The morning sunlight spilled through the dorm window, warm and golden. Luca dressed quickly, tying his sabers at his side, unable to hide the light bounce in his steps. His reflection in the mirror carried a grin—an uncharacteristic one.

The Magic Tower… in this life, it'll be my first time stepping inside.

When playing as Aiden, he had visited it countless times. Each time, even from the other side of a glowing screen, the sight of that colossal structure had stolen his breath. It wasn't just a tower—it was like something pulled from a different world, straight out of a science-fiction epic, existing impossibly in a land of swords and magic.

And this time… I'll see it for real.

He left his dorm, joining the stream of students flowing out of Arcadia's inner grounds. Some carried bags of supplies, chattering about buying things in town. Others clung to each other's arms, smiles betraying young romances. A few looked more formal—likely heading home to visit family.

The scene felt… alive. Ordinary.

By the time Luca reached the academy's great gates, anticipation buzzing in his chest, the realization finally struck him.

His mouth fell open.

"Huh? But… how am I supposed to get there?"

His plan had been simple, if reckless—I'll just ride Aira. Except… the little kunpeng is still in slumber. His shoulders slumped.

"…Do I have to take a carriage? That'll waste so much time." He sighed, dragging a hand down his face. Shit, in all this excitement, I forgot about something so obvious.

"What are you so sad about?"

The measured, strict voice cut through his thoughts. Luca turned and blinked.

Seraphina stood there, her sky-blue hair tied up neatly in a high ponytail. She wore practical traveling clothes that hugged her frame with military precision, and her sharp gaze narrowed on him.

"Professor Seraphina?" Luca straightened instinctively. "Are you going somewhere?"

Her brow arched. "Hmph. Tower Master asked me to accompany you to the Magic Tower."

For a moment, Luca could only blink. Then his eyes lit up like a child's.

"Master is the best!"

The words tumbled out before he could stop them. He caught Seraphina staring at him in silence—expression unreadable—and quickly scratched the back of his head.

"A-Ah, of course, you're the best as well, professor."

Her only response was a faint sigh that could've been exasperation… or amusement. She didn't comment further. Instead, she raised a hand, summoning her contracted beast.

Water rippled into existence in front of them, coiling like liquid silk before solidifying into scales. A massive serpent of shimmering blue and silver rose, its body undulating with grace, eyes glowing with an ancient ocean's wisdom.

The Hydro Serpent lowered its head, offering them passage.

"Follow me." Seraphina's tone left no room for argument as she mounted with practiced ease.

Luca's pulse quickened as he stepped onto the serpent's back beside her. The scales felt cool beneath his palms, glowing faintly as mana surged through them.

The moment Seraphina gave a sharp command, the Hydro Serpent coiled, then launched skyward. Air whipped past them, the ground shrinking rapidly beneath.

Arcadia Academy grew small, the forest canopy spreading like a green ocean below. Luca's eyes widened, his chest tightening with exhilaration as the serpent soared higher, its scales refracting sunlight into rippling hues of sapphire and silver.

"The Magic Tower…" he whispered to himself, leaning forward against the rush of wind. "I'm finally going."

The Hydro Serpent sliced through the skies with ease, its long body weaving gracefully against the winds. Beneath them, mountains, rivers, and forests blurred into streaks of green and silver, the horizon constantly shifting as the creature glided with breathtaking speed. Luca leaned slightly to the side, watching the world pass below, his heart pounding with exhilaration. The rush of air carried the crisp scent of pine and dew, and the sun glinted brilliantly off the serpent's scales, making it seem like they were riding a creature woven from living starlight.

Luca broke the silence first, his voice tinged with a sheepish tone.

"I'm really sorry, Professor. Because of me, you had to ruin your weekend plans."

Seraphina, her back still straight and poised, didn't bother glancing back. Her voice was calm, clipped, and clear.

"I didn't have any plans." A pause. "And… I did have some business in the Magic Tower as well."

Luca exhaled in relief, nodding slightly to himself. "I see…"

But Seraphina's next words made him tense.

"So… what trouble are you going to cause this time?"

His eyes widened in disbelief. "Hey! I don't cause trouble!"

The faintest smirk curled her lips, though she still didn't look at him.

"Mm. Then I suppose trouble just keeps finding you."

Luca's chest throbbed as if she had pierced him with words sharper than any blade. Inwardly, he screamed—Yes, yes, that's exactly it! But outwardly, he folded his arms and pouted like a wronged child.

Seraphina allowed the silence to hang for a few seconds before speaking again, this time with casual curiosity.

"So, is there a reason you're visiting the Tower?"

