Chapter 09

Life Goes On

The morning sun filtered through the small, arched window of Finn's new room. Golden light spilt across the wooden floor, painting the space with warmth and reminding him that a new day had begun. Outside, the muffled sounds of bustling students seeped into the quiet, filling the room with a distant energy.

Finn stirred awake, his head heavy and sluggish. Echoes of the strange visions he’d seen the night before lingered at the edges of his mind like shadows refusing to fade. Blinking against the light, he stared up at the wooden beams of the ceiling, struggling to ground himself.

For a moment, he wasn’t sure if it had all been a dream—a strange, vivid nightmare—or something far more sinister. But the steady hum of life outside reassured him. He was here, at the academy. Alive.

Finn sat up, rubbing his temples. “The doctor,” he muttered, the words barely audible. The promise he’d made to himself before sleep had not been forgotten.

After strapping his watch to his wrist, Finn headed to the small bathroom to wash up. The cold water shocked him awake, but it did little to clear the lingering unease. Dressed in simple clothes and prepared to face the day, he resolved to see the infirmary first. Whatever was happening to him, he needed to be at his best for classes tomorrow.

Finn picked up his identification badge—his key to navigating the academy—and slipped it into his breast pocket. Forcing a smile onto his face, he unlocked his door and swung it open.

The dormitory had transformed since the night before. The once quiet halls were now alive with the sound of chatter and hurried footsteps. On the second floor, students shuffled about in varying states of readiness, some heading to their morning routines, others lingering in small groups.

Finn kept the weak smile in place as he descended the stairs, though the bustle felt oddly distant, like a scene from behind a thick pane of glass. The image of that monstrous figure from his dreams flickered in his mind, vivid and unshakable. He clenched his fist, grounding himself with the steady rhythm of his steps.

The moment he stepped outside, the brisk morning air greeted him, carrying with it the tantalizing smell of breakfast wafting from the cafeteria. His stomach growled, betraying his determination to focus solely on his goal.

“Well,” Finn suddenly muttered, cracking a small, genuine smile. “Guess I’ll have to stop by the cafeteria after seeing the doctor... Priorities.”

He nodded, recalling the infirmary’s location from the day before. He was confident he could find his way.

He joined the tide of students flowing up and down the street like paths, the liveliness and orderly bustle relaxing his mind a little. The rhythmic sound of footfalls against the harsh cobblestone echoed in his mind, brushing away some of the lingering unease that still remained.

The infirmary came into view before long, its white stone façade gleaming in the sunlight. Finn quickened his pace, weaving through groups of chatting students.

Pushing open the door and stepping inside, Finn noted the quiet hum of activity within the building and the stark contrast it had to the lively chatter outside. He was pleasantly greeted by the faint, sweet aroma of herbs and medicine, bringing him a relaxing sense of calm.

Reminds me of the doctors at home... Finn thought in reminiscence.

Finn looked around, where a clerk, a woman in a white robe with dark hair tied in a tight bun, looked up from behind a desk near the entrance.

Noticing Finn's gaze, she smiled. "Can I help you?" she asked, her tone polite but efficient.

Finn tapped his feet against the floor. He wasn't sure what to say. Quickly coming up with a half-truth, he answered;

"Uh, ever since I arrived at Magyo I've had this really bad headache that won't go away."

The clerk nodded. "Could be the sudden exposure to the dense mana..." she whispered to herself, looking down at something. "Do you have any other symptoms, uh..."

"Finn," he quickly replied. "And yeah kinda. I've been feeling pretty lightheaded and dizzy every now and then..."

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"Mhm," she nodded again as she tapped against a small translucent screen. "Sounds like common mana exposure. It's not super common for students in this academy though."

Finn nodded, recognizing the term. He’d heard of it before. Mana exposure was common among lower-class people travelling to areas with thicker mana density, and Magyo was renowned as one of the most mana-dense locations in the region. But he couldn’t recall hearing about it causing hallucinations or nightmares.

“Is there any medicine for, uh, common mana exposure?” he asked, his tone hesitant.

The clerk shook her head. “Not typically. The best thing you can do is meditate to acclimate faster. It usually takes a few days, sometimes a week at most.”

Finn forced a smile, thanked her, and stepped outside back into the crisp morning air.

