Vael stood still in the middle of the courtyard, surrounded by a sea of five hundred or so students. All of them packed together like nervous cattle waiting for something big. And this was big.
At the front of the courtyard, on a raised stone platform, stood Headmaster Darien. Tall, broad, and way too energetic for someone his age. His voice boomed across the courtyard, echoing off the academy walls.
"You are the sharpened edge of Aetherion! The world will remember the marks you leave behind!"
Vael tuned out the applause that followed. A bunch of floating camera drones buzzed around the edges of the courtyard. To the right, just above the students, a group of reporters sat on a floating platform. Most were already live, their crew members whispering updates through earpieces as the news stations broadcasted everything in real-time.
Three days had passed in the blink of an eye, and Vael had barely managed to complete all of his preparations before stepping through the portal to Taurenth.
Vael, who had originally figured he would just sell the ring, had in the end decided to hold on to it, figuring he would need the defense artifact, considering he knew what was going to happen today.
Yet the result of that decision hadn't been easy, forcing him to spend nearly all his money after that. His bank account had gone from thirty-seven thousand credits to just two hundred and ninety. Poof. Gone.
Fifteen thousand had been spent on a rented storage ring. Another twelve had gone on some stealth charms. The rest on small essentials, nothing worth remembering. And now, here he was flat broke, half-prepared, and more than a little annoyed at the cheerful trumpet player in the back of the crowd.
In the front, the Headmaster raised his hands again.
"I hope by now, all of you are familiar with the interdimensional video transmitters provided to you. Yes, I know you're all dying to turn them on and stream your adventures the moment you step foot into Taureth, but let me be clear."
"This is not a game; real lives are at stake here, whether it's yours or the natives."
"If you find yourselves in danger, remember the sigil on your hand will activate after seven days. Hold out until then. That's your emergency return. You only get one. So use your time wisely. Scout. Learn. Survive."
He paused, letting his gaze sweep across the entire courtyard.
"Seven days. That's all. After that, whether you want to come back or not, the sigil will bring you home."
He continued speaking after that, but Vael barely registered it. His focus drifted to the giant portal standing next to the podium. Runes lit up across its surface like veins filled with fire. A low hum filled the courtyard as the energy inside it pulsed and churned.
Then, finally, Headmaster Darien raised both arms toward the sky.
The Headmaster's voice rang out again, cutting through the low thrum of the portal.
"One last reminder before you go."
The courtyard quieted down.
"This first week is for observation only. Do not engage unless absolutely necessary. Let your universal translators finish syncing with the local language. You'll need to understand what's going on around you before you act."
A few students nodded. Others looked a bit more nervous now.
"You'll all be teleported somewhere within a thousand-kilometer radius of each other," he continued. "So, find your fellow students as soon as you can. Work together. Build alliances."
He paused, letting the weight of his next words settle.
"Remember, there is strength in numbers."
"So go forth, my future conquerors!"
Behind him, the academy's ceremonial band struck up a sharp, pounding rhythm.
Thum, Thum, Thum like a war drum echoing through the bones.
Vael let out a breath.
It was finally happening.
A wave of excitement and nerves swept through the students like a silent breeze. No one moved at first. They just stood there, staring at the glowing portal like it might bite.
Then, from the front of the crowd, someone stepped forward.
It was her.
The Goddess Elowen.
She didn't speak, didn't look back. Just lifted her chin and walked into the portal with her head held high, not even a flicker of hesitation in her eyes.
That was all it took.
The moment she disappeared into the light, the crowd began to stir. One by one, students followed her lead. Some walked confidently. Others clung to their squads, whispering last-minute plans. Zathiel was among the first to follow, his steps calm and filled with arrogance like always.
And soon it was Vael's turn. Not giving a second look, he too unhesitatingly walked inside the portal, smiling as the light swallowed him whole.
Instantly, everything around him vanished, including his sense of smell, sight, and touch.
He knew this feeling, this was the feeling one got while floating inside the void between worlds.
Then, just as suddenly as it began, it ended.
Sight slammed back into him like a hammer. His head felt like it was going to burst open in pain, while his stomach churned due to a feeling of nausea.
Looking around, he found himself jammed into a closet. A tight, wooden one with a narrow slit near the top. Through it, he could see a dark room outside with soft carpets, silk curtains, and a large canopy bed in the middle.
Yes.
It was exactly like before. It was the same damn closet.
His head throbbed. The spell always hit hard when crossing dimensions, but this time it felt worse, like someone had taken a brick to the back of his skull. Still, the grin didn't leave his face.
Right on cue, the door creaked open.
A group of maids stepped in, chatting among themselves as they began tidying the room. Their voices were light, casual, and completely unaware of the boy hidden in the corner.
The translator buzzed faintly in his ear, still working to catch up with the local language. Not that it mattered.
Vael already knew it.
"Did you see how radiant the princess looked today?"
"What else do you expect from a chosen mage? I heard Master Noren himself is coming from the capital to oversee her training."
"Good looks, high status, and magic talent? The future of the kingdom is looking brighter and brighter."
Vael's smile widened, even their words were the same.
Just like last time.