Lance made his way through the bustling streets of Valoria, the city at the center of creation. The day had been a whirlwind of activity, but now, with a sack of gold coins and the knowledge that he was finally here, Lance felt a sense of purpose and excitement. Alaric and Garret had stayed behind in the marketplace, leaving Lance to navigate the city on his own.

Ember trotted faithfully beside him, their bond growing stronger with each step. Lance held the brochure for Elderglen Institute tightly in his hand, the map and information it contained his guide to this new chapter in his life.

The Institute stood tall and proud over the city, its castle-like structure a beacon that was easy to find. The towers and spires of Elderglen reached toward the sky, their silhouettes stark against the fading light. The sight filled Lance with awe and determination.

As Lance walked through the open gates of Elderglen Institute, he immediately noticed the diverse array of students practicing magic in the sprawling courtyard. Humans, elves, beast folk, and other races were engaged in various arcane activities, The air was alive with the hum of magical energy.

As he reached the main campus, Lance's attention was drawn to an unusual sight: a man with a goatee running, through the air! The man was muttering to himself, “Late again, late again, the Chancellor will have my head! Got to get to class!”

Intrigued and a bit bewildered, Lance stepped closer. “Excuse me, sir. Could you tell me where the office is?”

The man just kept going. A crimson-glowing hand materialized out of thin air and pointed toward a fancy-looking building. “Welcome to Elderglen!” the man shouted, as he ran muttering about being late.

Lance watched him go, shaking his head in amazement. “What a place,” he murmured to Ember, who barked in agreement.

With the crimson hand’s guidance, Lance made his way to the administration building. As he stepped inside, he noticed that the building was eerily empty except for a strange scene in the middle. A weird creature sat on top of a chair, signing papers. Around him, crimson-glowing hands whizzed in and out, similar to the ones the bearded man outside had summoned.

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Lance cautiously approached. The creature, noticing him, scowled. “What are you staring at?” it snapped.

Though the creature looked scrawny, its body radiated power. Lance stammered a reply. “I’m here to enroll. My name is Lance.”

The creature eyed him critically before replying, “I’m Krel, the registrar. Get over here and let’s get started.”

Lance handed over his letter and provisional acceptance. Krel snatched the documents and peered at them with exaggerated scrutiny. “Ah, Lance. We’ve been expecting you,” he said, then suddenly leaned forward and growled, “Boo!”

Lance jumped back, startled, while the creature chuckled. “mortals” Krel said with a sigh. “Now, let’s get you all set up.”

Krel handed Lance a stack of paperwork. “First, fill out these forms. We need to know everything about you. Take your time; I'll be right here.”

Once he completed the forms, Lance returned them to Krel, who looked them over with a critical eye. “Looks good. Now, you’ll need to provide a signature on these documents, confirming your enrollment and agreeing to the Institute’s terms and conditions.”

Krel handed Lance another set of papers, which detailed the rules and regulations of Elderglen Institute. Lance skimmed through them, noting the emphasis on academic integrity, respect for fellow students, and the proper use of magic. He signed the documents and handed them back to Krel.

Lance hesitated, “Do you have a place to stay? i was hoping you have a residential are for students.”

Krel let out a laugh, and everybody in the room winced. “Of course we have a residential area! Do you have any more companions besides your hellhound?”

“No, it's just Ember and me,” Lance replied.

Krel nodded, tapping his chin thoughtfully. “An apartment in the northern insula will do. It has two rooms, a living room, a kitchen, and a balcony overlooking most of the student residential area. Perfect. The rent is five gold per month.”

Lance felt a surge of relief and quickly agreed, thankful for the gold he had earned from the dire wolf. “That sounds great. I’ll take it.”

“Good,” Krel said, handing Lance a key. “Get yourself settled in, and then fill out the course registration form for the classes you wish to take in your first year. The forms are in the library. Classes start in two weeks. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.”

Lance nodded, taking the key. “Thank you, Krel.”

*****************************************

Lance stood on the balcony of his new apartment, overlooking the student residential area. The room was spacious and well-furnished, a far cry from what he had been used to. Ember explored the space curiously, sniffing at the furniture and peering out the window.

Lance let out a deep breath, taking in the view. “We made it, Ember,” he said softly. “This is our new home.”