The carriage moved along a path between rows of tall trees. The wooden frame creaked as the wheels struggled against the road. Every seconds it lurched violently bouncing up and down as it passed over dips and stones. This made the passengers shift uncomfortably in their seats.
Inside quiet murmurs filled the space.
This was a shared carriage. It was the kind used by travelers who wanted to save money. Strangers sat side by side. Some talked in voices. Others simply endured the ride in silence.
In one corner Lucas sat quietly. His gaze was fixed ahead. His eyes were slightly. Devoid of energy. His expression looked almost lifeless. It was as if he hadn't fully recovered from what had happened a few hours ago.
A message appeared again.
[TASK – Immediately proceed to Sylvas Magic Academy.]
The message showed up again and again which made him frustrated as his eyebrow twitched. "Why does this keep showing up again?" he muttered under his breath. Irritation was clearly visible on his face. "Its starting to get really annoying."
He tried to ignore it. He sat on the bench of the roadside checking his bag.
Suddenly his body froze. "What the?"
His muscles refused to respond.
"I can't move…"
Another message appeared before his eyes.
[Warning: Continued disregard of the assigned task will result in enforced penalties.]
A brief pause followed. Then another line appeared.
[Penalty: Termination.]
His eyes widened instantly. "What the hell?!"
The restriction vanished as suddenly as it had come. This allowed him to move again.. The message had already done its job. That was enough to make him act.
With no choice he asked around for directions. He questioned people about the location of Sylvas Magic Academy. Luckily he found out that a carriage heading in that direction would be passing soon.
That was how he ended up here. Now sitting inside the moving carriage Lucas leaned slightly toward the window. He watched the trees rush past as the vehicle continued forward at a pace.
For a moment everything felt almost normal.
Then—
[Staring outside won't make you look any smarter.]
His eye twitched. 'Just what is this things problem?' Lucas clenched his jaw slightly. He was clearly irritated by the remarks.
After a moment of hesitation he turned toward the man sitting beside him. He decided to confirm something.
"Hey… excuse me " he said, trying to sound casual. "Can you tell me what this thing is? I mean… how does something like this even exist?"
The man looked at him confused. "I'm sorry " he replied slowly ". I don't understand what you're referring to."
Lucas frowned. "What? I mean this-this thing " he said, gesturing vaguely in the air in front of him. "These words, this… announcement box. Can't you see it?"
The mans expression shifted into something to concern. "Kid " he said after a pause "did you hit your head somewhere? You might want to get that checked."
Lucas blinked. 'What…?' He slowly turned his gaze back toward the floating screen.
'So that means… only I can see this?'
Before he could think further-
[At least now you've realized. Took you long enough.]
His eyebrow twitched again.
[Never seen someone so dumb as you.]
'SHUT IT.' Lucas clenched his fists slightly. He resisted the urge to react outwardly.
The rest of the journey passed in silence. This was aside from the bumps and the low chatter of other passengers.
After some time the carriage began to slow down. "This is your stop " the driver called out.
Lucas stood up. He grabbed the bag placed beside him. It contained the belongings that had been given to him before he was disowned by his family. Along with it he still had an amount of money. It was just enough to get by for now.
He stepped down from the carriage. He handed over the fare to the driver. Without another word the carriage moved on. It disappeared down the road it had come from.
Lucas turned around. Standing before him was the entrance of Sylvas Magic Academy.
In front of the gates still taking in the sight of the academy a familiar screen suddenly appeared before his eyes.
[Congratulations on completing your task]
[Reward – Mana Perception]
[Skill +1]
He stared at the words for a moment. His expression shifted slightly. Curiosity replaced his irritation.
"Mana Perception… as a skill?" he muttered, placing a hand on his chin. "What does it even do?"
immediately another line appeared.
[Skill – Mana Perception (Passive): Allows the user to sense and visualize mana in the surroundings, including the flow, density and structure of energy.]
Lucas read it carefully. His eyes narrowed slightly as he processed the explanation.
"…Okay " he said after a pause. "That actually sounds useful."
With that thought in mind he shifted his attention back toward the academy. He began walking
The closer he got the more imposing the structure became. Towering cylindrical buildings rose high into the sky. Their surfaces were smooth and polished. They gave off an unreal presence. At the faint clusters of glowing clouds hovered. They seemed to be placed intentionally. This added to the grandeur of the place. The architecture alone made it look less like a school. It looked like a royal palace meant for nobles and elites.
"Damn… this place looks expensive " he muttered under his breath.
As he approached the entrance area he noticed a line formed near one of the sections. A sign nearby indicated that it was for application registration. Young individuals around his age stood in line. Each one waited for their turn. Judging by their expressions they were here for the same reason.
The Entrance Exam.
Lucas silently joined the line. He observed the people around him. Some looked confident. Others were nervous. A few appeared indifferent. Regardless they were all competitors now.
After a wait his turn finally came.
"Name?" the woman, at the counter asked without looking up.
"Lucas Ironhart " he replied calmly.
At that she paused for a moment. Then she raised her gaze toward him.
"House identification?" she asked.
Lucas handed over the card he had received before being cast out. The woman examined it carefully. Her expression was neutral as she verified the details.
After a seconds she returned it to him with a polite smile.
"Thank you. Your name has been registered. You may proceed to Block 4 for the entrance test."