The trip took the ferry a bit more than three hours. Nathan spent most of his time talking with Terran. To Nathan's regret, he didn't know much about magic, so they mostly talked about their past. Terran was enrolled in the Gilsbeck Magic School mainly because he had a decent talent and his father went there. He had more interest in chasing girls and going hunting in the domain of his family. His father was a low ranking noble, who owned a small town near the Mara river, allowing Terran to pretty much do whatever he wanted. That's, why he was laid back about nearly everything. He didn't feel the necessity to learn about magic before attending school. He argued, that he didn't want to make the teachers feel redundant. Even though both characters differed greatly, they became friends by the time the ferry arrived at the Gilsbeck harbor.

When Nathan and Terran left the ship, they were greeted by an unexpected sight. Instead of seeing an overcrowded harbor, it was empty, relative to Port Verago. The harbor was still lively, with quite a lot of laborers and soldiers doing their work, but they saw much fewer people than they expected. It was not, however, because the harbor was small or barely used. Nathan could see at least nine deep water docks, which were all occupied by large cargo ships. Before he could figure out what was going on, Terran excitedly nudged his shoulder.

“Hey. Look there. What's that?” He was pointing at a weird object close to them, that looked as if someone took an, at least 10 meters long, broad board, and attached a large cube at the front and back of it. Workers could be seen moving across the free space, between both cubes, fastening some ropes. Then, after one of the workers had revealed a red flag, it was lifted by an unseen force.

“It's moving! Look, it's moving!”

Nathan's eyes turned into slits. A familiar blue glow extended from below the object, as it rose into the air. Terrified he took a few steps back, his fear from the fateful evening resurging. Terran didn't see Nathan's movement. He stared fascinated at the flying vehicle.

“That must be one of the air-carriages, that my dad told me about!”

The carriage accelerated and flew towards one of the docks, where a large cargo-ship had anchored. As soon as it arrived, a crane moved crates from the ship to the free space on the carriage, and the workers fixed them to the vehicle. After observing this process for a while, letting thoughts about his revenge run wild, Nathan forced himself to think rationally. Just because there were mana circuits, that let objects fly, in Gilsbeck, it wasn't a proof, that the Moria Republic attacked his village. After he was recruited by the Gilsbeck Magic School, his father told him, that Moria is the foremost country on magical research. It was only reasonable, that they had access to this technology.

“Did you see, that there is nothing to power the crane? It must be done with magic too! I've never known, that magic could be used in this way. I always thought my dad only told fantastical stories to get me interested in magic. No wonder there are so few people here, they need far fewer laborers to do the same job.”

“What, do you feel the urge to learn magic now?” Nathan calmed his nerves by mocking Terran. At any other time, he would have been eager to see new magic tools and probably tried everything to look at their circuits, but after being reminded of his village, he was to downcast for it.

“Well, maybe it would be a good idea to become a magical engineer. Just think about all the girls you could get back home if you flew one of those things!”

Nathan rolled with his eyes. In a bad mood, he asked Terran.

“Anyways, do you know where we have to go?”

“There should be a building, belonging to the magic school, somewhere in the harbor area.”

Nathan nodded and walked towards a cluster of large buildings.

“Then help me look for it, it will be dark in a few hours.”

“Eh, why are you such a killjoy now?” Terran complained but still went with Nathan.

Searching the harbor, they tried to find anything, that would hint towards a magic school. On nearly every corner a new magic tool greeted them. Street lanterns made with illumination orbs, a large fountain, that used magic to accumulate water from the air, or the one time they saw a warehouse with thick iron gates, that opened by bending the iron. It was completely different from Port Verago, so much that Nathan started to believe, that his country was the most remote and backward place on the continent. After the searched nearly the whole harbor, he finally caught a glimpse of a large building with ornaments, depicting books and mana circuits.

“There, “ Nathan showed Terran the building, “that must be it.”

The interior of the building made an even more academical impression than its exterior. Dozens of bookshelves lined up at the walls and several tables and benches were scattered throughout the hall. Many of them were occupied by people, reading books or eagerly discussing something.

