Thursday evening found Adrian staring at his bedroom closet—which was now roughly the size of a small warehouse—and contemplating the impossible question of what exactly one packs for Hero Academy.
The helpful floating sticky notes had multiplied overnight and were now offering increasingly specific and unhelpful advice:
"Don't forget extra socks! Heroes go through a lot of socks!"
"Pack light for dragon travel! But also pack everything you might need!"
"Remember: first impressions matter at magical school!"
"Confidence is your best accessory!"
"Have you considered a nice cape? Everyone loves a good cape!"
The last note had apparently drawn itself a little cape and was swooshing around the bedroom with theatrical flair.
Adrian's phone had been buzzing constantly with helpful reminders from various departments of magical bureaucracy:
"Packing List Reminder: Hero Academy requires students to bring their own bedding (fireproof recommended)."
"Important: All electronics must be declared at magical customs. Undeclared mundane technology may spontaneously evolve."
"Weather Advisory: Magical weather at Hero Academy can be unpredictable. Pack for all seasons simultaneously."
"Dietary Alert: Academy cafeteria accommodates all dietary restrictions, including recently discovered allergies to magical substances you didn't know existed."
Adrian sat on his color-changing bed (which had apparently upgraded itself from a regular mattress to something that felt like sleeping on a cloud made of good intentions) and surveyed the clothing options that his magical closet was enthusiastically presenting.
"Might I suggest the 'First Day of School' ensemble?" asked his closet in its cheerfully professional voice. "Classic heroic casual with subtle confidence enhancement?"
A complete outfit materialized on magical hangers: dark jeans that looked like they could withstand dragon claws, a comfortable shirt in what could only be described as "heroic blue," and a jacket that seemed designed by someone who understood both fashion and the practical requirements of potential monster encounters.
"That looks... surprisingly normal," Adrian admitted.
"The best heroic fashion appears mundane to untrained eyes," his closet explained proudly. "Those jeans will protect you from minor magical attacks while still looking appropriate for casual Friday. The shirt provides emotional support during stressful situations, and the jacket has seventeen different pockets, each enchanted for specific heroic needs."
"What kinds of heroic needs?"
"Emergency snacks, spare change for magical toll roads, basic first aid supplies, dragon treats for making friends, emergency contact crystals, anti-curse tokens, and a pocket specifically designed to hold your dignity when everything goes wrong."
Adrian had to admit that the dignity pocket sounded useful.
"Now," his closet continued, "for luggage! Might I recommend the Academy Standard Hero Trunk?"
A trunk materialized beside Adrian's bed. It looked like something from a fantasy novel—dark wood bound with what appeared to be silver runes, brass corners that gleamed with their own light, and a lock that looked like it could keep out everything up to and including determined demigods.
"It's bigger on the inside, naturally," his closet explained. "Standard magic. Holds approximately ten times what it appears it should hold, organizes everything automatically, and provides climate control for delicate items."
"Climate control?"
"Some potions are temperature-sensitive, and you never know when you might need to transport ice cream across dimensional boundaries."
"Why would I need to transport ice cream across dimensional boundaries?"
"You'd be surprised how often it comes up in heroic work."
Adrian opened the trunk and discovered that the interior was indeed much larger than the exterior suggested. It looked like a small, well-organized room with hanging areas for clothes, shelving for books and supplies, and what appeared to be a tiny refrigeration unit in one corner.
"There's a refrigerator in my luggage," Adrian observed.
"For the ice cream," his closet reminded him patiently.
As Adrian began the surreal process of packing for magical school, his phone rang. The caller ID showed: "Hero Academy Student Services."
"Hello?" Adrian answered cautiously.
"Adrian the Magnificent! This is Bethany Welcomewood from Hero Academy Student Services! I'm calling to make sure you're all prepared for tomorrow's arrival!"
"I'm trying to pack, but I'm not really sure what I need."
"Oh, don't worry about that! The Academy provides almost everything! You really just need personal items and anything that makes you feel comfortable. Think of it as magical summer camp for adults who might accidentally save the world!"
"That's either reassuring or terrifying."
"Both! It's definitely both! Now, I do need to confirm a few details. Transportation is scheduled with Majestic Kevin at 8:00 AM sharp from your building rooftop, correct?"
"Yes, though I'm not sure how Kevin is going to land on my roof. It's not very big."
"Oh, Kevin's very experienced with urban landings! He's been doing student transport for over fifty years! Very reliable, excellent safety record, and he brings his own landing permits."
"Dragons need landing permits?"
