Luminarc City

Fall break arrived like an inevitability.

No grand send-off, no emotional farewells—just the slow trickle of students filtering out of Mythos Academy, each heading to their own destinations. Some were going home, some were off to private training grounds, and some, like me, were about to step into a whole different world.

Rachel had insisted—in that effortless, noble way of hers—that she would handle all travel arrangements. I hadn't even seen the bill. Probably for the best. The cost of teleporting off Mythos Academy's private island wasn't for those who checked their bank statements.

And just like that, in less than a minute, I found myself stepping out of a warp hub in the Northern continent, an ultra-modern facility with sleek walls, automated transport routes, and travelers moving with well-practiced efficiency.

Rachel, completely unfazed by any of it, glanced at her phone and gestured for me to follow.

"Come on," she said. "We have another transfer."

I followed, wondering—not for the first time—what exactly I'd gotten myself into.

The flight to Luminarc was smooth, expensive, and fast. At least, I assumed it was expensive. When the seats reclined into full beds, when the attendants greeted Rachel by name, and when the in-flight system asked if I wanted my personal climate adjusted, I knew better than to ask.

Rachel, for her part, was perfectly at ease.

She sipped her coffee, looking out the window as if the bustling world below was just another passing detail.

"Do you travel like this often?" I asked, trying not to sound too much like a commoner staring at a palace.

She blinked, then smiled. "Only when it's necessary."

Right. Necessary.

I let it slide.

It wasn't long before Luminarc came into view.

The capital of the Creighton family.

A city of progress and power, built not just for spellcasters but by spellcasters, with tech seamlessly fused with mana, creating an environment that thrived on both science and magic. Towering structures of reinforced steel and crystal stretched toward the sky, air transit routes weaving effortlessly between skyscrapers. The entire city buzzed with movement, from automated transports on the streets below to drones zipping through the air, delivering packages, managing traffic, or scanning the city for security.

Unlike Mythos Academy's controlled environment, Luminarc was alive.

And at the heart of it all stood the Creighton estate.

The moment we stepped off the private airship, a sleek, self-driving vehicle was already waiting. Rachel barely acknowledged the driver as we were ushered inside. The car took off smoothly, navigating the immaculate streets, past corporate towers with Creighton insignias, digital holograms advertising the latest mana-tech advancements, and elite spellcaster academies that fed directly into the Creighton ranks.

"Welcome to my home," Rachel said, a small smirk playing on her lips.

The Creighton estate was not a house.

It was a city within a city.

High-tech security drones patrolled the perimeter, scanning everything that entered. The estate itself was massive—designed with both functionality and elegance in mind. Unlike the Slatemark Empire's opulent, almost theatrical grandeur, the Creighton estate radiated efficiency.

A fortress of steel, glass, and reinforced alloys, built for research, development, and power.

Rachel's presence meant zero delays. As we approached the colossal gates, I retrieved the Creighton insignia she had handed me back at Mythos. The guards barely needed to see it before bowing their heads in acknowledgment.

"We welcome you, esteemed guest of the Creighton family," one of them intoned. "Please, enter."

The doors slid open with mechanical precision, revealing a world beyond the walls.

Not just a mansion, not just a compound—an entire ecosystem.

The research district sprawled ahead, massive laboratories running experimental magic-tech research, training arenas, development centers, all within the estate.

Automated vehicles moved along designated pathways, transporting goods, while mechanized constructs patrolled the roads, ensuring smooth operations.

I was taken to a waiting lounge, a sleek, minimalist room with soft lighting, an interactive display, and a seating area that felt suspiciously like a luxury meeting room.

Rachel, after ensuring I had everything I needed, excused herself, mentioning something about checking in with her father before we met him.

And then, for the first time since I stepped off the airship, I was left alone.

I exhaled, running a hand through my hair.

This place was different from Mythos Academy. It wasn't just a school for elites—it was a command center for one of the world's ruling families.

A few minutes passed before the door slid open again, and a staff member entered.

"You may proceed to the garden pavilion," they informed me. "Miss Rachel is waiting for you there."

I nodded, standing up and following them through a series of wide, polished hallways, the smooth flooring subtly reinforced with mana-threaded materials that absorbed sound.

Finally, I stepped out of the estate's inner buildings and into something completely different.

A garden.

Not just any garden—a massive, cultivated sanctuary in the middle of the estate.

Tall trees lined the perimeter, their leaves glowing faintly with stored mana. Exotic flowers bloomed in carefully arranged biomes, some floating just above the ground, held aloft by magical currents.

At the center of it all was a crystal-clear stream, winding through the area, feeding into a cascading waterfall that shimmered under the afternoon sun.

And there, standing by the edge of the water, was Rachel.

She had changed at some point, now wearing simple white robes, the kind meant for comfort rather than ceremony.

The way the sunlight caught her golden hair, the way her sapphire eyes reflected the water—it was almost surreal.

"You finally made it," she said, turning with a bright, effortless smile.

The way she tilted her head slightly, the way her expression carried a warmth that was completely genuine—for a brief moment, I nearly forgot how to respond.

"Yeah Rach," I managed, keeping my voice level as I stepped closer.

She stretched her arms slightly, then, without hesitation, opened them wide in an invitation.

A hug.

I hesitated for half a second.

Rachel Creighton, second princess of one of the world's most powerful families, was openly, unreservedly offering a hug. Likely because we were finally inside her estate, far from prying eyes.

I accepted.

She felt warm, steady, comforting.

She smelled like clean linen and something faintly floral—not the overwhelming perfume Cecilia favored, but something simpler, natural, familiar.

She pulled away first, smiling. "Father's eager to meet you."

"Your father?" I repeated, blinking.

"Of course," she said, as if it was obvious. "He was curious about the guy I gave the Creighton insignia to."

That did nothing to settle my nerves.

She started leading the way again, but now I was very aware of where we were headed.

Alastor Creighton.

Archmage. Master of circle magic. One of the strongest individuals on the continent.

I swallowed.

"Where exactly are we meeting him?"

Rachel gestured upward.

I followed her gaze and saw, just barely visible above the trees, a spire.

Not just a building.

A monument.

A tower that scraped the sky, its structure reinforced with cutting-edge magic-tech.

"His observatory," Rachel said simply. "Come on, I'll take you."

As we approached, the sheer scale of the tower became clear. It wasn't just tall, it was a research hub, a place where theories were tested, magic-tech was developed, and the future of spellcasting was written.

Rachel took the lead, guiding me up a high-speed elevator that shot toward the top.

At last, we reached the final platform, stepping onto a wide balcony that overlooked the entire estate.

And waiting for us, standing with an air of absolute control, was Alastor Creighton.

Tall. Silver-haired. Eyes that burned with restrained power, as if he could see through everything with a single glance.

When he spoke, his voice carried the weight of experience, authority, and something deeper—raw intellect.

"Rachel," he said, his gaze settling on me. "It seems you've brought me someone very interesting."