The owl was incredibly soft as Max felt himself sink into its feathers. But nervousness racked his mind despite his comfort. Max turned and looked at his Grandfather one last time before feeling the owl beneath him begin its journey. He gave a small wave and like that he was gone. He soared through the skies at a speed that could only be described as incredible but despite the speeds, he still felt as if he was sitting in a comfortable feather cushion.

'Iko... are you there?' Max asked as a little bit of fear spiked through him.

'Yes master, how may I help you?' Said a startled Iko who seemed to be in the middle of something as he interrupted.

'It's nothing if you were busy. Sorry for asking.' Max replied before going back to his sad and frightened stare at the surroundings. The ground seemed to only be getting further away at this point and he didn't know how long the journey would take.

'No, it is a fine master. I was merely peering through your memories trying to collect all the data and organize it but I have come across some strange instances within them.'

'Hmm... How so?' Max asked interested in a distraction from his current thoughts.

'It is just that there are blank spots everywhere. It's like a net, filled with holes yet still able to hold the majority of its catch.' Iko said in his mind with distaste.

'Holy shit! It might be working. Are my memories hidden? The ones from my previous life?' Max thought to himself before realizing Iko may be able to listen in.

'Master... More blank spots are appearing right this moment! Are you okay?!' Iko asked in alarm.

'Perfectly fine Iko.' Max replied before celebrating inwardly.

'This means that even if someone were to rip his mind open and peer within it they would find nothing... At least my real secret is free though maybe someday I will share it with my family... Hmm.'

'...Master, is there anything you want me to do? I am getting quite bored organizing memories. I know it's important and all but don't you think there could be something more productive?'

Max furrowed his brow as his mind had become truly preoccupated. It was a good feeling to not think about being away from family though he guessed it wouldn't be for long since he would be able to see Saph and Rube here soon.

'I suppose so. Is there any way you could figure out a good layout for my spatial storage? It seems a little tedious to plan everything out and you have my memories so you should know what I need...' Max thought with a hint of anticipation in his mind.

In response to his question, he got a more animated reply than he expected.

'Sure! Interior decoration is something we are not good at but it beats organizing memories any day.' She thought before beginning to ramble a bunch of questions to Max regarding the types of rooms he would prefer and how big he would want various rooms in. It was quite fun to plan something out with someone who seemed so enthusiastic about it.

After nearly 4 hours of riding in the sky, Max had grown tired and felt like he was on the verge of falling asleep before a shape slowly manifested in the clouds below him.

It was a peak of sorts. Similar to a mountain peak. Something was entrancing about it though. It captivated Max's view as he became alert.

'What was that?' Max thought as the peak sailed past them through the clouds.

Max quickly turned around to look at his surroundings to only find white mist and clouds surrounding him.

"Where are we?" Max muttered out loud to which the bird he was riding softly cooed in response.

And it was at the very next moment that Max lost his sense of sight. It was only for a moment but it was truly terrifying. Infinite darkness all around him. When you couldn't even see your hands. But in the very next moment, the darkness had gone and the sight in front of him was truly breathtaking.

They seemed to be in some sort of encirclement of mountains that were towering high into the sky. But strangely enough, he couldn't see the bottom of the mountains, and instead, their grandeur beauty ended in clouds and swirling mist.

But that wasn't what was truly beautiful about this mountain circle. What was beautiful was the towering islands that stayed floating in the air the encirclement of mountains. There were five islands in total, all chained to the surrounding mountains with heavy black steel iron.

'What is this material? It's like nothing I have seen before...' Max thought as he got closer to one of the gigantic chains. They were getting closer to the cloud-like islands. They were getting closer to Skyland and in turn Trink's School.

The islands were made out of a stone blue material that pulses with glowing veins of clouds within them, almost as if mashed together.

'Where is the cold? We are so high up but... it's as comfortable as a summer day.' Max thought to himself as they climbed higher and higher into the air. The owl didn't even seem bothered by the increase in altitude and neither did Max for that matter.

After flying higher Max could finally see what was atop these flying islands and it was a sight to behold. 5 massive towers stood separated by their respective islands and each glowed with unique magic. Four of the towers were on the outskirts of the center island and were spaced out equally among the space. The one in the center, however... was truly a sight to behold.

It stood at about a thousand feet in the air and held a strong air of dominance over the other towers that seemed like children in comparison.

"This is a little much..." Max muttered to which the owl cooed in satisfaction.