Terran murmured to Nathan, “Are you sure, that this isn't a library?”

“How would I know, I just thought this building looks like it's related to magic.” Nathan answered quietly.

“And you were right in that assumption, young man.” Startled they turned around. A man with deep wrinkles in his face and thin, white hair, in a blue robe, stood behind them.

“Who may the young men be, if I am allowed to ask?”

“I'm Nathan, Sir.”

“And I am Terran Golsim.”

“Welcome to the local branch of Gilsbeck's Magic School, my young friends. Am I right in the assumption, that you are here, to join our esteemed school?”

They nodded.

“Splendid.” The old man smiled brightly. “Let me guide you to the other students that arrived today.” He turned around and began to stride slowly through the hall. Nathan and Terran looked at each other and followed him. With his drawn-out way to talk, he introduced himself.

“My name is Magister Harno. I am the head of this facility. Here, all people who are interested in magic can read about its fundamentals and history. I am sure, that you are well aware, that the Gilsbeck Magic School is one of the leading institutions in the research of magic theory and practical applications. Just last year we found a new way to combine vibration and micro-confinement patterns, that increase the efficiency of high-temperature forge circuits by at least five percent.” He turned his head and looked expectantly at the two teenagers. Realizing what he was waiting for, Terran showed a look of astonishment. As for Nathan, he was so engaged in listening to Magister Harno, that he forgot to close his mouth. Satisfied Harno faced forward again.

“Every year our students finish at least in the top three in the annual academics ranking. You can be very proud to be able to attend our school.” The Magister stepped in front of a picture, placed on the wall between two bookshelves. It showed an old, strict looking, woman, in the formal blue magician robes.

”In the year 2754, that was exactly 309 years ago, our vice-dean, Margareth Fulmidar, astonished the world, when she invented a sustainable levitation spell. Her discovery shattered the old paradigms of magical combat, and lead to a new golden age of magic.” He continued towards the next portrait between the shelves. There, a grumpy looking, red-haired man was depicted.

“His Excellency Sir Frederik Firebeard. Not only was he a prince of the former Slid Kingdom, no, he also was a gifted scholar. He combined acceleration, deceleration, and water condensation patterns ingeniously and created the very first ice-shard tornado spell.”

Nathan was baffled. “He was using frost spells?”

“Oh yes. Many of his opponents were reported to have had asked the exact same question during their battles.”

Once again he strode towards the next image. Over half an hour, Nathan and Terran listened to the stories of 21 Gilsbeck alumni, until they finally arrived at an open door in the back of the hall.

“I'm sorry my young friends, but we have arrived. Please wait in the room to the right. Magister Kennen will arrive soon and lead you to the school grounds. Feel free to come here in your spare time, there are so many valuable and interesting stories to be told. Farewell young students.” Harno bowed his head slightly to both of them. They quickly answered in kind. After he was gone, Terran had a wide grin in his face.

“What an odd guy, does everyone has to listen to his history lessons when they arrive?”

Nathan responded, “It was interesting, though. I didn't know any of this. Isn't it weird, that levitation was available 300 years ago and they weren't able to craft magic tools using it until recently?”

“Alright, you're an odd guy too.”

They entered the mentioned room. It was yet another place filled with bookshelves and reading tables, however, it was far smaller than the main hall. A handful of teenager was in the room, some sitting over books, a small group that chatted with each other, and a single one that sat in a corner, sleeping. Many of them were looking in anticipation towards the door when Nathan and Terran appeared. But their expressions soon changed into disappointment, when they only saw two teenagers in the door.

Terran remarked nonchalantly, “Guess they were hoping for someone else.” Then he dragged Nathan towards the chatting students.

“Hi, guys. My name is Terran, and this is Nathan. I suppose you're also new students of the magic school?"

A girl with short, black hair took the initiative to answer. “Of course. I'm Erenia, just call me Rina.”

Without waiting for the others to answer, she immediately interrogated Terran.

