In the academy’s main dining hall, warm light filtered through the tall arched windows, casting a soft glow on the long banquet table where several servants and mages sat, chatting over their midday meal. Some spoke quietly, exchanging stories and lessons learned, while others ate in silence, absorbed in their thoughts.

At the far end of the hall, Aki sat alone on one of the wooden stools. He glanced around, observing the lively yet peaceful atmosphere around him. The clatter of utensils, the soft hum of conversation, and the occasional laughter filled the space. Aki took a deep breath, appreciating the momentary calm. He had always been the kind of person who liked to observe his surroundings, taking in everything with a quiet curiosity.

Beside his tray of food, Aki had placed a small notebook filled with his writings on the principles of magic, drawn from the various magic books the headmistress had provided him. Between bites of his meal, he flipped through the pages, reviewing his neatly written notes on spell theory and incantations.

After flipping through a few pages of his notebook, Aki came upon a dried leaf pressed between the pages. "Ah," he muttered in surprise, as the sight sparked a memory. Carefully closing the notebook with the leaf inside, he tidied up his meal tray and left the dining hall.

Outside, in a small garden not far from the academy building, Aki stood with a leaf in one hand and his wand in the other. He lifted the leaf to eye level, recalling a conversation with the headmistress.

In his mind, the scene unfolded:

the headmistress stood before him in the same garden, arms crossed, her calm yet firm voice breaking the silence. "You're intoxicated by your own magic power," she said, her glasses reflecting his confused expression.

"In... intoxicated?" Aki asked, uncertain.

The headmistress inhaled deeply, closing her eyes momentarily before meeting his gaze again, her voice steady. "You harbour an enormous amount of raw magical energy, but you're not equipped to control it."

Aki glanced down at his hands, recalling the moment he cast a powerful spell against a raging storm. "When I cast that spell, with your chant, I felt a surge through my body, especially in my arms as I pointed my wand toward the storm. I felt... incredible," he said, clenching his fists as he continued, "I felt like I could keep going, that nothing could stop me. But when the spell ended, my body felt overcharged, like I was about to burst."

The headmistress listened quietly, her eyes sharp and focused on him. Aki added, "At that moment, my vision blurred. I felt like I could just lift off the ground and fly, but my body held me back."

"You could have," the headmistress said calmly.

"Really?" Aki asked, excitement flickering in his eyes.

"But not in your current condition," she warned, stepping closer to him, her hand now resting on her waist. "You need practice. A lot of it." She smiled, but her words were clear.

"Did you bring your wand?" the headmistress asked, her tone expectant.

"Yes," Aki answered, pulling the wand from the inner pocket of his robe.

"Good. Now, watch closely," she said, stepping back to give them space. A gentle breeze had stirred the air, causing several leaves to fall from a nearby tree. The headmistress's sharp eyes followed the movement of one, and as it drifted down, she raised her wand and, with a subtle gesture, pointed its tip toward the leaf. To Aki's amazement, the leaf hovered steadily just above the wand’s tip, defying gravity. His eyes widened in awe.

The headmistress smiled, her gaze still on Aki. She kept her wand upright, the leaf suspended delicately in place. "This," she explained, "will be your daily exercise. I want you to do exactly what I just did."

Though Aki had felt excitement bubbling up inside him, there was doubt in his voice when he asked, "But how?" His confidence wavered.

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The headmistress swayed her hand gently, moving her wand from left to right. The leaf followed, hovering gracefully as if it were weightless. With a smooth release, the leaf fall back to the ground.

"Remember the feeling when the magic energy surges through your body," she said, her voice steady and encouraging. "While holding your wand, redirect that energy—first to your fingertips, then through your wand."

Aki glanced at his wand, his mind racing with uncertainty. Can I really do this? he thought. But then he inhaled sharply, locking eyes with the headmistress once more, determination filling him. "Right. I'll do my best," he said, his resolve firm.

The headmistress rewarded him with a warm smile.

Now, standing in the garden, Aki held the leaf between his fingers. The memory of that lesson, the weight of her words, lingered in his mind.

A few moments after Amabel stumbled across Aki...

