CHAPTER 26: AZUREN HEART ACADEMY

As Eric slammed into the cold, unyielding floor of the teleportation chamber, a sharp pain shot through his cheek as it smushed against the polished black stone. "Ow, my face!" he groaned, the impact rattling his senses. "Who designs these stupid floors..."

Peeling himself off the ground, he glanced over to see Winter landing gracefully beside him, her expression one of exasperation as she shot him a long, disapproving stare - the kind that screamed, "Get up, you clumsy oaf." Eric let out a weary groan and pushed himself up to a sitting position, his body protesting from the strain.

The sheer scale of the chamber left him awestruck. Stretching overhead was a massive dome, its surface glittering with faint silver dust that drifted lazily like falling snowflakes. Thin beams of light cut across the space, originating from runes on the ceiling and creating mesmerizing, almost living constellations of illumination.

The floor beneath him was composed of dark marble, cut with glowing blue lines that formed a massive circular pattern. Surrounding them were dozens of other such circles, each one dim and silent, like they were waiting - expectant - for someone else to suddenly materialize within their confines.

"This looks like a spaceship garage... if spaceships were run by mages," Eric remarked, his brow furrowed in bewilderment. Winter merely sighed, the sound heavy with exasperation. "Come on," she said, grabbing his sleeve and tugging him toward the towering exit door. "We’re far from the academy itself. We need to walk."

"Walk?" Eric repeated, his voice tinged with disbelief and a hint of dread. "After nearly dying three times today? After running from shade beasts and evil pet monsters?" He shook his head, his expression twisting into one of reluctant resignation. "Sure. Why not. Let’s walk. Maybe I’ll faint on the way. Wouldn’t that be cute."

Winter’s grip on his sleeve tightened as she muttered, "Stop complaining," and dragged him forward.

Eric grumbled under his breath, "I hope they have sidewalks here," but dutifully followed along, his body aching with every step.

The moment they emerged from the teleportation chamber, however, Eric felt the air leave his lungs in a stunned gasp. The city that stretched out before them was unlike anything he had ever imagined. Towering buildings of white stone and glass-like crystal rose toward the clouds, their surfaces reflecting the sunlight in a dazzling display of refracting colors. Slender bridges arched between the towers, delicate as threads of silk, while floating lanterns drifted lazily overhead, their warm orange flames never diminishing.

The streets teemed with life. Merchants shouting their wares, children chasing after glowing toy spheres, armored mages marching in precise formation, and swordsmen training near ornate fountains. The air was alive with a symphony of sounds, from the clanging of metal to the lively chatter, all underscored by the ever-present hum of mana. Scents of spices, warm bread, and something sweet Eric couldn’t quite identify wafted through the bustling thoroughfares.

Everywhere he looked, color danced and played. Vibrant blue banners, shimmering red crystals, gold-tipped rooftops, and towering white structures that seemed to cleave the very sky. It was a mesmerizing, chaotic, and yet somehow perfectly normal sight to behold.

"Okay... this is... actually insane," Eric murmured, his eyes drinking in every detail as he slowly spun around. "I thought this world was way stuck back in time. This is beautiful, if nothing else. But seeing how almost everyone has a system, it’s only right to expect more technological advancement than this."

Winter allowed herself the tiniest of smiles. "I don’t know what you meant by all that, but welcome to East Glass City. One of the busiest recruiting territories in the empire. If you’ve never heard of this place, then I wonder where you came from. Are you from another world or time zone, perhaps?"

Eric barked out a laugh, the sound laced with a hint of disbelief. "You have no idea."

As they walked through the vibrant streets, Eric’s curiosity was piqued at every turn. Floating carriages drifted overhead, enchanted metal beasts pulled train-like platforms, and mages effortlessly manipulated the elements around them - it was all so foreign and yet captivating.

"Right. Who needs technology when there’s magic," he murmured, his gaze darting from one marvel to the next.

The energy, the color, the cacophony of voices and the ever-present hum of mana. It was all so different from the damp, creepy Crimson Guild or the quiet colonies he had known. A strange mix of excitement and fear tugged at his heart, a reminder that he did not truly belong in this breathtaking, magical world. At least... not yet.

