The streets of Elaris shimmered beneath the morning light, mana circuits embedded in the pavement glowing faintly as the bus rumbled forward. A low hum thrummed beneath the vehicle, a vibration carried through every seat and panel. Ren Calder pressed his forehead lightly against the cool glass, watching the city unfold: towers etched with luminous runes, citizens walking with charm crystals jingling at their belts, floating carriages gliding between structures.
The bus slowed at a corner street, settling with a soft hiss as the mana engines adjusted to the grid's pulse. The doors slid open with a whisper, admitting a boy who carried the scent of spring along with the energy of mischief.
Watson.
A lean build, sandy-brown hair falling over clear green eyes, a grin that spoke of endless trouble. He moved through the aisle with practiced ease, scanning the seats until his gaze landed on Ren.
"Finally!" Watson exclaimed, sliding into the seat beside him. "I was beginning to think you'd ghost the school announcement and vanish forever."
Ren gave a dry blink, hand tightening around the strap of his bag. "I'm here. You're late."
"Late? Never!" Watson leaned back, smirking, letting the hum of the bus carry his arrogance forward. "It's the world that's early. Besides, you're the one with all the pressure today. The whole school knows about that little announcement. First-years demonstrating mana affinity. I mean, come on, Ren, are you planning on making us look bad?"
Ren's lips twitched into a faint, unreadable smile. "You'd enjoy seeing me fail, wouldn't you?"
Watson laughed, elbow nudging him playfully. "Wouldn't miss it for anything."
The bus glided through the streets again, passing towers whose spires were carved with intricate runes that pulsed faintly in the daylight. Below, the city flowed like a river: street vendors chanting the prices of enchanted wares, children practicing minor spells on the sidewalks, merchants calibrating floating carts with mana conduits. Even from the window, Ren could sense the delicate balance the city maintained. Modern engineering and magic intertwined so seamlessly it almost seemed natural.
Watson jabbed him lightly in the ribs. "Earth to Ren. You're spacing again."
"I'm observing," Ren said, voice low, his eyes following a group of students manipulating floating spheres of mana in a display of casual skill. "The city is… alive."
Watson chuckled. "You and your weird perspectives. Relax. You're still human now."
★★★
The bus turned into a wide avenue leading to the academy, a sprawling complex of polished stone and crystalline panels. Spires rose from the central courtyard, etched with the symbols of the five major disciplines: geometry, economics, history, mana control, and magic theory. Mana-infused lamps floated above the walkways, illuminating the path with a soft azure glow. Students in uniforms marched along the corridors, some chatting animatedly, others muttering through yawns as they clutched their spellbooks.
Watson hopped from the bus before Ren could respond, waving him along. "Race you to the entrance?"
Ren didn't answer, letting his calm, deliberate stride follow Watson through the massive double doors. Inside, the academy smelled faintly of parchment, herbs, and warm mana… a scent that reminded Ren of distant memories he couldn't fully name.
The halls were bustling. Holographic runes floated above each classroom, pulsing with the mana signatures of students inside. Teachers moved briskly, correcting minor misuses of magic or giving directions. Everywhere Ren looked, the city outside had been brought indoors in miniature: a living, breathing extension of the world he had stepped into.
★★★
The first classroom was Geometry of Qiyun, the planet's mapping and spatial calculations. The teacher, a tall woman with silver-streaked hair, gestured toward the massive holomap projected in the center of the room.
"Good morning," she said briskly. Students wished her good morning. "Today we will review the continents of Qiyun and discuss their geometrical relationships. Pay attention, as this will be fundamental for later mana manipulations tied to land-based magic structures."
The students groaned in unison. Even from his seat, Ren felt the collective boredom pressing against the room's walls. He rested his chin lightly on his hand, watching Watson scribble rapidly on his notepad, muttering half-joking complaints about linear distances between continents.
The holomap shimmered with colors he didn't fully recognize at first glance: oceans that glowed faintly with internal mana flows, mountain chains etched with leyline intersections, cities outlined in precise runes.
