This isn’t how I imagined my first day to go.

“Hurry up!” the taller girl shouted.

“I-I’m already going as fast as I can, Iris,” the shorter girl said through breaths. “I’m gonna die at this rate.” She was barely ahead of me as we ran through the city.

We weaved around the hundreds of people that flooded the sidewalks. Their eyes were drawn to our uniforms as we raced toward the academy.

Iris waved at the two guards by the gate. They pushed it open and we saw a near-insurmountable number of steps. Two winding roads also went to the top but those were meant for carts or wagons delivering supplies. Both of the girls started up the stairs. By the time we reached the top, my heart felt ready to burst. I dropped next to the shorter girl, both of us writhing in agony, as Iris planted her hands on her knees to stay upright.

“E-Elis…” Iris gasped.

The pain in my lungs stopped for a moment as a cold breeze snapped me back to my senses. I stumbled away from Elis-

Against the backdrop of a carved-out hill, seven white spiraling spires shone in the soft morning light. Rows of windows, thin and unobscured by dirt or dust, free of rotted creaking blinds, adorned the main building like an open invitation for all who climbed to the top. “Look at me,” it seemed to say. And, for those inside, “Look at the world. Look at what you could do”. An extension of that freedom was an attached glass-domed tower with four columns of windows placed a floor above those of the main building’s.

“We don’t have time for that!”

Iris brushed back her hair, tucking the silky brown strands behind her hairpin. Her fingers lingered on the silver accessory and the preserved daisy attached to it. Elis, somehow by the fountain, groaned as her friend pulled her up, causing water to darken the stone square.

“But Irisssssssssss,” Elis whined, pleading with her big turquoise eyes. Water dripped from the golden cuff of her uniform.

Iris, ignoring her pleas, dragged her toward the main building. “Sorry about her. She’s a bit stubborn.”

“I’m dying of thirst.”

“Then I suggest the fountains inside the building. The one outside is simply for show,” said an old man with a burn mark beneath his right eye. He pointed past one of the marble pillars, “Class A, I presume? It should be down there.”

“Oh, th-thanks," I stammered.

I wasn’t expecting to run into anyone.

“Yeah, thanks old man,” Elis said.

Iris sighed, “Thank you, Headmaster. Apologies for our tardiness.”

Headmaster?!

“No worries. Getting up so early is difficult. I almost didn’t make it myself. Needed Hector banging at my door to wake me up.” he laughed. “I won’t keep you any longer. Ms. Ein is a strict one.”

We hurried past and Iris nudged Elis. “I told you to remember his face.”

“How am I supposed to remember every old man? There’s a bunch of’em.”

Our footsteps echoed through the empty hall, fading at the other end where more natural light signaled the back of the building. The same crystals that lit the city were placed between sections of the colorfully designed walls, reflecting especially off the silvers and golds.

We stopped at a door marked with our class letter.

They don’t whip you for being late like in the old stories, do they?

Neither of them looked worried as they opened the door. Dozens of eyes fell on us. I pressed against the wall, shoulder rubbing against the board, and pulled my braid to the side.

“Is that a roluk?” a student asked.

“It’s my first time seeing one.”

“Her eyes are different colors, right?”

“They both look blue to me.”

“She meant different shades.”

Please just ignore me already.

The instructor held up a soft, yet firm hand. In contrast to the students’ white robes, hers was purple with a ruby clamp. On her hip rested a book, a grimoire. “Did you think it acceptable to be late on the first day?”

“Not at all, Ms. Ein,” Iris answered with a slight bow of her head. Her expression shifted a bit, softened maybe.

“Are you the only one who believes that?”

Iris nudged us.

“Nope, Ms. Ein.”

“N-No, Ms. Ein.”

“And why are you three late?”

“I was one of the last in line to bring my belongings in yesterday.”

“Same,” Elis said.

“I had trouble sleeping,” I said. Despite her questioning look, I couldn’t tell them I stayed up thinking about how I finished my first request. It sounded so childish.

“I understand. We’ll leave it at this. Face the class and state your names.”

Iris turned on her heel and looked straight at the other students, “I am Iris Bellard.”

Half of the students shifted in their seats. The girls regarded her more respectfully, while the boys focused on their own looks.

