The morning sun bathed Silverfall City in golden light as Yuu guided Oakley through the cobblestone streets. Merchants called out their wares from colorful stalls, and magical carriages glided past on cushions of air. Everywhere he looked, people were using magic—lamps floating overhead, water purifying itself in fountains, even children playing with glowing balls of light.
The Royal Academy of Magic stood at the heart of the city, surrounded by high walls covered in ivy that shimmered with faint green magic. Through the massive iron gates, Yuu could see the main building—a grand structure of white stone with towers that seemed to touch the sky. Gardens filled with flowers of every color stretched out before it, and the sound of laughter and conversation drifted from the courtyard beyond.
He dismounted at the gatehouse, where a guard in polished silver armor stood watch. "State your business," the guard said, though his eyes softened slightly when he saw Yuu's simple traveling clothes and leather armor.
"I'm Yuu of Greenhollow," Yuu said, pulling out a letter from his pack. "I've been accepted as a student in the Non-Magical Studies program."
The guard unfolded the letter and read it carefully, then nodded. "Follow me—I'll take you to the registration hall. Your horse will be taken to the academy stables and cared for during your time here."
Yuu thanked him and followed the guard through the gates. The courtyard was even more impressive up close—students in deep blue robes walked between buildings, some practicing small spells as they went. A group of elves was tending to the gardens, using nature magic to make the flowers grow taller and brighter. In one corner, a few dwarves were working on a new fountain, their hammers ringing out in a steady rhythm as they shaped stone with both skill and magic.
The registration hall was a large, open room with high ceilings and stained glass windows that depicted scenes of famous mages from Aethermoor's history. A long line of students waited at the counters, each one handing over their papers and receiving a robe, a student badge, and a schedule of classes.
When it was Yuu's turn, the woman behind the counter—an older mage with silver hair tied back in a bun—looked at his letter and then up at him with a warm smile. "Yuu of Greenhollow," she said. "I've heard about you. Your application mentioned your interest in combining medical knowledge from another world with our healing practices. That's quite unique."
"Thank you, ma'am," Yuu said. "I hope I can contribute something useful to the academy."
"I'm sure you will," she replied, handing him a deep blue robe and a silver badge engraved with the academy's symbol—a star surrounded by five circles, representing the five main races of Aethermoor. "Your dormitory is in the East Wing, Room 214. Classes start tomorrow at sunrise—your first class is Basic Magical Theory, followed by Healing Practices and Combat Training."
Yuu tucked the items into his pack and made his way to the East Wing. The dormitory building was smaller than the main hall, but still impressive—each room had a window overlooking the gardens, and the halls were lined with portraits of former students who had gone on to become great leaders, healers, and warriors.
His room was neat and clean, with a bed, a desk, a wardrobe, and a small fireplace. As he was unpacking his things, the door opened, and a young man with curly brown hair and bright green eyes walked in.
"Hi there!" the man said, grinning widely. "I'm Finnian—Finn for short. I guess we're roommates! Are you here for the Magical Engineering program?"
"Yuu," Yuu said, shaking his hand. "No, I'm in Non-Magical Studies. I'm interested in medicine."
Finn's eyes lit up. "That's awesome! I've always thought magic works better when combined with practical skills. I'm here to learn how to build things that use magic more efficiently—like carriages that don't need so much energy to fly, or tools that can help farmers grow more food."
Yuu felt a wave of relief. It was good to meet someone who didn't look down on him for not having magic. They spent the rest of the afternoon getting to know each other, and Finn showed Yuu around the academy grounds—pointing out the library, the training fields, the healer's wing, and the dining hall where students ate their meals.
"This place is amazing," Yuu said, looking at the library—a massive building with shelves that stretched up into darkness, lit by floating orbs of light.
"It is," Finn agreed. "But it's not all perfect. There's a group of noble students who think they're better than everyone else because they have strong magic. They call themselves the 'Golden Circle'—led by Prince Aldric of the Northern Kingdom. They don't like anyone who isn't a high-level mage, and they're always looking for ways to show off their power."
Yuu nodded thoughtfully. He'd expected something like this—people who valued magic above all else. "Well, I'll just have to show them that there's more to strength than casting spells."
That evening, they went to the dining hall for dinner. The room was filled with hundreds of students from all races—elves with their graceful movements, dwarves with their hearty laughter, fairies with their shimmering wings, and humans from every corner of Aethermoor. The food was delicious—roasted meat, fresh vegetables, bread baked with magic to stay warm and soft, and fruit that glowed with a faint magical light.
As they ate, Yuu noticed a group of students sitting at a table near the front of the room. They were all dressed in robes with gold trim, and their badges were decorated with precious stones. One of them—a tall young man with blonde hair and sharp blue eyes—was speaking loudly, gesturing with his hands as balls of golden fire danced between his fingers.
"That's Prince Aldric," Finn whispered. "He's one of the strongest mages in his year—he can cast high-level fire spells without even using a wand."
As if he'd heard them talking, Aldric looked over and his eyes landed on Yuu. He frowned when he saw Yuu's simple robe and leather armor, then stood up and walked over to their table.
"New students?" he asked, his voice cold. "I don't think I've seen you before. What program are you in?"
