We returned to Webb City the next afternoon and parted ways with our adventuring party.

As I was asking Celie what she wanted to eat for dinner, we found ourselves immersed in a small crowd bordering a large fence.

“Welcome, students of Hayward’s Magic Academy!” a man shouted beyond the gates.

Out of curiosity, I tugged Celie and Johnathan to follow me deeper into the crowd and see what was happening.

“As you know, Hayward Magic Academy is the most prestigious Magic Academy of all Gedo Kingdom! Heroes and legends have graduated here! This is where your journey of becoming a piece of history starts!” Applause from the crowd followed the man’s speech.

Beyond the gates, as far as I could tell, were orderly, straight lines of male students with gray wizard robes and a leather belt fastened tightly around their waste.

“I hope you find yourselves well here, and please do abide by the rules. We follow a strict guideline here, and if you disobey, you will face consequences no man could even dream of.” The man, who I heard speak, stood on a tall platform behind a podium, waving his hands as he spoke.

“Now then-” He raised his hand in the air…

*woosh*

*bang*

What looked like fireworks came from his palms and set off above the large academy behind it.

Red, blue, white, nearly every color sprung into the frigid air.

I gazed at the lights, feeling my heart jump in anxiousness to be part of those students.

“Hey- Celie…” I turned to Celie who was still gazing at the fireworks. “Celie!” I punched her arm.

“Ow!” She finally turned her attention to me, though she hit me back on my arm and gut. “What do you want?”

“Prick…” I muttered.

“Hm?”

“Look, I just wanted to ask- could we enroll here?”

“Do you not see the students being welcomed into the academy? Are you stupid? I’m pretty sure admissions are already closed!”

“I know that, dumbass.” I snarked, and jumped when she feinted a punch to my nuts. “Watch it!”

She huffed triumphantly, and I was left unanswered until the students marched into the open, large front doors of this academy.

We made our way back to the tavern, and I was left tense, anxious to enroll in a magic academy.

I want to be part of that…

“Ah! There ya’ are…” Ax threw his hands in the air, welcoming us in until he saw Johnathan, and only then did he drop his welcoming spirit.

“Johnathan, why don’t you go home?” I asked him, and he still looked pale white, skinnier, and his eyes hollowed.

He nodded his head, and walked right past Celie and right out the door.

“What happened to him?”

“I guess killing something really spooked him. Hasn’t been the same since.” I told Ax, sitting on a stool far away from a husky elf-man who gave me weird looks.

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“Well… uh- the usual?” I nodded my head and Ax prepared me a cup of warm milk. Celie sat 2 seats away from me, waving for a cup as well. “Tell me about it, I’m sure it was fun…”

And so I told him everything. Everything except the dragon.

“Well I’ll be damned… What was your reward?” I jerked my head hearing Ax asking me that question.

“Uh… 4 silver and 25 copper coins” I told him.

“22 copper coins, actually.” Celie butted in.

“They really got the best of you, huh?” Ax shook his head in disappointment, cleaning a few other dishes. “You know- you can clear up dungeons yourself. All ya’ gotta do is just bring the treasure to a merchant guild and they’ll give you the coin. Though, I’d advise you to bring an adult who knows his currency. Otherwise, they’ll do you dirty just as your adventuring party did.”

Celie and I exchanged glances, and Ax shook his head in response.

“You don’t know any adults? Dear Hyldum…”

“Hyldum?” I asked

“Oh child, you’ve lots to learn.” Ax shook his head even more furiously, and this irritated me. “He’s our creator, and he’s the greatest God.”

“One of the greatest?” I asked but received no response.

There are Gods in this world?!

Celie yawned, stretched and made her way upstairs.

“Someone’s tired.”

“Don’t mind her. I want to ask you something, Ax.”

“Hm?”

“About that magic academy-”

“Whale’s Second Division Magician Academy!” Ax seemed much more interested in where our conversation was leading to.

“Yes… uh- what’s the minimum age to enroll there?”

“I believe 13… Most likely 13. Second Division Magician Academies only last 2 years, so by the time you graduate will be the time you’re an adult.”

“Ah, I see. What’s the tuition fee?”

“Yur asking me as if I run the damn place!”

“Sorry…” I yawned. “I guess I should sleep as well. It’s been a long week…” We waved goodbye.

I followed her shortly after, giving great yawns and plopping on my bed.

“Celie, are you still awake?”

“Screw off, I was about to sleep…” she cried.

“Sorry… would you mind enrolling in a magic academy with me?”

“Hm?” She sat up, but I didn’t bother sitting up as well.

“We can make enough money to cover the tuition fee by clearing dungeons. I mean, I beat a B+ tier dungeon boss… Hardstone said that was about 16 silver coins worth!”

“What’s a dungeon boss?” She asked, fixing her messy hair away from her eye and blowing it out of her mouth.

“Nothing. Just give me an answer.”

“Fine.” She threw herself back to bed.

It was hard for me to sleep that night, thinking of all the things that could become in my newest, near future.

__

Ax gave me information about Whale’s Magician Academy the next morning, and I set off to get more information about the school.

Thankfully, Celie was still sleeping so I wouldn’t have to bother bringing her with me.

I found myself standing in front of a shabby stall, occupied by an ederly woman with dusty navy blue robes and a crooked wizard's hat. She had large swollen pimples on her nose, and wrinkles covered her face.

“Ah… excuse me?” I called to the lady who leaned in her chair while giving loud snores. “Excuse me!” I shouted, and there was still no response.

I knocked on the stall and shouted once more, “EXCUSE ME!”

“GAH!” The woman shouted, reaching for her heart and rolling in her chair.

Oh shit…

“Ma’am! Are you alright?” My worry turned into anger as the old woman went from an exaggerating gasp into a large laughter, still rolling in her chair.

“Yes yes, what do you want?” She said, burning out the last of her laughter.

“This is the information booth about Whale’s Second Division Magician Academy, right?”

“Yes yes…” She stroked her nose, and I cringed at the sight of it. It was almost as if her nose was alive, because it vibrated and crinkled.

“Well, I’ve a few questions- two really.”

“Ask away.”

“Firstly, do you know the tuition fee?”

“If I didn’t, then I wouldn’t be here. Ha!” The old lady forced a laugh.

“Ok… well- what is it?” I felt my blood boiling inside of me, but I tried to think carefully so as to not react immaturely.

“15 silver and 69 copper coins.” She smirked

“That’s it?”

“That’s it?” She reiterated my question, standing up only to grow an inch taller from how she was when she was sitting down.

“I mean, I could just clear a B+ dungeon right now…”

“B+ DUNGEON?!” For a second I thought the old lady was just faking another heart attack, but she kept the supposed act for a long while until I said something, reaching my hand towards her, and only then did she stop and gasp. “You fool, if you could clear a B+ dungeon, why not just try for an academy like Hayward!”

“Ah, the tuition might be all too much…”

“Indeed… It's 55 silver coins and 99 copper to enroll there I believe… though the price is well worth it.”

I felt a sweat roll down my forehead just hearing that price.

“Right… oh- and one more question. Can ladies enroll here as well?”

“Hayward? No. Not that I know of.”

“I’m talking about Whale’s Magician Academy.”

“Oh! Yes. We welcome all students here.”

“I see… Well, that’s it. See ya’.” I waved her goodbye.

“Wait! What’s your name?” she asked me, my back turned to her.

“Jiro Nakajima.”

She fell back into her chair, and I made my way back to the tavern.