It's finally here the day of our enrollment at the Magic Academy.
Elsie and I have trained for an entire year. Magic, swordsmanship, endurance... every day, without a break.
And now, we stand here, in front of the huge, impressive academy building with its gleaming towers and floating magical circles in the air.
I can feel my heart beating faster. Not from fear but from excitement.
I feel strong. Not just because of the magic or the swordsmanship. But because I know, I'm no longer that powerless child from before.
Beside me stands Elsie upright, determined, with that typical ambitious look.
"Are you ready?" I ask.
She nods seriously. "More than ever."
We enter the academy and are greeted by a friendly teacher who leads us to a huge hall.
The room is full of kids in shiny robes, some looking curiously around, others excitedly chatting.
"Welcome to the Lovrill Magic Academy of Hiram!" says the headmaster from the stage. "Here begins your journey to becoming great magicians, warriors or both!"
I sit next to Elsie in the second row.
To my left, a boy with blonde hair and a smug grin sits.
"Tch, doesn't look like much competition here..." he mutters.
I make a face.
Great. Of course, someone like him had to be here.
Elsie gives me an encouraging smile. "Ignore him. We'll show them, someday."
I nod.
After the speech, we are divided into our classes.
I end up in Class 1-A with Elsie apparently, the main class for students with high potential.
"Sounds pretty important," I whisper.
Elsie nods. "Or just exhausting."
Our classroom is massive with windows almost reaching the ceiling, and a magical globe floating in the middle of the room.
Before we can take everything in, a teacher with long black hair enters. His eyes are bright green and piercing.
"Welcome. I am Master Velron. I will teach you Magic Theory and Combat Fundamentals."
He looks at us with a serious expression.
"I hope you're ready we don't play here."
I glance briefly at Elsie. She sits upright, focused. I take a deep breath.
I'm ready.
"Now, to see how well you're prepared, we'll have a small exercise," announces Master Velron with a neutral expression. "You will face a magical shadow. Show me what you've learned."
A magical shadow? Alright, no problem. It sounds like a challenge, but nothing that will seriously worry me.
Elsie looks at me, both concerned and slightly encouraging. "Be careful, Ilana."
I nod at her without taking my eyes off the forming shadow. "Don't worry. I'm ready."
The other students watch me, some with mild interest, others with skepticism. Maybe they're wondering how good I really am.
Master Velron calls out: "Ilana, step forward."
I take a step forward, calm but determined. The shadow now takes on a human-like form, its movements smooth, almost unpredictable. It's clear this shadow isn't here just for fun.
But instead of reacting hastily, I stay calm. The magic inside me flows, and I focus on the shadow in front of me. I feel the energy around me, let it flow through my body, and then direct it in a precise lightning strike.
The bolt hits the shadow, making it recoil, but it doesn't dissipate. It's a good hit, but not the decisive one.
Master Velron nods briefly. "Good. Your timing wasn't bad, but you need to control the energy better."
I bow slightly.
As I take my seat again, Master Velron turns his gaze to a boy who had been sitting quietly in the back.
"Next... Kairo."
The class goes silent. Some whisper. The name seems familiar.
The boy stands, slowly, almost bored. His black uniform fits perfectly, his hair is pitch-black unusual and his eyes are so light blue they almost seem transparent. As he walks past me, his gaze briefly meets mine.
There's no arrogance. No nervousness. Just... coldness.
He stands in front of the magical shadow. No tension. No preparation. Just a single, calm step forward.
Then, he raises his hand.
In a moment that's almost too fast to fully catch, a spear of pure icy magic shoots through the shadow – so precisely that the construct collapses into dust in the wind.
Silence.
Velron slowly raises an eyebrow. "Effective. Perhaps a bit... too ruthless."
Kairo says nothing. He simply turns around and walks back to his seat, as if nothing happened.
Elsie leans over to me.
"What was that? The guy is amazing... but somehow unsettling."
I don't say anything. But a thought lingers in my mind.
I think this is going to be more interesting than I thought.
After everyone has demonstrated their abilities, Master Velron speaks again with a cool, proud look:
"Not bad. Your generation is producing truly fascinating magicians."
Master Velron slowly looks over the gathered class as he continues:
"At this academy, you follow a strict system that will take you step by step toward becoming full-fledged magicians. In the first to second year, the focus is mainly on basic teachings mana control, elemental spell forms, and proper posture in battle. In the third to fourth year, you will deepen your knowledge: complex spell circles, advanced elemental magic, and combination attacks with weapons and magic.
And in the fifth to seventh year, when you have proven yourself competent enough, the most exciting part awaits: External missions. Small expeditions, assignments for cities and noble houses, where you will demonstrate your abilities in real-world scenarios. You will be grouped into teams, learning teamwork and dealing with unpredictable dangers true tests, which have little to do with the lessons here in the safe halls.
"Only those who master both sides theory and practice will have the chance to wear the Academy Seal and be recognized as full-fledged magicians," concludes Velron, thoughtfully stroking his chin. "You have seen today that each of you brings unique talents. Now, it's up to you to shape them."
He turns to leave but pauses briefly at the door and adds with a slight smile:
"Preparation is everything use your time wisely."
With these words, he leaves the room, and the heavy silence breaks into excited whispers.