The carriage rolled along a winding mountain road, mist curling around the trees like living fingers. Eryndor's eyes followed the horizon, noting every ridge, every glimmer of sunlight on the peaks. The world beyond his family's estate felt vast, unfamiliar, and full of challenges he had yet to face.
Finally, after hours of travel, the silhouette of a colossal structure emerged. Towers spiraled toward the sky, banners snapping in the wind, and walls carved from pale stone that seemed almost to hum with energy.
"The academy…" Lyanna murmured beside him, her voice tinged with awe. "This is where the greatest in the continent are trained."
Eryndor leaned forward, squinting at the intricate carvings along the gates. "Stormcrest Academy," he whispered to himself. The name seemed to resonate with the wind brushing against his coat, and for some reason, it felt… alive.
His father's voice cut through his thoughts. "Stormcrest has stood for centuries," he said. "It was founded during the Age of the Convergence, when the forces of elemental magic and martial prowess first began to intertwine. The academy has always been a place for the gifted—the cunning, the disciplined, and those capable of pushing beyond normal limits."
Eryndor listened intently as the carriage slowed. "Legends say that the founders could bend storms, lightning, and wind to their will, merging magic and combat into an art that has been refined over generations. Those who train here are not merely taught to fight—they are taught to understand the flow of the world, to harmonize with their affinities, and to awaken abilities thought impossible outside the academy walls."
The gates of Stormcrest opened before them, revealing courtyards filled with young men and women practicing spells, martial drills, and combinations of both. Lightning crackled faintly along some students' fingers, while others moved with the grace of wind weaving through the air.
Eryndor's pulse quickened. This was not just a school—it was a crucible. Here, he would be tested against peers whose talents rivaled those of seasoned warriors. Here, he would discover the limits of Ember Tier, and perhaps even the first whispers of what lay beyond.
The carriage halted near the entrance hall. Students paused briefly to glance at him, curiosity in their eyes. Eryndor adjusted his coat, feeling the hum of Lightning in his hands, Wind tugging at his movements like a loyal companion.
His father placed a hand on his shoulder. "Remember what I told you. Adapt. Observe. Learn. And above all, survive. Stormcrest will challenge every part of you, Eryndor. But I trust you can rise to it."
Eryndor nodded, determination solidifying in his chest. As the gates closed behind him, cutting off the world he knew, he felt the first stirrings of something greater. This was not just training. This was the beginning of a journey that would test his body, mind, and elemental mastery like never before.
Stormcrest Academy awaited. And beyond its walls, the challenges that would define Eryndor's rise were already taking shape.