Cassian’s weekend passed quietly. There were no further attempts at training. He simply moved through the motions of each day. He finished his essay briefly considering not turning it in at all. The teacher’s threat echoed in his mind. But being barred from practical lessons would only delay the inevitable. A temporary solution at best. So, he wrote it.

  His parents did not return at any point during the weekend. He hadn’t truly expected them to. Even if their quest could have been resolved in a mere two days, his mother disliked teleportation. She preferred the road. Even if they did teleport to get there due to urgency, she would insist they return by other means. By carriage, or if she had her way, on foot. She would make a race of it, Cassian was sure. Cassian’s body felt wrong as he made his way back to the academy.

  He hadn’t slept much. Most nights, he lay staring at the ceiling, dread coiling tighter with each passing hour. More than once, he considered feigning illness and staying home. But Timothy would never allow it. The head butler would see through the lie immediately and remind him, gently but firmly, that skipping classes was not proper behavior for a Viamnova. The shadow of the Tower of Wisdom began to loom over him as he approached. His shoulders stiffened.

  He reminded himself that it was unlikely anyone would challenge him on the first day. His family name and his reputation would protect him. At least for a while. Two weeks, surely. A month might be too much to hope for, but perhaps two weeks. And the special quest announcements would be coming soon. That alone could buy him more time. Another week, maybe two, where attention would be diverted elsewhere. Maybe by then he could think of something. Maybe he could improve.

  Or…

  Cassian rubbed the bridge of his nose and forced the thought away. For now, he could only hope for the best. He could not allow anyone to see how distressed he truly was. Cassian straightened his posture, carefully adopting an air of dignity as he walked. He modeled his movements after his uncle, whom he considered the most refined of the Viamnovas. That, to Cassian, meant he was likely the most refined person in the world. He did not allow his eyes to wander. His gaze remained fixed on the gates of the Tower of Wisdom ahead. Then someone called his name.

  “Cassian!”

  He stopped, caught off guard, and turned as the voice approached him. It was Sabrina.

  “Hi, Cassian,” she said. “Did you have a good weekend?”

  So easily broken. Was his carefully constructed fa?ade of regal distance undone by a single conversation? The thought unsettled him more than it should have. He needed to respond quickly. Could he ignore her? No. Such rudeness would only bring trouble.

  “It was quite calm,” Cassian replied evenly. “How was yours?” He hesitated, then added, “You look quite lovely today, by the way.”

  Those were the sorts of things one was meant to say to girls, he knew. They liked that gallantry, and being liked was important, people would leave their guards down if they liked you, he had come to learn. The blush told Cassian his plan had worked, though he couldn’t help wondering how easily she blushed.

  “Mine was calm too,” Sabrina said. “I spent a lot of time working on the essay. It’ll be worth it though, now that we can finally train magic again.”

  “You’ve been able to practice magic this whole time,” Cassian replied. “In the special training rooms.”

  “Well, yeah,” she said quickly, “but now we can do it wherever in the academy. Well, not wherever, we can’t do it in class or the great hall, but you know what I mean. It’s exciting.”

  “Yes,” Cassian said mildly. “I believe I know what you mean. Exciting.”

  He said nothing more, hoping the silence would prompt her to excuse herself or look for her friends. Instead, Sabrina continued walking beside him as though it were the most natural thing in the world. So they walked together.

  They soon reached the plaza, the final stretch before the academy. At its center stood a broad stone fountain, its water shimmering faintly with enchantments that kept it clear and cool. Taverns and inns surrounded the square, their signs glowing softly with runes. Magical shops lined the Cobblestone streets, selling potions, charms, spell components, and curiosities from across the world. A wide road paved in smooth stone led straight from the plaza to the towering gates of the Tower of Wisdom.

  Cassian had sprinted through this place the day before, this wasn’t an option right now, so now, he had to pass though as a Viamnova. It didn’t take long for people to notice him.

  “Master Cassian,” called an elderly man from a potion shop, as usual the first to get his attention. “Your father still hasn’t come to collect his latest order. When might I expect him?”

  “I’m sorry, sir,” Cassian replied politely. “He’s away on a quest. You may have to wait a little longer.”

  “On a quest, is he?” the man said with concern. “Even a sorcerer of his caliber shouldn’t be without proper supplies. Please remind him, if you see him.”

  “Of course,” Cassian said. “Thank you.”

