Introduction

In the new room that now belonged to him for the next four years, Alex discovered various trinkets that he didn't understand the purpose for. It took him a while to discover how the lights functioned and how to make the tap give out hot water. For the first time in a while, Alex began to suspect that he might have become a boomer.

"Jeez, why doesn't this stuff come with an instruction manual?" He grumbled as he tried to fiddle with a small globe like object, unable to make heads nor tales of how it was supposed to work. Remembering the mind controlled scroll he had received he tried holding it and asking mental questions. That idea worked well. Since the scroll's ink began to reformulate with instructions, answers and even moving paintings to describe the functions of various objects in the room.

"So this globe is a kind of telephone? Weird design. It doesn't fit the functionality at all. Why don't they have smartphones here? I will die without the internet." Alex was regretting coming here already.

The scroll also provided him with his timetable for lectures that would begin from tomorrow. Just looking at his packed schedule turned Alex pale.

"What the f***? Why do I have so many classes? It's like I'm back to school! I thought college was supposed to be relaxed!"

Alex observed the timetable carefully, and found that a lot of his courses were demeaning in their very name.

"An absolute n00bs guide to Runes. History of the world for idiots. How to become a magic weeb. Why are these classes named so weirdly?" Alex muttered in puzzlement.

"The classes were devised by Professor Morene, who is obsessed with the mortal world. He thought such names would entice the beginners to enjoy the course." The scroll dutifully answered back in ink blotted text.

Alex didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Where did this professor learn this internet lingo from?

Sighing, Alex began to unpack his stuff and wondering how his time would pass. Part of him was excited to learn of this new world, but part of him wanted to return to the familiarity of ignorance back on Earth.

At that moment, he heard a knock on his door. He immediately attended to the intrusion. Opening the door, he found a young lady about his age standing calmly. Her eyes were cold and she looked half dead. Her hair was blood red and so were her pupils. Alex had the distinct feeling that she wasn't human.

"Your name Alex?" She asked in a placid tone as she glanced at the scroll in her hand to cross check. Alex nodded in response.

"Good. Follow me. There's a special acclimatization session for the mortal admitees." The girl spoke as she began to walk. Alex quickly hurried behind her.

"Are there other admitees from Earth?" Alex asked in surprise. His parents had given him the impression that admission from Earth was a rather rare event.

"Just another one other than you this year. Usually mortals go to Asturias, since that academy specifically deals with mortals. Some of you mortals with connections do come to Dantalian though." The girl patiently explained.

The two followed a labyrinth of corridors until they came to a large auditorium. Another student was already waiting there. Alex looked at him and realized that he was indeed from Earth. The two nodded at each other in relief at finding someone familiar.

"Alex." He took the initiative to shake the other guy's hand. "Dean." The muscular guy replied. He was strong and seemed to have an intelligent glint in his eyes.

The girl then walked over to the stage and began introducing the details using a PowerPoint presentation.

"Wait, so you do have computers?" Alex asked. The girl ignored his question and began speaking.

"When mortals enter Dantalian, a lot of them face extreme dissociation. People on Earth have lived largely ignorant lives and cannot fathom the existence of magic and the first sky. It can cause mental breakdown. Thus our teacher of Mortal Relations has specially designed this course for folks like you to adjust quickly."

Immediately, the amateruishly made slides with images of the various mystical things in the First Sky switched to an amateruishly made film narrated by an awkwardly acting lady that Alex guessed was the Professor Morene.

"Goodmorning students! I'm Professor Morene, Dantalian's special mortal otaku and weaboo! Don't worry, I'll explain everything you need to know in the lingo of the cool mortals! I have prepared special memes and gifs for your enjoyment! I find them particularly hilarious!"

Alex looked at Dean and both had the heavy urge to cringe hard. However, with a knowing look they both stayed quiet and waited for the professor to continue.

"In the beginning, the skies were empty. Magic and mystics used to coexist with mortals on the mortal plane. But slowly, the mystical world began ascending through the skies and gradually left the mortal coil. Over time, the world that you mortals call supernatural disappeared from Earth. This coincided with the birth of the human technology called science, which deciphered the laws of the mortal realm.

The first sky is the entry point of the hidden world. It is a world of magical arts. But just because they are magic doesn't mean they don't follow rules. You will spend much of your time at Dantalian understanding these rules and how to manipulate them to your advantage.

As mortals, we assume you don't have any background and cultural assimilation with the esoteric world. Your first few months will thus be filled with exhaustive introductions to subjects from the very basics that other students take for granted. We hope you can pay attention and perform well!"

The girl with the blood red hair nodded and shut down the presentation.

"We... learnt nothing new here?" Alex muttered. The girl shrugged. "None of my business. The beginner's lessons mentioned in the video will be handled by professor Morene." She then quickly left the auditorium.

Dean walked over to the puzzled Alex and laughed. "You look even more bewildered than I am."

"I just found out there is a magical world yesterday. My stupid parents didn't even bother explaining anything to me." Alex replied with a sigh.

"Wow... that's pretty unconventional!" Dean replied as his face turned serious. "How did you get an admission letter then?"

"My parents sent me one." Alex said blandly. Dean raised an eye but didn't bother asking further. He began explaining his own circumstances. "I was raised knowing about the magical world. My family is one of the few who act as vanguards for the immortal world."

"Immortal World?" Alex grasped on the crucial point.

"Hm. That's what we call the world in the sky on Earth. Receiving an admission into an Academy like Dantalian is an extremely fortuitous and rare event, even for a privileged family like mine. I had to go through a bloody family strife just to win the chance to enter this academy."

"Wow. Looks like I got into something I still don't appreciate the value of." Alex muttered.

"It certainly is weird that your parents didn't tell you anything about the Immortal World. That they were able to procure an admission letter directly means they are probably not ordinary people on Earth!"

"Uh, they are just archaeologists." Alex replied. "Always out working on expeditions and such. Or so they told me. Anyway, which room do you live in?"

"Come with me, you probably need a briefing about how this world works." Dean generously invited Alex along.