Chapter 2: Ordinary

"Oof-!"

Ikora winced in pain, holding her side, and turned to find the boy staring at her.

"What the heck?!"

"Sorry you didn't wake up when I shook you," He said as he grabbed his bag and slung it over his shoulder before walking down the train aisle, leaving her inside.

Quickly getting up, Ikora grabbed her bag and tossed it over her shoulder. She raced down the aisle and stepped out onto the station.

She gasped as she stepped onto the platform, her eyes darting to take in every detail. With each step, she twirled, absorbing the campus landscape from every angle.

The Academy was breathtaking. It consisted of several floating islands with a few smaller ones orbiting them. They spanned the sky, each connected to the others by carefully designed transparent tunnels. The architecture of each island was a masterpiece, captivating the eyes with sheer beauty.

The surroundings appeared engulfed in a shimmering ocean, crafting a water-filled world around them.

Squinting her eyes, Ikora saw a translucent bubble glowing with arcane energy that repelled the water outside. This bubble was a protective shield, a powerful spell keeping the islands safe from the turbulent waters.

Due to a complex magic spell surrounding each island and controlling their movement, the floating islands seemed to move away from each other when they came too close or approached the edge of the bubble. It was as if she were watching a dance.

"Woah..."

A young man in a navy blue shirt approached the students. The shirt featured a gold trim and the Academy's symbol: a shining trident rising from a raging sea. He looked a lot like the train attendants. He stood on a pedestal and cleared his throat.

"Welcome, aspiring Novices. Welcome to Wallowden's Academy of Magical Arts! I am Atilus Danen, a second-year student here and I have been given the honor of volunteering to be your guide."

"I'm glad you all had a smooth train ride here. You have worked hard to gain admission to the Academy, and we have selected you-300 students-as the very best."

"Starting today, each of you will have a new responsibility based on the class-short for classification-you have chosen at our Academy. No matter your background, I am confident that all of you are ready for the upcoming tasks."

"Now that we have completed introductions and explanations, please open the envelopes you received in the mail and proceed to the Assembly Hall. There, you will be assigned your classroom and meet your teachers."

After stepping off the pedestal, the students trailed behind Atilus and followed him to the building.

The Assembly Hall was a grand sight, with carefully arranged rows of seats stretching into the distance.

A majestic golden chandelier decorated the ceiling, casting a warm and inviting glow. The walls were golden and reflected the light from the chandelier. Crimson drapes covered the windows.

At the far end of the hall, a stage took center stage, where teachers excitedly spoke with the incoming Novices.

"Wait, where am I supposed to go?" Ikora thought as she wandered around the building, squeezing past groups of students and teachers.

From the corner of her eye, she noticed a large desk where two individuals sat, hard at work, as they stamped papers and handed them to the lines of students in front of them.

Walking over, she got in line and tapped the shoulder of one of the other students, and they turned around.

"Excuse me, but what is this line?"

The boy whipped around and stared at Ikora as she slowly waved her hand at the person.

"Uh, hey...?" She said

The boy said nothing, crossing their arms and turning their head away, a tiny robot-like being on their shoulder as they returned to waiting.

"Wow, thanks for the help..."

Time passed, and the line moved forward, and other students joined in the wait. Ikora tapped her foot on the ground as she waited for her turn.

Minutes passed, then hours passed. Ikora's legs started to feel sore as she fidgeted with her hair. Soon, it was her turn, and she wasted no time approaching one of the employees.

"Your letter, please." They stated.

"Jeez, you have me waiting in this long line just to ask for my letter?" Ikora said as she dug into her pocket and took out her letter before handing it to the employee.

Taking it, they took out the note and read over it before taking out a stamp and stamping the note. As they did so, Ikora continued speaking.

"Please stand still and don't move." They said as a flying camera floated down to their side.

"Wuh-huh?" She asked.

The flash momentarily blinded Ikora as her photo was printed.

The camera turned to the worker as they took the photo and shook it.

"Ugh, gah! My eyes!" Ikora rubbed her face.

