The Northern Teleportation Station remained crowded.
Thousands of voices echoed throughout the enormous stone structure.
Students carrying dreams.
Parents carrying worries.
Teachers carrying expectations.
The atmosphere felt alive.
Excited.
Hopeful.
The kind of energy that only appeared when countless futures stood at the beginning of their journeys.
High above, enormous crystal chandeliers illuminated the station.
Ancient runes glowed across pillars older than the Empire itself.
Massive teleportation arrays occupied the center of the building.
Their circular formations pulsed with blue light.
Ancient power slumbered beneath every stone.
Kel stood within the commoner line.
Around him, students shifted impatiently.
Some reviewed notes.
Others practiced breathing techniques.
A few nervously stared toward the teleportation circles.
Everyone wanted to leave as quickly as possible.
Everyone wanted to reach their academy.
Everyone wanted their future to begin.
In front of Kel stood the young man heading toward the Eastern Sword Academy.
Behind that young man stood the girl planning to attend the Arcane Tower Academy.
And behind Kel stood the aspiring mage and his father.
The four had already spoken briefly.
Not enough to become friends.
But enough to recognize one another.
Then suddenly—
A commotion erupted near the front.
Several station employees moved through the crowd.
The line gradually slowed.
Then completely stopped.
Confused murmurs spread throughout the station.
"What happened?"
"Why did they stop?"
"Is something wrong?"
Kel quietly observed.
After several minutes, one employee finally announced:
"The first teleportation batch has successfully departed."
"Second batch departures will begin in approximately one hour."
Immediately.
The crowd erupted.
One hour.
That wasn't a short delay.
Especially considering the size of the line.
The young swordsman groaned.
"One hour?"
The aspiring mage looked depressed.
"We'll be here forever."
The Arcane Tower girl sighed.
"This is going to take the entire day."
Kel glanced toward the endless line ahead.
Then toward the endless line behind.
Then calculated.
The answer appeared almost immediately.
Several moments later—
He stepped out of the line.
The movement immediately attracted attention.
The swordsman blinked.
"Huh?"
The mage boy looked confused.
The girl frowned.
"Where are you going?"
Kel adjusted his travel bag.
"The common area."
The three stared.
"The what?"
Kel pointed toward a large waiting area located near one side of the station.
Hundreds of chairs.
Tables.
Food stalls.
Reading areas.
Rest zones.
Even small practice courtyards.
The place existed specifically for waiting passengers.
The swordsman looked confused.
"But why?"
Kel answered naturally.
"Because I don't intend to stand here for six hours."
The three froze.
Six hours?
The mage boy immediately looked alarmed.
"Six hours?!"
Kel pointed toward the crowd.
"The second batch leaves after one hour."
He pointed farther ahead.
"Our numbers are nowhere near the front."
The group followed his finger.
The reality became obvious.
Kel continued.
"Realistically."
"We'll probably leave with the third or fourth batch."
The girl frowned.
"...meaning?"
"Two to three additional hours."
The swordsman's expression collapsed.
The mage looked as though his soul had left his body.
The Arcane Tower girl looked equally horrified.
Kel calmly adjusted his cloak.
"Therefore."
"I'm going to sit down."
The three stared.
Then almost simultaneously asked:
"What if someone takes our position?"
The question sounded reasonable.
Many people nearby shared similar concerns.
Kel blinked.
Then slowly pulled out a small metal ticket.
The others looked confused.
Kel showed them the engraved number.
The station seal.
The batch information.
The registration markings.
Then he spoke.
"Why would they?"
Silence.
The three stared.
Kel continued.
"The order isn't based on where we're standing."
His finger tapped the number.
"It's based on this."
More silence.
The realization slowly appeared.
Kel continued mercilessly.
"The station announces ticket ranges."
"The line itself is mostly symbolic."
"..."
"..."
"..."
The three froze.
Several nearby students who accidentally overheard the conversation froze as well.
The swordsman blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Then looked down at his own ticket.
Then looked toward the waiting area.
Then back toward his ticket.
His expression gradually became strange.
The mage boy performed the exact same process.
The Arcane Tower girl covered her face.
The realization hurt.
A lot.
Meanwhile—
Inside Kel's mind—
Seiren was laughing.
"They've been standing there for over an hour."
"Yes."
"Without needing to."
"Correct."
"You should have told them earlier."
"They didn't ask."
The Guardian laughed harder.
The swordsman eventually spoke.
"...We're idiots."
The girl immediately nodded.
"Yes."
The mage boy nodded too.
"Definitely."
The surrounding students who overheard the conversation also looked troubled.
