Exchanging goodbyes, I left Mortan's blacksmith shop and started to trail a group of students wearing the Redwood Academy uniforms. The thought of attending a school in this world made me feel uneasy, but I didn’t have much of a choice. If I wanted a roof over my head and food in my stomach, I had to go along with it. Besides, understanding how magic worked could end up being useful. If I could learn even the basics, maybe there'd be a chance for me to cast spells someday—assuming my negative mana situation ever improved.
As we neared the execution site, I noticed that the elf's body had finally been taken down. The gruesome sight was gone, but the air still felt heavy with hostility. Whatever the elves had done in the past, it was clear that now, even the innocent were paying the price for their actions. Human resentment towards them was strong, and the prejudice ran deep.
“Did you hear about the elf?” said a girl in the group I was following. Her voice was low but troubled. “It was so brutal. They don’t deserve this.”
“Shh!” her friend quickly warned, glancing around nervously. “Others will hear you. Just keep quiet.”
“I know, I know. It’s just...you know? It’s so wrong. So inhumane,” the girl insisted, shaking her head slightly.
“Well,” another boy from the group chimed in with a smirk, “it’s not inhumane if they aren’t human, right?”
The girl frowned. “Is being racist the new trend or something? We shouldn’t be hanging someone just because they’re a different race.”
“You remember the story, don’t you?” the boy replied, his tone growing darker. “How the elves attacked that village—killed the men, took the women and children, raped them to death, and then left their bodies hanging as a message. You think they don’t deserve worse than what they got?”
“Even the kids,” another student added, a trace of disgust in his voice. “What’s wrong with those monsters?”
“They always acted like they were better than us,” the boy continued, his eyes narrowing. “Thought they were high and mighty. We’ll make sure they learn their place.”
“Wow,” I muttered under my breath, my voice almost a sigh. “Real pieces of work. I wonder what sparked this conflict in the first place…”
The more I listened, the more I realised that hatred ran deep on both sides. Whatever history lay between humans and elves, it was a wound that hadn’t healed and probably never would.
The students took one last glance at the execution site before turning right, and I followed them. At some point, I lost track of them, but it didn't matter much since more students were filling the streets. Wherever this Redwood Academy was, it seemed to be far from the main entrance of the city. As I walked, the scenery began to change; the houses on either side of the street became less frequent, replaced by a surge of greenery. The trees stood taller, their leaves looking vibrant and full of life, and the sunlight seemed to shine more brightly, casting a warm glow over everything. The flowers and foliage appeared almost as if they were glowing, the colours rich and intense.
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NOTIFICATION
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* Location Discovered: Redwood Academy
* Map Updated!
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+ XP Gained: 10
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| Current XP: 40 / 100
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| Progress: ██████░░░░░░░
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Turning the final corner, I found myself face-to-face with Redwood Academy. It was impossible to overlook; the building stood proudly, a blend of grandeur and history. The iron gates at the entrance were tall and sturdy, opening into a wide, welcoming courtyard. Cobblestone pathways crisscrossed the space, weaving between flowerbeds bursting with colour—roses, daisies, and lavender all mixed in a riot of hues. Tall, ancient trees with thick trunks stood guard over the garden, their branches stretching out like open arms, creating dappled patches of shade beneath which students gathered.
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Scattered around the courtyard were stone fountains, their water flowing in gentle arcs that added a soothing murmur to the atmosphere. A few cats lounged lazily beneath the benches, their eyes half-closed as they napped in the warm afternoon sun. Some students leaned against the tree trunks, their books open on their laps, while others laughed and talked in groups, the air filled with a blend of voices and the rustle of leaves.
The main building of the Academy rose several stories high, its stone walls worn by countless seasons but still standing firm and resolute---unlike my school, where each day ended with a sigh of relief because even the weakest earthquake would’ve reduced the building to dust. The Academy felt enduring and timeless. Vines crawled up its surface, threading through cracks and framing the windows with green. These windows were tall and arched, their glass panes catching the light and reflecting glimpses of the activity inside. The roof was covered with a mix of weathered slate and reddish tiles that seemed to glow under the sunlight, giving the building a stately look.
At the centre of the structure was a clock tower, its face clear and bold, marking time with a steady tick. Well---at least I knew what time it was now.
“Wow,” I whispered to myself, taking it all in. “It’s… quite the building.”
A stern voice interrupted my thoughts. "You," said the guard standing at the gate, his eyes fixed on me. "Are you a student here?"
"No, sir," I replied quickly. "I'm here to get enrolled. I came to this country from far away."
The guard's gaze lingered on me, sizing me up. "Mm…" he said finally, giving a small nod. "Wait here. I’ll get a teacher for you."
"Right. Okay," I said, doing my best to appear calm despite the nerves stirring in my gut. The weight of the Academy's presence pressed on me as I waited, wondering what lay ahead.
After a bit of waiting, a student approached, accompanied by another guard. The student looked to be around my age, maybe my height—about 175 centimetres. His brown hair was neatly kept, and his eyes had a sharpness to them that contrasted with mine. James always joked that my eyes looked like those of a cat--- a cat that had been dead for two decades. This guy, though, had a presence about him—handsome, yes, but with a seriousness that suggested he was someone important.
“This boy says he’s here to get enrolled,” the guard said, his tone casual yet slightly deferential. “What do you think, council president?”
The boy adjusted his glasses with a flick of his hand, his expression barely changing. “How old are you?” he asked, his voice calm and composed.
“And you’re just enrolling now?” he continued, raising an eyebrow. “You do realize it’s illega—”
“Yeah, I know,” I interrupted, holding up a hand. “I came from another country. Magic was forbidden there.”
His gaze didn’t waver, but a hint of curiosity flashed in his eyes. “Which country?”
“It’s… you wouldn’t know it,” I said, shaking my head slightly. “Quite far away.”
He paused, narrowing his eyes at me, then gave a slow nod. “Do you have anything dangerous on you?”
“Dangerous?” I echoed. “No, why?”
“Turn around, kid,” the guard ordered, stepping forward with a gruff look. “Gonna check you over.”
I hesitated for a moment, then complied, turning my back to him. His hands were rough as they patted me down, and when he reached my pocket, he stopped. With a quick movement, he pulled out my phone, turning it over in his palm, his expression a mix of confusion and suspicion. He held it up in front of me, waiting for an explanation. I let out a quiet sigh, adjusting my tunic and straightening the gauntlet that he’d somehow managed to jostle loose.
“It’s a device from my country,” I said, keeping my voice steady. “A torch.”
The student council head’s eyes narrowed slightly. “A torch? Show us.”
The guard glanced at the student, looking uncertain. “You sure that’s a good idea?”
“If he meant any harm, he would’ve done something already,” the boy replied, his tone dismissive. “Let him demonstrate.”
The guard grunted reluctantly. “Fine. Don’t try anything funny, kid.”
I took the phone back and quickly turned on the flashlight. The beam of light shone brightly in the guard’s face, and he blinked in surprise, clearly fascinated. The student council head, however, remained impassive, arms crossed over his chest, entirely unamused.
“Alright,” the boy said, breaking the silence. “Come with me. The headmaster will want to talk to you.”
“Thank you,” I said, giving a nod of appreciation. “Name’s Axel, by the way.”
“Liam,” he replied curtly, turning on his heel. “Now follow me, Axel.”
I fell into step behind him, doing my best to keep my excitement hidden beneath a calm exterior. Despite everything, there was a flicker of anticipation in my chest—something I hadn’t felt in a long time.