When the morning sun peeked through the windows of his office, Caled took a deep breath, ready to dive into his new role as Archscholar.
The office was calm and neat, bathed in soft light that filtered through the tall windows. It was a new start, and yet, it felt strangely familiar—like stepping into a life he'd once known but had forgotten for a while.
The desk in front of him was stacked with requests, papers, and letters. Some were urgent, others less so. But all of them required his attention.
At the side of his office, there was a door. A simple door, but it led to something more—his private room.
Calling it a "room" felt almost laughable. It was more like a huge apartment tucked away inside the Magic Association building.
Spacious, comfortable, and fully equipped with everything he needed for his personal life. A bed, a sitting area, a small kitchen for making tea, and even a small bookshelf filled with old tomes he could never part with.
It was a place he could retreat to when he needed time away from the constant flow of work. He could live here for as long as he needed. It felt like a home within a home.
But for now, his focus was on the desk, on the requests waiting for him.
Caled leaned back in his chair, rolling his shoulders as he scanned the first request in the pile. It was simple—extra supplies for an academy.
Apparently, there had been an unexpected shortage this month, and they needed his approval to get the supplies delivered.
His eyes flicked over the details. There was no real challenge here, just a matter of signing off on it. He picked up his pen and scribbled his name across the dotted line. Easy. That was the first of many tasks.
He moved on to the next, flipping through the papers with practiced ease. Some were routine, others less so, until one request caught his attention. It wasn't about supplies or schedules. It was more... personal.
The paper detailed the struggle of a first-year student from Deylan Magic Academy—Lyanna Seraphine, a member of the Culinary club.
Her problem was not the kind of thing you could solve with a simple signature or a directive. It was about her future, a decision that was weighing on her heart. Should she stay at the academy and continue her training? Or should she leave and pursue a different path? It was a decision she couldn't make alone.
Caled sat up straighter, his fingers brushing his chin as he read through the request again. The problem wasn't one of magic. It was an internal battle—a struggle to find her purpose.
He thought about how he'd been in similar situations in the past, moments where the right path wasn't clear, when the weight of choice hung heavy. Helping her through this could be tricky. But it felt important. More important than any simple request to move supplies.
"This isn't bad for a first academy visit," he muttered to himself.
A first visit was supposed to be a quick look, an introduction to the student body. But this request—this was different. It wasn't just about guidance, it was about understanding her, helping her see the road she should walk.
He opened a drawer and pulled out a thick folder. It contained all the information he needed about Deylan Magic Academy—its history, its methods, and its standing in the world of magic and swordsmanship.
Deylan was known across Acridia for its unique approach. The academy didn't just teach magic; they taught warriors how to combine swordplay and magic, turning them into powerful individuals who could channel elements through their swords.
The academy had a reputation for producing some of the most skilled fighters in the land, warriors whose strength was feared and respected by all.
Caled knew the academy well. It was the pride of the Kingdom of Deylan, one of the strongest kingdoms on the continent.
A place where the boundaries between magic and physical power blurred. Warriors there didn't just wield swords—they wielded fire, ice, lightning, and more, using their magic to empower their blades. It was a place where strength and skill were forged into something almost unstoppable.
"Deylan, it is then," Caled muttered, deciding on his next move.
•••••
Caled walked down the stairs of the Magic Association building, the weight of his new responsibilities already settling on his shoulders.
The early morning light bathed the streets of the capital in a soft glow, casting long shadows along the cobblestone paths.
He moved with purpose, his steps sure but still carrying a hint of unfamiliarity. Today, he was heading to Deylan, ready to take on his first real task as the Archscholar.
The tunic he wore—a gift from Aifi—was as fine as it was uncomfortable. While the clothes were undoubtedly noble and suited the position he now held, Caled couldn't help but feel a little out of place.
He'd grown used to simpler attire, worn-in clothes that allowed for more freedom of movement. But Aifi had insisted, and now he wore the high noble tunic, knowing that he'd have to pay her back once his salary arrived.
He shook his head, trying to push those thoughts aside. His mission was more important now. He wasn't about to let himself get bogged down by something so trivial.
Reaching a quiet spot in the city, Caled closed his eyes for a moment, gathering his focus. He lifted his hands, murmuring an incantation under his breath. A gentle breeze lifted his hair as the familiar warmth of magic swirled around him. With a soft push, he rose off the ground, flying through the air with ease.
Flying was second nature to him now, but even so, he couldn't ignore the sheer speed of the magic beneath him. He needed to reach the nearest Teleportation Terminal in the capital if he was going to get to Deylan in a reasonable amount of time.
If he had tried to fly directly to the kingdom, it would have taken days—too long to waste when there were students waiting for his help.
Soon, he arrived at the terminal, a massive arc of light shimmering in the distance. The Teleportation Gate was a marvel of magic—bright, almost blinding, and filled with swirling magical energy. It was a gateway to almost anywhere in Acridia, connecting the capital to the farthest corners of the continent.
At the base of the arch, a mage woman stood, her hands steady as she monitored the gate's activation. She looked up as Caled approached and gave him a respectful bow.
Caled approached the gate, offering her the card Aifi had given him—a magic ID that was now the standard form of payment across Acridia.
Coins still circulated, of course, but cards like the one in his hand were more common, as they stored one's wealth in a magical bank, overseen by the Magic Association. It made transactions easier, faster.
The mage took the card, looking it over carefully before glancing up at Caled with a small spark of recognition.
"Wait... you're the new Archscholar?" she asked, eyes widening. "Aren't you a little young for the position?"
Caled simply smiled, offering a small shrug.
"I've been hearing that a lot lately."
The mage seemed surprised but recovered quickly, her admiration clear in her expression.
"The last Archscholar was practically a grandpa when he took the role. You're quite the contrast."
Caled chuckled under his breath. He stepped into the center of the glowing magic circle, the lines of the arc beneath him humming with power. He could feel the magical energy vibrating in the air, ready to whisk him away.
The mage began chanting, her voice low and rhythmic as the arc lit up brighter. Caled felt the familiar sensation of being pulled, his surroundings blurring as the magic took hold. But the mage's voice cut through the growing hum of the spell, a small warning she couldn't resist sharing.
"Be careful, though," she said, her tone shifting slightly. "The girls at the all-girls academies? They're... on another level."
Caled raised an eyebrow at that, his focus faltering for just a moment.
"Yeah, I heard about that."
"With a face like yours?" The mage's tone was teasing, but there was an edge of seriousness there too. "They'll eat you alive."
The words didn't quite land the way she'd intended. Caled's smile faltered, just a hint of confusion crossing his face as he processed her words.
His brow furrowed, and just as the magic circle lit up with a final burst of light, he couldn't help but say...
"Huh?"
Before he could process the situation further, the world around him blurred and spun.
The sensation of being pulled through the fabric of space was all too familiar, but the mage's final comment lingered in his mind, and for the first time, he wasn't entirely sure what to expect when he arrived in Deylan.