The journey to Kristallburg had taken three days. Three days of jolting along roads that grew steadily wider as we left the mountain trails of Eschenbach behind and joined the kingdom's major trade routes. Heinrich had rented space in a merchant coach—not luxurious, but enough to get us to our destination.
I had spent most of the trip with my nose pressed to the window, fascinated by the world unfolding before me. Villages turned into towns, then into cities, with half-timbered houses and slate roofs. The fields stretched as far as the eye could see, dotted with windmills whose blades spun thanks to Ventus Nexuses. Magical aqueducts carried water from rivers to the cities, the water floating in tubes of pure force above our heads.
But nothing had prepared me for Kristallburg itself.
The capital of the neutral kingdom of Zentralia was a marvel of magical architecture. The buildings seemed to defy the laws of physics, with towers that stretched into the clouds and bridges suspended between structures. Floating gardens drifted slowly above the streets, casting shifting shadows on the cobblestones. The very air shimmered with ethereal energy, so dense I could almost taste it on my tongue.
"First time in a city?" Heinrich asked, amused.
I nodded, unable to take my eyes off the marvels unfolding before us. A group of children played in a fountain where the water spiraled upward in impossible patterns, shaped by their budding Nexuses. Farther on, a merchant levitated his wares above his stall, arranging them in intricate formations to attract customers.
"How do they keep everything so stable?" I whispered. "Back home, using magic for daily chores is considered a waste."
"It's a matter of habit and resources," Heinrich replied. "Kristallburg is built on an ethereal convergence point. Magic is so abundant here it practically seeps from the ground. The locals use it the way we use water or fire."
The coach stopped in front of a stately inn, its golden sign swaying gently in the breeze. The Golden Nexus, read the inscription carved into fine wood. Heinrich was the first to disembark and helped me carry our modest luggage.
"We staying here for the night?" I asked.
"Just long enough to freshen up and have a decent meal. The Academy's not far now—but best to arrive presentable."
The interior of the inn matched the city: luxurious and steeped in magic. Candles floated from the ceiling, casting a warm, gentle light. The furniture was made of dark wood inlaid with faintly pulsing metal veins. Even the air smelled different—cleaner, more alive.
Heinrich quickly negotiated with the innkeeper, a portly man whose Ignis Nexus glowed at his belt. I watched him light every fireplace in the main hall with a wave of his hand, then heat our meals without even approaching the dishes.
"Impressive, isn't it?" said a voice behind me.
I turned, startled. A girl my age sat alone at a table in the corner of the room. She was small, with ink-black hair held back by a crystal-studded band. Her dark eyes sparkled with intelligence, and her clothes, though simple, were of a quality that spoke of some affluence.
What caught my attention most was the object in her hands. A complex mechanism of copper and crystal, it emitted the occasional melodic click. Holograms of mathematical formulas danced above the device, projected by tiny Nexuses embedded in its design.
"Sorry?" I said, realizing she had spoken to me.
"The use of magic for daily chores," she clarified with a shy smile. "You looked... fascinated."
I stepped toward her table, intrigued as much by her invention as by her insight.
"It really is impressive. Back in the mountains, we only use magic for important things. Hunting, defense, emergency healing. Not for lighting fires or warming soup."
She laughed—a clear, bell-like sound.
"It's the opposite for me. My parents use magic for everything. Even brushing their teeth."
She blushed, as if she'd revealed something embarrassing.
"I'm Yuki, by the way. Yuki Sakamoto. And you must be Lukas Steinberg, right?"
I froze. How did she know my name?
"I... how—?"
"Oh!" she exclaimed, clearly flustered. "I didn't mean to scare you. It's just... well, I looked at the list of new Academy admissions. For scientific curiosity, you understand."
She fiddled nervously with her device, avoiding my gaze.
"You're going to Nexus Academy too?" I asked, sitting across from her.
"First year, like you. My parents are... well, they're in magical research. They insisted I study in Kristallburg instead of Nordmark."
"Nordmark? Is that where you live?"
She nodded.
"My father runs a technomancy lab there. He's trying to combine traditional magic with precision mechanics. My mom works on temporal theory. Distortions, paradoxes, that kind of thing."
Her eyes lit up as she spoke about her parents. Clearly, she was proud of their work.
"And that?" I asked, pointing to her invention. "Is that technomancy too?"
"Oh, this?" she said eagerly. "It's an ethereal calculator I designed. It can analyze ambient magical flows and predict interactions between different types of Nexuses."
She adjusted a few settings, and the holograms above the device shifted. I saw complex energy diagrams, equations I didn't understand, and charts showing relationships between various types of magic.
"You built that yourself?"
"With my dad's help," she admitted modestly. "But the core theory is mine. I... I like figuring out how things work."
Heinrich returned at that moment, carrying our bags and two steaming bowls of soup.
"Ah, I see you've met a classmate," he said, setting the bowls down.
"Yuki Sakamoto," she introduced herself politely. "Pleased to meet you, Mister..."
"Heinrich Wolff. I'm this young man's guardian."
"Wolff?" Yuki repeated thoughtfully. "That name sounds familiar..."
Heinrich and I exchanged a glance. He'd always been vague about his past, but I knew he'd had a life before taking me in.
"Perhaps you've heard of my mercenary work," he said with a mysterious smile. "I had a few... adventures in my youth."