  A moment later, two guards stepped toward him.

  “Cassian,” said the first, a rugged man with a weathered face. “How are you today, my boy?”

  “I’m doing quite well, thank you,” Cassian replied. “How are things around the city?”

  “Everything is perfectly in order,” the rugged guard said proudly, “and no small part of that is thanks to the efforts of your family.”

  The other guard, a younger man with an eager expression, leaned in. “Still at the top of your class? Planning on graduating and joining the city guard one day?”

  The rugged guard immediately smacked him on the shoulder. “Don’t ask him foolish questions. He’s bound to become an elite knight or a sorcerer, just like his parents.”

  “Hey,” the younger guard protested, rubbing his arm, “the city guard is a respectable place to start. A good stepping stone. I don’t plan to stay a recruit my whole life, you know.”

  The older guard sighed. “Excuse his lack of tact. He’s still quite new.”

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  Cassian allowed himself a polite smile. “No worries.”

  As the guards continued their patrol, a plump woman hurried toward them from the nearby candy shop.

  “Cassian!” she said warmly. “I was looking for you yesterday. We just received a new flavor of nougat. Your favorite. I wanted to give you some free samples.”

  She glanced at Sabrina, her eyes twinkling with curiosity. “And perhaps a few for your lady friend as well.”

  Cassian caught the look but didn’t quite understand it. Still, he thanked her politely as she pressed the wrapped sweets into his hands. They hadn’t taken more than a few steps before the next greeting came.

  The blacksmith waved from his forge, soot covering his arms. “Tell your mother the new alloy worked perfectly! She’s going to love her new armor.”

  An innkeeper called out from his doorway, asking when his father might pay them a visit. A tavern owner raised a mug in greeting, already half-drunk, and loudly declared that the next round would be on the house whenever a Viamnova chose to visit. A tailor nodded respectfully. A bookseller bowed slightly. A pair of apprentices stopped whispering when they noticed him pass. Again and again, people greeted him. Sent messages. Smiled with expectation.

  And more than once, someone leaned in just enough to ask, with barely disguised interest, who his lady friend might be. Cassian answered each one calmly, graciously, as befit a Viamnova. As they finally left the plaza behind, Cassian noticed Sabrina looking at him strangely.

  “Is something wrong?” he asked. “Was that… too much?”

  “No,” she said quickly. “It’s not that. It’s just that you know everyone.”

  “I suppose that’s not too surprising,” Cassian replied. “Is it?”

  “It’s not that they know you,” she said. “It’s that you know them. You talk to them, listen to them. I really wasn’t expecting that.”

  “Oh,” Cassian said. “That’s something Timothy, he’s our head butler, insists on.”

  He paused, then repeated the words as he had heard them countless times before. “‘You must walk the streets and speak with the people. They must know you, as they knew your father, and your uncle, and your grandfather, and his father before him. This is an important part of your education. That’s why I never teleport or take a carriage to the academy.”

  Sabrina looked at him with open admiration. “I’m really glad I decided to walk with you today.”

  “You decided that?” Cassian said, a small smile forming.

  “Oh, yes,” she replied. “I usually arrive much earlier. I like to get a headstart on the day. Sometimes I even train a little before classes begin. But today…” She hesitated. “Well, I thought I might want to know more about you.”

  Cassian’s smile stayed in place, but inside, something tightened.

  That’s not something I can allow you to do, he thought. The small lift in his mood faded. I should find a way to keep my distance. Sooner rather than later. Before he could act on the thought, a voice called out eagerly.

  “Come along now, everyone. Hurry up and head to the Great Hall. Form a single line with the rest of your class.”

  The teacher was practically glowing with excitement. “We have an announcement to make.”

  “An announcement?” Sabrina whispered.

  “If they’re calling us to the Great Hall today,” Cassian whispered back, “then they’ve selected the students for the special quest.”

  “But isn’t it early?” she asked. “Last year they announced it way later, didn’t they?”

  “I don’t think they have a strict time frame, they just need for all the faculty to reach a unanimous decision. This just means they reached it early this year.”

  They joined the rest of their class, forming a long line of students that flowed steadily toward the heart of the Tower of Wisdom. The Great Hall awaited them. No matter how many times Cassian entered it, the space still managed to awe him. The hall opened wide all at once, its sheer scale impossible to grow used to. Hundreds of students and faculty could gather there comfortably.

