Thalos stood nearby, his arms folded, watching Aeren with a mixture of pride and sorrow. His old, weathered face was hidden behind a stoic expression, but his eyes betrayed the sadness he felt. It had been years since he had taken Aeren in, raised him, trained him, and now, it was time for the boy to take the next step in his destiny. Thalos had always known this day would come, but it did not make it any easier.

“Aeren,” Thalos’s deep voice broke the silence, making Aeren look up from his packed belongings. “I don’t know if I ever told you this, but… I’m proud of you.”

Aeren smiled softly, standing up from the ground and facing his mentor. “You’ve done more than I could ever repay, Thalos. Without you, I wouldn’t be who I am today.”

Thalos chuckled softly, though it was tinged with sadness. “I only showed you the way. You did the rest. But what matters now… is that you’ll be walking your own path.”

The two stood in silence for a while, the weight of the moment hanging between them. Thalos looked at the boy who had become like a son to him—more than just a student, more than just a companion. Aeren had grown into a man with a strength and wisdom that surpassed his years. And though Thalos had always believed in him, there was still a part of him that wished he could be there for Aeren, to guide him through the challenges that lay ahead.

“I may not be your father, Aeren,” Thalos continued, his voice quieter now, “but I’ve raised you as my own. And I want you to know something before you go—always remember the kindness you carry in your heart. Never lose that. The world will try to change you, twist you, but that heart is your greatest strength.”

Aeren’s expression softened, his eyes glistening as he stepped forward and embraced his mentor. Thalos stiffened at first, surprised by the warmth of the gesture, but he soon wrapped his arms around Aeren, holding him tightly as if he could protect him from all the dangers the world might throw his way.

“I will,” Aeren whispered, his voice thick with emotion. “I promise I’ll remember everything you’ve taught me. You gave me everything.”

With a heavy sigh, Thalos released him, stepping back. “Then go. Follow your destiny. But remember, the road ahead is never easy. And there will be moments of darkness. Don’t let it swallow you.”

Aeren nodded, wiping away a tear that had unknowingly escaped down his cheek. He had trained for this moment, but the reality of leaving Thalos behind filled him with a sense of uncertainty he had never known. He had faced countless battles, mastered unimaginable magic, and honed his body to perfection—but nothing had prepared him for the sorrow of this parting.

With one final glance at Thalos, Aeren turned toward the path leading out of the forest. His heart was heavy, but his resolve remained firm. The Royal Palace, and the Magic Academy that awaited him, would test him in ways he could not yet imagine. But as long as he carried the teachings of Thalos with him, he knew he could face whatever challenges lay ahead.

“Goodbye, Thalos,” Aeren said softly, his voice barely a whisper as he took his first step toward his destiny.

Thalos stood there, watching the boy he had raised walk away, his heart full of pride and sorrow. “Goodbye, Aeren,” he murmured to himself, his voice thick with emotion. “May you find what you’re searching for… and more.”

And with that, Aeren continued on his journey, the road ahead unknown, but the promise of greatness ever within his grasp.

Several hours passed as Aeren made his way through the vast landscape toward the Royal Palace of the North. His legs ached from the journey, but the excitement that buzzed in his chest kept him moving forward. As he approached the gates of the academy, he saw a large group of students already gathered—young mages and aspiring scholars, all eagerly awaiting their turn to be enrolled.

The air was filled with chatter and nervous energy. Aeren’s eyes scanned the crowd, but he paid little attention to the groups of students that had already formed around various figures. One such circle was gathered around a particularly arrogant individual. Aeren could hear the haughty laughter and see the smug expression of the young prince, a member of House Valcrest, who seemed to relish the attention. However, Aeren’s gaze slid past him with indifference, his focus entirely on the task ahead.

He had his own path to walk—one that had been paved through years of hardship and training, far from the politics and drama of royal life.

When it was Aeren’s turn to step up to the magic orb, the silence that fell over the crowd didn’t escape his notice. Everyone’s eyes were on him now. This moment was a rite of passage for every aspiring mage: placing their hand on the enchanted orb to determine their magical affinity and rank.

Aeren placed his hand gently on the orb, his breath steady. The orb pulsed faintly, as if it were responding to the slight pressure of his palm. He closed his eyes, drawing in the power of the magic he had honed over the years—letting it flow through him, just as Thalos had taught him.

A soft hum filled the air as the orb began to react. First, the glow was faint—a gentle pulse of blue light that spread like ripples across the surface. But then, as Aeren’s magic surged in response to the orb’s call, the light shifted. It grew brighter—golden, blindingly so. The orb shook in his grasp, and a faint cracking sound echoed in the air, a subtle noise that few could detect amidst the surrounding chatter.

Aeren pulled his hand back slightly, his gaze lingering on the orb. The crack that had appeared along its surface was barely noticeable to most—just a thin line cutting through the bright golden glow. But to the trained eye of one of the teachers standing nearby, the significance of the event was unmistakable.

The teacher, an older man with a sharp gaze and a long robe embroidered with runes, silently observed Aeren. He didn’t make a move to interrupt, but his brow furrowed in quiet intrigue. It wasn’t every day that a student managed to crack the enchanted orb. In fact, in all his years of teaching, he had never seen it happen before.

“Remarkable…” the teacher muttered under his breath, but his words were lost to the growing murmur of the crowd.

Aeren stood there for a moment, his hand still hovering near the orb. The golden glow slowly faded, returning to its natural state. When the orb finally settled, the surrounding students began to whisper amongst themselves.

“He… cracked it?” one of them asked, his voice full of disbelief. “Did you see that?”