After rising further into the air Max began spotting things in the distant sky. More flying creatures circling the main tower. Almost as if preparing to land.

'More new students? But why all at once?' Max thought to himself as he saw his owl begin to follow the encirclement, matching pace with the other birds.

'You read once that people tend to awaken at the same time every year. While only in rare instances do people awaken outside of the time frame. Most people awaken at the beginning of the new year Master.' Iko said while still planning the interior of the envelope.

"Ah, that would make sense then," Max said out loud before realizing that a giant hawk next to him was following oddly close to him and with it, its rider.

"What would make sense?!" A boy who looked to be around ten yelled at him from the hawk back.

"Oh, I meant that everyone is here at the same time!" Max shouted back.

"Oh yeah! Why is that?!" He shouted.

And then started the shouting contest between two 10-year-olds that would last a solid 5 minutes before the birds started to fly down.

After the birds started to make their descent the sound began to quiet down and the two boys began to have a much normal conversation albeit a little bit out of breath and with their throats a tad bit sore.

"My name is Justin. Justin Nerlin." The boy who seemed to be around his height said with a grin on his face. He reached out with his arm in an attempt to get a handshake though he ended up overreaching and falling off the bird that was nearing the ground.

"AAHHH!" He shouted as he fell about 30 feet downwards towards his doom. Or at least you would think so. But instead of a splatter of Justin's body on the ground, he was instead met with a view of wonder.

Max stared down at Justin's body nearing the ground and noticed a wave of azure energy wash past him picking him up off his feet and letting him hover in the air like flight. Though this flight did not last long it was still not something to scoff at.

A smile beamed across both the youth's faces at the show of magic and was startled by it before Justin promptly fell from the air onto the ground, landing flat on his face.

Justin groaned from the fall and stood up groggily after a few moments. His uniform was crumpled and torn at most parts as he had fallen on rough gravel in a very 'Non-Friendly' manner.

'That must of hurt' Max thought to himself to which he heard the faint echo of Iko's laughter in the corner of his mind.

After reaching the ground Max quickly hopped off the owl and ran to aid Justin.

"Are you okay man?" He asked hurriedly as he began to examine Justin's body.

He was a rather strong individual who was well built. He had sandy blonde hair that seemed rather be rather unkempt, even though he had just fallen flat on his face of course. His facial features were rather soft with some baby fat rounding his otherwise strongly shaped face.

Other than a few scratches on his arms and face though, he didn't seem to have any injuries.

'One of the few kids I have ever met in my life and they immediately get hurt. What the hell...' Max thought to himself as he patted Justin on the back and looked around to see who cast the magic that saved his schoolmate's life.

But after thoroughly scanning the gravel field they landed at he could only see massive birds landing on the ground. A few teachers seemed to be running back and forth between newly landed children to usher them towards the small path that exited through the clearing they were in. Outside the gravel, the field was just eery shadows and trees. It left much to be imagined. Max gulped slightly as he looked into the forest to see two glowing blue eyes staring intently at him. But when he tried to look at it closer they had seemingly disappeared.

'A strange place filled with strange coincidences...'

"Ugh... the first day at school and I already got myself hurt again. Any way the names Justin. It's nice to meet you." Justin said while holding out his hand albeit a little shakier than before.

Max gladly accepted it while making sure that his hand was on top of his hand instead of underneath.

'Hmm... Perhaps all those habits nailed into me by Sir Leon aren't always that good' Max observed as Justin gave him a strange look.

"You get hurt often?" Max inquired.

"All the time. Just seems to run in the Nerlin family." He said with seemingly... pride?

"Alright, you too. Off to the starlit path. It's time for orientation." A man said while approaching Justin and Max. He wore clothes akin to that of the children but seemed to have more leeway since instead of an over vest he had a long coat that trailed across the ground behind him.

He seemed to be fairly tall standing at about 5 foot 10 inches though not overly tall. He had a long and crooked nose that had a pair of silver-framed glasses atop of them. A combed over a black wad of hair covered his head and his hands swayed to either side strangely like one of them kept straying towards his waist while the other one seemed far more natural.

"Alright, Sir," Max said calmly as he and Justin started making their way towards the narrow path that exited the gravel field. Justin and Max made small talk as they made their way across the path that seemed to be covered in rocks that lit up when you stepped on them and looked like a pathway of stars.

