CHAPTER 110: GRAND DEPARTURE!

Dawn broke over Side Block B with an energy that seemed to vibrate through the very stones of the dormitory buildings.

Students had been awake for hours despite the late celebration, their excitement and nervous anticipation making sleep impossible for most.

The corridors buzzed with activity as 1,500 newly minted academy students gathered their belongings and prepared for the transition that would mark the end of their prospective status forever.

Conversations filled the air; speculation, excitement, and barely controlled anxiety all blending into a symphony of voices that spoke of lives about to change dramatically.

"I can’t believe we’re actually doing this," one student said to her friend as they descended the dormitory stairs with their packed belongings. "After everything we went through, we’re finally real academy students."

"Do you think the main academy is as intense as the selection process?" another voice asked with obvious concern. "I mean, if this was just the prepping..."

Similar conversations were happening throughout all three side blocks as 4,500 students prepared for a journey to a destination none of them had ever seen.

The main Imperial Academy’s location was one of the magical world’s many closely guarded secrets, known only to those who attended or worked there directly.

The logistics alone seemed impossible to contemplate. How did one transport nearly five thousand students across unknown distances to a secret location?

Most students assumed some form of mass teleportation would be involved—the only magical transportation method that could handle such numbers efficiently.

Groups clustered in the now surprisingly large and wide main arena, their bronze, silver, gold, and diamond medallions catching the morning light as they waited for instructions that would begin their new lives.

The atmosphere was electric with anticipation, nervous energy, and the kind of excitement that came from standing at the threshold of extraordinary possibilities.

Near the edge of the gathering, Ren stood with Lia and Mirabella, though his mind was clearly elsewhere despite their close proximity.

His diamond medallion seemed to weigh more heavily around his neck this morning, a constant reminder of both his achievements and the complications they had created.

"Can you believe how amazing this is?" Lia said with barely contained excitement, her eyes bright with enthusiasm as she gestured toward the crowd of students.

"We’re actually going to the real Imperial Academy! The place where legends are trained!"

"It’s definitely significant," Ren replied, though his tone lacked the enthusiasm that should have accompanied such an acknowledgment.

Lia noticed immediately, her expression shifting to concern. "Are you alright? You seem... distracted this morning."

"Just processing everything that’s happened," he said, which was technically true without revealing the full complexity of his current situation.

Mirabella studied his expression with the perceptiveness that had made her such a formidable opponent throughout the selection process. "The Academy Head’s meeting didn’t go well?"

Ren’s mind appreciated her directness even as it complicated his efforts to avoid explaining the full situation. "It was... enlightening. But complicated."

In truth, his thoughts were a tangled web of concerns and calculations that had kept him awake most of the night.

Academy Head Valeria’s revelations had confirmed his worst suspicions about the chaos mental sea evolution path he had chosen.

He had known it was dangerous when he selected it, had researched as thoroughly as possible to understand the risks and benefits.

But the available information had been frustratingly sparse; no detailed accounts of chaos mental sea development, no training methodologies, no case studies of successful practitioners.

Now he understood why. Those who developed chaos abilities either died early, went insane, or became threats so significant that their very existence was erased from historical records.

His research hadn’t failed to find information about chaos mental seas, that information had been deliberately suppressed to prevent others from following the same path.

’I made the best decision I could with the information available,’ he reminded himself with the kind of rational self-assessment that had always helped him navigate difficult situations.

’Now I have to live with the consequences and focus on growing strong enough to handle whatever comes next.’

But Academy Head Valeria’s offer added another layer of complexity that his analytical mind was still processing.

Personal discipleship with one of the most powerful weaving practitioners alive would provide protection and advanced training that he clearly needed.

It would also make him a visible political asset, create dependencies that might compromise his independence, and potentially turn him into a tool for agendas he didn’t fully understand.

She had given him a week to consider the proposal, which meant he had six days remaining to make a decision that could determine the entire trajectory of his future development.

"Whatever you’re thinking about, it can wait," Lia said with determined cheerfulness. "Today is about beginning our real education, not worrying about problems we can’t solve yet."

