One long month passed with me stuck in my room. It’s not like it mattered to me, I still had access to my books. I was really only annoyed at the fact that I technically lost. Even though he ran away, I was the on who fell unconscious. In normal situations, that would mean death.

*Knock, Knock*

A few knocks on my door tore my attention away from my book.

Xiv: “Enter.”

The door opened and Helia walked in. A wide grin on her face. There goes my peace and quiet.

Helia: “Do you know what tomorrow is?”

She looked excited.

Xiv: “The next day?”

Helia: “No silly, it’s the start of the new semester at the royal academy!”

Xiv: “So?”

Helia looked distraught.

Helia: “It also means you get to get out of here and stretch your legs!”

Xiv: “I see.”

I continued reading my book. Helia jumped on my bed.

Xiv: “Can you please get off?”

Helia: “Do you know what else?!”

Xiv: *Sigh* “What?”

She started to smile again. “I got in too!”

I continued to read my book. “Congratulations.”

She sat down beside me. “Why aren’t you excited as I am? We get to go to the same school and the best school there is!”

I looked at her, her face was a little too close.

Xiv: “I don’t see what’s exciting. Its just another place with books and tutors, with the extra addition of stress, responsibility, forced expectations and tons of other students going through the same thing.”

Helia: “Well… when you put it like that it doesn’t sound to fun but it can be! We can make new friends!”

Xiv: “I don’t have friends.”

Helia: “You have me, and Luce!”

Xiv: “Luce is my guard, you’re just an important guest who comes over way too often.”

Helia looked really sad as I said that.

Helia: *Sigh* “Why are you always like this? People need to rely on each other, but you always push others away.”

Xiv: “It’s because I don’t need others. I need workers.”

Helia: “You’re especially sour today aren’t you.”

Was I? Maybe being cooped up in here did have an effect.

Xiv: “Maybe, but my point still stands.”

*Knock, Knock*

Another knock on the door brought our attention to the doorway. Rale was standing there.

Xiv: “Rale. I don’t recall you ever coming to my chambers before. Come in.”

Helia: “You invite him in but not me?”

Xiv: “He’s not as annoying.”

Rale entered. He was a tall man with a thick leather overcoat. He had brown hair and brown eyes. He wore, thick worn-out glasses and always carried a book around with him. He was always serious, something I liked about him.

Rale: “Xiv, I need to discuss something with you. You too Helia. It’s perfect that you two are together.”

Interesting, he wants to talk?

Xiv: “What is it?”

Rale: “The school you’re going to. The academy. I know you’re a prodigy Xiv but that place isn’t to be taken lightly.”

Xiv: “You mean the work will be harder? That’s fine, I needed a good mental exercise.”

Rale: “No Xiv. Studying is only one half of the School. The other half is application, whether it be in combat with other students, or real-life exercises against real-life monsters. Your performance in that school determines the outcome of your social life. I’m just warning you. I taught there once. It was a cruel place with no forgiveness.”

Rale looked extra serious this time. I also learned something new.

Xiv: “You taught there?”

Rale: “Yes but it wasn’t for very long. I disagreed with how they taught the students and left the academy.”

That’s an interesting piece of information.

Xiv: “I’ll take your advice into consideration Rale. I need to experience the school first hand to fully understand your warnings. Don’t worry though. If you truly taught there then I should have the written half of the school down. I’ll see what’s so scary about the other half.”

Rale nodded and started to exit.

Rale: “Just make sure you aren’t kicked out. That’s the worst possible situation.”

He left closing the door behind him.

He looked truly concerned.

I turned to Helia who was muttering something under her breathe. Looks like she took his words to heart.

Xiv: “It’s about time you leave as well Helia. We have a long day tomorrow and the sun is setting, I’d like to get as much rest as I can before the day ends.”

Helia nodded not saying a word. She was really spooked.

She got up and left.

I got up and closed the door before returning to my bed. Drowsiness overtook my body. The sun had fallen and I was feeling weak.

I jumped in my bed and closed my eyes. Rale’s warnings… only furthered my curiosity. What does this place have in store for me?

