January 13th, 2012 — 8:28 AM
Route to the Asura Empire Capital
Perspective: Kaiser Everhart
I stared out the window. The roads of the Asura Empire stretched ahead, cutting through the landscape in a long, unbroken line of stone and steel.
2 weeks of travel. The distance between Celestine and Asura was immense, both on a map and in reality. The sky outside was a hard, clear blue, completely unbothered by the sheer scale of the world below it.
The Solerenne Academy of Sorcery.
The next 3 years of my life would be spent learning magic that I could never wield. How ironic of a tragedy.
A quiet mumble broke my thoughts. I turned my head.
Elfie was casually asleep against my shoulder. Her pink hair spilled over my arm, soft and a little chaotic.
She shifted closer. "Kai..." she muttered, her hands tightening their grip on my sleeve.
I lifted my side of the blanket and draped it over her shoulders. I gently patted her head, letting my hand rest against her hair so she could sleep better.
"Yeah, I'm here," I said quietly. "Rest for now."
She looked peaceful. The gentle rhythm of her breathing, the slight looseness in the way she held herself—it was an objectively adorable sight. I found it too cute. I lightly poked her nose, then rubbed her hair one last time before turning back to the view.
The capital was nearing. A few more hours and two more stops.
My mind drifted to the empire itself. I'd never been here, but I'd read the books.
The human military heart. A sprawling industrial giant held together by mana-lit streets and magical telegraph lines. A multiracial hub that operated on strict administrative efficiency. I wondered how much of that academic theory survived contact with reality. Reading about pressurized underground plumbing and arcane transit networks was one thing. Standing in the middle of it was another.
I glanced back at Elfie for a brief moment. A faint smile touched my face.
I turned back to the window.
A sudden, sharp pinch bit into my shoulder.
"Owhh, what?"
I snapped my head back. Elfie was already retreating, giggling softly as she pulled the blanket over her head to hide.
"You weren't asleep," I said.
A muffled voice came from under the wool. "I was. I'm very asleep right now."
"People who are asleep don't bite."
The blanket lowered just enough to show a pair of bright blue eyes. "I was dreaming about food."
"Right. And my arm was just convenient."
She blinked with perfect innocence. "I'm cold and sleepy, Kai. Don't be mean."
"You just used it as an excuse to hold my arm."
She pulled the blanket back up to her hairline. "I don't know what you mean."
I gave her the look I reserved for when she was lying and we both knew it.
She giggled again, shifting closer under the blanket.
The intercom crackled above us. The driver's voice echoed through the cabin.
"Next stop in 10 minutes. Everyone prepare your belongings."
I patted the lump of blankets leaning against me. "Get everything together. Let's go have some breakfast."
The blanket dropped instantly. A bright smile replaced the hiding.
"Okie!"
We found a quiet spot near the transit station's edge. A row of weathered wooden benches faced away from the main terminal, overlooking a valley of frosted pines.
The food stall nearby sold things that didn't belong on a breakfast menu. Elfie ordered spiced drake-tail skewers, three honey-glazed Sylphian pastries, and a massive plate of Asuran grid-waffles dripping with frost-berry syrup.
I ordered black coffee and a single toasted bun.
"Yes," I said, every time she pointed at something else on the menu. It was easier.
We sat down on the bench. The morning air was sharp, but sitting still was an improvement.
"That wasn't so bad," Elfie said, swinging her legs slightly. "2 weeks went by fast."
"We spent 14 days in a metal box," I said. "My spine feels like it's been replaced with a poorly folded map."
"It was an adventure, Kai." She leaned against me. "Switching buses in the middle of the night. Sleeping while the roads bumped. It felt like we were explorers."
"We were passengers. Explorers actually walk."
She ignored my logic, which was her usual strategy. "And now we're almost at the capital. I read they have an amusement park there. Powered by magitek. There's a wheel that takes you higher than the clouds, and a drop-ride that uses wind magic to catch you right before you hit the ground." Her eyes sparkled.
