Ian made his way through the hallways towards a research facility where he was set to meet High Scholar Durlan. The meeting had been arranged in advance, and he was expected at the appointed time.
Of course, he could have brought Myrra along, but he wanted her to socialize and make a few friends on her own. As much as he wished to stay close to her, he also wanted her to grow more independent. With Reina around, there shouldn't be any issues.
As Ian approached, he took in the towering structure, its walls formed from polished stone intertwined with glowing energy channels, each pulse a silent testament to the knowledge housed within.
At the entrance, a soft chime sounded as a verification system acknowledged his presence. A moment later, a voice echoed from within.
"Enter."
Ian stepped inside.
Inside the air humming softly with the energy systems running through the structure. Unlike the main halls, this place felt quieter, more focused, workstations lined the walls, filled with complex devices, floating displays, and intricate patterns of flowing energy conduits. The scent of sterilized metal and faintly charged air lingered around him.
His eyes were soon drawn to a lone figure standing before a workstation. Unlike the elves he had grown accustomed to seeing, this individual was different.
The individual's skin shimmered faintly, almost translucent in the dim lighting, with a soft, bioluminescent glow that pulsed in gentle waves across their exposed arms. Their features were strikingly different from those of the elves. Their ears were elongated, but not in the same elegant tapering way as elven ears, they curved slightly backward, almost like delicate fins. Their eyes, large and reflective, carried an unnatural depth, their irises swirling with faint patterns of light. Even their hair, short and slightly unkempt, seemed to hold a faint luminescence, shifting subtly as they moved.
Ian had seen various kinds of elves, each with different skin tones, hair colors, and eye shades. Like Lysian, who he met the other day, the guy in Synthetic Alchemy, his skin had a reddish undertone, and, like Lirien and Cailen, who he just met, had bluish undertones to their skin. The differences often stemmed from the paths they walked, the bloodlines they carried, or sometimes the environment they were raised in. But this was something else entirely, this was not an elf.
Even if the appearance could deceive the eyes, Ian's vision, blessed by Mindbloom, cut through the surface. What he saw was something beyond mere physical traits, something truly alien to the usual populace.
"Excuse me," Ian said, stepping forward.
The stranger turned towards him, their luminous eyes locking onto his. There was a brief moment of silence, their gaze narrowing slightly as if analyzing him. Then, their expression shifted, curiosity flashing across their face.
"You're not an elf," the stranger remarked, tilting their head slightly.
"No," Ian replied.
The stranger's expression shifted from curiosity to genuine intrigue. "Interesting. I had my suspicions the moment you entered, your energy signature is entirely different from the others here. What are you called?"
"Ian," he answered, but quickly realized they were asking about more than just his name. "I'm human."
For a moment, the stranger's glowing eyes lingered on him, their initial excitement dimming slightly. "Human…" They repeated the word, their tone more neutral now, as if recalibrating their expectations.
Ian noticed the subtle change. It wasn't hostility, just a shift, like something had clicked into place for them.
"And you?" he asked, turning the question back.
The stranger let out a short, almost amused breath. "I am Lumivar. Wiokz, if you prefer names."
"Oh," Ian said, thinking back to what Wiokz had mentioned earlier. "You said something about my energy signature? What did you mean?"
Wiokz's lips curled slightly, as if pleased by the question. "We Lumivars perceive energy differently. To us, every being, elves, humans, and beyond, has a distinct signature, a unique flow and hue. Yours stands out here."
"That's fascinating," Ian said, genuinely intrigued.
Before he could continue, a deep yet warm voice cut through the air.
"Are you Ian?"
Ian turned to see High Scholar Durlan approaching. The elf carried an air of effortless authority, but unlike the rigid discipline Ian had come to expect from most scholars, there was something undeniably lively about him. His long silver hair was loosely tied back, a few strands falling over his forehead. Though his face bore the blurriness of age, his frame was solid, his movements precise and fluid, suggesting both strength and experience.
Durlan's robe was draped casually, the fine fabric embedded with energy-conducting filaments that shimmered subtly as he walked. His sharp eyes flicked between Ian and Wiokz, holding both wisdom and mischief.
"Yes, I'm Ian," Ian replied.
Durlan grinned. "Good, good. I was starting to think you got lost in here." He gave Wiokz a brief nod before turning his full attention to Ian.
"No, I got here just fine, it's a pleasure to meet you, High Scholar Durlan," Ian said, offering a respectful nod.
"Haa, haa, don't worry about all that formality." Durlan waved a hand. "Ordan spoke quite highly of you."
"Have a seat," Durlan gestured, and Ian did.
"So," Durlan continued, "you'll be continuing your work under me. We'll pick up where you left off, though I expect you to adjust to my methods. Ordan had his way of doing things, but I have mine. I assume you're up to speed on the current research?"
Ian nodded. "Mostly. We were working on refining the model for energy stabilization in hybrid constructs, testing new configurations for sustained output efficiency."
Durlan nodded approvingly. "Good. Then we're not starting from scratch. You'll document everything you've done so far, and I want to know any hypotheses you were considering before Ordan left."
