A ray of sunlight crept through the window, dragging Carter from a restless sleep.
His head throbbed, and every part of him ached, but the constant buzzing of his phone wouldn't let him sink back under.
Groaning, he reached over and squinted at the screen.
248 new emails.
His thumb froze mid-swipe. All of them were from mage academies.
Some were local, others from out of state, and a few more names he'd only ever seen in glossy brochures handed out by smug recruiters at career fairs. Barton Arcane Institute. Northlight Tower. Arkwright Mage Academy.
They were all saying the same thing:
We would be honored to have you.
He blinked, then reread them all.
He wasn't even a high school graduate yet. By law, he couldn't attend a mage academy until he finished general education. But that didn't stop the flood of acceptance letters. Some were formal. Others practically begged him to apply. A few even offered full scholarships.
It felt surreal.
"CARTER!!! Come downstairs!" his mom suddenly shouted, her voice sharp and urgent.
Still half in a daze, he threw on a hoodie and headed down.
---
In the living room sat two sharply dressed men in tailored black suits. One rested a sleek tablet on his knee, the other cradled a silver briefcase. They stood as he entered, calm and composed.
His mom gestured between them, visibly nervous.
"Carter… these gentlemen are from Arkwright Mage Academy."
Carter stopped mid-step. "What?"
The taller man extended a hand, his smile practiced but polite. "Mr. Hayes. I'm Felix Gratham, Senior Admissions Officer at Arkwright. This is my colleague, Professor Malkin from the Recognition Department."
The professor gave a small nod and adjusted his square-framed glasses. "Pleasure."
"We know this is all a bit sudden," Felix continued, "but we'd like to speak with you about your future. Specifically, your future with us."
Carter blinked, trying to process.
"I didn't even apply," he muttered.
"You did," Malkin replied, his voice measured. "We saw your admission test results. Your Embody talent is exceptional. But your Recognition potential? That's something we haven't seen in decades. Frankly, it borders on historic."
Carter shifted uncomfortably, crossing his arms. "I don't think I'm ready for… whatever this is."
Felix's smile softened. "We understand. You've been through a lot. But what matters now is what comes after. Arkwright isn't offering you a reward, Carter. We're offering a path. Guidance. Control. A place where what happened won't define you. At Arkwright, we see the potential in you—and we'll help you see it too."
Carter looked away.
He wanted to scream. To tell them they were making a mistake. That he wasn't a hero or prodigy—just a broken kid who'd gotten lucky. Or unlucky.
Instead, he said, "Can I think about it?"
"Of course," Felix replied smoothly. "We're holding your spot for now. Classes start in two months. We'll be in touch."
The two men began to leave, but Malkin paused in the doorway.
"One last thing, Mr. Hayes," he said, his eyes unreadable behind his glasses. "Power left unchecked doesn't just hurt others. It consumes the wielder too. Don't wait too long."
And with that, they were gone.
Carter collapsed onto the couch, letting out a long breath. None of this felt real.
Just as he began to wonder if it was all a prank, memories of the night before came flashing back.
"Ugh," he groaned. "Why, why, why why?" He kept banging his head against the back cushion.
Linda knelt beside him and wrapped him in a hug.
"Honey, I know this is a lot," she said softly. "But if this is what you want, then go for it. I'll support you every step of the way."
She kissed the top of his head and smiled.
"Now go wash up and get ready for breakfast."
For the first time in days, Carter smiled. Not because he had answers. But because someone believed he could still find them.
He stood and headed upstairs, his thoughts still swirling—but lighter than before.