Chapter 9: Academy Gates, Trial, Ice & Fire
Morning arrived with the sharp clang of the city bells—six strokes, crisp and metallic. Ellie woke before the fifth. She sat up, cataloged the room: grimoire on the washstand, cloak draped over the chair, boots lined neatly by the door. Inventory mentally updated. MP restored overnight to full: 140/140.
She dressed in layers—new gloves, cloak, the too-big trousers cinched tighter with a scavenged belt. The pitcher stayed at her belt; the short sword from the bandit loot hung opposite it in a makeshift sheath she'd bartered for yesterday. Balanced weight. Practical.
Downstairs, the common room was half-empty. Garrick sat at his usual corner table, nursing black tea and studying a crumpled map.
He glanced up as she approached.
"Academy trial today," he said without preamble. "You still want in?"
"Yes."
He slid a folded parchment across the table. "Letter of recommendation. Bare-bones, but it'll get you past the outer gate. They run open trials every new moon—anyone can try, but most wash out before lunch."
Ellie took the letter. Unfolded it. Garrick's handwriting: blunt, efficient. Bearer has demonstrated combat competence and arcane aptitude. Recommend evaluation. —G. Stormblade
She refolded it. "Thank you."
"Don't thank me yet. The masters there eat hopefuls for breakfast. And if you pass, you'll owe tuition—the academy isn't free."
"Noted."
Garrick studied her. "You don't look nervous."
"I'm not."
He exhaled through his nose. "Right. Go. Don't die. I'd hate to lose my new guard before payday."
Ellie nodded once. Left.
The walk to the upper quarter took forty minutes—up cobbled streets that grew cleaner and steeper, past merchant houses with iron gates, past shrines garlanded with winter roses. The academy loomed at the crest: gray stone walls thirty feet high, topped with iron spikes shaped like frost-crusted thorns. Twin gates of dark oak stood open; a queue of perhaps thirty aspirants waited—mostly teenagers in fine tunics, some clutching family heirloom staves, others fidgeting with nervous energy.
Ellie joined the end of the line.
A proctor in blue robes—middle-aged, sharp cheekbones—walked the queue with a clipboard.
"Name and letter," he barked at each.
When he reached Ellie," Name?"
"Elara Voss."
He glanced at the letter. Brows rose slightly. "Stormblade's vouch. Interesting. Age?"
"Nineteen."
"Prior training?"
"Self-taught."
He snorted. "We'll see. Move along."
She passed through the gates into a wide courtyard paved in pale granite. At the center stood a raised platform of black marble. Three figures waited there: two women, one man.
The taller woman—silver hair pinned in a severe knot, ice-blue eyes—wore robes the color of fresh snow. Beside her, a shorter woman with cropped auburn hair and a perpetual scowl, in robes edged in crimson flame. The man—broad-shouldered, salt-and-pepper beard—leaned on a staff carved with runes, expression amused.
[Basic Analysis]Master Veyra – Archmage of Cryomancy – Level 42Master Thorne – Archmage of Pyromancy – Level 39Master Elandor – Warden of Trials – Level 35
Veyra spoke first, voice carrying without effort.
"Welcome to the Ordelian Academy of Arcane Arts. Today we test potential, not pedigree. The trial is simple: demonstrate control, power, and will. Fail, and you leave. Succeed, and you may enter as an initiate—pending sponsorship or payment."
She gestured to the platform. A circle of runes glowed faintly.
"Step forward one at a time. Show us something useful."
The queue moved slowly. A boy conjured a perfect sphere of light—Veyra nodded once. A girl summoned vines from the stone cracks—Thorne grunted approval. A nervous youth tried fire and set his own sleeve ablaze—Elandor extinguished it with a flick, sent him packing.
Then Ellie.
She stepped onto the platform. The runes pulsed under her boots.
Veyra's gaze sharpened. "State your element preference, if any."
"None," Ellie said.
Thorne laughed—short, barking. "Bold. Or foolish."
Ellie opened her palm.
First: "Lumina."
Soft white light bloomed—steady, no flicker.
Veyra inclined her head. "Adequate control."
Next: "Frigus."
She pressed her hand to the marble. Ice spread in a perfect radial pattern—six inches across, symmetrical, no cracks.
Thorne leaned forward. "Frost Touch. Clean."
Finally: "Ignis."
A blue-white ember sparked above her palm. She shaped it—slowly—into a small, stable flame that danced without consuming air.
The masters went still.
Veyra's voice was quieter now. "Dual affinity. Novice level, but precise. Uncommon."
Thorne crossed his arms. "She's holding back. I can feel it."
Ellie met his eyes. "I have no reason to waste mana."
Elandor chuckled. "Honest, at least."
Veyra stepped closer. "Why the academy?"
"To learn faster."
"Reason enough." She turned to the others. "Consensus?"
Thorne shrugged. "I'll take her. Fire needs discipline. She has that in spades."
Veyra's lips thinned. "No. Cryomancy requires clarity. She has ice in her veins already."
Elandor raised a hand. "She can choose. Or we duel for her."
Veyra and Thorne exchanged glances—old rivalry, familiar heat.
Ellie spoke before they could escalate.
"I'll train under both."
Silence.
Thorne barked a laugh. "Greedy."
Veyra's eyes narrowed. "Ambitious."
"Practical," Ellie corrected.
Another beat.
Veyra exhaled. "Very well. Dual mentorship—rare, but not unprecedented. You will report to both masters. Fail either, and you're out."
"Accepted."
Elandor clapped once. "Trial passed. Welcome, initiate Voss."
The runes flared bright, then dimmed.
[Quest Complete: Enter the Academy]Reward: 500 EXP, Initiate Status, +10 Reputation (Ordelian Academy)[Level 7 reached][New Title: Dual Affinity Initiate]
Ellie stepped off the platform.
The remaining aspirants stared.
Veyra addressed the queue. "Next."
Ellie walked past them, cloak brushing stone.
At the courtyard edge, Thorne caught up.
"Tomorrow, dawn. Training yard three. Bring your pitcher—we'll see what else that thing can do."
Veyra appeared on her other side.
"Afternoon. Same yard. Wear something you don't mind freezing."
Ellie nodded to both.
They left—already arguing quietly about lesson priority.
Ellie stood alone a moment, feeling the new weight of expectation.
No pride.
No anxiety.
Just updated objectives.
She turned toward the initiate dorms—assigned by a clerk with a bored stamp.
Room 14. Small. Bed. Desk. Window overlooking the city.
She sat on the bed. Opened the grimoire.
Tomorrow: ice and fire.
And perhaps—though the thought arrived unbidden—another trip to the outer market.
Kael might have more books.
Useful ones.
She closed the book.
The blue text hovered, patient.
[New Daily Quest: Impress One Master]Reward: +100 EXP, Skill Shard (Random)
Ellie lay back.
Challenge accepted.