Passing through the colossal black basalt gates of Anatolia felt like stepping into a different world.
The moment the carriage crossed the threshold, the sheer scale of the city hit them. A massive, paved avenue stretched straight ahead, lined with towering red-brick buildings and wrought-iron streetlamps. At the very end of this grand boulevard, dominating the skyline, was the Grand Cathedral. Its spires reached toward the heavens, adorned with golden sunbursts that caught the afternoon light, a testament to Bishop Florentine and the Holy Church.
The streets were a chaotic, vibrant river of life. Merchants shouted over the hiss of elemental-powered forges, the aroma of roasted meats and spicy street food mingled with the ever-present scent of sulfur, and carriages clattered over cobblestones.
As the carriage approached the inner checkpoint, two D-rank officers stepped forward to inspect them. Roderick didn't even slow down; he simply flicked a heavy brass badge from his coat. The officers' eyes widened, and they immediately snapped to attention, saluting sharply as the carriage rolled past.
"Did you see that?" Elycia whispered, her emerald eyes wide with unhidden awe. The sheer, overwhelming vitality of the city made her realize just how small Althea truly was in comparison. "There are so many people... I've never seen anything like this."
Clei sat beside her, his amber eyes scanning the crowds. His face was exposed to the cool, sulfur-tinged air for the first time in days, but his survival instincts kept his expression impassive. So many strong auras, he thought, sensing the ambient mana of the passing pedestrians. This place is… amazing.
Verdehile gazed out the window, her icy blue eyes softening as the familiar skyline of Anatolia came into view. The stoic, untouchable ice mage they had met in the forest seemed to melt away, leaving behind a girl who had been away from home for far too long. "I've been gone for a month," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "The city still looks as beautiful as I remember... I can't wait to see my parents."
"Just wait until tonight!" Toshi grinned, practically vibrating with excitement as he leaned out the window. "We need to hit the Ember Market! They have skewers roasted over actual magma vents, and the illusion-theaters down in the lower wards are insane. I'm going to eat until I pass out!"
"You will do no such thing," Teresa interjected, her voice cutting through Toshi's excitement with practiced authority. "Clei and Elycia need to be registered into the Academy's registry first. They also need to be settled into the dorms before the sun sets."
Toshi slumped back into his seat with a dramatic groan, but a second later, his eyes widened in realization. "Oh, right! I need to go home and report to my Dad first!" He turned to Clei and Elycia, a proud, confident grin spreading across his face. "Hey, if you both have some free time in the next few days, you should come visit my place. It's in the inner ring of the city. We might not be one of the Four Noble Houses, but the Valerius Merchant Group still controls the largest trade network in all of Anatolia. My dad's going to want to hear all about the expedition!"
The rest of the journey was filled with lively chatter. Toshi boasted about his family's trade routes, while Verdehile quietly shared fond memories of her childhood in the city. Clei and Elycia listened intently, absorbing every detail about their new home. As they talked, the carriage navigated the winding, crowded roads until the bustling commercial district finally gave way to a massive, fortified wall built directly into the sloping side of the caldera. The noise of the city faded, replaced by an imposing, heavy silence.
This was Ignis Academy.
It looked less like a school and more like a military stronghold. The walls were forged from dark, heat-resistant ironwood and blackened stone. Above the towering archway hung the Academy's emblem: an iron-bound book with a brilliant, eternal flame rising from its open pages, symbolizing the forging of knowledge and power.
Here, Roderick hopped down from the driver's seat, tossing the reins to a stable hand. "This is where I leave you," the Grandmaster rumbled, stretching his massive arms. "I need to report to the Dean. Teresa, they're all yours."
"Thank you, Magister," Teresa said with a respectful nod. She turned to the students. "Stay close."
As they walked through the grand archway, the noise of the city faded, replaced by the hum of concentrated mana and the distant sounds of sparring. The campus was vast, divided into distinct architectural zones.
"The outer ring is the Beginner Ward," Toshi explained, pointing to a cluster of modest, practical stone dormitories. "That's where first-to-third years stay until they reach D-rank. The inner ring is the Advance Ward for the older students, and way up top, built into the cliffside, is the Magister's Keep."
"But the most important part is right there," Verdehile added, pointing toward the absolute center of the campus.
Rising above all other buildings was a massive, cylindrical tower made of gleaming white marble and brass piping. It pulsed with a faint, multi-colored light.
"The Zenith Spire," Teresa said, her tone carrying a note of reverence. "It is the heart of the Academy. The tower is divided into five elemental sanctuaries—Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, and Wood. For those with Holy talent, they can borrow the Cathedral's facilities. Inside, the ambient mana is purified and concentrated to an extreme degree. Training inside the Spire can accelerate your cultivation by months."
Clei's eyes narrowed slightly. "How do we get in?"
"You don't just walk in," Verdehile replied. "You have to pay with Academy Credits. An hour in the basic Fire sanctum costs fifty credits. The deeper, more concentrated floors cost hundreds."
