Overgrown grass rose to Carmine's waist as she waded through. Weeds and dead leaves from years past crunched beneath her feet. Nature reclaimed the once-tended clearing. No surprise there, her former home's grounds sat abandoned for four years.

Gentle rain pittered on the charred remains of her house as mold and fungus grew through the cracked wood. The sight twisted Carmine's stomach in knots. She used to love that house. Her hands trembled only a second before clenching to fists.

It's alright, She calmed herself. No one lives there anymore...I am alright.

A few deep breaths calmed unwound the tight feeling in her gut. She focused on fond memories and pushed grim reality a little further away. Riding the horses with mother, going to the collecting statuettes with father, those moments would always be with her. Moving past her home, Carmine swore she could smell one of Mother's fresh baked chocolate muffins. Maybe Carmine would try making one herself if Vale's new school offered baking as a subject. If only magic could conjure such delights, Carmine would become a cook-o-mancer in an instant.

Her musings came to an end as she stopped before two short, rough standing stones.

Tombstones for Mother and Father.

Grass grew over the faint dirt recesses where the bodies had been interred. Dust and mud caked the stones as they sat lopsided, sunken into the mud.

Nicholos had come back during the weeks Vale treated Carmine's burns. He dug these graves all by himself, erected the stones, but couldn't tend them in the years that passed. He worried if some townsfolk knew someone was visiting the graves; they might get suspicious and come looking for her.

She could barely read Mother and Father's names through the gunk in the carved recesses. Carmine decided that today caution didn't matter.

Ancient words left Carmine's lips as she put a hand to the soil. Flowers budded and blossomed at the base of each stone. She then turned her attention to the stones themselves and with another spell she cleaned the muck from their faces. They deserved that much at least.

Her chores finished, Carmine sat on her knees in front of her Mother and Father...before correcting her posture like they'd tell her.

"Hi mum. Hey dad," she began. "It's been a little while, so sorry for the wait. You're both looking well. You're welcome." Carmine dusted off one of the tombstones with a smirk. "I've been studying. A lot. This school Vale is taking me to has some pretty big expectations. Nico and I have spent a whole year just getting ready for its admission test." Carmine let an anxious grimace rise to her face. "A test which happens to be...today...goody." She smiled with mock joy. "Guess you could say I'm a little nervous. Like...I know I'll pass it, I'm your daughter after all, I'm just worried what happens when I do...Reefcliff is a big city. Vale says it's a port town. I have no idea how I'm gonna live there. Rolderston was like Rieland, minus the scum. Gonna be farther from you as well, but..." Carmine frowned, her hands clenching her robe as anxiety loomed ahead, but she took another deep breath and tried to control it. "No, nevermind all that. Didn't come all this way to complain. What I want to say is...I'm okay. I'll be okay. So don't worry."

Carmine smiled, feeling a lump in her throat. She rose to her feet before she got too comfortable to leave. "I got you both something." She reached into her satchel and pulled out two small figurines. Each fit in the palm of her hand, just like the ones she used to have on her night table. "Since visiting will be harder, I'm making sure these two keep you company. For you dad," Carmine placed the statue of a horse riding knight on his tombstone, "And for you mum," on the other, she placed a statue of a sorceress, pointy hat and all. With a brief incantation, the bases of each statue fused to their respective tombstones, starting their eternal vigil. "I made them with magic, so someone might call it cheating, buuuut I won't say anything if you don't." She chuckled at her own joke for only a moment before the rain filled the silence. "Miss you both. I'll come back when I can." She put a hand to the stones, running her fingers across the names "Alan" and "Antora."

"I love you both very much."

With all that needed saying said, Carmine took her hands from the stones, turned her back with all her strength, and marched back towards the road.

Would they be proud of her? Or would they have wanted a different life? Carmine wished she knew. So little time they had, she couldn't remember ever hearing their wishes.

Before she realized it, she emerged from the brush, with two familiar faces staring back at her.

"Oh, good your back," Nicholos came over, already doting. "Did anyone see you? Did anyone-"

"No, Nico," Carmine answered, trying to push his embarrassing embrace off her. "Nothing happened. I didn't see anyone."

