The Lowfield Academy, the pride of all Sylvaris, rose over the mountain as if it had sprouted from the very heart of the stone. From below, its towers seemed to brush the sky, bathed in the reflection of the giant crystals surrounding Ilmenor. Those enormous structures, tall as ancient obelisks, pulsed with a faint light that traveled through their cores like a living heartbeat; each gleam was a reminder that the city was protected by centuries of knowledge and magic.
Zein walked alongside Lyra, Kio, and Lucian along the cobblestone path that led toward the academy. The air there was clearer, carrying the scent of freshly damp stone and the magical flowers that grew between the cracks of the mountain.
The academy then appeared in all its magnitude. A vast, terraced place divided into four levels opened before them with the solemnity of a sleeping giant. The first level, even with the city, displayed wide courtyards and gardens that seemed freshly combed by the wind; the flowers swayed as if greeting the visitors. Distant voices and youthful laughter gave the place a warm, hopeful liveliness.
Higher up, on the second level, sparks of magic crossed the air like tiny shooting stars. The echo of blows, spells, and controlled explosions rumbled from one end to the other, mixing with the smell of ink, hot metal, and alchemical herbs. Zein watched a group of students practicing a spell, the energy dissolving into blue sparks that lit up the ground.
The third level wrapped around the entire mountain, a ring of dormitories with balconies overlooking both the city and the outer valley. Flags waved with the winds of high altitude, and the constant chime of distant bells made it feel as though they were stepping into a story that had no intention of ending.
And at the very top, crowning it all, stood the main building: towers connected by halls of enchanted stone, platforms with trees that seemed to glow from within, and a view that, according to many, made you feel small in the most beautiful way.
Zein and Lyra moved forward with steady steps, wearing the official uniform for the first time. Their outfits, elegant and pristine, seemed designed to make them look like part of something ancient and sacred. The pleated skirts, the deep burgundy jackets, and the golden embroidery shimmered softly whenever the light of the crystals touched them. The high stockings and polished shoes completed that aura of quiet nobility; the magic of the place did the rest.
For the boys, the uniform kept the same burgundy jacket and crisp white shirt, though the skirt was replaced by straight dark trousers. The striped tie was the only notable difference— a subtle detail that matched the girls' uniform without taking away from its elegance.
Zein and Lyra looked so good in their uniforms that Lucian and Kio mentioned it more than once along the way, alternating between jokes and painfully obvious comments just to bother them a little more.
When they crossed through the main doors, the sight inside stopped them in their tracks. Tall stained-glass windows filtered the magical light into shifting shades of gold and blue, almost as if it were breathing. The hallways felt wider on the inside, filled with echoes, murmurs, and eager footsteps. Without realizing it, the four of them slowed down, caught by the beauty of the place.
Everyone was guided to the grand auditorium on the first level, where the entrance ceremony would take place. The vaulted ceiling was covered in glowing runes, and crystal torches lit every seat without needing any fire at all.
The headmaster stepped onto the stage and spoke for a few minutes; his attempt at sounding inspiring died the moment several students—mostly upperclassmen—began yawning or whispering among themselves.
Then, the student council president took the stage: Kiomi. From the moment she started speaking, her eyes locked onto Zein with such hostility that anyone would've thought she was recounting the tragic fall of an enemy kingdom rather than giving a welcome speech. The vice president beside her had to calm her down several times with nudges or quick hand signals so she wouldn't stray even further off topic.
In the corners of the auditorium stood the representatives of the new students. Lucian watched everything with serene composure; Kio, on the other hand, looked far too entertained watching the students whisper about one another. Because they were important figures, the headmaster invited them to say a few words. Most of the parents turned toward them with interest.
Kio froze.
—Ahem… good evening —she muttered as she stepped onto the podium, as if she'd been pushed there by force—. I… uh… damn it, why do they always make me do this?
Her tail puffed up instantly, twitching as nervously as she was. She swallowed hard.
—Well… I'll try to be… professional —she said, though even she didn't believe it—. Students… new students… you… uh… you're entering Lowfield. And that's… important. Very important. Because… because here you'll learn things that… that… you need to learn. Yes.
She cleared her throat so loudly the microphone squealed. She avoided looking at the audience as if they were some monster ready to swallow her whole with a single blink.
Someone in the front row let out a stifled laugh; another student whispered, "What is happening?" Kio heard them, and her tail bristled even more.
—The academy… uh… has rules. Lots of them. And you have to follow them. Not because… because I say so, but because… that's how academies work, right? —Kio babbled, her ears as tense as strings ready to snap—. What I mean is… if you work hard… and don't do anything stupid…
She stared at the ceiling for a second, as if that's where her last remaining brain cell had floated away.
