The first glimpse of Mervilin Ace Academy was enough to silence even the loudest of students.
As the leviathan ship glided through a veil of glowing wards, the horizon parted to reveal an entire city suspended in the skies. The Academy was no simple school — it was a citadel, a jewel of arcane engineering carved from alabaster stone and bound together by leyline anchors.
Vast towers rose like spears toward the heavens, their tips humming with mana. Bridges of crystal light arched between floating platforms, each one supporting gardens, libraries, or sparring arenas. Waterfalls cascaded into the void below, vanishing into mist before reappearing as glowing rivers that looped back into the city. The Academy was alive, its wards pulsing with a heartbeat older than empires.
Gasps filled the air as students pressed against the rails. Even Selene Veradis, the "Crimson Rose," widened her eyes despite herself. Aurelia Astralis sniffed, though her gaze lingered longer than she intended.
"Behold," murmured Seraphina Mervilin, voice tinged with awe she refused to admit. "The greatest repository of knowledge and power on the continent."
Elira Calvus simply whispered, "It's… beautiful."
Lucien Davisus said nothing, but his sharp gaze swept across spires and wards, committing every sight to memory. A fortress in the sky… and within it, seven years to build an empire of his own.
On the dock awaited prefects in emerald-trimmed cloaks. One stepped forward — tall, composed, with runes glowing faintly on his gloves. His voice carried effortlessly.
"Welcome, initiates, to Mervilin Ace Academy. For the next seven years, this shall be your home, your crucible, and your battlefield. Here, every spell cast, every duel fought, every word spoken will shape not only your future — but the Empire's."
He gestured toward the gleaming gates, flanked by stone griffons whose eyes glowed with warding light.
"You will be sorted into Houses — not for mere comfort, but for rivalry, for identity, and for pride. Remember: a House is only as strong as the bonds between its members. Fail each other, and you fail yourselves."
With a flick of his wrist, glowing glyphs spiraled into the air — maps of the Academy flashing briefly before dissolving. Dormitories, libraries, dueling arenas, healing sanctums — all carved into the floating city.
"Now," he concluded, "to the Auditorium. The Archmages await."
The students entered a hall vast enough to swallow a palace. Its domed ceiling displayed living constellations that shifted as though the heavens themselves were above them.
Five enormous banners draped the walls, each bearing the crest of a House:
Solaris – Golden Sunburst. Honor, ambition, leadership.
Lunaris – Silver Crescent Moon. Knowledge, arcane mastery, discovery.
Sylvas – Emerald Oak. Healing, growth, balance.
Umbra – Black Serpent with a silver eye. Cunning, secrecy, strategy.
Ignis – Crimson Phoenix. Courage, passion, unyielding spirit.
On the dais stood the leaders of the Academy.
Governor Elric Mervilin, tall, emerald-robed, his gaze sharp as glass. The hall silenced as he raised his hand.
Archmagister Caldor Veylan, with his silver beards sat beside the Gorvenor
Lady Lyra Astralis, Duchess and Archmage, eyes cold as moonlight.
Professor Malrik Thorne, House Master of Umbra, stern and calculating.
Professor Serenya Vale, Mistress of Blossoms, healer and scholar.
Professor Alaric Dorn, booming, fiery, a duelist who smiled like a predator.
Professor Isolde Ravenscar, pale, severe, her presence sending chills even across the noble-born.
Governor Mervilin stepped forward, his voice amplified across the cavernous hall.
"Children of the Empire," he began, "welcome to Mervilin Ace Academy. You have left behind your homes, your comforts, and your families. Ahead lies trial, suffering, and glory. For seven years you will live under our roof, bound by our laws."
His gaze swept across the thousands of young faces.
"Know this: Here, you are not heirs, nor peasants, nor prodigies. You are students. Equals before the arcane. The Academy cares little for your birth — it cares for your strength, your wit, and your will. Those who falter will be left behind."
He lifted a scroll, unfurled by magic. Words burned in golden fire.
"The Three Rules of Mervilin:"
Your House is your family. Betray it, and you betray yourself.
Magic is life. Use it to build, not to waste. Use it wrongly, and it will consume you.
Challenge is the path. Duel, strive, compete — but never forget, death is not the Academy's purpose. Survival is.
"Now," he said, lowering the scroll, "let the Ceremony of Houses begin."
At his gesture, a massive crystal slab floated down from the ceiling. It shimmered, forming a glowing board of light suspended in midair.
One by one, names were called. As each student stepped forward, the board flared, writing their name in glowing letters, followed by the crest of their House.
Applause erupted with each assignment. Rivalries and cheers sparked immediately.
Selene Veradis → House Sylvas
Elira Calvus → House Sylvas
Aurelia Astralis → House Lunaris
Seraphina Mervilin → House Lunaris
Damian Arcanos → House Lunaris (smirking arrogantly)
Tobias Reed → House Umbra
Lucien Davisus → House Umbra (the board flickered violently before sealing)
Cassian Valerius → House Sylvas
Marcus Ironwood → Ignis
Vivienne Corvus → Umbra
Roland Thane → Ignis
Mirabel Dorn → Lunaris
Elias Greystone → Sylvas
Fiora Blackwell → Umbra
Gareth Fenris → Ignis
Celeste Arwyn → Solaris
Orin Draxell → Umbra
Lyanna Evertide → Sylvas
Dorian Korrin → Lunaris
Thaddeus Crowe → Umbra
Isla Veyra → Ignis
Cedric Rowan → Solaris
The board gleamed brighter with each name, sealing fates with unyielding clarity.
The hall thundered with noise. Students embraced, laughed, or sulked. Some Houses cheered louder than others.
Selene and Elira clasped hands, their beauty radiant among Sylvas's green banners.
Aurelia and Seraphina exchanged sharp glances with Damian, their silver glow gathering like a storm in Lunaris.
Cassian waved toward Lucien, grinning. "Don't think I'll go easy on you, brother!"
Tobias puffed out his chest beside Lucien. "Master! Together, we shall raise Umbra above them all!"
Lucien said nothing. His eyes swept across the room — allies in Sylvas, rivals in Lunaris, potential tools in Solaris and Ignis. And Umbra… his new foundation.
He smiled faintly. The game has begun.