Arcane Heir: History's Strongest Mage

When Rudy finally managed to rein in his laughter, he placed a hand on Michael's shoulder as if offering consolation.

"That fiancée of yours is really something," he said with a grin. "Make sure you introduce me to one of her friends, alright?"

Michael scoffed inwardly. Sure… when she actually makes a friend.

He didn't bother voicing the thought and instead nodded before glancing down at his soaked uniform trousers. Lifting his left hand a few inches above the damp fabric, he summoned mana particles to gather in his palm. A faint heat shimmered in the air as he cast a simple heating spell.

In moments, the moisture evaporated, leaving the cloth warm and dry.

Rudy's gaze immediately dropped—and lingered—on the source of the magic.

"Wow! How did you do that? Can you teach me?" he blurted, reaching out as if to test the dryness for himself.

Michael caught his wrist before he could make a very regrettable move.

"You don't know chore magic?"

Rudy shook his head with exaggerated vigor. "Ma wouldn't let me touch magic until they could afford a tutor. Said she didn't want me blowing my arm off or something." He scratched the back of his head with a sheepish chuckle.

Can't say I blame her, Michael thought dryly.

"Well," he said, casting the same spell on Rudy's uniform, "I'll teach you some chore magic after classes. We're roommates, after all."

"Just roommates?" Rudy pouted.

Michael's chest tightened faintly. "Ah… I mean friends, right?"

That did the trick—Rudy's face brightened instantly. "Mm!"

Before Michael could say more, a familiar voice echoed down the hall:

"That dirty commoner bastard—I'll make them pay!"

Michael and Rudy exchanged a glance. No words were needed; trouble was incoming. They slipped away toward the stairs, moving quickly to avoid another confrontation—at least for tonight.

They reached the first floor to find a crowd of students gathered before a set of towering double doors. They weren't quite as massive as the castle gates, but they weren't far off either. Even without the huddle of onlookers, it was obvious this was the destination.

Near the back stood Melody, flanked by two girls who were chatting at her. Relief washed over Michael—thankfully, they were other girls. At least he wouldn't be making any more enemies today.

She looked uneasy, though. He could tell she wasn't used to small talk with strangers her own age. But she'd have to learn sometime—he couldn't always step in to rescue her.

Why do I sound like her father? The thought made him frown, a little sad yet faintly amused.

Her eyes found him, and her face brightened instantly, as though expecting him to swoop in and save her from her social discomfort. Instead, he stuck out his tongue and winked before melting into the crowd.

A flash of irritation crossed her features before she was forced to turn back to the conversation.

Serves you right for wetting my pants, he thought with a private smirk.

Then came the unmistakable sound of locks turning. The massive doors creaked, and a buzz of excitement swept through the gathered students. They began to part inward, revealing what lay beyond.

Michael's jaw slackened, his gaze drifting upward toward the vaulted ceiling. A sky of glittering stars stretched overhead, so vivid and near it felt as though he could simply reach up and brush them with his fingertips.

But the true marvel was the aurora—a vast, shimmering ribbon of light unfurling across the heavens like a celestial dragon gliding through clouds. It danced in hues that shifted through the colors of the Arcana, its glow both warm and hypnotic.

The sight stilled the entire gathering of first-years. No matter their origins—whether noble, common-born, or somewhere in between—they stood united in awe.

"So pretty…" Rudy breathed, his eyes sparkling.

Michael gave a slow nod. It was, without question, one of the most beautiful things he'd ever seen. A forgotten memory stirred, rising unbidden to the surface and leaving behind a bittersweet ache.

"My mom used to tell me stories about the skies in the southern part of the continent," he murmured, his eyes still locked on the spectacle above. "She said they have six months of night there, lit by a mystical aurora drifting through the darkness."

He wasn't entirely sure why he'd spoken aloud. Perhaps voicing the memory would keep it from slipping away again.

"Wow… so that's what the aurora looks like?" Rudy's voice carried a note of wonder.

"I hope so," Michael replied softly, staring deeper into the shifting lights. A warmth bloomed in his chest, a fragile part of him wanting—needing—to believe that his mother was somewhere up there, watching over him.

"Welcome!"

The deep, resonant call rolled through the great hall like distant thunder, snapping the students out of their trance. Heads turned toward the raised platform at the far end of the chamber.

There stood Headmaster Bartholomew Arcadius, his slight frame elevated yet commanding, the weight of his presence undeniable. Behind him stretched a long table, clearly meant for the academy's professors to take their meals.

Michael's eyes swept the hall and caught an odd detail—the vast main floor was bare. No tables. No chairs. No older students. Before he could dwell on the strangeness, the headmaster's voice boomed again.

"To Arcadia Academy!" he thundered, punctuating the words with a sharp clap that cracked like a gunshot. The sound rattled the air, jarring Michael's senses.

His vision warped, the now-familiar tug of spatial magic wrenching at his equilibrium. His stomach lurched as if the ground had dropped out beneath him.

When the world steadied, Michael found himself seated at a table. An empty plate and neatly folded napkin lay before him, flanked by polished cutlery. He rubbed his eyes, unsure if he was dreaming, or if this was actually real.

What the hell…?

The great hall was no longer empty. It teemed with students, voices clashing in a cacophony of conversation. The transformation was so abrupt it left him blinking, wondering if he'd simply imagined the scene from moments ago.