Chapter 5
The morning sun filtered weakly through Ethan's blinds, pale gold cutting across the floor. He groaned, stretching out under the weight of sheets and the knowledge that today was not going to be a normal day.
Footsteps sounded from downstairs.
"Hey, don't get all preppy and arrogant just because you're going to some rich-kid college, okay?" Jacob's teasing voice called from the hall.
Ethan cracked an eye open. "Noted," he muttered, dragging himself out of bed.
Jacob leaned against the doorway, smirking. "Seriously, though—don't forget where you came from. And don't get too comfortable with all that prestige. I expect stories when you're the big-shot Arcanis kid."
Ethan chuckled despite himself. "I'll try not to embarrass myself."
Jacob grinned and waved, heading out the door. "Bye, man. Don't die before lunch."
"Ethan!" His mom appeared in the doorway as he packed the last of his things into his bag. "Remember to eat something, and don't forget—stay alert, be polite, and… whatever happens, don't let anyone intimidate you."
"I'll be fine, Mom," he said, slinging the bag over his shoulder. "I promise."
She gave him one last hug, a mix of worry and pride. "Just… be careful. And remember, no matter how big the school is… you're still my Ethan."
The low rumble of a car outside drew Ethan's attention. Black, sleek, and almost too quiet, it looked like it belonged more in a spy movie than a suburban street.
Michael stepped out, perfectly composed, hand extended politely to Ethan's mom. "Good morning, ma'am. I'm the liaison from Arcanis. Your son is in capable hands."
"Right…" Ethan's mom said, still wide-eyed. "Take care of him."
Michael nodded once. "I will."
Ethan climbed into the back of the car, eyes wide. "So… we're driving to Antarctica? How exactly does that work?"
Michael smirked faintly. "Not by car, Ethan. You'll see soon enough."
The drive was quiet at first. Ethan stared out the window, taking in the familiar streets disappearing behind him. Finally, curiosity won out.
"So… where are we going?" he asked.
"One of the links," Michael replied, calm as always. "Pay attention, but don't get distracted. Some things aren't meant to be questioned."
Ethan frowned. "Links?"
"You'll find out."
Soon, the car arrived at a hidden underground facility. Lights hummed softly, screens flickered with data, and strange mechanical hums filled the space. Ethan's jaw dropped.
"Whoa… this is… next-level."
Michael gave him a quick glance. "Keep your curiosity in check. Follow me."
They approached a sleek, pod-like craft. The kind of thing Ethan had only seen in sci-fi movies.
"This is the transporter," Michael explained. "Step inside."
Ethan hesitated, staring at the polished interior. "You mean… this thing flies to Antarctica?"
"In a manner of speaking," Michael said, motioning him in. "Sit. Strap in. Hold on."
Before Ethan could question anything else, the pod lifted smoothly. The city shrank below them, lights flickering as the world blurred past. The sensation of speed pressed him back into his seat, heart pounding with exhilaration and nerves.
Michael offered him a small bag. "Breakfast?"
Ethan blinked. "A… bagel?"
Michael shrugged. "Eat. You'll need energy."
Sitting back, Ethan tore a piece of bagel off and stared out the pod's window. The familiar world stretched beneath them, shrinking rapidly. His pulse raced—not just from the speed, but from the knowledge that, soon, everything he thought he knew would be gone.
"…So," Ethan finally asked, breaking the silence. "What exactly is the Ice Wall?"
Michael's smirk returned. "The Ice Wall isn't just a barrier at the edge of Antarctica. It's a boundary between what you know…and what you don't. Beyond it… well, that's where the supernatural truly begins."
Ethan swallowed, gripping the seat. "The supernatural?"
Michael's eyes met his. "The one you've been seeing glimpses of. Ghosts. Magic. Power. It all starts beyond the Ice Wall."
Ethan exhaled slowly. Great. Of course.
The pod hurtled onward, carrying him toward a place he could barely imagine. And yet, deep down, he knew there was no turning back.
