The riverboat glided across the water, its rhythmic creaking and the faint hum of its mana engine breaking the silence of the crisp morning air. I stood at the bow, clutching the railing, staring at the horizon where the city of Ash's capital would soon appear. It had been three days since we left Valda-Ashdock, and every mile felt like I’d been transported to another world.
The first thing I noticed was the mana. It hung in the air like a mist, faintly tingling against my skin. The farther we traveled from the lake town, the thicker the mana became, making every breath feel invigorating. Hexa confirmed what I already suspected: my body was absorbing the ambient mana, raising my stats slightly even before we arrived.
Wolfhart Valda-Ashdock
Adolescent Human Male
* Level: 0
* Strength: 2
* Dexterity: 2
* Endurance: 3
* Intelligence: 2
* Wisdom: 2
* Skills: (Soulless), (Redacted)
“It’s fascinating,” Hexa remarked as she projected the updated profile onto my vision. “The ambient mana here is dense enough to accelerate natural absorption. If this continues, your baseline stats may improve significantly before formal training even begins.”
That sounded promising, but it also left me uneasy. If something as simple as moving to a mana-rich environment could increase my potential, how far behind had I been growing up in Valda-Ashdock?
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The city came into view just as the sun rose higher, its rays illuminating towering stone walls that gleamed like polished marble. They stretched high into the sky, dwarfing anything I had ever seen before. Compared to the patchwork wooden barriers of Valda-Ashdock, the walls of the capital looked like something from a dream—or an MMO raid hub.
“I’ve seen this before,” I muttered, the sight triggering a vivid memory.
“In Realm Online, perhaps?” Hexa suggested. “The central cities often featured grandiose architecture meant to evoke awe and inspire player loyalty.”
“Exactly,” I said. “It feels like I’m walking into a live-action version of it. But this is real.”
The boat docked at a bustling pier, and I was immediately overwhelmed by the sights and sounds of the city. Vendors called out, hawking goods from brightly colored stalls, while carts carrying enchanted goods rolled past, their wheels glowing faintly with mana. The people wore fine clothes, their fabrics embroidered with shimmering threads that caught the light.
It was all so... advanced.
The village felt primitive in comparison, a fact that only became clearer the longer I observed. People here didn’t just live with magic; they thrived on it. Floating lanterns illuminated alleyways, and animated advertisements projected onto walls displayed goods and services, each one more fantastical than the last.
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As I stepped off the boat, a group of guards intercepted me. They were clad in gleaming armor inscribed with runes that pulsed faintly, their posture radiating authority.
“Papers,” one of them demanded.
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I fumbled with my bag before producing the documents Father had given me. The guard scanned them, his gauntlet glowing briefly before he nodded and handed them back.
“You’ll need this.” He reached into a pouch and pulled out a slim, glowing band. With a quick motion, he snapped it onto my wrist.
“What’s this?” I asked, inspecting the band as it adjusted snugly to my arm.
“Population tracker,” the guard explained curtly. “You’re now registered as a resident of the capital. Don’t lose it.”
“Is that all it does?”
The guard gave me a look that could freeze water. “That’s all you need to know.”
Hexa chimed in the moment we walked away. “That device likely has multiple functions beyond population tracking. I’ll scan it further when we have privacy.”
“Thanks,” I muttered, turning my attention back to the city.
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The streets were alive with activity, far busier than I’d anticipated. Magic was everywhere, seamlessly integrated into daily life. Children played with animated toys that hovered and danced, merchants displayed wares enchanted to glow enticingly, and an automated golem swept the cobblestones with precise, mechanical movements.
As I walked deeper into the city, something whizzed past my head, nearly knocking me off balance. A group of street urchins zoomed by, balancing on what looked like wooden planks.
“Hoverboards,” I breathed, watching them perform flips and spins with reckless glee. On closer inspection, I realized the boards weren’t technological but enchanted, likely with wind and levitation magics.
“Impressive application of rudimentary enchantments,” Hexa noted.
I couldn’t help but grin. It was like seeing my old life reimagined through the lens of magic.
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The Academy of Ash sat at the end of a long, winding road lined with stone statues and banners bearing the kingdom’s crest. When I finally arrived, my breath caught.
It was enormous.
The sprawling campus was surrounded by towering gates of wrought iron, each one inscribed with protective runes. Beyond the gates, immaculate gardens and grand buildings stretched as far as I could see, their spires glinting in the sunlight.
“This is supposed to be for kids?” I muttered.
“Education standards appear elevated,” Hexa replied, a hint of amusement in her tone.
As I stepped through the gates, I noticed other children arriving with their families. They wore finely tailored clothes and carried themselves with an air of confidence that made me feel even more out of place. My simple tunic and travel-worn bag seemed woefully inadequate in comparison.
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Father had told me orientation would last the entire weekend, with new students from across the kingdom gathering for ceremonies and briefings. Groups of children milled about, chatting excitedly, their parents fussing over them before leaving.
I lingered on the outskirts, watching the other children with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. Many of them seemed to know one another already, their laughter and easy camaraderie a stark contrast to my solitude.
“You’re staring,” Hexa pointed out.
“I’m observing,” I corrected.
“You’re isolating yourself,” she countered.
Before I could respond, a loud chime echoed across the courtyard, signaling the start of the orientation. A faculty member in flowing robes emerged from the main building, his voice magically amplified as he welcomed us to the Academy.
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The first day they simply fed us as i had arrived rather late in the evening and then gave me a temporary room with a few other children to rest in for the night the faculty telling us everything would be explained tomorrow.
By the time the day ended, I was exhausted—not from the physical activity, but from the sheer sensory overload of the capital. As I lay in my bunk that night, staring at the wooden ceiling, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this place was the start of something much bigger than I could imagine.
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“Hexa,” I thought, “what do you think of all this?”
“It’s a significant departure from your previous life,” she replied. “However, your adaptability has served you well so far. This environment will provide opportunities for growth and discovery, provided you seize them.”
I closed my eyes, letting her words sink in. The capital, the Academy, the Nexus itself—it was all overwhelming, but it was also a chance to redefine myself.
“I’ll seize them,” I said softly. “One step at a time.”
With that thought, I drifted into an uneasy sleep, dreams of the Nexus swirling in my mind.