Departure

The gentle warmth of morning sunlight seeped through Kaelan's bedroom curtains, softly illuminating the quiet room. Kaelan sat at the edge of his bed, calmly holding a freshly delivered parchment sealed by the elegant wax emblem of Luminis Preparatory Junior Academy.

Just moments earlier, an academy messenger had politely knocked, delivering the formal confirmation of his special admission. Ethan's assurance during the awakening ceremony had made this expected, yet seeing the official document made the moment real.

Kaelan unfolded the letter once more, scanning its graceful script carefully:

"Dear Kaelan Elysian,

Following the confirmation of your exceptional S-level talent during your awakening ceremony, Luminis Preparatory Junior Academy is pleased to formally extend a special admission offer to you. Given your remarkable potential, the academy will provide full support, including minor protective measures for your immediate family. Welcome to Luminis—we look forward to nurturing your extraordinary abilities."

Folding the parchment carefully, Kaelan tucked it into his travel bag. This marked his first official recognition, though he privately acknowledged it reflected only a fraction of his true abilities.

A gentle knock drew his attention. Elena entered, smiling warmly yet with a touch of sadness in her eyes.

"So, it's truly official now," she said softly, noticing the parchment safely packed away.

Kaelan stood up, nodding gently. "Yes, the messenger just confirmed it."

Elena approached, tenderly smoothing his collar. Her expression carried pride and quiet melancholy, knowing this marked the beginning of her son's journey away from their home.

"Remember, Kaelan," she whispered affectionately, "no matter how far your journey takes you, home will always welcome you back."

"I won't forget, Mother," Kaelan reassured her gently. "You and Father will always be with me, no matter where I am."

Outside, Lorian waited patiently beside their modest carriage, watching quietly as Kaelan and Elena approached. When they reached him, he placed a firm, reassuring hand upon Kaelan's shoulder, his eyes steady and thoughtful.

"Remember, Kaelan, your talent might open doors, but your character and wisdom will keep them open. Stay humble, and stay strong."

Kaelan nodded respectfully, carefully absorbing his father's advice. "I understand, Father. I promise."

With brief yet heartfelt goodbyes exchanged, Kaelan climbed calmly into the carriage. As it moved gently forward, he took one last look at his parents standing quietly together, their expressions a blend of pride, confidence, and quiet longing.

The familiar scenery of the village slowly gave way to open fields and forests, a peaceful silence settling around him as the journey to Luminis began.

Since yesterday's awakening, Kaelan had sensed a profound transformation within himself. His affinity with mana, already exceptional, had grown exponentially sharper and clearer. Now, even the faintest presence of mana was vivid and responsive to his slightest intention.

Curiosity nudged him gently, prompting a quiet test. He raised his hand, effortlessly calling forth a thread of mana. Instantly, a brilliant strand of energy formed between his fingertips, precise and fluid beyond anything he'd achieved previously. Smiling softly, he let it dissipate naturally.

The hours passed calmly as Kaelan mentally prepared himself for the careful balancing act awaiting him: publicly, a talented yet believable newcomer; privately, already far surpassing the academy's expectations.

Eventually, the vibrant town of Luminis came into view. Streets bustled beneath floating rune-powered lamps, illuminating polished stone buildings that surpassed anything he'd seen back home. The sophistication of rune technology clearly indicated the vast resources and expertise of the academy and town.

Soon, the carriage gently halted before grand gates bearing the academy's elegant emblem:

Luminis Preparatory Junior Academy

Stepping down, Kaelan steadied himself with a calm breath. Students and families gathered around, buzzing with excitement and nerves. An authoritative woman approached him confidently, her robes clearly indicating academy faculty.

"You must be Kaelan Elysian," she greeted warmly. "I'm Instructor Althea. We received confirmation of your special admission this morning. Welcome to Luminis Preparatory Junior Academy."

Kaelan politely inclined his head. "Thank you, Instructor."

She smiled kindly. "Alongside your admission, the academy has arranged minor protective measures for your family. Rest assured, they'll remain safe throughout your studies here."

Kaelan exhaled softly in genuine relief. "I appreciate the academy's generosity."

Instructor Althea nodded approvingly. "Let's introduce you to your classmates."

He followed her calmly into the academy, carefully observing its meticulously maintained pathways and subtle yet advanced rune technology integrated into the architecture. Every aspect subtly hinted at the institution's prestige and commitment to nurturing exceptional talent.

Instructor Althea gathered a group of students in the central courtyard, announcing clearly, "Everyone, please welcome Kaelan Elysian, our special admission student with confirmed S-level talent."

The students' gazes turned toward Kaelan, curiosity mingling with admiration and interest. Kaelan offered a calm, polite smile, carefully balancing confidence with humility, aware of the expectations surrounding his admission.

Soon, Instructor Althea assigned dormitory rooms, granting students some time to settle. As Kaelan carefully unpacked in his quarters, a familiar voice and eager knock disrupted his solitude. Opening the door, he saw Liam, eyes alight with excitement.

"Kaelan! We're classmates now!" Liam beamed, barely containing his enthusiasm.

Kaelan chuckled warmly. "It's good to see you here, Liam. Having a friend nearby will be nice."

Liam laughed, slightly embarrassed. "Honestly, I barely made it in with my talent, but you're already famous around campus!"

Kaelan shook his head gently, amused. "We both have plenty of work ahead. Let's do our best together."

After Liam departed, evening quietly enveloped the academy. Alone in his room, Kaelan felt a renewed curiosity regarding his new capabilities post-awakening. Settling cross-legged, he carefully drew inward, sensing the vastly improved depth and responsiveness of his mana.

First, he tested the simplicity and ease of his control. Holding out a palm, he shaped mana into a perfect, glowing sphere hovering steadily above his hand. It responded flawlessly, as if an extension of his thoughts.

A subtle notification appeared clearly in his mind:

[New Skill Created!] Skill: Mana Orb (C+)

Encouraged, he extended his perception further, easily sensing the ambient mana around him. This heightened clarity was astonishing; he could even detect the faint mana signatures of students walking outside or the delicate hum of distant rune devices.

Another notification surfaced promptly:

[New Skill Created!] Skill: Enhanced Mana Perception (B-)

Feeling emboldened, he experimented further, recalling defensive structures from his previous life. Visualizing threads of mana woven into a dense, protective aura, he easily created an almost invisible barrier enveloping him.

[New Skill Created!] Skill: Mana Shroud (B)

Finally, Kaelan turned his attention to the rune-lamp near his bed. Extending his awareness, he gently fed mana into the runes, subtly amplifying their effect without altering their fundamental structure. The lamp's glow brightened softly in response.

[New Skill Created!] Skill: Rune Augmentation (B-)

With calm satisfaction, Kaelan ended his experiments. Effortlessly, he'd gained multiple new skills—an early testament to the immense potential now unlocked.

Lying down, Kaelan gazed thoughtfully at the faintly glowing rune lamp. His new skills were only the beginning. Ahead lay countless opportunities—rune-tech innovations, powerful spells, meaningful relationships, and deeper exploration of his newfound strength.

As he drifted to sleep, Kaelan felt quietly confident. Luminis Preparatory Academy marked a fresh chapter, one where he'd carefully balance the revelation of his public talent against the mastery of his private, extraordinary abilities.

His path to greatness had truly begun.