Chapter 10
After boarding the dirigible, Adem went to pick his room. During the entire journey, they flew without any accidents or attacks from elemental spirits. The dirigible they used wasn't the same model as those from the Abyssal Bone Academy or the Ivory Ring Tower.
There were minor squabbles between the acolytes, but nothing that required a physical fight.
The journey took a month and a half before they finally reached the Wetland Gardens.
When the dirigible pierced through the clouds, the swamp came into view—an endless sea of mist and green. Towering cypress trees draped with silver moss stretched for miles, their roots half-buried in black waters that shimmered with faint bioluminescence. The air pulsed with quiet life, as if every insect's hum and frog's croak carried a whisper of magic.
Then… the mist parted.
From within the swamp stood a castle.
The Wetland Gardens Academy rose like an emerald crowned in gold. Its spires were sculpted from luminous green stone that caught the sunlight like living crystal, while golden veins ran through its walls like flowing lifeblood.
Around its base, moss and flowers crept up the stonework, glowing faintly with life essence. Vines thicker than a man's arm climbed the golden balustrades, their leaves glittering as if dusted with starlight.
After stepping off the dirigible, Adem could sense the density of green and blue energy particles here—it was so thick that it left no doubt this was a paradise for rare plants.
As they approached the metal gate, two statues resembling griffins stood beside it.
They shifted, as if coming alive, when the group of acolytes and Professor Margot reached the entrance.
The group let out a cacophony of surprise.
Adem was the most startled, feeling the pores on his body open instinctively as he absorbed the surrounding air.
It was due to the high concentration of wood and water elemental particles—energies that resonated perfectly with his affinity. This reaction would have happened anywhere with a strong concentration of the Five Elements.
As they entered the gate, an empty hall appeared before them, illuminated only by green flames flickering along both sides.
"Our Wetland Gardens is divided into several main areas: the dormitories, classrooms, laboratories, gardening fields, trading post, mission area, and so on. You'll be guided through them during your induction later," said Professor Margot, her heels echoing through the hall. "For now, follow me to the administration area, and then we'll begin the selection of your professors."
Margot stopped before a slightly larger door and pointed to the steel inscription above it.
"This is the administration area. I doubt any of you will be eager to come here again."
The strange symbols on the door shimmered, shifting between words and patterns. Adem frowned—none of them resembled any script he had ever seen.
"Oh! I forgot you all don't know the ancient Byron language," Professor Margot tapped her forehead. "No worries. It's one of the basics of incantation—you'll learn it soon enough."
"Margot, huh? Enter!"
An aged voice sounded from within. The steel doors moved automatically as a mechanical hand unlatched the bolts and beckoned them in.
Adem followed Margot inside and found himself in a massive chamber. An old man with a white beard and red eyebrows sat behind a wide black desk, scribbling with a feather pen. Beside him, stacks of parchment towered high, and behind him, bookshelves more than ten meters tall were filled with scrolls and crystal balls in chaotic order.
"You're early," the old man said, setting down his quill and smiling faintly.
"Of course. We didn't encounter any obstacles during the journey," Margot replied.
"That's fortunate."
Then his sharp eyes scanned the group until they landed on Adem.
"It seems this trip was quite rewarding," he remarked.
"Of course," Margot replied. "Adem, come here."
Pulling him closer, she added, "I intend to take him as my personal apprentice. Please handle the formalities."
The professor handed a stack of forms to the old man.
"Mn. Fifth-grade aptitude—not bad," the old man muttered, putting on a pair of golden-rimmed glasses. "So then, Adem, are you willing to become the personal apprentice of Professor Margot?"
"I accept," Adem said softly.
"Good." The old man signed a parchment and handed Adem a small black sack. "This is yours—keep it well."
Adem accepted it and followed Professor Margot as she led him through a long corridor to a laboratory.
It was the same lab she had mentioned during their journey—a personal workspace within the Alchemy Department.
A sweet and spicy aroma lingered in the air, mingling with the scent of toxic fumes and reagents. Adem frowned slightly.
A massive table dominated the lab, cluttered with test tubes, flasks, and beakers—many of which were filled with unknown liquids. The sight reminded him faintly of the chemistry labs from his previous life.
"Although the environment here is modest, it's enough for the initiation," Margot said, glancing around the room. "At least it's quiet—and we won't be disturbed."
"What initiation?" Adem asked, puzzled.
"The initiation of a Magus," she replied, smiling faintly.
"Tell me, Adem—what is a Magus to you?"
"A mysterious person with the ability to call forth thunder and storms, manipulate flames, and bend nature's forces," Adem answered, recalling fragments of memory from the Chernobyl Islands and his past life.
"En. But that's only part of it," Margot corrected.
"A Magus is one who seeks the laws behind energy itself—those who study how to control and manipulate it. Their pursuit of truth and knowledge never ends."
"So the title of Magus isn't limited to humans?" Adem asked, feigning surprise.
"Indeed. Even demi-humans and other intelligent races have their own Magi—the Sea Tribes, the Dragon Magi, and so on."
Margot straightened and clapped her hands.
"Alright. Let's begin the rite. Don't be afraid—it's simple."
Clap!
The floor softened and rippled into a spell formation. A strange energy spread outward.
The room darkened, leaving only a single flame glowing at its center.
"Now, give me your hand."
Adem stretched it out, and Margot clasped it firmly.
"By the rites of ancient times, I guide you, Adem Veyron, onto the path of a Magus," she intoned.
"Repeat after me."
"I swear, I will forever pursue the truth," she said in an ancient tongue.
Though unfamiliar, Adem understood—and found himself repeating the words unconsciously.
"I swear, I will forever pursue the truth," he said, his young voice steady with resolve.
"Without my mentor's permission, I shall not reveal the knowledge she imparts…"
Their voices overlapped, resonating in the silence.
At the center of the formation, the flame suddenly flared—burning bright green.
"Congratulations on formally becoming an Acolyte," Margot said at last.
"You can find your dormitory and begin practicing the meditation technique. Come see me here tomorrow."
After the rite, Adem walked toward the dormitories. His assigned room—812—was listed on the card inside the black sack. He passed several chambers that radiated powerful energy signatures, no doubt belonging to professors.
The dorm corridor was long and cold. His footsteps echoed as he followed the numbered doors until he found his own.
"It's here," he murmured.
The key was heavy black copper, marked '812'. He inserted it into the lock and turned it with a click.
The door creaked open—and green flames lit up the dark interior.
It was simple, quiet, and alive with magic.
Truly worthy of a Magus Academy.
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Let me know if there is any thing I can improve .
Just leave your powerstones here, they'll be real safe