—…you'll… grow. And become better than… yourselves. Or something like that.
She turned her head toward Lucian and, covering the magical microphone with her hand, whispered:
—Was that supposed to sound inspiring?
Lucian only responded with a shrug and an "I don't know" in gestures.
—In short… welcome. Do what you came here to do. And please… don't start any fires in the laboratories. That would be… very annoying. That's all. You may sit down… or whatever comes next after this.
With that, she practically fled the podium, nearly tripping, her tail whipping behind her like a terrified rope until she made it back to Lucian's side.
No one spoke. No one clapped. Just silence… an uncomfortable silence that made several students exchange looks that clearly said, "What did we just watch?"
Lucian, taking a long breath, stepped up to the podium with a calmness that contrasted far too much with the nervous hurricane Kio had just been.
—Good evening. First of all… I apologize for the previous speech —he said, glancing at his partner—. Kio meant to say something meaningful, but…
Kio shot him a murderous look; he cleared his throat to continue.
—I'm not going to drag this out. Lowfield isn't looking for heroes or prodigies; it's looking for people willing to learn. If you're here today, it's because someone saw potential in you—potential you might not even recognize yet. There will be hard days, moments when you wonder if you belong here. But if you stay calm, if you listen, if you keep moving forward even when you don't understand the path… you'll grow more than you can imagine. Trust your process. Trust your pace. And remember, no one walks alone here. Welcome to Lowfield.
When she finished, the applause burst like the entire auditorium had been holding its breath. Some students even stood up.
Lucian stepped up to Kio with a grin.
—You're terrible at this —he whispered through soft laughter.
—Shut up —she hissed back, red all the way to the tips of her ears.
The ceremony continued as usual… or as usual as it could be while Kiomi kept aiming daggers at Zein every time their eyes crossed. He always looked away, as if he'd brushed against an invisible flame.
When everything was over, the auditorium began to empty. Kio and Lucian headed back to the city to continue their day, while Lyra walked to her classroom alongside other students. Zein took a slow breath, straightened his uniform, and made his way to his own room.
Once inside, he sat in one of the side rows—close enough to pay attention, far enough not to draw any. And yet, he still felt the insistent weight of a stare sinking into him. Kiomi didn't blink. She simply watched. As if she were waiting for him to slip, ready to use it as evidence in a trial only she understood.
Zein dropped his gaze to his desk, uneasy.
Then an arm landed on his shoulders—light, confident, like it belonged there.
—Hey! So —said a friendly voice—, did you do something to get on the president's bad side? Because you don't need to be a genius to notice she really doesn't like you.
—Honestly, I have no idea —Zein replied, shrinking a little—. Maybe I remind her of someone she genuinely hates.
While he talked, Kiomi kept staring at him without even pretending otherwise—like a statue carved specifically to judge him.
Come on, Kiomi… you could at least try to hide it. I don't even know what I did, he thought, letting out a quiet sigh.
—By the way, my name's Sennet. And you?
—Zein. Nice to meet you.
—Pleasure's mine, Zein —he said with an easy, confident smile—. Come on, I'll introduce you to my friends.
Sennet's group was so normal it was almost comforting. Two girls, two boys… no oddities, no magical eccentricities, just students who seemed like they'd known each other for a long time. For Zein, it was perfect.
Sennet was one of the boys; the other, Dian, was an elf with surprisingly short ears—almost human. Chloe and Zanna, the two girls, were human and talked between themselves with that quiet, effortless familiarity of people who shared jokes that didn't need explaining.
Zein was only just beginning to relax when the classroom door opened.
Conversation died instantly.
An elf walked in with calm, steady steps: tall, with white hair that fell like silk, sharp eyebrows, and a composed elegance in every movement. He carried several books balanced on one arm; once he reached the desk, he arranged them neatly before turning to face the class.
Everyone sat down at almost the exact same moment. Zein followed.
—Good morning, everyone. I'm glad to see most of you here for another year. For those who don't know me, my name is Shaundyl Veverell, and I'll be your instructor and advisor for the rest of the academic year —he said while writing his name on the board in perfectly clean handwriting.
Zein glanced around the classroom with new attention. Twenty students… all human or elf.
No dwarves, no demons, and of course, no monsters.
A pattern that, for reasons he couldn't name, tightened a small knot in his stomach.
Shaundyl's classes were strict but surprisingly enriching. He had once been a brilliant researcher before becoming a teacher, and every explanation he gave came packed with data, theories, and examples that sparked curiosity in anyone willing to listen. Zein found himself more than fascinated; each lesson left him with that familiar spark in his chest—the kind only true discovery could ignite.
