The magical journey of a countryside boy

‘Is this the place I’ve been looking for?’

​William tilts his head, taking in the sight of multiple towers rising high into the sky. Beyond them stands an impossibly grand castle—so tall its spires pierce through the clouds, wrapped in a blanket of thick mist that gives it a surreal, dreamlike presence. Nobody needs to tell him what it is. A sudden realization washes over him.

​’Yes, this is the place. The land of magic... Mageia.’

​His awe is broken by a subtle nudge from Mark, followed closely by Evelyn’s sharp command.

​“We need to report at the academy, so keep moving!”

​William glances around and sees excitement blazing across the faces of every child around him. But as the group begins to move, Mark’s voice cuts in with a firm warning.

​“Kids, stick close to us. Don’t wander off no matter what you see or hear, got it? The academy is guarded by various defenses, so try not to end your journey before it even starts.”

​One of the other escorts—a well-built, imposing man—clears his throat and steps to the front with a serious expression. The students fall into line behind him, though none of them can stop their eyes from darting in every direction, trying to absorb every detail.

​William walks through the glittering streets in awe, but after a few minutes, a strange detail catches his attention.

​“Why is the city so empty?” William asks.

​At his question, the other children look around, realizing for the first time that they haven’t seen a single passerby since entering.

​Mark offers a casual explanation. “Because the academy hasn’t opened for the new year yet. Most of the businesses that cater to students are closed. That doesn’t mean the city is completely deserted, though—the people who are here just don’t care much about a bunch of kids.”

​Before Mark can elaborate further, the burly escort at the front interrupts. “Mark, make sure none of the kids step outside my range.”

​As he speaks, a thick, heavy mist rolls in, swirling around the entire group. The lead escort pulls a small artifact from his satchel, and the dense fog instantly parts, revealing a narrow, guided path.

Following the trail, they emerge in front of a grand building surrounded by wide stone walls and with a wide open gates. Inside, an old woman sits behind a reception counter dressed in plain black attire, her stark white hair parted by a distinct streak of black. Perched on the wooden counter in front of her is a large crow.

​The old woman appears to be mid-argument with the bird.

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​“No, you always say that, but you never actually do it. I ended up doing it last time!”

​The crow caws loudly in defiance.

​The lead escort lets out a quiet sigh, his expression turning unusually hesitant as he steps forward to greet her.

​“Good morning, Lady Valios.”

​Both the woman and the crow look up simultaneously. The escort clears his throat awkwardly before continuing.

​“I’ve brought the recruits from the Western Region of the Empire. There are a total of—”

​Lady Valios raises a frail hand, cutting him off. “I already know all about them, young man. Just send them over to me.”

. The lead escort gestures toward the counter, and Mark speaks up. “Kids, line up and head over to Lady Valios one by one.”

​Everyone quickly forms a queue, with William taking his spot near the middle. A mix of excitement and nervousness fills the air as the first student steps up to the desk. After a short moment, the kid walks back holding a neat bundle.

​Soon enough, it’s William’s turn.

​As he steps up to the counter, Lady Valios speaks without lifting her gaze from a stack of old parchments.

​“Name.”

​“William,” he replies without missing a beat.

​“You’re from Arindale?” she asks.

​“Yes.”

​Lady Valios pulls out a heavy fabric bundle and passes it across the counter to him. “This contains your uniform for your first year—three sets in total. They are enchanted with minor cleaning and self-repair charms, so they won’t tear or dirty easily. However, if you somehow manage to ruin them, you’ll have to pay out of pocket to get replacements. Do you understand?”

​William nods, accepting the package. He opens his mouth to speak, but she moves on before he can say a word, placing a smooth, shimmering marble on the counter in front of him.

​“Touch this with your index finger until you feel a prickling sensation.”

​William presses his fingertip against the polished sphere. A second later, a sharp sting pricks his finger, making him instinctively pull his hand back.

​The motion finally draws Lady Valios’s attention away from her papers. She glances up at William for a brief second before returning straight to her work.

​William looks down at his hand, expecting to see a drop of blood or a mark, but his finger is in perfect condition.When he looks back at the counter, a strange piece of iron rests where the marble had been. William scrutinizes the metallic token, noticing it is shaped exactly like a single flower petal.

​“This will serve as your official identity within the academy,” Lady Valios says crisply. “It will grant you access to all areas permitted to first-year students. Keep it on you at all times and do not lose it, or the consequences will be severe. Now go, and send the next student.”

​William nods hurriedly and walks back toward the group, staring at the petal-shaped token in his hands.

​As he turns away, his eyes catch a distinct emblem pinned to Lady Valios’s dark robes—a solid gold flower with four petals.

​William slows his stride for a moment.

​’Does that match the token? Is it a rank, or something else...? ’

​Before he can get a better look, the next student steps eagerly up to the counter, blocking his view. William turns away and rejoins his peers, the strange gold flower lingering in his mind.