Kalem and Lyra entered the gates of Arcathis Academy with a mix of awe and trepidation. The sprawling campus was unlike anything Kalem had ever seen. Towering spires carved from shimmering stone pierced the sky, their surfaces etched with glowing runes. Pathways crisscrossed vast courtyards, where students of all races moved with purpose, their robes marking them as members of different divisions.
The two friends were quickly ushered into a grand hall where new students were sorted into their respective divisions. Kalem, with his aptitude for crafting and physical tools, was placed into the Material Division, while Lyra, with her alchemical knowledge, was placed into the Alchemy Division.
"Looks like we'll be seeing a lot less of each other during the day," Lyra remarked, her tone light but tinged with disappointment.
Kalem nodded, adjusting the strap of his bag. "Yeah, but I guess we'll have plenty to talk about in the evenings."
Adjusting to life at the academy proved to be more challenging than either of them had anticipated. The schedules were rigorous, leaving little time to rest, and the subtle social hierarchies among students and faculty added an extra layer of complexity.
Kalem's days began early, with breakfast in the bustling dining hall. By the 6th part of the day, he'd head to the Material Division's Hall, a fortress-like structure with walls made of magically reinforced stone. Lyra's Alchemy Division, meanwhile, was located on the opposite side of the campus, in a sleek building surrounded by gardens of rare and dangerous plants.
Parting ways each morning became routine, though they both missed the easy companionship of traveling together.
Kalem's first week was a whirlwind of learning, trial, and error. His classes were diverse, designed to give students a solid foundation in the principles of Material Magic and practical craftsmanship:
Introduction to Material Magic
In this class, the instructor—a stern dwarf named Master Tharak—introduced students to the magical properties of various solid materials. Kalem found himself fascinated by how mundane metals like iron could become conduits for magic under the right conditions.
"Remember," Tharak bellowed, slamming a chunk of enchanted steel onto the table, "the material you choose defines the spell's strength and duration. A bad choice could mean failure—or worse, disaster."
Basic Elemental Theory
This class explored how different materials interacted with elemental forces like fire, earth, water, and air. Kalem struggled to keep up with the rapid pace of the lectures, often feeling lost in the complex terminology.
Material Properties & Resonance
Here, students learned how materials responded to magical energy. Kalem found the practical demonstrations fascinating, even as he struggled to memorize the theoretical concepts behind them.
Runes and Inscription
This was Kalem's favorite class, where he learned the basics of engraving magical symbols onto objects. The precision required reminded him of his work in the forge, and he quickly found himself excelling in this area.
Practical Lab
In the hands-on lab, students experimented with enchanting and shaping materials. Despite a few mishaps—including one where Kalem accidentally set his workbench on fire—he found the process deeply rewarding.
Optional Combat Classes
To unwind from the rigors of academics, Kalem attended supervised sparring sessions in the evenings. Using wooden weapons, he found a sense of release in the physicality of combat, though he was quickly reminded that many of his peers had far more training than he did.
By the end of the week, Kalem was running on fumes. The constant demands of classes, coupled with the sheer scale of the academy, left him exhausted. He often found himself dozing off during lectures or stumbling back to his dorm late at night with ink-stained hands and aching shoulders.
On the last evening of the week, he was sitting beside Onyx in the stables, trying to sketch out rune designs for his next assignment. The bull huffed softly, nudging him as if to say, Take a break.
"Not now, Onyx," Kalem muttered, his eyes barely staying open.
"Wow, you look like you've been through a war."
Kalem glanced up to see Lyra approaching, her satchel slung over one shoulder. She looked far more composed than he felt.
"Oh, hello," he mumbled, his voice thick with fatigue. Dark circles had formed under his eyes, and his usually neat hair was disheveled.
Lyra raised an eyebrow. "Kalem, you look like a wreck."
"I feel like one," he admitted, setting his quill down. "How are you holding up?"
She smirked. "Better than you, apparently. Though to be fair, alchemy doesn't require me to memorize half as many rune patterns as you've got there."
Kalem groaned. "It's not just the runes. It's the theory classes. I didn't think I'd be this bad at them."
Lyra sat down beside him, pulling a flask from her bag and handing it to him. "Here, drink this. It's a tonic—helps with focus."
He sniffed the flask suspiciously. "It won't melt my insides, will it?"
She rolled her eyes. "It's perfectly safe. Trust me."
Kalem took a cautious sip, then leaned back against Onyx with a sigh. "Thanks. I don't know how you're managing all of this so easily."
Lyra laughed. "Who says it's easy? I've already blown up three cauldrons this week. One of my professors called me 'recklessly brilliant.' Not sure if that's a compliment or an insult."
Kalem chuckled weakly. "Sounds about right."
They sat in comfortable silence for a while, the sounds of the bustling academy fading into the background. Despite the challenges of the week, Kalem felt a flicker of determination reignite within him. He had made it this far, and he wasn't about to give up now.
By the end of the first week, both Kalem and Lyra knew one thing for certain: Arcathis was going to push them to their limits—but it was also going to shape them into something greater.