"Credits?" Clei asked.
"It's the Academy's internal currency," Toshi chimed in. "You earn them by taking on bounty quests from the mission hall, getting top grades in theoretical and practical exams, or ranking up in the monthly sparring tournaments. You can spend them on Spire time, but also on alchemical pills, Refined Artifacts from the armory, or even private tutoring from the Magisters."
Clei absorbed the information, quickly understanding that the school operated on a strict merit-based system. The strong and the diligent got stronger; the lazy fell behind. It was exactly the kind of environment Silas had prepared him for.
As they made their way down the wide, mana-lit avenues, the campus buzzed with activity. Clei and Elycia couldn't help but stare at the sea of students passing by. They quickly noticed a distinct pattern: the students' uniforms were trimmed in colors corresponding to their elemental affinity. Crimson for Fire, Azure for Water, Ochre for Earth, Pale Blue for Wind, and Deep Green for Wood.
Almost every Fire and Wood student they passed paused to offer a respectful bow or a cheerful greeting. "Teacher Teresa!" they called out, their faces lighting up. Clei and Elycia exchanged a surprised glance, realizing just how beloved and popular their mentor was among the student body.
Teresa returned the greetings with a warm, practiced smile, occasionally stopping to ask a student about their recent progress.
A few moments later, a group of students dressed in pristine white uniforms with gold trim walked past. Unlike the others, they didn't greet Teresa; instead, they waved enthusiastically at Toshi.
"Hey, Toshi! Welcome back!" one of them called out.
Toshi grinned and waved back before turning to Clei and Elycia. "Those are the Holy affinity students. You might wonder why they're here instead of at the Cathedral or a Church seminary. The thing is, while the Church accepts anyone with Holy mana, joining the clergy comes with a lot of strict vows and restrictions. A lot of families, like the merchants and nobles, prefer their Holy-affinity kids to get a secular education here. That way, they can inherit the family business or work in the private sector without being bound by Church law."
Clei nodded, filing the information away. It made perfect sense; not everyone wanted to dedicate their life to the Radiant God just because of their mana affinity.
They finally arrived at the Main Hall, a sprawling building with vaulted ceilings and polished obsidian floors that reflected the ambient light. Behind a long mahogany desk sat a young woman in the crisp, silver-trimmed uniform of the administrative staff.
"Teacher Teresa!" Leena said, looking up with a bright, professional smile. "Welcome back. And these must be the new students from the expedition?"
"That's right, Leena," Teresa said, stepping up to the desk. "We have two new late enrollees. Let's get their registry sorted and their emblems issued."
Leena pulled out two heavy parchment ledgers and a pair of silver quills. "Please sign your full names and let a drop of blood fall onto the seal to bind the registry."
Elycia went first, signing her name with a graceful flourish. Leena handed her a small, bronze emblem shaped like the Academy's crest.
"Welcome to Ignis Academy, Miss Elycia Gale," Leena smiled. "Beginner Class, E-Rank."
Clei stepped up next. He removed his right glove—keeping the thick, fire-resistant leather of his left hand intact—signed his name, and let a single drop of blood fall onto the parchment. Leena stamped his document and handed him a heavier, dark-iron emblem.
"Welcome to Ignis Academy, Mr. Clei Vane," Leena said, her eyes widening slightly as she read his assessment crystal. "Advance Class, D-Rank."
Clei took the iron emblem, feeling its surprising weight. He turned to Teresa. "Advance Class? What does that mean?"
Teresa crossed her arms, a proud smile touching her lips. "It means you aren't a beginner anymore, Clei. Since you have already reached D-Rank, there is no reason for you to sit in basic mana-circulation classes. You will be placed directly into the Advance Class alongside the elite fourth-year students. Your curriculum will focus entirely on the path to C-Rank, advanced elemental theory, and high-tier combat tactics."
She paused, looking at Toshi and Verdehile. "Usually, students only reach the Advance Class in their third or fourth year. If a second-year student manages to break through to D-Rank, they are immediately promoted due to their potential. Your starting point in the academy is pretty high, Clei. I have great expectations for you."
Clei looked down at the iron emblem in his gloved hand. The lonely child from the cold forest was no more. He felt a rare, quiet exhilaration. He was finally part of something bigger; he was no longer alone.
Before he could reply, the heavy oak doors of the Main Hall swung open with a loud bang.
Heavy, rhythmic footsteps echoed across the obsidian floor. Roderick strode into the hall, his massive frame blocking out the sunlight from the doorway. He wore an expression of relaxed familiarity, though his scowl showed clear annoyance.
"Magister Roderick?" Teresa asked, stepping forward. "I thought you went to meet the Dean."
Roderick let out a gruff huff. "The Dean made me turn back to fetch Clei. That old coot, treating me like an errand boy."
Despite his complaining tone, his eyes locked directly onto Clei, and his voice dropped to a much more serious register. "There is a special guest in the Dean's office. Both of them urged me to bring Clei over immediately."