For the first time in eighteen years, I was truly alone. Silas's imposing figure had been swallowed up by the bustle of the main gate of Astrea Capital, leaving me with a necklace around my neck and a whole new world to conquer.
This feeling... was strange. Until now, my world had been Crestfall Peak and the small village at its foot. There, I was the strongest, the most handsome, and the only inhabitant under the age of fifty besides a few village children. Here, in the middle of this sea of people, I was just one face among thousands. It was a very unpleasant thought.
"All right, Orion," I muttered to myself, my confident grin returning.
"This isn't an ocean. It's a small pond. And you will be the only dragon in it."
My first step was to find my way to Starfall Academy. According to Silas, the academy was not located on the mainland, but on a cluster of floating islands hovering above it. A concept that sounded very impractical in terms of security, but incredibly cool.
The capital city of Astrea itself was a sight that left me, a man from the 21st century, speechless. The wide, clean stone streets were filled with silent, horseless carriages, powered by blue crystals glowing beneath their chassis.
Tall white buildings were adorned with hanging gardens and glass bridges connecting the towers to one another.
Knights in gleaming silver armor patrolled with a spring in their step, their energy spears clanking softly. This wasn't the medieval fantasy I saw on my monitor it was a mesmerizing blend of magic and technology.
I, who was used to mountain trails, felt a little like a country bumpkin. But of course, I covered it up perfectly, walking haughtily as if I owned the place. I took every glance I got—and there were many—as admiration for my extraordinary appearance.
My jet-black hair, my brilliant purple eyes, and a physique forged during eighteen years of hellish training with Silas; I was a walking masterpiece, and this city was my first gallery.
After asking a guard who seemed fascinated (of course), I was directed to the "Grand Crystal Elevator," the only way for the public to reach the academy gates.
The elevator itself was a giant glass and gold tower piercing the clouds. Inside, dozens of other prospective students like me gathered, their faces tense with nervousness. I could feel mana crackling in the air, a mixture of various affinities and emotions.
As the elevator began its silent ascent, the cityscape below spread out like a living map. However, all of that was forgotten as we broke through the cloud layer.
And there it was.
Starfall Academy.
It wasn't just a floating island. It was a mini-continent in the sky. The main island, perhaps the size of Australia, was a lush green expanse with crystal blue lakes and ancient forests. In the center stood the main academy building—a magnificent castle of white marble and blue quartz, its towers so tall they seemed to scrape the sky.
Giant waterfalls cascade from the edges of the main island, falling into the clouds below and creating permanent rainbows. Orbiting the main island are dozens of other small islands, each with its own ecosystem: one island is a golden desert, another is a snow-capped mountain peak, and yet another is covered in a forest of crystals that emit a dim light. Transparent star-lit bridges connect some of these islands.
All the elevators fell silent. Jaws dropped. Even the most arrogant young nobles looked stunned. I, Alexis, who had seen skyscrapers in Tokyo and the wonders of the modern world, felt a genuine sense of awe for the first time in this world.
"Wow," whispered a girl next to me.
"I know," I replied in a low voice, without looking away.
"They built all this just to welcome me. It's a bit excessive, but I appreciate it."
The girl looked at me as if I were crazy. I just gave her a wink.
The elevator stopped at a wide landing platform in front of the academy gates. The air here felt different—fresh, clean, and saturated with pure mana. I took a deep breath. It felt like inhaling the power itself.
My smile widened. Yes. This was the right place. This was the stage created for a star.
My stage.