The morning sun found Kael and Rynn curled together by the riverside, the fire reduced to a ring of smoldering embers. For a few heartbeats, the world was still — no battles, no burdens, just the simple warmth of two souls finding each other in a wild and uncertain world.
But the world, as it always did, beckoned them forward.
By midday, they were riding once more, their pace swift and steady. The land changed as they traveled, the forests thinning into wide fields, the roads broadening and hardening into paved stone paths. Trade wagons rumbled by, pulled by thick-bodied oxen, and merchants on horseback tipped their hats as they passed. Every mile brought more signs of civilization: inns with swinging signs, farmlands bordered by low stone walls, bustling waystations where children chased each other among the travelers.
And then, as they crested a final hill, they saw it — the Capital.
It sprawled across the land like a living tapestry, a city of towering spires, bustling markets, and shimmering rivers crisscrossed by arched bridges. Massive walls encircled it, old and scarred but strong, their stones covered in ivy and banners that flapped proudly in the wind. At the city's heart rose the Academy itself, a fortress of marble and glass that caught the light and scattered it like stars across the sky.
Kael felt his heart tighten in his chest at the sight.
Rynn let out a low whistle. "By the gods... it's even bigger than I imagined."
They rode toward the gates, joining the throng of people pouring into the Capital. Guards in polished armor checked travelers with sharp eyes, but when they saw the Academy writs Kael and Rynn carried — simple parchments stamped with the mark of admission — they waved them through with little more than a nod.
Inside the walls, the city was alive.
Vendors cried their wares from colorful stalls. Musicians played lutes and drums on street corners. Children darted through alleys with wild laughter. The smell of baking bread, roasted meats, and exotic spices filled the air.
It was overwhelming — and exhilarating.
Kael tightened his grip on his reins, his senses heightened by Time Dilation, instinctively slowing the chaotic world around him to something manageable. Rynn caught his eye and grinned, her excitement infectious.
"Come on!" she said, spurring her horse forward. "Let's find the Academy before we get distracted!"
Navigating the city was an adventure in itself. The streets twisted and turned unpredictably, and more than once they found themselves backtracking after taking a wrong turn down a narrow lane filled with squawking chickens and irate shopkeepers.
Finally, after what felt like hours, they arrived at the Academy's main gate.
It was massive, forged from black iron and silver, etched with ancient runes that shimmered faintly in the light. Two statues flanked the entrance — one of a dragon rearing its head toward the sky, the other of a mage casting a spell that crackled eternally in the air.
A crowd of prospective students had already gathered: young men and women of all shapes and sizes, some wearing fine silks, others in simple travelers' clothes like Kael and Rynn. Some radiated magic so thickly it was almost visible; others carried weapons that sang with latent power.
An official-looking woman in deep violet robes stood before the crowd, her voice amplified by magic.
"Applicants! Welcome to the Capital Academy of Arcane and Martial Arts. Your trials begin now."
A murmur ran through the group.
"You will be tested not just on your strength, but on your wits, your courage, and your adaptability," the woman continued. "Only those who pass all three tests will be admitted."
Kael felt a thrill run through him. This was it. The beginning of the next chapter.
Rynn leaned close, whispering, "Stick with me, farm boy. I'll get us through this."
He bumped her shoulder playfully. "I should be saying that to you."
The first test was immediate: a gauntlet of magic and combat obstacles set up across a sprawling courtyard behind the gates. Barriers of shifting stone, summoned storms of razor-sharp wind, illusions designed to terrify or deceive — it was chaos incarnate.
"Move fast, think faster!" the official barked. "Go!"
The crowd surged forward.
Kael activated Time Dilation, and the world slowed. He weaved through obstacles with precision, dodging spinning blades of wind and leaping over shifting stones. His Sword Mastery guided his every movement, Veyrion flashing in his hand as he cut through illusions designed to snare the unwary.
Rynn was right beside him, her own magic flaring — quick bursts of earth and air that deflected attacks and cleared paths.
At one point, Kael saw a boy in rich clothing trapped by a wall of conjured fire, paralyzed with fear. Without hesitation, Kael grabbed him and yanked him free, earning a surprised but grateful look.
Luck of the Fates, Kael thought grimly, feeling the unseen forces around him nudge events subtly in his favor.
They reached the end of the gauntlet in record time.
The second test was less straightforward.
Inside a cavernous hall, applicants were placed into randomly assigned groups and given a single task: "Retrieve the Gem of Aether from the Labyrinth."
It sounded simple — but as Kael quickly realized, the Labyrinth was a shifting maze of mirrors, shadows, and traps. Trust and teamwork were crucial.
To his relief, Kael and Rynn ended up in the same group, along with three others: a sharp-eyed elven boy named Sylas, a hulking warrior girl named Brynn, and a slender mage with a perpetually nervous expression who introduced himself as Tam.
"Stick together," Kael said firmly. "We won't survive if we split up."
They moved carefully, mapping the twisting passages as best they could. Beast Taming came in handy here — Kael summoned a small spirit creature from the nearby woods, a fox-like entity that darted ahead and signaled safe paths.
They encountered traps — pitfalls, magical snares, illusions that tried to lure them astray — but working together, they overcame them.
When they finally reached the center of the maze and claimed the Gem — a fist-sized crystal that pulsed with raw magic — a booming voice declared, "Group Seventeen: Success!"
They stumbled out of the Labyrinth exhausted but elated.
The final test was unexpected: a simple conversation with a panel of instructors.
Kael sat before three stern-looking figures — a battle-scarred swordsman, a robed archmage, and an elderly woman whose mere gaze felt like it could pierce his soul.
They asked questions — about his past, his ambitions, his fears.
Kael answered honestly. About Virestead. About the Hunger. About wanting to become strong enough to protect what mattered — and maybe, to change the world.
The instructors exchanged unreadable looks. Then the woman smiled faintly.
"Welcome to the Academy, Kael Stormborn."
The acceptance ceremony took place that evening beneath a sky ablaze with stars. Hundreds of applicants stood on the wide marble plaza, torches casting golden light across their upturned faces.
The headmaster — an imposing figure in robes of white and gold — raised his arms.
"You stand on the threshold of greatness," he intoned. "Some of you will rise to become heroes. Others will fall. Know this: from this moment on, your lives are forever changed."
The assembled students cheered, the sound rolling like thunder across the Capital.
Kael turned to find Rynn smiling at him, her eyes shining.
"We made it," she said.
Kael smiled back. "Together."
But even as they celebrated, Kael felt the weight of the glass bottle hidden beneath his cloak — and the distant, gathering storm it foretold.
The Dragon King's blood pulsed once more, a silent drumbeat in his veins.
This was only the beginning.