Later that day, Aldric led Julius through the winding streets of Linia, heading toward an inn near the academy. The morning light bathed the towering spires and bustling markets in a golden hue. The sounds of merchants calling out their wares, the clinking of metal from blacksmiths, and the laughter of adventurers filled the air.
It was reaching night-time.
Eventually, they reached a well-kept inn called The Silver Rest.
Aldric handed a small bag of coins to Julius. "This will cover your food and stay for the next week. I have academy matters to handle, so this is where we part for now."
Aldric also handed him a strange ring.
"This ring can store magic and unleash a force. But you will need to wear it for a while to use it's powers."
"How long?"
"Who knows, perhaps a few hours for a small blast. You can probably get a couple out of it if it's been pre charged. The blast will strengthen over time."
"Alright..." In any other world I think this would've been a god-send, but will the blast be enough to even sway the hair strands of people in this world?
"It's my time to leave now." Aldric sighed.
Julius shifted uncomfortably. "So, I'm on my own..."
Aldric gave him a rare smile. "Think of it as a test. You'll need to learn how to handle yourself before the entrance exam."
Julius nodded, gripping the bag of coins. He wasn't sure how well he'd survive alone, but he had no choice.
"Thanks for all the help..." Julius couldn't hide the sadness in his eyes.
Aldric turned to leave, then paused. "Remember, this world is dangerous. Even in a city like Linia, power is everything. Don't get yourself killed before the exam. And lastly, good luck for the entrance exam."
"No promises."
And with that, he was gone.
Julius sighed and looked around. "Now what?"
The next day, Julius woke up and skipped breakfest.
He had no appetite.
Deciding to make the most of his time, Julius set out to explore.
Early in the morning, he walked through Linia. The streets of Linia were even more impressive up close. Magical lights illuminated shop signs, carriages drawn by horned lizards rattled by, and adventurers in ornate armor carried enchanted weapons at their hips.a
The sheer diversity of people amazed him. He saw:
A group of avian merchants, their wings tucked close, arguing over the price of rare mana-infused gems.
A massive orc warrior, his muscles bulging, laughing loudly as he drank with a group of dwarves. These dwarves weren't red like the ones on the other side but beige and tanned brown.
So are the red ones segregated from the brown ones?
A robed scholar, her eyes glowing faintly as she floated a book in front of her using some sort of magic.
This world was so different from Earth.
Julius merely watched everything eagerly. The simple clothes and the dark robe Aldric had bought him meant he fit in perfectlly.
Julius wandered into a grand weapon gallery, a long hall lined with swords, spears, axes, and bows, all displayed behind enchanted glass.
People walked through the gallery, admiring the craftsmanship of weapons once wielded by heroes. Some were embedded with runes, glowing faintly with dormant magic. Others looked plain—but he could tell they were made with expert precision and had something hidden within them that made them special.
But what caught his attention was the dueling circle in the center of the room.
A crowd had gathered to watch two swordsmen face off.
A betting ring was open on the side, but Julius chose against it.
"I need to be responsible... But I also need to make as much money as possible."
He was getting close to breaking though. The thought of gold rolling into his pocket...
"No I musn't. I don't want to become a beggar."
One was a tall, armored knight with a greatsword, his silver breastplate reflecting the torches' light. The other was a lean, red-haired man with a pair of daggers, his movements quick and sharp.
A bell rang.
The fight began.
The knight lunged, his greatsword carving through the air with terrifying force. The dagger-wielder blinked out of the way, his speed inhuman, moving so fast Julius could barely follow.
Then, the dagger-wielder struck.
A blur of movement—and the knight's armor cracked as he was thrown backward.
"You had like 5 seconds to react to that man!" Julius complained, acting as if he knew much better.
Julius' eyes widened. This was a whole different level of strength.
These people weren't just trained fighters—they were superhuman.
"Is this what levels do to people?" I could appraise them, but I don't really want to cause a stir like I did in that weird village.
Julius had thought that magic was the biggest difference in this world. But no—the levels themselves made people stronger. Even without magic, a high-level fighter could move faster, hit harder, and react quicker than anything he had ever seen on Earth.
How was he supposed to compete?
After leaving the weapon gallery, Julius wandered until he found something that calmed his nerves—a library.
