Impossibility

The next morning, the gates of the Arcadium Sanctum stood before Josh and Kaen—massive towers of glowing white stone wrapped in golden runes. Arcs of magic energy moved through air-etched sigils above the entrance like electric rivers.

Students in long enchanted robes and armor of varying styles flooded the stone plaza. Some flew in on hover-crystals, others arrived through glowing teleportation gates. Floating orbs trailed above them, humming softly like loyal familiars.

Josh stared, awestruck. "This… is a school?"

Kaen grinned. "Wait till you see the classrooms."

---

They entered a high-domed hall filled with floating lights and giant scrolls that rotated midair with ancient spells inscribed on them. A grand chandelier of mana crystals hovered silently above.

Inside their classroom, Josh hesitated near the door while Kaen walked in and took a seat confidently.

The teacher, an old man with gray hair and lightning-shaped eyebrows, glanced at Josh.

"You must be the transfer," he said dryly. "Name?"

Josh cleared his throat. "Uh… My name's Josh. And I'm new here."

A few students chuckled. The teacher waved his hand. "Seat. Now."

Josh found his place next to Kaen. On his other side, a girl was already staring at him—intensely. Her eyes were sharp, curious, and unreadable. She had sleek black hair with streaks of violet and wore a blue-accented robe. Josh looked away, confused.

---

After class, they exited into the courtyard, and Josh noticed something strange.

Each student had a colored badge glowing faintly on their robes: Green. Yellow. Orange. Red. Purple. Blue. White.

He turned to Kaen. "What's up with the colors?"

Kaen smirked. "Badges represent our tier rankings. Here's how it works:

Green – Beginner, Rank 6

Yellow – Beginner Medium, Rank 5

Orange – Intermediate, Rank 4

Red – Intermediate Second, Rank 3

Purple – Advanced, Rank 2

Blue – Purely Advanced, Rank 1

White – Master of Magic. Rank S. We call them 'MOMs'."

Josh blinked. "And you're… green too?"

Kaen scratched his head. "Yeah. I've failed the rank exams more times than I can count. Super weak stats. Honestly, I only passed the entrance exam because of a glitch."

Josh smiled. "Well, good thing I'm here now. Let's go higher—together."

Kaen looked surprised… then nodded, his fist clenching in quiet determination.

---

Later, while heading back from spell theory class, Josh accidentally bumped into someone near the corridor arch.

It was her—the girl from earlier.

Their eyes met.

Josh stammered, "Oh—uh—sorry. I wasn't looking."

For a second, she didn't respond. Just stared again—long and unreadable.

But around them, whispers erupted. Seniors began to stop and watch. Magic orbs froze midair.

Kaen's face turned pale.

"No, no, no…" Kaen grabbed Josh by the arm and yanked him down a side hallway. "We are so dead."

Josh stumbled. "What? Why?"

"That girl…" Kaen whispered. "Her name's Seraphine. Her boyfriend is Rank 4. You get near her, you get destroyed. And he doesn't fight fair."

Josh blinked. "Wait, so I can't even say sorry now?"

"Not to her. Not to anyone in her league. This school runs on power—and we're the bottom feeders."

Josh sighed. "Great. I bump into one girl, and now I have a target on my back?"

Kaen clutched his heart. "Not a target. A glowing one."

Josh muttered, "Ugh… I already miss the forest.

As Josh and Kaen entered the class, Josh's eyes drifted to a pair of towering, ancient black doors slightly cracked open in the corridor. A small inscription above them read:

"Grand Archives – Restricted Access"

for rookies."

---

Inside the classroom, students were seated in rows beneath floating candles. On the stage-like platform stood Professor Ira, robes swaying, her silver hair tied into a tight braid.

"Today, you'll perform your first controlled spell—Ignis Spark, a basic flame incantation."

She twirled her wand with elegance and summoned a perfect stream of flame in the air. "Control. Focus. Intent. The key pillars of magic."

She turned to a confident student with an orange badge.

"Arlo."

He rose, raised his wand, whispered the chant, and produced a smooth arc of fire.

The class clapped.

"Kaen," Professor Ira called next.

Kaen flinched. "Me?"