"You're good to go, ma'am. Expect your card soon," The employee said. "And here is all the information you'll need for the next four years."

They handed Ikora a clasp envelope with several contents: "We hope you enjoy your stay here at Wallowden's Academy of the Magical Arts. Have fun."

"Yeah, thanks a lot." She said while walking away.

Rubbing her eyes, her vision cleared as she opened the clasp on the envelope and sat at an empty table.

Inside, there were several different papers. One was a detailed map of the islands, showcasing their functions. Another paper contained a dormitory layout with her room number marked. The next document listed a wide selection of students' uniforms. Finally, a paper list of the classes was available for Novices to select.

"Neat! I get to pick my classes!"

Ikora tapped her fingers against the table as she scanned the map again, memorizing the layout of the islands, then glanced at the list of classes.

"Mana Theory... Physical Fitness... Creature Handling... Elemental Studies," She muttered. Her mind lingered on the last subject.

"Elemental Studies," She repeated this to herself until her thoughts were interrupted by the crackle of a microphone. Atilus cleared his throat as he stood at the podium in front of the room. He adjusted the microphone while his eyes scanned across the room.

"Ahem, greetings, Novices! First off, wonderful to see everyone has gotten their photos taken and their class sheets."

Students shuffled in their seats, some whispering while others sat still.

Atilus adjusted his uniform. "Right, now that you've all been officially registered, it's time to show you what we have to offer."

He stepped off the pedestal. "Come now," he said, gesturing for the students to follow.

A line quickly formed behind him, and Ikora found herself somewhere in the middle,

The group was led out of the building and led through towering archways into a long, transparent tunnel that curved gently upward. They emerged and were greeted by a breathtaking view of the Academy's floating islands.

"Each island of our academy serves a specific purpose," Atilus explained, gesturing toward an island with dark clouds, frozen landscapes, large rocks, and caves with burning torches.

"That's Elementis Isle, where you'll train to master elemental magic. Tempest, Ice, Terra, Fire-advanced magic training begins there."

Ikora's eyes widened as she watched a student practicing with swirling flames. Their movements were precise and fluid, as the orange glow illuminated their faces.

"Do note that this island is for the special students that get their element, then they are assigned to that school of magic on this island."

Atlius continued, walking through another tunnel as an island of spires with glowing runes etched into them came into view.

"Arcanis Isle, this is where you'll study Mana theory. Mana theory is the teaching of base magic without the use of elements, the everyday magic you see used around the world."

"You'll also learn about the different types of spells and other things that mana and magic have to offer."

He pointed towards a towering building not too far away.

"Also, our library is worth checking out, with countless books donated to us from different groups, nations, factions, and explorers. You'll find me there quite often, so you know where to find me if you need something."

As they traveled through the tunnel, other islands came into view. In the distance, the cliffs of Bellum Isle stood tall, with training grounds and sparring arenas carved into its surface.

Natura Isle was filled with lush forests and blue lakes, filled with life, as various creatures moved among the glowing trees.

There were also many smaller islands with different buildings, such as gift shops, cafes, theaters, and more. Atilus kept the group moving as he introduced each island.

When do we get to do something real? She thought, gripping the strap of her bag.

They passed through another tunnel, this one leading downward into a dimly lit corridor. The air in this area felt heavier, with a familiar energy that could not be seen but sensed.

Without turning around, Atilus spoke. "Before you officially begin your studies, you must undergo a test that has been part of this Academy for centuries: the Tome of Elements, a special artifact gifted to us by a hero a long time ago."

"This is not a test you can neither pass nor fail; it is a test to reveal your element, which will then be your school of magic."

"If the Grimoire believes you are ready, you will be allowed to receive an element of your choice."

Atilus gestured to a large white door at the far end of the hall. It glowed faintly with a golden aura, and swirling glyphs surrounded it.

"Behind that door lies our academy's Grimoire, step through once your name is called. So please, take a seat as we wait."

The crowd took a seat and leaned in closer to each other as they whispered among themselves, their curiosity growing.

