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> Ace | LC: 7 | EXP: 63/133 | LVL 2
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> HP ▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▱▱ 84/100
> MP ▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰ 70/70
> STA ▰▰▰▱▱▱▱▱▱▱ 33/80
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> Class: MAGE
> Known Abilities:
• Fireball
• Heal
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> PERKS
• +10% More magic damage
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> [ BAG ] [ MAP ] [ SHOP ] [QUESTS]
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I dismissed the screen. Not now. Not with this giant building staring me down. I had to enroll here? That was… overwhelming.
I stopped behind a thick tree, looked down at myself: no uniform, muddy clothes, probably still stank of smoke and blood. Would they think I was some kind of thug or something with the way I was presenting myself with these clothes?
"Alright… fingers crossed."
Shaking the thoughts away, I started walking toward the gates.
As I got closer, the two guards noticed me—their armor clinking faintly as they shifted their stance. I stopped a few meters away and gave a small nod. They stayed silent, waiting for me to speak… and the silence stretched. Awkward. Each second felt longer than the last.
"Hey," I finally said. "I just came into the city and… learned it's the law to attend an academy."
The guard on the right tilted his head slightly. "Came from where, citizen?"
"A far-away village." I kept my voice steady. "We didn't have an official name, though. I, uh… yeah. It was very small."
"A nameless village?" He raised an eyebrow. "So you lot weren't paying your taxes?"
"We were," I lied smoothly. "Why, though?"
"What do you mean wh—"
"A new student?" The teacher on the other side of the gate interrupted, voice calm and welcoming. He stepped forward, robes swishing softly. "Let him through, please."
The left guard looked me over. "Do you have anything on you, citizen?"
"Nope."
"Arms up."
I lifted them to the sides. The guard stepped in, patting me down quickly and efficiently—sides, waist, legs. Nothing. He met his partner's eyes, gave a curt nod, and stepped back, opening the path through the gate. I gave a slight nod of thanks and walked into the courtyard.
The teacher smiled warmly. "I heard you were new to the city. Welcome to Kinola!"
"Thank you, sir." I managed a small smile. "I… wanted to enroll in the academy."
"What's your name? And how old are you?"
"Aceston Walker. Eighteen."
"Oh, you'll fit right in as a freshman, then. Just a year older than most." He pointed toward the main entrance, a grand double doorway framed in dark wood. "Go through there and find Mr. Marble's room. Second floor. He'll help you with enrollment for Northwood."
"Thank you, sir."
"Good luck, Ace Walker." His smile widened. "Oh—and you'll need to change those clothes. Have you been to The Circle or something?"
"I… fell down in the forest," I lied again. "Anyway, thank you again, sir."
He gave me another warm nod and turned back to greeting the stream of students filing through the gates. I headed for the entrance, heart thudding a little harder with each step.
Man… please no student loans. Please no student loans. My poor body wouldn't survive a second tragedy like that.
With a shaky exhale, I pushed through the open doors and stepped inside.
Fuck me.
This was something else entirely.
The moment I entered, my eyes were drawn upward to an absolutely massive tree that dominated the entire central hall. It rose all the way to the tenth floor, its thick trunk easily wider than a carriage, with powerful branches spreading outward like the ribs of some ancient beast. The leaves were the brightest, richest green I had ever seen, almost glowing with vitality. This wasn't like any tree back home. Either this was a special magical species, or every tree in this world looked this majestic. I was leaning toward the former.
Beneath the enormous canopy, at least twenty heavy wooden tables were arranged in a loose circle. Students occupied most of them, some reading thick tomes, others quietly practicing small spells that sent tiny sparks or wisps of light floating into the air, a few even dozing with their heads pillowed on their arms.
The hallway itself was vast and open, more like the nave of a cathedral than a school corridor. Sunlight poured in from high windows, illuminating floating dust motes and casting soft patterns across the polished stone floor. Most of the foot traffic flowed around the great tree, which made sense, it was impossible to ignore. A few students were gathered near the walls, quietly admiring two life-sized statues that flanked the entrance: a majestic lion on the right and a fierce lioness on the left. Whoever sculpted them was a master, the muscle definition, the flowing manes, the intelligent gleam in their stone eyes… they looked almost alive.
"Wow…" I whispered, unable to stop myself. "Like a damn heaven…"
I walked slowly toward the grand staircase that curved upward in a graceful S-shape. The railings were carved from dark, almost black wood, smooth and cool to the touch, while the wide steps were made of some rich, warm-toned stone that felt solid and ancient under my boots. Everything here screamed quality and age, built to last centuries, not years.
"Jeez… they really know their stuff, huh?"
As I climbed, I glanced down at the first floor. Students were steadily filling the hallways, slipping into classrooms located along the outer edges and corners of the building. The central area around the tree seemed reserved for gathering and casual practice, while the actual lessons took place in the more private wings and upper levels. The layout made sense, keep the noisy main hall for socializing and the quieter areas for focused study.
The sheer scale of the place was overwhelming. High ceilings, towering columns, intricate carvings on every pillar… Northwood wasn't just a school. It felt like a palace dedicated to magic.
I swallowed hard and kept climbing toward the second floor, searching for Mr. Marble's room.
This was going to be interesting.
"Alright…" I said as I finished climbing the stairs. "Where now?"