The world around me spun and twisted as I stepped through the portal. The sensation was unlike anything I'd ever felt—it wasn't painful, but it wasn't pleasant either. It was as though I were being unraveled and pieced back together, every fiber of my being stretched thin across dimensions. The swirling light consumed me, blinding my vision until everything suddenly went still.
I stumbled forward, my feet landing on solid ground. My head swam as I blinked to clear my vision, and slowly, the scene before me came into focus.
I stood at the base of a massive, towering structure. Its architecture was unlike anything I'd ever seen—grand, ancient, and yet alive, as though the very stones of the building pulsed with energy. The College of Landan stretched high into the sky, its spires disappearing into the clouds. Glowing runes adorned the stone walls, shifting and shimmering in hues of gold and blue.
A soft breeze brushed past me, and I realized I was clutching something in my hand. I glanced down to find a piece of parchment, old and slightly frayed at the edges. Written in an elegant script were the words:
'Find the Headmaster Sul.'
I turned the note over, but there was nothing else written. No instructions. No map. Just that cryptic message.
I swallowed hard, my nerves jangling. The shadow's words echoed in my mind. Your true purpose, Ruby, lies within these walls.
Gathering what little courage I had, I climbed the grand stone staircase leading to the College's main entrance. The doors were enormous, carved with intricate designs depicting strange creatures and battles long past. As I approached, they groaned open on their own, revealing the world inside.
The sight stole my breath.
The interior was even more magnificent than the exterior. The ceilings stretched impossibly high, adorned with a shimmering mosaic of stars that twinkled as though alive. Chandeliers floated in midair, casting a warm glow over the grand hall. Students moved through the space, their chatter echoing against the marble floors.
But it wasn't the architecture that left me stunned. It was the people—if you could call them that.
To my left, a tall, regal-looking vampire stood in conversation with a werewolf. The vampire's skin was pale as moonlight, and his crimson eyes glowed faintly as he gestured with an air of superiority. The werewolf, on the other hand, was massive, his broad shoulders straining against a leather tunic. His amber eyes flickered with amusement as he laughed at something the vampire said.
Farther ahead, a group of fairies fluttered past, their delicate wings glimmering with iridescent colors. They left a faint trail of golden dust in their wake. One of them turned to glance at me, her luminous eyes narrowing as if she were assessing me.
A creature with horns like a ram's and skin the color of molten lava lumbered by, his footsteps heavy enough to make the floor vibrate. He carried a stack of books that looked laughably small in his massive hands. A pair of sirens glided past him, their hair flowing as though underwater, even though they walked on land.
I stood frozen, overwhelmed by the sheer variety of species around me. This wasn't just a school; it was a convergence of worlds, a place where beings from every corner of the universe came together.
'First time here?' a voice said, startling me out of my daze.
I turned to see a girl around my age—or at least, she looked human enough to be. She had dark skin that shimmered faintly in the light, and her eyes were an unnatural shade of silver, her ears pointy like an elf's. She wore a uniform: a deep blue jacket with golden trim, a symbol embroidered on the chest that I couldn't quite decipher.
'Uh, yeah,' I said, my voice faltering. 'Is it that obvious?'
She grinned, revealing a pair of sharp canines. 'You're gawking like you've never seen a troll before.'
I blinked. 'Troll?'
She nodded toward the lava-skinned creature with the books. 'Don't let his size fool you. Lumeo's a sweetheart, but you do not want to cross him during exams. He gets... cranky.'
I managed a weak laugh, clutching the note in my hand like a lifeline. 'I'm, uh, looking for someone. Headmaster Sul. Do you know where I can find him?'
Her expression shifted slightly, a flicker of curiosity passing over her face. 'The headmaster? You've got important business, then. He's not someone you just run into.' She glanced at the note in my hand, her silver eyes narrowing. 'Who sent you?'
I hesitated. 'I don't... really know. It's a long story.'
She studied me for a moment, then nodded as if deciding something. 'Follow me. I'll take you to his office. But don't get your hopes up—Sul's not exactly a people person.'
I followed her through the corridors, my senses on high alert. The hallways were just as alive as the rest of the school, filled with students of every imaginable species. Some floated above the ground, others had tails or claws or wings. Magic hummed in the air, a palpable energy that made my skin tingle.