The visit had been uneventful if he was honest. He might’ve gotten a better answer if he’d told the truth about his symptoms, but the thought of being labelled as crazy or attention-seeking stopped him. A lower-class student claiming to see things? No one would take him seriously—or at least, that’s what he told himself.

As he started walking toward the cafeteria, he passed a group of laughing students. He thought he caught a glimpse of something out of the corner of his eye—a shadow flickering unnaturally against the sunlight. He stopped, blinking, but the shadow was gone. 'Just my imagination,' he muttered, though his clenched fists told a different story

“I’ll figure it out,” he muttered, his voice barely audible.

He had to. How could he thrive here—how could he become a great mage—if he was constantly hallucinating and barely able to sleep?

Finn shook his head, pushing away the thought. Could it truly be nothing more than mana exposure? If that were the case, it would fade in a few days, allowing him to return to normal life.

But what if it wasn’t?

The question lingered like an unwelcome guest who refused to leave. Finn clenched his fists, forcing his legs to keep moving. There had to be answers somewhere—maybe in the library, or buried in the academy’s secrets. Whatever it was, he would find it.

For now, though, his stomach had other priorities.

Soon, Finn arrived at the famed academy cafeteria. The reason for its fame? The fact that it had food from all over the world of course! Famous dishes from far in the north, or even the south!

Finn was practically drooling as he entered the cafeteria. He didn't know what he expected to see, but what he saw was truly jaw-dropping. Finn scanned the sight in front of him with wide eyes, his breath catching as he took in the grandeur of the space. The cafeteria was nothing short of magical—literally.

Floating platforms hovered in midair, interconnected by shimmering bridges made of translucent mana that glowed faintly with every step a student took. The platforms moved seamlessly, carrying trays of food, cups of steaming beverages, and even whole tables from one level to another. It was like watching an elaborate dance, with mana streaks trailing behind the floating objects like glowing ribbons.

The ceiling stretched impossibly high, painted with an ever-shifting mural of a clear sky that occasionally morphed into a starry night, complete with drifting constellations. Sunlight—or at least, something that mimicked it—streamed down, illuminating the room with a soft golden hue that made the space feel warm and alive.

Finn’s gaze was drawn to the centre of the cafeteria, where an enormous fountain of mana stood. Streams of vibrant, multicoloured energy spiralled upwards before cascading down like a waterfall, dispersing into smaller streaks that wove through the air like playful spirits.

How on earth is that even possible? How does the food get sent to the right student? Who sends the food? he questioned internally. Floating bridges, glowing mana, and constellations on the ceiling? Was this a cafeteria or the setting of some noble’s fairy tale? Finn’s jaw nearly dropped.

"Okay, no pressure," he whispered to himself, "but if the food isn’t as magical as this room, I’m going to riot."

Spotting an empty seat, he quickly headed over and made himself comfortable. As soon as he sat down, a holographic screen popped up in front of him, making his heart skip a beat.

Finn jokingly placed his hand on his chest. "There could have at least been a warning..."

Scanning through the screen, he realised it was the menu. The selection was beyond vast, each dish represented with a mouthwatering image and description. There were cuisines he had never even heard of, from spicy northern stews to delicate southern pastries, and even exotic dishes made with ingredients that glowed faintly with mana.

His stomach growled again, louder this time, urging him to decide quickly. With a few swipes and taps, Finn ordered a hearty plate of roasted flying boar and seasoned vegetables, drizzled with a soft gravy, popular in the north for its unique flavour. He didn't care if it was morning, he was going to eat what his stomach wanted.

Not even a couple of minutes passed, and the food arrived. It had whizzed through the air atop a platform before it stopped right next to Finn as if waiting for him to take the food so it could move on. Finn of course picked up the food and cutlery as fast as he could.

He began wolfing down the food like he hadn't eaten in months. The flavour, the texture, everything was unlike anything he'd ever tasted before. If this was how food was going to be like for the rest of his life, then he was fairly certain he'd go fat.

I can get used to this, Finn thought to himself as he stuffed more food into his mouth.

He had only been here for just over a day and he already felt like he had begun a new life. Almost everything he had ever dreamt of was unfolding in front of him like a fairytale, it was simply unreal.

It was almost too good to be true. Was he really going to live in luxury like this for the rest of his life?