"Non-Magical Studies," Yuu said calmly, standing up to face him. "I'm Yuu of Greenhollow."
Aldric laughed—a sharp, unpleasant sound. "Non-Magical Studies? What's the point of coming to the Royal Academy if you can't even use magic? This place is for those who have the power to protect Aethermoor, not for farmers who think they can play doctor."
A murmur ran through the dining hall as students turned to watch. Finn stood up beside Yuu, his face angry. "That's not fair—Yuu knows more about medicine than most of the healers here!"
"Is that so?" Aldric said, his eyes narrowing. "Then maybe he'd like to prove it. There's a tournament next month—students can compete in any category they choose. If he's so skilled, why doesn't he enter the healing competition? Or better yet, the combat tournament—let's see how his 'non-magical skills' hold up against real magic."
Yuu looked at the prince, his expression calm. "I'll enter both," he said. "But I want you to know something—strength isn't measured by how powerful your magic is. It's measured by what you do with what you have."
Aldric smirked. "We'll see about that. Don't come crying to me when you're defeated by real power."
He turned and walked back to his table, and the other students returned to their meals, though many continued to glance at Yuu with curiosity or pity.
Finn put a hand on Yuu's shoulder. "You don't have to do it," he said. "The tournament is mostly for show—nobody expects non-magical students to compete."
"I have to," Yuu said firmly. "If I want people to take me seriously, if I want to show them that there's more to Aethermoor than magic, I need to stand up for what I believe in. Plus, it'll be good practice for when Malakor returns."
Finn's eyes widened. "Malakor? You know about the demon lord?"
Yuu nodded. "I know more than most. But that's a story for another time. Right now, I need to get ready for my first day of classes tomorrow."
They finished their dinner and returned to their room. Yuu spent the evening reading the books he'd been given—Basic Magical Theory, Healing Herbs of Aethermoor, and Combat Tactics for Non-Magical Warriors. He wanted to be as prepared as possible for his classes, and for the tournament.
The next morning, Yuu woke before sunrise and dressed in his academy robe, strapping Shinrai to his waist under the fabric. He met Finn in the hallway, and they walked to the main hall for their first class—Basic Magical Theory.
The classroom was large and bright, with rows of desks facing a podium where an older mage with a long white beard stood waiting. As the students took their seats, Yuu noticed that Aldric and his friends were sitting in the front row, looking down their noses at everyone else.
"Good morning, class," the mage said, his voice booming through the room. "I am Professor Thorne, and I will be your instructor for Basic Magical Theory. Today, we will begin with the fundamentals—how magic flows through all living things, how it can be shaped and controlled, and how different types of magic interact with each other."
He began to lecture, drawing diagrams on a large board with a wave of his hand. Yuu listened carefully, taking notes as he went. Even though he couldn't use magic himself, understanding how it worked was essential—both for his healing studies and for protecting himself against those who would use magic against him.
After class, Yuu went to the healer's wing for Healing Practices. The instructor was a kind elf named Liana, who had spent years studying both magical and non-magical healing methods.
"Welcome, Yuu," she said when he entered the room. "I've read your application—your ideas about combining medicine from another world with our practices are fascinating. Today, we'll start by learning how to identify common illnesses and how to treat them with herbs and magic."
She showed the students how to use magic to speed up the healing process, but also emphasized the importance of proper care—rest, nutrition, and clean bandages. "Magic can do many things," she said, "but it can't replace the body's own ability to heal. Sometimes, the best treatment is simply kindness and patience."
Yuu felt right at home in the healer's wing. He shared what he knew from his old world—how to set broken bones, how to treat infections, how to recognize the signs of heart disease and diabetes. The other students listened intently, and even some of the more skeptical ones began to ask questions.
In the afternoon, Yuu went to the training fields for Combat Training. The instructor was a tall dwarf named Grom, who had been a warrior for over a hundred years.
"Alright, listen up!" he roared, his voice like thunder. "Combat isn't just about magic—it's about strategy, strength, and speed. Even if you can't cast spells, you can still be a great warrior if you know how to use your body and your weapons."
He split the students into two groups—those who used magic and those who didn't. Yuu was the only one in the non-magical group who had brought a weapon, and Grom's eyes lit up when he saw Shinrai.
"Where did you get that blade?" he asked, examining it carefully. "I've never seen anything like it—this metal isn't from Aethermoor."
"It was passed down to me," Yuu said. "From my family in another world."
Grom nodded slowly. "It's a fine weapon. Let's see what you can do with it."
Yuu spent the rest of the afternoon practicing with Grom and the other students. He showed them the sword forms he'd learned from Lirael and his grandfather, and Grom was impressed by his skill.
"You move like a true warrior," Grom said, clapping him on the shoulder. "With more training, you could hold your own against any mage in the academy. Even Prince Aldric."
As the sun began to set, Yuu walked back to his room, tired but happy. His first day at the academy had been challenging—he'd faced ridicule from Aldric and his friends—but he'd also found teachers and students who believed in him. He knew that the road ahead would be hard, but he was ready to face whatever came next.
He had his studies, his friends, his sword, and his dream of making Aethermoor a better place for everyone—magical or not. And as he looked out at the academy towers against the evening sky, he knew that his journey was just getting started.