Into the Darkness: Devotion

Getting to Arkanis took a while.

After defeating that vampire and reporting the situation, we made our way to the academy.

In the empire, everyone is assigned a code, a long string of numbers used by the knights for identification. It extends to every citizen, ensuring documentation and order.

I had already forgotten mine. It was absurdly long, and honestly, it didn't really matter.

Now, we stood at the gates of Arkanis.

A vast crowd of students surrounded us, all waiting in anticipation.

The air buzzed with murmurs and excitement, eyes locked on the massive gates that loomed before us.

They were colossal, forged from dark iron and etched with intricate golden inscriptions that shimmered under the morning sun. 

The symbols twisted and shifted, a constant reminder that Arkanis was a place where magic itself breathed.

Slowly, the gates groaned, ancient mechanisms coming to life.

A deep rumble echoed across the courtyard as they began to part, revealing the grandeur beyond.

Arkanis Academy.

Students of all kinds poured in, some marveling at the scale of it all, others moving with confidence, as if they had been here before.

This was the starting ritual.

Every year, when new students arrived, the gates would open like this, allowing them to explore the academy freely for a day.

 A chance to familiarize ourselves with its vastness before the real journey began.

Tomorrow, the official first year will commence.

Artoria took my hand and pulled me to the left, with Vincent following closely behind.

The courtyard was filled with students calling out to others, urging them to join their clubs or groups. 

It was loud, chaotic, and full of energy, but we already knew where we were headed.

Straight to the dorms.

We had been assigned a room in the left wing, two boys, two girls. Conveniently, Vincent, Artoria, and I were placed together. 

Though, in truth, it wasn't luck, Vincent had connections inside and pulled some strings to make it happen. 

The only mystery was the fourth roommate, a girl we had yet to meet.

As we walked, a few eager students tried flagging us down, either to recruit us or make conversation. A couple of stern looks from me were enough to send them backing off.

The dormitory buildings came into view, large brick structures adorned with banners from every kingdom.

Naturally, Osalsia's banner was the most prominent, hanging at the very center, its golden emblem glistening in the sunlight.

We were assigned to the section meant for older first-year, those who had some form of training or prior education before enrolling. 

While we were still first-years, this meant we'd be surrounded by those with experience rather than complete beginners.

The entrance led into a wide common area where students checked in, collecting room assignments and keys.

We bypassed most of the chaos, already having ours in hand.

After a few minutes of walking through winding hallways and staircases, we reached our assigned room.

Opening the door, we stepped into a spacious living area, far grander than I had expected.

A large sitting area with plush couches and a central table took up most of the space, illuminated by enchanted lanterns that floated gently above.

 A kitchen sat toward the back, complete with a dining area and enough space to cook properly, unlike the cramped accommodations I had anticipated.

Two bathrooms, one on either side, and three separate bedrooms—one for each of us, with the fourth room belonging to our yet-to-be-seen roommate.

Vincent let out a low whistle. "Didn't expect this much space."

Artoria walked further in, taking in the surroundings. "They definitely don't skimp on comfort."

I closed the door behind us, scanning the room once more. It was quiet now, but soon enough, we'd meet our missing fourth member.

"Well, I think Vincent should get first pick on rooms," Artoria said, placing a hand on her hip.

He smiled. "I'll take the room furthest down the hall."

I took that as an opportunity to choose the room closest to the door and walked in.

The room had a large bed, a window with a view of what I assumed were training grounds, a desk with drawers, and a closet.

I sat down on the bed and stretched my arms before falling back. Being here was oddly calming.

It took a while, but they accepted me as a student after Vincent proved we were strong.

Even more so, I had to pay ten gold coins, something no one else did.

Wasting my precious money, what brutes.

I moved my arms under me and pushed up just as Artoria sat down beside me.

She stared at me for a moment before speaking. "Aren't you glad you became a student?"

If I wasn't, then I wouldn't be able to live in the dorms. So I supposed she was right.

"Yeah, I guess I wouldn't want to leave you here alone."

She chuckled. "Don't be so wary of everything. This place is guarded by imperial knights."

"That's exactly why I'm worried, Art. You need to watch your back and be careful."

She sighed just as Vincent walked in. "You two argue a lot?"

I turned to him as he leaned against the doorframe. "You got a clue who our missing roommate is?"

He shrugged. "Not a clue."

Artoria stood up abruptly. "Well, I hope she's nice."

"All I know is that she's a scholar," Vincent said.

I laid back on my bed and folded my arms behind my head as Artoria got up.

"I'm going to go out and explore. Do you two want to come?" she asked while walking out of the room.

I really didn't want to go, and since Vincent looked like he was about to say yes based on his expression, I remained silent.

"Yeah, sure," Vincent said, following her.

As they left, I sat back up and leaned forward. There was something I needed to do, something I hadn't had the time for while traveling here.

Artoria had already told me she got her meds from a local doctor, and since I had some free time, I needed to see just how my ability had changed.

I wasn't sure why, but during that fight against the vampire, I had been able to see the future without using much energy.

Even more concerning was how, now that I was more sensitive to mana, I could tell the vampire had been holding back.

He had a large amount of power at his disposal.

It felt like he wanted to die. Or worse, he had been ordered to lose.

I wasn't an idiot.

Something was up. Someone was testing us. Testing me.

After Artoria got her meds and we made our way here, we placed an order for her replacement arm. It should be arriving soon.

Yet, ever since we arrived, I had felt something watching me.

I placed my left hand over my right eye and spoke, trying my hardest to channel mana into my voice.

"Mora."

A pause in time. A halt in space.

"Mora Stalia."

The future unraveled before me, pathways branching out, events aligning in perfect order.

Like a script written out before my eyes.

When the vision ended, I collapsed back onto the bed, breathing heavily.

As I thought, there was a difference.

When I was about to die, I could peer into the future, as if my body instinctively sought to save itself.

But now, I have gained something new.

Was it because of that amplification from Vincent?

It didn't matter.

I would soon gain another ability once I mastered mana control.

For now, I had only seen about an hour ahead, and in that time, I had remained here, alone.

Which meant taking a nap was probably the best idea.