Aiden strolled through the garden, the soft crunch of gravel beneath his feet the only sound in the tranquil night. The air was cool, carrying the faint scent of the strange, otherworldly flowers that bloomed along the winding paths. They glowed faintly, as if absorbing the energy of the world around them, their petals in shades of blue, purple, and silver. Some had long, spiraling vines, while others stood tall and proud, their blooms shaped like delicate stars. Aiden had never seen anything like it.

As he brushed his fingers over one of the glowing petals, he turned to Regis, who followed closely behind. “Regis, how did you maintain all of this? The Castle is so huge, and you’ve been here alone for... well, I don’t even know how long.”

Regis’s expression softened slightly, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “It may seem like an impossible task, Master Aiden, but I had help once. Before your grandfather closed the portal, there were several individuals who lived and worked within the Castle. Each had their own responsibilities and abilities that made caring for the Castle far more manageable.”

Aiden glanced at him, intrigued. “Abilities? You mean magic?”

“Indeed,” Regis said. “Each person had a unique power, tied to their role within the Castle. Some were capable of tending to the gardens, others to the preservation of knowledge within the library. Each of them was different, and together, they maintained the harmony of this place.”

Aiden’s curiosity piqued. “And now it’s just you?”

Regis nodded. “For many years, yes. When the portal closed, I remained behind to await your arrival, as instructed by your grandfather. The Castle itself helps in many ways, providing for what is needed, but it is no small feat to keep it functioning on my own.”

Aiden was quiet for a moment, taking in the weight of Regis’s words. The Castle, with all its magic and mystery, was not just a place—it was a living entity in its own way, supported by the people who had once worked here.

“Do you think I can use magic?” Aiden asked suddenly, his voice soft but filled with hope.

Regis paused, turning to Aiden with a thoughtful look. “Magic runs strong in your blood, Master Aiden. You are very powerful, but like all magic, it must be learned and honed. Your grandfather was a master of it, but he, too, had to study and grow. In time, you will come to understand your own potential.”

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Aiden felt a strange mixture of excitement and nervousness at the thought. “So, where do I start?”

“Curiosity is the first step,” Regis replied with a faint smile. “The Castle will guide you, but it is in the library that you will find the knowledge you seek.”

Aiden, eager to learn more, turned toward the towering spires of the Castle. But before he could head inside, his eyes were drawn upward to the night sky. He stopped in his tracks, his breath catching in his throat.

The sky above Astralis was unlike anything he had ever seen. Six moons hung in the sky, each one a different shade of white, blue, or green, casting soft light over the landscape. Small, shimmering stars dotted the heavens, twinkling like diamonds against the velvet-black expanse. And weaving between them were vibrant auroras, ribbons of color—greens, purples, and golds—dancing across the sky like living brushstrokes of light.

Aiden stood there, completely mesmerized by the beauty of it. He pulled out his phone instinctively and snapped a picture, needing to capture the moment even though it felt like something beyond what technology could hold.

“Wow,” he murmured, his voice barely audible.

Regis stood silently beside him, a gentle smile on his lips. “Astralis is a world of many wonders, Master Aiden. The sky is but one of them.”

He took out his phone and clicked a picture of it. He couldn’t help it. It was that beautiful.

Reluctantly, Aiden tore his gaze from the sky and continued toward the library. The grand doors swung open as he approached, revealing the endless rows of books that stretched far beyond what his eyes could take in. The library was massive, more so than he had remembered from his previous visits. The towering shelves seemed to grow taller the deeper he went, packed with books of every size and color, their spines worn with age but still vibrant with hidden knowledge.

Aiden walked slowly through the aisles, feeling a sense of awe and overwhelming curiosity. But as he stood in the center of the library, he couldn’t help but feel a growing sense of uncertainty.

“How am I supposed to find anything in here?” he muttered to himself. The library was so vast, so full of information. Where would he even begin?

As if responding to his question, the shelves around him began to hum softly. Aiden took a step back, eyes wide as he watched the books shift on their own. The spines of the books shimmered, and the shelves rearranged themselves with a soft rustling sound. A bookcase from one of the far walls slid forward, moving as if it had been summoned.

The bookcase stopped right in front of Aiden, its contents glowing faintly. One book, in particular, caught his eye—a thick, leather-bound tome with intricate gold detailing on the cover. The title read simply: The Fundamentals of Magic.

Aiden stared at the book for a moment, then reached out and pulled it from the shelf. It was warm in his hands, as if it had been waiting for him.

“Well,” he said with a small, surprised laugh, “I guess this is where I start.”