The waiting hall continued to pulse with life.
Thousands of footsteps echoed across ancient stone floors.
Students hurried between counters.
Parents gave final instructions.
Station employees moved continuously through the crowd.
Above everything else, the massive crystal chandeliers illuminated the hall with soft golden radiance.
Time flowed steadily.
The second batch departed.
Then the station quieted briefly before preparations for the next departure cycle began.
Kel remained seated.
His book rested closed upon the table now.
The tea in his cup had long since cooled.
Nearby tables emptied as travelers received their departure notices and left toward their assigned gates.
The teleportation station never remained still for long.
Every few minutes, another group vanished toward a different future.
Inside his mind, Seiren's voice echoed softly.
"Your little group is returning."
Kel looked up.
Darius appeared first.
The young swordsman walked with noticeably calmer steps than before.
His posture remained straight.
Yet something had subtly changed.
His movements felt more controlled.
More aware.
Behind him came Lyanna.
The young mage carried several notebooks pressed against her chest.
Her eyes held a thoughtful gleam.
A quiet confidence absent earlier.
Finally came Theo.
The aspiring mage looked strangely peaceful.
Gone was the nervousness that had plagued him since morning.
His expression now carried curiosity.
A different kind of energy entirely.
The three returned to the table.
No one spoke immediately.
The atmosphere felt different now.
Not awkward.
Simply reflective.
Each had spent the previous hours alone.
Thinking.
Observing.
Questioning.
Growing.
Even if only slightly.
Then—
A loud voice suddenly echoed throughout the station.
The magical announcement arrays activated.
Blue runes illuminated across nearby pillars.
The voice amplified throughout the enormous structure.
Clear.
Powerful.
Impossible to miss.
"Attention passengers."
The entire station gradually quieted.
"Teleportation Batch Three preparations are now beginning."
Countless travelers immediately looked toward the announcement crystals.
The voice continued.
"Passengers holding ticket numbers 3400 through 3800, please proceed toward your assigned departure gates."
The station erupted into movement.
People stood.
Gathered luggage.
Collected belongings.
Prepared themselves.
The next group had been called.
Kel calmly looked down at his ticket.
3400 range.
His batch.
At the same moment—
Darius looked at his own ticket.
Then Lyanna.
Then Theo.
Several seconds passed.
Then all four looked at one another.
The realization came simultaneously.
This was it.
The waiting period had ended.
The journey was finally beginning.
Kel calmly stood.
Closing his book.
Returning it to his travel bag.
His movements remained composed.
Natural.
Nothing rushed.
Nothing wasted.
The others followed.
Darius adjusted the sword strapped across his back.
Theo nervously checked his luggage twice.
Then checked it a third time.
Lyanna organized her notebooks one final time.
The group naturally began walking together.
Toward the departure gates.
The crowd flowed like a river through the enormous station.
Students separated according to destinations.
Academies.
Cities.
Regions.
The future slowly sorted itself into countless different paths.
Soon—
The departure chamber appeared.
The room was enormous.
Far larger than the waiting hall.
Three gigantic teleportation gates occupied the center.
Each one easily large enough to transport fifty or sixty people simultaneously.
Ancient runes covered every surface.
Blue light flowed through engraved magical pathways.
The air itself vibrated with dormant power.
The sight inspired awe.
Even seasoned travelers paused briefly.
The eastern gate blazed with pale silver light.
The western gate emitted deep sapphire radiance.
The southern gate glowed with golden brilliance.
Station officials directed travelers toward their assigned destinations.
The process remained orderly.
Efficient.
Professional.
Kel quietly observed everything.
The ancient engineering fascinated him.
Even now.
Thousands of years after their creation.
The teleportation arrays continued functioning flawlessly.
A testament to the civilization that built them.
Then—
Reality returned.
Because the paths were finally diverging.
Darius looked toward the eastern gate.
Then toward Kel.
A grin appeared.
"Looks like we're heading the same direction."
Kel nodded.
"The eastern route."
The swordsman laughed.
"Though I doubt I'll ever see Aetherial Institute."
"Probably not."
The answer came immediately.
Darius stared.
Then burst out laughing.
"You're surprisingly honest."
"Usually."
The swordsman shook his head.
Amused.