When they reached the colossal gates of the academy, Eric felt a sense of both awe and trepidation. The massive, intricate doors stood tall enough to make him feel like an insignificant ant, their deep blue and silver metal surfaces adorned with carvings of beasts, swords, swirling mana symbols, and floating islands, a bizarre and captivating emblem for the institution.

The walls surrounding the academy were ancient stone, mixed with glowing minerals that cast a faint, ethereal light. Vines crawled along the surface, their leaves a pale gold rather than the vibrant green he was accustomed to. Towers rose from behind the walls, some tipped with crystal spires, others with floating rings of light.

Beyond the gates, a wide courtyard stretched out, filled with training grounds, dormitories, long halls with archways, fountains that sprayed glowing water, and statues of old champions whose expressions seemed to scream, "Don’t even think about messing with me."

Whispering under his breath, Eric murmured, "This place could squash the Crimson Guild like an insect."

Winter’s smirk was all the confirmation he needed. "Yes. That’s the point."

As they passed through the gates, Eric tried to bow respectfully, but the gesture ended up looking more like he’d tripped over air. Winter’s loud sigh of exasperation was enough to make him wince.

They walked through the bustling courtyard, passing students in crisp blue-and-silver uniforms. Some wielded staffs, others carried swords, and a few even floated books behind them with telekinesis, a sight that had Eric jumping in surprise.

After crossing a wide garden filled with glowing flowers, they entered a tall building with glass walls. Inside was the Headmaster’s office, though everyone referred to the man as the Archon, a title older than "principal," according to Winter, older even than the Empire itself.

The Archon himself was a tall, thin man with white braids and piercing silver eyes that seemed to have witnessed the passage of countless years. He spoke in hushed tones with Winter, and Eric caught snatches of their conversation.

References to an "unregistered system," something "dangerous to keep exposed," and the ominous mention of "Darkies" on his tail. The academy, it seemed, had the "deepest seal barriers" to protect against such threats.

Eric blinked and turned his head, but Winter was still locked in her discussion with the Archon. ’I tried. I really tried,’ he thought, before giving in to the temptation to wander.

’Just a little. Just to stretch my legs.’

[Who are you deceiving?]

The academy was even more awe-inspiring from the inside. Eric walked down hallways lined with floating candles that shifted colors, passing students who sat cross-legged under rune circles, their bodies giving off faint glows as they meditated. Another corridor was filled with the clash of steel, young fighters training under the watchful eye of instructors who barked orders loud enough to wake the dead.

He peered into rooms where potions bubbled in giant cauldrons, and where students attempted to summon small creatures - half of which escaped, flitting about with tiny wings.

The walls were adorned with carvings of ancient runes and cracked murals depicting forgotten battles. The floors were polished stone that reflected every source of light, and the arching ceilings seemed to reach up toward the heavens, like the very architecture of the place was designed to inspire a sense of wonder and reverence.

It was beautiful.

And yet, as Eric took it all in, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease. This place was bigger than him, stranger than him, and stronger than him. He had nearly died just hours ago, chased through a guild and hunted by mysterious "Darkies," only to be sent to an academy he didn’t choose.

Something inside him refused to feel happy or at ease. He felt small, even a little lonely. Lost, as well. Exhaling deeply, he leaned against a stone wall, trying to gather his thoughts.

And then, he saw him.

A boy.

Lean, slight, wearing a simple dark-blue academy robe. Standing at the far end of the hallway, with his back turned.

Something about the boy’s posture... the tilt of his head, the curve of his shoulders... the way he stood, almost like he was waiting...

It stirred a deep, aching familiarity within Eric, a connection he couldn’t quite place. He looked familiar... too familiar.

Without hesitation, Eric pushed himself off the wall and stepped forward, intent on catching a better look at this enigmatic figure. But as he rounded the corner, the boy had vanished, leaving only an empty hallway in his wake.

Eric’s legs tensed, ready to give chase, to follow this boy who had awakened such a powerful reaction within him. But before he could move, Winter’s sharp call of his name stopped him in his tracks.

"The Archon wants a word with you," she said, her expression stern. "Now. Don’t wander again."

Reluctantly, Eric followed Winter back, his mind still consumed by the haunting memory of that boy’s posture, the way he had seemed to beckon to some hidden part of Eric’s past. Whatever secrets this academy held, he was determined to uncover them - and perhaps, in the process, find the key to unlocking the mysteries within himself.