Frostrane was once considered the first bastion of refinement and learning for Magi in the north.

An ancient city reclaimed. The gateway to the Frozen Wastes.

The Adelais family were among the first to accompany the third king of Redenia, Vinyius, when he sought to resettle the harsh lands of the reaches and expand his domain. They progressed further than the others, venturing all the way to the eastern edge of Crosspar mountain range that shielded the north from the relentless battering of sea. And there, they found their chance.

After engaging in a long conflict with the Tundra Walkers that had crept in from the barren plains, the Adelais clan seized the ultimate prize — a blood-stained and weathered diamond. Frostrane.

With painstaking care, they restored the once glorious city and rapidly rose to prominence. While some envied their success, others flocked to their banner. Many Magi believed that there was some sort of inheritance from an era past hidden deep within the ruins, and they all hoped to acquire a taste of the family’s newfound knowledge.

Wealth and manpower willingly delivered themselves to the edge of the world and the Adelais clan seized upon it. The Tzalmere Sanctum was established and it swiftly became the largest hub for Magi in the reaches. Rumors of it even reached the inner courts of a few of the Empire’s border cities, spurring many to make a pilgrimage to Redenia’s crown jewel.

But as time passed, no profound secrets revealed themselves and the establishment of Arcaniums throughout the lands opened up new avenues of learning and progress. The brilliance of Frostrane dulled once more and the doors of the Sanctum were closed to outsiders.

Forgotten, they bided their time, waiting for the right moment to open themselves up to the world once more. And now, it appeared that time had arrived.

Large caravans of merchants and travelers intermingled with the ornate carriages streaming through Frostrane’s titanic rimesteel gates. The blueish-silver metal glistened brilliantly, reflecting the afternoon sunlight like a rippling pool of water, and the wondrous material covered every domed roof and every spiraling tower’s crown. It was as though the ice-laden city had been set ablaze in a sheet of white flames.

The fire licked upward toward the peak of the jagged, snow-capped mountain framing the scene as the city rose in ever-rising layers up its width.

Stroud took it all in, in awe of its artistry and repose. The city that burned obstinately in the frozen lands.

“It’s so beautiful, but…. there’s no life here.” Maeve let out a long sigh.

It took him a moment to understand what she meant. After all, the sleek, grey brick roads were flooded with streams of pedestrians going about their business. But it wasn’t the people she was referring to, it was the distinct lack of green. There were no gardens or parks, or even potted plants on the second-floor balconies of some of the larger homes. Frostrane was a wash of cold silver, white, and blue.

Something like that could indeed be off-putting to an apprentice like Maeve who was in tune with the elements closely related to nature.

“Will that be a detriment to your studies, Madam?” Stroud asked, keeping his tone light. He was in the process of unloading their bags from the carriage as Landon negotiated with an innkeeper nearby.

She shrugged, her eyes still roaming the rooftops. “My speed of gathering Nura will be hindered, but my father said it shouldn’t be hard to supplement the loss of efficiency with the abundant resources of the Arcanium.”

Humming his acknowledgment, Stroud hefted Maeve’s pack alongside his own onto his shoulders. It was no surprise that hers was the much heavier of the two.

While busying himself with that, he saw Landon tuck a few silver Mors into the hand of a grizzled old man and pass him the carriage’s reins before he walked back over. “I’ve booked myself a room for the night, so we can make our way to the Sanctum. Is there anything you’d like to see or buy before we head over, Maeve?”

“No… I’d rather get settled in first,” she replied while rubbing the fabric of her cloak between her fingers.

The steward nodded. “A wise choice.” He immediately led them up the wide and sloping main thoroughfare toward the inner district.

Stroud paid careful attention to the many shops and businesses that they passed. Peering through the foggy glass panes that revealed their wares. He would be in charge of procuring all of their basic needs and supplies during the course of Maeve’s studies, so it was in his best interest to familiarize himself with the various marketplaces as soon as possible.