Inside the academy archives, in a small, dimly lit room, Sylvia sat hunched over a wooden chair, her fingers scratching her head in frustration—not from an itch, but from the challenge of deciphering the ancient language in the book she held. Scrolls, papers, and more books were scattered beneath her chair, adding to the cluttered scene. Her brows furrowed in annoyance as she stared at the text.

Suddenly, Amabel entered the room hurriedly, slightly out of breath, clutching several books tightly to her chest. She stopped just behind Sylvia, who immediately turned, her eyes lighting up. "Did you bring it?" Sylvia asked, her voice tinged with excitement.

Amabel nodded with a smile, confirming she had indeed brought the language book they desperately needed.

A few moments later, with the help of the book, Sylvia's mood shifted dramatically. "Aha! Now I see—this word is supposed to be read as a vowel, not a direct letter!" she exclaimed, her tone filled with newfound cheer. Though the task was still far from complete, both women seemed to enjoy the challenge, working together with a shared sense of purpose. With the guidance from the language book, Sylvia managed to finish translating a single piece of written text.

"I’ve done it!" she exclaimed happily, but then her excitement faded into a pout as she said with a slightly disappointed tone, "Hmm... but this text doesn’t contain enough information about the first Rothrosia royal lineage."

She put the translation down, her expression now determined. In her mind, she resolved to use this translation as a guide to work through more of the ancient documents. Shifting her gaze to Amabel, who was sitting next to her, curiosity lighting her eyes. "So, Amabel, what was your thesis about again? I remember you said you’re almost done with it, right?"

Amabel, her face partially hidden under her hood, hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Y-Yes, I’m finishing it soon. It’s about... well, integrating magic with plants."

"Magic and plants? That sounds interesting!" Sylvia leaned in slightly, intrigued. "How does that work?"

Amabel’s voice was soft, but she gained a bit of confidence as she explained, "I’m focusing on vegetative crops, mainly for human consumption. During flood or drought seasons, farmers tend to lose their crops or don’t produce enough to survive. So, I’m researching ways to use magic to enhance the sustainability of crops. That way, even in harsh conditions, they can still grow enough to feed themselves."

"That’s... amazing!" Sylvia said, clearly impressed. She was taken aback by the depth of Amabel’s research. Amabel, ever shy, added softly, "Uh... I did receive guidance from the headmistress and Master Frode."

Suddenly, a thought snapped in Sylvia’s mind. "Ah! The headmistress! I forgot to greet her," she exclaimed. "Come to think of it, I haven’t seen her at all since we arrived." Crossing her arms tightly, Sylvia pondered aloud.

Amabel offered an explanation "Maybe she’s busy preparing for this year’s student entry, which starts early next month."

Sylvia clapped her hands. "Ah, right, I almost forgot!" she laughed lightly, and Amabel giggled along. Then, Sylvia continued, "By the way, have you seen Sir William and Sir Francis when you went to get your books?"

Amabel glanced at Sylvia and shook her head slightly. "No, I haven’t seen them."

Sylvia turned her gaze toward the door entrance and muttered, "Where could those two have gone..."

......

Somewhere further outside the magic academy, along a trodden road lined with trees, a few figures on horseback moved steadily. At the front rode Sir Francis and Sir William, with two guards following closely behind.

Sir William held a worn map in his hand, his eyes scanning it as he said, "The path toward the mine should be up ahead."

Sir Francis glanced at him, a hint of skepticism in his voice. "Not if the path's worn through over time. That map’s ancient to begin with."

Sir William hummed thoughtfully, acknowledging the point. "You’re right," he said, turning his gaze to Sir Francis. "Maybe we could ask the villagers nearby. There’s supposed to be a small village nestled around here."

Sir Francis gave a nod and, with a smirk, said, "Well, what are you waiting for?" He pressed his heels into his horse, urging it into a faster gallop.

Seeing Sir Francis speed ahead, Sir William smiled and quickly followed suit. Both knights galloped forward, their cloaks billowing behind them. The guards exchanged glances, then hurried to catch up, spurring their horses to match the pace.