  The ceiling soared high overhead, supported by massive stone pillars carved with ancient runes. Each symbol glimmered faintly, not bright enough to draw attention, but impossible to ignore once noticed. Tall arched windows lined the upper walls, their enchanted glass bending the daylight into soft hues that drifted slowly across the stone floor. Banners hung between the pillars, swaying gently despite the still air. Each bore the sigil of Draíochta Acadamh: a towering spire crowned by a radiant star. The academy’s name was stitched beneath in flowing silver script, the letters glowing like fire.

  Other banners marked the different years, guiding students to their places with practiced ease. Faculty members stood along the raised dais at the far end of the hall, their robes layered with symbols of rank and achievement. Cassian took his place among his peers. From where he stood, he could see just how many people the hall contained, and yet there was still space to move, to breathe, to exist without crowding.

  As the final students entered and the massive doors closed behind them with a deep, echoing sound, the murmurs faded into silence. It was then that the Headmaster stepped onto the raised platform at the far end of the Great Hall.

  In the next instant, thousands of small crystals materialized in the air. They drifted upward like shards of light, swirling together before fusing into a single, smooth surface suspended above the crowd. Upon it appeared the magnified image of the Headmaster, clear enough for every student and faculty member in the hall to see.

  The Headmaster was not truly old, perhaps in his early fifties, but to Cassian, a ten-year-old boy, he seemed ancient. His hair was streaked with silver, his posture straight but relaxed, and his eyes carried a calm authority that made the hall feel smaller simply by his presence.

  “Good morning, dear students,” the Headmaster said, his voice carrying effortlessly through the hall. “I have gathered you here today to announce the students the faculty has selected to participate in this year’s Special Quest.”

  A ripple of excitement passed through the crowd.

  “For our first-year students,” he continued, “I will briefly explain what the Special Quest entails. Three selected students will form a party and choose one of the three roles taught at this academy.”

  He raised one finger.

  “Knights. Physical fighters. Front-line combatants whose strength and resolve can turn the tide of battle.”

  A second finger.

  “Sorcerers. Masters of magic, capable of reshaping the battlefield itself through arcane power.”

  And a third.

  “Arbiters. Those who enhance their allies, protect them, and strike where it matters most. The unseen hands that decide victory or defeat.”

  The Headmaster clasped his hands behind his back. “Together, these students will attempt a quest designed and sanctioned by the faculty of Draíochta Acadamh. Should they succeed, they will earn great honor.”

  Jurgen clenched his fists, barely containing himself. “It’s going to be me. I can feel it.”

  “Silence, you oaf,” Priscilla hissed. “They wouldn’t waste a quest on you.”

  Jurgen opened his mouth to respond, but a nearby teacher fixed him with a sharp look. He immediately fell quiet.

  “Now,” the Headmaster said, his voice cutting cleanly through the murmurs, “without further ado.”

  The crystal surface shimmered.

  “The first selected student is Siegfried Viamnova.”

  More crystals rose, joining together to form a new projection. To the right of the one showing the headmaster. Cassian’s oldest cousin appeared before them all.

  Siegfried was fourteen, but he looked far older. His straight blond hair was darker than Cassian’s, his sharp features set into a permanent frown. His eyes, more green than blue, stared forward with cold intensity.

  Whispers spread instantly.

  “Him again?”

  “He already won once.”

  “Is that even fair?”

  The murmurs barely had time to settle before the Headmaster spoke again.

  “The second selected student is Athena Viamnova.”

  Again, crystals appeared and merged a new projection, this time to the left of the headmaster.

  Athena was shown with a confident smile, her clear blue eyes bright, her long, golden hair catching the light as if it were spun from sunlight itself. For this, despite her young age, people had already come to call her the golden girl.

  This time, the murmurs turned into excitement.

  “That’s why they picked Siegfried again!”

  “Two Viamnovas!”

  “They’re unbeatable!”

  Cassian felt his stomach twist.

  No.

  No, no, no.

  His hands clenched at his sides as his chest tightened. Please, he thought desperately. Anyone else. I’m just a second-year. They have to have chosen someone else. The crystal surface shimmered once more.

  “And the third selected student,” the Headmaster said, “is Cassian Viamnova.”

  The image changed. The Headmaster vanished, replaced by Cassian’s own face, staring back at him from above the hall.

  Despite the roars of approval, and curses from Jurgen and Priscilla, the world seemed to go silent.