Because many of them suddenly realized the exact same thing.
Several moments later—
Half the nearby line started moving toward the common area.
Kel watched silently.
The three looked toward him.
Then toward the waiting area.
Then toward him again.
The swordsman pointed.
"You're going there?"
"Yes."
"We're coming too."
Kel nodded.
Reasonable.
The four left the line together.
Or rather—
The symbolic line.
Several minutes later they found a table within the common area.
The atmosphere here felt completely different.
Much calmer.
Students chatted.
Families ate meals.
Travelers rested.
Some people slept.
Others read books.
A few practiced basic spellcasting exercises.
The constant pressure of standing in line disappeared instantly.
The swordsman sat down first.
Then released a long sigh.
"By the gods."
"This is so much better."
The girl nodded.
"Agreed."
The mage looked as though he had discovered enlightenment.
Kel quietly sat down.
The chair was comfortable.
The tea nearby smelled decent.
Life was good.
The three stared at him.
Then eventually—
The swordsman spoke.
"You know."
Kel looked up.
"What?"
"You seem suspiciously experienced."
The girl nodded immediately.
"Very suspicious."
The mage pointed dramatically.
"Extremely suspicious."
Kel remained calm.
"I can read."
"..."
"..."
"..."
The three looked personally attacked.
Because technically—
That was exactly what happened.
The ticket literally explained everything.
Nobody had bothered reading it.
Inside his mind—
Seiren nearly fell into Scarder Lake laughing.
Finally.
The awkward atmosphere faded.
The swordsman straightened his posture.
Then offered a hand.
"Since we're apparently traveling together."
"My name is Darius."
"Eighteen."
"Future student of Eastern Sword Academy."
Kel shook his hand.
"Aedon Flinth."
The introduction felt natural now.
Comfortable.
The false identity had become second nature.
Darius grinned.
"You really planning to challenge Aetherial Institute?"
"Yes."
The swordsman stared.
Then shook his head.
"You're insane."
"Possibly."
Darius laughed.
"I like that answer."
Next came the girl.
She brushed several strands of dark brown hair behind her ear.
Unlike Darius, her movements felt more refined.
More disciplined.
"My name is Lyanna."
"Seventeen."
"Future student of Arcane Tower Academy."
She paused.
Then added:
"Hopefully."
A hint of nervousness appeared within her voice.
Kel noticed immediately.
The entrance examination probably worried her.
Then again—
Most students here looked worried.
Only fools entered important examinations without anxiety.
Finally.
The younger boy spoke.
"My name is Theo."
"Sixteen."
"Future mage."
The declaration sounded extremely confident.
His father, who sat nearby, immediately laughed.
"You haven't passed yet."
Theo pointed dramatically.
"Details."
The table laughed.
Even Kel smiled faintly.
The father eventually introduced himself as Gareth.
A former craftsman.
A proud parent.
And someone clearly trying very hard not to worry about his son.
The conversation gradually became more relaxed.
Natural.
Comfortable.
Students from different paths.
Different futures.
Different ambitions.
Yet currently sharing the same journey.
Darius wanted to become a swordsman.
Lyanna dreamed of mastering magic.
Theo wanted to become a great mage.
And Kel—
Well.
Kel wanted many things.
Most of which couldn't be explained easily.
As conversations continued, more students gradually joined nearby tables.
Discussions filled the waiting hall.
Academies.
Dreams.
Goals.
Ambitions.
The future.
The atmosphere felt strangely pleasant.
Nobody cared about noble titles here.
Nobody cared about territory management.
Nobody cared about politics.
Only possibilities mattered.
Far away within Scarder Lake—
Seiren's voice became softer.
More thoughtful.
"Interesting."
"What is?"
The Guardian remained silent for several moments.
Then answered.
"This feels different from Frostbound."
Kel looked around.
Students laughed nearby.
Parents offered advice.
Dreams filled the room.
Then he understood.
"Because everyone is moving forward."
"Exactly."
The Guardian sounded pleased.
"Nobody here is protecting what they have."
"They're chasing what they want."
Kel nodded.
A subtle truth.
Yet an important one.
The waiting hall contained thousands of futures.
None certain.
None guaranteed.
Yet all moving forward.
Toward something.
Toward tomorrow.
Toward possibility.
Hours later.
As announcements echoed throughout the station and teleportation batches continued departing—
Aedon Flinth sat among ordinary students.
Drinking tea.
Sharing stories.
Listening to dreams.
And for the first time since leaving House Rosenfeld—
He truly felt like one of them.
Not a Count.
Not an Heir.
Not a Legend.
Simply—
A student chasing the horizon.