Dorin didn’t have any difficulty finding the University, but he was stopped 3 times by traffic officers and got sidetracked by the amazing things he saw along the way. It was a good thing that Agate gave him a handbook, for they simply waved him off after seeing the seal on the cover.

The place was unmistakable. Aubrianne University was a vast castle which sat on an octagonal plateau as big as a medium city. Several buildings were erected near the middle, surrounding a tall tower whose tip was lost in the clouds. Surrounding the buildings was an inner wall, and outside the wall were countless smaller buildings, most of which were stores, restaurants, shops and the likes. The ones near the outer walls were residences with clothes hanging out of the windows, criss-crossing across the street to other houses.

Dorin floated along on his branch, keeping on top of the houses so as not to be spotted by another officer. He was planning to fly over the inner wall when he suddenly hit an invisible barrier and almost fell off his branch.

“Strange...” he said, staring at the wall. He squinted his eyes and saw a thin film coating the wall which stretched up towards the sky in the form of a dome. “Perhaps I just need to come in properly through the main gates?”

Dorin went around the wall and found the east gate. Several students were milling around the area, most of which were entering the school campus. He descended from his flight, the wind billowing at his feet as he alighted. He didn’t notice the students who were glaring at him as he walked towards the opening. He was confident that the guidebook would thwart anyone who would question him. He made his way and stretched out an arm before him, but the barrier was still there.

“Now, what..?” he said with a frown, pushing at the invisible wall. “I’m gonna be late for sign-ups!”

“What seems to be the problem?” asked a man from behind him.

“I can’t get in!” Dorin answered without looking back.

“A new enrollee, I presume?” the person asked in a condescending voice, “Perhaps you are trying to carry something illicit inside campus?”

Dorin finally turned around to look at the person talking. It was a young man in his early 20, his bright red hair cut short in a smart hair style. He wore a black cloak with red trimmings and a golden clasp in the shape of a sword. He had a red vest over a long sleeved white shirt under his cloak. His pants were also black and his knee high leather boots a deep red.

“Something illicit?” Dorin frowned at the young man, “I don’t think I have something like that.”

“Do you have some charms on you? An amulet perhaps?” the man asked, looking at Dorin’s brand new leather satchel. “What have you got in that bag of yours?”

“There’s still some food left... as for charms...” Dorin pulled up one of his long sleeves.

The young man gasped and hurriedly pulled him to the side of the castle wall.

“What are those?” asked the young man, pointing at the charms that covered half of his left arm.

“My mother gave them to me for protection,” Dorin answered as he pulled his sleeve back down, but the man pulled it up again and looked at them closer.

“A fire ward, a lightning ward, a wind enhancer... “

“Oh, that’s a wind debaser,” Dorin interrupted, “it’s used to lessen powerful wind magic...”

“Yes, I know what a debaser is!” snapped the other. He looked up at Dorin and suddenly held out his hand with a grin. “By the way, my name is Lance Gunnar of the Gunnar family, military division, 1st lieutenant rank 5.”

“I am Dorin Silvius...”

“Ahh... Silvius, I have heard of a tribe with that name, East of the old country, if I’m not mistaken?”

“Yes, that’s right...” Dorin replied wide-eyed.

“From the mountains, huh, I guess that explains your shabby garb. Then these charms, care to explain where you got them?”

“Like I said, my mother gave them to me...” Dorin repeated, he was starting to get annoyed.

“Well, anyway, it is strictly forbidden for students to wear such charms without a proper letter of consent from a dean or a professor. I am afraid I will have to confiscate these.”

With that, the young man named Lance Gunnar started taking off the charms on Dorin’s arms, starting with the golden fire ward band which was encrusted with rubies.

“Hey, wait a minute!” Dorin objected, “You can’t just take them, my mother would kill me if I take them off!”

“I’m not so sure about your mother,” said a female voice from behind them, “But I’m pretty certain that man has no right to take any of those from you.”

Dorin turned around to see a tall girl frowning down at them, her arms across her chest. She wore the same clothes as Lance, from the black cloak to the golden clasp, and black boots, except she wore a short skirt instead of pants.

“Marga-rat! You stay out of this!” Lance hissed.

“Shame on you, cousin! Deceiving a freshman! How low can you get?!”

Dorin snatched his arm from Lance and stared at the new comer.

“And who might you be?” he asked. He noticed that she had the same bright red hair tied up and covered by a cap.

“I am Margarette Gunnar of the Gunnar family, military division, 1st lieutenant rank 2.” she grabbed hold of Dorin’s left hand and pulled his sleeve all the way up.

“Hey!” Dorin protested, but she held on to him tight.