“Where do you guys come from?” She stared at Nathan. “Blonde hair, blue eyes, you're from the western kingdoms, right?”

Nathan nodded.

Her eyes wandered back to Terran.

“But you aren't”

“Why would I not

be from there? It's not like every westerner is blonde.”

“Oh. Not? Mh, then Mandy lied to me, that bit... that's a bit regrettable. ”Without pause, she kept questioning.

“How did you join? Did you apply? Were you recruited? Did you pay?”

“Doesn't really matter.” Nathan didn't feel like talking about it, still somewhat disgruntled, but Erenia was persistent.

“So you bought your way in here? Don't worry, as long as you can control at least some mana, you will be fine.”

Annoyed Nathan retorted, “I'm more than good enough for the school, thanks for your concern.”

“Oh, c’mon, don't play the tough guy, it's just a question.”

“You're a nuisance.” He turned around. “Come Terran, let's look around, maybe we'll find something interesting.” Terran just shrugged his shoulders, greeted the other students in the group with a nod and followed Nathan.

“Pfft. Didn't your parents teach you that a lady should be treated with respect?” Erenia pouted.

Without facing her, Nathan answered loudly, “My parents thought me, that respect has to be earned.”

“Well said, young man.” A strong voice reverberated through the room. Everyone looked towards its source. The huge frame of a man, that just arrived, blocked the view into the main hall. His blue magician robe was bulging visibly, making it look like a tight shirt, that covered a muscular upper body. His youthful face was betrayed by his bald head and a long, gray beard that reached down to his hips.

“I'm Magus Kennen, my little students.” He threw a glance at every teenager present.

“I'm a teacher and overseer at the Gilsbeck Magic School. If anyone of you has an interest in magic enhanced martial arts, then remember my name when you chose your lectures. ”After shamelessly promoting himself, he prompted the students to come together.

“I will lead you to our main facilities now. There will be a small welcome ceremony for all new students later this week. Make sure to attend. They will talk about the general rules, and you receive a handout with the possible lectures you can choose from. So it's rather important if you're serious about studying here.”

He once again looked at every student.

“Any questions so far? No? Great! I'll wait for no more than five minutes at the front door. Roll out!”

He deliberately ignored the two students who raised their hands and immediately went back into the main hall. Nathan could barely suppress his laughter, when he saw the look on Erenia's face, with her still raised hand. Blood shot to her head.

“What are you laughing at, assh... are you making weird assumptions?” She secretly glanced around to see how the other students reacted to her cover-up. When she saw, that nobody paid attention, she sighed in relief.

The group of students packed their belongings and followed Magister Kennen outside. Right next to the building stood a ten meters long, a sleek cylinder with a slanted front. Mana circuits covered the lower body, barely visible on the white surface. The teenagers were astonished. Nathan whispered excitedly to Terran.

“How much do you want to bet, that this is an air carrier similar to those at the harbor?”

“No need to bet, it's pretty obvious. But it looks way cooler!”

Magister Kennen proudly slapped the vehicle.

“This, my little students, is our school's very own air shuttle.”

“It can rise to five meters in the air and has a maximum speed on par with the fastest horses. It's the newest creation of our magical engineering faculty.”

A teenager from the back interrupted his presentation.

“Magister Kennen, why is it that you have all these advanced magic tools here and I've barely seen any in my home kingdom? Even if Moria is the center of magic research, there shouldn't be such an enormous difference.”

Kennen was slightly embarrassed and brushed over his hairless head.

“Well, basically, our Republic buys all the mana ore and essence it can get and heavily subsides magic research and engineering. Even if the other countries had the knowledge, they probably wouldn't have the resources for it. But I don't know any details, I'm not into economy or politics. For that, you will have to refer to Magister Einrich.”

“Anyways.” He infused a small circuit, at the side of the air shuttle, with mana from a ring on his finger. Slowly three doors slid open, revealing rows of benches, covered in soft leather, on the inside.

“Take a seat. This will be our ride for the next 20 minutes.”