Perfect — thank you for sharing Chapter Two. I'll now revise it using the same method as Chapter One:
✅ Keep every event, interaction, and detail fully intact.
✅ Elevate the writing quality to match the tone and polish of a professionally edited fantasy novel.
✅ Match the Taran Matharu–inspired style (smooth pacing, cinematic flow, natural dialogue, emotional warmth, and clear worldbuilding).
✅ Maintain continuity in Alder's personality, voi
Alder woke hours before dawn, his stomach tied in anxious knots. The house was silent save for the faint creak of the floorboards beneath his feet as he moved about. He packed carefully—two sets of clothes, his life savings, and his woodworking tools. He hesitated over the last item, smiling faintly. Never know when they might come in handy, he thought.
When he stepped into the kitchen, the soft glow of the lanterns revealed his parents sitting at the table. They looked exhausted—eyes red, faces pale. Alder's chest tightened.
"You guys going to be okay?" he asked quietly.
His mother gave a watery smile, brushing away a tear. "We're so proud of you. It's just hard… seeing our boy all grown up."
Alder forced a grin, though his throat ached. "I'll be okay, Mom. I promise."
The moment felt unreal. Yesterday he'd been in the workshop, carving a chair leg beside his father, and now he was leaving for the school he'd dreamed of since childhood.
"Don't be late, son," his father said, pulling him into a firm hug. His mother joined in, squeezing him so tight he could barely breathe.
"And make sure you visit your loving parents this summer, you hear?" she said, half-teasing through tears.
"I will. I promise."
Stepping outside, Alder inhaled deeply. The early morning air was cool and sharp, filled with the scent of dew-soaked earth. The horizon had only begun to glow faintly with dawn as he started the long walk toward town. Every step felt heavy, but the crisp air stirred a strange sense of renewal within him.
By the time he reached Daggerford's streets, the sun had just begun to peek over the rooftops. Merchants were setting up their stalls, and the cobblestones shimmered faintly with morning moisture. Alder had nearly three hours before the carriage would leave for the academies. Plenty of time for one last stop.
When he pushed open the door to Mrs. Hurley's shop, he was surprised to see he wasn't alone.
"I heard you have magic, Z," Alder said, grinning as he crept up behind the dark-haired girl standing at the counter.
Zariah Sadewater nearly jumped out of her skin. "Alder Kenwood! Don't scare me like that!"
Alder laughed, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Hey, no need to hit me!"
"You should know better than to sneak up on a lady," she scolded, swatting him on the arm. Her scrunched-up face only made him chuckle more.
"Yeah… a lady," he muttered under his breath.
Before he could blink, Zariah had thrown her arms around him.
"What did I do right this time?" he asked, startled.
"I heard you have magic too!" she said, her voice bubbling with excitement. "I'm so happy for you, Alder. You've wanted this forever."
Alder's grin softened. He'd always admired Zariah's fiery confidence—and, if he was being honest, had a bit of a crush on her too. If only she were going to Ironwood with him. But she wasn't a Runic Sealer, and the tuition for her academy was steep.
They spent the next hour browsing and talking, savoring the last bit of normalcy before their paths diverged. At the counter, Alder purchased two common runestones, a set of used leather armor, and a short sword—nothing fancy, but enough to get started. Afterward, his coin pouch held little more than twenty-five silvers.
Zariah, ever practical, bought only a few new outfits. Her element was fire, and as a Rune Mage, her needs were different.
When they reached the town square, the carriages stood ready, horses stamping impatiently. Only seven from the entire town had passed the Trial—a small but proud number.
Alder turned to Zariah, his throat tightening. "Guess this is it, huh?"
She smiled faintly. "Stay safe, Alder. For me."
He tried to play it cool, but his voice cracked slightly. "You too."
She laughed, shaking her head. "Hopeless."
After she boarded her carriage, Alder lingered for a moment, lost in thought. That was when a familiar voice spoke behind him.
"Don't be too surprised. I recommended Ironwood Academy for a reason," said Leo, stepping up beside him with a knowing smile. "I'm one of the professors there—and I'll be escorting you."
"You're kidding!" Alder exclaimed, eyes widening.
Leo chuckled and stepped toward an empty carriage. "Say hello to my partner."
He drew a polished runestone from his pocket, and the air shimmered as black mist coiled around him. From that shadow stepped a magnificent stallion—jet-black, ethereal, with a mane that flowed like smoke.
Alder's jaw nearly dropped. "It's… beautiful."
Leo smiled proudly. "She's a Phantom Steed—her name's Phiona. She'll get us to Ironwood quickly and safely."
Alder couldn't take his eyes off the creature as he loaded his belongings into the carriage. The thought of sealing a monster of his own made his pulse quicken.
Once they set off, the rhythmic sound of hooves filled the air. Alder found himself grinning like a fool, staring out the window. After ten minutes of silence, he finally turned to Leo.
"When will I receive my first monster?" he asked eagerly.
Leo smiled knowingly. "The academy doesn't just hand monsters out, Alder. But we'll help you find one. On your first day, the sealers without partners are taken into Ironwood Forest to seal their first monster. If you fail, the Evolution class issues a basic slime for study—though I suspect you'll aim higher than that."
Alder leaned back, his imagination running wild. Ironwood Forest—half its trees composed of enchanted ironwood, one of the rarest materials in the kingdom. He'd worked with ordinary woods his whole life, but ironwood was something else entirely: a four-star material, dense yet flexible, perfect for crafting. The idea of carving his own equipment from it sparked excitement in his chest.
As Phiona carried them swiftly through the countryside, Leo continued to explain. "Everything in our world is rated on a one-to-five-star scale—items, monsters, even materials. Ironwood's one of the strongest natural substances known. That's why the forest is restricted to students and staff only."
Alder nodded, soaking in every word.
"So, what do you teach, Professor?" he asked.
Leo's eyes lit with enthusiasm. "Monster analysis. The more you understand a creature—its habits, its instincts—the better you can train it, or defeat it if you must. Knowledge, Alder, is the sharpest weapon of all."
Alder smiled, realizing how right Leo was. To become a powerful Sealer, strength alone wouldn't be enough. He'd have to study, to think, to understand.
Hours passed in easy conversation until Leo nudged him. "Take a look outside. You'll want to remember this moment."
Alder leaned out the window—and his breath caught.
There it was: Ironwood Academy.
The castle rose from the landscape like something out of legend. Its walls shimmered faintly with magic, runes pulsing softly along the stone. Despite its age, the fortress exuded power and grace. High above, a golden bird circled, its wings flashing like sunlight made flesh.
"What's that?" Alder asked, awe in his voice.
Leo chuckled. "Professor Jardel's Thunderbird. He handles security. Best give him space—he's not fond of interruptions."
Alder tore his gaze away reluctantly as they passed through the gates. His pulse quickened. This was it—the place he'd dreamed of. The start of everything.
Phiona slowed before a smaller tower connected to the main castle. "Someone inside will help you settle in," Leo said. "I'll see you at orientation. And Alder—welcome to Ironwood."
Alder thanked him and hauled his belongings toward the entrance. Inside, a kind young woman at a desk greeted him with a smile and helped finalize his acceptance before directing him to his assigned room.
The corridors were breathtaking—polished floors, ornate tapestries, and chandeliers glowing with soft magic. Even the brass door