Even in the darkest of times, one can still find light. They just have to look at the stars.
Humans have been blessed by the Divines. For centuries, civilization has flourished, and mankind has rapidly progressed with the use of innate magical power...
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At a bright and early 6 AM, Riarshi's alarm screamed throughout his bedroom. The light that once shined brightly through his blinds during the summer was now the dark-orange of fall sunrise with a hint of purple night sky.
After rushing through his morning routine, he ran out the door. The excitement within his body gnawed at his chest.
Sparks trickling around his feet, he accelerated, running toward the Westray bus station. Although his increase in speed was minimal, there was no chance he'd let anything make him late for the first day.
Riarshi's heels screeched to a halt at the bus door seconds before it took off. He scanned his pass and tossed his body into the nearest open seat, his legs burning with fatigue.
The ride to Spiritfield would take about twenty-minutes. Riarshi passed the time by staring out the window, resting his temple on the glass, and watching the telephone poles pass by rhythmically. As the bus rolled closer to the city, the grassy fields of Westray slowly transitioned to taller office buildings, then to high-rise skyscrapers, slivers of morning sun reflecting off their windows and metal framing. Quiet sidewalks transformed into bustling pathways for thousands of workers and city residents. Traffic lights and store signs brightened the multi-lane streets and crowded walkways with their neon colors.
Riarshi wasn't in the peaceful town of Westray anymore. He was riding into the massive contemporary city of Spiritfield, capital of Aginem, and home to the country's Magic Hero Headquarters.
Once the bus stopped, Riarshi stepped out, his heels touching down on the concrete sidewalk. A large, but simple shaped building towered over him. Gigantic windows bordering the structure mirrored the sunlight and the streetlights, creating a bright, yellow glow around the exterior. It rose six or so stories tall, and ran along half the length of the street. As the sign on the outside indicated, this building was the Headquarters for the Professional Organization of Magic Heroes.
Riarshi glanced at the paper he held in his hand - a small yellow pamphlet which served as the guide and agenda for the first day of the program. There was a map of the city printed on the front, and a listed breakdown of the first day's activities on the back. With the first semester of the program stretching three months long, and classes five days a week, he knew this map would come in handy.
The first item listed on the agenda was the entrance ceremony, which was to be held at Spiritfield's sports stadium in about thirty minutes. Riarshi found the stadium's gray circular symbol on the map, noticing it was a quick walk down the street from where he currently stood. Scanning the horizon, Riarshi spotted the gigantic dome in the hazy distance, somewhat hidden behind a shimmering morning mist. Riarshi stuffed the pamphlet into the side pocket of his backpack and began his trip down the street.
It took about five minutes for Riarshi to arrive at the entrance gate of the massive sports complex. Two traffic cones propped the gate open to give way to a lengthy pathway, lined on both sides by small information booths leading to the front steps of the stadium. Various colored flags hung around the side of its walls, flapping furiously in the passing wind. Large billboards with colorful advertisements stood tall from the outside grass.
