The carriage wheels creaked and groaned as they rolled along the worn path from Bellmonty to the Magical Academy in Britannia. Cooper sat opposite Morgan le Faye, the landscape of Avalonia blurring past them. The distance from the northwestern coast, where his life had been so simple, seemed to grow with each passing moment.

Morgan broke the silence, her voice cutting through the rhythmic sounds of travel. "Have you studied the texts I gave you?" she inquired, her eyes sharp yet expectant.

Cooper nodded, fatigue evident in his posture. "I've read through all the them," he admitted, "and managed to cast each of the basic spells at least once."

Morgan's surprise was genuine. "Your progress is quite remarkable," she said, a hint of pride in her tone. "When I assessed your power, I saw that you have great potential, but to grasp the basics so quickly is impressive nonetheless. Anyhow, I shall be your personal mentor at the Academy. From your first year, all the way through. I will teach you everything I know. Apply yourself and live up to that great potential you have!"

"But why me?" he asked.

Morgan's response was a question of her own. "Do you know why the Order of Sorcerers and Mystic Knights was created?" When Cooper shook his head, she continued, "Much has been lost to history. Magic was first harnessed to protect humanity from monsters and practitioners of Dark Magic. As the threat grew, an organized resistance became essential to safeguard civilization."

Stolen story; please report.

Cooper admitted he had heard such tales, but always believed them to be mere stories. Morgan's expression softened. "It's understandable," she said. "There haven't been large-scale incidents in centuries, but isolated attacks persist. The Order is now seen more as a social class than the noble protectors we once were. I aim to change that perception…no, I will change it."

As they discussed the Order's history and purpose, Cooper's anxiety surfaced. He confessed his fears about the Academy, about being behind his peers, and the daunting prospect of facing these creatures from nightmares.

Morgan reassured him. "You needn't worry. Students are at various stages in their magical education, and with your rapid progress, you're likely to jump ahead of some second and even third-year students."

Cooper then broached the subject of the Academy's social climate. Morgan explained that nobles and commoners studied together, with social status holding no sway over one's education. "Everyone earns their place," she said, "and should any noble give you trouble, let me know."

Their conversation turned to the present, and Morgan revealed they need not wait to reach the Academy to begin his training. She described a spell that could link their minds, creating a shared illusion where they could practice magic as if they were physically there.

Cooper marveled at the concept, and as they faced each other, Morgan cast the spell. A blinding light enveloped Cooper, and when it faded, they stood in a vast field under an open sky. Confusion gripped him, but Morgan's voice grounded him in reality. "We are still in the carriage," she explained. "This is an illusion, a space for us to begin your lessons. Here we can cast spells freely."

As the illusionary field stretched out before them, Cooper realized the true breadth of magic's capabilities. With Morgan's guidance, he took his first steps into a world that was as wondrous as it was daunting, his journey of knowledge unfolding with each spell cast and each lesson learned…