When Marcus returned home that evening, he found his family in high spirits. The small house felt warm and lively. Lucian immediately launched into his favorite topic.
"Father! Tell me again about the outpost battles," Lucian requested. "Have you ever seen a legendary mage fight?"
Marcus settled into his chair with a tired smile. "Once," he said. "A demon duke emerged from the eastern sea about ten years ago. Thought it could claim our coastal city."
"What happened?" Lucian leaned forward eagerly.
"Master Vincent Astralwind arrived within hours," Marcus recalled. "The battle lasted maybe five minutes. The demon duke was powerful, but Vincent was in a different league entirely."
"What did he do?"
"He spoke a single word," Marcus said quietly. "The demon duke simply ceased to exist. Not destroyed, not banished. It just... wasn't there anymore. That's the power of a legendary mage."
The family shared dinner together, talking and laughing. These moments were precious to them. Tomorrow would bring uncertainty. Tonight was for being together.
After the meal, Mira and Lucian began packing for the journey to the capital. They would need to leave early to reach the academy in time for the entrance exams.
"Remember to be respectful," Mira advised as she folded his spare clothes. "The examiners are powerful mages. Show them your ability, but also your humility."
"I will," Lucian promised. "I won't disappoint you."
"You could never disappoint us," Marcus said firmly. "Win or lose, we're proud of you."
That night, Lucian lay in his bed unable to sleep. Tomorrow would determine his entire future. Would he pass the entrance exams? Would he be accepted into the academy? Or would he remain a commoner like his parents?
Eventually, exhaustion overcame excitement. Lucian drifted into deep sleep. His dreams were filled with swirling magic and endless possibilities.
But then something strange happened. The normal dreams faded away. In their place came a vision unlike anything he'd ever experienced.
He found himself standing in a vast throne room. The walls were made of black stone that seemed to absorb light. Torches burned with cold, blue flames. The air felt thick with ancient power.
At the far end of the room sat a magnificent throne carved from a single piece of obsidian. Upon it sat a woman of ethereal beauty. She wore a flowing white dress that seemed to glow with inner light. But her face was hidden behind an ornate raven mask.
The mask was crafted from silver and black metal. Intricate patterns covered its surface. Where eyes should be, dark gems glittered like stars. It was both beautiful and terrifying.
The woman's presence filled the entire chamber. Power radiated from her like heat from a forge. Lucian felt simultaneously drawn to her and afraid of her.
She raised one pale hand and pointed directly at him. When she spoke, her voice echoed from everywhere and nowhere.
"I am waiting for you," she said simply.
The words sent chills through Lucian's body. There was something familiar about her voice. Something that called to a part of his soul he didn't understand.
He tried to speak, to ask who she was and what she wanted. But no sound came from his throat. He tried to move closer, but his feet remained rooted in place.
The woman tilted her head slightly, as if studying him. "Soon," she whispered. "Very soon."
The throne room began to fade around the edges. The blue flames flickered and dimmed. The woman's figure became transparent. But her masked face remained clear until the very end.
"Remember," was her final word.
Lucian woke with a gasp. Pale morning light filtered through his small window. His heart pounded in his chest. Sweat dampened his nightshirt.
"Just a dream," he told himself, sitting up in bed. "Just a strange dream."
But even as he said it, he knew it had felt different from normal dreams. More real somehow. More significant. The woman's voice still echoed in his memory.
He shook his head and climbed out of bed. Today was too important to waste time on confusing dreams. The entrance exams awaited. His future as a mage hung in the balance.
"Lucian!" his mother called from the kitchen. "Time to get ready!"
"Coming!" he replied, pushing the dream from his mind.