Magician From the Past

Chapter 7

As the car touched down, Zephyr turned to him. "See ya," he said, stepping out and leaving Ethan standing there, free but also a little lost. The doorman, a stern-faced man, eyed him. "Can I help you, Sir?" he asked.

Ethan hesitated, unsure where to go. "Ahh, yes," he stammered. "I'm here to complete my admission." The doorman directed him toward the grand entrance, and Ethan muttered under his breath. "That damn Zephyr. I'll get him for this."

Inside, the clerk awaited him. "Can I be of any assistance, sir?" she asked. Ethan's voice was soft as he replied, "I'm here for my admission." "Admission? Two months after they were closed? Must be a transfer," the clerk pondered. "I'll need to see your documents, please," she said.

Ethan handed over the papers, watching as she read through them, her fingers dancing across the keyboard. "Wait over there, please," she instructed, disappearing into a different office.

"This is big news," she thought, knocking on the head of admissions' door. "A special transfer?, I have to handle it." The head of admissions, annoyed at being given extra work, grumbled, "Why was I never informed of this?" He examined the documents Ethan had provided: "A Magician's Certificate from the Golden Tower? A letter of recommendation to join the elite class with a seal from the Golden Tower's vice leader?"

He set the papers down gently. "What the heck is this! Is this a second-generation rich kid? Do I even qualify to reject him?" Shocked by Ethan's impressive credentials, he sighed. "Let's not keep the young man waiting. Go tell him that everything is fine, and call someone to show him around."

Back in the hall, the clerk approached Ethan. "Everything is checked out, Sir," she said, handing him a pen. "Sign here." She passed him a receipt for the fees and a sleek bracelet. "This carries all your information. Your uniform will be sent to your personal dorm. If you need anything, contact us via the bracelet."

Ethan took the bracelet, his mind racing. "Wait, I'm the one paying for all the fees? Is this what he meant by 'I'll handle the rest on my own'?" He clenched his fists. "I'll get you for sure, Zephyr."

"Yo!" A student approached, his energy contagious. "I'll be showing you around. Names Tsepiso," he introduced himself. Ethan nodded, following Tsepiso out of the bustling admissions office. The academy's grand halls stretched before them, filled with whispers of magic and ambition.

"Can you show me to the dorms first? I'll use the map for the rest," Ethan asked, his gaze sweeping over the marble columns and enchanted tapestries. Tsepiso grinned. "Sure thing. Let's hit the important spots on our way."

As they walked, Tsepiso couldn't help his curiosity. "So, which school are you coming from?" he inquired. Ethan's reply was unexpected: "Prison." His tone was serious, cutting the conversation short. Tsepiso stumbled over his next words. "Did... Did you go to any school before prison?" he asked, trying to salvage the awkward moment.

Ethan's eyes gleamed with mischief. "Nah," he replied, his voice cold but teasing. "I only ever went to kindergarten. This is my first real school experience." The cataclysm had changed everything, but Ethan's determination remained unshaken.

Tsepiso's mind raced. "What is wrong with this psycho?" he wondered, laughing awkwardly. Ethan's next words wiped the smile off his face. "Right. Which dorm are you going to?" Tsepiso asked, eager to change the subject.

"Oh, it's a personal dorm," Ethan said casually, activating his bracelet. A hologram materialized, displaying the dorm number. Tsepiso's shock was palpable. "Personal dorms? Aren't those for elite students only? Even advanced students don't have personal dorms. Is this the power of connections?" he pondered, flabbergasted.