In the common room of Moonveil House, students were celebrating their admission to Grimswald. Known throughout the magical realm for its great power, Grimswald had given rise to countless extraordinary and formidable figures.
Legends like Headmaster Aurelius Dreymark and Lord Caiden Ravencrest—Theron's grandfather—had once walked these very halls as students. Even Theron Ravencrest himself was now part of Grimswald's legacy.
The mere mention of these names carried weight. The magical realm feared such powerful beings, most of all Aurelius Dreymark. Even after all these years, no one had ever been able to defeat him. As a child, Aurelius had belonged to Moonveil House, while Caiden Ravencrest was from Drakemont. Their clash had ended long ago, with Caiden defeated—a memory that still lingered as a tale of caution and awe.
Perhaps this was why the students of Moonveil House celebrated their selection with such pride and joy.
Each student expressed their happiness differently—some chattered eagerly, others played wizard's chess, while a few danced and sang with carefree abandon. The common room was alive with laughter and youthful energy, the thrill of new beginnings glowing in every smile.
But away from the noise, in a quiet corner near the window, sat Kalen. Unlike the others, he wasn't swept up in the festivities. Instead, he pretended to be absorbed in a thick book titled Great Civil Creatures and Their Lives, borrowed from a senior student. The warm glow of the lantern above lit his focused face, making him seem distant, almost as if he belonged to another world.
As the night deepened, the party slowly dwindled. The head boy eventually rose and called for silence, reminding everyone that the day was over and urging them to return to their dormitories. Reluctantly but obediently, the students left in groups, still buzzing with excitement about the adventures awaiting them at Grimswald.
Soon, the common room grew empty. Only Kalen remained, still seated by the window, lost in the silence of his book. The head boy, George Brook, noticed him and approached gently."Aeron," he said, using Kalen's new name, "it's time to go back to your dorm, just like the others."
Kalen lifted his head briefly, his eyes calm and steady. "I will, George. Just let me finish this page first."
George studied him for a moment, then smiled faintly, as though he understood the boy's quiet determination. "Very well. Good night, Aeron."
"Good night," Kalen replied softly, before returning to the book, letting the stillness of the empty common room wrap around him like a cloak.
Yet, the truth was—he wasn't really reading. Sleep refused to come to his eyes. When the last footsteps faded away and silence fully claimed the hall, Kalen slipped his hand into his robe and pulled out a small pendant—a blue stone, faintly glowing.
It was his most precious treasure, a gift from his late mother, Elysia, when he was only five years old. As he held it now, the soft glow seemed to pulse warmly, and he could almost feel her presence near him, comforting him with the love he missed so deeply.
His eyes wandered to the window, where he noticed Headmaster Aurelius returning to the school grounds. The man moved with quiet authority, as though the night itself bowed to him. Kalen watched as the Headmaster lifted his hand to his mouth, whispering chants that dissolved into the air. Then he stretched his palm toward the sky, and a golden light spread across the towering walls of Grimswald, bathing them in brilliance.
Kalen's eyes widened in awe. For a moment, the Headmaster stood bathed in that light, before walking into the school's main hall, a mysterious book clasped firmly in his other hand.
Once Aurelius vanished from sight, Kalen's gaze fell again on the pendant in his hand. Strangely, the blue stone sparkled brighter than ever before, as though urging him—beckoning him—towards the main hall. A strange pull stirred inside him.
But he shook his head, gripping the pendant tightly. The Headmaster had warned them all not to wander at night, and his mother had always taught him to obey his elders, for they only wished for his well-being.
With that thought steadying his heart, Kalen rose quietly from his chair and made his way to his dorm. Tomorrow would be the first step on his journey to becoming a powerful mage—fulfilling his mother's first and last wish.
When Kalen entered his dorm to sleep, he noticed a boy lying on one of the beds. The boy looked about Kalen's age. Since every dorm shared two beds, it was clear this boy would be his roommate.
"Hi! You're finally here," the boy said cheerfully. "I was worried I'd be left alone in this room without a partner. By the way, I noticed there's no luggage with you."
Kalen glanced at him but, as usual, didn't reply. The boy, however, didn't seem bothered by his silence.
"Oh, sorry! I forgot to introduce myself," he continued with a grin. "I'm Robin. Robin Maverick."
Kalen gave a small nod in response and said simply, "I am Aeron." Then he quietly lay down on his bed.
"Nice to meet you, Aeron," Robin said warmly. "I hope we'll become good friends in the future, not just roommates. And please don't mind me—I know I talk a little too much. My mother always says the same thing."
Aeron couldn't help but smile faintly at that, though he still said nothing.
"So," Robin went on eagerly, "have you decided what subjects you're going to take tomorrow?"