The Academy's Gates'

Luke and Luna arrived at the academy, their footsteps echoing in the grand hallway as they followed the directions to their respective dorms. After exchanging warm goodbyes, Luna headed off to find her room, leaving Luke to navigate the labyrinth of corridors on his own. He clutched the number plate labeled *Dorm 238* and eventually found the door. Taking a deep breath, he pushed it open and stepped inside.

The room was modest but tidy, with two beds, two desks, and a small window that let in the afternoon light. A boy with fiery red hair and bright brown eyes looked up from unpacking his belongings and greeted Luke with a wide smile. "Hi! You must be my roommate. Nice to meet you! My name's David Marga. I'll be your guide to everything about this academy. If you need anything, just let me know—I know almost everything there is to know about this place."

Luke returned the smile, though he felt a bit overwhelmed by David's enthusiasm. "Hi, I'm Luke. I'll be your roommate from now on. Please take care of me."

David's grin widened. "Of course, Luke! I'll make sure you settle in just fine. Let me tell you all about the academy." He launched into an animated explanation, his hands gesturing wildly as he spoke. Luke listened intently, though much of the information was familiar to him.

"First things first," David began, "this academy isn't a holiday resort. If you're caught sneaking out, the punishment is severe—trust me, you don't want to find out what that means. Also, the ranks here are divided by the color of your name card. Gray is for commoners, green is for the upper class, blue is for the children of duke families, and yellow is for the royal family. Oh, and classes start in three days. You can choose your main classes from a list that includes Magic Combat, Magic Theory, Sword Combat, Archery, Alchemy, Melee Combat, Magical Combat, Medicine, Blacksmithing, and Magical Engineering."

Luke nodded, though he couldn't help feeling a bit uneasy about David's talkative nature. *This is going to be an interesting year,* he thought, already wondering how he'd manage to live with someone so energetic.

Just as David was about to dive into another topic, a knock at the door interrupted him. "Come in!" David called, his voice cheerful.

The door opened, and Luna peeked inside. "Hey, Luke! I just wanted to check on you. How's your dorm?" she asked, her silver eyes sparkling with curiosity.

Luke smiled, relieved to see her. "It's good. This is David, my roommate. David, this is Luna."

David's eyes lit up. "Nice to meet you, Luna! Are you two friends?"

"We grew up together," Luna explained, stepping into the room. "We've been through a lot."

David nodded enthusiastically. "That's great! You'll love it here. The academy is full of opportunities. By the way, have you two decided which classes you're taking?"

Luke and Luna exchanged glances. "Not yet," Luke admitted. "We were just about to talk about it."

David clapped his hands together. "Perfect! Let me help you decide. Magic Combat is a must if you want to be a hero. Sword Combat is great too, but it's more physical. Oh, and Alchemy is fascinating if you're into potions and stuff."

Luna tilted her head, considering the options. "What about Magical Engineering? That sounds interesting."

David's eyes widened. "Oh, that's a tough one. It's all about creating magical devices and tools. Not many people take it, but if you're good at it, you could make a fortune."

Luke leaned against the desk, his mind racing. *If I'm going to protect Luna and change the future, I need to be strong. Magic Combat and Sword Combat sound like the best options.*

As David continued to explain the classes, Luna noticed Luke's distant expression. "Hey, are you okay?" she asked softly.

Luke snapped out of his thoughts and nodded. "Yeah, just thinking about which classes to take. What about you?"

Luna smiled. "I think I'll go for Magic Combat and Medicine. I want to be able to fight and heal."

David grinned. "Great choices! You two are going to do amazing here. Oh, and don't forget—tomorrow is the orientation. We'll get a tour of the academy and meet the professors."

Luke felt a mix of excitement and apprehension. *This is my chance to start over,* he thought. *But I can't forget what's at stake.*

As the conversation continued, Luna glanced at the wooden ring on Luke's finger. "You still have it," she said, her voice tinged with nostalgia.

Luke looked down at the ring and smiled. "Of course. It's important to me."

David raised an eyebrow. "What's that? A family heirloom?"

"Something like that," Luke replied, his tone cryptic.