A heavy sigh escaped Solomon's lips. Standing in front of the massive gates of Ars, he couldn't help but feel more out of place than he ever had in his life.
Students his age rode in golden carriages drawn by gryphons and pegasi. Some strolled in flanked by servants and retainers, while others descended onto the campus using various magical contraptions. All of this only deepened Solomon's hesitation to take a single step inside.
"Ars..." he muttered, reading the golden letters etched at the top of the massive archway. Thanks to the gate's sheer scale, large enough for an adult dragon to walk through comfortably, the sign looming above was impossible to miss.
Ars was a name he had only ever heard in passing, a place he was certain he would never set foot in. Yet here he was, staring blankly at the sprawling, city-wide university.
' Now... where the hell do I start? ' He complained inwardly, his mind trying to process the overwhelming scale of it all. ' They didn't bother to assign me a guide? So much for being a 'unique' anomalous magic user. '
Extracting a torn scrap of paper from his black backpack, his eyes narrowed. "Couldn't they just... use a whole piece of paper?" he murmured, feeling like an afterthought.
Public Affairs -> Admissions -> Dormitories.
Written in blue ink, the minimalist instructions were the only guidance he had received. The more he stared at the meager directions he'd been given after being thrown into the largest institution in the world, the colder his mood became. It was incredibly inefficient.
He knew he could just ask around, but his recent interactions with the people of Katharos hadn't exactly gone well. He preferred to navigate this himself. Fortunately, his sharp eyes quickly spotted his first destination. The first major structure beyond the gates was a pristine marble building, its front entrance clearly marked: Student Reception and Public Affairs.
The moment he stepped inside, a quiet breath of admiration escaped him.
Holograms flashed from the ground, projecting scattered images around the main hall. If he weren't actively forcing himself to act like a poised noble rather than a starry-eyed country bumpkin, he would have wandered around to inspect the seamless blend of magical and scientific technology. But drawing attention was a tactical error he couldn't afford.
He wasn't in a rush. This was his reality now. Shifting his focus to the reception desks lining the north wall, Solomon quickly assessed the queue. Every line seemed to serve the same purpose, designed purely to go through the high volume of incoming Ars students as fast as possible. Calculating the optimal path, he joined the shortest line.
After several minutes of waiting, he stepped up to the desk. "Hello. I'm here for a special admission, authorized by the Tower Master," he stated evenly, keeping his tone flat and unbothered.
"The Tower Master? Do you have a letter?" the receptionist replied with practiced professionalism, though Solomon's sharp senses easily caught the heavy skepticism in her tone and posture.
"Yes. This should be it." He smoothly handed over the sealed envelope he had been given prior to his arrival.
Upon inspecting the seal, the receptionist—who had clearly thought he was wasting her time—bolted upright from her seat. "The Tower Master hasn't recommended anyone for admission since he assumed the position. My deepest apologies." She bowed her head respectfully.
"It's fine," Solomon replied coolly, offering a dismissive wave of his hand to maintain his aristocratic facade.
With the formalities out of the way, the receptionist stepped backward onto a circular platform built into the floor. Intricate mechanical gears lined its base, surrounding what appeared to be a magic circle at its center. In a flash of light, she vanished completely.
' What the...'
Solomon's internal composure cracked for a split second, though his face remained a blank mask.
' Did she just teleport? '
The thought poked at his burning curiosity, but he forced himself to stand perfectly still, waiting in silence until she reappeared just moments later.
"Student Solomon Weise?" she asked, reading from the fresh document in her hands.
"Yes," he replied curtly, suppressing his urge to ask questions. Though he maintained his cold demeanor, his eyes subtly darted between the receptionist and the teleportation pad behind her, actively analyzing it.
"Please double-check all the details on this document and correct any mistakes you find." She handed him a crisp sheet of paper filled with his personal information.
"Alright." He took it smoothly. In truth, he had absolutely no experience with formal academic documents. Thankfully, his background in negotiating contracts for his street performances gave him enough of an edge to scan the paperwork clinically.
Solomon Weise. 15 years of age. September 15, 777. Resident of the Magic Tower.
A small frown broke his composure. "Huh?"
"Is there something wrong?" the receptionist asked, tilting her head at his sudden vocal reaction.
"No, my mistake," Solomon replied, quickly smoothing his features into a polite, empty smile.
A resident of the Magic Tower? he thought to himself. That must be the old man's doing. He deduced it was a calculated move to give him a manufactured, highly respectable background, preventing a repeat of his disastrous encounter with the Chief of Recruitment.
After verifying the data, Solomon nodded and handed the paper back.
"No corrections to be made?" she asked.
"Everything is in order," he confirmed seamlessly.
"If that's so, please proceed to the Admissions Office. It's the building directly to the right of this one." She handed the finalized document back to him with a warm smile.
Smoother than expected, Solomon thought, immediately pivoting and heading toward his next destination.
Though similar in architecture, the Admissions Office was vastly more crowded than the reception hall. Solomon observed the room with wariness. Burly, massive warriors covered in scars and bulging muscles stood shoulder-to-shoulder with elegant, mysterious students exuding ethereal auras. Others sported mechanical armor and augmented body parts, mingling among regular-looking teenagers. They were all divided into multiple queues to finalize their enrollment.
Looking at the sheer variety of lethal individuals, a heavy pressure settled in Solomon's chest. Am I going to have to clash with these powerhouses eventually? Despite the rising anxiety, he clamped down on it. There was no turning back now. All he could do was observe, learn, and adapt.
After fifteen minutes of quiet observation in line, it was finally his turn. The staff member at the counter wordlessly extended a hand. Putting two and two together, Solomon smoothly handed over his verified document and waited with his usual guarded expression.
"Solomon Weise... Hmm." The woman paused, her eyes widening. "The Tower Master appointed you personally?" she blurted out, unable to hide her amazement.
Because of her volume, a dozen heads from the adjacent lines instantly snapped toward him, their eyes heavy with sudden, piercing curiosity. Realizing her blunder, the clerk snapped her mouth shut and began processing his paperwork at a frantic pace, desperately trying to undo the spotlight she had just thrown on him.
"As recommended by the provided letter, you are to study under the School of Magic, specifically the Sorcerer branch," she muttered quickly. "Please take this white name tag. It will serve as your identification for most of the school's facilities. Your name will be etched onto it once you arrive at your dormitory. But before that, please pin it on your clothes for now. You can read about all the rules and amenities Ars has to offer in this booklet. Thank you, next please!"
Solomon kept his face neutral, accepting the items with a curt nod before swiftly exiting the line, expertly dodging the lingering stares of the crowd.
Damn it, he cursed inwardly. The curious, almost predatory gazes of the combat-ready students were already analyzing him. He had wanted to read the booklet immediately to figure out his next move, but under these circumstances, escaping to the safety of the dormitories took absolute priority.