Others nodded, eyes wide. But most simply shrugged it off, thinking nothing more of it. Aeren had already turned away, uninterested in the attention. He had expected a reaction, but the quiet hum of his own magic and the knowledge of his strength were enough to reassure him that his destiny was only just beginning.

Meanwhile, the teacher continued to watch silently from the side, his mind racing with thoughts of what this could mean. Few individuals had such an overwhelming display of power. The fact that Aeren had cracked the orb suggested something extraordinary—something that even the teacher couldn’t fully comprehend.

“Interesting,” he murmured to himself, his interest piqued.

As Aeren moved away from the orb, the prince—still surrounded by his sycophantic circle—cast a curious glance at him. He had noticed the crack in the orb, but he was more interested in the other students who had gathered around him. The prince’s eyes narrowed, his prideful smirk growing wider.

"Who does this one think he is, cracking the orb like that?" the prince muttered to himself, but he quickly dismissed the thought. The last thing he wanted was to be distracted by some unknown prodigy when his own royal presence was drawing all the attention.

Unbeknownst to Aeren, the teacher who had watched his display quietly made his way toward the headmaster, a quiet urgency in his step. The time had come for them to begin to unravel the mystery behind the young mage who had already shown potential far beyond his years.

The teacher, his name Master Arion, was a man of few words, but when something caught his interest, it was hard for him to ignore. The moment he had witnessed Aeren's display with the magical orb, he knew he had to speak with the headmaster. As the students continued to register and take their tests, Master Arion made his way to the grand office where the headmaster of the Magic Academy, Headmaster Eldric, sat overseeing the enrollment process.

Headmaster Eldric was a tall, imposing figure with silver-gray hair that cascaded down his back, his sharp blue eyes perpetually observing. His presence commanded respect, and though he carried the weight of years in his posture, there was an undeniable aura of wisdom and authority about him.

When Master Arion entered the office, the headmaster glanced up from his work, his eyes narrowing slightly as he noticed the urgency in the teacher’s expression.

“Master Arion,” Eldric said, his voice calm but carrying an edge of curiosity. “What brings you here so quickly?”

Arion bowed slightly, but his usual composed demeanor was replaced by an intense focus. “Headmaster, there is a student among the new recruits,” Arion began, his voice low and deliberate. “Aeren Valcrest. I believe we’ve just witnessed something extraordinary.”

Eldric raised an eyebrow. “Aeren Valcrest?” He leaned back in his chair, a faint trace of recognition crossing his face. “I am familiar with the name. What of him?”

Master Arion sighed, stepping forward. “I’ve been teaching here for many years, Eldric. In all that time, I’ve never seen a student interact with the orb the way Aeren did today.” Arion paused, his eyes flicking toward the window as if considering the weight of his next words. “The orb... it cracked.”

The headmaster didn’t respond immediately, his expression unreadable. He had seen many exceptional students over the years, but the cracking of the orb was an entirely different matter. The enchanted orb was designed to measure the magical potential of a student, and it had only ever cracked for those whose power was truly exceptional, often those with a destiny tied to something far greater than themselves.

“Cracked?” Eldric’s voice was measured, but his eyes had sharpened. “That is... highly unusual. Are you certain?”

“I’ve seen many things in my time, Headmaster,” Arion replied, his tone unwavering. “It was not just a small crack—it was significant. The orb glowed bright gold, far beyond anything we’ve witnessed here, and the crack was deep enough that I fear it may never be fully repaired.”

Eldric leaned forward, folding his hands on the desk. “And you think this Aeren... is the source of that anomaly?”

“Not just the source, Headmaster,” Arion said with a serious tone. “The power he displayed... it was unlike anything I’ve seen. And the way he controlled it—he’s no ordinary student. There’s something else there, something ancient. I’ve seen the prophecy.”

Eldric’s expression hardened at the mention of the prophecy. The ancient prophecy that had circulated for generations among the magic-wielding families. It spoke of a child born under a rare celestial event, one whose power could either bring salvation or destruction to the world.

“Aeren Valcrest…” Eldric muttered, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “That name. It’s tied to the royal family, but I didn’t realize he was...”

Arion nodded. “The same Aeren, yes. But what’s more troubling is that the prophecy is clear: a child born with such power cannot remain unnoticed, and that power must be handled carefully.”

Headmaster Eldric’s gaze softened, and for a moment, a look of concern flashed across his face. “If what you say is true, Master Arion, then we must be cautious. This boy… Aeren Valcrest may be the one who could tip the balance of magic. It is not only his potential we must worry about, but also the forces that might seek to control him.”

The teacher nodded, a grim expression on his face. “I’ve seen the spark of something much darker within him, Headmaster. His power is unpredictable. It could be the key to a new era—or it could bring ruin. The question is, will he be able to control it?”

Eldric stood and walked to the window, gazing out at the sprawling academy grounds. “We will watch him closely. For now, he must be allowed to train, to grow into his abilities. But we must also prepare for what might come.”

Arion bowed his head. “Understood. But we must be ready, Eldric. If Aeren is truly the one from the prophecy, we will need to make the right decisions for his future—before someone else does.”

The headmaster turned to face him, his expression more serious than ever. “Agreed. Keep an eye on him, Master Arion. And let us hope that the boy can control the storm that is bound to rise within him.”

With that, Arion nodded and left the office, his mind heavy with the implications of what he had just witnessed. There was no doubt in his mind: Aeren Valcrest would change the world—whether for good or ill.

And that was a fate neither he nor Eldric could yet fully comprehend.