We crossed the train tracks - turning to enter the city from the east - and got on the wide, northern road. It was about as wide as seven Toms would be tall. Occasionally carriages passed us in both directions, at abnormal speeds. 

Ahead, the ginormous city shined within its magic bubble.  Unlike the small town we passed weeks ago, this one had no physical walls, giving us a clear view of the structures within. From the east, small houses turned into manufactories around the main road. I suspected the west part of town also consisted of mid-end housing, but the city just stretched for kilometres. Beyond the outer buildings, stood glass towers, surrounded by some inner runic workings. 

A couple of towers even pierced the protective bubble of the city. On the slope of the Mountain, various towers occupied by the dragons dwarfed the human-made structures. Well, I couldn't see any dragons though, maybe they were shut-ins.

Once we reached the barrier, small runic circles flashed and three streaks of mana flew deeper into the city. We passed through without interference and Tom jogged on. Here and there, some workers stood before the manufactories, smoking and chatting.

Shielding the inner city from the noise of the industrial zone, was a wide park. Occasionally I noticed some teenagers skipping class and drinking some cheap-looking wines and beers. I waved at two coming out of bushes close to the road and they reddened. I waved my head, one should go deeper into more hidden places for such recreation.

Beyond the greenery, packed like sardines, glass towers pierced into the sky. On the pavement, stood wheeled fast-food stands. Lines of people of various races - all dressed in suits and otherwise official-looking outfits - stood in lines, grumbling about open offices, cubicles and whatever else corpo-rats liked to complain about.

No amount of magic could save you from paperwork. 

Some old people yelled at us, for not using fast-lanes for lone travellers. Tom hanged his head and paused by a bench, shaded by a tree. I lowered our bags and he studied a detailed map of the city. I didn't especially care to look at the squiggly lines, so I jumped off and joined a line for hot-dogs.

The luggage fell to the ground with loud noise as I let go of the manapane beneath it.

There were six people ahead of me. They didn't seem in a hurry to get back to work, as they were taking their precious time choosing the snacks. The one at front - a human male in a garish brown suit - put his head close to the sausages and was chatting with the shopkeeper. Behind the man, stood four kobolds in knee-length, black coats.  They had high heels, shaped for their elongated feet. All four had black scales.

Finally, just before me, stood a dwarven woman in a grey mini-suit. Well... normal sized for her, but she was like only a head taller than me.

The man at the front finally raised his head and picked a sausage. Then, he turned to the side and just as carefully, began to study sauces. 

"Mads! I found the way!" Tom called towards me. I shrugged and boosted over to his shoulder.

The cat ran around the corner and onto a sidewalk extending up and over the street. It seemed the sidestreets had multiple levels, for the pedestrians in a hurry. On some upper sidewalks, people were running at car speeds. The main road was empty, so I wasn't sure why we were supposed to use them, but when in Rome... avoid old people.

The commercial district was just a madness of magical neons, giant projections of various people showing off the products of more well of stores and the stores themselves. Every building had a unique shape, from stacked cubes, through various orbs, to crystalline mushrooms extending above everything else. There were also just stupid amounts of people here, most of them, trying to one-up another in their elaborate costumes.

Finally, we got back to the street level, in a small district of official-looking marble buildings. Each of the structures was about four or five storeys tall. Every street corner had a statue or an arch. 

We stopped at a large plaza, with a huge statue of Monica in the middle. She was in a half plate, half robe outfit and held a staff studded with precious gems. The statue was somehow enchanted, to look like a living person, just about a hundred times bigger. Maybe it was a really large mime.

Around the statue, was a small garden with a couple of outdoor restaurants. There was a roundabout walkway above the plaza, extending from the sidewalks and descending into the garden, through several ramps. It didn't seem to be supported by any columns.

Beyond the plaza, was a road leading towards a blue wall made out of some sort of crystal formation. It was uneven and jagged as if grown. On the other side of the wall, I could see the top of the Academy dome - reflecting sunlight - and four ivory towers on the right and one larger, dark tower on the left.

Tom paused in front of the only non-marble building, made out of the same crystal the Academy walls were made out of. Once he walked over to a plaque reading "Monica's Academy for Adorably Brilliant Children - Public Office" the wall slid into the ground, opening the way inside.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

The inside wasn't blue. The white marble floor was covered in a large, smooth, green carpet. In the far wall, stairs led to higher floors. Both of the side walls had small corridors leading deeper into the building and right by the door, was a reception.

Suddenly, a man without eyes stood before us. He wore a modern, black suit and had a small, kind smile on his face. His black hair was unkempt and extending a bit beyond his ears.