"Give her some space Nico," Vale came to the rescue. "Red's fine, you can see that."

"I don't hold the people around here in the highest regard," Nico grumbled back. He and Carmine shared a knowing stare. "You said you wanted to go alone, and I respect that. I worry, what can I say."

"It's fine," Carmine sighed. She didn't like Nicholos coming here alone either. "Doesn't seem like anyone goes up to my old house anyway."

"Hmm...good." Silence hung between them as each knew the other had no want to continue with that subject.

"If you two are done," Vale said, tapping her wrist. "It'd be best if we were on time for the opening ceremony. Getting fired on my first day would be funny if it weren't extremely distressing to our future."

"Oh! Can I do it!" Carmine looked to Nicholos, eager to show off another skill she's been practicing. Her excitement faded with a shake of his head.

"Best that I do," he answered, "You'll need all your strength for the test."

"And so we don't end up lost in some frozen wasteland," Vale added.

"Hey!" Carmine snapped "Now I know I've never done that."

"Ladies," Nicholos interrupted. His eyes shut tight with concentration. "Trying to focus."

Goosebumps crawled over Carmine's skin. She wanted to believe that it came from the magic Nico controlled, and not the nervousness locked in the back of her mind.

The snapping portal proved to be the key to set that all free again.

Salty wind wafted out from the portal, warmer than the air around them now. Sounds of a city at work soon followed as Carmine laid eyes on Reefcliff for the first time.

Dozens of voices, all chattered over each other about things drowned out in the discord. Squawking gulls hovered in the sky unafraid of the dozen bells all ringing in the coming ships. Carmine could see their masts sliding above the nearby rooftops. The portal itself had opened onto a wide road, with dozens of other groups walking forward towards its end; a tower, built of dark blue stones stretching tall into the clouds. The Laval Institute.

"M-maybe we should have visited before now," Carmine murmured.

"You know I offered to," Vale said, smugly shrugging as she stepped through the portal.. "But every time I offered it was 'Vale, I have to practice,' or 'Vale, today's a break day.' We're out of time, Red. Today's the day."

"Right...guess we'll just-"

"Off we go," Vale grabbed Carmine by the shoulders and pull her through the portal despite her whines of protest. Nico followed close behind and the portal snapped shut behind him.

No way back now.

Carmine froze in the middle of the road. She'd never seen so many people in one place, let alone mages. Everywhere she looked she saw another apprentice like herself. How many of them had come to study at the institute? Did that single tower really have room for them all?

Past the tower she saw the namesake of the city itself. Structures climbed the back of a massive cliff that curved northward, its edge sheared to a dead drop facing the sea. All along its green hued surface webbed stone crawled out from the water, up the cliffside side. To Carmine's eyes, it looked like a piece of land fell into the ocean, and what was left tried to cover the scar. She shook her head free of the sight before she sunk any more thought into it…and hid the fact she started to relate to a rock formation.

"Do we just go to the tower?" Carmine looked to Vale.

"Follow the crowd, Red," Vale replied, pulling her along. "Being late to the opening ceremony isn't the best first impression."

"Uh...Nico?"

"I'm here," her old mentor walked beside her. "You're going to do fine."

He knew her better than anyone. If he said she'd be alright, she'd be alright. Her shoulders felt a little less heavy as she took another step forward.. Sometimes a few words were all it took.

The mages gathered into a line outside the Laval gates. Looking ahead Carmine saw a portly man with a big mustache directing them all through. He wore an extravagant blue coat, the same colour as the tower, complete with frills and an ascot. When it came to their turn his eyes bulged wide in recognition.

"Ms. Verdania! So good to meet you," he bellowed, engulfing Vale's hand in his own, nearly shaking her whole body with his hearty handshake.

"Uh yes,” Vale threw on a smile , rearing back from the man’s forwardness. “Sorry, who might you be?

“Forgive me, forgive me.” The man pulled back, face flush with embarrassment. “I am Professor Robert Castadio, you may simply call me Robert if you wish. Once again, apologies for the overly excited greeting. We’ve not had a new addition to the faculty in half-a-decade. It's always interesting when someone new joins our ranks. I’m looking forward to learning your techniques blending Raelish and Vembrian medecine.”

