After a few days of much needed rest, relaxing and breaking in Gavin's bed, they once again packed up Erza's SUV. They stopped by to say their farewells to Aria and Lyla; Tessa was too busy to see Gavin off. Their journey was set to take nearly two weeks by road, a peaceful end to their summer of training.
Starting in Tristane and heading east, they crossed the central plains of the Vale of Lunaria, and reached the western coast of the Allario Dominion.
The sun was was bright over the capital as Erza navigated traffic into the city. Towering sky scrappers filled the skyline as they crossed over the last of the hills that bordered the city of Allario. Gavin let out a low whistle at the congested traffic, both on the ground and in the air from the hover craft powered by magic crystals.
"It's barely morning and yet this city is so alive compared to Tristane." Gavin said in wonder.
Erza nodded. "There's like, an energy in the air here. I wonder if the academy or the city itself is centered on a magi lay line." Erza mused.
Gavin turned to look at her. "A magi lay line?"
Erza continued while navigating the busy morning traffic. "Think of them like invisible currents that wrap around the world. They contain pure magical energy. If you can tap into them, they will provide incredible power and versatility. But," she paused and kept her focus on the traffic. "The risk comes from not being able to control that kind of power well."
Gavin frowned. "Like it can go out of control?"
Erza inclined her head. "Exactly. Think of the lay lines like a faucet that's pouring into a bucket and the bucket has a small hole on the side. Not too big. When the faucet is a slow drip, the bucket doesn't over flow. The hole on the side keeps the flow steady. But, try to access more from the faucet before the bucket is able, and it overflows."
She glanced at Gavin. "Basically, if a person tries to draw too much power from the lay lines, their spells can and will most likely backfire and they go boom."
Gavin let out a whistle. "Damn, that's dark."
Erza chuckled, the SUV making steady progress into the center of the city. "Yeah, so don't get any ideas in that dumb head of yours." She teased him.
Gavin grinned at her ribbing. "Well darn. There goes my thoughts for unlimited power and ruling the world."
She rolled her eyes as they continued through the beautiful city.
Veronica, can you give me a quick rundown before we arrive? It has been a while since I checked everything.
Of course, Gavin. I know you hate the Valkyries, but I am not sure you would have reached this point so quickly without them. Here is what you wanted.
Gavin smiled at her praise despite himself.
Gavin Johnson. Age 18.
Royal bloodline, Dread Howler Were-Wolf Shifter.
Level 30.
Hp. 390/390
Mana points. 200/200
Strength 86.
Speed 89.
Agility 82.
Stamina 100.
Charm 25.
Intimidate 35.
Acquired skills.
Hunters howl level 8. Uses increased to five times per day.
Shape-shift, Were-Wolf form level 9. Shifting uses minimal Stamina and Mana. Able to use complex magic when shifted.
Elemental manipulation level 10. Able to combine elements. Spells require 40% less Mana to use.
Overdrive level three. Drawback effect is reduced to several hours.
Soul Sense level one. Able to detect the souls of living beings.
Soul Vault level one. User is able to store souls defeated in battle. Limit is 10 souls. Over use may cause mental strain.
My skills have really improved, haven't they? The pride in Gavin's mental voice was evident.
Yes Gavin. Compared to your strength when I was first given to you, it's a night and day difference. You know how to work hard when you want to. Veronica couldn't just let him get a big head now, could she?
"We are almost there, babe," Erza said, easing off the interstate. Gavin only hoped it would all be worth it.
Erza guided them through impatient drivers who swerved, cut, and sped like it was a racetrack. "This city is massive, do you think?"
"Yeah, and the drivers are insane." Gavin watched the mirrors. In a few minutes he counted nearly a dozen close calls.
Erza turned the corner and braked. The sight stole Gavin's breath and erased his irritation.
The campus of the Allario Magic Academy spanned several city blocks. A line of vehicles inched toward the parking lots for student drop-off.
Bright LED signs gave instructions.
First-year students use Parking Lot A.
Second-year students use Parking Lot B.
Third-year students use Parking Lot C.
"The signs rotate to split the crowds," Erza said, joining the line for first-years.
"Looks that way," Gavin said, staring out the window.
The campus was enormous. Signs marked four main section- North, South, East, and West.
Gavin noticed on the south side a coliseum rose toward the sky, the single building swallowing the entire southern zone.
They found a spot in the first-year lot, killed the engine, and walked to the back. Gavin grabbed several black bags while Erza took the rest.