As they proceeded deeper into the city, the roads tightened and the buildings rose higher, and soon, another set of formidable battlements loomed overhead. They passed through the heavily guarded portcullis rather easily after Landon flashed Maeve’s letter of admittance. But once they arrived in the inner city, it was as if they had suddenly entered a maze.

Stairs spiraled in every direction. Some precariously wound their way up to the top of the fortifications or different buildings, while others led to even more stairs or seemingly nowhere at all.

There appeared to be no order to any of it, and the city’s layout only grew more confusing as they progressed. Dark monoliths rose up from the ground with no particular coherence to their position — as did the winding towers; and the walkways between them became more convoluted as a result.

With Landon still in the lead, their group traveled up a curved ramp in order to cut through an alley, only to appear on an arched bridge that led them over a waterway flowing down the mountainside. Such circuitous routes seemed to be commonplace.

Even with a significantly improved memory, Stroud was having trouble keeping track of their whereabouts.

“You seem to know the city well, Sir Landon,” he remarked after a while, adjusting the bags on his back with a low grunt. Stroud had been impressed by his own endurance up to this point. Success to which he could only attribute to the Nura dispersion as most of his physical exercise had come to a halt before the trip. He was both elated and a little shocked by the discovery, but the technique really seemed to be yielding more benefits than he had thought. It was just a shame that the number of doses he had been able to purchase from Gau were so few...

“I’ve traveled here on a few occasions. The Sanctum used to host biennial gatherings off all the various circles of Magi in the Principality.” Landon’s reply was terse, but it sparked Maeve’s interest.

“Oh, that sounds fun! What would you do?”

The steward snorted, clearly displaying his disagreement as they rounded another corner. “It was supposed to be a chance for everyone to display the results of their research. Exhibiting new alchemical recipes or spell models… But it always devolved into a contest of egos and strength. Who had made a breakthrough or improved their cultivation the most… I can’t say I look back upon the events with any fondness.”

Probably because he never advanced much himself, Stroud mused internally. He’d come to realize that Landon was someone who carried a chip on his shoulder. After the Baron had advanced to the Second Order, the steward had grown increasingly disgruntled, verbally lashing out at the servants and the others working at the estate more often.

It was safe to say that no one was sad to see him returning to the capital in his current state.

“I see…” Maeve smiled forcefully, training her gaze over the outer district as they ascended to another level.

Landon’s response had sufficiently killed the burgeoning mood, so they could only travel in a tense silence the remainder of the way.

The long and winding walk through the city was still immensely straining for Stroud, but he managed to hold on until the end. His breath was short and ragged in the thin air and his knees felt like jelly when they arrived at the large plaza crowning Frostrane’s precipice. Now, only the upper third of the mountain loomed overhead.

They stood before its southern face which had been sheared into a smooth, even surface — like someone had taken a blade to the rock as if it were a pastry, seeking to split the peak down the middle.

Numerous alcoves and windows of varying size and length dotted the cliff’s outer veneer, and upon straining his eyes, Stroud could see a few curious faces gazing down at the gathering of Magi and apprentices below. The new entrants and their posses crowded around the Sanctum’s entrance, a few of the Arcanium’s representatives barring their path inside.

Magi were a group of people always eager to distinguish themselves, making them easy to pick out in a crowd. And it only became even more obvious when they were all grouped together like this.

The clash of colorful finery in the square almost gave Stroud a headache.

Gaudy robes were abundant. The women wore fur-trimmed mantles and adorned themselves with jewelry while the men casually displayed their fine leather gloves and pocket watches while glancing frequently at the time.

Practitioners of the Arcane also tended to have more vibrant natural appearances as well, Stroud noted. Brighter hair colors and eyes — that contrasted with their fair skin — were commonplace.

He and the other servants in their rugged gray and brown heavy clothes somehow stood out the most in the flock of peacocks.

But no one paid any mind to them, regardless, as they stood off to the side surrounded by luggage. Stroud joined up with his fellow companions as Maeve and Landon hung at the back of the procession waiting to complete their registration.

