After that I left for the academy for my final exam and took the pendant with me.
It's a huge stone building with many rooms. In front of the entrance are two doors, one leading to the receptionist and one to the classroom.
I passed through the receptionist and into the main building of the Academy of Magic. I turn left, towards the end of the hall, towards the northern exit.
Here is the classroom.
I entered the large room filled with tables, chairs, and students dressed in white robes are visible through the door at the back of the room. The teacher stands behind her desk at the front of the class.
The exam started after a brief while.
As the clock ticked away, the exam finally commenced. I tried to push aside any distractions, focusing solely on the questions in front of me.
The exam passed in a blur. Spells I'd practiced for months slipped through my fingers like smoke. When I stumbled out into the courtyard, the sun was setting, painting the stones in shades of fire.
Everyone in their families came to pick them up after the exam. I was standing in front of the academy's gate.
Everyone had left, except three girls and a boy. The two girls were ranked number one, two and three in beauty in the academy, and the boy was my only friend in the Academy. The boy said his parents were farmers just like mine and we quickly became friends. The identities of the girls were unknown but there were rumors that they were royalty.
The sky above the Academy of Magic darkened as four distinct roads leading to its gates trembled under the approach of something extraordinary. A hush fell over the courtyard as distant thunder rumbled, and the air itself seemed to thicken with anticipation.
***
From the eastern road, a blinding light pierced through the gathering clouds, scattering the shadows as if the sun itself had descended. The rhythmic beating of powerful wings grew louder, and soon, the Seven White Pegasi emerged, their coats shimmering like freshly fallen snow. Their massive wings stirred the wind, sending petals and leaves swirling in their wake.
Their hooves never fully touched the earth, gliding just above the cobblestones as they pulled the carriage. The Carriage was a masterpiece of celestial craftsmanship—gleaming silver with gold filigree, its surface etched with divine runes that pulsed with a soft, holy light. The wheels barely touched the ground, as if the very air refused to burden them.
As it came to a graceful halt before the academy gates, and the moment it stopped, the Pegasi folded their wings, the door opened without a sound. Out stepped the Angel General, clad in a golden suit of armor that seemed forged from sunlight itself. His wings—larger than any ordinary angel's—were a pristine white, each feather perfectly aligned. His face was stern yet noble, his eyes glowing with an otherworldly blue hue.
He knelt on one knee, his armor clinking softly, and spoke in a voice like a hymn:
"Your Highness, Princess Sophia of Heaven. The Celestial King Ramuk awaits your return."
Sophia, her silver hair cascading like liquid starlight, gave a slight nod before stepping forward. The Pegasi bowed their heads in unison as she ascended into the carriage, its door sealing shut with a sound like a whispered prayer.
***
From the western road, the sky split open with a crack of thunder, and dark clouds rolled in like a living storm. The air grew thick with the scent of brimstone, and the ground trembled as nine black hell horses charged forward, their manes ablaze with violet crimson fire. Their eyes glowed like embers, and their hooves struck the ground like hammer blows, leaving scorch marks in their wake. Dark clouds swirled above them, and the air grew heavy with the scent of sulfur.
The carriage they dragged was a monstrous construct of obsidian and dark iron, adorned with jagged spikes and engravings of screaming faces and twisting serpents, its windows glowing with an eerie crimson light. Flames licked at its edges, yet the wood never burned—only smoldered eternally. The windows were tinted blood-red, and the entire structure seemed to pulse like a living thing.
When it halted before the gates, the horses reared, the door burst open with a gust of searing wind. The Demon General emerged, his black suit of armor crafted from the bones of fallen warriors, their hollow eye sockets still flickering with ghostly embers. His horns curled like blades, and crimson eyes burned with power.
His voice was a growl, deep enough to shake the ground. He dropped to one knee before Dracy:
"Princess Dracy of Hell. Your father commands your presence."
Dracy smirked, her dark lips curling as she strode forward, the Hell Horses snorting embers in reverence. The carriage door slammed shut behind her, sealing her inside its fiery embrace.
***
From the northern road, a soft, melodic hum filled the air, and the grass beneath the cobblestones bloomed with sudden life. Five unicorns, their coats gleaming like polished ivory, trotted forward, their horns radiating a soft silver glow. Their hooves made no sound, as if it tread upon air rather than earth.
The golden carriage they pulled was adorned with delicate engravings of forests and rivers, its wheels wrapped in vines that shifted as if alive. The wheels rolled smoothly, leaving behind a faint trail of sparkling mist. It stopped with effortless grace; the unicorns bowed their heads in unison, and the door swung open silently.
The Gold-Suited General stepped out, his armor reflecting the light like a mirror, crafted from enchanted metal that shimmered like morning dew. His face was obscured by an ornate helmet shaped like a lion's head, and his cloak, woven from autumn leaves, rustled with an unseen breeze.
He placed a fist over his heart and bowed deeply, his voice smooth and commanding:
"Prince Lues of Sedah. Our King Reydios calls for you."
Lues, his emerald eyes gleaming, gave a solemn nod before boarding the carriage. Unicorn lowered its head in respect before he entered the carriage, the door closing with a soft chime.
***
From the southern road, the earth itself shuddered as twelve armored centaurs charged forward, their hooves striking the ground like war drums. Their muscular frame clad in ceremonial armor, their eyes sharp as blades. The air vibrated with the sound of their approach, a rhythmic thunder.
The crimson carriage they pulled was massive, adorned with the sigil of Suez: a roaring lion with emerald eyes, its sides engraved with scenes of battle and conquest. The wheels, spiked and reinforced, crushed stone beneath them as they rolled to a stop. The Centaur halted with a powerful stomp, dust rising around it. The centaurs reared, their weapons glinting in the fading light.
The door swung open, and out stepped the Minotaur General, his red knight's armor crafted from enchanted steel, his horns polished to a deadly sheen. He dropped to one knee before Atis. His breath came out in hot gusts, and his voice was a deep, resonant boom:
"Princess Atis of Suez. Your people await."
Atis, her emerald eyes sharp and calculating, gave a curt nod before stepping into the palanquin. The centaurs roared, and with a deafening charge, they stormed away, the ground cracking beneath their might.
***