my own as well.
Why me?
My intuition told me there was something far greater hidden behind all of this than mere coincidence.
However, a new problem arose almost immediately.
Until I spoke with the goddess Ges and completed the ritual, my talent would remain undefined. I didn't know what type of swordsman I belonged to, which meant I couldn't properly begin training.
As far as I had managed to understand, stufons were assigned according to their talent type.
The main structure of education revolved around developing one's own abilities, supplemented by theory classes.
Fortunately, the academic year had only just begun, meaning I shouldn't have missed too much.
The flood of thoughts made my head begin pulsing unpleasantly.
Lifting my gaze, I spoke.
"Yes, I'll ask the goddess Ges everything I can and report back to you. But another problem has appeared."
I shifted my gaze from the professor to the dean.
"If I understand correctly, without completing the ritual and finalizing my talent classification, I won't be able to receive a uniform with a specialization designation. Which means I won't be able to attend either practical classes or specialized theory."
After my words, the dean and professor exchanged glances.
For some time, both silently looked at me, after which Ama'Lein took several papers from his ring, quickly skimmed through them, and put them away again.
Then he answered calmly:
"Don't worry. This week you only have introductory lectures. Not all stufons have arrived at the Academy yet, so full classes haven't begun."
Pausing briefly, he continued:
"However, unlike the other swordsmen, you will also have to attend magical classes. And this is where complications may truly arise. Very few swordsmen are capable of using magic."
I listened attentively.
"We will conduct the ritual tonight, here."
His gaze became slightly more intent.
"Until then, your official specialization will be listed as 'Mage Hunter.'"
I froze.
"Mage Hunter?" I repeated in surprise.
"The professor didn't mention such a type. What is its role in battle?"
Ama'Lein answered calmly:
"The primary task of a Mage Hunter is the neutralization of mages through the suppression of their skills and spells."
"In many kingdoms and empires, representatives of this discipline are hired to eliminate dangerous mages who violate the law."
After a short pause, he added:
"A Hunter is capable of nullifying spells or redirecting them back at the caster. They usually specialize in medium armor, a longsword, and a round shield."
That sounded far more interesting than I had expected.
"And now, stufon Trey, you should go to the supply depot to receive your uniform and your room key."
"Since you have not yet participated in any ranking battles, you will be assigned a beginner's room. The higher your ranking, the better your living conditions and the more currency you will receive."
After these words, his voice became serious once again.
"Tonight, exactly at midnight, return here. We will perform the ritual."
I silently nodded.
Bowing to both the professor and the dean, I headed for the exit.
Unfolding the map, I studied it carefully.
After finding the forge's marker, I made a mental note to visit it later without fail.
I was curious whether dwarves worked there, or if after the Exodus their place had been taken by representatives of other races.
Emerging from my thoughts, I noticed that the line had advanced significantly, and now I was next.
The girl standing in front of me had just entered.
A few minutes later, the door opened again, and she stepped back outside. Noticing me, the girl clicked her tongue irritably and silently walked farther down the corridor.
I merely shrugged and stepped inside.
I was immediately met by the faint scent of fabric and new clothes.
Various uniforms hung along the walls—from magical wing sets to swordsman equipment.
At the far end of the room stood a massive desk behind which sat a man dressed in simple clothes.
Walking closer, I studied him more carefully.
From the looks of it, he was a hired worker responsible for distributing uniforms and keys.
He gave me a quick once-over as well before letting out a tired sigh.
"Mage or swordsman?" the man asked in a hoarse voice.
"Swordsman. Mage Hunter," I answered calmly.
For a brief moment, one of his brows twitched almost imperceptibly, though he quickly concealed his surprise.
Silently stepping out from behind the desk, the man walked to one of the sections, pushed aside several uniform sets, and pulled out the one he needed.
Returning, he placed the uniform in front of me, then handed me a knife.
"The uniform needs to be sealed so no one except its owner can use it. The protective barrier will activate at the same time."
He nodded toward the set.
"If you lose or damage it, a new one will cost forty currency. Sign here."
I lightly pricked my finger, allowing a drop of blood to fall onto the crest.
The uniform glowed softly.
Returning the knife, I signed the document.
The man nodded and placed a key on top.
"You're free to go. Don't lose the key. Fine for losing it—fifty currency. Lock replacement—another hundred."
I made a mental note of that.
It seemed both the uniform and key should be treated like personal treasures.
I still had no understanding of how difficult it was to earn currency in the Academy.
Leaving the depot, I looked at the map once more.
Now I needed to find the dormitory.
To do that, I had to pass through the park.
Walking downstairs and stepping outside, I found myself in front of a spacious courtyard.
stufons sat beneath the trees—some resting, others chatting with friends or discussing classes.
The sun shone brightly overhead.
A light breeze ruffled my hair, making me attempt with mild annoyance to smooth it back into place.
Without success.
Sighing, I continued onward.
Ten minutes later, two dormitory buildings appeared ahead.
Choosing the correct one, I stepped inside.
The lobby was spacious: a staircase on the left, sofas and tables in the center.
Looking at the key, I checked the room number and floor.
Second floor.
Climbing the stairs, I found myself in a long corridor illuminated by magical lamps.
After checking the number, I found the correct door and opened it.
Inside was a small room.
A single bed stood against the right wall, with a writing desk opposite it.
For someone raised in luxury, the room felt almost tiny.
Not much larger than my bed and wardrobe back at the castle.
But now this place had become my home.
And I would have to grow accustomed to it if I wanted to survive.
I placed the uniform and map on the bed before locking the door from the inside.
Even if no one could enter without the owner's permission, caution was never unnecessary.
Returning to the bed, I examined the uniform more closely.
It was black with red inserts along the sides.
The crest depicted a sword cleaving through a spell.
After pressing the crest twice, I saw the time.
Six in the evening.
There were still four hours left until the ritual.
After changing clothes, I noted with surprise that the uniform fit comfortably.
The only thing that irritated me was the red cloak.
It constantly shifted out of place and created an awkward feeling.
Fortunately, it could be shortened or detached entirely.
After sorting through my few belongings, I finally lay down on the bed still dressed in uniform and closed my eyes.
Today had been far too eventful.
And worst of all, it still wasn't over.
Lost in those thoughts, I drifted into sleep without noticing.