Arcanum Institute rose up ahead like something plucked straight from a fairytale a fairytale that my family would gleefully set aflame and rewrite at their convenience. Towering spires carved from smooth marble spiraled into the clouds, lined with gleaming silver runes shimmering faintly in the morning sunlight. The enormous iron gates, intricately designed with swirling patterns and symbols of protective magic, slowly parted, revealing the path that would soon usher me into a new chapter of life.
And, if the whispers echoing from behind me were any indication, that chapter was already off to a disastrous start.
"It's her Elyzara Thorne! The Imperial Heir!" someone hissed excitedly, their voice trembling between awe and terror.
"Did you hear about the last training session? She obliterated the entire arena. They say it still hasn't recovered," someone else added, not even bothering to whisper this time.