"We have to go. We can eat cotton candy and scream."
"I don't see a reason to scream," I said.
"You will on the drop-ride," she promised cheerfully.
The food arrived. A server placed the mountain of sugar and meat on the bench between us. Elfie picked up her fork, but her eyes immediately drifted to my side of the table. Or rather, my single, sad toasted bun.
She frowned. "Is that all you're eating?"
"It's healthy," I said, picking up my coffee.
She cut a large piece of her grid-waffle, soaked it in syrup, and held her fork toward my mouth.
"Say aah."
"I'm fine," I said.
"Open."
"Elfie, I have food."
The sweet expression on her face didn't change, but the temperature of her voice dropped half a degree. "Kai. You're going to eat this waffle. Or I am going to march back to that stall, order three more plates, and personally hand-feed you every single bite until you physically cannot move."
I glanced around. A few other passengers at nearby benches were already looking at us.
I sighed, leaned forward, and ate the waffle off her fork.
It was, yummy, very good.
"Better?" she asked, smiling again.
"It's nutritious."
She spent the next ten minutes dividing her breakfast in half and ensuring I ate my portion. I let her do it. Arguing took more energy than chewing, and she seemed pleased.
"Do you think the Academy rumors are true?" she asked, handing me a pastry. "I heard the main tower has a lightning conductor that reaches the actual stars. And there's a fountain in the Outer Court that never stops running. People rub it before exams."
"It's a school, Elfie. It probably just has a lot of floors and steep stairs and overworked teachers."
"And the Deep Stacks!" She was practically vibrating with excitement now. "An underground library with elite celestial magic. Imagine what we could learn."
"Hopefully how to pass our exams," I said drily. But her excitement was contagious in a low, quiet way.
I stood up, picking up my empty cup. "I'm going to get some water."
I walked to the public dispenser and filled the cup. The water looked dull, slightly murky from the station's old pipes. I walked back and sat down.
Elfie looked at the cup. She raised a finger.
A perfectly clear ice cube materialized in the air above the water. It dropped in with a soft clink. Then it multiplied—three more cubes formed. The water inside the cup instantly melted them, swirling into a miniature vortex, purifying the murky liquid until it was crystal clear, before flash-freezing back into two neat cubes.
"There," she said, lowering her hand.
I looked at the perfectly purified water. I took a sip. It was freezing and perfect.
A small smile broke through my expression. "Thanks."
The intercom buzzed again, calling for the final transfer.
We gathered our things, boarded the last bus, and let the remaining hours blur together.
By the time the sun hit its peak, the horizon shifted. The endless roads gave way to massive, towering stone walls. The Spire of Valos pierced the sky in the distance.
We had arrived. The capital.
*
Perspective: Elfie
We were supposed to go straight to the Academy. The admissions letter was very clear about checking into the dormitories immediately. We had a day before the introductory ceremony, which meant we had exactly 24 hours of absolute freedom before the rules started.
I stood at the edge of the transit station, gripping the strap of my bag. Vaelcrest stretched out in front of us. It was... loud. The River Market was a layered mess of colors, smells, and people speaking seven different languages at once. Above us, carriages without horses drifted along pale blue mana currents. Below them, strange metal cars moved along wide roads, humming with magitek energy.
I hesitated. It was too big. Too much.
Then I felt a slight shift beside me. Kai was staring up at a sky-rail passing overhead. His eyes were wide. He'd read about all of this, but seeing a hovering train trace a line of light across the sky was entirely different.
Seeing him amazed made me brave. I grabbed his arm and pulled. "Come on!"
We spent the next three hours being exactly what we were: two kids from the countryside seeing the center of the world.
We wandered through the market. I bought a paper cone of fried... something... from a Beastkin vendor.
"Kai, try this!" I said, holding up a greasy, golden piece. "It tastes like spicy honey!"
He looked at it with deep suspicion. "It looks like a deep-fried frog."