The line dwindled slowly, so Stroud turned his ears to pick up on the conversations buzzing through the crowd. But the wind refused to cooperate with his efforts. Howling around the peak, it tore the words out of any and all mouths before they had a chance to carry over. Instead, the heavy perfumes that many of the women wore swirled around the open space, filling the air with an overbearing, nauseating scent.

In the end, Stroud could only distract himself by turning his attention to the servants around him. Many of them were much older and predominantly male, clustered together in small groups of two or three. Initially, he wasn’t sure how many servants the apprentices would be able to have accompanying them, but the answer appeared to be plural.

Stroud knew that the Sanctum would have dedicated servants of its own. Though, judging by the impressive musculature and wary eyes of the surrounding men, they were more likely warriors than housekeepers or butlers.

The knot of worry in the back of his mind squirmed.

“Stroud! We’re checked in... Let’s go!” Maeve jogged over and caught his attention.

He spared one last glance over the bodyguards nearby, noting each of their appearances, before he picked up the bags and followed after Maeve. Behind them, there was still a steady stream of new arrivals trickling up to the plaza.

Landon was waiting for their return by the Sanctum’s massive arched entrance that led into the mountain peak. It stood nearly as tall as the city’s main gates, and was shrouded in deep shadows. Drawing closer, Stroud could see a few pale blue fires dangling inside lanterns within the wide corridor, illuminating the space in a ghastly light.

“Miss Marwood, Landon, it's good to see you both again.” A familiar face suddenly stepped out of the darkness.

“Ah, Sir Reeve! Well met!” Landon shook the older man’s hand with enthusiasm while Maeve bowed politely. “Don’t tell me you personally came out to greet us?”

Smiling wryly, Reeve glanced around. Stroud noted that the man appeared much more at ease here than he had at the Marwood household. More assured. “Would that be so much of a surprise?” he feigned hurt.

“Not at all.” Landon chuckled. “But I must admit that I took you for a man more devoted to his research than matters of exchanging pleasantries.”

Reeve laughed along with the steward, patting him on the back. “You’ve got me pinned, Landon. I’d stay cooped up in my lab all day if I could get away with it. Alas… we all have our duties. Though, I must admit: I’m excited for all new blood entering the Sanctum. The youth bring a lot of fresh ideas to the table which is something we’ve been sorely lacking over the years.”

Landon scoffed. “Be careful not to flatter these scions too much, Sir Reeve. They’ll quickly let it go to their heads.”

“Right…” Reeve chuckled awkwardly as he scratched his chin. “Well, as soon as the others I examined arrive, we can set off on our tour of the facilities…” The Magi’s beady eyes flickered around before they latched on to the sight of another apprentice, “Lord Ernhart! Over here!”

Stroud glanced over the approaching party, quickly sizing them up. Overall, they were the most subdued of any of the groups he’d seen. Wearing plain martial robes of muted shades of brown, the young man leading them lifted his arm and waved, revealing the healthy tan already warming his skin despite the time of year.

“I’m unfamiliar with the Ernhart’s,” he whispered to Maeve. The both of them were standing somewhat out of sight behind Landon.

She recoiled slightly at his words. “Really? The majority of the territory we passed through on the way here was their land…”

“Forgive my ignorance, Madam.”

“Well, I suppose it makes sense,” Maeve huffed out impatiently. “Their family has always been rather… secretive. Well, don't let their appearance fool you, Stroud. Earl Ernhart is widely considered to be the wealthiest man in the Principality — aside from Prince Ajax himself.”

Stroud nodded which was enough to satisfy Maeve.

They continued to whisper back and forth while Reeve took his time to mingle with the new arrivals. Accompanying the Ernhart heir, there looked to be two other boys and a single girl among his vassals that would be studying at the Arcanium. That was quite the number considering most other apprentices he’d seen were only accompanied by their servants.

“Maeve, I think it's about time I retired to the inn. I’m hoping to get a good rest before embarking to the capital.” Landon walked over and remarked stiffly. It hadn’t taken him long to grow impatient upon being ignored. “If you find yourself in need of anything, send Stroud to find me before the sun climbs over the walls in the morning.”