"Understood," Ian said
Durlan turned to Wiokz. "Can you bring the introduction records?"
"Yes," Wiokz replied, nodding before leaving.
Durlan and Ian spent the next stretch of time discussing the state of the project. Ian gave a rundown of his previous work with Ordan, highlighting the challenges and possible solutions they thought. Durlan listened attentively, occasionally interjecting with his own insights.
They also went over Ian's coursework. Durlan strongly suggested courses in controlled energy flow, material resonance, and high-level theoretical applications.
Just then, the door opened, and a woman stepped inside carrying a small package.
She was an elf, middle-aged yet strikingly elegant. Her deep chestnut hair was neatly tied back, and sharp green eyes flickered with intelligence. Her features were refined, and there was a quiet confidence in her posture. She wore a deep purple, fitted academic robe embroidered with subtle silver patterns.
She arched a brow as her gaze settled on Ian. "So, this is the one Ordan was so fond of?"
Durlan smirked. "Ian, meet Elara. She's an instructor here."
Ian inclined his head politely. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Instructor Elara." Instructor at Arcane Engineering at Rulmose meant a minimum of Master level, so he had no reason to doubt her expertise.
Elara let out a soft chuckle. "No need for formalities. You've spent time with Ordan, I'm his wife, after all."
Ian hesitated. "I didn't know he was married."
Elara glanced at Durlan, her lips curling slightly. "Ah, of course, he wouldn't have mentioned it."
Durlan leaned back, shaking his head. "Ex-wife," he corrected with a casual wave of his hand.
Ian blinked, glancing between them. He could sense there was a story here, something layered beneath their words, but he also knew it wasn't his place to ask.
Elara let out a quiet sigh but didn't argue. Instead, she turned back to Ian. "In any case, if you ever need anything, feel free to come to me. Or, if I'm not around, Wiokz can help, he's one of my students."
Ian nodded. "Thank you, I appreciate it."
With a small smile, she gave Durlan a knowing look before turning to leave.
Durlan and Ian discuss some more things. Eventually, Durlan picked up the package Elara had brought earlier and handed it to him. With that, Ian offered a respectful nod, said his goodbyes, and stepped out of the research facility.
Ian quickly made his way toward the Astral Descent, arriving there he stepped onto the platform where the others had already gathered. The moment he entered, the shift in gravity was immediate, a lightness in his step, a sensation of drifting just at the edge of control.
The view was mesmerizing. The vast chamber stretched out before him, filled with cascading ribbons of luminescent energy, moving in slow, graceful arcs. The ground beneath his feet held steady, yet every movement carried an odd buoyancy, as if the very air resisted the pull of gravity.
Myrra noticed him first and gave a small wave. "Took you long enough."
"Had some things to wrap up," Ian replied, stepping forward carefully, adjusting to the strange sensation.
Rhys grinned. "Feels strange, doesn't it? Like you're walking through half a dream."
Ian glanced around, taking in the floating strands of energy. "It's impressive," he admitted. "Never seen anything like it."
Lirien gave a small nod. "It's one of the better spots to clear your head. The effect isn't just physical, people say it helps with focus, like standing at the edge of something vast but still grounded."
For the next half hour, they remained in the Astral Descent, chatting about classes, instructors they had seen before, and the oddities of Rulmose. Rhys shared stories about past students, while Lirien offered insights into the phenomenon's study. Myrra tested the strange gravity with small jumps, while Varian seemed more focused on staying balanced.
Eventually, as the conversation wound down, they decided to leave. Stepping beyond the chamber's influence, they adjusted back to normal gravity. Outside, the soft glow of evening lights bathed the academy. Ian and Myrra exchanged farewells with the others before heading back toward their destination.
A few days passed as the introductory sessions wrapped up. Ian now had a much clearer understanding of how things operated in Rulmose and how best to plan his studies and research.
Today, he was at home with Myrra, awaiting a visitor. Axilya was coming, and Ian had a parcel to give her, one he had received from her mother, Imryll.
Soon, Axilya arrived, her presence commanding yet effortlessly graceful. She stood taller than Myrra, her long, sculpted legs moving with a sleek, predatory elegance. Her light violet hair cascaded in silky waves past her shoulders, each strand catching the light with a lustrous sheen. Her striking purple eyes held a sharp, assessing gaze, piercing yet alluring, their depths unreadable but impossible to ignore.
Her attire, a military-style uniform, was tailored to perfection, hugging her body in all the right places while maintaining an air of refined authority. The fitted jacket accentuated the curve of her waist, while the snug combat trousers highlighted her toned legs. Despite its practicality, the outfit did nothing to hide the fullness of her figure, the fabric complementing her natural elegance rather than restricting it. She carried herself with effortless confidence, each movement fluid yet precise, as if every step was both deliberate and instinctive.
Resting against her back was a Claymore-like longsword, the weight of it seeming negligible in her grasp. It was more than a weapon, it was an extension of her, seamlessly blending into her striking presence.
She stepped inside with fluid grace, her gaze flicking between Ian and Myrra.
"Ian," she greeted with a slight nod before turning to Myrra. "And Myrra. It's been a while."