The morning sun rose like molten gold over the sprawling metropolis known as Astraea, the City of Mages. As Ethan approached the colossal walls, he felt his breath catch in his throat. Towers of crystal spiraled skyward, each one humming with mana so dense the air itself shimmered. Floating platforms drifted above the streets like lazy satellites. Runes glowed underfoot. Even the pigeons had faint traces of mana in their feathers.
This was no ordinary city. This was the beating heart of the magical world—where apprentices became legends, where arcane experiments reshaped buildings overnight, and where a single sneeze from a miscast spell could level a street.
Ethan tightened his cloak and stepped through the gates.
Immediately, the noise hit him—merchants chanting spells to display enchanted wares, students rushing toward academies with mana books levitating behind them, golems lumbering past pulling supply carts, street performers juggling balls of fire for tips.
"Okay," Ethan whispered to himself, "don't look like a clueless newcomer. Blend in. Blend in…"
He failed completely.
A group of academy students walked by, wearing sleek black robes embroidered with silver runes. One girl glanced his way, gave him a once-over, then whispered to her friend:
"Commoner?"
Ethan resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "Relax," he muttered. "You'll be begging me for autographs once I hit Archmage."
1. The Mage Registration Bureau
His first stop was mandatory: the Mage Registration Bureau, a grand building shaped like an open grimoire, pages of stone unfurling into the sky.
The line was massive.
Apprentices from every corner of the continent stood waiting—some nervous, some arrogant, some already practicing minor spellforms in their palms. A boy in front of Ethan attempted to summon a spark of fire but only succeeded in igniting his sleeve.
"No firecasting in line!" shouted a bored clerk, waving a water orb to extinguish him.
After an hour, Ethan finally reached the registration mage—a thin elderly man with glasses perched on the bridge of his nose and a face permanently twisted into mild contempt.
"Name?" the mage demanded.
"Ethan."
"Family name?"
"…None."
The mage raised an eyebrow but didn't comment. He waved a crystalline orb over Ethan's chest. The device warmed, glowing faintly blue.
"Tier 1. Apprentice. Mana Core Quality… hm…" The old man paused. "Huh. Interesting."
"What?"
"Your mana density is unusually high. Too high for an Apprentice. Did you cultivate illegally?"
Ethan froze.The Forbidden Technique he carried pulsed inside him like a hidden star.
"No," he said quickly. "Natural talent."
The old man snorted. "There's no such thing. Talent is bought, inherited, or stolen. Very well."
He stamped a sigil onto a metal identification plate.
[Mage ID Acquired]Name: EthanStatus: Apprentice MageClearance: F-Rank Missions Unlocked
The mage slid it across the counter. "Try not to die. Next!"
Ethan pocketed the plate and stepped back into the street.
2. The Chaos of Astraea
He wandered through the markets, absorbing everything.
At a potion stall, a bearded alchemist nearly exploded his own cauldron.At a rune shop, goblin craftsmen carved spell sigils into spearheads.A magical beast cub darted between Ethan's legs—looking suspiciously like a fox made of smoke.
"Hey! Come back here!" shouted its owner, a frantic girl chasing after it.
Ethan just stared.
Everything in this city was alive, chaotic, and crackling with danger.
And he loved it.
3. The Mission Hall
His next stop: The Apprentice Mission Hall, a massive circular building filled with glowing boards.
Mages of all levels crowded inside. Apprentices clustered around the lower section, while Novices and Adepts scanned higher-ranked missions above.
F-Rank missions—the lowest level—pulsed softly:
Clean mana residue in abandoned workshopReward: 3 silver
Deliver rune scrolls to South District TowerReward: 2 silver
Eliminate stray F-Rank mana beast near East AlleyReward: 5 silver
Stabilize leaking potion cauldronReward: 1 silver, risk of chemical burns
Ethan grimaced. "These all suck."
But he needed money. And fast.
A holographic prompt appeared:
[Quest Available: First Mission]Select any F-rank task. Experience and potential reward multiplier active.
Ethan sighed. "Fine. Let's start small."
He reached out to tap the mission to eliminate the mana beast—
Before his fingers touched the screen, it flickered violently.
New text appeared. Red. Urgent.
[Emergency F-Rank: Anomaly Detected in Lower City Sewer]Difficulty: UnknownReward: 20 silver + rare materialRisk Level: HighRecommended: Adept-level supervision.
The hall went silent.
Apprentices backed away.
"Hell no," one muttered. "Not touching that."
"F-Rank anomaly? That's a death trap."
Ethan felt the Simulator hum.
[Opportunity Detected]High danger = high growth. Technique synergy: perfect.Recommendation: Accept mission.
Ethan rubbed his temples. "Of course you want me to walk into a sewer death zone on my first day."
But twenty silver… and a rare material?
He needed resources to advance. And who knew how long it would be before another chance like this showed up?
He pressed his palm against the mission glyph.
The board chimed.
Mission Accepted.Report to Lower City Gate.Warning: You are significantly underleveled.
The room went quiet again. Conversations stopped.
Someone whispered behind him:
"Is he insane?"
Another muttered:
"That guy's gonna die for pocket change."
Ethan turned slightly and gave the mission hall a calm, fearless look.
"No," he thought."I'm going to level up."
4. Stepping Toward Danger
As he left the Mission Hall, the city's lights reflected in his determined gaze.
The Lower City was the slums of Astraea—narrow streets, leaking pipes, broken wards, unstable mana.
The perfect place for something to go horribly wrong.
Ethan tightened his cloak.
"Let's see what this world can really throw at me."
And with a spark of excitement, he headed straight toward the sewers.