Aethernea : Soulbound [Book 1]

Episode 35 - Special Handshake

Previously on Aethernea:

Kiel and Elaru make their way to the Ashar University of Magic to take the entrance exams. They notice more battlemages in Rroda uniforms waiting for them in front of the university. Elaru grabs onto Kiel, conceals their presence and casts an invisibility barrier (which is a level 9 spell) around them.

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What was one of the requirements that mages needed to fulfill before they could become A-ranked mages? It was to be able to cast level 9 spells!

Yet Elaru treated a level 9 spell as if it was only right for her to be able to cast it. As if there was nothing strange going on.

Kiel decided not to question her about it at this moment and concentrate on the problem at hand: she was clinging onto him a bit too tightly. Her whole body pressed against his own. It made his stomach do flip flops making him uncomfortable.

Kiel concentrated hard on the Rroda men as they passed right next to them. However, none of them even turned their heads in their direction.

Even so, Kiel didn't relax in the slightest as they flew into the foyer. Luckily it had a very high ceiling so it presented no problem to fly above everyone's head.

Only when they entered deeper into the foyer, where they were completely shielded from view of the Rroda men, did Kiel let out a breath he didn't know he was holding.

As they approached the exit, they noticed there was a barrier erected preventing unauthorized people from going through it into the university.

Elaru didn't hesitate at all and accelerated right into the barrier.

When they signed up for the entrance exams, they received badges with a number. Those badges also acted as their exam pass which allowed them to enter the university.

What greeted them as they passed through the barrier was another large courtyard. From all sides, many large structures could be seen in the distance, towering over them as if they were bugs.

The courtyard looked like a beautiful garden or a park with grass meadows and wide paved roads. It was prettily decorated with many different trees and flowers. There were even fountains, tables, and benches. It was a glorious sight.

Kiel could already tell that he would be spending a lot of his time relaxing in this park. It would be a perfect place to sit below a tree and read a book. Or even have a picnic.

Many different men and women could be seen passing through the courtyard, directed towards the exam rooms via guideposts.

Kiel and Elaru finally landed. Elaru released the invisibility barrier and unwrapped her Mind. They were safe. Rroda men couldn't follow them inside without an exam pass.

They shared a relieved look, with a bit of gloating. For a moment it seemed as if their emotions had synchronized. It felt good to have a partner in crime, someone to have your back. Kiel felt a warmth spreading in his chest, which was suppressed by the cold he felt when Elaru's body separated from his.

There was no more need for her to be pressed against him.

It's good that she remembered to let me go. Kiel approved. It is tiring to have to constantly remind her to keep her distance.

They walked close to each other, following the guideposts towards a large ivory building that had many windows with red curtains. The building was named as "the Red Quarters".

Why it was named that way and what it was used for was something Kiel and Elaru didn't know at this point.

When they walked through the doors of the building, they entered into a well-lit hall which contained several tables and chairs. The ceiling of the hall was so high it reached the roof, on top of which was a glass dome. The bright sunlight entered through the glass and illuminated the entire main hall and the hallways of upper floors spread around the hall. The upper floors were separated from the main hall by a railing, so not only could the people walking down the corridors of the upper floors see down below to the main hall (and vice versa), but they could also skip taking the stairs and instead fly.