---

Morning came and left swiftly, now I was sitting inside my carriage, heading towards the capital. Helia didn’t join me surprisingly. I suppose even she has her own reputation.

It was silent in the carriage, just how I liked it. Luce and some other guards were riding on the outside, thankfully. It gave me time to read my book, relax and enjoy the scenery, or think about the school.

School had always compared unfavorably to tutoring. A bunch of students enter a classroom to be taught the same, predetermined curriculum whereas tutoring consisted of only one teacher and student allowing the student to slow down, or in my case, speed up the curriculum. Really school was for those who couldn’t afford a tutor.

What Rale said though, and the praise the academy receives, I feel it comes more from the application part of the school. Something I’ve never seen nor heard of.

It interested me. How could a faulty education system receive this much attention and glory?

I contemplated these things while staring out the window. Our kingdom was full of nature, almost every area was forested, and almost every forest infested with monsters. Before the plethora wars, human settlers had carved these paths and villages through the forest and pushed back the monsters trying to reclaim their land.

The trees were nothing special themselves. Rough, brown trunks with leafy, green leaves. Their only redeeming factor was the fact that they held home to so many different creatures despite the forest only consisting of that one type of tree.

Soon, the carriage stopped, it seemed we reached the border.

There was some discussion outside before the carriage started to move again. Doesn’t seem I have to confirm my presence/nobility here. The less work the better.

The surroundings drastically changed as we continued towards the capital. The thick forests turned into farmland and houses. The first houses I saw were shabby but as we continued, the state of the houses improved as well.

I’ve only been to the capital once or twice so these sights and roads are new to me. I stuck my head out the window, only to see the massive forty ft. wall we were approaching.

It was unlike any fortress I had seen before. Even from here I could see the hundreds of guards patrolling the walls. Directly surrounding it was the slums of the capital, they were in even worse shapes than the first farming houses.

We approached the front gate. It was a giant metal door with gold trimmings and the royal insignia etched into the front. Two guards stood by either side, one of them approached, spear at the ready.

Luce got off his horse and started to talk to the guard. “I am Luce from the Aenios family and I am currently escorting Xiv Aenios to his destination into the capital.”

The guard nodded and peered behind Luce, spotting me. “The noble, Xiv Aenios, requests access to the capital!”

The large doors opened and the carriage continued to move again.

This was glorious fortress.

We entered the capital city, the heart of the human kingdom. Houses and shops lined the roads, none of them in a state of disrepair like those outside. The roads themselves were a smooth stone, unlike the more common cobblestone roads. This wasn’t my destination though.

My destination was in the very center of the city, right above us.

Floating in the skies, was probably the most impressive detail of them all, something I had noticed from afar.

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

The royal school of magic. It truly stood out form the meager buildings that lay before it. The walls were pure marble and gold, as were the towers, which stretched the building even farther into the sky.

Instead of casting a shadow, it seemed to glow brightly. Like a small star right above the city.

I could see the guards looking in awe at the school. Really, it was more of a castle than a school.

The driver continued towards the middle, where the entrance to the school was. All I could see was a small tower that pointed towards the school. I assumed they had some wind magician or magical beast to carry us up to the school.

As we got closer, I could start to see more carriages and even commoners around my age walking towards the tower. It was the destination given to us in the letter. They must be my peers. Interesting, they accept any student, as long as they have powerful magic.

Schools don’t usually do that because commoners upset the nobles. I guess even the nobles don’t have a say when it comes to the royal academy.

The buildings started to thin down as we got closer to the middle. They were replaced by a circular building that surrounded the tower. I immediately noticed the energy the building emitted and concluded that this was the famous temple.

The temple payed homage to each of the nine gods, despite one of them being despised by most of the population.

At this point our carriage was halted by some guards, behind them was a man covered in thick robes that displayed a flurry of colours. He was smiling and had an aura of calm around him.

Priest: “As to keep the respect, we kindly ask that the carriage and horses be halted here, there are stables to the right if you wish to use them. Also, please keep your voice down, we wish to keep the serenity and peacefulness around the temple for as long as we can.”

