The sky was just beginning to lighten. Allen opened his eyes, his consciousness stirring.
He didn't get up right away. Instead, he lay quietly in bed, acclimating to the changes of his new surroundings.
After a moment, he rose and changed into the brand-new Wizard Robe of an Advanced Apprentice from the School of Alchemy.
The uniform was perfectly tailored. Intricate Runes, embroidered with silver thread on the cuffs and collar, seemed to shimmer and flow in the light, giving him a distinguished air.
At eight in the morning, he arrived punctually before the metal door of Master Mercer's office.
Before he could even knock, he heard the faint sound of gears engaging from within. The metal door slid open silently. His arrival, it seemed, had already been detected.
The scene inside was the same as yesterday: a massive, three-dimensional model slowly rotating in the center of the room.