Watson whispered from the seat beside him, "I swear, linear distances between continents are my least favorite thing in life."
Ren allowed himself the faintest smirk. "Patterns. Everything is a pattern. Mana, geography, people. Predictable if you watch carefully."
Watson's eyes brightened. "See? That's why you're my favorite nerd."
Ren nodded once, quietly, smiling.
"And now," the teacher continued, voice sharper, "regarding the announcement from the Academy board: all first-years will undergo a demonstration of their mana affinity before winter term. This will determine placement and training focus. Failure is… visible."
Watson leaned close to Ren, whispering with a grin, "See? Told you the whole school knows. This is your spotlight."
Ren gave a slight nod, internalizing the pressure but masking it behind an unreadable calm. "Spotlight," he murmured, his mind half on the map, half on the faint echoes of another throne, another city, another life.
★★★
Economics came next. The class was structured around the social and financial systems of Elaris. Teachers projected holographic ledgers displaying inter-city trade, currency values, and taxation structures.
"Our city, Elaris, is a hub of mana commerce," the instructor said. "Understanding the flow of resources is as important as understanding mana itself. Wealth distribution is uneven; social classes are defined both by influence and access to mana channels. Observe carefully."
Ren traced the holographic displays: nobility, merchant guilds, laborers, magical practitioners. Each segment held precise obligations, mana-linked privileges, and interconnected influence. He saw the invisible levers that guided the city, the currents that governed wealth, and the subtle ways mana augmented economic control.
Watson leaned close again, whispering, "You ever think economics could be this… magical?"
Ren's lips curved into the faintest smirk. "It's patterns. Predictable if you observe. Mana, currency, people."
Watson grinned. "See? That's why you're the favorite nerd. Don't worry, I'll keep distracting everyone else while you analyze the world."
Ren smiled again.
★★★
The bell rang, signaling a short break. Break time arrived. Ren and Watson moved to the courtyard, where Mira waited, leaning casually against a glowing lamp post. Watson's eyes lit up.
"Well, well," he said, sidling toward her. "If it isn't the queen of nagging herself."
Mira narrowed her eyes. "And you're the jester of bad timing, Watson."
Ren watched silently, listening to the playful exchange. His sister's laughter, the teasing tone, the effortless banter. It grounded him in this world, reminded him that life could be simple, even if his soul carried a heavier weight.
Watson crouched beside Mira, whispering something that made her roll her eyes dramatically. "And this," he said to Ren with a grin, "is why I love first-break chaos."
Ren merely shook his head, a small smile tugging at his lips.
Watson crouched beside her. "You're worse than I remembered," he teased. "Still planning on tormenting Ren all day?"
Mira rolled her eyes, "You've got a lot of nerve, being here at all."
Ren allowed a faint smile. The banter was ordinary. Yet beneath it, the currents of mana around them flickered subtly, responsive to Ren's presence, even if he did not move a muscle. Then break over. They moved towards their classrooms again. In between the distance Watson and Mira continued their teasing each other.
★★★
Magic class was the final period. Each class was around 2 hours. The room was infused with a low hum, soft mana currents vibrating across every surface. The teacher, a stooped man with hands lined like maps of veins, gestured to a student floating a small crystal using basic mana channels.
"This is awakening," he said. "Mana is the lifeblood of your potential. Your connection is not just skill, it is awareness. Observe, feel, and then direct. A poorly guided awakening can create dangerous surges, as mana is unforgiving."
Ren felt his chest tighten slightly. He could almost sense the familiar threads of energy that felt vast, cold, and commanding, buried beneath this fragile human body. He clenched his fists discreetly, letting the hum of the room mask the small vibrations coursing through him.
Watson leaned over again. "You'll try it, right?"
Ren gave a faint nod, eyes tracing the small crystal suspended in the air. "Of course."
Watson grinned. "Bet you'll make it float upside-down first."
Ren's lips curved into a small, genuine smile for the first time since morning.