Luce opened the door to my carriage.

Luce: “I’ll take care of the carriage and horses, you should continue on without us.”

I exited and Luce handed me the invitation letter, probably as proof of my entrance into the royal academy.

I walked past the guards, they bowed. The priest however, did not. As I would expect, wealth and land constantly compete with religion for power. Priests are sometimes considered even farther above nobles.

I entered the temple. I could feel the energy I felt before rush into me. I was invigorated. The walls of the temple were covered in murals depicting the gods and their endeavours around the world.

Statues were scattered around the temple in a seemingly random order.

I could see worshipers line the halls, men, women, children, the elderly and the noble folk alike. As I was looking around, my attention was drawn away by a girl, kneeling before one of the statues. She had long green hair and a gentle smile on her face.

I don’t know why but I was entranced by her. There wasn’t much about her. She wasn’t that pretty and she wore commoner’s clothes. I couldn’t even sense magic around her, I wonder why…

???: “Hey!”

A shout from inside the centre of the temple dragged my attention away from her. When I had looked back, she was already gone. Damn.

I looked to the source of the voice and saw a huge crowd of people around my age. All of them emitting powerful magic, they surrounded a large grassy filed with the tower, now much bigger up close and personal, in the middle.

I seem to have found the rest of the students.

I continued to the middle where I heard another shout.

???: “Hey! You! Get back here!”

It was obviously not directed at me, but it seems like someone had pissed off someone bad.

It was only a few seconds later before a boy with yellow hair and absolutely flamboyant clothes, burst out of the crowd, thunder wrapped around him. His eyes were furrowed and he was scanning the area around him.

Yellow: “You little punk… I’m going to-“

He was cut off as a bubble wrapped around him and lifted him up and out of the temple. He was obviously shocked and also quite possibly embarrassed as the rest of the students started to laugh at him.

He tried to shout and break the bubble, but I could neither hear nor see him doing anything. It was like he was stuck.

Serves him right for making a scene in the temple.

???: “Hello students.”

A mysterious voice coming from the centre, caused the rest of us to look back.

From inside the tower was a woman, wearing glasses and deep blue clothes, her hands were glowing a brilliant blue. I could feel powerful… dangerous magic coming from her.

???: “I am one of the instructors to your new school, right now, I’m here to send you to the school and also remove any troublemakers.”

She walked out onto the grassy field, and looked towards the tower, which started to pulse with energy.

Instructor: “Years ago, our school was destroyed due to our war with the other races.”

The tower started to glow even more.

Instructor: “It took us many years to rebuild it but in our eyes, that was a good thing. We learned new magic, magic that enabled us to lift the earth to the sky.”

A small beam started to form at the very top.

Instructor: “Magic like… teleportation.”

My eyes went wide. The tower stopped charging and a huge beam fired towards the school. I could feel a tether, similar to my chain between the two. Teleportation… a magic I thought was impossible. I looked up, towards the school. It seems coming here was worth it after all.

Inside the tower, a magic circle appeared, it glowed a various degree of hues and was as wide as the tower itself.

The other students were shocked as well. Only a select few individuals weren’t shocked.

A tall, muscular student, a girl with literal wings sprouting from her back. A boy who disappeared into the crowd, and the instructor herself.

Instructor: “When you are ready, enter the teleportation circle. Your first and possibly your final test will begin.”

A test? On the first day of school?

As she said that, students started to scramble inside, trying to be the first one inside the teleportation circle. I was near the edge of the group, even if I rushed, I wouldn’t make it to the centre.

I walked slowly towards the circle. Watching students touch it and completely disappear. Either this really was a teleportation circle, or someone just committed genocide. I decided to watch and wait instead of entering to early.

The girl with wings started to move, she commanded an aura of confidence and power which showed as the students started to slow down and eventually stop to let her through.

It took a few more minutes before the rest of the students went through, leaving only me and the instructor.

