My name is Eris Yuvathar.
Now that I'm fifteen, I'm eligible to enroll at Valandias Magic School. Truthfully, I had no interest in joining, but it's a requirement if one wants to practice sorcery legally—mandated by the Imperium.
From what I've learned of this era, the Imperium governs the country, named Aegron, with an iron grip. A totalitarian regime, they eliminate anything that opposes their ideals. Their ranks consist mostly of knights and martial artists, though some of them wield enchanted weapons. Mages exist among them, but they're secondary—tools rather than pillars of power.
The Imperium fears mages. When they find one with potential, they either recruit them or ensure they don't become a threat.
I'd already noticed spellcasters in this era were… underdeveloped. Now, the reason was clear: the Imperium had stifled sorcery's growth.
Valandias, I suspect, serves a dual purpose. Officially, it's a school. In reality, it's a surveillance hub—a place for the Imperium to identify promising mages and either assimilate or neutralize them.
Ironically, the instructors seem genuine. Most probably don't realize they're pawns. I only uncovered the truth through my own investigations.
"Either way, looks like I'm stuck with this arrangement," I muttered, studying the enrollment letter in my hands—complete with a map to Valandias.
I opened the door to leave and found my parents waiting.
"Ready for this, Eris?" My father crossed his arms. "Remember, if anyone gives you trouble, just say the word. I'll gladly put them in their place."
"Hah… I'll be fine, Dad. Don't worry."
My mother stepped forward, brushing a hand over my hair. "My little witch, you've grown so fast. Be careful, alright? Not everyone there has good intentions."
"I'll keep that in mind. Thanks, Mom."
I hugged them both and set off.
--------------------------------------------------------------
According to the invitation, the journey would take about an hour. I wasn't in a hurry, so I opted for a detour through the dense woods—partly for solitude, partly out of curiosity. Who knew what secrets this era still hid?
I thought about using a spell to fly, but doing so for a whole hour would cost a significant chunk of my mana, and I didn't want to waste it like that.
Thirty minutes in, I sensed a presence.
"Hmm...
By casting Malve, I could accurately spot any being on a radius of 10 meters.
The result was what I expected. A giant creature, at least 5 meters tall, was approaching my location. It seems to know I'm here.
I didn't know what kind of creature it was, but it definitely doesn't seem friendly.
I kept walking, feigning ignorance.
The beast stalked from the shadows, then lunged, swinging a crude club at my head.
I'd expected this.
"
*THUD*
The creature's strike rebounded off an invisible barrier, sending it staggering backward. A Level 2 reflective spell—enough to repel brute force.
"Now that I get a proper look at you… you're even uglier than I imagined."
A hulking humanoid, green-skinned and fanged, gripping a knotted club. A goblin, perhaps? In my time, they were smaller.
"GRAAAARGH!"
It recovered faster than expected, charging again. Another swing, another deflection—but this time, it didn't fall.
"What's wrong?", I asked. "Did you finally notice your futile effort? Actually...can you even understand me?"
The creature didn't seem to pay attention of what I was saying. Instead, it raised its club and said a single word:
"Torrimevelar."
The club glowed with enchantment.
"A spell? Level 2, no less?"
Now this was a surprise. At my time, goblins weren't able to use almost any basic spells. But here was one casting a Level 2 spell designed to break defensive measures.
The next strike shattered
But then...
*PLOFT*
The goblin collapses on the ground. Before it could hit me, something evidently hit the creature first.
There was massive hole on its cranium. I almost didn't notice it, but it seems the goblin was hit by a quite fast projectile.
"You alright?" A voice called from above.
I turned. A boy—seventeen, maybe—perched on a boulder, a strange metal device in his hand.
"I'm fine. Was that your doing?" I gestured to the corpse.
"Cool, right? It's called a pistol", the boy says while he jumps from the boulder to get closer to me. "I come from a family of gunslingers, people who are adept with these kind of weapons. Anyway, my name is Jack", he says while extending his hand to me, expecting a handshake. "What is a pretty lady like you doing here alone?"
I shook it out of courtesy. "Eris. On my way to Valandias."
His eyes lit up. "No way—me too! Admission day, right?"
"Quite the coincidence."
"Tell me about it. Need an escort? Who knows what else is lurking around."
He likely assumed I was defenseless. From his perspective, he'd just seen a monster charge a "helpless girl" with no visible magic.
"Sure. Why not?"
I suppose it wouldn't harm to have a companion. There was still some things I didn't know about this era. Jack's pistol, for example, is the kind of weapon that I've only seen a handful of times during my whole life. To think I was able to find another after thousands of years...
Interesting.
We walked the final stretch together. Only five minutes to Valandias now.