The Academic Field Trip & Historical Lore
Weeks had passed since the unsanctioned mock tournament, and the air at the academy had finally begun to settle. George, Nana, and Kayn—now frequently joined by Faust—maintained their strict morning routine, meeting at the central fountain in the courtyard well before the first bell. Amidst the gentle splashing of water, they traded notes, refined their mana-theory strategies, and prepared for the day's challenges.
The courtyard soon transformed into a sea of students as the morning bell echoed against the stone walls. Making their way to General Studies, the four friends took their seats just as Professor Log Crane stepped to the chalkboard.
The Field Trip Announcement
"Today," Professor Log announced, his voice projecting with academic authority, "we will be stepping outside these walls. We are taking a field trip through the capital city of Alexia to study the foundational history of Larissa."
While the students weren't typically enthusiastic about history lectures, the prospect of leaving the academy grounds sparked an immediate buzz of excitement. George leaned over, eyes wide.
"Can you believe it, Faust? A field trip through the city!" George whispered.
Faust, however, remained unimpressed, leaning back with a sigh. "It's not exactly a voyage to the unknown, George. We live here. We see these streets every day. Now, if we were visiting the East Blue Facility... that would actually be interesting."
Professor Log's gaze snapped toward the two boys, his glare heavy enough to be felt. They instantly sharpened their stances, falling into a respectful silence.
"Ground rules," Crane continued firmly. "Rule number one: stay with the class. No roaming. Rule number two: the use of unsanctioned magic is strictly forbidden. Rule number three: this is an educational pursuit—pay attention."
A sudden knock at the door interrupted him. Professors Zorro, Starwind, and Ironheart entered the room. They explained they would be acting as chaperones to ensure the strict timetable was met and no student wandered off into the bustling capital.
The Julian Grand Terminal
The class gathered their bags and marched toward the Julian Grand Terminal. As they stepped onto the platform, they were greeted by the breathtaking sight of the Celestial Bullet Train.
The locomotive was a marvel of engineering—crafted from deep matte-black metal and etched with shimmering gold filigree that mapped out the constellations. Vibrant violet lightning surged beneath its chassis, a visual testament to the raw magic defying the laws of physics to power the vessel.
Looking upward, the station opened into a Galactic Cathedral. The vaulted arches were embedded with celestial portals displaying live views of distant nebulae and auroras.
The cold stone of the terminal was softened by living botanical vines and glowing purple flowers that climbed the pillars, while large mechanical clocks hang from the ceiling to ensure every student adheres to the schedule. Ethereal, translucent attendants drifted across the floor, which was polished like a mirror and marked with gold-embossed sigils to guide the students to their boarding point.
"This is... this is incredible," George breathed, mesmerized by the violet energy.
While many students marveled, the high-born and the seasoned remained stoic. Claudius noted casually, "I ride these all the time; the Zelretch estate is connected to the main line."
Nora Silverstone adjusted her immaculate uniform, her voice dripping with condescension. "Nobility wouldn't dare ride in anything that isn't magnificent. Even this is somewhat beneath what I am accustomed to."
Nana's brow furrowed, a vein pulsing at her temple as she bristled at the insult. Kayn, noticing the rising tension, quickly clapped her on the shoulder and laughed. "I'm sure this is exactly what you rode when you traveled to the Grand Library in Elysium, right Nana?"
The reminder of her own prestigious travels helped Nana snap out of her anger. She took a breath, offering Kayn a grateful nod. "Yeah. It was incredible, Kayn. Just like this."
The Larissian Grand Library
The journey was swift, and they soon arrived at their first stop: The Larissian Grand Library. This sanctuary of knowledge was a sprawling, multi-level labyrinth where the boundaries of physical reality and the cosmos dissolved. Architecture defined by dark, polished wood and ornate golden accents was illuminated by a massive central chandelier. Within the Floating Archive, the laws of gravity were mere suggestions; dozens of books took flight like birds, soaring between curved balconies draped in lush green vines.
As the library reached toward the Mountain Peak Sanctuary, the interior transitioned into the natural world. A grand central staircase led through the heart of the room, where a large, living tree grew directly from the floor, its branches reaching toward the starlight visible through the open-air sections of the archive.
"Have you been here before, George?" Faust asked, looking up at the swirling golden nebula on the ceiling.
George shook his head, his face full of wonder. "No, this is my first time. My grandfather doesn't live in the city; we traveled a lot in the outskirts when I was a kid."
The Legend of Roestar Rosemary
Professor Log began his lecture, gesturing to the towering shelves. "The Grand Library was founded in the year 1258 AD. It is the fifth oldest library in the world and the third largest." He pointed toward two prominent statues: one of a young boy and another of an elderly man. "This is Roestar Rosemary. He was a famous mage essential to the founding of Larissa. In fact, he was the first Grandmagi of Larissa and this Academy's very first Headmaster."
The Scroll Selection
As the students explored, they were led to a station where a Librarian instructed them to place their hands into an empty glass bowl. One by one, they pulled out a tiny scroll. Upon opening them, a book title appeared before the paper burst into harmless, magical flames. Across the hall, books began to flutter from their respective shelves, landing softly in the students' hands.
When George's book arrived, a tear escaped his eye. The title read: "The Adventures of David, Wielder of Slings." It was the very book his grandfather used to read to him when he was a small child. The bowl had somehow known exactly what he needed.
The Librarian explained that once they finished reading, the scroll would reappear in their hands, and the books would fly back to their homes. The students spent their remaining time sharing their finds and marveling at the magic of the archive before heading back to the terminal for their next destination.
The Journey to the Grand Roslyn Garden
The rhythmic vibration of the magical train began to feel like a second heartbeat to George. As the academy students traveled toward the Grand Garden, he rested his forehead against the cool glass, watching the familiar city transform from this elevated perspective.
The Hilltop Citadel and the Medieval District
As the carriage crested a high ridge, the Hilltop Citadel burst into view. From the ground, the fortress was always a distant, looming shadow, but from the train it became a crown of fire. Golden spires pierced the fading blue-hour sky, drawing light from the deepening purple beyond. Below, the medieval district—streets George usually navigated by sound and habit—had become a glowing map of amber light. Houses huddled together beneath a massive, low-hanging moon, and he realized that while he knew these alleys by heart, he had never truly seen how they shimmered like fallen stars against the dark earth.
The Island Palace and the Coastal Horizon
The train banked toward the coast, bringing the Island Palace into view. From this height, the city's industrial edges faded, replaced by perfect symmetry. The white-and-gold, cathedral-like structure rose from its circular island, surrounded by concentric rings of gardens that rippled outward like water. The arched bridges George had crossed countless times now appeared as delicate threads of silk, binding the utopian center to the mainland as the horizon dimmed into haze.
The Royal Gardens and the Grand Promenade
The train began its slow descent toward the estate's edge. As the carriage leveled out near the Royal Gardens, George found himself eye-to-eye with the grand promenade. Glass domes loomed close enough to reveal intricate Baroque carvings along their stone façades. Fountains pulsed with light, sending arcs of water into the air like liquid silver beneath the streetlamps. Figures moved among statues and manicured trees—distinguished silhouettes drifting through the gardens—and George felt the weight of the strict schedule settling over the evening.