That night, everyone slept in Alen's manor, and it was easily the best night's rest they'd had in ages.

The cushions were plush and soft, the bed sheets smooth and warm with a comforting scent, and the mattresses themselves were regulated by a magical enchantment, always set to the perfect temperature for sleep.

More than anything, though, the peace and quiet was what made it feel like a dream. The manor sat far removed from the city and the rest of the world. No distant sounds of fighting, no howling animals, just serene silence, letting them all sleep soundly and wake feeling more refreshed than they thought possible.

By morning, one by one, they gathered downstairs, drawn by the rich smells coming from the kitchen, where several maids were already preparing breakfast.

"Damn… this is bad," Liam muttered as he took his seat at the long dining table.

"What? Did something happen?" Safa asked immediately, her brows furrowed in concern. Her thoughts raced, had someone from Alter tracked them down? Was Liam's body reacting to the new system he'd been given? There were countless things that could've gone wrong.

"I think… I'm starting to like this world too much," Liam groaned dramatically, flopping into his chair.

The others blinked at him.

"When I first came here, I was dead set on hating Alterian. I kept thinking, 'Pagna's way better, cooler.' We use our fists, not silly magic. Magic is lame. I told myself all that, but now… who am I kidding?"

He pointed toward the ceiling, then the plate of food in front of him.

"Everything here is just so good! The comfort, the magic, the convenience… I can't help it!"

The others chuckled. As much as they might've wanted to disagree, they couldn't. They'd walked through the capital city without trouble. No pickpockets. No beggars. The streets were clean, and the food had been delicious.

They had expected the countryside to outshine the city somehow, to have at least one point in Pagna's favor, but the truth was… Alterian was making a strong impression.

"Remember," Raze said, walking into the kitchen, "you're all experiencing life in the top fifty percent. And in Alen's case, he lives like the top ten percent.

"Luxury. Comfort. Magic conveniences. It's all an illusion. Yes, Alterian has more resources than Pagna, but the gap between the poor and the wealthy is still massive. It's just better hidden here."

He paused, his voice turning more serious.

"One day, I'll show you what I mean."

"Are you thinking of taking them to the Underland?" Aurora asked, stepping into the room with a raised brow. "That's not exactly on my list of tourist attractions."

"You're right," Alen agreed, "but as Raze said, if they want to see all sides of Alterian, it's a place they must see eventually. Now then, once you've all finished eating, I've arranged for a vehicle to take you to the academy."

As they continued enjoying their breakfast, the conversation shifted to Alterian culture. They discussed the expectations, the subtle differences in social behavior compared to Pagna. The topic naturally flowed toward the mage academy and, more specifically, the assessment they'd be facing.

According to Alen and Aurora, the assessment was different every time.

"One time," Alen recalled, "they had applicants destroy multiple objects as quickly as possible. Another year, they asked for the most powerful spell to be cast."

"And once," Aurora added, "the test was to survive for a set amount of time against one of the academy's instructors."

"Don't worry," Dame said with a grin. "Only Liam, Beatrix, and I need to figure something out. The rest of you will be fine."

"Oh?" Alen said, glancing toward Safa. "The young woman can use magic as well? But isn't she originally from Pagna? I was under the impression that those from Pagna were incapable of using magic. I must have been mistaken."

"You're not wrong," Raze replied. "Safa is… an exception. She can use Light Magic, and she's more than a little skilled with it."

"Light Magic?" Alen said, his tone immediately shifting into a more cautious one. "Well, be careful not to show off too much. If you're truly proficient, you'll have guilds crawling after you. There aren't many mages who can wield Light Magic, especially not at a high level."

Text acquired from M|V|LEMP&YR.

Just as the conversation quieted, a vehicle pulled up outside.

It was a flying bus, hovering slightly above the ground with magical engines humming beneath it. Alen and Aurora walked the group to the front, preparing to say their farewells.

Aurora had finally returned home, and it was time for her to part ways with the others. As the vehicle rose into the air and began to carry the group toward their destination, Aurora stood watching, a soft sparkle in her eye.

"It's always hard saying goodbye," she murmured. "They helped me so much in Pagna. Do you think… they're going to be okay?"

Alen stood beside her, his arms crossed as he looked toward the horizon.

"In many ways, Ibrain is the true test," he said. "If they can really go up against a Grand Magus… then maybe there's hope.

"But it's not easy. What they're attempting is near impossible. Right now, they've got the perfect opportunity. No one knows about Enaxx's death, and they likely won't for a while, given where it happened.

"The real problem is what happens after Ibrain is taken out. There'll be no hiding it then. The rest of the Grand Magus will be alerted, and they'll be prepared.

"Fighting one unprepared Grand Magus is already a stretch. But fighting several who know they're being hunted, who control major parts of the world's systems…" He shook his head. "That's a wall so high I don't even know if it can be climbed."

Aurora remained silent for a few seconds. But then, her lips curled into a quiet, confident smile.

"I think if anyone can do it… it's him."

Meanwhile, high above the landscape, the flying vehicle soared through the skies. Off in the distance, they could finally see it, the towering silhouette of a massive structure coming into view.

They had arrived at one of the Mage Academies.

****

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