With a huff and frown, Elis said, “And I’m Elis Annar.”

Now their attention turned toward me, judging and boring holes through my skin. Unable to look up and time running out to say something, I focused on the middle desk, a long continuous piece large enough to fit at least six people. There were two more on each side, with stares between. A well-

“Your name,” Ms. Ein said.

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“Y-Yes… I-I am Ellar Whole…hart.”

“Hole heart?”

A few giggled.

“Weird name.”

Please just let this be over already.

The door opened. A black-haired boy entered. His eyes darted around the room before standing next to Elis, a full head and a half taller than her and a head taller than me. He nodded to Ms. Ein. “I have no excuse, Ma’am.”

Ms. Ein sighed, “I knew there would be one more. So long as you know being late is not acceptable, we can move on. State your name to the class.”

With straightened shoulders, he held his head high, “I’m Rainen Weaver.” His cuffs were loose, his jacket only partially buttoned, and the emerald pin around his undershirt’s collar misaligned. A chain hung from his neck and the outline of a round object pushed from underneath his shirt.

“Now that everyone is here, line up by the door. We’ll be heading to the arena.”

Elis grabbed Iris’ shoulder and jumped, “Yes! I knew we’d have a duel. The headmaster saw me already so he might choose me to fight!”

“Don’t get excited so soon. Assuming that there’s going to be a match, the participants are often picked beforehand for these kinds of things.”

“Buzzkill.”

We followed Ms. Ein down multiple hallways and through a door. Like most things in and around the city, the arena was huge. Filled with hundreds or even thousands of seats, it housed a sea of people comparable to the crowd in the streets. The balconies held the more senior students, distinct by their pins, from topaz to onyx, and finally amethyst for the fourth years. On the walls hung banners with the emblem of the academy, a flower blooming from the pages of a book with its bud as a crystal, and the crest of the empire, an ivory wand wrapped in the tail of a dragon.

I settled in the last seat of the row next to Iris and Elis.

Wait, do they think I’m following them? No, this is how it worked out. But, maybe I should move? They seem nice, but I don’t know if I can hold a conversation.

By the time I thought about the difficulties of social interaction, it was already too late.

Ms. Ein stood at the bottom of the aisle in order to better oversee the class. Rainen sat in front of us, staring across the arena until the boy next to him got his attention and they began speaking.

Elis pointed where Rainen was just looking, “The old man is over there.”

Iris smacked her hand down. “Don’t point at him.”

The headmaster sat in a wide box seat. Next to him, an attendant leaned to whisper something. The man had his long hair tied in a ponytail and carried a sword protected by a sheath decorated by the academy’s gems. It shined under the crystals lighting the box. The headmaster smiled and waved when he saw us.

“I told you he’d remember us!” Elis beamed.

Iris hid her face in her hands and I tried to pull my knees up but couldn’t because of the seats. Elis waved back. Ms. Ein eyed us and shook her head in exasperation.

With a clap, dozens of crystals fixed onto the failing glowed. The headmaster held up a hand and the instructors followed suit. “May I please have everyone’s attention,” he said. “I am Headmaster Abrax, and I welcome all of you to a new semester at Renard Academy. For our first years joining us, be prepared. The next week and a half will be difficult as your instructors will be training you for your first expedition into Aurora Labyrinth.”

An image of the sky came to mind.

In less than a week, I’ll be like them.

Murmurs broke out among the students, instantly from the older ones, and in waves among the first years. I concentrated, listening to as many of the conversations as I could.

“Why so soon?”

“We didn’t go until the end of our first month.”

“El-”

“Maybe not enough adventurers signed up to clean it out?”

“But they’re basically gold mines.”

“Ellar.”

“Y-Yes?” Iris and Elis were facing me.

“Do you need to pee? You were bouncing your leg a lot,” Elis said. Iris elbowed her. “Owww. I was joking. She didn’t even drink from the fountain.”

“Calm down,” the headmaster said. “I assure you that the labyrinth has been properly cleared. As such was the case in all previous semesters, a curfew will be in place for first years and the lunches will be different from what is usually served. Your instructors will explain more later. Now, onto our annual duel!”