Vale relaxed, nodding to the gateman, “Thank you. I look forward to working with you.” She gave Carmine a little nudge forward to bring them beside each other.

Oh no…Introductions.

“H-Hi,” Carmine raised a wavy hand. “I’m Farmine-” Shit! Carmine clamped shut, closing her hand into a fist as her face went red. Already she lost her tongue. Just never speak again. Problem solved.

Robert chuckled to himself, and patted Carmine’s shoulder. He looked at her, face gliding to a knowing grin without a hint of mockery. He didn’t even stare at her scar.

“I understand, believe me.” He said. “When I first enrolled so many years ago, I let my mother speak for me. I didn’t say a peep. Can you believe it, a big guy like me?” He chuckled to himself, his jolly demeanor easing Carmine’s embarrassment. “Now, come on, let’s hear it again.”

“I’m Carmine Felis,” She tried again, not letting a single word slip away this time. “Apprentice to Vale Verdania, and Nicholos the wise.”

“Nico the wise” Vale nudged her old friend, “Since when?”

“Hey I didn’t make her say it,” Nico replied, flicking Vale’s floppy ears. “But I'm not gonna tell her she’s wrong.”

“Wonderful to hear Ms. Carmine,” Robert gave her a proud nod and shook her hand much like Vale’s. “I look forward to teaching you what I know, and learning from you as well.”

What she could teach an instructor at an academic institute, Carmine had no idea, but already she thought this might not be as bad as she feared..

Professor Robert opened his coat, the inside black as a void compared to its blue exterior. As Carmine flinched back, he reached in, hand vanishing from sight until it emerged holding a necklace. A black cord with an effigy of the laval tower attached. A tiny ruby sat embedded into the tower’s center, shining in the daylight. Before Carmine could admire it fully, he held it out for her to take.

“That’s for me?” Carmine pointed at the trinket, surprised.

“Yes,” Robert nodded. “I thought you might prefer the ruby, but if you want, there’s amethyst, sapphire-”

“No, no, it’s fine,” Carmine took the necklace and put it on. “It's just really nice. You sure it's alright for me to have?”

“It’s yours now,” Professor Robert kept smiling. He turned Carmine towards the Laval courtyard, a square surrounded by beautiful gardens and brick walls, and guided her to one of the four quadrants where apprentices were distributed.

Strange, the person before Carmine was sent to a different part.

“This is where I leave you, for now,” Vale said. She rested her hands on her hip, flashing a confident smirk to Carmine. “You better show all these others that you had the best teachers in the land, got it.”

“Vale please,” Carmine feigned worry, “That’s guaranteed.”

"Of course, how could I even think otherwise?”

Vale went towards the front of the courtyard where other people, probably the other professors, all lined up. Carmine and Nico moved to the designated quadrant of the courtyard and stood among a group of fellow apprentices and their guardians. Mostly humans surrounded her, and well off ones at that, with their fancy dyed cloaks and their...beautifully carved staffs that Carmine definitely didn't want for herself. Nope. She didn't need one, and that's what she told herself. Mother's book will be enough.

Aside from the humans, she saw a few fauns around, and a person with feathery wings coiled around their waists, an Aerovan, followed by a gang of wolfish people hanging around the youngest of their number, probably the student. Vulfans…seems this academy attracts people from all walks, but during her searching Carmine noticed there were no other elves around, as guardians or students. And hopefully no one would notice her.

Carmine pulled her hood a little tighter. The last thing she wanted was to stick out. People who stuck out got stared at-

"Hi!" A cheerful, and entirely unrecognized voice yanked Carmine from her thoughts. She slowly turned back in front of her to see a boy her age staring at her with a big toothed grin. He wore a deep blue robe similar to professor Roberts' at the gate. The boy had a soft round face with dimples surrounding his smile. Eyes blue like the ocean never moved from Carmine's, and his black hair had been trimmed just above his eyes without a single stray strand.

Carmine jumped at this sudden social monster that had selected her as a target.

