The first day at Nyasi Academy was more interesting than I’d expected. New faces, new buildings — and to my surprise, two foreign students. Cassian Lennis from Ravenshield, who ended up in our dorm, and Hai Long from Linglong Isnd, staying in the South Hall.

  During orientation, Principal Shajahan Mir addressed us all in his deep, gravelly voice. Most of what he said faded into background noise — until he delivered one line that stuck with me:

  “Talent is a spark. Discipline is the fme. Only those who endure the storm will light the world.”

  After that, we were handed guidebooks, schedules, and other essentials. Then came the tour of Glimmerhall — the castle reserved for Elementis track students.

  The castle was stunning. Its exterior was carved from smooth white stone that gleamed under the sun, etched with runes that shimmered faintly like dew. The tall towers stretched skyward like frozen pilrs of light. Inside, vaulted ceilings arched above marble floors, and soft glowing crystals floated in the air, casting gentle light over the halls. Cssrooms were wide and airy, with hexagonal desks and enchanted chalkboards that erased themselves. We saw alchemy bs, observatories with gss domes, even a greenhouse that smelled like citrus and burning wood. By the end of the tour, we were exhausted — mentally, at least. Once everything was done, we returned to our dorms.

  Later that afternoon, I went out for a walk with Tasib, Shimat, Rakib (Shimat’s roommate), and Cassian — the Ravenshield guy. We’d seen each other a few times already, so things felt pretty casual. I asked Cassian, “Why Nyasi? Ravenshield’s got world-css academies, right?” He nodded. “They do. But I wanted to see more than just my own nation. Nyasi’s reputation is spreading. Some say it can rival even Ravenshield’s best.” We nodded along, a little pride swelling in our chests. “We’re no less than anyone else,” Rakib said. We kept chatting as we strolled under the golden sky. By the time we reached the dining hall, our stomachs were growling. We grabbed ptes and devoured everything in sight. Over dinner, Rakib gave Cassian a grin. “Hey Cassian — your name’s too long. We should shorten it.” Cassian raised an eyebrow. “How exactly?” Tasib leaned in. “Cassy. Sounds sharp.” Rakib cpped. “Yeah! Cassian is too formal. Cassy’s perfect.” Cassian made a face like he’d bitten a lemon. “Cassy sounds like a squirrel.” I tried to ease him into it. “Don’t worry. It’ll be just between us.” He sighed. “Fine. Only you guys.” The next morning, even the cooks were calling him Cassy. He hasn’t forgiven us yet.

  “Elemental powers are not isoted forces,” Professor Mahbub decred. He stood at the front of the cssroom in long silver robes, hands csped behind his back. “They push, pull, feed, and fracture one another. Mastering your own element is child's py compared to mastering how it dances — or dies — beside another.” We were in our first Elemental Interaction css, and Mahbub, who also happened to be head of our dorm, seemed more rexed with us than he did with the South Hall students, who looked like they were holding their breath. He paced as he spoke. “Which elemental combination is most effective in creating quicksand or softening terrain?” His eyes swept the room. “Naim?” A boy with gsses stood up. “Sir, Torrent and Dune.” “Correct.” Then Mahbub turned to Ayesha, the girl who had answered nearly every question in Orientation. “True or false: Shade powers are ineffective during the day due to natural light.” “Yes, sir. Shade relies on darkness and struggles in full light.” He nodded, then looked at me. “Anwar — expin why Surge is less effective against Dune or Crag users.” I took a breath. “Because Surge requires a conductor. Sand and rock are poor conductors, which limits the effectiveness of electric attacks.” A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Students of this year are sharp.”

  Elemental Interaction was fun. Magical Foundation was… not. Just names, dates, history — the kind of stuff that makes your eyelids heavy and your brain beg for mercy. Who cared what happened during the Third Magic Concord? Or which archmage built the first observatory? We came here to do magic, not memorize textbooks.

  The st period of the day was Physical Conditioning. And that's when things got real. Professor Ashraf didn’t teach — he barked. Tall, scarred, and built like a siege weapon, he marched us onto the field and shouted orders. We ran. We jumped. We hauled sandbags across the grass. My lungs burned. My arms shook. Some students threw up behind the bushes. Ashraf’s voice rang out like a war drum. “The stronger your body is, the more efficient your magic will be!” And so we trained. And trained.

  For the entire first week, one question echoed in every student’s mind:

  “If this is a magic academy… where’s the magic?”

  All we saw were lectures, meditation drills, and exercises that made our bones scream. No spell casting. No glowing runes. Just effort, sweat, and silence. Maybe that’s where magic really begins.