Academy

Rune stepped off the carriage, his eyes wide with awe as he took in the sprawling academy grounds. The buildings were massive—far beyond anything he'd seen before, even compared to the capital city. The stone paths seemed endless, and students milled about, some carrying books, others in heated discussions. The air was alive with energy and purpose. Rune, despite himself, couldn't help but gawk at everything around him, his jaw slightly agape.

Then, as if snapping out of his stupor, he turned to the old man. "Wait, that guard called you 'Headmaster'...?" He blinked, trying to process it. This strange, unhinged old man was apparently some kind of authority figure?

The sage puffed his chest proudly, a smug grin spreading across his face. "That's right. I am the Headmaster of Veldris Academy."

Rune cringed. "How is an unhinged old fart like you a Headmaster?"

The sage's expression shifted to one of annoyance. "Yea, and you little shit aren't grateful enough to me, who rescued you from death."

Rune rolled his eyes, but internally he couldn't help but agree. "Yeah, I'm really thankful to the old fart," he thought sarcastically.

The two of them walked through the academy's grand entrance, doors swinging open before them. The inside was everything Rune had never imagined—a massive, gleaming hall filled with students hurrying past, carrying books in their arms, conversing with one another. The atmosphere was intense, but also alive with purpose. Rune looked around, feeling both small and awestruck by the sight. The high ceilings were adorned with tapestries and banners, and the walls were lined with shelves of ancient-looking books. Everything about it screamed power and knowledge.

As they walked through the hallway, Rune couldn't help but gawk. His wide-eyed gaze scanned every corner, every student. This place... It's so different. It feels like a world of its own.

Eventually, they reached a door at the far end of the hallway. The Headmaster opened it, and immediately a loud, piercing voice rang out from inside.

"HEADMASTER! WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN FOR THE PAST WEEK?!"

Rune jumped slightly at the volume, and the Headmaster visibly flinched.

A woman, no less than forty years old, stood there, hands on her hips, a furious look in her eyes. She glared at the Headmaster as if she was about to tear him apart.

The Headmaster, now looking oddly terrified, stammered out, "Uh, I was meditating... in a forest, dealing with... issues. Yes, issues."

The woman's expression darkened further. "Do you know how much work I've had to do, filling in for your absence?!" She marched forward, clearly ready to continue her tirade, but then, as her gaze flickered to Rune, she paused.

Rune stood awkwardly just inside the door, glancing around the office with curiosity. Bookshelves lined every wall, packed with thick tomes and ancient scrolls. Documents were scattered across the desk, and ornate trinkets filled the room, each one more bizarre than the last. Rune hadn't ever seen such a collection of antiques before, and he couldn't help but stare at it all.

The woman seemed to notice his surprise and, with a resigned sigh, her face softened just a little. "And who is this?" she asked, her voice still holding a sharp edge but less intense now.

The Headmaster straightened up and cleared his throat, though his usual smugness had been replaced with a certain unease. "Oh, he's just a kid I picked up from the forest. I'm planning to enroll him here."

The woman's eyebrows shot up in disbelief. "What? You picked up a random kid and now you're going to enroll him in the most prestigious school on the continent? Are you out of your mind?!"

The Headmaster leaned back in his chair with a grin, clearly enjoying the absurdity of it all. "My school, my rules," he quipped, shrugging nonchalantly.

Before the woman could lash out again, the Headmaster added quickly, "He's a Voidborn."

The woman froze, her eyes widening in surprise. The sharp edge of her tone dulled, and she seemed to reconsider her anger. "Are you kidding me? Really? You found a Voidborn in a forest?"

The Headmaster chuckled, a bit too smugly. "I guess I really have an eye for these things." He pointed to his own eyes, as though he were making some grand joke. "You know, with my ability to appraise things and edit their properties..."

Rune and the woman both cringed at the same time, clearly repelled by the old man's joke.

The Headmaster cleared his throat, as if realizing the awkwardness. "Right, well, moving on. Find him a dorm. His parents are dead, and he has nowhere to stay."

The woman sighed deeply, but after a long pause, she nodded. "Alright, alright. But don't think you're off the hook, old man. I'm still not happy about this."

As she turned to leave, Rune stood quietly, still taking in his surroundings. He'd come from a village, not even knowing if he had a future, and now he was standing in a place that felt like a whole new world. It was overwhelming. But with all the noise, all the chaos, a part of him couldn't help but feel like he was finally starting to see a way forward—something bigger than the ruins of his past.