The week passed before any of them realized it. The siblings had already formed bonds in their respective classes, adapting quickly to the academy's rhythm, while Kiomi kept looking at Zein like he was a thorn she simply couldn't pull out of her path. He had no idea why, but he felt it every time she glanced away with that sharp hint of annoyance whenever he got too close.
One day, the teacher entered the classroom and immediately captured the group's attention.
—All right, not everyone knows this, but the administration requires a test to evaluate how developed certain skills are. So starting next week, several exams of different types will be conducted —he announced while walking toward the door—. When the time comes, I'll explain what each one involves, but for now… follow me. I'll take you to the first exam.
The class murmured among themselves as they followed him through the hallways, eventually reaching the first-level courtyard. Shaundyl led them toward the mountain's edge, where a path opened up between the trees, winding through several rises until it disappeared in the distance. From there, the air smelled freshly of damp earth, and the sunlight barely filtered through the dense foliage that guarded the start of the trail.
—The exam is simple —Shaundyl began, pointing at the path—. You must follow the entire route through the mountains until you reach a platform located five kilometers from here.
A chorus of complaints erupted at once, almost as if the class had rehearsed it beforehand.
—Don't worry —he replied with the kind of calm only a teacher with years of patience could have—. I'm sure that as good students of Lowfield Academy, you'll do quite well. —He paused briefly before adding—: You may also use any type of magic you wish, except for those that may injure or kill your classmates. If anything like that happens, you'll be disqualified.
At that moment, a black liquid rose in front of Shaundyl, forming a glossy surface—almost like a liquid mirror that vibrated softly in midair.
—I'll be waiting for you at the finish line. Good luck —he said as he stepped toward the dark mass. Just before crossing it, he turned slightly—. Almost forgot: once you see a fireball in the air, you may begin.
And with that, Shaundyl vanished as he passed through the portal.
—We have to go five kilometers? Seriously? —Sennet complained, shoulders dropping with dramatic despair—. I don't want to. Zein, carry me, please…
—Come on, Sennet, at least pretend you're trying —Chloe said, pulling him by the jacket to keep him away from Zein—. Though… yeah, I'm not exactly thrilled about running five kilometers either, even if it's for an exam.
If only they knew this was just a normal training session for me with Lucian, Zein thought, letting out a nervous little laugh as he adjusted himself.
Everyone took their position at once—tense, leaning forward, as if the mountains themselves were urging them on. The wind swept a hush across the trail just before a sphere of fire shot into the sky, casting a brief glow over every expectant face. And the moment the flame burst into light, the entire class lunged forward. Kiomi shot ahead instantly.
The elf began weaving transparent threads across the rocky path, forming nearly invisible nets that caught anyone unlucky enough to run into them. Surprised shouts echoed through the mountains each time another student ended up suspended. The rest, desperate not to be left behind, raised stone walls and improvised barriers, turning the trail into a chaotic maze of traps, magic, and churned-up earth.
Zein moved calmly through the mess, helping his friends down whenever he could, though one by one they still ended up tangled in the threads.
—Go on, Zein! Leave me… it's too late for me —Sennet groaned dramatically, hanging from a net while Zein hovered a few meters above him.
—All right —Zein answered before continuing.
—Hey—hey! I wasn't serious! —Sennet yelled, reaching out toward him—. Zein!
Soon, only Zein and Kiomi remained in the race. She held a wide lead, placing more and more threads as she advanced. Zein, however, slipped past each one with clean precision, closing the gap step by step. Kiomi, noticing he was gaining on her, raised stone walls and obstacles in seconds, but nothing seemed to stop the stubborn determination with which he kept drawing closer.
Both of them ended up lifting off above the trees, flying toward the final stretch. As they neared the finish line, the space between them shrank just as quickly. Their shoulders collided, their hands shoved against one another, and for a heartbeat they looked like two wild kites fighting for a single inch of advantage.
In the last second, they crossed the finish line at the exact same time. The momentum threw them off balance and they both tumbled to the ground, rolling through the dirt until Kiomi landed on top of Zein. Her eyes snapped wide open the moment she realized their position, and she jumped back with such a jolt that a few students couldn't hold back their snickers.
—I went to retrieve the others who were trapped —Shaundyl announced as he approached them—. Congratulations, Kiomi and Zein. You both passed the exam.
Zein barely managed to sit up before his friends surrounded him, celebrating in disbelief that he had made it that far. His lungs still burned with each breath, the earth still thrummed under his palms… and for an instant, he could've sworn he felt Kiomi's gaze on him before she abruptly turned away.