The academy was now quiet, its usual hum of life was gone. Erik walked through the empty halls, his footsteps echoing throughout the walls. The absence of students and professors made the air feel slightly heavier, as if this wasn’t a place for him to stay.

  Only a few dozen had remained at the academy from the couple hundred students who stayed in the Mischief Househis house. It was only natural, of course, that many lived in the city, and as per the academy rules, they all had to live in the dorms. Others lived far away but had the financial situation to simply go back and return later. Yet, understanding it didn’t quite make things better for him.

  At first, he thought that he would able to train without any distractions since he didn’t even need to study either—he was correct in a way, yet this was simply too much.

  Erik felt lonely and bored, perhaps for the first time in a while.

  He walked to the academy’s grandiose library, his eyes peering into the towering shelves filled with books that reached the ceiling. using [Levitation], he easily brought down those that were too high to be picked and read.

  Erik could only yawn, though.

  He wasn’t interested in this more mental part of learning, but Helen had disciplined him that a sharp mind was important—either way, he had to get good grades, so reading was one of the few ways to get there. He had even managed to learn how to read better than when he joined the academy, yet it felt so boring to him.

  As he went from page to page, a thought grew in Erik’s mind.

  I’m alone… At this moment, there wasn’t a single soul in the library. Only him and the books.

  Ba-dum… Ba-dum.

  Ba-dum Badum.

  Out of nowhere, he felt a chill creep up on his spine. His heart raced, and his breath became shallower. His pupils dilated as his gaze peered every corner, every shadow, yet—nothing.

  It was happening again. What happened in that dungeon was something he couldn’t forget, couldn’t run away from. It always lurked in the corner, reminding him of its existence.

  It was irrational, but it was like his mind was left in that place and never truly reached the surface.

  Suddenly, the feeling of throwing up crept up in his throat. Erik brought a hand to his chest, doing his best to put the fluids in. After some agonizing moments, he swallowed.

  “I’m messed up…” he muttered under his breath, getting up and storing the book before leaving. He couldn’t be in this library, not alone at least. He could only be disgusted by his own weakness, but what options did he even have at this point?

  His power had grown since then. He was stronger, faster, and capable of magic he never thought possible. And yet, it didn’t matter. The strength he had gained hadn’t banished the darkness inside him. It hadn’t silenced the fear.

  He still felt like he was being hunted, eyes gnawing on him from every corner. Against true monsters, the fragility of humanity was evident.

  That realization had broken him.

  Erik walked out of the academy gates, feeling that pressure still weighing him down,

  At least here, he wouldn’t be so lonely, right? There were people, and the light of the sun pierced his skin like he had never felt before. The air wasn’t cold or oppressive.

  Life.

  This was a place where life was meant to exist. That was his reasoning for going out and wandering.

  The streets of Auryndale were teeming with activity. Merchants hawked their wares, street performers drew small crowds, and the chatter of townsfolk filled the air. Erik allowed the bustling energy to pull him along, distracting him from the thoughts that had plagued him inside the academy.

  As he turned a corner into a quieter street, he noticed a girl leaning against the railing of a small bridge that spanned a narrow canal. She had blue hair, tied back into a low bun that swayed gently in the breeze. She seemed familiar, but she wore normal civilian clothing—a white blouse and skirt—yet he had a feeling he had met her before.

  She appeared lost in thought, her gaze fixed on the water below. Her striking blue eyes, as vibrant as the summer sky, reflected the sunlight.

  Erik hesitated. Whether to approach her or let this go.

  “Can I help you?” she asked, glancing at him.

  Erik swallowed, and now he had to go with it.

  “Oh, no, sorry,” Erik said quickly, taking a step back. “I just… thought I’d seen you before.”

  The girl tilted her head slightly, studying him. Then, a faint smile appeared on her lips. “Wait, you… you’re the guy who fell on that thug’s head a few months ago, aren’t you?”

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Erik widened his eyes, gasping. So that’s where he had seen her. He tried talking to her during the entrance exams but was stopped by Eleanor and never managed to get another chance.

  Crap… He could feel his cheeks flushing as embarrassment rose.

  She laughed softly. “That was… quite the entrance. Those guys were bothering us until you just dropped in. So thank you.”

  “Glad I could help,” Erik mumbled, scratching the back of his head.

  The girl’s smile lingered as she extended a hand. “I’m Veronica, by the way. I’m on break from the academy, but I live here in the city.”

  Erik shook her hand, still a little flustered. “Erik. Also from the academy. Just… well stuck in here for the time being.”

  Veronica tilted her head slightly. “So you aren’t from here?”

  “No,” Erik replied, glancing around at the bustling city streets. “I grew up… far from here. In a quiet village up north. Auryndale is quite different, to say the least.”

  “I bet it is! Have you ever explored the capital?”

  “Wel,l I mean, I went around once—”

  “Once isn’t enough!” Veronica yelped, cutting through him. “I can be your guide around if you want. Either way, it's not like I have much to do right now.”