"Misses Mads and Diademata, as well as mister Tom Anand. A pleasure to meet you, if you would follow me?" His voice sounded like water dripping in a cave.

As the man led us towards the stairs, I decided to finally see how much I have changed, "Status."

Name:  Mads Age: 3 Race: Lesser Devil / High-Human Strength:  7(34) Titles Endurance:  10(34) Reckless Time and time again, you invited danger beyond your ability. Mind:  36(36) &%$*! Friend @%!^*# has shared a meal with you. Soul:  34 Talents Well:  37(37) Mental Resistance Your mind and soul have grown to refuse the influence of others Shell:  37(37) Lesser Devil You've grown your horns and took on more of your infernal heritage. Your flames no longer mimic nature.

I looked up from my screen to find I was sat on a deep-purple velvet sofa. Diada sat on my right and Tom on the left. Ahead, on the other side of a small green-crystal table, sat our guide. The room had a dark wooden floor, black marble walls and a large, floor to ceiling window - on the right. I could not see any doors. Behind the eye-less man, hung a silver-framed painting of various creatures of the night reaching towards a red moon.  On the sides of the painting stood two bookshelves, decorated with carvings of thorny roses.

The adult's flat skin, in place of eyes, was quite funny. I wondered if I could paint googly eyes on it... or two moustaches. Maybe it would be prudent to listen to the noises he was making with Tom?

"... mountain-side Tower," the man sang out. I poked Tom in the side. He didn't seem to notice through his gambeson, so I poked his thigh a couple of times. The kitten still didn't turn to me. I finally blasted his face with a manaball.

"Mads?" he shook his head and looked down towards me. 

"What's up?" I said, my face an oasis of smiling innocence.

The cat had a puzzled look on his face. He scratched the back of his head and finally answered, "We can already move into the Academy towers," he paused. "We won't get to join any lessons until the next summer, but..." The boy's eyes were sparkling.

I nodded and turned towards the man opposite us. He was smiling, like a grandfather than just smoked a pipe of weed and received cookies from his grandchildren. Well, I doubted anyone at his level of power would want to work in an Academy for children unless it was his deepest calling.

"And you, how's your day going?" I prodded the ancient thing. "Also, what's your name?"

He chuckled a flap of butterflies wings. Before he could open his mouth, I put the violin on Diada's knees. Maybe she'd show the old man, kids could make supernatural noises too.

He cocked an eyebrow at my antics and spoke, "I am Professor Salvius. I maintain, as well as teach about barriers and defensive formations." His voice sounded like a trill of fingers on a steel shield.

"I've just been explaining about your living accommodations to dear Tom." Resounded the shimmer of mana powering a barrier. The man glanced at Diada and focused back on me.

Diada was - as usual - munching on popcorn and looking into the distance. ... How did I know he glanced at her? I shrugged.

Salvius continued, "If you wish, you may begin living at the westernmost tower. You will receive three rooms on the top floor, as you have achieved the growth required for enrollment at an exceptionally young age, for both nobles...", he nodded at me and the spider, "... and peasants." He nodded towards Tom.

"Isn't it great Mads? We get to live at the Academy!!" The kid exclaimed excitedly. He was practically bouncing.

"I'd rather move in, once we enrol properly." I thought out loud and the cat visibly deflated. "Wouldn't it be more fun to get the full Academy experience all at once?" I said and poked Tom with my shoulder.

He leaned against the sofa and looked at the ceiling. After a while, he turned towards me and nodded. "I think you are right."

"Is it possible for children to rent an apartment in the city?" I questioned the professor.

"It is a common practice among the commoners, they take on odd jobs to accrue points to exchange for the more expensive learning implements." A rivers whisper passed to us. "If you wish to do so, you will be expected to arrive at the Academy gates at the twenty-sixth of the month of Hibernation."

That would be, the sixth month? I was never all that good with months and especially now with an entirely new naming system. Oh well, at worst Tom would know.

"No matter what you decide, one of Professor Horace's butlers should already be waiting for you in the lobby. The man is quite protective of his new protege." Salvius spoke in the tones of dragon-lighting helplessly splashing against a paper swan. 

The wall on the left slid down, revealing the white-marble corridor beyond. "Welcome to Draconis."

I turned to the man, furrowing my brows and tilting my head slightly. I received a wry smile back.

It was a bit of a shame, Diada didn't perform her amusing music, but there would be more opportunities. Tom picked her up, I lifted our luggage and after nodding to Salvius, we left the room.

Downstairs stood a Cate. Her eyes glimmered a little with excitement. It was the Cate. I waved at her and boosted over to hug her head. She caught me from behind and twirled around until I was facing her again.

"Hello, Mistress." Came the impassive voice.