27 27 - The Dawn of a New Chapter
The Dawn of a New Chapter
The sun had barely begun to paint the sky over Riverwood when Helena, an elf of timeless beauty, was already in the kitchen, whipping up breakfast. "Jon, breakfast is ready! Get down here!" she yelled, following the family's morning ritual.
"I'm right here, Mom!" Jon replied, appearing in the kitchen with a mischievous grin. He had quietly arrived moments earlier, waiting for the perfect opportunity to play a prank on his mother. Helena nearly dropped the plate of chicken pie she was about to serve.
"Jeez, kid, you trying to give your mom a heart attack? What's the miracle that got you up before I had to call you?" Helena was more surprised than annoyed. 'He must be excited about going to the academy. I hope he doesn't get too down...' she thought, concerned about how her son would react to seeing Gwen again.
"I better get used to it; I won't always have my mom to wake me up," Jon responded, clearly excited. Ever since he accepted that this world was his new reality and not a fleeting dream, he had been looking forward to this day.
Back on Earth, his academic life had been a disaster. As an orphan who avoided human contact, he was often the target of bullying and cruel jokes. While nothing was extremely serious, loneliness was his only constant companion. That briefly changed when he became a Guild Master in the VR MMORPG Nexus. However, that illusion of camaraderie crumbled when he found out his "friends" were only interested in his power and influence. At the first opportunity, they betrayed him, selling the guild to a major tech company. This event only deepened his aversion to social relationships.
But now, in Aeloria, he had a second chance. A chance to do things differently, to be different. And he was more than ready to seize it.
The journey to the capital, Valdoria, was a blur of ever-changing landscapes and unfamiliar faces. Jon barely had time to absorb the details, so focused was he on reaching his destination. Valdoria was a bustling metropolis, a melting pot of cultures and races, and the epicenter of power in Aeloria.
Upon arrival, Jon considered paying a visit to Gwen's family. Their home wasn't far from the central teleportation square that connected the major cities of Aeloria. 'It would be nice to see a familiar face before heading to the academy,' he thought. But something held him back.
'If Gwen wanted to reach out, she would have. Something's off, but maybe now's not the time to find out what,' Jon pondered. He knew something deeper was going on, something his father and perhaps even Gwen were hiding. But he also knew that some things are better left for time to reveal.
Deciding not to delay his journey any further, Jon headed to the teleportation square. The major cities of Aeloria were interconnected by a network of magical portals, a marvel of arcane engineering that allowed for quick and efficient travel. He paid the required fee and stepped into the portal that would take him to Frostpeak, where the Imperial Academy awaited him.
As the sensation of teleportation enveloped him, causing slight discomfort, Jon felt a mix of anticipation and resignation. He was about to begin a new chapter in his new life, far from the shadows of his past and the uncertainties that surrounded him. 'Frostpeak, here I come,' he thought, as the portal's light swallowed his form, taking him into the unknown.
The icy air of Frostpeak enveloped Jon as he emerged from the magical portal. It was like being embraced by a winter ghost, a freezing breath that descended from the snow-covered mountain peaks. The landscape was breathtaking, a divine tapestry of white and blue that demanded quiet contemplation. But Jon had no time for that now; he was freezing.
Swiftly, he donned a heavy coat that made him look like a modern-day Eskimo. The coat was crafted from magical furs and fabrics that insulated against the cold—a must-have in a place like this. 'Better,' he thought, feeling warmth begin to seep back into his body.
As he adjusted the hood, Jon noticed a steady stream of people, mostly teenagers like himself, moving in a specific direction. Their faces displayed a blend of nervousness and excitement, a mix that could only mean one thing: they were headed to the registration area for the Imperial Academy trials.
The sight of these young people, all eager to prove their worth, ignited something within Jon. He wasn't alone in his quest. Each of those faces was a book of untold stories, of dreams yet to be fulfilled. And all of them, like him, were here to take the next step in their journeys.
'It's now or never,' Jon thought, feeling a wave of resolve sweep away any lingering doubt or hesitation. He joined the crowd, his steps echoing a silent promise to himself and the destiny that awaited him.
Jon arrived at the registration area, a spacious venue with tables neatly arranged. Behind each table sat an evaluator, operating a device that closely resembled what he had seen at the Riverwood festival. The test for entering the Imperial Academy was indeed a basic but stringent prerequisite.
The bare minimum was a Level 25 and a Rank B magical affinity. Of course, there were exceptions for those with low magical affinity but significantly higher levels. However, that was nearly impossible unless you were a wealthy heir who could afford to be carried through dungeons by a group of seasoned adventurers.
Jon approached one of the tables, and the evaluator activated the device. A series of symbols and numbers began to appear on a holographic screen.
**[Status]**
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**Name:** Jon Woodmoon
**Age:** 15
**Level:** 25
**Magical Affinity:** B
**Talent:** F (Miscalculation due to racial passives)
---
Upon seeing the result, the evaluator frowned. "This is odd. It says here you need a reevaluation with a higher-grade artifact. But honestly, I don't have time for that right now."
'Of course you don't,' Jon thought, slightly annoyed yet also relieved. He knew the device couldn't accurately calculate his racial passives since he had both elven and human traits. This undoubtedly caused the error.
"You've passed. Your talent is rated as F, but you meet the other requirements. Move along," said the evaluator, disinterestedly, handing Jon a paper confirming his admission.
Jon took the paper, feeling a mix of relief and indignation. 'It would probably be an S if not for the error. It dropped to the minimum accepted and called for a reevaluation. But for now, this will have to do,' he thought, stashing the paper into his inventory…