The pod hummed softly as it cut through the atmosphere, the familiar blue sky replaced by clouds and the vast, glimmering white of ice below. Ethan pressed his face against the glass, eyes wide.
"So… this is the Ice Wall?" he asked, voice barely above a whisper.
Michael nodded. "Almost. A barrier at the edge of Antarctica. Beyond it… is the real world. The one most humans never see."
Ethan frowned. "Real world? You mean… like ghosts and magic?"
Michael's expression was calm, even as he spoke. "Exactly. Ghosts, magic, powers beyond what you've imagined. And different lands—different levels of danger."
Ethan leaned back, gripping the edge of his seat. "Levels of danger?"
Michael tilted his head, voice smooth. "Hyas. That's where Arcanis Academy is. The safest place compared to the rest. Most ghost hunters use it as a base or a safehouse. Beyond that is Andromeda, the marketplace. People buy and sell magic items, rare goods, entertainment, business. Then Dione. Scarcely populated, powerful ghosts… not a very safe place . Finally, Atlas—the darkest, most dangerous. Nobody survives there. Only the strongest ghost hunters even attempt it."
Ethan's jaw dropped. "Atlas… that sounds insane. So Arcanis… it's like… a safe zone?"
Michael's smirk was faint but approving. "A start. You'll learn more, but Hyas is where you'll begin. And kid…" He paused, eyes steady on Ethan, "you'll want to remember that the further from the Ice Wall you go, the worse it gets."
Ethan swallowed, heart hammering. Great. Safe? For now.
The pod's engines hummed one last time before it descended, landing with a soft vibration on a sprawling campus unlike anything Ethan had imagined.
Below, a massive mansion-castle hybrid dominated the grounds, students moving across courtyards, sparring, practicing magic—some flying, others summoning faint glowing energy. The air itself seemed alive, humming with power.
Ethan's mouth went dry. "This… this is Arcanis?"
Michael's smile was faint. "This is it, kid."
Ethan's eyes darted across the campus. Students weaving spells mid-spar, some reading in floating libraries, others laughing and throwing sparks between them. Every corner of the academy felt alive, a cinematic montage of possibility and danger all at once.
"Follow me," Michael said, guiding him up a wide staircase. Ethan's boots echoed against stone, eyes darting to every flicker of magic and movement.
They reached the headmaster's office. Michael opened the door.
"So this is the awakened kid you brought," a deep voice said, sharp, assessing.
"Kid," the headmaster continued, gaze piercing. "What's your name?"
"E-Ethan… Ethan Carter," he stammered, heart racing.
The headmaster leaned back slightly, eyes narrowing. "Carter… why do you want to be a ghost hunter?"
Ethan began, but the headmaster cut him off, voice harder now: "Are you willing to die in battle for the greater good? For something more impossible than your life? To throw everything away to save others? You're just a kid."
Ethan swallowed, chest tight, but a small, calm laugh escaped him. "Is that supposed to be insulting ?" He straightened, gaze firm. "Death? It doesn't scare me in the slightest, not anymore at least.That's… inevitable. Yesterday, I was just a normal kid with a normal purpose. Live and die. But now… I've been given a much greater reason to live. A higher purpose. So, yes. You ask if I'm willing to die—you better goddamn believe I'm willing to give everything I have. Blood, sweat, tears… everything."
The headmaster paused, expression unreadable. Michael's eyes widened slightly.
Ethan's stomach dropped. "Shit… did I just say all that?"
Then, slowly, the headmaster smiled. "Such is the expectation of every ghost hunter here. I'll get Miss Diaz to show you around, Ethan Carter. Welcome to Arcanis Academy. Welcome to Hyas. Welcome… to life beyond the Ice Wall."
From the window of the headmaster's office, Ethan could see students in every corner of the sprawling campus. Some practiced using magic , others sparred or studied, and in the distance, a familiar figure—Freddie—looked up toward the office, electricity faintly sparking in his eyes.
Ethan felt the weight of it all—the responsibility, the danger, the adventure waiting. And for the first time in days, he smiled.
This is it. This is the start.