Many children were in front and behind them as it seemed to be a fairly large year of students.

"You play any sports, Max?" Justin asked with a serious expression.

"No, not really, though I do exercise frequently. My teacher sort of requires us to." Max replied with a raised brow.

"Ah, that's too bad. We would have made great friends if you were to play sports." Justin said with a sigh.

'What?!' Max thought in his head as he stared at the first kid he had ever connected with since being here on Arcane.

"Now we will only be good friends," Justin said as a smile broke out on his face.

"No need to be so tense friend. It was only a joke."

"Oh yeah, the names Max by the way. Maxwell Blacklo-well. Blackwell." Max said, barely managing to catch his mistake.

Justin nodded and began to speak.

"Well met Max. Glad to have met you first. I have heard there can be a lot of pretentious pricks at the school. A lot of 'nobles' and the such"

Max let a short breath of relief.

'Seems like there would have been some downsides to going by my noble name anyway.'

After some more walking however they managed to get to what seemed to be some sort of arch of sorts. It was made out of granite and stood 20 feet in the air with slow orbiting marble orbs wrapped around its top.

The students seemed to have stopped at the arch and after making their way to the front Max and Justin saw why.

The same man from before. The teacher with the crooked nose and glasses stood in front of the gate with a pen and a large notebook filled with tight nit writing.

"Alright, everyone. Please state your name and your supposed affinities and such. The arch, also known as The Arch of Dragoon, is a tool that can test those who go under it and determine their relative ability. Rather useful for a magic school am I right?" He said with a grin as he raised his eyebrows sporadically at the children who looked at him with slightly puzzled looks.

He stopped his strange eyebrow dance shortly after with a disgruntled look and waved the first of the students forward.

"Lize Nykeer, My family is good at wind magic but that's about all I know..." A small blonde girl said hesitantly. The teacher nodded her forward and she walked through the arch.

With a simple wave of wind magic, numbers appeared above the arch.

---

Lize Nykeer

Physical Power: 0.3

Magical Reservoir: 1.2

Magical Efficiency: 0.1

Affinities: Daggers

Aversions: Other forms of combat, including magic.

---

"Noted. Please continue forward towards The Tower of Enlightenment," The teacher said curtly. "Next in line."

After nearly 30 students it was finally Justin's turn. He approached the arch happily and stated his case.

"Justin Nerlin, I love wind magic. Can't wait to cast me some of them flight spells."

"Alright, good luck with that" The teacher said before looking at the arch in preparation.

---

Justin Nerlin

Physical Power: 2.1

Magical Reservoir: 0.2

Magical Efficiency: 1.0

Affinities: Melee combat and minor wind magic.

Aversions: Fire magic and Earth magic.

---

Justin let out a light fist pump into the air at the sight of wind magic being on the list.

"I'm gonna get me some of that sick magical warrior powers!" He said with a light shout before walking towards the large tower that was down the path a ways.

"Next is you kid." The teacher said as he pointed the pen at Max.

Max let out a light gulp before walking forward.

'Guess there is no way to hide my power though I guess it isn't needed. Though I hope it won't find out that I'm a nature chosen.' Max thought to himself as he began to speak.

"Maxwell Blackwell at your service. Lightning Affinity." He said with pride though a bead of sweat gently dropped from his forehead to the ground.

The teacher, not even looking at Max but instead at the arch, nodded and motioned for Max to come forward.

---

Maxwell Blackwell

Physical Power: 1.0

Magical Reservoir: 7.8

Magical Efficiency: 18.2

Affinities: General Magical Affinity High. Lightning Affinity Perfect. Mind Aspect Affinity Extremely High.

Aversions: Very high Melee combat Aversion. High Aversion towards death magic.

---

"My my my... what a list. You wait behind." The teacher said before taking a glance at max. "I'm sure you would like to meet the Headmaster wouldn't you?"

"N-Not really sir," Max answered as another bead of sweat appeared on his brow.

"Hmm... Call me Professor Nickten. Are you certain... Max?" Professor Nickten said while checking the pad once more.

'What are the benefits? Draw more attention towards myself? It would just end up blowing up in my face if everyone was asking me for help all the time. I don't want to be the popular kid. I'd rather just sit in the back of the class with my friends and learn magic my way.' Max thought to himself before nodding his head.

"Alright, I suppose..." Professor Nickten nodded before waving him forward.

'Close call. At least it doesn't show that you're a natural.'