From Mortal To Mystic

---

Damian's eyes fluttered open, the dim light of his room casting long shadows across the walls. He didn't bother getting up, choosing instead to stay sprawled on the bed. His hand hovered above his chest, a small flicker of fire dancing in his palm. The flame twisted and curled, reacting to his thoughts as he stared at it in deep contemplation.

The school. Elyndor's Warrior Academy.

The name alone carried a weight that pressed against his chest. He knew it wouldn't be easy—nothing ever was. But if there was one thing Damian had learned since meeting Lucian and Valtos, it was that surviving meant adapting. And adapt he must.

A sharp creak cut through the silence as the door swung open. Damian tilted his head, half-expecting Lucian, but to his surprise, it was Valtos. His usual condescending smirk was absent, replaced with an expression that was... stiffer. Serious, even.

Without a word, Valtos tossed a bag onto the foot of Damian's bed. "Get dressed, princess. Today, we're heading to the city. Better not dillydally," he said, though the mocking tone still lingered in his voice.

Damian didn't respond. There was no point; Valtos would only find another jab to throw. Instead, he sighed and pulled himself out of bed, grabbing the bag and inspecting its contents.

The clothes inside were plain but practical. Damian quickly dressed: a loose cream linen shirt with leather cords at the collar, dark wool trousers, and a weathered, long-sleeved leather jacket. He tugged on knee-high boots that showed signs of wear and fastened a woolen cloak over his shoulder with an iron brooch. The outfit felt strange compared to his usual attire, but it was functional—and more importantly, it didn't stand out.

Once he was ready, Damian found Valtos waiting by the door, arms crossed and tapping his foot impatiently. "Finally. You're slower than a snail, you know that?" Valtos quipped. "Come on, princess. Let's get going."

Damian groaned, rubbing the back of his neck. "How are we getting there?"

A wicked grin spread across Valtos's face. "Like this." Without waiting for Damian's reaction, Valtos stepped into a shadow cast by a nearby shelf. The darkness twisted around him, pulling him in until he vanished completely.

"Wait—what?!" Damian yelped as Valtos's hand shot out of the shadow, grabbing his wrist and yanking him in.

The sensation was immediate and disorienting. It felt as though he was falling endlessly, weightless yet grounded at the same time. The shadows clung to him, cool and suffocating, and for a brief moment, panic flared in his chest.

When Damian's feet hit solid ground, he stumbled forward, gasping for air. Valtos stood a few steps ahead, his smug grin back in full force.

"How do you like my little trick, huh?" Valtos asked, clearly amused. "Told you to keep up, princess."

Damian glared at him, brushing himself off. "A little warning would've been nice."

"Where's the fun in that?" Valtos replied, waving him off. "Anyway, look alive. We're here."

Damian turned to take in his surroundings—and his breath caught in his throat. They stood on a vast plain, the air crisp and alive with magic. The fields stretched endlessly, covered in flowers that sparkled faintly as if kissed by starlight. Birds with two tails darted through the sky, some leaving trails of fire in their wake. The critters were just as unusual: a fox with two tails darted between the trees, and a rabbit glowing faintly blue hopped nearby.

Damian couldn't tear his eyes away. "What is this place…?"

"Hey," Valtos called, his voice snapping Damian out of his awe. "Don't get too carried away. Some of these creatures have a darker side. Stay guided, kid."

Damian frowned but nodded. His gaze lingered on a particularly large bird perched in the distance, its wings shimmering like molten gold. Valtos didn't give him much time to admire it, though.

"Over there," Valtos said, pointing toward the horizon. "That's where we're headed. Follow me. I'll show you more."

The journey was short, but Damian couldn't help but glance around every few seconds. The closer they got to the city, the more the plains gave way to signs of civilization. By the time they arrived, Damian found himself standing before a bustling marketplace.

It was nothing like what he'd expected. The city was alive, vibrant in a way he hadn't seen before. Vendors lined the streets, their stalls overflowing with exotic goods and magical trinkets. Beasts of every size and shape moved through the crowd, some being led by handlers, others wandering freely. The air buzzed with energy, the hum of voices mixing with the occasional crackle of magic.

Damian's eyes widened as they passed a blacksmith's forge, where a man worked on what appeared to be a blade glowing with a faint blue light. Nearby, a vendor shouted about enchanted amulets, while another sold what looked like potions glowing softly in glass vials.

"This place is…" Damian trailed off, unable to find the words.

"Amazing?" Valtos offered with a smirk. "Yeah, yeah. Keep moving. We don't have all day."

Eventually, they arrived at a large building that dominated the city's center. It was circular, its architecture reminiscent of a coliseum. The stone walls were weathered but sturdy, and Damian could hear the murmur of voices from within. As they approached, he noticed a group of people gathered near the entrance—young men and women, all around his age. There were at least a hundred of them, each dressed in practical clothing similar to his own.

Valtos stopped and turned to face him. "Oh, right. Guess I forgot to mention," he said casually, his grin widening. "This is where the process begins. Welcome to the Warrior Academy, princess."