“These are first class wards and charms,” she said, ignoring Dorin’s protest. “What do you think Sebastian?”

Dorin and Lance looked as a guy stepped out from behind Margarette and looked at Dorin’s arm. He looked about Dorin’s age. He had a homely face that you could easily forget and was clad in black from his neck down to his feet; from his long black coat over a black turtle neck shirt, slacks, and black gloves made of suede.

“Oh, not the freak too...” groaned Lance.

The guy had slicked back black hair and wore big round spectacles. He looked at the charms, took out a white slate and a pen and started writing.

“What is he doing?” Dorin asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.

Sebastian stopped writing and showed him the slate, [1st class charms and wards, also, a strong hiding spell] he wrote, pointing at a transparent band on his right arm made of a sort of liquid metal.

“Woah, I’ve only seen a 1st class hiding spell once in my Advance Charms and Wards class before!” said Margarette.

[Can I see the other arm please?] was now written in Sebastian’s slate.

“No, you can not!” Lance almost screamed, he pulled Dorin’s right arm and tried to cover him from the new comers. “Why don’t you two mind your own business? I’m just helping him pass through the gates, you both know that outsiders can’t pass without the proper papers!”

“Oh, but I do have papers... or at least a small book.”

Dorin took out the guide book Agate gave him and showed it to the small group with a big smile on his face.

The girl inspected it.

“This is not a guide book, this is a professor’s handbook!” she looked at the crest of the snake and the gem and handed it back to Dorin. “So, you’re an acquaintance of Prof. Althea?”

“A professor? It was just given to me by a small girl...”

[Typical of Professor Althea] wrote Sebastian.

“Yes, she likes to look after new students,” said Margarette. “So, still keen on taking charms off a professor’s acquaintance?” she asked her cousin who was currently slipping away from them.

“Hmph!” was Lance’s reply. “He’s all yours.” With that, the older Gunnar left for the university gates.

Margarette looked back at the new boy. Sebastian was holding the boy’s right arm, studying the other charms he was wearing. The boy watched him with interest.

“Tell me boy, what is your name?” she asked.

“Dorin Silvius,” the boy replied.

“That is Sebastian Revious. Seb for short. You can call me Mar.”

[Magic 2nd rank] Sebastian wrote down, [nice charms]

“Thank you... But is it true that I can’t enter University grounds with them on?” Dorin asked.

“True, some of them, you can’t wear...”

[Like this attack charm] wrote Seb, pointing at a solid gold armband on his right arm with a sword etched on it.

“Whoa, where did you get all these stuff?” asked Mar. “Some of these cost a small fortune even with the charms gone!”

[1st class wards & charms cost at least a thousand gold coins each and mostly made of gold and precious stones] wrote Sebastian. [What exactly does your mom do for a living?]

“I’m not sure...” Dorin frowned, “She just typically leaves for a couple of weeks to sell spells and charms... at least that’s what she tells me...”

“An artificer, huh...” Mar said thoughtfully, “Anyway, we need to take care of those charms if you want to enter the gates.”

“That’s right!” Dorin gasped. “I need to sign up for the Photography class!”

“Photography class?” Mar frowned.

[Registration closes at 5] wrote Sebastian.

“Then try removing the offensive charms first and see if you can pass the gates.”

Dorin did just that, and after a couple of tries, where he took off 2 more elemental offense charms, was finally able to enter the university gates.

“At last,” Dorin gave a deep sigh, “Now can I have my stuff back?”

“Sorry,” said Mar, “but these will need to be checked into the school vaults for safe keeping, or until you get a written permit from one of the deans or professors.”

[You need to fill up for the application in the main building] wrote Sebastian.

“I don’t have enough time for that!” Dorin took out his watch and groaned. “It’s 5 minutes to 5, I’ll never make it in time for the registration... I’m gonna have to run for it!”

“But your stuff...”

“Can you hold on to them for me?” Dorin asked, readying his branch, “I’ll look for you guys later...”

“Wait!” Mar called after him.

The branch was pulled from Dorin’s hand. He looked back and saw Sebastian holding it, his mouth shaped like an ‘O’.

“Flying is strictly forbidden inside the campus! Besides, do you even know where the registration is being held?” said Mar crossly. “Sebastian!” she called to her friend. “Take him to the club grounds!”

Sebastian saluted.

He reached into his long coat and took out a vial with glowing lilac liquid inside. He then stabbed Dorin’s branch on the ground, took hold of his hand, and threw the vial at their feet.

Smoke engulfed the two.

When it dissipated, only Mar remained, carrying the charms and wards left by the strange boy.