The shrill sound of the alarm echoed through the dorm room, jolting the girls awake.
Vanessa rubbed her eyes and stretched with a long yawn.
"Good morning, Amber," she said sleepily, glancing over at her roommate.
Amber sat up slowly, her white hair falling over her shoulders as she blinked the sleep from her eyes.
"Morning," she replied with a soft smile.
Vanessa glanced at the clock. "We should probably get ready for class. I don't want to be late for our first lesson."
"Yeah, you're right. First impressions and all that," Amber agreed as she swung her legs over the side of the bed.
The girls began to prepare for the day, slipping into their academy uniforms and grabbing their wands. Vanessa adjusted the strap of her satchel, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness bubbling inside her.
They stepped out of their dorm room and walked down the hallway, passing other students who were just as eager and anxious.
"Hmm, this should be the classroom," Amber said, stopping in front of a tall wooden door with brass trim and a glowing rune etched into the frame.
Vanessa nodded, her green eyes lighting up. "Yeah, this is it. Our first class at Roswaltz."
They pushed open the door and stepped inside. The classroom was spacious with tall windows that let in morning sunlight. The walls were lined with ancient bookshelves and floating orbs of soft light. Rows of wooden desks were already partially filled with students chatting in hushed tones.
"Look, there are two seats over there," Amber pointed toward a spot near the middle of the room.
"Let's sit next to each other," she added, her voice bright and cheerful.
Vanessa smiled warmly. "Definitely. I wouldn't want it any other way."
They quickly made their way to the empty seats, settling in as they awaited their first real lesson in magic.
"Silence."
A tall, elegant figure entered the classroom. Her presence alone was enough to hush the room, and the sound of her heels clicking against the polished floor echoed with authority.
"My name is Ms. Elisabeth," she said, her voice clear and commanding. "I will be teaching you the foundations of magic. I expect discipline, attention, and respect at all times."
She glanced slowly across the room. No one dared to speak. No one dared to move.
"We will begin with the structure of our magical society. This is the hierarchy you will rise through, if you are capable."
She raised her hand, counting each rank with deliberate precision.
"Novice. Apprentice. Arcanist. Truebound. High Witch or Wizard. Grand Witch or Wizard. And finally, the Throned Ones."
At the mention of the last rank, a few students exchanged wide-eyed looks, but none spoke.
"The Throned Ones are the peak of magical power. There are only nine in existence at any given time. Each holds a unique title and represents the absolute limit of what a witch or wizard can become."
She began to pace slowly.
"There are two paths to ascend to their rank. The first is by receiving formal recommendation from at least five of the current Throned Ones. The second is far more dangerous. You must defeat a Throned One in magical combat and take their seat."
She paused, letting her words sink in.
"Few attempt it. Even fewer survive."
The silence that followed felt heavy, as if the weight of what she had said pressed down on every student in the room.
"Now," she said, stopping at the front of the class once more. "Before we begin our lesson. Is there any questions?"
"Me, I have a question," Amber said hesitantly.
"Go on," Ms. Elisabeth replied, her eyes encouraging.
"How do we progress through ranks?" Amber asked, curiosity evident in her voice.
"That's an excellent question," Ms. Elisabeth said with a smile. "You rise through the ranks by completing specific trials. I can assure you, these trials are very challenging and test every aspect of your magical abilities."
Amber leaned forward, eager to learn more.
"You can only apply for a rank promotion once a year," Ms. Elisabeth continued. "This year, the trials will take place in about seven months. It's important to prepare thoroughly if you want to succeed."
"Thank you for your answer, Ms. Elisabeth," Amber said gratefully.
"You're very welcome," Ms. Elisabeth said warmly. "Now, let's begin with some real magic." She grinned, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"I want all of you to take out your wands and try to form your magic," Ms. Elisabeth instructed, her voice calm but firm. "To do this, you must clear your mind of distractions. Feel your magic within you. Sense your attribute—whether it's fire, water, air, or something else. Imagine it swirling, waiting to take shape."
The students hesitated for a moment, then slowly drew their wands. A faint hum filled the room as they focused.
One by one, shimmering strands of magical energy began to glow around their wands. Some flickered like tiny flames, others shimmered like drops of water. The air felt electric, charged with possibility.
Vanessa's heart pounded in her chest. She closed her eyes and tried to steady her breathing. But no matter how much she willed it, nothing appeared.
"Concentrate… concentrate…" she repeated silently, willing her thoughts to calm and her magic to awaken.
Suddenly, delicate, almost invisible threads started to weave themselves around the tip of her wand. They were pale and faint at first, like wisps of smoke caught in sunlight. As she focused harder, the threads deepened to a rich blood-red color, twisting and curling like living veins.
Her breath caught in her throat just as the threads dissolved into nothingness.
"I did it!" Vanessa whispered, barely daring to believe it.
Amber smiled at her. "Good job, Vanessa."
Vanessa returned the smile and asked, "How is it going for you?"
Amber lifted her own wand, and a small shard of ice formed, sharp and crystalline, reflecting the flickering light. It trembled for a moment before melting away like morning dew.
"I created a shard of ice, but it disappeared just like your threads," Amber said, her voice soft but hopeful.
Ms. Elisabeth nodded approvingly. "Good work, everyone. This is the magic of novices. It is fragile and fleeting at first, but with time and control, it will grow stronger."
She paused, letting her words sink in. "You have seven months to master this control if you wish to apply for a rank upgrade. The path won't be easy, but I have faith in each of you."
The room settled into a quiet hum again, filled with the buzzing anticipation of magic just beginning to awaken.