The City of Mist, the Illusory Metropolis, the Phantom Lake... Olyfindor was known by many names.
But its most renowned identity was undoubtedly as the continent's foremost academy of magic.
The tranquil lake surface rippled faintly, and through the thick, impenetrable fog, an unmanned wooden boat drifted to the shore.
Without hesitation, Xia Lun and Aina stepped aboard.
"Hey, wait... what about the horse and carriage? We spent fifty gold coins on them," Liyana suddenly called out from behind.
"You care about that now, Liyana?" Aina sounded surprised. "Just leave them. Consider it a gift for whoever finds them."
"I'm not usually this extravagant," Liyana muttered as she removed the saddle and reins from the horse, patting its head. "You're free now, little one."
Xia Lun and Aina were already on the boat, which had drifted a dozen meters away. Liyana didn’t even need a running start—with a light leap, she landed gracefully on the boat without causing even a slight wobble.
The dense fog obscured everything beyond five meters.
The lake was eerily silent, with no signs of life except for the ripples left by the boat.
Xia Lun and Aina nestled together on the boat, while Liyana, ever restless, leaned over the edge and plunged her head into the water. Her golden hair swayed like aquatic plants, as if she were washing it.
"Liyana... really hasn’t changed at all," Xia Lun mused.
"Gurgle, gurgle—"
Bubbles rose from the submerged elf’s head before she lifted it back up, sending droplets flying.
With her striking beauty, the scene should have been picturesque, but Xia Lun couldn’t bring himself to appreciate it.
"What’s down there?" he asked casually.
"A vein of magic crystals," Liyana replied. "No wonder the mist is so saturated with mana. Truly worthy of the continent’s top magic academy."
She seemed to have a mischievous idea. "Actually, I’m a bit short on funds. Mind if I dive down and grab a few?"
Aina warned, "There’s a powerful magic barrier beneath the lake. You’d get trapped and never come back up."
"Ugh, figured as much," Liyana sighed, shrugging.
Suddenly, the fog began to dissipate, revealing the scenery in an instant.
A city stood at the center of the lake, enclosed by a barrier that kept the mist at bay, like a giant glass bowl turned upside down. Sunlight poured from above, and despite the surrounding fog, the space felt open, as if they’d stepped into another world.
The boat reached the shore.
The city’s architecture was reminiscent of Romanesque style—grand and solemn, yet intricately adorned.
From the shore, the towering spires at the city’s heart were unmistakable, dwarfing the surrounding buildings. That was the true Olyfindor Magic Academy.
What they’d glimpsed earlier on the lake was its reflection.
Olyfindor was originally the name of the city, but its magic academy had grown so renowned that people now used "Olyfindor" to refer solely to the academy, reducing the city to a mere appendage.
"Wow... this place is incredible."
Liyana had traveled far and wide, but even she couldn’t help marveling.
The city was crisscrossed with waterways, but these weren’t rivers—jumping in would send one straight to the lake’s depths.
"How are these buildings floating on the lake? This isn’t an island, is it?" Liyana voiced her confusion.
Xia Lun glanced at Aina, clearly curious as well.
Aina tapped the ground lightly with her foot. "The foundation here isn’t made of ordinary bricks but repulsion crystals... They repel magical energy, creating a force that counteracts the magic crystal veins beneath the lake, allowing the city to float."
"That’s amazing," Liyana gasped.
"Even if the lake were drained, the city would still hover in the air," Aina added. "But if the magic veins below were damaged, the city would sink."
Liyana recalled her earlier idea and sheepishly stuck out her tongue.
As they walked and talked, they soon arrived at the academy’s gates.
The square in front was... lively.
Extremely lively—packed to the brim.
Young boys and girls, nervous expressions on their faces, clutched standard-issue beginner staves—simple, meter-long polished wooden rods topped with low-quality elemental stones.
"Seems like it’s new student enrollment day," Liyana muttered.
Xia Lun watched the youths, feeling a pang of relief.
Now... these young ones wouldn’t have to fight on battlefields like they once did.
Suddenly, the crowd fell silent.
A burst of flames erupted as a lithe figure descended onto the square, wreathed in fire.
It was a red-haired girl in her early twenties.
Her striking features carried a confident smirk, exuding an almost predatory aura, like a lioness ready to pounce.
Most of the students were barely in their teens, their faces still soft with youth, and in both age and presence, they were instantly overshadowed by this newcomer.
"Listen up, fledglings! I’m Delyan, your senior and the examiner for your entrance test!" Her voice was sharp and loud, yet not unpleasant.
"Only by passing the test can you truly call yourselves students of Olyfindor. Fail, and you’ll be relegated to the branch academy studying magical artifacts... That’s all!"
Delyan finished her brief explanation and scanned the crowd, as if searching for any standout talents.
A man and woman approached her.
"Greetings, Miss Delyan," the handsome black-haired man said, handing her two pieces of parchment.
"What’s this? Admission letters? Even signed by Headmaster Wolund?"
Delyan’s lips curled into a smirk before flames engulfed the parchments, reducing them to ash.
"Though you’ve copied Headmaster Wolund’s handwriting flawlessly... I can tell at a glance these are fakes!"
Xia Lun: ?
Delyan snorted. "Because Olyfindor has never admitted students through special enrollment letters!
Don’t try to fool me!
Whether noble or commoner, as long as you have talent and passion for magic, Olyfindor’s doors are open to you... Even if you’re the legendary Hero, you must take the test to enroll!"