"Your name is, uh... Per- Pezar, right?" Magnus fumbled a bit before he managed to remember the name of the older man in front of him. He was the guard who had first met up with Mia and the others when they arrived at the garrison.

"That's correct." Pezar greeted Magnus back with a nod. He had taken over Gerald's role, serving as an escort for Magnus on his way to Takerth Academy. At first, the news had come as a shock to him, considering how, not too long ago, Magnus had seemed to be a normal guest at the Major General's Villa.

Now, he was a student at Takerth Academy, which was surprising since Magnus didn't fit the typical image people had of a mage. Moreover, based on what he’d overheard from the guards and maids at the villa, he didn’t behave much like a noble either. This made Pezar all the more curious about who Magnus really was.

Catching Pezar staring at him, Magnus met his gaze, jolting Pezar back to reality, slightly disconcerted.

"Ah, um... Have you gathered everything you intend to bring with you?" Pezar inquired, regaining his composure.

"The academy does inspect luggage, but as long as it's not deemed hazardous, you're free to bring anything that fits within your dorm room." Magnus shrugged, showing his empty hands.

"I’ve only got what’s in my pockets. Haven’t had a chance to go shopping, really." Pezar nodded, understanding that it wasn't a concern since the academy's dorms were already furnished.

"Very well, then. Let's set off." They had been chatting this whole time in front of a carriage—the same one that had fetched Magnus the last time. Now, it was here again, ready to take him to Takerth Academy.

Pezar entered the carriage first, allowing Magnus a moment to cast a backward glance at the villa behind him. He hadn’t been there for a very long time, but it wasn’t exactly a short stay either. Even though he hadn’t really connected with anyone except for Celia, he had collected a few good memories from this place.

"Well it's been interesting," Magnus mused to himself.

I’ll definitely miss that huge bathtub, though, and my spot in the library.

With a silent salute in his mind, he spun around and climbed into the carriage. Just like that, they were off, following the road to Takerth Academy. The journey was fairly long, but Magnus kept himself busy by watching the cityscape change as they traveled.

As Magnus looked out at Arlcliff City, he felt pretty certain that even if he walked the same streets ten times over, he’d probably find something new each time. His knowledge so far had been pieced together from books after all, a poor substitute for the real thing that was sprawling out in front of him.

And that feeling only deepened as the grand silhouette of the academy cut into view from the distance. It appeared even more imposing to Magnus than before, knowing that soon, it would be his new home. Leaning out of the window, Magnus spotted a bustling scene outside Takerth Academy that starkly contrasted with his last visit, where the area seemed almost deserted.

Now, lines of carriages were parked tidily in the street, and a lively crowd gathered near the academy's gate. Pezar, catching onto Magnus’s intrigued expression, took the time to explain.

“Takerth Academy has specific enrollment periods when prospective students can apply and, if accepted, join the academy. No matter how long they’ve been waiting—be it a year or just a few months—all the accepted students start at the same time. This leads to large groups of students of varying ages arriving all at once.”

Magnus emitted an 'ah' of understanding as Pezar spoke.

So, I might be classmates with some of them soon.

He scanned the crowd and estimated that about thirty people were there, but only two seemed part of the Mage Division; the others were likely from the Knight Division.

Muttering to himself, Magnus said, “A three-to-thirty ratio, me included? That’s quite the imbalance.”

Pezar shot him a puzzled look and asked, "Pardon?"

Shaking his head, Magnus replied with a dismissive smile.

“Oh, just thinking aloud.”

Their carriage pulled up behind the others, joining an array of luxurious vehicles, each adorned with a unique family crest and exterior designs that would undoubtedly catch the attention of any passersby.

"Alright, this is as far as I’m allowed to take you. Just join up with the group, and a teacher should arrive to guide you all into the academy," Pezar explained as he disembarked the carriage, with Magnus following suit.

After expressing his thanks to Pezar, Magnus headed toward the gathering of new students. As he neared the group, it didn't take long for a few curious glances to fall upon him; after all, he was wearing a Mage Division uniform.

"Hey, who's that?" one of the students from the knight division asked their classmate.

"Beats me; I've never seen him before. Kinda looks strange though, doesn't he? I wonder which family he belongs to," the students exchanged whispers as they pondered.

Meanwhile, a Mage Division student glanced at the carriage Magnus had exited, noting the military emblem. She peeked out from under her dark hair, her eyes flickering with curiosity before she looked away.

As Magnus joined the group, he didn't manage to overhear any of the students talking about him, as their chatter was swiftly hushed by a man's voice.

"It looks like everyone’s here." Stepping out of the barrier surrounding Takerth Academy, Magnus saw that the source of the voice was a man wearing a friendly smile. His attire set him apart from the students; it was a mix between a robe and a dark brown formal suit that one might see at formal gatherings.