A cluster of folding tables held pamphlets and was staffed by senior students answering questions. A petite blonde girl waved them over. She wore a dark blue shirt and a long skirt and practically radiated warmth.
"Hello. Welcome to the Allario Magical Academy. My name is Stephanie. You can call me Steph." Her brown eyes sparkled in the sun.
Gavin stumbled over his words at her energy. "Hi. I am Gavin Johnson. Checking in."
Erza bit her lip as she watched him get tongue-tied with the first pretty girl they met. Typical. She adjusted her shoulder straps and observed.
"Sure thing," Steph said, drawing a tablet from the apron at her waist. "Alright. Gavin Johnson. Eighteen years old. Freshman. Alpha Building, third floor, room twenty-seven." She highlighted spots on a campus map. "We are here," she said, indicating the lot on the west side. "These are the dorms. Each year has a building: Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie. Also, we have a zero-tolerance policy for abuse of power."
"You have a roommate assigned," she added. "Jackson Smith, first-year. Follow this path to reach Alpha."
"Do fights happen often on campus?" Erza asked. Concern edged her voice. She looked around and saw some of the first-year students trying to practice and demonstrate magical skills for their future classmates.
"The staff does their best to ride herd on the aggressive ones and weed them out before anything serious happens," Steph said. "They cannot be everywhere though. I wouldn't worry."
"Right. They try, but things happen," Gavin said. Translation; watch your own back here.
"Exactly," Steph replied with another bright smile. "No fighting outside sanctioned events, but power attracts a certain kind of student." She sighed as she turned off the screen.
"Um excuse me, I'm also checking in. Erza O'Malley." Erza said once Steph stopped talking, causing Gavin to give her a startled but pleased look.
Stephanie looked at Erza and turned on her tablet again. "Alright, Erza O'Malley, 21 years old. Look's like you are in the same dorm as Gavin. Third floor, room 53." She gave Erza a sweet smile as she closed her tablet.
"Come on, Gavin. Let get going to our rooms," Erza said, gently steering him away from the perky blonde. Sunlight flashed on the locket at her throat. Erza kept her head on a swivel to watch the ones practicing magic.
Along the pillars scattered about were bronze eyes that followed and tracked the magical skills being displayed. Watching all the magic being thrown about put Erza on edge. Something felt old; ancient here. This place must be on a magic lay line.
Gavin reached down to intertwine his fingers with hers. "Why didn't you tell me that you enrolled?"
She laughed as she squeezed his fingers. "I wanted to surprise you. I can't even trust you to eat an actual meal, let alone avoid ripping someone's spine out."
Gavin bristled, pretending to be offended before he gave up. He flashed her his cocky, charming smile that she hated to love. "Well damn, how well I ever fall victim to some sweet pretty new coed with my mate here?" He teased her and bumped his shoulder against her.
She glared at him as she squeezed his hand tighter. "See, I know your joking. But…" she leaned in to whisper in his ear. "Even joking about that will leave you out of my bed at night."
Gavin whimpered as he immediately backed down. "Okay, that's not playing fair."
She nipped his ear with satisfaction. "Then be a good wolf." She kissed his cheek as they continued their walk. Her posture relaxed as she got used to the power that radiated on the campus.
They joined the stream of students and families heading for the dorms. The walkway was made of wide, smooth concrete with benches every ten or twenty feet. Trees, bushes, and flowers filled the gaps between buildings. The mix of greenery and stone felt deliberate, yet peaceful and calm.
If one was to step off the path, they would instantly be transported into a wooded area. Gavin liked that. The quiet spaces called to him. He made mental notes of places to explore.
As they walked, a girl with short, spiky blue hair shouldered past Gavin without a word. A jolt ran through him at the contact. Memories flashed through his mind from the night he shifted in the studio.
He stopped and rubbed his shoulder. The girl kept moving, easy to track in black clothes and an alternate style that stood out.
"What's wrong?" Erza asked, frowning as she stepped in front of him.
"I am not sure. Someone bumped into me and I felt a surge. Like the night of the ambush." He met her eyes.
Erza drew a sharp breath. His eyes were blood-red. "Gavin, calm yourself. Your eyes are red, baby." She shifted to block his face from passersby.
Gavin cursed softly and closed his eyes. He centered on his inner Mana and forced his body to relax. He only struggled like this when someone threatened Erza. That didn't happen. So why were his eyes reacting?
He breathed, opened his eyes, and found Erza's relieved smile. The blue she knew had returned. She pointed toward the Alpha dorm. "Come on. Let's go get unpacked."
