The capital city of Delmath stirred like a living creature in the early morning light. Carriages clattered over cobbled roads, street merchants shouted over one another in a chorus of bartering, and floating signs buzzed softly above storefronts advertising magical charms, freshly baked honey bread, and imported sky-ink pens. A dragon-shaped ship drifted lazily down the shimmering silver river, its elemental core pulsing light through glass veins.
At the city's heart, standing atop its own island surrounded by water and mystery, was the Grand Arcanum Academy. Its towers rose in spiraling marvels of white and silver stone, defying gravity in places with their floating balconies and enchanted bridges. Cascading waterfalls of pure mana shimmered off the edges, caught in suspended motion that never touched the ground. Across the river, the royal palace glistened like a jewel in the crown of Eldoria, but even it seemed to cast a curious gaze toward the Academy.
A navy blue carriage bearing the Naron family crest rolled across the Moonbridge, drawn by two horned silver-coated stallions. Inside, silence clung like humidity — tense, sharp, and uncomfortable.
Seraphina Naron sat slouched in her seat, legs crossed and booted feet disrespectfully resting on the embroidered cushion opposite her. The morning sun lit the edge of her dark hair, which fell in loose waves past her shoulder. Her eyes were gray, sharp and listless, trained on the outside world.
The woman seated across from her adjusted her laced gloves with trembling hands. Lady Finna, Seraphina's stepmother, wore a dress a little too opulent for travel and a hat that tried too hard to scream nobility. She cleared her throat delicately.
"Seraphina, I trust you remember what I told you about behavior," she began, forcing a sweet tone.
Seraphina didn't answer. She watched two street performers juggle flaming blades in the square. Children clapped. One got too close and was yanked back by a panicked mother. It brought a faint smile to her lips.
"This academy is not like your rustic upbringing in the countryside," Finna continued, louder this time. "Now that you've been accepted into the Grand Arcanum, you must carry yourself like a proper baron's daughter. Not like the wild creature you used to be."
That got Seraphina's attention. She tilted her head toward Finna, smirk tugging lazily at her lips.
"Ah, Lady Finna. How sweet of you to care so deeply. You almost sound like you think you're my mother."
Finna flushed. "I am your mother in all but blood."
"So you admit there's no blood involved. Refreshing honesty for once." Seraphina's voice was like honeyed poison. "Let's not pretend that Father marrying you out of loneliness suddenly gave you any relevance."
Finna's hands clenched her gloves. "You will not speak to me like that. Not when I have sacrificed so much to send you here."
"You?" Seraphina laughed, low and amused. "You didn't sacrifice anything. My real mother—the weak one you replaced—she wanted to send me. But she couldn't. Not with her 'condition.'"
Her fingers twitched. A soft shimmer of violet flickered at her fingertips, coiling like mist.
"Seraphina, do not—"
With a flick of her wrist, Seraphina cast a silent spell. A faint hum buzzed through the air. Finna opened her mouth to scold her, only to find it sealed by a translucent barrier. No sound escaped.
"Shhh," Seraphina whispered, savoring the sudden quiet. "You're prettier this way. Almost noble."
Finna fumed, red-faced and flailing.
Seraphina returned to the window with a sigh. "The city's loud enough without your voice adding to the pollution."
Outside, the towers of the Grand Arcanum loomed closer. Seraphina straightened slightly. It was a beautiful structure, she had to admit. Gleaming magic wards weaved along the walls like runes in motion. Floating staircases wound impossibly between towers. Even the air shimmered with power.
And yet—
She frowned.
"I hope there's at least one interesting soul within those walls," she muttered. "Gods, please don't let them all be as dull as my stepmother."
Elsewhere in the world, in a quieter corner near the outskirts of a village, a very different morning was beginning.
Kael groaned as sunlight cut across his face. He turned over, tried to bury his head beneath a pillow, and was promptly pecked by a chicken.
"Ow! M-MEEP!"
Meep, the chicken, stood triumphantly on his back.
Kael pushed himself up with a groan, hair sticking out in every direction. His little cottage was a cluttered mess of books, scrolls, ink bottles, and half-eaten scones.
He rubbed his eyes. "Alright, alright, you spawn of poultry. I'm up."
He stumbled into the kitchen. The enchanted kettle made a noise like a sneeze and released a puff of steam. Kael poked it with suspicion, then decided burnt tea was still better than no tea.
As he sipped and stretched, he glanced at a parchment pinned to the wall: Grand Arcanum Academy - Janitorial Recruitment.
He chuckled dryly. "Yeah, right. Like they'd hire a dropout with a leaky roof and a chicken roommate."
The parchment had a wine stain on it. Possibly from the night he applied.
Kael took a bite of cold toast and tried to ignore how depressingly quiet his house was.
"Maybe I should've applied to the bakery. At least bread doesn't need a degree."
He opened his window and looked at the Academy's distant silhouette. It was as unreachable as ever.
Then came the knock.
He frowned. "Thomlin? If this is about the magical mushroom thing again, I'm not burying another cow."
Another knock.
He opened the door.
No one stood there.
Just a letter, resting against the wooden step.
He blinked. Then blinked again. The seal shimmered with blue and silver light.
The crest: a lion coiled around a tower.
"That's... no..." He picked it up with shaking fingers.
His voice was barely a whisper. "Grand Arcanum."
He turned it over, heart thudding. It had his name.
Kael.
"I didn't get rejected."
He looked up at the horizon.
The Academy stood tall in his vision. Waiting.
Behind him, Meep let out a triumphant cluck.
Kael clutched the letter and said the only thing that came to mind:
"...I think I'm gonna throw up."