Magnus could feel the man's gaze from behind his glasses, sweeping across every student. It might have been his imagination, but it seemed as if the man's eyes lingered on him a tad longer than on everyone else.

"Hello, everyone. I'm Eredim Ceden, but you can call me Professor Eredim. I'll be overseeing your group as your primary instructor. Now, if everyone would please raise their hands, we can get started." Though the request was a bit odd, all the students, including Magnus, raised their hands. As soon as they did, Eredim snapped his fingers, and suddenly, tiny orbs of golden light appeared around him.

These orbs were no larger than pebbles, and despite their intense glow, they weren’t blinding to look at.

With a quick flick of his finger, Eredim sent each orb darting towards the back of each student's hand. When they hit their targets, they flattened out and morphed into marks on the students’ skin.

Ow…

Magnus winced from a sharp burning sensation as he examined the new mark on his hand. The orbs had left behind an eight-pointed pattern identical to the one he had seen on Gerald's hand.

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“These are called Sigilbrands. They bear the emblem of our academy, and every student receives one. They come with numerous features, but most importantly, they serve as proof of your identity and grant you authorization to pass through the barrier surrounding the academy.”

The students watched intently as the marks on their hands slowly vanished. Meanwhile, as the scene unfolded, Magnus turned to Basker with a question.

Is this mark somewhat like the one I removed from you?

[It doesn't seem so. I've detected no changes in your mind. This mark appears to be solely physical, unlike the one you removed from me, which existed both physically and mentally.]

Oh, I see.

As the Sigilbrands disappeared into their skin, Magnus noticed Eredim signaling for everyone’s attention.

“Alright, everyone, please follow me.” Eredim led the way, stepping through the entrance onto the academy grounds and crossing the barrier's threshold. One by one, the rest of the group followed, and as they did, the true image of the academy unfolded before them. Students came into view, though not as many as Magnus had seen before. Most of them, he assumed, were likely attending classes.

The air buzzed with whispers of wonder and admiration as all the newly accepted students around Magnus saw Takerth Academy in all its splendor.

“Hmm, this place truly lives up to its reputation,” remarked the boy next to Magnus, his voice clear. He rubbed his chin, absorbing the scene with a curious gaze rather than simple awe like everyone else.

It looks like he’s part of the Mage Division too. Out of everyone here, he and that other girl definitely have the most unusual vibes. I wonder if that’s a common trait among all future mages.

As these thoughts swirled in Magnus's mind, Eremid's voice once again cut through the air as he led the group forward.

"For those setting eyes on Takerth Academy for the first time, allow me to extend a warm welcome. During your time here, our goal is to nurture each and every one of you into becoming the next generation of skilled knights and mages. Unlike normal academies you might have been a part of before, we have chosen not to assess our students based on years of attendance but rather, we focus on your individual progress.

This means that each of you has the freedom to learn and advance at your own pace—there is no rush or pressure to conform to a predefined timeline. In return for this flexibility, we simply request that you set your goals to be higher than ordinary. We expect you to surpass the usual limits and excel in both your academic and personal development."

Magnus barely suppressed a chuckle as he listened to Eremid's speech. The straightforwardness of the message amused him.

Just stay at the top, and you'll have all the freedom you need to study. But slip up, and you might as well pack your bags because no one's going to coddle you, even if you have the potential to be a knight or mage.

Around him, Magnus noticed that other students had also picked up on the blunt nature of Eremid's words, yet they appeared mostly unfazed. It wasn't much of a surprise. The students selected to attend Takerth Academy were far from ordinary. Most were nobles who were rigorously trained by their families just for this.

Observing the subdued reaction of the students, Eremid's smile widened as he guided them through the expansive academy grounds, which were mostly familiar to Magnus. However, there was still one area he hadn't fully explored yet: the Central Building. It wasn’t that he had been barred from it during Gerald’s tour; rather, he had only glimpsed a small portion of it because of how big it was.

As Magnus stepped inside, a sensation of spaciousness overwhelmed him. The interior seemed to expand far beyond the size of the exterior. The marbled halls stretched out before him, their floors so polished they almost resembled mirrors, reflecting the grandeur above. Rich, deep red carpets embroidered with complex patterns marked out their path, drawing the eye like a road.

The elaborately designed windows only added to the atmosphere, letting streams of light weave through the air. Even the wooden walls blended seamlessly with the exterior of the building, displaying impressive craftsmanship. Looking around, Magnus could only imagine that this place must have cost a fortune to build and probably even more to keep up over the years.