Nearby—
Lyanna and Theo stood before the western gate.
Their destinations lay far beyond the western provinces.
Different academies.
Different futures.
Different stories.
The moment felt strangely final.
After all.
Only several hours earlier.
They had been complete strangers.
Now—
The four stood at a crossroads.
Perhaps they would never meet again.
Perhaps they would.
The future remained uncertain.
Then Lyanna suddenly stepped forward.
Her blue eyes settled upon Kel.
Several moments passed.
Then she bowed her head slightly.
Not deeply.
Not formally.
Simply sincerely.
"Thank you."
Kel remained silent.
The young mage continued.
"When we first met..."
She hesitated briefly.
Searching for words.
"I was studying answers."
Her fingers tightened slightly around her notebooks.
"Now I think I'm finally learning how to ask questions."
Silence followed.
Then Theo stepped forward.
The younger boy looked embarrassed.
As though speaking honestly felt unfamiliar.
Yet he continued anyway.
"I spent most of today worrying."
A self-deprecating smile appeared.
"Actually..."
He corrected himself.
"I spent most of the last month worrying."
Several nearby students laughed.
Theo laughed too.
Then his expression became serious.
"But now..."
His gaze drifted toward the western gate.
Toward the future waiting beyond it.
"I think I understand why I want to become a mage."
The statement sounded simple.
Yet everyone present understood its significance.
Theo himself seemed surprised.
As though he had only recently discovered the answer.
Then Darius crossed his arms.
The swordsman looked toward Kel.
His expression unusually serious.
"No fancy speech from me."
Kel nodded.
Reasonable.
Darius grinned.
"Still."
The grin softened slightly.
"Genuinely."
"Thanks."
The words carried weight.
Not because they were dramatic.
Because they were honest.
For several moments—
The four stood silently.
Around them.
The station remained busy.
Announcements echoed.
Travelers moved.
Teleportation arrays hummed.
Yet for a brief moment—
The noise seemed distant.
Then—
A station official called out.
"Final boarding for Batch Three."
Reality returned immediately.
Passengers began entering their assigned teleportation circles.
The moment had arrived.
The western group started moving first.
Theo adjusted his luggage.
Then waved.
A simple gesture.
Yet sincere.
"Good luck, Aedon."
Lyanna smiled faintly.
"Hopefully we'll meet again."
Kel nodded.
"Perhaps."
The answer wasn't optimistic.
Nor pessimistic.
Simply honest.
Because the world was large.
Yet strangely small.
You never truly knew.
The two entered the western teleportation circle.
Blue light surrounded them.
Their figures gradually disappeared among the gathering travelers.
Gone.
Just like that.
Another path.
Another future.
Another story beginning somewhere else.
Darius watched them leave.
Then exhaled slowly.
"Weird."
"What is?"
The swordsman shrugged.
"We only met today."
Kel nodded.
"Correct."
"Yet it feels like longer."
The answer surprised neither of them.
Some people traveled together for years and remained strangers.
Others shared a single day and left lasting impressions.
The swordsman laughed softly.
Then looked toward the eastern gate.
"Well."
"Looks like it's our turn."
Together they walked forward.
Toward the eastern teleportation array.
Silver light illuminated the enormous chamber.
Dozens of travelers already waited within the circle.
Students.
Merchants.
Adventurers.
Ordinary people.
All heading east.
All carrying different dreams.
Kel stepped into the circle.
Ancient runes glowed beneath his feet.
Power stirred.
The air vibrated softly.
Darius stood several steps away.
Adjusting his sword.
Nearby travelers exchanged nervous glances.
Others looked excited.
The teleportation process would begin shortly.
Then—
Seiren's voice echoed through the soul bond.
Soft.
Thoughtful.
"A crossroads."
Kel looked toward the glowing runes beneath him.
"What about it?"
The Guardian remained silent briefly.
Then replied.
"Most people think journeys begin when they arrive somewhere."
The teleportation circle brightened.
Energy surged through ancient formations.
"But I think journeys begin when paths separate."
The words lingered.
Strangely profound.
Then the teleportation array activated completely.
Brilliant silver light erupted throughout the chamber.
The world dissolved into radiance.
And Aedon Flinth's journey toward Aetherial Institute truly began.