Towan’s eyes widened as he caught sight of a student summoning a swirling vortex of wind, its force lifting small objects into the air. “That’s insane…” he whispered, momentarily forgetting his nerves.

Elliot glanced at the display but quickly refocused on the path ahead. “Keep your head in the game. We’re not here to gawk.”

Professor Khalvar smirked faintly, his sharp ears catching their exchange. “These two might be out of place now, but there’s potential. Let’s see if they’re truly worthy of what they carry.”

As they neared the headmaster’s office, the ornate double doors loomed large before them, their intricate carvings of Essentia flows weaving into a mesmerizing tapestry. The faint hum of energy emanating from the doors seemed to echo the weight of the moment.

“Here we are,” Khalvar announced, stopping and turning to face the brothers. His expression softened slightly, though his eyes remained discerning. “This is your moment. I hope what you’ve brought will prove your worth.”

Towan swallowed hard, but Elliot stepped forward confidently, the letter firm in his hand. The students lingering in the hall watched intently, the tension thick in the air.

Whatever lay beyond those doors would determine their fate.

Professor Khalvar pushed open the grand wooden doors with deliberate care, their intricate carvings glowing faintly as though infused with Essentia. The hinges groaned softly, the sound echoing in the otherwise silent hallway.

“Headmaster Reniel,” Khalvar announced, his tone respectful yet firm, “I’ve brought two students who have something important to share with you.”

From within, a deep, resonant voice replied, “Enter.”

The single word carried a weight that made Towan and Elliot pause briefly. There was no anger in the tone, but its authority was undeniable, as though it alone commanded the room.

As they stepped inside, the air seemed to shift. The office was vast, its walls lined with towering shelves filled with ancient tomes and glowing scrolls. A massive desk of polished obsidian sat at the center, behind which loomed the headmaster himself.

Reniel’s presence was overwhelming. He was tall and broad-shouldered, his piercing gaze holding a quiet intensity that seemed to pierce through them. Though he made no threatening movements, the very air around him felt heavy, vibrating faintly with the essence of his power.

Both brothers felt it immediately—a palpable pressure emanating from the headmaster. It wasn’t just physical; it was as though his Essentia reached out to test their resolve, brushing against their own flows and forcing them to steady themselves.

“This presence…” Towan thought, his fists tightening instinctively.

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“It’s just like Eryndar’s,” Elliot continued in his mind, feeling the same unspoken challenge.

Though unspoken, they both recognized it: this was the level of a true master, someone who had honed their Essentia to an extraordinary degree.

Reniel’s sharp eyes shifted to Khalvar. “You may leave us,” he commanded, his voice firm but not unkind.

Khalvar gave a slight bow before stepping out, closing the doors behind him with a soft thud.

For a moment, the room was silent. The headmaster studied the two brothers with an inscrutable expression, his fingers steepled in front of him. The weight of his gaze was nearly as heavy as the pressure they felt.

“Speak,” Reniel said finally, his voice cutting through the quiet like a blade. “What brings you here?”

Towan and Elliot exchanged a glance, their shared determination giving them the strength to face the headmaster. Elliot stepped forward, holding out the letter with both hands.

“We were sent here by Master Eryndar,” he began, his voice steady despite the tension in the room. “This letter is meant for you.”

Reniel’s eyes flicked to the letter, a faint flicker of interest breaking through his otherwise stoic expression. Without a word, he extended a hand, his Essentia flaring slightly as the letter lifted from Elliot’s grasp and floated toward him.

The brothers could only watch as the headmaster’s expression shifted imperceptibly while he read, the weight in the room somehow growing heavier still.

“Interesting…” Headmaster Reniel murmured, folding the letter with deliberate precision and placing it neatly on his desk. His sharp eyes returned to the brothers. “So, you’re here to enroll,” he said, his tone neutral but laced with an undercurrent of scrutiny.

“That’s right, sir,” Elliot replied confidently, speaking for both of them.

The headmaster’s expression hardened slightly. “Do you realize how disrespectful it is to show up weeks after the term has begun?” he asked, his voice calm yet piercing.

The room’s pressure intensified. It was subtle at first, but soon it felt as though the air itself had turned against them, weighing down on their bodies. Towan and Elliot struggled to maintain their composure, their Essentia instinctively resisting the invisible force.

“We’re sorry, but we came as fast as we could,” Towan managed to say, his voice steady but strained under Reniel’s gaze.

Reniel’s piercing eyes shifted to him, amplifying the pressure. Towan felt his knees threaten to buckle, his breath catching as the weight bore down on him.

“That was clearly not enough,” Reniel stated flatly, his gaze now locking onto Elliot. The pressure followed, forcing Elliot to grit his teeth to stay upright.

Both brothers fell silent, their minds racing. The tension in the room was suffocating, and the headmaster’s calm demeanor only made it worse.

After what felt like an eternity, Reniel leaned back slightly in his chair. “You will start on Monday,” he declared, the oppressive atmosphere lifting instantly as though it had never been there. His expression softened, almost imperceptibly, as he added, “I’ll make an exception for you both.”

Towan and Elliot exchanged a brief glance, surprised by the sudden shift in tone.

“I’m fond of Eryndar,” Reniel continued, a faint smile touching his lips. “It’s been a long time since I last saw him, but it’s good to know he’s still training students. You should thank him—this is the first and last time I allow anyone to start late.”

The headmaster gestured to the doors behind them, which opened with a soft creak as though responding to his will. “Go to the clothing department to collect your uniforms. You may leave now.”

Realizing the conversation was over, the brothers bowed respectfully. “Thank you, sir,” they said in unison, their voices sincere.

Reniel watched them as they exited, the heavy doors closing smoothly behind them. Once alone, he reached for the letter again, his gaze lingering on the name signed at the bottom. A faint flicker of nostalgia crossed his features before he set the letter down and returned to his work.