As I laid on the bed, I did my best to process what I had just seen in my vision. I had fully expected to be a weak mage, living for centuries as a counselor to the Esttons. However, it seemed I was not destined for a life behind a desk, but rather on a battlefield.

Even more than that, I would be as far from a weak mage as possible. In the future, I would become both an archmagi and the champion to the King Lyos. Reaching either position was incredibly rare, and as far as I knew, only a handful of people in our history had become both simultaneously.

More interestingly, I had reached both ranks by thirty at the oldest, which was a feat far beyond anything I had ever imagined. Becoming an archmagi so young was not impossible, but they were nearly exclusively nobility. Noble families were capable of providing the resources and education to strengthen their heirs far more than any commoner could match.

Being named champion on top of that meant that I was widely considered the most dangerous warrior in the Kingdom, powerful enough to be personally responsible for King Lyos’ safety. They were rarely named, as it was a title that was traditionally only given in times of crisis, and even then, were typically royalty. Of course, considering there would be an invasion with a few decades, the title may be warranted.

Letting out a breath I had not been aware I was holding, I considered what else I could recall from my visions. I mentally swore when I realized that I could only remember snippets from the rest of what I saw and heard. The mists had changed too fast to examine each closely, and the details were indistinct at best.

One vision showed a man commanding me to take only classes suited to a counselor in the Academy. That meant I would likely receive an order to continue on my current path as an advisor to the Esttons. However, another figure had taken me away from Duke Estton’s control, apparently to begin training as some kind of warrior. It seemed reasonable that the second voice had come from some point after the first voice, though it was impossible to be sure.

Judging by what I had seen and heard, at some point, someone would discover I was talented in magic, most likely to a high level. Then, I would enter training to become a powerful mage, most likely against Duke Estton’s wishes. He had invested a small fortune and ten years of planning, preparing me to become an advisor. I assumed he would be furious, though he would be smart enough to keep quiet about it.

My mind wandered back to the end of my vision. I had wielded incredible powers against foreigners who used strange abilities I never imagined and, judging by what I had seen, lost that battle. More than that, I had noted to King Lyos that I was dying and had just days left to live either way.

I knew that powerful mages died young, but I had never heard of a mage dying at only thirty. According to legends, Archmagi Torros, the Titan-Bane, had passed away at around sixty and was considered unmatched in raw power at his peak. Even though I knew I would grow incredibly powerful in that future, I still felt conflicted.

Children across Ferris grew up hearing legends of past glory. Becoming archmagi and champion was a dream come true for most people. What real mage would turn down a legacy as one of the greatest spellcasters in Ferren history? Even I couldn’t deny the appeal, as it meant I would be renowned across Ferris and allowed to stand beside even the King himself. I would become one of the most powerful and influential men on the continent.

Despite that, the look in my eyes as I massacred the invading army gave me pause. I had been so detached about it, so clinical that it sent shivers down my spine. I felt nausea just at the thought of killing a man. What had made me become a monster in human form, willing to kill thousands on one man’s order?

If I followed that route, I would be a weapon for King Leos, effectively an attack dog. My life would be a half-life, with any sense of genuine comfort or happiness sacrificed for duty to the crown. While I felt a sense of obligation to my home, I was unable to shake the feeling of dissatisfaction when I considered that potential future. It would be naive to think a country of Ferris’ size could exist peacefully, but the thought of committing mass murder still left a sour taste in my mouth.

The other path I could follow was the one already set before me for the past decade. I could do my best to hide my potential, suppress my growth, and become a counselor to Leon and Sophia as Duke Estton intended. It was a safe path, guaranteed to bring me wealth and prestige without the constant threat of an early death, becoming the champion for the King would bring.

If I did well enough, it was even possible my Lord would grant me a family name and land, allowing my children to become nobles in full. That would be the safe life, one that would bring satisfaction to me and grant me a comfortable life. However, as I thought about that life, there was now a noticeable twinge of resentment, knowing how far I could go as a mage.

It was easy to swallow my pride and accept my position as just a servant to the Esttons when I thought I would likely peak as an adept. Knowing I could become an archmagi left me a bit less sure to follow that particular route.

Maybe it was selfish, but part of me wanted to try for something more for myself. The real question was, what did I want? I was unsure what my life would be like in ten weeks, much less ten years.

If I wanted the time to make that choice, I would have to hide what I had seen in my visions, at least for now. Revealing how powerful I could become would almost assuredly breed resentment and jealousy, and would likely bring the eyes of the King’s spies onto me even sooner. I was still not sure what to do after that, but I could make that decision later.

Shaking my head in frustration, I sat up in the bed and rubbed my now throbbing temples. There were simply too many variables and unknowns at this point. I would need to be accepted into the Academy and learn what my training would entail before I could begin to plan my next course of action. And I needed more time simply to decide what exactly I wanted to strive for in the future.