"Oh yes! Magical flight regulations are very strict. Kevin has all the proper certifications. Now, about your roommate assignment..."
Adrian's stomach dropped. In all the chaos of the past few days, he'd completely forgotten about the roommate matching survey buried somewhere in his pile of magical paperwork.
"I never filled out the roommate survey," he admitted.
"No problem! We used your heroic profile to make an automatic match! You've been paired with someone who should be very compatible!"
"What's my heroic profile?"
"Let me see... 'Reluctant hero with practical problem-solving approach, excellent interpersonal skills, tendency toward accidental success, requires emotional support during transition period.' Perfect match for someone who needs a stabilizing influence!"
"Who exactly needs a stabilizing influence?"
"Oh, I can't give out personal information about other students! But I'm sure you'll get along great! Your roommate is very... enthusiastic about the heroic lifestyle."
Adrian had a growing suspicion that "enthusiastic about the heroic lifestyle" was code for something potentially troublesome.
"Any other questions?" Bethany asked cheerfully.
"What exactly am I supposed to expect when I get there?"
"The usual! Orientation, tours, class registration, dormitory check-in, magical aptitude assessment, heroic potential evaluation, emergency protocol training, and the Welcome Feast!"
"Emergency protocol training on the first day?"
"Just basic stuff! What to do if reality starts unraveling, how to handle accidental time travel, monster identification quiz, that sort of thing. Very standard!"
"Reality unraveling is a risk?"
"Oh, not a big risk! Maybe once or twice a semester! The Academy has excellent containment protocols!"
After hanging up, Adrian returned to his packing with a growing sense that no amount of preparation could possibly be adequate for what he was about to encounter.
His magical closet had taken the initiative to pack most of his new heroic wardrobe while he was on the phone. The trunk now contained neatly organized sections of clothing for every conceivable situation: formal wear, casual wear, combat gear, diplomatic attire, and something labeled "emergency backup outfit for when everything else gets destroyed by magical mishaps."
"I packed some personal items as well," his closet informed him. "Toiletries, basic medications, your favorite coffee mug—"
"My coffee mug says 'World's Okayest Employee.'"
"I took the liberty of having it updated. It now says 'World's Okayest Hero' and will adjust the message based on your achievements."
"My mug is going to judge my performance?"
"Encouragingly! Very supportive mug. I also included some comfort items—photos, a small blanket, that book you've been meaning to read—"
"The book about improving work-life balance?"
"Now updated to 'Improving Hero-Life Balance.' Much more relevant!"
Adrian found his updated book in the trunk. The cover had changed from a stock photo of a businessman meditating to an illustration of what appeared to be a hero in full armor sitting peacefully beside a dragon while reading.
"Even my self-help books are magical now," he said to himself.
"Magic makes everything better!" his closet replied cheerfully.
As the evening progressed, Adrian's apartment continued its helpful transformation. His refrigerator had prepared what it called "travel snacks suitable for dragon flight," which turned out to be an assortment of items that looked normal but smelled faintly of adventure and possibility.
The floating lights had dimmed to a warm, comfortable glow that seemed designed to promote calm and restful sleep. His houseplants had arranged themselves into what looked like a supportive botanical gathering, rustling their leaves encouragingly whenever he looked stressed.
At 10 PM, Adrian's phone chimed with a final message: "Pre-Flight Checklist: Get a good night's sleep! Tomorrow begins your heroic adventure! Majestic Kevin will arrive at 8:00 AM sharp. Weather conditions optimal for first-time dragon passengers!"
Adrian looked around his transformed apartment one last time. In four days, it had gone from a simple living space to magical headquarters. Tomorrow, he would leave it behind and step fully into a world that still felt like someone else's life.
He changed into his new heroic pajamas (which were surprisingly comfortable and seemed to actively encourage peaceful dreams) and settled into his cloud-like bed.
"Good luck tomorrow," said one of his floating sticky notes, which had drifted over to his nightstand. "You're going to be amazing!"
"I hope you're right," Adrian whispered to his magically supportive bedroom.
As he drifted off to sleep, Adrian's last conscious thought was wondering if Majestic Kevin would remember to bring dramamine for the flight.
Outside his window, in the distance, the sound of dragon wings could be heard practicing gentle landing techniques, and somewhere in the magical bureaucracy of the universe, final preparations were being made for the arrival of Adrian the Magnificent at Hero Academy.
Tomorrow would change everything.
But tonight, for one last time, Adrian Klutz could sleep peacefully in his own bed, surrounded by magic that cared about his comfort and floating notes that believed in his potential.
The adventure was coming, ready or not.