The ferry cut smoothly across the water.
Shinazu stood near the railing, his black hair swaying in the breeze as he stared at the endless river stretching before him.
The water sparkled brilliantly beneath the morning sun.
For someone who had spent most of his life in small towns and narrow streets, the sight felt entirely unreal.
Minato stood nearby, reading a stack of papers.
As usual, the professor seemed incapable of resting.
Shinazu looked away from the water and immediately froze.
Something had appeared on the horizon.
At first, he thought it was a mirage.
A city.
No, an island.
A massive island resting right in the middle of the waters.
The closer they traveled, the clearer it became.
Countless elegant ferries arrived and departed from grand docks.
Tall towers rose toward the sky, and glass windows reflected the sunlight like polished gemstones.
And above everything, creatures flew.
Huge magical beasts soared through the air carrying passengers, while birds simply glided through the clouds.
The entire scene looked like something straight out of a dream.
Shinazu couldn’t stop staring.
Minato finally lowered his papers.
“You’ve been staring for five minutes.”
Shinazu pointed.
“Is it?” Minato followed his gaze and completed his thought.
“Himetsu.”
The single word carried immense weight.
The world-renowned city of magic, the place every young mage dreamed of visiting.
His eyes gleaming with hope.
The closer the ferry moved, the more details became visible.
Shinazu could see floating lights drifting between buildings, magical carriages traveling through the streets, and elegant white towers decorated with glowing golden runes.
Everywhere he looked, magic seemed woven into the fabric of daily life.
“This…” Words completely failed him.
Minato chuckled.
“Impressive?”
Shinazu slowly nodded.
“Very.”
The professor folded his papers.
“The city was built nearly a thousand years ago.”
“A thousand?”
“Himetsu has survived wars, disasters, magical calamities, and political upheaval.”
Shinazu continued staring.
To him, the city looked untouchable, like something that would stand forever.
Suddenly, a profound dread gripped his heart.
From the dark depths of the water below, he saw two massive glowing eyes.
He gasped and instinctively stepped back, bumping hard into Minato, who was standing right behind him.
“What is it?” Minato asked.
“Down there…” Shinazu stammered, pointing at the water.
Don’t worry, it’s just a pet,” Minato said calmly, placing a reassuring hand on the boy’s back.
“A pet?”
“Don’t worry, he only cares for monsters,” Minato said with a teasing smile.
“But I am planning to feed you to him as you still haven’t told me your name.”
“Shi…
Shinazu!” he blurted out in a panic, quickly retracting himself as far as he could from the edge of the railing.
“Shinazu Tsukuyomi, then?” Minato asked.
And Shinazu nodded with a smile, *That gracious lady even gave me a family name.*
…
The ferry finally reached the docks, and the passengers began disembarking.
Minato stood up straight.
“Come.”
The professor stepped forward, and Shinazu followed closely behind.
The moment his feet touched the island, he felt something strange.
The air itself felt different, richer, denser, almost alive.
He instinctively looked around in awe.
“What is it?” Minato asked, glancing back.
“The air…
it feels heavy.”
“The mana,” Minato explained, pointing toward the city.
“Himetsu is situated in the middle of the Great Saryu River, along which the largest mana vein in the world flows.
That’s why the entire island is completely saturated with magical energy.”
Now that it was mentioned, Shinazu could truly feel it, a faint, constant pressure.
It wasn’t unpleasant, it was just different, like standing beside a powerful, rushing river, making him feel as if his very body was being charged with energy.
But before they could progress any further, their path was blocked by two guards.
One wore flowing robes, while the other was clad in white metal armor.
They appeared to be coast guards tasked with scrutinizing everyone who entered the island.
The moment their eyes landed on the man with silver hair, elegant clothes, and glasses, they immediately recognized him.
“Welcome back, Takahashi-sensei,” they said, lowering their heads in deep respect.
Minato acknowledged their greetings with a small wave of his hand.
The guards immediately began to clear the bustling line for him, but as they did, they noticed the young boy sticking closely to Minato’s side.
They narrowed their eyes at Shinazu, not out of disgust, but out of pure duty.