“All right. I wish you safe travels, Landon.” Maeve smiled weakly.

“Study hard, Miss… Don’t let down your father’s expectations.” The man flicked his eyes over Stroud and dragged him away from the group without waiting for Maeve’s reply.

"Stroud. The Baron allowed his gratitude to cloud his judgment, but I have not. I’ve seen what you’re up to. And I can assure you that Lady Adelais cares little for your talent. So, do not allow your personal desires to drag down the Marwood name. It’s time you accepted your condition and kept your head down. Even if you were to recover… People like you and me were never destined to rise above the clouds...”

“Safe travels, Landon. I can assure you I will do my best.” Stroud’s face remained a mask of indifference even as the steward frowned and tightened the grip on his shoulders.

Landon opened his mouth to say more, anger finally flashing across his eyes. But ultimately, the man decided against pursuing whatever thoughts he had. He simply turned around and left Stroud standing alone while he went back over to Reeve to bid the Magus farewell.

Inwardly, Stroud smiled as he watched Landon cross the plaza and disappear down the steps. Of course, a man like that would never achieve anything great. Someone who so heavily valued the perception of others would never make it far. After all, Ego is a very fragile thing...

***

Maeve breathed out a sigh of relief after Landon departed. He had embarrassed her with his words and actions today.

Unwillingly, memories of her early years with him resurfaced. Bright laughter ringing through the gardens as she chased him around... She used to love pestering him to show off his spells, to which he always happily obliged with a broad grin.

But that enthusiastic man was no more, and it saddened her to see. Her father was hurt by it as well, she knew. The steward had stuck by his side through the rough and sudden transition to leading the family after grandfather had passed. They were both young then — promising new Magi... Yet their paths had diverged so greatly. Each day they grew further apart.

She turned her head to the Sanctum’s entrance; excitement lightened her upper body, but somehow, her legs felt heavier than ever. After she stepped inside, who would she become? She knew who her family expected her to grow into, but Stroud’s questions the previous night had illuminated the unease lingering behind her heart.

What did she want to accomplish? Why did she want to study Arcana and strengthen herself if not to achieve ascension?

“...Madam. I think it’s time we regrouped with Sir Reeve. It appears as though everyone has arrived.”

Maeve’s heart fluttered nervously as Stroud’s soft voice caught her by surprise. She’d been finding he did that increasingly often these days. He hovered around so quietly, always hanging just outside the edges of her perception. And even as she cleared more of her Spirit Locus and developed her awareness — he somehow moved in accordance.

Once or twice on the trip to Frostrane, she’d sent out her meager spiritual perception as a joke to probe him, but it was like there was a stone wall perpetually surrounding his body, hiding his true self from view.

Although, he’d always been the most difficult person to get a read on for as long as she’d known him.

“R-Right…” she muttered. Then, her stomach abruptly dropped, dipping below even her Sea. She saw the final students Sir Reeve had been waiting on. The Berg twins.

Virgil and Sybil.

Maeve chastised herself for being so naive. If she had made it here, of course, they would have as well.

Of the few noble heirs in the reaches she’d met around her age, Sybil was the one she detested the most.

Virgil was much like her own brother — interested in only himself. But that made them easy to maneuver around. Stay out of their way and they would stay out of yours. Sybil however, very much liked to poke her nose into the affairs of others.

Fortunately, the silver-haired girl had yet to turn those icy blue eyes upon her. Maeve averted her gaze and approached the back of the group, hiding behind the Ernhart vassals.

“Wonderful!” Sir Reeve clapped. “Looks like all my charges have arrived safe and sound! I’d like to be the first to welcome you all to the Frostrane Arcanium, otherwise known as the Tzalmere Sanctum.”

All around them, instructors in their elegant sky blue robes were gathering the students they had examined and were performing the same spiel. They reminded her of the mother ducks that would sometimes lead their chicks into the back garden’s pond as they ferried everyone through the entryway in neat lines to show them around the Sanctum.

