"La lala... Lala la la la..."
Humming the soft beats of his favourite song, Lucian proudly walked through the endless halls of the Celestara Academy's main building.
One by one, he passed through various classes as countless students engraved their eyes on him. It was for the first time, that they had seen the infamous cripple of the Academy walk so proudly.
The teachers responsible for the classes came out into the hall upon noticing the disturbance. Looking at the emblem of a white star over the figure's dark robes, they instantly recognized him.
Forgetting the difference between their official ranks, let alone offering their respect, they all began to pass remarks over his return.
"Wow, even after such humiliation, he dared to come back walking so proudly. Bastard must have a thick neck!"
"I think he's just here to lick his boots and beg for forgiveness at this point."
"With that attitude? Hell no! He's just asking for death that way."
Listening to their remarks, he let out a small chuckle, almost choking on his own words.
"What a great reputation you've built Lucian Arkwright."
He shook his head sideways and continued to walk. Upon reaching halfway through the building's ground floor, he came across a crystal-like wall that blocked any further intrusion.
"Hmm? This looks exactly like the one deployed over the city..." He stepped closer and slowly touched the barrier with his palm.
"How may I help you?"
Lucian widened his eyes as a feminine voice softly echoed in his mind.
The next second, he lowered his guard and replied, "Shine, it's me. Open up the way to the Dean's office."
"Initiating Voice Recognition..."A luminous glow pulsed within the barrier, passing through its centre like a wave.
"Check"
"Initiating Fingerprint Recognition..."
The glow then condensed around his palm, letting it shimmer in silver light.
"Check"
"Initiating Iris Recognition..."
At last, from the centre, a beam of light extended and enveloped his eyes. Lucian complied with the security checks patiently, not like he had any choice to begin with.
Shine.
It was said to be the greatest creation of the Cyrandel Arcanis — The Archmage of Creation. According to the history of the Celestara Academy, it is said that Cyrandel gifted Shine to his best friend — the founder of the Academy — as a farewell gift.
As his creation, Shine excelled all expectations and possibilities one could ever imagine. To begin with, it was a creation with a consciousness of its own, bound to no one but its creator — Cyrandel.
As a conscious being, Shine was capable of manipulating the mana in the surrounding, giving it shape, and controlling its density within his territory.
Thus, it controlled all the barriers deployed all over the Celestara city, and protected the academy from all intruders singlehandedly.
'At present, its current strength and capabilities are unknown to any being except the dean, who, himself was quite mysterious among the officials and students alike.'
'For having never shown himself to anyone except 7 individuals, the dean remained a mysterious entity throughout the boundaries of the city.'
"Check"
"Your identity has been confirmed, Lucian Arkwright."
"However, you are not allowed to meet the Dean right now."
'Just as expected...' he let out a short sigh. 'Guess I have no option left.'
"Shine, do me a favour. Tell him that I have the answer to the question he asked last time." He said calmly.
"Understood. Please wait..."
Several moments passed by, and Lucian stood firmly at the same spot.
Then suddenly, a small passage opened up in the middle of the barrier.
"You may enter, Lucian Arkwright. The dean is waiting for you in his office."
Upon hearing Shine's message, Lucian smiled and entered the barrier. The barrier closed behind, and Lucian's figure disappeared from the outside world.
***
Inside the barrier, Lucian's vision changed completely.
Unlike the main building's regular structure and confusing hallways, there existed only one. A straight hall that led to an empty space.
The entrance had disappeared. All that remained in the dark passage was a single door — glistening in an otherworldly glow.
For a moment, Lucian flinched. He was shocked to see such a level of magic. The level when the entire space warped into a new existence, not just in sight, but in all senses.
All of his feelings, escaped his throat in a single word.
"Magnificent..."
His eyes remained widened in astonishment, while fingers slightly twitched in exhilaration.
It was a feeling that solely belonged to Ethan Blake. The sense of exhilaration that kept him going through all the challenges he faced in his life.
Though, this one wasn't hostile. But something he had accepted as his goal.
A goal that would help him through his new journey.
Lucian smiled and stepped forward. Suddenly, the image of the empty space disappeared. Countless bright lights illuminated the passage, turning it into an endless white realm as clouds materialized around him.
Confused, Lucian stepped again. The passage, once again, changed its appearance. So did his senses.
He kept stepping forward and saw countless different realms within the same passage. Ice that emanated freezing winds, Fire that flared the surrounding temperature, and the dark clouds that housed the rampaging thunder.
He saw many things and felt them equally.
However, one thing remained the same.
"That passage door... No matter how much I walk towards it, its distance never closes..."