Before my eyes, the royal capital—the heart of the magical world—unfolded like a living painting.
Towering city walls stretched out, covered in a faint layer of moss, giving off a sense of both ancient majesty and grandeur. Flags bearing the imperial crest fluttered atop the watchtowers, welcoming the streams of carriages coming and going.
Beyond the city gates lay an entirely different world.
"I can't believe it..."
I murmured, my eyes wide open like a child visiting a fair for the first time.
The streets were bustling with people from all corners of the land. Street stalls displayed strange items, magical crystals, enchanted garments, and even tiny floating creatures inside glass cages. A street mage was performing magic, streams of light dancing like butterflies in the sky.
With every step, I felt my heart beat faster. Compared to the peaceful countryside, this place was like a completely different world.
"Surprised, huh?"
Sachi asked, unable to hide the amusement in her eyes as she watched my dazed expression.
"Yeah... it's so different from where we live."
I had seen images of the royal capital in many stories, but seeing it with my own eyes was an entirely different experience.
White stone buildings with shimmering blue-tiled roofs, roads illuminated by glowing magic crystals even under the gloomy sky. I saw knights in silver armor patrolling solemnly, and young mages carrying gem-topped staffs chatting animatedly.
"Over there, that's the Magic Clock Tower! It's the symbol of Arcanum Academy!"
Sachi pointed toward a tall tower, its peak glowing with a light that looked as if it touched the clouds.
I swallowed hard. That was the place where the story truly began.
I—Yuto—a once insignificant side character, was now stepping into the heart of this world.
And Arcanum Academy, the crossroads of all fates, was only a few blocks away.
After nearly half an hour passing through streets full of color and sound, the carriage finally came to a slow stop.
It halted before a massive black metal gate, intricately carved with ancient symbols and magical patterns that shimmered faintly as if breathing. At the top of the gate was the academy's emblem—a pair of radiant wings embracing a floating crystal, glowing with a blue light like stars in broad daylight.
"We're here..."
I whispered, feeling as though I had arrived at the boundary between reality and legend.
On either side of the gate stood towering white stone walls, covered with glowing magical vines swaying gently, almost as if they were alive. Behind the gate, I could see the old academy buildings made of white stone, with blue domes standing out against the clear sky.
"Wow... It's way beyond what I imagined..."
"Shocked, huh?".
Sachi laughed. "I was overwhelmed too the first time I came here."
I took a deep breath. The air here felt different—fresh, pure, yet filled with an invisible pressure. The mana was so dense it made my skin tingle.
Around us, groups of students were gathering. Some stepped down from luxurious carriages, others rode magical beasts, and a few walked accompanied by retainers. They all wore pristine white uniforms, with some adding cloaks or accessories, and the Arcanum Academy crest proudly displayed on their left chest. Every one of them exuded an air of nobility or talent—nothing like a background character like me.
"Am I really fit for this place...?"
A flicker of doubt passed through my heart.
"Come on, Yuto! We'll be late!"
Sachi grabbed my hand, her eyes bright with excitement.
I nodded and followed her. The gates slowly opened with a heavy rumble, marking the beginning of an entirely new chapter in my life.