The teens following after the Magi looked around in hushed wonder and Maeve found her own budding anticipation growing as Reeve waved their group along.

“All right, so to begin — this is the Borean Tunnel.” The man spread his arms out wide as they passed below the grand arch. The wind whispered along the walls as they proceeded onward. “If you continue all the way through, you will eventually arrive at the Northeastern Gardens where we breed spiritual herbs used for alchemy. Not exactly the most original name, I know, but…”

Maeve slowly started tuning out their guide as he rambled on. She was interested in exploring everything the school had to offer, but couldn’t shake off the burning gaze she suddenly felt trained on the back of her neck.

Sybil. It hadn’t taken the girl long to pick her out after all. Maeve’s stomach tumbled over itself as she turned around and saw the Berg heir’s lips twisted up into a pleased grin.

“Greetings, Miss Berg. It’s been a while since we last met, but you look even more stunning now than in my memories.” She meant what she said, feeling her jealousy stir as she took in the other girl’s willowy figure.

Sybil’s perfect white teeth sparkled as her smile broadened. “I should say the same of you, Miss Marwood. What’s it been… two years since my second brother’s graduation celebration from our Arcanium in Magend?”

They walked side-by-side so as not to fall behind. “I believe so, though I must admit it feels like much longer ago.”

Maeve flinched as Sybil’s intense stare hardened. “Why to me… it feels like just yesterday. My brothers never allow me to forget the grace and beauty of Lady Marwood,” she drawled sarcastically.

That was quick, Mave lamented in her mind. She knew at least one of the eight Berg boys had requested her hand in marriage. Her father had managed to hold them off so far, but they were a persistent bunch. All the more reason she needed to sufficiently surpass Samm and inherit the title. Only then would she be able to decide her own future.

“I’m undeserving of their praise…”

“You think so too?” Sybil widened her eyes in mock surprise. “I tried to tell them that, but they just wouldn’t believe me…”

Maeve bit her lower lip. Don’t stoop to her level. She just needed to make it through the day, then do her best to avoid or ignore the girl.

Sybil waited expectantly for her response, but luckily, a loud call from Sir Reeve ahead demanded both their attention.

“Listen up! Because you’ll be coming to this junction frequently in the future…” They had reached the mid-point of the tunnel and were standing outside an opening in the wall, framed by glowing amber sconces. It led to staircases that branched both down into the mountain and up toward the peak. “From here, if you take the southern facing steps downward, you’ll arrive at the training and research facilities. We won’t be exploring them today, but do note down their location!”

The Magus paused to catch his breath before continuing, “The northern staircase leads to the upper halls. That is where all the instructors and other important staff reside. If you ever need to seek me or any of my colleagues out — that is where you can find us. Understood?”

After receiving a round of nods and mumbled acknowledgments, Reeve chaperoned them along toward the dining facilities.

Maeve glanced to her side, ready with a retort for Sybil that she had prepared in the meanwhile, but she found that Stroud had interceded between the two of them. The large packs on his back blocked the other girl from view.

“Servant! Step out of the way. I was having a conversation with your--" Sybil’s angry hiss was cut off as a sharp spiritual perception churned around Stroud. His eyes were almost lifeless, refusing to look anywhere but the blank cavern walls.

“H-How dare you—!”

This time, a lazy voice sounded over hers, “Would you shut up, Sis? I’m trying to pay attention.”

Maeve smiled, ducking her head to avoid notice. She never would have guessed that Virgil would be the one to suppress the situation. How she wished she could see Sybil’s face at this moment...

“...And this brings us to the end of our tour, for the time being.” Sir Reeve called for a halt at the entrance of a diverging tunnel. “The Headmistress desires to address our first batch of apprentices. Please proceed inside and find a seat. Her presentation will begin shortly.”

With that, the Magus hurried off, leaving them to funnel into the chamber.

Marchioness Adelais. She was scary, but the woman commanded respect and consideration everywhere she went. Maeve only wished that one day she could stand before others with the same confidence.