"Yes." Luca straightened, his tone becoming more serious. "I awakened a new ability… something tied to my affinity. I thought I should ask the Tower Master for guidance."

Seraphina only gave a soft hum in acknowledgment, as if that answer was more than enough for her. She didn't pry further.

The rest of the journey passed in tranquil silence, broken only by the low, melodic hiss of the Hydro Serpent as it glided through shifting currents of wind. Despite their speed, the ride was smooth.

Less than an hour later, the horizon changed.

Luca leaned forward, his eyes widening. "Woahhh…"

A city unlike any other sprawled beneath them, its boundaries shimmering faintly as if veiled by protective wards. At its heart rose the Tower—a colossal spire of pale silver stone, runes faintly pulsing across its surface like flowing veins of light. Its peak seemed to pierce the heavens themselves, vanishing into the clouds above as if connecting earth to the divine.

Around it stretched the city, laid out in perfect symmetry, like a living formation carved by meticulous hands. Bridges of crystalline glass arched over canals of glowing azure water, carrying streams of energy instead of mere liquid.

Buildings rose tall and elegant, shaped by magic rather than mortal design—some floated freely, tethered by glowing chains of mana, while others shimmered with translucent shields. In the streets, carriages pulled themselves without horses, and mana-lamps bloomed like flowers, illuminating even in daylight.

Everywhere Luca looked, magic was alive—woven seamlessly into daily life, creating a vision that was equal parts ancient grandeur and futuristic wonder.

Seraphina's voice carried a hint of pride, breaking his trance.

"It's always the same reaction. Whoever sees Magic Tower City for the first time can't help but be overwhelmed."

Luca's chest tightened with awe. No matter how many times I saw it in the game, it still feels unreal. And this time… I get to see it for real.

The Hydro Serpent circled once before descending gracefully, its massive form rippling like liquid sapphire. It landed smoothly before the Tower's grand gates, each one engraved with ancient sigils that shimmered faintly in the light.

Luca's mouth was still slightly open as he stepped off the serpent, craning his neck to look up at the impossibly tall structure before him.

The massive gates of the Tower pulsed with blue runic light, and Seraphina casually pulled out a sleek, rectangular plaque inscribed with crystalline runes. With a flick of her wrist, she pressed it against the sigil embedded into the metallic door.

Beep—Thrum!

A ripple of mana spread outward, the sigil glowing before dissolving like liquid starlight. With a low hum, the enormous gates parted on their own, not with creaks or hinges, but by seamlessly sliding into the walls as if they were being swallowed whole.

Luca's jaw slackened the moment he stepped inside.

The entrance hall stretched impossibly wide, its ceiling climbing so high it vanished into a cascade of floating starlights. Silver pathways crisscrossed the polished obsidian floor, glowing faintly with mana, while hovering orbs of light drifted like lazy satellites.

Crystalline panels lined the walls, flashing runes, maps, and diagrams in constant motion—information flowing in an elegant dance of light and glyphs.

In the center, a gigantic mana crystal floated suspended, surrounded by concentric rings of metal that spun slowly, creating faint arcs of electricity.

It wasn't just magic. It was a civilization that had taken magic and bent it into something sleek, advanced, and alive. A sight so alien, Luca's first instinct was—this is straight out of a sci-fi movie.

Seraphina didn't even spare a glance, striding forward with her usual composed air. Luca followed, his eyes darting everywhere, his heart racing.

They stopped before what looked like a solid column of shimmering glass. With another flick of her plaque, a doorway opened, revealing a chamber inside.

"Elevator," Seraphina said simply, stepping in.

Luca followed, and his breath caught as the walls around them turned transparent. The chamber lifted with a gentle hum, and suddenly, the whole tower-city unfolded beneath him.

From the ascending view, he saw the sprawling avenues of luminous bridges, the countless towers humming with energy, the flowing rivers of liquid mana that coursed through crystalline channels, carrying light across the city like veins of a living organism. Airships drifted between docking platforms, their hulls glowing with arcane thrusters, while magi in robes glided through the skies with wing-shaped mana constructs.

"Woah…" Luca's hands pressed against the transparent wall. His reflection grinned back at him, awestruck like a child at his first festival. Incredible… no matter how many times I've seen this from a screen, it doesn't compare. This… this is real.

The elevator climbed higher and higher until finally, it slowed, and with a soft chime the doors slid open.

The polished white marble floor stretched into a wide corridor lined with crystal sconces. Luca was still recovering from the view when a shrill, nasally voice sliced through the air.

"Well, well, well. Look who we have here?"

Luca froze.

That annoying, piercing tone made his shoulders stiffen instantly.

Wait… why am I getting a sense of déjà vu?