The mana ship finally touched down on the airdock.
The landing platform was enormous, large enough to accommodate several mana ships at once. Rune formations glowed beneath the vessel as its engines slowly powered down.
The doors opened.
"Everyone, stay together," Professor Spellworth ordered.
Rush stepped onto the boarding ramp. The professors and the student council members were ahead of him.
The first thing he noticed was the security.
Elven knights stood along both sides of the airdock. Their armor was elegant rather than bulky, made from polished metal covered in intricate green and silver runes. Every knight carried a weapon. Some had swords. Others carried spears or bows.
They weren't here for a show. They were watching.
Every arriving academy had been assigned an escort.
At the bottom of the ramp, an elf waited for Spellworth. He was tall and slender, with pointed ears, golden-blond hair, and bright green eyes. His uniform carried the crest of the Royal Academy of Elcaster.
"Professor Spellworth," the elf greeted.
Spellworth nodded.
"Thank you for receiving us."
"It is our pleasure. The Hexan Crucible welcomes the Royal Academy of Atherland."
The elf looked past him toward the students.
"Your accommodations have been prepared."
Rush glanced around. His eyes met someone's — a beautiful Elven knight with dark green eyes and black hair, armor finely attached to her body, a sword sheathed at her waist harness.
She stepped forward and greeted Rosetta by placing her hand near her chest and lowering her head.
"Princess, would you be coming to the palace?"
Rush now understood why the security was slightly more around their manaship.
Even though Rosetta was a Princess, she was aware of her role as the student council member for the Academy of Atherland.
She told the knight:
"I'm here for the Hexan Crucible. So I'll be staying where my team stays."
It impressed everyone. Professor Spellworth looked almost proud.
The atmosphere was unlike anything Rush had experienced before. This wasn't an Academy competition anymore. This was an international event.
And everyone would be watching.
***
Rush was escorted through the city toward the Colosseum along with the others.
Rush had expected the Royal Academy of Elcaster to house them. Instead, the organizers had prepared living quarters inside the enormous structure surrounding the Crucible arena.
The Colosseum itself was massive. It could approximately hold one hundred thousand people. Its outer walls rose high above the surrounding buildings, covered in ancient carvings and glowing runes. Several enormous towers surrounded the main arena, each connected by bridges.
The students were divided into different sections. Staff, including the student council members, had different areas. Every Academy had its own designated area.
"Your rooms are here," Alexis said. Their group stopped at the entrance to their section. "There are six rooms allocated to our team."
Rush looked inside. Three rooms were designated for the girls and three for the boys.
"Share the rooms as you like."
Slavic immediately smiled.
"Perfect. I'll be with Rush."
Ethan and Kurt took the second one. Richard took the final room. He simply walked toward it. Rush watched him disappear behind the door.
The change in Richard was still strange. Only a day ago, he had hated Rush. Now... he didn't know what Richard felt. Perhaps neither did Richard.
After settling into their rooms and freshening up, Rush returned to the common area.
Slavic was already waiting. He looked far too excited.
"Rush."
Rush immediately became suspicious.
"What?"
"We're going out."
Rush stared at him.
"We just arrived."
"Exactly."
Slavic pulled out a small notebook.
"I've already researched the city."
Rush looked at the pages. They were filled with handwritten notes.
"How long have you been doing this?"
"During the journey."
"You were supposed to be resting."
"I was resting."
"You were researching."
"Researching is relaxing."
Rush sighed. Before he could answer, Nia appeared behind them.
"I'm coming."
Slavic looked at her.
"Why?"
"Someone needs to make sure you don't get lost."
"I'm not going to get lost."
Nia looked at Rush.
"He's going to get lost."
Rush couldn't argue with that. Jennifer soon joined them as well.
"So we're exploring?"
Slavic raised his notebook proudly.
"I have an entire route planned."
Rush looked at the others. Then smiled slightly.
"Fine."
***
Elcaster's market district was unlike anything Rush had seen in Prasta.
The streets were crowded with elves of all ages, some in fine robes, others in practical traveling clothes. The hum of conversation was constant. Magical lights floated above the streets despite the daylight.
But what caught Rush's attention were the shops. It was said that Elcaster had the biggest market of magical items. Magic was everywhere — potions, artifacts, enchanted jewelry, runestones, magical tools, weapons. The quality was noticeably higher than what Rush had seen in most human markets.
