Guards marched Jasper and the elite batch through Sultu's winding streets, past market stalls hawking glowing fruits and blade-sharpeners calling out. Towering walls gave way to a squat fortress of black stone, its gates yawning wide. Advanced Academy, Jasper thought. First real step.
Inside, a cavernous room awaited—rows of rune-carved desks under floating orbs of soft light. A dozen newcomers filed in. They claimed seats amid creaking wood and musty tomes.
The instructor slouched at the front, a wiry man with sallow skin and eyes like dulled coals. "Welcome to Advanced Academy," he droned, voice flat as yesterday's ale.
A voice shattered the monotony crisp, commanding. "I have a question."
All heads turned. The elven girl with cascading silver hair and piercing blue eyes leaned forward. She crossed slender arms, unyielding.
The instructor sighed, uninterested. "What?"
"Why education? What's your gain?As i know their is no free lunches in any world."
He rubbed his temples. "If you'd not interrupted, I'd explain. Where was I? Ah—Advanced Academy offers anything: sword basics, magic intro, summoning starts, alchemy foundations. Guild-funded entirely."
Murmurs stirred. Jasper leaned in, pulse quickening.
"The Guild spans Grandius," the instructor continued. "The guild is a place for Job boards, intel hubs. Not all mergers land in a town or city some scatter in the wilderness or worse. Guild aids yearly fresh blood selflessly. No strings. Just survive, grow, repay in strength someday."
The elf arched a brow but nodded. "Fair."
"Now, learning." He gestured. "Books on desks. Choose one to three paths. You only haveThree months spend it wisely."
Jasper snatched the leather-bound tome, pages whispering open. Titles filled the pages: Intro to Magic, Spear Basics, Simple Alchemy, Summoning for Beginners, Basic Swordplay. His mind raced, weighing options.
Smart combo. Versatile start. Magic for range, spear for reach, alchemy for support. Three months to build momentum.
He slammed the book shut,
Training Path Selected:
1. Intro to Magic
2. Spear Basics
3. Simple Alchemy
The instructor nodded wearily. "Lessons begin dawn. Dismissed."
Guards led them to sparse dorms stone bunks, thin blankets, a basin of cool water. Jasper collapsed, exhaustion crashing like a wave. Sleep came swift, dreams laced with crimson skies.
Dawn pulled him awake. He hurried to the magic hall, finding the elf already there among a handful of classmates. A new instructor waited: tall, robed in deep indigo, silver hair braided with glowing threads. "I am Felnire Asfolt, elder of the Magic Tower," he announced, voice resonant. "Welcome to Intro to Magic. Starters first: hand to the crystal, one by one. Reveals affinity."
He pointed. "You."
Jasper stepped up, palm pressing cool orb. Light bloomed bronze and green swirling vivid, strong. Earth and wind. Solid.
"Strong dual affinity," Felnire noted. Jasper grinned, reclaiming his seat. Others followed; some crystals stayed dark no affinity, no magic path the other with no affinity for magic left .
"Next: mana circulation." Felnire demonstrated, breath steady. "Absorb ambient mana, cycle it around your heart. Form circles the more, the stronger spells."
Jasper inhaled, mana flowing like cool streams. He visualized, guided it tight. An hour ticked by; classmates sweated, mana trickling. His first circle snapped into place stable, humming.
Felnire's eyes widened. "Amazing. Geniuses take a week. You... are already for basics?"
"Can I learn spells now?" Jasper asked.
"Yes." The elder slid over a slim book: Basic Earth and Wind Spells. He winked. "Training grounds. Practice it thier."
"Thank you!" Jasper bolted, book clutched tight, excitement burning brighter than the suns