Walking down the corridor, they passed several classrooms. Peering through the windows, Magnus saw his guess was right—most of the students were indeed in class.

Soon, Magnus and his group arrived at their destination and filed into their new homeroom. As they entered, Magnus glanced at the sign above the door, which read 'Class 3-B.'

Stepping into the room, he instantly noticed that it looked more like a small lecture hall than a traditional classroom.

"There aren't any assigned seats, so feel free to sit anywhere you like," Eremid announced, his voice resonating through the room. As instructed, all the students scattered through the room before finding a place where they felt comfortable. Since most of them were strangers at this point, there was a noticeable gap between some of them.

"Now, since today marks your first day here, we're giving you two days of free time before we start the formal lessons. I recommend you use this time to get to know your fellow students, explore the campus, and check out your dorms," Eremid said, his gaze sweeping over the room.

"Also, it's crucial that you read the academy's rules, which you'll find posted in the main hall. But that's enough of that. I won't bore you by taking up any more of your time. I’m sure many of you are itching to go do something after all that walking. Just remember to have fun while you’re here. You’re the pioneers of our future, so enjoy every step of your journey."

With those encouraging words, Eremid wrapped up their initiation, leaving a ripple of excitement in the air.

•

After getting the green light to explore, Magnus stepped out of the Central Building and took in the campus. With most students tucked away in classrooms, the place was unexpectedly quiet, allowing him a peaceful walk.

As he wandered, a familiar voice echoed in his mind—Basker's. The hound had started to develop a knack for slipping into his thoughts even when he wasn't talking to them directly.

[Master, have you figured out what you want to do next? It seems like you're wrestling with a few different plans.]

Magnus let out a sigh, feeling that Basker had hit the nail on the head.

Yeah, you got it. I'm feeling a bit torn There’s a lot I want to jump into, but I'm afraid spreading myself too thin might backfire.

On top of that, he just felt a bit exhausted. Not physically or anything, but mentally.

Ugh, maybe I need to just step back and relax for a while. It feels like I’ve been non-stop lately, always trying to push forward in my progress with the Command Console. Even on the few days when I keep my physical activities light, it feels like my brain’s working in overdrive.

While Magnus mulled over his thoughts, Basker’s voice came through again, offering a piece of advice.

[Taking some time to relax is crucial for recharging and coming up with fresh ideas, Master. You’ve been cooped up in the Major General's Villa for too long. Now that you have some freedom, why not take the chance to explore the city a bit?]

Magnus's mind seemed to latch onto the idea right away. How much of this world had he actually seen for himself? Up until now, his knowledge mostly came from books, and he knew that there was nothing like experiencing things firsthand. As for what he'd actually done, most of it was pretty limited: traveling with Mia and the others or just watching the world go by from the window of a carriage.

That wasn't exactly the best way to get to know the world.

They did grant us a couple of days of leisure... Maybe it's time to make use of this opportunity for a bit of fun. Besides, I've practically seen the entirety of the academy grounds already. And it's still early, so there's plenty of time to explore the dormitories later.

As he mulled over his new plan, a real smile crept across Magnus’s face. The more he thought about it, the more exciting it seemed.

"Alright then, it looks like I know what I’m going to do today." With a decisive turn, Magnus headed towards the academy's entrance. He had already read and memorized the rules, and there was none against leaving the campus.

The closest one to that was a curfew that required students to be back on academy grounds or in their dorms by a certain hour.

Considering all the facilities the academy offered, few students left unless they had a good reason, like visiting somewhere or, in Magnus's case, taking a day off. Of course, even days off were fairly rare, not because students couldn't find time but because they refused to. After all, they were all busy striving to become the best mages and knights they could be.

Magnus, guided by his Sigilbrand, easily passed through the barrier that encircled Takerth Academy. The guards just nodded as they watched him go.

He felt like he remembered the general way out of the Upper City, but he asked Basker to keep track of their route and to make a mental map of sorts in his mind—a nifty perk of having full control of his own imagination. But, as Magnus moved through the streets, a worry nagged at him—his clothes. He was still dressed in the uniform of Takerth Academy.

He didn’t have any clothes of his own, nor the money to buy some.

"I might need to really think about getting a job soon. But really, it's probably fine; students wander around in their uniforms all the time. It might even keep people from messing with me." Sure, he could dip into the Major General's allowance again and buy some clothes, but he'd rather not.

Making his way through the vast stretches of Arlcliff City, it took a while for Magnus to reach the Lower City district. Upon his arrival, he was instantly swept up in its lively atmosphere. After being nearly isolated in the Major General's Villa for so long, the bustling crowd was a warm welcome—a sea of people caught up in the rhythm of their everyday lives.

"Now, where should I start?"