What kind of person just approaches strangers!? What did she say back? Should she say anything back? Maybe if she went quiet it would just get bored on moved on-

Carmine yelped as an icy chill touched her neck. She whipped around at Nico as he started chatting with one of the other older mages nearby, frost fading from his fingers. Traitor!

"My name's Emmet," the boy continued, apparently ignorant of the hundred panicked thoughts burning through Carmine's mind every second he spoke.

"I'm, uh, Carmine," She managed to introduce herself. "Hi?"

"So you are her!" He knew who she was!? "I heard we were getting a new professor, and she was bringing her student with her." Emett leaned a bit lower to look under Carmine's hood. "I've never met an elf before."

Why did he have to say that?

Of course, the moment he said that, about a half-dozen others within ear shot turned their way.

Carmine groaned, tugging her hood lower. The day had started so well too…

"Is it true you live for a thousand years? Or that you can read people's minds?"

"I...don't think so," Carmine shrugged, hoping he would lose interest. What rumors spread about elves here? Her mother may have been older than she looked, but a thousand years seemed a stretch. And reading minds? Who came up with that hogwash?

"Maybe we can learn together. I hope we'll be in the same classes, Carmine!"

"Right," she replied, her voice wavering. "guess we'll see."

"Students-to-be, your attention please." A lady wearing a silver embroidered blue robe stepped upon the stage before courtyard gates closed. Her gold hair blew in a soft wind, from the wrong direction of the actual wind blowing through town. Carmine sensed a strangeness to her face, it looked closer to a woman in their 40s but all wrinkles and lines had been erased. Piercing blue eyes looked over the crowd, passing over every face without lingering on anyone.

"Gotta go," Emett said as the speech began. "Good luck with the exam."

"Thank you?" Carmine called after, but the boy already scurried off. What a stranger.

"Every five years," the lady on stage continued, "the Laval Institute is glad to open its doors to a new generation of students. That time has come once again, for all of you. Our headmaster, Thomas Leval, my husband, would impart some words of wisdom."

The Lady stepped aside, clapping her hands. She gave a narrow glare to the crowd, one that expected every person to join in her applause, probably on pain of death.

Carmine and Nico both exchange concerned glances, slapping their hands together the obligatory one or two times.

Another man staggered up on stage, and already Carmine had begun to question if she was in the right place. She expected a wizened old man older than Nico, grey beard, held up by a staff. Instead, a man thick with muscle, likely four times the weight of the lady moved to center stage. He just wore a casual shirt and shorts bearing the Leval crest. This was the headmaster? The boss of the tower?

"Humble greetings out there folks," he began with a kindly wave as his voice boomed over the crowd. "I'm not gonna take up too much of your time, after all, it's gonna be a long day for everyone, no time distortions needed for that." He chuckled at his own bad joke. "Parents, guardians, I know it's not easy sending your kid off like this, but rest assured that the safety and well being of our students is our utmost and chief concern. They will be safe here under the protection of city guards, thank you for your service, and the brightest minds in sorcery in all of Vembris." A short applause moved through the crowd, even Nico legitimately joined in. "Now students, you've got a great journey ahead of you, with so many roads to choose from it's crazy! Good news is this school is here to help guide you to your path, and teach you what you need to walk it. You're all here having shown some level of aptitude with magic. Whether you're a beginner or an adept, there will be something for you here. But first, we like to gauge where you are on your path."

Carmine heard a quiet whine all around her. She looked left, right, and down to the necklace placed around her neck. Its gem glowed, brightening unseen runes carved into the metal pendant and chain.

"No doubt you've all heard rumors of a grueling, terrible entry test. Well...it's honestly a little exaggerated, but-"

"Dear," Lady Leval spoke up. "Timing."

Carmine heard the whine grow louder. Everyone else had started to finally take notice.

"Oh. Right. Well, uh, work hard, cooperate, and show us what you can do!"

A spell circle appeared at Carmine's feet, with her inside. Every other student wearing their necklace found themselves in the same trouble.

Alarmed, she turned to Nicholos, hoping he'd have an explanation as the circle brightened her vision white.

"You're more than ready," he said, his voice fading away. "Good luck Carmine."