'By the way,' the girl said as we walked, 'I'm Nyssa. And you are...?'
'Ruby,' I replied, clutching the ruby around my neck. The warmth of it had dulled, but it still pulsed faintly, like it was tethering me to this place.
'Well, Ruby,' Nyssa said, her grin returning, 'welcome to the College of Landan. Get ready, because things are about to get a whole lot weirder.'
Nyssa led me through a series of winding corridors that seemed to stretch and shift as we moved. It was as though the building itself were alive, adapting and reshaping to suit the needs of its inhabitants. The walls were lined with portraits of past headmasters, their painted eyes following our every step. A chill crept up my spine as I noticed one of the figures smirk at me, just barely, before settling back into its original pose.
'Does... does this place usually feel so alive?' I asked, my voice echoing faintly.
Nyssa chuckled. 'Alive is an understatement. The College is alive, in its own way. It reacts to us, sometimes helps, sometimes... doesn't. You'll get used to it. Or you won't.' She threw me a mischievous grin over her shoulder. 'Depends on whether it likes you.'
I wasn't entirely sure how to feel about that. Before I could dwell on it, we stopped in front of a massive set of double doors. They were carved from dark wood, adorned with glowing symbols that pulsed faintly like a heartbeat. Nyssa gestured toward them with a flourish.
'Here we are. Headmaster Sul's office.'
I stared at the doors, my throat dry. 'And he's... in there?'
Nyssa raised an eyebrow. 'If you're lucky. If not, well, the doors will let you know.'
I frowned. 'The doors?'
As if on cue, the runes on the wood flared brighter, and the air around us seemed to vibrate. I stumbled back instinctively, but Nyssa didn't seem fazed. She crossed her arms and leaned casually against the wall.
'Go on,' she said, smirking. 'Knock. Or don't. The doors might open for you if they think you're important enough.'
I hesitated. This whole situation was surreal. A living building, doors that judged whether I was worthy... What had I gotten myself into?
Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward and raised my hand to knock. Before I could make contact, the doors creaked open on their own, revealing a dimly lit room beyond. The air inside was heavy with the scent of old books and something faintly metallic.
Nyssa's eyebrows shot up, and she let out a low whistle. 'Huh. They like you. Lucky you.'
I turned to her, but she was already walking away. 'Wait, you're not coming with me?'
She grinned over her shoulder. 'This is your journey, Ruby. Good luck.'
And just like that, I was alone.
I stepped into the office, my heart pounding. The doors groaned shut behind me, sealing me in. The room was massive, lined with shelves crammed full of books, scrolls, and strange artifacts. A large desk sat in the center, cluttered with papers and glowing objects that hummed softly.
Clutching the note tightly, my eyes scanned for any signs of 'Headmaster Sul.' I glanced at the intricate carvings on the walls and the faintly glowing sconces that lined the corridor, casting dancing shadows across the hall. The building seemed almost endless, its scale overwhelming.
A low, rumbling chuckle echoed through the room, startling me.
'Ah, a new arrival,' came a voice, resonating as if it were emanating from the very walls. It was deep yet strangely melodic, with an odd rhythm to its speech. 'Young... Ruby, yes? Yes. The air around you carries... hmm... the scent of purpose. Yes, yes. Come forward.'
I froze. My heart pounded, and I turned toward the source of the voice. In the center of the hall, where there had been nothing moments ago, a figure began to materialize, as if forming from the shadows themselves.
At first, it was hard to discern what—or who—it was. The being shifted constantly, its form fluid, melting from one shape to another in a seamless, hypnotic motion. One moment it resembled a towering humanoid with flowing robes; the next, a wolf with golden eyes; then a great bird with sleek, iridescent feathers. But through all these changes, two things remained constant: the creature's piercing gaze and the strange air of wisdom it exuded.
'Headmaster Sul?' I asked, my voice hesitant and small.
The figure tilted its current form—an angular, feline-like head with too many eyes—studying me with an almost predatory curiosity. Then, he morphed again, settling on a vaguely humanoid shape with shimmering skin that seemed to ripple like liquid mercury. His face, though alien, had a kind of warmth that surprised me.
