Elder Erin was soone Liam needed to be suspicious of. But that was for his future. For now, he had a plan for how to live his life.
"Don’t worry, Asger. I don’t intend to be anyone’s sacrificial piece. I’ll play along for now."
Liam continued, stretching his arms behind his head.
Asger grumbled sothing under his breath but didn’t protest further. Instead, he kept a sharp eye on Elder Erin as Liam finished getting ready.
When Liam stepped outside, Elder Erin was already waiting, dressed in a crisp black coat that made him look more like a noble than a mage.
"You’re surprisingly punctual."
Elder Erin comnted.
Liam shrugged.
"I’m curious about where we’re going."
Elder Erin gave a knowing smile.
"Then let’s not waste ti."
They walked in relative silence for a while. Asger stalked closely behind Liam, his irritation visible in his tense shoulders and flicking tail. Elder Erin, however, ignored him completely, as if he was used to this kind of hostility.
Eventually, the elder spoke, his tone casual yet firm.
"Liam, I want to show you a place where we raise our talents—the Academy."
Liam felt his steps slow slightly.
Elder Erin didn’t seem to notice and continued, "It’s where gifted individuals train to master their abilities. And I have a feeling you’ll be stepping through its gates soon enough."
Liam didn’t respond imdiately, but his mind worked quickly.
So, he’s convinced that I have magic. But he’s choosing to be polite about it, probably because of Asger’s presence.
Asger must have sensed it, too, because his tail bristled.
"And why would Liam need to go there?"
He asked, voice laced with suspicion.
Elder Erin chuckled.
"Because whether Liam realizes it or not, he’s on the verge of awakening sothing powerful. It would be a waste not to nurture it."
Liam t Elder Erin’s gaze, searching for any hidden aning behind his words. The elder was a shrewd man. He wasn’t just saying this to be kind. He had an agenda.
But for now, Liam played along, silently following.
Their destination turned out to be... a club?
Liam blinked up at the massive building in the middle of the city. Bright lights flashed above the entrance, and a deep bass pulsed through the walls. It looked like an exclusive place—expensive, well-guarded, and nothing like what he imagined a magic academy would be.
"...You brought to a club?"
Liam asked, raising an eyebrow.
Elder Erin smirked.
"Not just any club. Co inside, and you’ll understand."
Liam hesitated for only a mont before stepping forward. Whatever this place was, it was bound to give him answers.
Asger, however, let out a low growl.
"I don’t like this."
"You never do."
Elder Erin said dryly.
Liam pushed open the heavy doors, stepping into the unknown.
Liam remained tense as he stepped out of the elevator, his body coiled like a spring. Despite his worries that Elder Erin was leading him into a trap—or worse, to his untily death—the club had, so far, been just that.
A club. Nothing sinister. No shady figures lurking in dark corners. No secret backroom deals.
But that doesn’t an I’m safe.
His thoughts darkened when he watched Asger pass sothing to the bartender—a small, barely noticeable exchange that the man took without question.
The bartender’s eyes widened slightly as he looked at the two of them, recognition flashing through his expression.
"I see. Please, follow ."
The bartender murmured, before quickly straightening.
Liam shared a glance with Asger, who gave a small nod, then trailed behind Elder Erin and the bartender as they were led toward an elevator tucked in the farthest corner of the club.
It looked like any ordinary elevator, but Liam knew better.
The mont he stepped inside, a strange sensation wrapped around his body. It was subtle—like a shift in air pressure, or a faint hum against his skin. But it was unmistakable.
Magic.
Liam’s fingers twitched as he instinctively reached out with his senses. The entire elevator pulsed with sothing foreign, sothing unnatural.
"This isn’t just an elevator, is it?"
Liam muttered, glancing at Elder Erin.
The elder smiled but didn’t answer.
Liam didn’t like that.
Next to him, Asger growled under his breath, his tail flicking in agitation.
"If this is so kind of kidnapping, I promise you it won’t work."
Elder Erin chuckled, seemingly unfazed by the half-dragon’s hostility.
"Relax. If I wanted to kidnap you, do you think I would go through this much trouble?"
Liam wasn’t sure how to answer that.
The elevator ca to a smooth stop, and the bartender turned to them, giving a slight bow.
"Best of luck,"
He said before stepping back, leaving them alone.
Liam barely had a second to process those words before the doors slid open.
What lay beyond was nothing like what he had expected.
He had anticipated sothing dark, sothing hidden beneath the earth—perhaps a dungeon or a heavily fortified magic research facility.
Instead, he stepped into a vast, lush garden.
Erald-green grass stretched out endlessly before him, dotted with patches of colorful flowers and winding stone paths.
The scent of fresh earth and blooming petals filled the air. Towering trees cast cool, dappled shadows over the ground, and further in the distance, a series of interconnected buildings—grand, ancient structures with elaborate carvings and glowing sigils—stood proudly against the horizon.
It was beautiful.
It was also very suspicious.
"What... the hell?"
Liam muttered.
Asger was the first to react, taking a defensive stance as he glared at Elder Erin.
"You’re telling that this entire place... is underground?"
"In a way. You’re no longer in the city. This is a pocket dinsion—a separate space that exists alongside our world but cannot be accessed by normal ans. That elevator was a passageway"
Elder Erin said with amusent.
Liam blinked, suddenly understanding why the elevator felt so strange. It hadn’t just been moving down. It had been transporting them elsewhere.
Elder Erin turned to them both, spreading his arms wide.
"Welco to the Academy."
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