The students erupted in cheer. Elis and many others threw their hands up. “Pick me! I wanna fight!”

“Fourth-year student and leader of the academy’s Council of Seven, Abelard Boyat, and first-year student, Rainen Weaver, will be our participants!”

Ms. Ein seemed confused, but she led Rainen down.

“A fourth-year against a first-year?”

“He’s the council leader too.”

“What family is that first year from?”

“Awww…” Elis pouted as she rested her chin in her hand.

“I told you not to get your hopes up. But why him and not someone like Leonard?”

“What? That prick’s here?”

“Wh-Who’s that?” I asked.

Iris singled out a blonde-haired boy leaning forward in his seat with clenched fists and a twitching lip. His scrunched face accentuated his long nose.

Elis pretended to spit, “Ugh. At least he’s not in our class. I’d go crazy if I had to listen to him talk. I shoulda sneezed fire onto his hair when he hit on you.” Elis puckered her lips. “I’m Leonard Hemming. You should have heard of me but if you haven’t then you’re not worth my time. Go ask my servants who I am and then come back to lick my shoes.”

“He’s not that insufferable.”

“Nope, he’s worse.”

Iris didn’t argue further. I just nodded along. Iris gave a wry smile and explained, “He’s part of the Hemming Household. They’re descendants of one of The Seven Great Mages. Akeros, to be precise.”

Akeros The Stalwart.

I didn’t know much about him other than that despite being a mage, he always fought on the frontlines. An earth mage specialized in close combat.

“So, do you know anything about Rainen or the Weaver Family, Ellar?” Iris asked.

I wracked my brain for anything.

“N-No,” I finally answered. “I-I’m not very knowledgeable about these things. S-Sorry…”

“No, it’s nothing to apologize for. It’s not like we knew either.”

“But you never asked me,” Elis said.

“If I didn’t know, then you wouldn’t know.”

“Do you know how to breathe fire?”

“I’m not sure if abilities or flow control count.”

“Now, for the rules. Magic will be limited to common spells of second-tier or lower. The duel will end when one of the three things happens: one side surrenders, I declare a winner, or when one side’s substitute breaks. We can thank Instructor Urdoll for the precious Straw Substitutes.” He held up two simple effigies tied together by red bands and gestured to a stern-jawed man wearing a cloak over his purple robe.

“These substitutes are used for academy-sponsored duels only.”

Rainen was facing away from us, looking up at where the headmaster sat. Wasn’t he nervous at all? Thousands of eyes were on him, and his opponent was none other than the council leader.

Abelard stepped into the arena and a collective roar of cheers from the upperclassmen followed. He waved and flashed a smile almost as bright as the sapphire clamp he wore. Fiddling with the band that held his red-tinged brown hair up, Abelard said something to Rainen.

“The duel will now begin!”

Rainen flung a fireball. Abelard didn’t move as it barreled toward him. Halfway across the arena, its momentum slowed. It shrank, landing harmlessly and singeing the ground.

“What?”

“He’s in the academy and can’t even cast fireball?”

“This is what happens when you start letting just anyone in.”

Abelard shook his head. He cast firebolt, the most basic spell, yet it was more powerful than Rainen’s. He dodged and returned his own with a verbal evocation, empowering the spell. Abelard countered and Rainen's spell was like someone blowing against the wind.

They continued to trade attacks, Rainen managing to send one firebolt for every three that Abelard cast. He was being pushed back as the fourth year inched closer with each second. Soon enough, he had nowhere else to go.

“Boring,” muttered a student behind us. “The headmaster should’ve vetted the first-year duelist. Otherwise, we end up watching talentless hacks like him who can’t even cast a basic spell.”

The boy who sat next to Rainen turned, “Shut up and watch. He hasn’t been hit yet. The academy doesn’t only teach magic.” The annoyance in his voice didn’t match his demeanor. He was well into his seat, one arm lying over the backrest and one leg pulled under the other in a half crossed position.

The other student clicked his tongue.

Abelard stopped casting firebolts. He’d made it to Rainen’s half of the arena and looked back at the headmaster before waving his arm in an arc.

Above him, six flaming missiles appeared. Ms. Ein ran to the railing, gripping her grimoire. The students fell silent.

“Ember spears.”