Days past, slowly but surely the thin crack in her inner world was being mended by her hallowed construct. Katrina spent the time cultivating, growing the amount of water in her inner world. As they grew nearer to the academy, the more visibly excited Loren got.
He became more animated, and his determination doubled where he managed to create a second construct (a small block of gold) a day before their arrival at the academy.
The carriage stopped at the edge of The forest of no return. Put simply, it was a forest covered in many different elements (the main one being illusion) in order to stop anyone who was not given a right of passage from entering and leaving.
Thankfully the scrolls covered her carriage in a spell which allowed them to pass through the spell unharmed. With the scroll, the journey through the dense magical forest only took a couple of hours, until they reached the academy.
The forest was full of completely bizarre magical creatures and flora. Creatures which possessed the elements. She watched squirrels manipulate trees to climb faster, birds which could shred creatures apart using gusts of wind. Growing flora which burst into flames when they were touched by their prey.
It was eye opening.
Arriving at the academy, she stared at its massive structure. It was a city by itself. With marble walls which obstructed the view from outside, although she could see tall towers peeking out the top reaching the crowds. Something she would've seen before entering the forest if not for the illusion spell.
"Woah." Was all Loren said before they walked to the guards watching over the only gate in sight. This was as far as the carriage and the knights could take them due to their identity as non-mages.
"New students?" One of the guards spoke briskly, not really paying attention to them.
"Yes we both are." Katrina admitted, gesturing to the two of them.
"Which kingdom do you come from?" A different guard asked politely, his demeanour more relaxed then the first.
"Aurora, the trade capital of the Sea." She replied. It was the official title of their kingdom, despite being small with a lackluster fighting force, they export of goods from the sea did give them elevated status in comparison to other small Kingdoms.
"Princess Katrina, my apologies but we only have one student listed as originating from that region. Which is you of course, so we can't allow the young man beside you to enter." The kind guard explained to her.
The testers were the ones who were required to inform the academy who was going to attend. So it is likely that the tester who failed to provide Loren the tome to become a trainee wouldn't put him down as attending since he would not be allowed entrance even if he made his way here since he wouldn't be capable of becoming a trainee.
"This is Trainee Loren, he has a metal affinity and was given a scroll from the academy. He should be down as attending." She bluffed, with the amount of students here it would not be a surprise if a few names were missed from attendance.
"Is that so? Well can I see his scroll, yours too Princess it is protocol." The guard asked. A while back an illusion mage of the master level was counterfeiting scrolls which could bypass the illusion. Although, they were not good enough to pass through the gates.
Handing over the scrolls, the guard checked them for a moment and confirmed their authenticity.
"Yes everything seems to be in order, Sir Hadrid will take Trainee Loren to the Earth institute where his attendance will be made aware to the metal mage and I, Sir Drierad, will escort you to your lodgings." He instructed, due to her status as a princess instead of being given a lowly guard as a guide she was given their captain it seems.
In a way, Katrina felt jealous of Loren for being able to see his elements institute before the academy officially began in three days. The institutes were all designed around naturally occurring sources of different elements that were gathered in this forest. Which would bolster cultivation.
The main four elements were the biggest with all the muse elements in the same institute since they derived from the same source. However, all the unique elements were placed in separate buildings across the campus where a instructor with the element would be assigned to the mage. In some cases, where a unique element was so rare that there were no instructor for it, a element closely related would take over.
For example, if there were no instructors for the unique element of poison, then a instructor of the unique element of curses would step in. Since they were based around a similar concept, magical energy which infected things from the inside to cause changes.
Saying her goodbyes to Loren, she reminded him of all she had told him prior, and to stop acting so nervous. If you look as if you belong, no one will question your place. A lesson taught to her from childhood.
As they were finally given entry, she followed Sir Drierad as he led her through the paved stone path towards a large dorm. The sides of the path was stock full of shops which were given access to the academy as they sold relevant items and wares. Such as ingredients for potions, or necessities such as clothes.
Entering inside the dorm, he led her to a lady sitting at the front desk in which he gave her Katrina's name. Afterwards, she retrieved a ring which had her dorm floor and room contained.
"This is the first year dorm, it has ten floors with each floor containing around two hundred rooms give or take. In most cases, each room held around four students although cases like you are viable for their own dorm. Every dorm is spelled so only those possessing the corresponding rings can get inside." Sir Drierad explained to her, giving her the ring.
It read, 'Princess Katrina of Aurora; Floor 7, Dorm 19.'