"Open." I pushed it against his lips.
He sighed, eating it. He chewed slowly, his expression unchanging. "Okay. A delicious chicken."
We walked further, watching a carriage float smoothly past a second-story window.
"How do they not crash?" I asked, staring up. "Do they have invisible rails?"
"Magitek flow-currents," Kai said, his hands in his pockets. "Also, I'm pretty sure that one just almost hit a bird."
We walked all the way to the Sovereign Ring, pressing our faces against the wrought-iron gates to stare at the pale stone mansions and the Ascending Avenue that looked like it was paved with solid gold.
"It's literally glowing," I whispered. "Imagine living there."
"Imagine the property taxes," Kai replied.
I nudged his shoulder with mine. "You're no fun."
"I am incredibly fun. I just happen to be open-minded about everything."
We almost made it to the Collegium Quarter without stopping again, until a merchant's cart hit a bump near a bridge, spilling a dozen crates of glass mana-lamps toward the cobblestones.
The merchant panicked, dropping to his knees.
I didn't even think. I just reached out.
A soft blue glow flared around my fingers. The falling lamps froze in mid-air, inches from the street, suspended by gentle cushions of wind. With a flick of my wrist, I floated them all neatly back into their crates.
"Careful!" I called out with a smile.
The merchant stared at me like I was a minor deity, but Kai just gently tugged my sleeve to keep us moving.
We finally reached the Outer Gate of Solerenne Academy.
I stopped breathing for a second. The Spire of Valos pierced the sky, impossibly white. Through the dark ironwood gates, I saw the Outer Court, its stones worn smooth by centuries of students. The massive quartz fountain at the center bubbled endlessly. It was beautiful. So much history, so much magic, just waiting for us.
"Kai, look!" I bounced on my toes, pointing at the water. "The quartz fountain! The books said it's been running for 300 years without stopping."
He looked at it. "I wonder if they ever clean it."
I dropped my hand. "You ruin the magic."
"Someone has to maintain the plumbing, Elfie. Three centuries of algae is a serious problem."
We stepped inside and asked an older student in a silver-threaded uniform for directions, showing our invitation letters. They pointed us toward the Scholars' Hall for uniforms and the dormitories beyond.
The First Quad was already filling up. Students were clustered in groups, nervous energy buzzing in the air. Snippets of conversation drifted past us.
"I'm from the Vintara province," a boy with glasses was saying to a group of three. "I specialize in earth magic. What about you guys?"
"Water," a girl replied proudly. "I passed the practical with a near-perfect score."
I watched them exchange pleasantries. Then my eyes drifted. I noticed one boy sitting completely by himself under a massive oak tree, far away from the socializing. He wore a black uniform, his brown hair slightly styled but messy. He had striking green eyes, but his expression was so intensely serious and uninterested, it looked like he was staring at something invisible in the air right in front of him.
"Look at him," I whispered, pulling on Kai's sleeve. "He's completely ignoring everyone."
"Smart," Kai said.
"Is it? Isn't it better to make friends on the first day?"
"Depends on what you want," Kai said, his eyes scanning the courtyard with that same calculating look he always had. "A social butterfly gets numbers. Information. Protection in a crowd. A loner gets secrecy. People underestimate the quiet ones, which gives them the advantage of surprise."
I nodded slowly, understanding the logic. "So which one are we?"
"We're exactly in the middle," Kai said. "Boring enough to be ignored, friendly enough not to be suspected."
Before I could laugh, a wave of noise swept through the plaza.
A girl walked past the fountain. She looked about 12, a year older than me. She was, without exaggeration, the most beautiful girl I had ever seen.
Blonde hair cascaded perfectly down her back, and her blue eyes were bright and commanding. She walked with a natural grace, followed by a trailing crowd of admirers.
"Princess Rose!" a boy called out from her group. "Your entrance exam scores were incredible. You really are a masterpiece."
