Ashok strolled toward the grand entrance of the Academy, his hands tucked casually into his pockets, his gaze fixed on the fiery display above the gate.
The flaming letters spelling out 'Celestium Academy' burned brightly, casting their radiant glow on the open grassland. Yet, to Ashok, it was nothing more than an unnecessary extravagance.
'What a ridiculous waste of resources,' he thought, his mind running a quick calculation of the mana stones being sacrificed to keep the flames alive. 'A simple banner could've done the job just as well, and without turning a fortune into literal smoke.'
He paused briefly as his eyes scanned the area surrounding the gates. No towering walls, no imposing fences—just an endless expanse of grass stretching out in every direction, with the solitary, monumental gates standing tall in the center.