With that in mind, it made no sense for me to keep sitting and stewing when it would accomplish nothing of use. I should head back to the inn and meet up with the rest of the Duke’s entourage. I had three weeks to fill until the Academy would officially begin its semester, though I knew I had a meeting with an advisor before that, to determine what classes I would be taking.

When I met with the advisor, I would have to dig for as much information as possible on what training to pursue. I knew the Duke would have expectations on what I should learn, but still, knowledge was power after all. Once I knew more about the Academy, I could develop a complete plan for the future.

Standing up, I picked up the vial that I had drank the Draught of Awakening from and slipped it into my pocket. The glass was almost empty, but I could spot a few glowing drops clinging to the sides. I had a few ideas about how to use these remnants in the future.

Walking across the room to the door, I opened it and stepped out into the hallway. The adept who guided me up here was gone, probably back to the desk downstairs, and I was alone as far as I could tell. That worked fine for me. I finished here, and there was no point in gossiping with the mage or anyone else for that matter.

Quickly moving along the hallway, I went down the stairs and headed towards the front door. As I approached, I heard the adept speaking in a friendly tone. Coming into view of the front door, I saw the man was talking with a young brown-haired girl. If I had to guess, she must be another applicant for Awakening, though her high-quality clothing and perfect posture told me she was a noble.

Both turned as I came within earshot, and the adept smiled at me. “Hey, welcome back! How do you feel?”

I shrugged noncommittally. “About the same, honestly, not really what I expected.”

The mage laughed loudly at that. I was betting my answer was pretty standard judging by his reaction.

“Yeah, you aren’t alone on that one. You won’t feel much different until you start training and learn to control mana. So, see anything good on the Astral Plane? I always love to hear the stories from new apprentices.”

His tone was friendly, and I doubted he had any ill-intent, but I knew it was too big a risk to reveal too much. Anything I told him had a chance of spreading to others, and at this point, it was best not to let on too much to anybody.

“I only had a few visions, unfortunately. It seems like I will be able to see the Azure Expanse soon, which I always hoped to do. And I will eventually meet King Lyos, likely in service to my lord.”

Nodding, he seemed satisfied with my answer. “Lucky you, it’s an amazing sight. It puts into perspective how small we are in the grand scheme of things. I got to meet the King myself once when he visited the Academy to inspect the students. That reminds me, when you get to the Academy, look for my cousin Simon. He will be in the same year as you and could use a friend or two.”

Before I could reply, the brunette girl cleared her throat quietly, and the adept blinked and turned back to her with an apologetic look.

“Sorry about that, Miss Esteed, let’s get you situated in a room. Take care, Vayne, and good luck at the Academy.” he said as he began walking towards the hallway with the girl in tow.

I moved to the side and let them pass. Then, I headed for the front door to the building and stepped out onto the street outside. It was already nearing sunset, and even though Volaris’ city watch was very good at minimizing crime, especially in the upper district where I was staying, I would still rather be inside before nightfall.

Moving down the cobblestone street, I walked in the direction of the main square where I would be spending the next three weeks. The group I had come with to Volaris had booked several rooms in The Bronze Barrel, one of the most popular location for travelers and a cut above most inns in the city.

Despite the orange glow of the sky, I walked somewhat slowly to allow myself time to consider my next move. I still had to deal with Duke Estton’s current advisor and my mentor, Girem. Girem was a decent enough man, but he put the needs of the Duke above all else and would sell me out in an instant if it meant helping the Esttons. There were rumors that he was the Duke’s illegitimate half-brother, which would go a long way to explain his loyalty to the family.

Unfortunately for me, he was also brilliant and would be able to detect a half-baked lie near instantly. While he was not a mage, he was an extremely shrewd man, and had spent most of his life advising one of the most powerful men outside of the capital. I would need to have a story already in mind to fool him, and it would need to be much better than what I told the mage.

As I walked, I began to hatch the beginnings of a story that may be enough to fool him. I was far from an expert at lying, but on occasion, I had needed to tell a bit of a fib to keep myself out of trouble. I knew the best lies should contain a bit of truth in them. I also knew that rehearsing my story was vital to ensure anything I said was consistent.

Luckily, the nature of the Awakening helped my case, and I could hide my lie behind the confusing nature of the Astral Plane. Most importantly, I would have to make sure that I avoided showing anything on my face to reveal I was lying.

With all those things in mind, I settled on my story just as I reached the inn. The Bronze Barrel was massive, able to house hundreds of patrons on any given night. Tonight, at the peak of trade season and right before the start of the Mage Academy semester, it would be full to bursting.

Taking a moment to recite my story one more time in my head, I made sure I had all the crucial details ready. Then, I put on a friendly but polite expression that I thought would be appropriate and walked into the bustling inn.