The building was grand, with tall stained-glass windows and walls lined with bookshelves stretching to the ceiling. Inside, the air was quiet, filled only with the soft rustling of pages and the occasional murmur of scholars.
Julius spent some time browsing before picking up a book on geography.
He flipped through the pages, stopping when he found a detailed map of the world.
The Continents of the World
The world was vast. There were three major continents and one endless border: The other side. It's name still struck a chord in Julius' heart.
"Is Kaelan even alive anymore?" He shoved the guilt down and opened the book.
Thesia – The central continent, where he was now. It was the most developed, filled with powerful kingdoms, academies, and adventurers' guilds.
Ixal – The eastern continent, said to be home to mystical races and forgotten magic. A land of secrets, isolation, and ancient ruins. A place where a strange energy force called Qi existed in the ground, allowing fighters to unlock their true potential. "I wonder if I could use qi..."
Doon – The western continent, a harsh land of warlords and unending battles. Strength ruled over all here, and the weak did not survive. The main continent for the demon race.
The Other Side – Instead of a fourth continent, there was a great divide where the other side's corruption existed. Julius stared at the map.
This world was massive… and he was just one tiny piece of it.
A sense of fear filled him.
He had a long way to go. But he had one goal right now—
Pass the entrance exam.
And for that, he needed to get stronger.
He carressed the ring.
"This should be able to help me... But Aldric said it'd take potentially months to gather enough energy to be useful. But what does useful even mean for him? He's so powerful that it's hard for him to find things useful like I do."
Remembering the ring Aldric had given him, Julius decided to get it appraised. He made his way to a jeweler's shop, a modest establishment filled with sparkling gems and enchanted trinkets.
An old appraiser, his eyes glowing faintly with magic, inspected the ring carefully.
"Hmm… This isn't just any ring," the appraiser muttered. He placed it under a small device, and glowing symbols flickered over the surface.
A moment later, he looked at Julius with raised eyebrows.
"This is a Force Ring. It gathers energy over time and, when activated, releases it as a powerful force. Depending on how long it's been charged, it could send an opponent flying or even break bones if used correctly."
Julius's eyes widened. "How do I activate it?"
"It should respond to your intent. Try focusing on it when you need to strike something."
Excited, Julius slid the ring back onto his finger.
I guess Aldric didn't lie. I don't know why I doubted him in the first place.
After leaving the shop, Julius overheard a group of people discussing something in hushed tones. He followed the sound to a small alley, where a shady-looking man leaned against the wall, speaking to a few nervous young mages.
"Ruloy's entrance exam is brutal," the man said with a sly smile. "Most of you won't make it. But… if you have the right information, you might just stand a chance."
These guys again...
One of the mages hesitated before handing over a small pouch of coins. The shady man grinned and leaned in, whispering something. The mage nodded and hurried off.
Julius stepped forward. "How much for the information?"
The man sized him up before smirking. "Depends. What are you willing to pay?"
Julius dug into his coin pouch, only to realize that he barely had any money left after paying for food.
"Uhh, my eternal gratitude? A hug maybe?"
Damn it. The man furrowed his brows and shook his head.
The man chuckled. "Sorry, kid. No money, no secrets."
Curse you, capitalism!
Julius clenched his fists. If he wanted a shot at passing the entrance exam, he needed any advantage he could get. But first… he needed money.
As he wandered the city, he heard loud cheering coming from a massive stone arena—Linia's Colosseum. Curious, he approached and saw a huge crowd gathered for a Magic Tournament.
Inside, mages and warriors battled in thrilling duels, their magic lighting up the arena. Julius watched, amazed, as fighters launched fireballs, summoned spectral weapons, and even teleported mid-battle.
Then, he noticed something interesting—betting booths.
People were placing wagers on fighters, hoping to turn a profit. Julius realized that if he could make the right bets, he could earn enough money to buy the entrance exam secrets.
"Alright," he muttered. "Let's do this. I have more than enough money for food. I'll just spend enough to have a chance to go big, if I lose I'll just have to settle for slightly worse food."
"Am I a genius?"
Julius began to pray, this was where it could all go wrong.
"Alright brain do your thing, pick the winners."