Slavic practically dragged them from one shop to another.
"Look at this!"
He held up a small crystal.
"What does it do?"
The shopkeeper smiled.
"Enhances mana conductivity."
Slavic's eyes widened.
"How much?"
Rush continued walking.
"Don't buy it."
Slavic looked offended.
"Why?"
"You don't know what it does. And you don't need it."
"That's why I'm asking."
Rush sighed.
They continued deeper into the market. Eventually they reached a weapons shop. The display immediately caught Rush's attention.
Several shining swords were mounted against the wall. Each had intricate runes engraved across its blade. Some had small mana cores embedded near the hilt.
The shopkeeper noticed their interest.
"Fine craftsmanship," he said proudly. "Elven-made. Each sword contains a magical core carefully embedded within the steel."
Slavic leaned closer.
"Those are real?"
"Of course."
Rush looked at the swords. Beelzebub surfaced.
"Inefficient."
Rush paused, and thought.
What?
"Low level monster cores. The runic formations are functional. But the swords themselves are ordinary."
Rush looked again.
"They're fake?"
"Not entirely. But certainly not what the merchant claims."
The shopkeeper noticed Rush's expression.
"Perhaps you'd like to see our finest piece."
He disappeared into the back. A moment later, he returned carrying a sword inside a velvet-lined case. The blade was dark silver. Several intricate runes ran along its length.
"This," the shopkeeper announced proudly, "is made from Hartsteel."
Rush stared at it. Beelzebub was silent for a moment. Then— "Bringing a fake Hartsteel blade in front of a Ryanheart, how foolish."
Rush almost laughed. The shopkeeper smiled.
"Rare material. Very difficult to obtain."
Rush reached for one of his daggers. Nia's eyes immediately moved toward his hand.
"Rush..."
"I'm just checking something."
He drew his dagger. The shopkeeper's smile disappeared.
"Sir, please don't—"
Rush struck the displayed sword.
CRACK.
The supposed Hartsteel blade shattered. Fragments of ordinary metal scattered across the floor.
The shopkeeper froze. So did everyone else.
Slavic stared. Jennifer blinked. Nia simply looked at Rush.
Rush sheathed his dagger. He looked at the shopkeeper, then placed the dark silver blade on the counter.
"This is how real Hartsteel looks."
He tapped the hilt of his dagger. And then pointed at the shattered metal.
"And this is what it does."
The shopkeeper's face went pale.
Rush turned and walked away. Slavic hurried after him.
"You just broke a sword in an Elven shop."
"He lied."
"You still broke it."
"Yes."
"You didn't even hesitate."
Rush glanced at him.
"Would you have?"
Slavic thought about it.
"No."
Jennifer sighed. Nia's lips twitched slightly.
By the time they finished exploring the market, the sun had begun to descend. Slavic realized he was hungry. The day had been longer than he'd realized.
They found a nearby restaurant overlooking one of the city's rivers. The interior was elegant but lively. They found a table near the window.
Slavic immediately began discussing everything they had seen. "The artifact district tomorrow."
"No," Jennifer said.
"The arena."
"Maybe."
"The royal district."
"Definitely not."
Slavic frowned.
"You people have no sense of adventure."
Rush smiled faintly. Food and friends was always a good idea.
Then someone began walking toward their table from across the room. Rush noticed him before he reached them. Nia was aware of him as soon as he stood. Her eyes moved slightly.
"Ryanheart?" he said.
The word wasn't loud. But it was enough. The conversations around them slowly died.
Rush looked up. The broad-shouldered student was staring directly at him.
Whispers began spreading through the restaurant.
"Ryanheart?"
"Did he say Ryanheart?"
"From Atherland?"
Rush moved his eyes across the room to look at the faces of the people. There was surprise, an unknown fear. Nia's posture changed immediately. Jennifer noticed. Slavic stopped talking.
The student stepped closer. His eyes never left Rush.
"You're a Ryanheart?"
Rush slowly stood.
"Yes."
Silence.
The student studied him for several seconds. Then he smiled. His smile wasn't friendly exactly.
"My name is Lark Crystlis."
He placed a hand against his chest.
"I'm from the Kingdom of Lasterdome."