Rose offered him a soft, perfectly measured smile. "You flatter me too much. I simply did my best, just like everyone else here. There is always room for improvement."
Her humility only made the crowd swoon harder.
"Rose Valentine," I murmured. "The Princess of Asura. The papers say she's a masterpiece in both looks and intelligence." I let out a soft sigh, my shoulders drooping a fraction. "I'm definitely not that smart."
Kai looked down at me. "That's fine. If the classes get rough, I'll tutor you."
A warm feeling bloomed in my chest. I smiled, looking up at him. "You promise?"
"I don't make offers I don't intend to keep," he said flatly. He watched Rose's group continue toward the administrative halls. "Do you think she's a threat?"
I blinked, surprised. "A threat? No. Why would she be?"
"Nothing," Kai said.
I looked back at the princess. A threat.
I could be friendly, yes. But I didn't have the social skills to lead a crowd like that. I wasn't an academic genius. I was just gifted in celestial magic, like a lot of other talented people here. I wondered, looking at her perfect posture and bright smile, if I could ever defeat someone like Rose Valentine.
"Kai," I said quietly. "What if one day... she targets me? What would you do?"
Kai didn't hesitate. His voice was completely devoid of emotion, sharp as a blade.
"If that day were to come, I will personally expel Rose Valentine from this academy."
My breath hitched. I stared at him, genuinely shocked by the absolute certainty in his eyes.
Then he blinked, the intensity vanishing instantly. He let out a light laugh.
"I'll protect you, Elfie. I'll do my best. But we really shouldn't make enemies with her. It is her empire, after all."
I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding and giggled. "Yeah. Let's not fight the princess on our first day."
We found the fitting hall. A frantic Fairy styler buzzed around us, floating tape measures zipping through the air.
"Arms up! Shoulders back! God, child, you have no posture!" the styler scolded Kai.
"My posture is amazing what do you mean?!" Kai replied.
The styler huffed, tossing a folded bundle of fabric into his arms before turning to me. "And you, sweet girl. We need something that doesn't swallow you whole."
I changed in the girls' partition and stepped out. The uniform was incredible. A cropped black jacket with gold buttons, sitting neatly over a pleated black skirt. A crisp white collared shirt underneath, finished with a red criss-cross ribbon tie. A delicate gold brooch with the Academy's emblem rested on my lapel.
I spun around just as Kai walked out. His was the male counterpart: sharp black trousers, a fitted jacket, and a proper red tie. The dark uniform made his blue eyes stand out even more. He actually looked like a noble.
"How does it feel?" I asked, smoothing down my skirt. "Is the collar tight?"
"It feels like I'm wearing a very expensive straightjacket," Kai said, adjusting his cuffs. He looked up, his eyes catching mine. He paused, looking at me for a second longer than usual.
"You look gorgeous, Elfie."
My face burned instantly. I ducked my head, suddenly very interested in the gold buttons on my sleeves. "It's just the jacket. But... you look good too. Very handsome."
"Thank you. Let's hope the straightjacket doesn't shrink."
We collected our things and headed to Valos Hall.
To my absolute despair, our rooms were next to each other, not shared. The warden handed us our enchanted Student IDs to unlock the doors. I pouted at the thick stone wall separating our rooms, but then I realized: Wait. Balconies. Or I could just sneak out at night. The thought made me feel infinitely better.
I scanned my ID on the rune-plate. The door clicked open.
The room was cozy, lined with dark wood, a small desk, and a large window overlooking the gardens. I dropped my bag onto the floor and collapsed back onto the soft bed.
Tomorrow was the introductory ceremony. There were so many people here. So many talented, gifted students from all over the world.
Would they all be like me? Would they be stronger?
I didn't know. But my heart was racing. I grabbed the plush pillow next to me and hugged it tightly to my chest, burying my face in it.
You look gorgeous, Elfie.
I squealed quietly into the fabric, kicking my legs.
Tomorrow was going to be perfect.