She approached me. “Why haven’t you gone in yet? You’ll be left behind if you don’t go in now. I sense powerful magic coming from you, some of the strongest in years. It doesn’t dismiss the fact that you can still fail.”

I looked toward the circle. “Excuse me, I was lost in my thoughts. Don’t worry though. Whatever your ‘challenge’ is, I won’t fail.”

With confidence, I walked towards the magic circle, taking a step inside, and immediately blacking out.

---

When I awoke, I was in a thick forest with trees surrounding me. I turned my head around, trying to find anything. It seems like, not only was I in somewhere I didn’t know, I was completely alone as well. I can at least confirm the teleportation circle did work, I just didn’t know if it malfunctioned and sent me here, or this was all part of the test.

Deciding that standing around wasn’t going to do anything, I started to walk in a random direction, hoping to find a clearing of an exit out of the forest, then I could properly assess my situation.

As I continued, I felt an ominous feeling, almost like a portent of bad things to come.

My surroundings grew darker, the magic in the air grew thinner. Something was definitely not right about this place.

And I was right. In the distance, I could see a few rays of sunshine and a grassy, open field. I walked towards it, maybe I could find some clues as to where I was.

Entering, the clearing, I noticed obvious tracks of other creatures. There were only two tracks that seemed to be recent through.

One belong to humans, their path continued to my right. I looked in that direction and I spotted the building called the royal academy of magic.

I know where they were headed at least. It didn’t answer the question why the academy was here, in the middle of this forest though.

Examining the other tracks, I noticed they were not human. These tracks had probably belonged to a monster and by the fact that they matched the human’s path, I wouldn’t think its friendly.

Deciding I had no where to go but to the academy, I started to walk in that direction. It seemed as if someone had cut the trees and plants that grew here. The floor was still covered in green debris.

It was quiet and dark again, but this time I had a path to follow.

This, could this be the entrance exam? Is that why the academy was there?

*SNAP*

I whipped my head around, there was something else here other than me.

Behind me lurked a huge figure, glowing red eyes and sinister rows of teeth. Thick, iron-like scales covered its lizard-like body and its tail was lashing around, knocking trees around.

My eyes went wide. A dragon…

Xiv: “Come guardians of light, death and purity, heed my call and smite the evil before me!”

An intense, gray light enveloped the area as three angels emerged. The first was Justice. She wore white gowns with golden bracers and belts. Her right hand carried a scale, her left carrying her sword. Her golden hair shimmered in the sun.

The second to emerge was Purity. He wore similar white gowns except with the exception of an iron breastplate and boots on top. He carried a shield with an ancient battle etched into the metal. He had silver hair but a smaller wingspan than Justice.

The last to arrive was Death. She was clearly different from the other two. She had dark skin and black hair. She wore a dark hood and she had a pair of raven wings. She carried a crooked scythe and she smiled as she emerged.

They had one thing they all shared in common though. A thick scarf that covered their necks.

The dragon, noticing the presence of the angels, let out a roar, stood on its hind legs and launched a massive ball of fire at Xiv.

Almost immediately, Purity jumped in front of Xiv, his shield raised. The fireball collided with the shield with impressive force, but the shield started to absorb the flames.

Death: “Finally! It’s been so long since I’ve came here last. Justice always gets to have fun, why don’t you call me sometimes?”

Xiv looked up to Death, who was leaning on her scythe. “Because you talk.”

Purity looked back. “It seems you’ve found a minor flame dragon. Those aren’t common.”

Xiv’s eyebrows furrowed. “I know.”

Death: “So, do we get to kill it!?”

Death started to smile enthusiastically.

Xiv looked at the dragon. The dragon stared back. He could feel its overwhelming amount of magical energy. He wasn’t yet strong enough to bind this creature yet.

Xiv nodded and Death started to squeal enthusiastically.

Death: “You finally decide to call us and it’s to kill a dragon! I’m glad you choose me!”

Death started to rush up to the dragon before Purity grabbed her wing, pulling her beside him.

Purity: “Don’t be hasty. Let me go first. I’m sure Justice doesn’t want to deal the killing blow either. We know you want to.”