'Ahhh, yes. Headmaster Sul. That is... one name I carry, yes,' the being said, his words stretching and contracting in odd places. 'You are punctual. Or are you late? Time, you see, is slippery here.' He waved a hand—or a tendril; I couldn't quite tell—dismissively. 'Irrelevant, irrelevant.'
I took a cautious step forward. 'I—I was told to find you. The note...' I held it up, my hands trembling slightly.
Headmaster Sul leaned forward, his form rippling as it studied the scrap of paper in my hand. 'Mmm, yes. A note. A simple thing, yes, but also not. Much like you, little Ruby. Much, much like you.'
My brow furrowed in confusion. 'What do you mean?'
Sul's form shifted again, this time into something more humanoid and steady, with features that seemed easier for me to process—a tall, robed figure with glowing, golden eyes. 'You wear the ruby, yes. The key. You hold questions, mmm. So many. But answers... answers are earned, not given. Tell me, young one—what does it whisper to you? Does it burn? Or sing?'
I instinctively reached up to touch the ruby necklace around my neck. It pulsed faintly beneath my fingertips, warm and alive. 'It... it feels like it's pulling me. I don't know why, but I feel like I'm supposed to be here. Like it's... guiding me.'
Sul hummed, a deep, resonant sound that vibrated in my chest. 'Ahhh, good, good. It knows. You see, the ruby is not just a key. It is a thread, yes—a thread to the tapestry of your destiny. And the tapestry... mmm, it is vast. Full of knots and patterns unseen. But you, Ruby, are a thread we do not yet understand.'
I blinked, trying to make sense of the cryptic words. 'I don't understand. Why me?'
Sul tilted his head, his golden eyes narrowing slightly. 'Ah, the question they all ask. The why. The why. Such a human thing, yes. But also not.' He began to pace, his steps silent despite his towering presence. 'You see, the ruby chooses. It always chooses. And why it chose you, mmm, that is something even I cannot say. Not yet. Perhaps not ever.'
I felt a cold shiver run down my spine. 'So, what am I supposed to do? Why did the ruby bring me here?'
Sul's form began to shimmer, its edges blurring as it leaned closer. 'You are here to learn. To train. To understand what you are, who you are, and what you must become. The College will prepare you, yes, but it is not... simple. Nothing here is simple, Ruby. Not the learning, not the choices, and certainly not the truths you seek.'
I swallowed hard, my throat dry. The weight of Sul's words—and his presence—pressed down on me. 'What if I'm not ready?' I asked, my voice cracking.
Sul chuckled softly, a sound that was both comforting and unnerving. 'Ready? Ah, my dear, no one is ever ready. Readiness is a myth, a lie we tell ourselves to soothe the fear. But you do not need to be ready. You need only to begin.'
He extended his hand—if it could be called that—toward me. 'Come, little weaver. Your thread awaits its place. Shall we begin to unravel, or to weave?'
I hesitated, my mind racing with doubt and fear. But deep within me, I felt the faintest flicker of something else: resolve. With a deep breath, I stepped forward, placing my trembling hand in Sul's.
The headmaster's golden eyes glowed brighter, and his form rippled with approval. 'Ahhh, good. The first step, yes. The hardest step. But not the last.'
With a wave of his other hand, the grand hall seemed to shift, the walls and floor melting into a new space—a vast library filled with floating books and glowing runes. 'Your journey begins here, Ruby. The College will test you, shape you, change you. But you must decide what you will become.'
'Now, young Ruby,' Sul began, his voice softer yet still resonating with authority, 'you will need tools for your journey. A place to rest your head, a guide to your days, and garments suitable for one who walks these halls.'
Sul waved a shimmering hand, and a scroll materialized in the air before me, gently unfurling itself. It floated at eye level, glowing faintly. 'This is your schedule,' Sul said. 'Your days will be structured, though not rigid. Flexibility is key to learning here, for the College has a way of... shifting.'
I blinked at the scroll, scanning its contents. It was written in elegant, looping script that seemed alive, the words reshaping themselves as I read. Classes like "Fundamentals of Manipulation," "Ethics and Alchemy," and "Astral Navigation" stood out, along with blocks of time labeled simply as "Independent Study."