“Don’t worry, the boy is with me,” Minato assured them smoothly.
The guards exchanged a brief look, then shrugged.
They escorted the pair straight to the main entry gate, completely cutting past the massive, waiting crowd and the endless queue.
*He really has power and authority.* Shinazu finally realized that Minato was not some low estate noble and his identity wasn’t fake.
The robed guard stepped forward and made a swift hand sign.
Instantly, the enchanted runes carved along the massive white stone gate frame came alive, erupting in a brilliant golden glow.
High above the archway, the word _Himetsu_ was emblazoned in grand, shimmering letters.
Minato gestured for Shinazu to move first.
As the boy stepped forward, he felt a thin ripple in the air wash over him as he passed through the gate’s protective barrier, finally entering the city.
Minato stepped through a second later, falling into stride right beside him.
As he set foot inside Himetsu for the very first time, Shinazu found himself constantly distracted.
Every corner revealed something entirely new.
Merchants were selling all kinds of magical items from magical weapons to ornaments, Elegant mages and knights roamed the market in robes, children were playing with miniature magical constructs.
Even the lamps lining the roads glowed brightly without a flame.
The entire city felt alive, as if magic wasn’t just a tool, but a natural part of everyday life. Get faster updates on g.com.
The view shifted inward as they passed many streets.
Shinazu was standing alone on the street, besides a large tree, when something soft suddenly brushed against his leg and he nearly jumped.
He looked down.
A black cat was staring up at him.
Intrigued, he crouched down slowly to sit level with the cat and stared back.
They exchanged blinks.
The cat tilted its head to the side, and Shinazu tilted his head in response.
The cat tilted its head the other way, and Shinazu copied it.
For several seconds, heads tilted neither of them moved.
Then, Shinazu cautiously extended his hand.
The cat looked highly suspicious, narrowing its eyes critically.
But after a long pause, it finally raised a paw and tapped his palm into a gentle handshake.
_Tap._
The black cat’s touch made Shinazu’s face instantly brighten, and a tiny, genuine smile appeared on his lips.
Across the road, entirely unseen by him, someone was admiring this playful scene from a luxurious carriage window with a smile.
“Princess, we can go now,” the carriage Coachman, dressed in the uniform of a royal guard, called out.
The boy glanced up at the sound of the voice, but another large carriage passed between them at that exact moment, cutting off his view.
By the time it moved on, the royal carriage had already begun to roll forward.
Inside, the princess remained completely still, her gaze lingering on the fleeting scene of the boy and the cat until the distance slowly erased it entirely.
Neither of them realized what grand plans fate had in store for them.
“Making friends already?” Minato’s amused voice came from behind.
Hearing the adult’s voice, the cat immediately turned and ran away, its hopes of getting a treat thoroughly dashed.
“It took you so long, Minato-sensei,” Shinazu said, standing back up and brushing off his clothes.
“The Estate Office was packed since many new registrations and entries are being processed for the upcoming session,” Minato sighed.
“Let’s go to the academy.”
The farther they walked, the busier the streets became.
Roads from every direction seemed to converge toward the same destination, filled with students, parents, nobles, and commoners alike.
Elegant carriages crowded the streets, while excited conversations echoed from every direction.
The atmosphere itself felt thick with anticipation.
Eventually, the massive crowds parted, and Shinazu finally saw it.
His breath caught in his throat.
Towering gates rose high before him.
Beyond them stood a structure so grand that it seemed almost unreal.
_**Himetsu Royal Academy of Magic.**_
Gleaming white stone walls rose high into the sky, accented by clean gold patterns, trims and railings that shone brightly beneath the morning sun.
Tall towers stretched upward across the campus, connected high above by graceful, arched stone bridges.
Intricate magical runes traced the gilded edges of the architecture, pulsing with a faint, steady light.
At the highest point of the central spire stood a magnificent, golden sun crest, casting a brilliant glow over the grounds below.
The entire academy looked less like a school and more like a magnificent royal palace.
For several moments, Shinazu simply stared in awe.
“So this is Himetsu Royal Academy…”
Minato smiled.
“Disappointed?”
Shinazu shook his head immediately.
The professor chuckled.
“Good.”