Following Elise with steady steps, I made my way toward the Elemental Mages’ section, eager to meet my future classmates and begin learning everything the Academy had to offer. But before I could get far, I was surprised to see Seraphina approach me. Her striking features were softened by a hint of shyness.

"Excuse me… Griffith, is that right?" she asked in a soft, melodic voice.

For a moment, her beauty left me a little flustered, but I quickly gathered myself and responded naturally. "Yes, that’s me. How can I help you?"

Seraphina hesitated for a second, nervously twirling a strand of her ebony hair. "I… I was hoping to get to know you better, if you don’t mind."

A small smile tugged at my lips. It seemed the young mage-priestess was curious about my surprising evaluation results. "Of course, I’d be happy to chat."

Her face lit up with a radiant smile, and she fell into step beside me, walking gracefully as we followed the group. "Thank you, Griffith. I must admit, your results during the evaluation were very impressive."

"Oh, it’s really not that extraordinary," I replied modestly. "I’ve just worked hard to get where I am."

"But that’s exactly what’s extraordinary!" she exclaimed. "Achieving such a high level at your age is truly remarkable."

I felt my cheeks flush slightly at her praise. "You flatter me, Seraphina. But tell me, what made you choose the path of a mage-priestess?"

Her eyes brightened with passion. "Oh, it’s a calling I hold very close to my heart. I’ve always been fascinated by the healing and protective powers of sacred magic."

A dreamy smile crossed her face. "My greatest dream is to one day heal and protect those who need it most. To save lives with my magic—that’s what drives me every day."

I nodded in admiration. "That’s a noble ambition. And tell me, what other paths can students pursue here at the Academy?"

"Well, there are several," she explained. "Besides mages like us, there are the warrior-mages, who combine mastery of weapons with magical power. They often serve as the first line of defense for the kingdoms."

She paused thoughtfully. "There are also archaeologist-mages, who specialize in studying ancient civilizations and magical relics. Their work is essential for understanding the foundations of our world."

"I see," I said, listening intently. "And what about the other classes?"

"There are also healers, or mage-priests like me," Seraphina continued. "And then there are combat mages, fierce warriors who excel in offensive spells."

She gave me a playful glance, her lips curving into a mischievous smile. "And of course, there are elemental mages—like you. Your affinity with mana will likely make you a master of fire, ice, or lightning."

I returned her smile, impressed by her depth of knowledge. "You seem to know a lot about this. I assume you’ve already chosen the path you want to follow?"

"Absolutely," she said confidently. "As I mentioned, my heart is set on being a mage-priestess. I hope to one day heal and protect those in need."

She paused, giving me a teasing look. "And you, Griffith? Do you know what you want to do?"

I considered her question for a moment before answering. "Well, I’ve always been fascinated by elemental spells. I’m excited to master them and use that power to protect the kingdom."

"That’s an excellent choice," she said with enthusiasm. "With your exceptional abilities, I’m sure you’ll become one of the most powerful mages in this academy!"

Feeling a little embarrassed by her compliments, I quickly changed the subject. "And how is your training as a mage-priestess going so far?"

Her face lit up, and she spoke passionately about her lessons. "Oh, it’s absolutely fascinating! We learn to channel sacred energy to heal wounds and create magical barriers to protect our allies."

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Her eyes sparkled with excitement. "And then there are the ancient rituals we have to master, which let us invoke the power of the divine to aid our comrades."

I listened, captivated by the complexity of her studies. "That sounds incredibly demanding. You must have an extraordinary level of focus and discipline."

"It’s true," she admitted modestly. "But it’s a challenge I love taking on every day. Becoming a skilled mage-priestess is my greatest dream."

Just then, Elise’s voice called out, gathering us in front of a large door.

"Alright, everyone, we’ve arrived! Beyond this door lies your new home—the Elemental Mages’ section."

She smiled encouragingly. "Here, you’ll find your rooms as well as your classrooms. Feel free to explore and start getting to know your fellow students."

Seraphina turned to me with a regretful look. "Well, I guess we’ll have to part ways here. But I hope we’ll see each other again soon!"

"Of course," I replied with a smile. "I’d like that."

With one last radiant smile, she joined her group. For a moment, I stood there, my heart racing, fascinated by her grace and kindness.

Then, taking a deep breath, I turned toward the door that was opening before me, ready to discover my new home.

The Elemental Mages’ quarters were a series of grand buildings designed for both study and training. Classrooms and research labs sat alongside vast outdoor spaces for practicing spells.

Elise guided us through the section, explaining enthusiastically as we went. "Here, you’ll learn to master the arcane forces of fire, ice, and lightning. You’ll also have the chance to explore rarer elements, like earth and wind."

She stopped in front of an intricately carved wooden door. "And here are your personal quarters. Each of you will have your own room to study and rest in peace."

When she opened the door, I couldn’t help but let out a low whistle of admiration. The interior was tastefully decorated, blending elegance with functionality. A large canopy bed stood at the center of the room, surrounded by a desk and shelves lined with books.

"It’s beautiful," I said, unable to hide my amazement.

Elise nodded with satisfaction. "We make sure our students have the best possible conditions for learning. After all, you represent the future of our kingdoms!"

She left us to settle in, giving us time to familiarize ourselves with our surroundings. I sat on the edge of my bed, marveling at the thought that this room was now mine.

Just days ago, I was a simple villager, dreaming of adventure and magic. And now, here I was—a student at the prestigious Mage Academy, with a mana level that had already set me apart.

A confident smile spread across my face. Yes, I belonged here. And I was determined to prove I deserved it.

As I unpacked, my thoughts drifted back to Seraphina. Her striking beauty and passion for sacred magic intrigued me deeply.

I sincerely hoped our paths would cross again. Perhaps we could become friends—or even allies—helping each other along this incredible journey.

Just as I finished organizing my things, Elise approached with a serious expression.

"Griffith, I have an important announcement," she said. "Tomorrow morning, all of you will take part in an evaluation test at the Elemental Mage training center."

Excitement surged through me. A test? This was the perfect opportunity to prove my skills.

"Of course, your performance in this test will heavily influence the rest of your curriculum," she continued. "You’ll need to give it your all."

I nodded firmly. "You can count on me, Elise. I’m ready for the challenge."

She gave me an approving smile. "I have no doubt, Griffith. You’ve already impressed us all with your abilities."

With that, she left, leaving me to prepare for what lay ahead. I quickly donned the brand-new uniform I’d been given, admiring its sleek design and the dark colors that symbolized the Elemental Mages.

As I tightened the belt around my waist, I was interrupted by a smug voice behind me.

"So, the new guy thinks he’s top class already?"

Turning around, I faced a young man in his twenties with messy brown hair and a cocky grin.

"I’m not sure what you mean," I replied calmly.

"Oh, don’t play innocent," he said, his grin widening. "We all know you’ve got freakishly high mana levels. But that doesn’t mean you’re automatically the best here."

He stepped closer, looking me up and down with disdain. "Don’t get too full of yourself, rookie. There are mages here with far more experience than you."

Instead of letting him rattle me, I shot him a smug smile of my own. "Maybe. But I doubt their experience will hold up against my mastery of the elements."

His grin faltered for a moment before he regained his composure. "We’ll see about that tomorrow during the test. I can’t wait to see what you’re really made of."

With that, he turned on his heel and walked away, throwing me one last challenging look. I watched him go, amused by the exchange.