The airship landed on an island Victor called Aurelia Isle, an island almost as large as a city in Eryndor.
"Aurelia Isle is a self-contained city, intentionally isolated from the outside world to keep students focused and to ensure their safety," Victor said as they walked down the vessel.
"Safety?" Isolde asked.
"Oh, yes," Victor replied.
"The academy holds not just the brightest of our race, but also heirs to noble houses from several nations and kingdoms in Calden."
"An attack here would be catastrophic," Isolde said.
"Indeed it would." Victor's lips curved faintly.
"Yet in four centuries, Kingsfield's defenses have never been breached." His words swelled with pride.
"What Victor Hale says is true," came an elderly voice from the front.
Aeon looked ahead and noticed three men standing before several others whom he assumed were guards, judging by their clothing and weapons.
The man in the middle drew Aeon's attention.
He stood tall, arms folded neatly behind his back, but his face sagged with wrinkles, like a fruit left too long under the sun.
Aeon had never seen signs of aging like that except in textbooks.
To him, it was grotesque, fascinating—wrong.
'So this is what aging looks like…' Aeon thought, disturbed yet strangely curious.
The man's appearance, though, was immaculate, even as his body betrayed the years.
His attire resembled Victor's: a tailored three-piece suit. A silk tie, neatly knotted, sat perfectly aligned against a crisp white shirt, with a silver tie clip adding a restrained touch of elegance.
His black leather shoes, polished to a mirror finish, clicked softly across the floor with each step. Pinned to his lapel was the academy's crest—subtle but unmistakable. He carried a cane.
'Can't wait to try out their clothing', Aeon thought inwardly.
"Vice Headmaster, an honor," Victor said warmly toward the elderly man.
"The honor is mine, Victor Hale," the old man replied with a nod both formal and heavy. "It pleases me to see an alumnus back on academy grounds, especially one as illustrious as yourself."
Victor chuckled. "Ha! You flatter me, Sir. I am only here on duty."
He paused, then gestured to Isolde. "Forgive my delay in introductions.
This is Isolde Sylven, Aeon Sylven, and Amarie Eigarwyn—transfer students from Eryndor's Royal Academy."
He then gestured toward Luthien, standing behind Isolde.
"They are accompanied by Lady Luthien."
His hand shifted toward the aged figure. "And this, Your Highness, is Marcus Albrecht, Vice Headmaster of Kingsfield Academy… and my alma mater's proudest guardian."
Marcus inclined his head slightly, and the men beside him mirrored the gesture.
"We greet you, Your Highness," they said together in practiced unison.
Victor turned to Luthien with a reassuring smile. "From here, the Vice Headmaster will see to everything. You are in capable hands."
Marcus nodded.
He turned to Luthien, then to Isolde, and said,
"There is much to be discussed.
But first—"
Aeon watched Marcus raise his cane as it began to shimmer with a white glow.
The intensity of the light grew, gently engulfing him, Isolde, Amarie, and Luthien.
Until...
Whoosh
They vanished.
***
After they suddenly reappeared in the Vice Headmaster's office.
Marcus seated them and began briefing them on the academy's design and rules.
While the briefing continued for several minutes, Aeon's eyes wandered to the Vice Headmaster's massive oak desk, the beautiful silver quill, and the documents stacked neatly upon it.
It reminded him of his father's library, especially the air, which smelled faintly of old parchment and polished leather.
"And lastly," Marcus said,
"ranks of every kind are abolished within the academy grounds." His eyes flicked briefly to Isolde.
"Everyone is treated equally here." He paused.
"Though an exception will be made for you.
You'll be provided proper housing fit for your status. Beyond that, nothing else."
"You can come in now, Jane," the Vice Headmaster said, speaking into a device on his desk.
The door creaked open, and a brown-haired woman with round glasses walked in.
"These are your bands." He gestured to the bracelets the woman carried.
"Once registered, you are expected to wear them at all times.
They'll connect you to the school's system, providing updates on class schedules and dorm assignments."
"Jane will show you to your dorms and directions to other academy facilities," he added, gesturing toward the door.
Isolde rose first, followed by Amarie and then Aeon.
Before stepping out, they exchanged a brief nod with Luthien, who remained seated in the Vice Headmaster's office.
***
Jane guided the three elves across the courtyard and away from the building.
Aeon slowed his steps, gazing back at the structure behind them:
a grand, castle-like building of brick and stone.
"Try not to gasp," Isolde murmured beside him, her voice cool and flat, her silver eyes fixed straight ahead as if none of this deserved her attention.
He glanced at her briefly, admiring how her silver-white hair caught the light like polished glass.
Aeon gave her a small smile.
"I wasn't gasping. Just noticing."
"It's alright, Aeon. We understand," Amarie said with a giggle from half a step behind.
"Everyone gapes the first time. It's practically a tradition," Jane chuckled, clearly overhearing.
"As for your bands, your information has already been sent to the system. All you have to do now is activate them."
Aeon fiddled with his until it lit up, a transparent screen glowing just above the band.
He tried adjusting the size, and it worked.
On the screen, it read:
STUDENT. CLASS: 1-A.
Details followed—student ID, dorm assignment, schedules, even meal credits.
Amarie's eyes widened as she swiped through it. "Ohhh, look at that. It's like a status screen—only shinier."
Aeon smiled faintly, his own band glowing steadily on his wrist. The schedule caught his eye:
---
Core Classes (Compulsory)
1. Foundations of Magic & Mana Control – learning to sense, channel, and stabilize mana safely.
2. Physical Conditioning – basic combat training.
3. Academy Core Studies – math, history, literacy, and languages.
Electives
Elemental Studies (fire, water, wind, earth basics).
Arcane Theory (understanding runes, enchantments, spell structures).
Herbology & Alchemy (plants, potions, concoctions).
Beast Studies (learning about magical creatures, care and defense).
Tactics & Strategy (intro to battlefield thinking, puzzle-solving).
Cultural Studies (human, elven, dwarven, and other races' traditions).
Music & Arts (creativity + mana resonance).
Engineering & Invention (futuristic gadgets, mana-tech hybrids).
---
It was a strange mix of courses, and some made little sense to him. Aeon wondered how he'd fare.