Damian blinked, his heart skipping a beat. "Wait—what?!"

"Surprise," Valtos said with a mock bow. "Better get ready. Things are about to get real."

"What do you mean you guys didn't even give me proper knowledge of the place?" Damian complained, frustration lacing his tone.

Valtos raised an eyebrow, his smirk unfazed. "Oh, you don't need to worry about that. Just beat anyone they throw at you. You can handle that, right?" He tilted his head mockingly. "Alright then, Damian, I'm off." With that, his voice trailed off as his figure melted into the shadows, leaving Damian standing alone.

Damian huffed, muttering under his breath. "Pompous bastard..."

"Yeah, he is, isn't he?" A voice chimed in from behind him.

Damian spun around, startled, and froze in place. Standing there was a girl, and not just any girl—a stunning one. She stood tall, her athletic frame exuding confidence. Her sun-kissed skin bore faint freckles that danced across her nose, and her sharp hazel eyes seemed to pierce through him, framed by loose chestnut waves tied back with a simple leather cord. Her attire was practical yet elegant: a short cream-colored tunic belted at the waist, snug dark brown trousers tucked into ankle-high boots, and a moss-green cloak draped over her shoulders, fastened with a wooden clasp. Around her neck, a simple silver pendant caught the light, hinting at hidden significance.

Damian felt his throat go dry, and for a moment, he feared he might actually get a nosebleed. He quickly shook himself, trying to recompose. "Uh... yeah... he's a jerk," he stuttered, his voice embarrassingly shaky.

The girl smirked, her gaze unwavering. "Figured as much. What's your name? I don't think I've seen you around here before." Her voice was smooth, carrying an effortless charm that only made Damian's brain scramble further.

'No, no, no, man, now's not the time to simp. Focus. Get your head together,' Damian scolded himself.

Before he could respond, she stepped closer, placing her hands on his shoulders. The contact made his thoughts dissolve entirely.

"Come on, what's your name? Mine's Noelle," she said, her smile disarming.

Damian tried to channel his inner cool, but his voice betrayed him, cracking slightly. "Uhmm... my name's Damian. Nice to meet you." He forced a lopsided smile, trying to ignore the burning stares he was receiving from other male participants around the arena.

"Damian, huh? Nice name," Noelle said with a grin, finally letting go of his shoulders. She stepped beside him, leaning slightly on one leg, her hands resting casually on her hips.

Just as Damian was beginning to regain some semblance of composure, a loud announcement rang through the arena.

"All participants, you will now be transported to the testing area."

The air buzzed with energy as murmurs spread through the crowd. Excitement and nervousness filled the space as everyone prepared for the trials to begin.

"So, Damian," Noelle said, her tone casual but warm. "What's your magic?" She tilted her head curiously, her hazel eyes locking on his.

Damian hesitated, carefully choosing his words. He didn't want to attract unnecessary attention. "Uh... fire. Yeah, fire," he replied, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly.

Noelle's face lit up with genuine excitement. "Woah, that's nice! Watch this," she said, raising her hand. A small tornado materialized in her palm, swirling with controlled precision. The wind picked up slightly, rustling her hair and cloak before she closed her fist, dissipating the mini whirlwind.

Damian stared, both impressed and slightly jealous. "That's... really cool," he admitted.

"Thanks," Noelle said with a wink, letting her hand fall to her side. "Stick close, fire boy. You might need me."

Before Damian could reply, the ground beneath them shifted, glowing with a soft blue light. In an instant, the entire group of participants was enveloped in a shimmering aura, their forms vanishing one by one as they were transported to the testing grounds.

Damian felt his stomach flip as the world blurred around him. His mind raced with questions about what lay ahead, but one thing was certain: this was only the beginning.

When they arrived at their destination, Damian immediately noticed that nearly half of the participants were missing. Confused, he scanned the area until the same authoritative voice from earlier broke the silence.

"As you might have noticed, half of your colleagues are not here," the voice echoed. "That is because they did not meet the mana threshold required to enter. You are now in a mana-dense region—though not overwhelmingly strong, it is sufficient to test your abilities. Your goal is to make it through to the end, where mages await your arrival. You will hear a horn to signify the start. Good luck."

Damian's mind whirled as he tried to process the information. Mana threshold? Testing ground? His thoughts were interrupted by Noelle's voice.

"Transmission magic, huh? Pretty handy," she said with a casual smirk. Then, turning to him, she added, "Listen, we should stick together. Partners?" She extended her hand, her sharp hazel eyes meeting his with a spark of determination.

Damian hesitated only for a second before shaking her hand. "Partners," he agreed.

The moment their hands dropped, the horn blared, signaling the start. Damian and Noelle exchanged a quick glance, both silently acknowledging that this wasn't going to be easy.

"Alright, fire boy, let's see what you've got," Noelle said, her smirk returning as she conjured a swirling gust of wind in her palm.

"Right," Damian muttered, igniting flames in his hands. Together, they dashed forward into the unknown.