The gentle morning light filtered through the tall windows of her room, casting soft beams across the floor and the bed where she now lay. The scent of fresh herbs and the faint sound of birdsong outside told her that the day was new, and she was, once again, ready to begin. She nearly leapt out of bed in excitement, she was here, finally.

She stretched carefully, testing her arm's mobility and there not even soreness remained. The healing potion and Elyra’s spell had done their job, the only thing that remained was a slight headache, probably a side effect to the healing potion. She felt a hundred times better than it had the night before and was eager to begin the day.

“Good to see you up,” Braak’s voice came from the doorway, warm yet firm. The half-giant’s massive build filled the entry, his broad shoulders nearly brushing the doorframe. He offered a smile that stretched from ear to ear. “You’re looking better. I’m glad we got you patched up. Don’t want to lose such promising potential this early, eh?”

Lorelai sat up slowly, rubbing the back of her neck. She felt… different today. Stronger, somehow. Not just physically, but mentally. Her mind was clearer, and her resolve firmer. She had been through a trial, and she had survived it. Not without cost, maybe the trial was supposed to teach her that anything can happen. That losing one's life in the pursuit of your dreams is a very plausible outcome. She survived this time and that was something to be proud of, but she didn't want to just 'survive', she wanted to be a champion.

“So...where do we start,” Lorelai asked, her voice steady, but she did not do well trying to mask her enthusiasm. She wasn’t about to let yesterday’s lesson go to waste. “What comes next?”

Braak nodded approvingly, crossing his massive arms over his chest. “There’s a lot more to learn that’s for sure, but before you start going hog wild into danger again, you need to get acquainted with how things work around here. Follow me.”

He motioned for her to follow him, though Lorelai felt 'hog wild' was a weird phrase she didn't question it. She was seeing how the world as she knew it shift on its axis the moment she entered into the academy. As they walked, Braak led her down corridors lined with mosaic murals depicting legendary battles and magical feats. The walls here seemed to hum with power, an energy that coursed through the academy like an ever-present current. Lorelai could feel it, the deep well of magic that saturated every inch of the stone. "Do you feel that?" Braak asked, "The walls have been fortified with magic, if we didn't we wouldn't be able to find a place sturdy enough to shelter all these powerhouses."

“So, what’s next on the agenda?” Lorelai asked, her eyes darting from one fascinating artifact to another as they passed. The academy was unlike any place she had ever seen beautiful and intimidating, ancient yet alive with the promise of future discoveries. “You need to meet your professor,” Braak answered with a half-smile. “Some of them are a bit… unconventional, but they know their stuff. You’ll also need to take the entrance exam to gauge your abilities. It’s not just about brute force here, it’s about understanding how to use what you have.”

Lorelai felt a flicker of nervousness. “So, more tests?”

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“Nah, not that kind of exam,” Braak corrected. “You’ve already had yours. Gortesh’s little lesson. For this next one, you simply place your hand on a crystal and it gives us a detailed layout of your skills, spells and abilities. That will allows us to pair you with one of the professors whose skillset complements yours. You are able to have multiple mentors if need be, some of the hidden classes grant attack magic and weapon specializations. In those cases we try to give a weapon expert and a magic expert to guide them since having both is relatively rare.”

They stopped in front of a large wooden door. Braak knocked twice, then pushed it open without waiting for a response. Inside was a large, open room with stone floors and a high ceiling, almost like a training hall, but with an air of scholarly refinement. There were bookshelves on one wall, with scrolls and tomes stacked haphazardly on tables. And standing in the middle of the room, hands on her hips was an elvish woman, Lorelai hadn’t expected to see anyone here.

She was tall, slender, with dark skin and grey hair woven into intricate braids. The drow's clothing was light and practical, but there was an air of wisdom about her, an aura that spoke of ancient knowledge. She turned as they entered, her eyes immediately locking onto Lorelai with an intensity that made the air feel charged.

“Ah, the student who left a blemish on Gortesh,” the woman said, her voice smooth but sharp, like the edge of a well-wrought blade. “I’d heard of you. Lorelai, was it?”

Lorelai nodded, standing a little straighter in front of the woman. “Yes, that’s me.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t bite,” she said with a half-smile. “I’m Professor Isha, one of the lead instructors here at the academy. I’m sure you’re wondering why I’m the one here to assess you.”

“Actually, I was just thinking that,” Lorelai admitted.

“The reason is not simply because I specialize in combat magic, but because I have been around the longest know most everyone's strengths and teaching styles. Isha stepped forward to introduce herself, “I’m a combat mage, but my specialty lies in enchantments and manipulations. I teach students how to use magic in practical, battlefield situations. My particular focus is on enhancing weapons and armor, as well as teaching defensive magic.”

Lorelai’s heart skipped a beat, she was a class that melded the line between support, logistics, and combat. She was truly impressed the academy lived up to its reputation.

Isha raised her cupped hand and within it held a pool-ball sized orange crystal. "Inject your mana into this so I can recommend you a few instructors," Isha instructed.

Lorelai did as she was instructed, and through the crystal, a projection of her entire status sheet was laid bare. Isha's eyebrows rose in surprise.

"Level two already? I didn't think our trial was that hard, you must've come across an unexpected opportunity. Hmmm, let me see. Never heard of the Martial Force class but based off your magical affinities I'd at least say its a perfect fit for you." Isha continued to analyze her character sheet and if she was surprised by anything on there she didn't show it.

"It looks like you have a high affinity for very rare magic, so rare in fact that we have one person who wields lightning magic and one that wields gravity. We dont have anyone here that can use spacetime magic at all. I'd imagine the lightning magic professor would love to chat with you about its second tier." Isha walked away talking seemingly to herself. After a moment or two she came back announcing her decision.

"Very well, on the Prime day you'll have training with the sword and spear from Avantus, his class is weapon master so you'll be in good hands in that department. You will alternate meeting the lightning magic professor and the gravity magic professor every Tria day of the week. The rest of your time is to be spent practicing your skills, expanding your abilities and gaining levels. Once a month is a group dungeon delve, so be prepared.