Morning sunlight slipped through the tall window, filtering across polished wood and velvet curtains. The air was still—cool, fresh, and quiet in a way that felt unnatural after days of travel and blood.
Noel blinked awake.
For a few seconds, he didn't move.
He just lay there, eyes on the ceiling, letting the warmth of the bed soak into the ache in his back.
No jolts of fear. No phantom pain. No blood.
He sat up.
His body responded immediately—no strain, no soreness.
A clean start.
He stood, walked across the room barefoot, and poured himself a glass of water from the crystal decanter set on the shelf.
Then he turned to the desk.
The briefcase sat exactly where Gareth had left it—sleek black leather, polished silver latch.
Noel flipped it open with a soft click.
Inside, everything was perfectly folded and compartmentalized.
Two full sets of the Imperial Academy's formal uniform—dark navy coat with gold-trimmed shoulders, white buttoned shirt, slim black tie, dark trousers.
He brushed a finger over the cloth.
Fine. Tailored. Subtle enchantments woven into the lining.
Underneath them, a gray-and-blue training uniform—lightweight, flexible, clearly made for movement and durability.
Beneath the clothes was a leather scroll case, a few official documents sealed with wax, and a thick folder labeled:
"Academy Orientation Materials – Class A"
Noel picked it up, sat at the desk, and opened the first page.
"Welcome to the Imperial Academy of Vaelterra. You are among the elite."
He snorted.
Then turned the page.
The second page was a folded parchment, thick and finely inked. Noel opened it carefully.
It unfolded three times.
And kept unfolding.
By the time he finished, the map took up nearly half the desk.
"You've got to be kidding me," he muttered.
The Imperial Academy of Vaelterra wasn't just a school.
It was a fortified zone. A metropolis in miniature.
At the center was the Main Academy Building—a spired structure with five floors above ground and who knew how many below. Each floor was color-coded and labeled with class divisions.
Class A – Top Floor.
Class B – Fourth Floor.
And so on, all the way down to Class F.
'So the best rise literally above the rest,' Noel thought. 'Fitting.'
Radiating out from the central tower were specialized towers, each dedicated to different magical disciplines:
Elemental Theory – a tall spire with constantly changing weather swirling above it.
Constructs and Summoning – marked with glowing pentagrams and stable circles.
Runes and Enchantment – circular in shape, ringed with stone golems.
Combat and Enhancement – squat and reinforced, with scorch marks clearly visible even on the map sketch.
To the west, a pair of training fields—one labeled "Open Grounds," the other "Instructor Access Only."
To the south and east, a sprawling cluster of labeled areas:
Student Quarter Markets
Blacksmith Alley
Public Cafés and Taverns
Library Row
The Garden Baths
Dueling Arena
Medical Pavilion
And ringing it all: a secondary wall, tall and rune-marked, encircling the academy like a second spine.
Outside of it?
Valeria.
But the academy had its own laws. Its own rhythm. Its own heartbeat.
Noel sat back and exhaled slowly.
"A city inside a city."
"And I just got dropped into the top floor."
He folded the map again, this time carefully.
"Let's not get comfortable."
Beneath the map was a crisp, cream-colored document sealed with a wax crest: the five-pointed star wrapped in flame.
Noel broke the seal and unfolded the parchment.
ACADEMY CODE OF CONDUCT – MANDATORY COMPLIANCE
The language was precise. Sharp. The kind of bureaucratic polish that tried to sound friendly while outlining how easily you could be expelled.
He read in silence, skimming line by line.
Rule 1 – Absolute Zero Tolerance for Racial Discrimination.
All students, regardless of race or origin, are protected under Imperial Equality Law. Discrimination will result in immediate investigation, and if confirmed, instant expulsion without trial.
'They don't play around.'
Rule 2 – No Exit Without Authorization.
Leaving the academy walls without explicit permission from a certified instructor or the Director will result in suspension, investigation, or permanent dismissal depending on intent.
'So much for wandering.'
Rule 3 – Dormitory Conduct is Tier-Specific.
Each class tier has its own dorm regulations, enforced by designated dormitory guides. Violating dorm rules may result in demotion of class rank or loss of privileges.
Noel raised an eyebrow at that one.
'I'll have to ask Gareth what "privileges" means.'
Rule 4 – Unauthorized Combat Prohibited.
All duels must be requested and approved through the Academy Arena Board. Fighting outside designated zones without permission is a major offense—even if both parties agree.
Rule 5 – Mana Use Restrictions.
No mana casting is allowed in public spaces unless explicitly cleared for training. Spells used outside approved zones are subject to containment punishment or loss of casting rights.
And then two rules that weren't obvious:
Rule 6 – Mandatory Academic Attendance.
Absence from lectures or guided practice without documented cause results in class penalties. Chronic absence results in rank reclassification. Class A students are monitored directly.
'Babysat. Got it.'
Rule 7 – Forbidden Zone Trespass.
Certain areas of the academy are classified by clearance rank. Entering without prior access is considered magical treason, regardless of intent. Punishment includes expulsion or detainment by the Imperial Order.
Noel lowered the sheet.
'They make sure the kids stay in line. Or burn trying.'
He folded the rules and set them aside.
The academy offered everything—but it watched everything, too.
At the bottom of the briefcase, beneath the rules, Noel found a final booklet—thinner, but bound in hard leather with an embossed symbol on the front:
"Manacode Primer – Academy Edition"
He opened it.
The first page was a single line, centered in silver ink:
"All life has mana. Only a few learn how to use it."
Noel flipped to the next.
THE MANA CORE
A spiritual organ located near the heart. Everyone has one. Only a few awaken it to conscious use.
Once activated, the mana core absorbs ambient energy and stores it, allowing the user to shape it through will, focus, and technique.
The core can expand. Strengthen. Evolve.
It is both your engine and your limit.
TWO PATHS OF MANA
External Use – Magic
Elemental spells, barriers, enchantments, summoning, channeling energy outside the body.
Internal Use – Enhancement
Boosted speed, strength, reaction time, perception, body reinforcement—mana flows into the self, improving it.
Noel paused, rereading that.
'So brute-force fighters and genius mages are using the same fuel.'
'Just different engines.'
POWER RANKS
The booklet listed the system clearly:
Novice – Basic mana control.
Adept – Stable casting. Core refinement begins.
Ascendant – Advanced manipulation. Spell creation possible.
Archmage – Constructs domains, breaks magical thresholds, creates original systems.
Manacode – Access to Mana Script, the legendary form of reality rewriting. No confirmed user in over a century.
Noel leaned back in his chair.
His hand instinctively went to his chest—over his heart.
He felt it faintly now.
A pulsing warmth.
Like something waiting to be used.
'Everyone starts at Novice… but not everyone climbs.'
'I wonder how far this extra can go.'
He closed the booklet.
The academy offered more than just knowledge.
It offered power.
And for the first time since waking up in this world…
Noel wanted to see how far he could take it.