He walked in silence and mentally replayed the moment. Why had his eyes flared? Who was that girl? What was the surge? He needed answers.
He activated Soul Sense. Vision shifted. Colors flared as human souls moved around him. One stood out, bright and clear, a vibrant silver. That must be her. But what is she?
His eyes ached and throbbed. He dropped the skill. The signature did not match anything from the training dungeon. So, he would have to keep an eye out for her.
They reached the Alpha Building and it impressed him. The structure formed a giant circle. Each room had a balcony that opened to the outside like an apartment complex. Several entrances ringed the ground floor with a large communal area spread before the doors with grills, picnic pavilions, and benches.
The place invited people to relax outside.
"Dang," Erza said, taking it in. "This puts some apartments in Tristane to shame. If the outside looks like this, what do the rooms look like?"
Gavin grinned as he took it all in. "Let's go find out!"
White stones like polished marble gleamed in the light with not a single crack or stain. Black steel rails wrapped each balcony, a stark contrast to the white facade. The front entry had a wide double door of dark wood with windows on either side. Both doors were propped open to ease the crush of foot traffic.
Inside, warm lights softened the halls. It was crowded enough to force Gavin and Erza single file while they struggled through the crowd. A shoulder slammed into Erza, hard enough to make her stumble back from Gavin. She immediately went to apologize but was interrupted.
"Pathetic freshmen need to watch their step," someone said. Laughter followed. Cruel. Mocking.
The words crawled under Gavin's skin. One eyebrow lifted and his gaze hardened. He turned and saw a tall man with three cronies behind him, all staring at Erza.
"Didn't your momma ever teach you it's polite to apologize when you bump into someone." Gavin's voice dropped an octave, and it sent a shiver down her spine.
He was a wall of solid muscle. The immovable mountain.
The lead man leaned in with a smirk. He had small silver piercings in both ears and brown spiked hair.
Gavin stepped between them and looked the group over. Verdict? He was unimpressed. "Gavin, don't. Let it go. I am alright," Erza whispered. She knew what could happen if he lost control. He was forged into a weapon after their summer. Trained to be precise. Lethal. Efficient. The only time he struggled to hold back was when someone targeted her.
She set a hand on his shoulder, grounding him. The muscles under her palm were tight and coiled. He was ready to lay this idiot out. One wrong move, one wrong word and it would be lights out for the man.
She sighed.
Sometimes Gavin's worst enemy wasn't a strong opponent, or unbeatable Valkyrie warrior. It was his own recklessness and stupidity.
"Come on. Let's get to your room," she said, tugging his arm.
"Why do you not take your own advice?" Gavin asked the man. "You bumped into her and now you want to act like the victim." He had already sized them up. No threats. Shifting here was off the table. He would not risk expulsion, but one more wrong word and he would teach them a lesson.
Calm yourself, Gavin. You do not want to get expelled on the first day, do you? Veronica's voice cut in, cool and practical.
"Watch who you are talking to, punk," the lead said. "I might decide to mop the floor with you." He flicked a glance at Erza. "And your friend looks like all kinds of fun."
Erza squeezed Gavin's shoulder, a silent warning. "We will be on our way," she said evenly. Under her hand, Gavin felt like a bowstring about to snap.
"Come on, Bradley, teach this punk a lesson," one crony said. He wanted a show. He also wanted what he had no right to.
Bradley tilted his head at Erza. "Why run off? We only just met, sweet thing." He drew out the last words with a fake southern lilt.
A vein pulsed at Gavin's temple. He closed his eyes and focused. He would not get expelled on day one for tearing out an idiot's spine. He clenched and released his hands in his pockets. His heart rate was steady, but his blood burned.
Bradley reached for Erza's arm. He didn't want the beautiful woman to leave yet. She should be with someone strong, like him. Not this scrawny punk.
A grip like iron clamped around Bradley's wrist and stopped it cold. One of the bronze eyes in the hallway opened and trained on their group. "Alert. Mana violation. Disperse immediately."
"Do! Not! Touch! Her!." The voice was deep and menacing. A wave of visible blood-red mana pooled in the hall. With the mana came a searing heat that caused Bradley to step back in surprise. Bradley turned to the one holding him and swallowed hard as he stared into a pair of crimson eyes that did not blink.
"Oh shit." Erza's whispered words filled Bradley's hearing. Gavin's grip on Bradley's arm tightened like a vice as he prevented the leader from reaching his mate.