'Do not fret,' Sul said as my eyes widened. 'Your professors will guide you, and the tasks will unfold as they must. Ah, but one thing—never be late to the Practical Magic Trials. The College does not take kindly to tardiness.'
I nodded slowly, still trying to process the sheer variety of the classes. 'What... what happens if I'm late?'
Sul's form shimmered, and though he didn't answer directly, his slight chuckle was unsettling enough to suggest I shouldn't test the College's patience.
'Now,' Sul continued, turning his attention to the air beside me. With another wave of his hand, a bundle of fabric appeared, neatly folded and hovering just above my outstretched arms. 'Your uniform. It will adapt to you, as all students here are unique in form and preference. But wear it with care—this is no ordinary garment. It will serve as a symbol of your place here and as protection, should the need arise.'
I reached out and grasped the bundle. The fabric was softer than anything I'd felt before, yet it held an almost imperceptible weight, like it was alive with faint magical energy. As I unfolded it, I noticed the deep crimson accents on the otherwise charcoal-grey ensemble, matching the ruby I wore around my neck. The details seemed to shift slightly when I looked at them, as if responding to my thoughts.
'And lastly,' Sul said, his voice grounding me again, 'your place of rest.' He gestured, and a small, ornate key appeared, floating gently toward me. I grabbed it, marveling at the intricate engravings on its surface—a swirling design that seemed to mirror the patterns of the shifting murals I had seen in the grand hall.
'This key will lead you to your dormitory,' Sul continued. 'Your room lies in the East Wing, on the third floor. The path will reveal itself as you walk; the College has a way of guiding those who belong. Rest well there, for the days ahead will demand much of you.'
I nodded, clutching the key tightly. I was still absorbing the weight of everything Sul had said when its golden eyes fixed on me once more. 'Ah, and one final matter of importance,' he said, a faint ripple running through its shimmering form. 'The College is more than just a place of learning; it is a community, a tapestry woven of alliances and shared purpose. Tomorrow, at noon, the list of guild assignments will be displayed in the main hall. Pay close attention.'
'Guild assignments?' I asked, tilting my head.
'Yes,' Sul replied, his tone calm yet firm. 'Each student is placed into one of four guilds: Veil, Seekers, Valorium, or Pathfinders. These guilds form the backbone of the College, shaping how you will train, compete, and collaborate with your peers. They reflect a blend of your potential and the College's vision for your growth.'
I frowned slightly. 'What's the difference between them?'
Sul's golden eyes seemed to glow brighter. 'The guilds are... layered, much like the College itself. Veil is the most exclusive, its members gifted in mastering the hidden and arcane. Seekers, bold and cunning, are driven to uncover truths others fear to touch. Valorium, the steadfast, champions strength and leadership. And Pathfinders, ever resourceful, find their way where none existed before.'
Sul's form stilled, his presence heavy. 'You may wonder which guild is "best", as humans often do. But the truth is more complicated. The guilds are ranked by tradition, from most powerful to least: Veil, Seekers, Valorium, and Pathfinders. However, power is not always what it seems. Each guild serves a purpose, and your placement will align with the ruby's will.'
I glanced down at the ruby hanging from my neck. It pulsed faintly, as though reacting to Sul's words. 'So, I don't get to choose?' I asked.
'No,' Sul said simply, his tone leaving no room for debate. 'The decision is not yours to make. The ruby, the College, and the unseen threads of destiny will decide. You need only be patient. Tomorrow at noon, you will know.'
The weight of Sul's words sank in as I tried to imagine what guild I might belong to—and what it would mean for my future. Before I could ask more, Sul's towering form began to shimmer and shift again.
'Rest now,' he said, his voice softer, almost soothing. 'Explore if you must, but let the College guide you. You have taken the first step, Ruby. The path ahead will reveal itself in time.'
With that, Sul's form dissolved into a swirl of shadow and light, leaving me alone in the vast, glowing library. In my hands, I held the key, the schedule, and the uniform—the first tangible pieces of my new life. Tomorrow, the guild list would decide another piece of my fate. But for now, I had to find my room. Taking a deep breath, I turned and began to walk, letting the College lead me where I needed to go.