He shot Josh a nervous glance. Josh gave him a thumbs-up.

Kaen stepped forward and raised his wand. He tried once. Nothing. Again—just sparks.

Snickers spread across the room.

Josh narrowed his eyes.

> System Whisper:

Flame Assist Protocol: Engage Kaen – Confirm?

Yes.

Josh lifted two fingers subtly toward Kaen.

WHOOSH!

Kaen's wand erupted with a ribbon of flame, shaped like a winged bird. The students gasped. Even the professor blinked.

"Well done," she said, confused.

Kaen turned, stunned. Josh just gave him a casual nod.

Then Professor Ira looked at Josh.

"Your turn,

Josh stood. But instead of reaching for a wand…

He simply raised his right hand.

Gasps filled the room.

"He's not using a wand?"

"Is that possible?"

Professor Ira narrowed her eyes. "Mr. Josh… Where is your conduit?"

Josh didn't answer. Instead, he whispered to the system:

> System: Fire Protocol

User Override: Bare Hands – Forbidden

Override accepted.

Initiating 1st-Level Flame…

Josh closed his eyes. The air around his fingers shimmered. Then—boom.

Flames ignited from his palm.

No chant. No wand. Just sheer will.

The fire twisted in his grip like it was alive, shaped into a small spinning orb that hovered gently above his hand.

The classroom went silent.

One girl dropped her pen. Kaen's jaw dropped.

Even Professor Ira took a step back.

"You…" she muttered. "That's… impossible."

Josh ended the flame by simply clenching his fist. The orb blinked out.

"Class… dismissed," Ira said slowly.

---

As students exited, a few looked back at Josh with wide eyes. Some in fear. Some in admiration. Some in envy.

Kaen turned to him, eyes wide. "You… You didn't use a wand. That's like… school legend-level magic."

Josh smiled slightly. "Guess I didn't get the memo."

Josh saw shelves lined with books on mystic powers and couldn't help but dive in. He pulled one after another, flipping through the pages with intense curiosity. He urged Kaen to join him, practically dragging him between aisles.

"Come on, you've got to read this one. It's about elemental convergence!"

Kaen groaned but eventually caved, and together they sat in a corner surrounded by open books. Josh became particularly fascinated with the Four Element Powers—Fire, Water, Air, and Earth—and their connection to personal core development.

As the day slipped away, the school bell rang, signaling closing time. Students hurried out, some boarding glowing hover-chariots, sleek floating carriages used by the wealthy.

Kaen, true to his ways, waved them off. "Let's walk," he said.

Josh didn't argue.

On their way home, they came across a disturbing scene: a Tier 2 student and his gang beating up a Tier 4 near the training yard.

Josh stepped forward, his fists clenching. "Hey!"

"No, no, no," Kaen grabbed his arm in panic. "Josh, don't. We'll get into serious trouble."

Josh's eyes burned. "They're hurting him."

Kaen pulled harder. "You don't understand. Arcadium—it's not the fairy tale academy it looks like. Some students use their powers to torment weaker ones. And then... there are the Alureers."

"The what?"

"They hunt students with weak magical cores. Drain their power. Sometimes... permanently. The school does nothing about it."

Josh said nothing, but the fire in his chest roared louder.

They finally reached Kaen's house, a spacious estate with glowing pillars and vines of mana-flowers trailing down its exterior walls. Kaen's mom greeted them warmly, pulling both boys into a hug.

"There you two are! Now go get your bath and be back here in thirty minutes for dinner."

"Yes, ma'am!" they chorused.

In the bathroom, Josh stood in front of a basin, forming flames in his hand.

Kaen leaned over. "How do you do that?"

Josh grinned. "Watch. Focus your core here—feel it move—and release through your palm."

Kaen tried, failed, then tried again. Eventually, a tiny flame sparked to life.

"I DID IT!"

"Finally," Josh chuckled.

After cleaning up, they joined Kaen's family for dinner. Still buzzing with excitement, Kaen used his flame to extra-cook his meat right at the table. His father raised a brow but said nothing, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

Josh watched with quiet satisfaction. Despite everything—school, threats, pain—this moment felt real. It felt safe.

And that meant everything.