Death sighed. “Fine.”

Purity, hoisted his shield up and started to slowly walk towards the dragon.

Seeing this powerful presence continue to walk closer, the dragon lurched, then stretched his neck out and started to bellow flames.

Now, a dragon’s flame can burn through most mortal objects, but an angel’s shield isn’t mortal.

Purity continued to walk forward. While the shield couldn’t absorb all the flames, the flames couldn’t damage the shield. They simply bounced off.

Justice very closely followed Purity, whereas Death was nowhere to be found.

Finally the dragon stopped spewing flames. It’s breath exhausted.

Purity: “Now!”

Purity rushed up to the dragon and shoved his shield into its mouth. Justice quickly followed and cut off its legs.

The dragon roared in pain.

Suddenly, Death appeared from behind, swung her scythe and beheaded the dragon.

It’s eyes rolled over and its body started to quickly deteriorate into magic.

Xiv approached the dragon’s skeleton. He snapped the very tip of the dragon’s horns.

Death: “What’er you going to do with that?”

Xiv: “Even after death, a dragon’s bones still have power. The horns are where the energy is stored. You’ve lived thousands of years. You should know this.”

Death: “Eh, I only harvest the souls. I never desecrate the bodies. I wouldn’t be an angel if I did!”

Xiv pocketed the tips and started to walk back to the school.

Death: “Call us again soon! Oh, and when you do, find us an elder dragon okay?”

Purity and Justice bowed while Death simply waived. Another blinding light emerged, and they were gone as quickly as they came.

Xiv: “I don’t think even you’d be able to hand an elder dragon.”

---

It took Xiv about thirty more minutes before he finally reached the school. A large clearing surrounded it, making it easy to traverse.

As he walked inside he could see one student walking towards what seemed to be the front of the building. He decided to follow.

He walked beside the walls of the school before he found a large crowd of students. Much smaller than the crowd inside the temple but it was still a substantial amount.

They were all facing the instructor from before.

Instructor: “Hello students!”

He joined the crowd.

Instructor: “I’m pleased to announce that you have passed your entrance exam!”

It took a few seconds before the students started to laugh and cheer. Some fell onto the floor from exhaustion, others started to cry. The whole crowd though, was happy. Except one person.

What? It was an exam?

Instructor: “I’m sure some of you are very confused but your questions must be held onto for tomorrow. Because today, we celebrate!”

The massive doors behind her opened and she walked in. The students quickly following her.

Xiv, also followed but very sluggishly. His mind was still wrapped around the fact that a minor flame dragon had appeared.

He was lucky enough to escape unscathed, but that was because he had his angels.

The entrance hall was much more grand than any kings’. Paintings furniture, plants, armor, even the lighting was impeccable. Xiv, who wrapped in his thoughts ignored all of this.

The students were lead through an extremely confusing mess of halls and staircases before they reached a huge banquet room.

Instructor: “I’m sure you’re all hungry! ENJOY!”

The students scattered everywhere, taking up spots and feasting.

Some students, like the girl with wings, talked to the instructor and simply left the room.

Xiv, still oblivious, was in autopilot mode an empty seat. He took a small piece of bread, and started to eat.

???: “Xiv!”

Finally, after hearing his name, Xiv was removed from his thoughts and his eyes looked at the person who had called his name.

Helia was running towards him, she quickly sat down beside him with a huge grin on her face.

Helia: “Xiv, isn’t this place amazing? It’s better than the castles back at home!”

Xiv looked around and realized the grandeur of this place. An intense feeling of jealousy and greed overcame him for a brief moment, before disappearing.

Helia: “Are you okay?”

Xiv: “I’m… confused.”

Helia looked at Xiv suspiciously. Helia had never heard Xiv say that, had something happened?

Helia: “Xiv?”

Xiv stood up. Then sat back down. His arms were tired, and his magic was depleted. His eyes started to flutter.

Helia: “Xiv!?”

Xiv fell face first on the table, his world going dark before he finally passed out.