The road ahead stretched beneath a sky slowly shedding its gray clouds. After leaving the quiet town behind, neither of them spoke for a while—just the sound of boots on the road and the occasional chirp of morning birds.
Elaina walked beside the adventurer, her cloak catching the wind. "Where to next?" she finally asked.
He looked ahead, toward the horizon where faint glowing towers pierced the skyline. "Based on the map i've seen here,..There's a city nearby. Known for its magic."
Her eyes lit up instantly. "Magic?"
He nodded. "A whole kingdom built around it. Floating towers, magical archives, and... if I'm not wrong, one of the oldest academies in the continent."
Elaina grinned. "Then that's where we're going."
He smiled faintly. "Figured you'd say that."
And so, with the wind at their backs and magic ahead, the two continued their journey—unaware that the city waiting for them would change everything.
__________
"So here we are, the city of magic," Elaina whispered.
They stood before it just past golden sunlight pouring over pale spires and towers that floated gently in the air. A shimmering dome of magic shimmered faintly above the city walls, rippling like glass touched by wind.
The adventurer stepped forward, his boots crunching softly over stone.
"Ever been in a place like this?" he asked, voice low.
"Nope," Elaina grinned, eyes wide. "But I've dreamed of it since I was little."
The city was called Velisyr, the Kingdom of Arcane Harmony. Its banners fluttered with shimmering sigils, and the air itself buzzed gently with mana. Floating lanterns bobbed past the streets, and people walked in cloaks dyed with colors no ordinary fabric could hold.
As they passed the city gate, a gentle scan of blue light rippled over them.
"Security," Elaina murmured. "Woooah…"
"You okay?" the adventurer asked.
"I think I just got goosebumps from magic."
He chuckled. "That's called fear."
"No, this is called wonder," she corrected.
They made their way through the city, eyes catching every magical oddity—a shop that sold potions brewed by dancing flames, an open plaza where children played with light-formed animals, even a statue that bowed politely when greeted.
"You ever think about learning magic?" the adventurer asked.
Elaina stopped, stared at him for a beat, then laughed. "Ever think about it? Hello? Have you met me?"
He raised an eyebrow. "Can't say I have."
"You wound me, sir," she said dramatically, clutching her chest. "Magic was my childhood daydream, my fantasy, my bedtime story. I used to pretend the stars were spells waiting to fall into my hands."
The adventurer looked at her with quiet amusement. "Sounds like someone had a poetic childhood."
"It was more... dusty and sad than poetic," she said, smile faltering just a little. "But dreams are what made it bearable."
They rented a small inn near the outer district. Cozy, warm. A fireplace, two beds, and a view of a distant floating citadel.
After placing their bags on the table, Elaina turned to him with a grin.
"I'm going to take a walk. Just around the city. Don't wait up."
"You sure you don't want to rest?" he asked.
She was already at the door.
"Rest is for people who live in boring places. I'm going to the Arcana Academy—the one they sing about in bard tales! Don't worry, I won't sneak into any classes… probably."
And with a wink, she vanished into the city.
The adventurer stood alone, blinking at the door she had left swinging.
He sighed.
"…Did I just get ditched?"
He chuckled to himself and went back to unpacking.
---
The Academy of Arcana was a marvel. Giant crystal towers hovered above the ground, surrounded by magical glyphs that floated in orbit like planets around stars. The gates alone were a masterpiece—silver vines curling around blue stone, pulsing softly with mana.
Elaina stood before it, heart pounding.
"So this is it," she whispered. "The place I read about in old books... the one my parents pointed at when we passed through the hills."
Her hands curled into fists.
"One day," she had once told her mother. "I'll be one of them."
Back then, her mother had only smiled. A sad, soft smile.
"Maybe not as a student," Elaina whispered now, "but maybe... just maybe…"
"Are you lost?" came a voice.
She turned.
A girl, perhaps her age, stood near the gates. Her robes were simpler than the other students—soft blue, with the Academy's crest stitched near the collar. Her black hair was tied up, and she had gentle eyes.
"Oh, no," Elaina said quickly. "Just… looking."
The girl smiled. "First time seeing the Academy?"
"Yeah. It's even better than I imagined."
The girl nodded. "It's always a little overwhelming at first. I'm Mira, by the way."
"Elaina."
"Elaina," Mira echoed. "Nice name."
They talked for a bit—about the Academy, the city, and Mira's studies.
"Honestly," Mira admitted, "I'm not the best student. But I try. And I love healing magic more than anything."
Elaina grinned. "That's what matters, right? Loving it."
Before Mira could reply, four figures approached.
They were dressed in flashier robes—trimmed with gold, bearing the marks of noble houses. Their leader, a girl with long golden hair and a haughty smirk, looked down at Mira like she was dirt beneath her boot.
"Oh," the blonde said, "there you are. We've been waiting."
Mira stiffened. "I—I was just talking—"
"You finished our assignment, didn't you?" another girl said, crossing her arms.
"Yes, I—"
"Good," the blonde cut her off. "Because we're not redoing it again just because you're too slow."
Elaina frowned. "Excuse me—"
The noble girl glanced at her, then sneered. "And who's this? Another hopeful peasant trying to sneak in for a tour?"
Elaina blinked. "Did you just call me a peasant?"
"Commoner. Street girl. Visitor from the mud. Pick your label."
Mira turned red. "Please, stop—"
"No," Elaina said, stepping forward. "You don't get to talk to people like that. Not to her. Not to me."
The noble girl raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And what are you going to do, little outsider?"
Elaina narrowed her eyes. "I'm going to remind you that arrogance doesn't make your magic stronger. It just makes your mouth louder."
There was a pause.
Then soft laughter—from the noble group.
"Ohohoho," the leader mocked. "How daring. Tell you what, Miss Mudwalker—why don't you enroll and show us how wrong we are?"
Another girl giggled. "Yeah, fight us in the Great Magical Tourney next two moons from now."
"Oh wait," the leader added, grinning. "That would require you to know magic."
Elaina's jaw clenched.
"Fine," she said sharply. "I'll join. And when I beat you—I hope the audience brings tomatoes."
Mira gasped. "Elaina—!"
The nobles laughed again. "We'll be waiting. Do bring a mop—for yourself."
They turned and vanished into the Academy, their laughter fading behind enchanted gates.
Mira looked devastated.
"You don't have to do this. You don't know what you are up against to—"
Elaina placed a hand on her shoulder.
"I know. But I know this too: you're not just someone's footstool. And I'm not just a girl passing by. We're both more than what they say."
"But you'll be up against the best—"
"Then I'll be the best commoner they've ever seen."
Mira looked at her in awe.
"…You're crazy."
"Yeah," Elaina smiled. "But the good kind."
They hugged briefly.
Then Elaina made her way back to the inn.
---
The adventurer looked up from the bed.
"You're back. I folded your socks."
Elaina stood at the doorway.
Silent.
Expression unreadable.
"…So," she began, "I might have... um…"
He tilted his head. "You didn't set fire to the Academy, did you?"
"No! Worse. I… might've… accidentally enrolled in a high-stakes magic tournament."
He blinked.
"...I was gone for two hours."
"I know."
"And you got yourself into magical combat?"
"They mocked me."
"Did you mock back?"
"...With poetic fury."
He slowly rubbed his temples. "You're going to get us kicked out of the city, aren't you?"
She plopped onto the bed and sighed. "Maybe. Or maybe I'll become the most dangerous magic rookie in history."
He stared.
Then sighed.
"…I'll go buy a first-aid kit."