The cold wind of Astryx Academy's courtyard cut through Elias's thin cloak like a knife. He hugged himself tighter, trying to ignore the laughter of the older students.
"Seriously? That's the kid they call a mage?" a voice sneered from the stone balcony above. Another student tossed a paper dart that landed harmlessly at his feet.
Elias stared at the sprawling academy before him towers that scraped the sky, enchanted statues that shifted when no one was looking, and walls etched with runes older than the kingdom and Empire itself. He had dreamed of this day for years, from different stories of this academy from his which has enrich into his soul form a young age now at 15 years old having being granted a chance to enroll and learn in it only to realize that the academy didn't care about dreams it cared about magic. And he had almost none. Having being bullied since young raised by his grandmother who told him it's only until he enroll and become strong will she tell him and the death of his parents this only made his obsession grew more in a world where only the powerful and might are respected all the rest are regarded as inferior.
He took a deep breath. The ceremony of admission was about to begin, and the Headmaster, the legendary mage known as Varien the reaper, was standing atop the grand podium, robes fluttering as he scanned the crowd with a cold gaze.
"Welcome to Astryx Academy, where the strongest rise and the weak… disappear," Varien's voice boomed, echoing through the courtyard. Murmurs spread like wildfire. Disappear. The word carried weight, and Elias felt it settle in his chest like a stone. A few minutes later he went aways and some teacher proceed to organize the new students.
As the students were called to demonstrate their magic with a magic orb to be grouped into houses, one by one, dazzling spells lit up the courtyard. Fireballs danced through the air, ice shards froze the fountains mid splash, and shadows twisted at the will of powerful mages.
When it was Elias's turn, he clenched his fists. Nothing Happened gazing down at more then two thousands of new students. A whisper of wind brushed his cheek. He tried to call forth even a spark, a flicker of magic. His hands remained empty. Laughter erupted again. The teacher in charge of operating the orb shakes his head in disappointment. quenching his fist very hard that blood dripped on the grand podium.
"Pathetic," a dark voice Wisper coldly. Elias's ears burned. Opening his eyes his as himself in a dark room with know vision of what's in front of him, were am i he asked?, who are you?, you are too weak, why are you this weak what has happened outside how long as it been the voice echoed Elias was confused have i gone mad confused of what's happening, return the voice said. Then his vision blur and returned standing on the podium
No one else seemed to notice what has happened. He gazing down. The teacher called for him to step down only then did he recall him self again, looking down at the magic orb and still seeing it only glowed a bit showing the lowest rank possible after 3 minutes passed a burring gaze of disappointment washed up on him. Whispers of is that magic mana level 1 echo in the hall
Elias froze. Had he imagined it? even chicken of the world have more mana than him.
The crowd's laughter faded, the sky darkened, and for the first time in his life, Elias felt… despair .
Little did he know, He's blood having being spiled on the grand podium has be absorbed and linked to a forbidden book. A magic so dangerous that even the Headmaster had sealed it away decades ago.
And someone or something was already watching him.