  Erik hesitated, caught off guard by her enthusiasm. "You’d really want to? I mean, I probably wouldn’t make for a great company," his mind betrayed those uninterested words. In actuality, Erik wanted to be with someone—anyone—so he wouldn’t feel like that again.

  "Oh, I don’t mind,” she waved her hand dismissively. “My friend just went to her parent's estate too, so I’d rather have some company.”

  Estate, huh? Erik mused that meant they were nobles, or at least her friend was. It was surprising in that case that she only presented herself as Veronica and didn’t mention her noble house at all. Perhaps it was humility? Maybe Erik was just reading too deeply into this.

  In the end, he chuckled. "Alright, you win. Lead the way.”

  Veronica spun on her heel, her single braid swaying as she strode confidently down the street. Erik followed, keeping pace with her as they moved through the bustling city. She pointed out landmarks along the way—a well-known bakery famous for its honey cakes, a plaza where performers often gathered, a high-quality smithy, clothing shops, everything one would need to know if they planned on living here.

  As they passed a small café, Veronica glanced at him, a sly smile playing on her lips. "You know, I’ve heard a lot about you, Erik Blake."

  Erik blinked, surprised. "You have?"

  "Mhm." She nodded, her tone teasing. "They say you get into fights all the time, have a big mouth, and flirt with every girl you meet."

  Wow, my reputation is amazing!

  Veronica laughed softly. "I was a bit scared, but you don’t seem like that kind of guy. At least, not right now."

  "Well, I guess the rumors are a bit exaggerated,” he said, sheepishly scratching the back of his head, trying to hide his previous thoughts.

  “Oh, I’d hope so,” she said with a poised laugh, her hand delicately covering her mouth.

  As they turned onto a broader avenue, the towering Black Tower came into view. Its grandiose obsidian-like surface absorbed all the sunlight, its sheer height creating a rift in the skyline. Erik stopped in his tracks, staring up at it in awe.

  Looking from up close, it was even more spectacular. It was so tall that it hurt his neck if he tried to see the top.

  "That," Veronica said, her tone filled with pride, "is the Magic. It’s my favorite spot in the city."

  "It’s… massive," Erik muttered, craning his neck to take it all in.

  Veronica laughed. "Well, people say it’s the biggest building in the world… legend says that Merlin built it in the old era—a thousand years ago—and within its confines, all magic knowledge known to our nation,” each one of her words was spoken in a way that exuberated the pride she felt concerning it.

  Erik raised an eyebrow. "That sounds impressive. So, anyone can just walk in?"

  "Yes, but the access is limited," Veronica replied. "You need a kind of certification to go above the 5th floor—that’s when the truly magical stuff can be found. Our academy IDs let us up to floor 20, but what about the higher levels? Totally off-limits. You’d need to, at the very least, be a third class mage to go above that."

  Erik nodded, taking in her words. He had heard about the magician grades that existed and the privileges they gave. Supposedly, simply graduating from the academy gave you this grade certification—however, the best students could even get a better one.

  He frowned, though, intrigued by the structure. "What do you think is on the top floor?" he asked, his eyes darting from the tower to her.

  Veronica smirked. "Who knows? I want to figure it out one day, though. Only one person in all of Draac is allowed to go there, and I’ll be the next one!" she said, her smile growing.

  That’s when Erik noticed something unusual.

  Her teeth…Tthey weren’t like those of normal people. They were jagged, like made to pierce flesh and bones. They reminded him of a wolf or some other beast. It was unsettling, yet somehow it fit her.

  Just as Erik would start making theories about the why though, she turned to him.

  “You’re staring a kit,” she said in a casual tone, her face showing mild curiosity. “What’s up? Something on my face?”

  Erik blinked, scrambling for a response. Commenting on her teeth felt like a terrible idea—it would be intrusive, not to mention rude, even for him. Instead, his lips curved into a faint smirk as he decided to deflect. “I was just thinking… your eyes are striking. Like gemstones. Or maybe the sky on a perfect day.”

  Veronica raised an eyebrow, and for a moment, her face was unreadable before it slowly turned into a smile. “Well, aren’t you smooth?” she said, chuckling. “I guess the rumors weren’t so wrong after all.”

  “Hey,” Erik chuckled. “I only said they were a bit exaggerated.”

  Then, A deafening explosion shattered the tranquility before any of them could say anything more. The ground shook violently, making Erik stumble.

  “What the hell was that?” his body tensed, and he looked in the direction of the noise, watching a cloud of smoke rising in the air.

  Veronica’s expression shifted, and her playful demeanor was replaced by a serious expression. “That’s coming… from the slum area.”

  The people around them seemed panicked, hurriedly leaving the plaza—yet there weren’t screams or people losing their minds over it. Perhaps it was because of the location it happened, or they could simply be desensitized to this.

  Out of nowhere, Erik felt a tug on his sleeve.

  “We need to check it out. Come on!” Veronica said, starting to pull him toward the rising smoke without waiting for an answer.

  “W-Wait, let’s not—” Erik tried to argue, but as his pleas were ignored, he sighed. Well, fighting was all he knew either way.