The first name was called, and a student stood and slowly stepped forward.

They walked to the door, glancing back before stepping through. The door let out a humming sound before closing behind them.

Ikora sat still, tapping her feet as she wore a confident smile. What would her element be? Fire, like her father always joked, because of her impatience?

Maybe Ice, fragile yet deadly?

What about Tempest, something wild and powerful?

Ikora shook her head. Whatever it was, she'd make the most of it, she had not come all this way for nothing.

One by one, names were called, and students made their way behind the door. Some returned after what felt like moments, some filled with pride while others... others said nothing.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, her name was called.

"Ikora Blackhart."

She stood, sat her envelope in her seat, and walked toward the door. Although dozens of eyes were on her, she focused on the greatness she was ready to achieve here.

The door opened as she approached, the glyphs parting to reveal a swirling void of light and shadow. She didn't hesitate for a moment, she stepped right through.

The door closed behind her with a soft click, and everything around her changed.

The world around her melted away, replaced by an endless, silent space. She stood on what felt like solid ground, which shimmered and shifted beneath her feet like liquid.

In front of her floated the Grimoire, a large ancient book. Its cover was etched with symbols she couldn't understand, and its pages seemed alive, shifting and turning without being touched.

Ikora approached slowly, ripples appearing with each step as if the ground were water. It felt as if something were in the room behind her, yet, when she turned, there was nothing there.

A rush went through her as she stopped just before the book. The Grimoire's pages flipped rapidly before stopping.

The words on the page were indecipherable to her, scrambled and shifting, yet it felt like something inside her understood every letter, every symbol, everything.

Strange otherworldly voices echoed around her as she felt pulled to the book.

She felt it-the pull-the connection-a whisper in her mind as blue mana enveloped her arm.

She held her breath, waiting.

But nothing happened.

The Grimoire's glow dimmed slightly, and the page turned. Another set of scrambled words appeared, but there was no reaction.

Ikora stared at it, stepping closer. "What's... what's going on...?" she whispered.

Again, the pages turned. Again, there was no response.

She shut her eyes and held her hands out, trying to connect her mana to the grimoire and make sense of what was happening. But the Grimoire remained still.

"..."

She gripped the edge of the book tightly as she tried reading the rapidly changing words for herself, only causing her head to hurt as her vision became dizzy.

Suddenly, the grimoire created a blinding light as a mysterious force blew her back.

When the glow faded, whispers filled the space around her as the pages of the grimoire rapidly flipped before the cover slammed shut with a loud BOOM that echoed throughout the room.

Ikora remained on the ground, her heart pounding in her ears as she stared at the book a distance away. "No..." she muttered. "No, no, no..."

The Grimoire began to fade, its form dissipating into the air as the space around her shifted.

She stumbled to her legs, trying to chase after the fading book, only to grab nothing.

"No-no, no, I did everything right!"

"I studied my hardest, I... I did everything right, this was supposed to be the moment!"

"I proved myself!"

"This... this isn't fair!"

Her hands trembled as she fell to her knees, trying to process what just happened.

She wasn't given an element.

She wasn't given an element...

...She wasn't given an element...

What good could she do if she didn't have that to her name?

What good could she be?

How could she become a hero without one? She thought.

Time passed, and Ikora was back in the waiting area, the room filled with the sound of students chatting, laughing, showing off their envelopes, and talking about their new element.

But Ikora didn't hear any of it. Her vision was blurred as she clutched the envelope close to her chest.

Her mana had rejected the Grimoire, or maybe it was the other way around.

Either way, it didn't matter to her, she could only focus on the fact that she was without an element.

She looked around, her eyes darting between the other students. Their excitement felt like a weight pressing down on her.

Quickly, she slipped out of the hall, needing to be alone. Her breath came in shallow gasps as she leaned against a nearby wall.

"But, what does this mean for me?" she whispered. "How can I do good without an element..."

Had she made it all the way this far just to remain an ordinary student? Just to be rejected even after all her efforts?