Yuki seemed satisfied with that explanation, but I noticed Heinrich hadn't really answered her question. Another mystery for the list.
"So, Yuki," I said, trying to change the subject, "you mentioned you looked through the list of new students. What caught your eye in my file?"
She blushed again, fidgeting with her calculator.
"Well... most files are pretty standard. Name, origin, Nexus type, power evaluation, projected growth. But yours…"
She hesitated.
"Yes?"
"Yours was just marked 'Analysis impossible – Monitoring recommended.' In the Academy's seventeen-year history, it's the first time they've accepted a student whose Nexus couldn't be classified."
I felt my scar pulse faintly under my shirt. Heinrich, who had been sipping his soup, subtly slowed his movements.
"Do you know what that means?" I asked.
"No," Yuki admitted. "But I'd really like to find out. If you'd let me, of course! I don't want to intrude."
Before I could answer, the inn's door burst open. A gust of warm wind swept through the hall, making the floating candles flicker and lifting the tablecloths.
A figure in a red cloak stood in the doorway, bathed in a golden glow that hurt the eyes. Conversation ceased, and I felt the air thrum with magical tension.
The figure stepped forward, revealing a girl about our age. Her red cloak was trimmed in gold thread, and beneath it she wore a travel dress that had clearly cost a fortune. Her blond hair gleamed like metal, and her blue eyes were the color of summer skies.
But it was her Nexus that truly drew attention. Worn as a pendant, the Luxor crystal glowed with such brilliance I had to squint. I had never seen a Nexus so powerful.
She scanned the room, pausing briefly at each table. When her eyes met mine, a jolt shot down my spine. My scar pulsed harder, and for a moment, I had the strange feeling that my own Nexus was reacting to her presence.
"Excuse me," she said, her clear voice tinged with an aristocratic accent. "Are there other Nexus Academy students in this inn?"
The innkeeper, who had frozen since her arrival, quickly responded.
"Uh... yes, miss. Those young folks over there are also new students."
She approached our table with confident strides, her cloak trailing behind her. Up close, she was even more impressive. Everything about her radiated nobility—from her flawless posture to the way she held her head.
"Éléanore de Montclair," she said, giving a perfect curtsey. "Heir to House Montclair, Duchess of Solaris."
Yuki nearly dropped her calculator.
"Montclair? But—that's one of the oldest families in the Solheim Empire!"
"Indeed," Éléanore replied, her smile not quite reaching her eyes. "My father is the Grand Marshal of the Imperial Army."
She glanced at each of us in turn, clearly noting our simple clothes and humble table.
"And you are?"
"Yuki Sakamoto, from Nordmark," Yuki said timidly.
"Lukas Steinberg, from Eschenbach."
"Eschenbach?" Éléanore repeated with a faint frown. "I don't know that town."
"It's a small mountain village," I explained. "Not very well known."
"Ah," she said, with a hint of condescension. "How... quaint."
Heinrich, who had remained silent until now, stood slowly. His gaze had grown cold, and I knew that tone hadn't sat well with him.
"Heinrich Wolff," he said simply. "And you're right—Eschenbach isn't well known. No castles, no titles, no army. Just honest folks who work hard to live."
The implication was clear. Éléanore flushed slightly, but before she could respond, another figure entered the inn.
This time, it was a middle-aged man in official robes, bearing the Academy's seal. His Tempus Nexus glowed at his belt, and his face showed signs of recent exertion.
"Miss de Montclair!" he called as he hurried to our table. "I've been looking everywhere for you! Your father sent me to escort you to the Academy."
"Professor Aldric," Éléanore said with a nod. "I didn't mean to keep you waiting. I simply wished to meet my future classmates."
Professor Aldric gave us a quick glance before turning to Heinrich.
"Mister Wolff, I presume? The Headmaster is expecting you as well. He wishes to discuss... certain peculiarities in your ward's file."
My scar pulsed so strongly I had to clutch my chest. Everyone looked at me, and I felt my face flush.
"You okay, Lukas?" Yuki asked, concerned.
"Yeah, yeah. Just... travel fatigue."
But Heinrich was watching me closely. He knew my scar only acted up under specific conditions. And right now, it was nearly burning.
"Well then," Professor Aldric said. "Shall we head to the Academy? The induction ceremony is tonight, and you still need to settle into your dormitories."
We gathered our things quickly. Yuki carefully packed her calculator into a padded case, and Éléanore adjusted her red cloak. Heinrich paid for our meal, and we all stepped outside.
Waiting for us was a carriage—an official Academy vehicle, lacquered black with golden trim. The coachman, an elderly man with a Ventus Nexus, greeted us respectfully.
"Climb aboard," said Professor Aldric. "The ride won't be long, but we may as well travel in comfort."
I sat between Yuki and Heinrich, facing Éléanore, who gazed out the window. Professor Aldric took the seat next to the driver, and the carriage glided smoothly into motion.
"Nervous?" Yuki whispered.
"A little," I admitted. "You?"
"Terrified," she said with a shaky smile. "But also excited. It's contradictory, isn't it?"
I smiled back. At least I wasn't the only one anxious about what lay ahead.
Through the window, the city swept past. The buildings grew grander as we neared the Academy district. Then, around a corner, I saw it.
The Nexus Academy of Kristallburg.
And it was even more impressive than anything I had imagined.