Before Ren could formulate a response that wouldn’t reveal too much while still acknowledging her concern, gasps of amazement rippled through the assembled crowd.

The sky above them began to darken, not with clouds or weather, but with shadows cast by something impossibly vast approaching from above.

Ren looked up and felt his mind struggle to process what he was seeing.

An airship was descending toward them, but calling it an airship seemed inadequate to describe the sheer scale of the vessel.

It was easily the size of the largest commercial airliners from his previous life, its sleek hull gleaming with dark blue and orange Academy colors that seemed to shift and shimmer with magical enhancement.

But what made the sight truly breathtaking, and slightly terrifying, was the realization that it wasn’t alone.

Four more identical vessels descended in perfect formation, each one a masterwork of magical engineering that defied everything Ren had thought he understood about the limitations of magical transportation.

The ships moved with silent grace despite their enormous size, clearly operating on magical principles far more sophisticated than conventional magical technology.

Crystalline elements along their hulls pulsed with energy that suggested propulsion systems based on manipulating fundamental magical forces rather than simple lift and thrust.

But these airships were just too big! Seriously, they were bigger than airbuses!

"By the ancient laws," Mirabella breathed with genuine awe, her usual composure cracking in the face of such an impressive display. "I knew the academy had resources, but this is incredible."

Even Lia seemed momentarily speechless as she stared upward at the descending fleet, her excitement reaching levels that rendered coherent speech temporarily impossible.

Ren felt a similar sense of awe penetrating his preoccupied thoughts.

The engineering complexity required to create vessels of this size and capability spoke of magical knowledge and resources that operated at levels far beyond what he had imagined possible.

As the massive ships settled into stable positions above the arena, sections of their hulls began to unfold with mechanical precision that revealed boarding ramps extending downward toward the assembled students.

The witch’s voice echoed from speakers that must have been integrated into the ships’ magical systems, her words carrying clearly to every person in the expanded gathering area.

"Welcome aboard the Imperial Fleet!" her announcement carried the same theatrical flair that had characterized all her interactions with the prospective students.

"You have a long journey ahead of you, so please board promptly and prepare for an experience unlike anything you’ve imagined!"

The response was immediate and thunderous. Nearly five thousand students erupted in cheers and excited conversation as they began moving toward the boarding ramps with enthusiasm that bordered on chaos.

"This is actually happening!" Lia practically shouted over the noise, her earlier concern about Ren’s mood completely overwhelmed by excitement about the transportation spectacle.

Even Ren found his analytical preoccupations temporarily pushed aside by genuine amazement at the scale and sophistication of what he was witnessing.

Whatever other complications his life had acquired, he was definitely about to experience something extraordinary.

They joined the stream of students moving toward the nearest airship, Mirabella leading the way with her characteristic confidence while Lia bounced alongside them with barely contained energy.

The boarding ramp felt solid and stable beneath their feet despite the fact that it was essentially a magical bridge extending from a flying vessel.

The materials seemed to absorb sound and vibration, creating a sense of security that helped calm the nerves of students who might have been intimidated by the boarding process.

The interior of the airship was as impressive as its exterior had promised.

The main passenger area featured a design that balanced functionality with genuine luxury, incorporating elements that spoke of both magical innovation and aesthetic sophistication.

Seating arrangements were organized in clusters that encouraged social interaction while providing adequate personal space.

The materials were clearly high-quality—dark blue upholstery that seemed to adjust automatically for comfort, polished wood accents that gleamed with protective enchantments, and crystalline lighting elements that provided warm illumination without harsh glare.

Large windows lined the hull, offering panoramic views that would allow passengers to observe their journey in comfort.

The magical engineering was seamlessly integrated into the aesthetic design, creating an environment that felt both luxurious and wonderfully futuristic.

But what caught Ren’s attention most immediately was the witch’s voice addressing a specific subset of the boarding students.

"Imperial Students—those wearing diamond medallions—please proceed to the private cabin section for enhanced accommodation during our journey!"

Ren felt Mirabella’s hand on his arm as she gestured toward a corridor that led deeper into the vessel. "That would be us," she said with obvious satisfaction.

"Private cabins?" Lia asked with obvious envy as she looked around at the already impressive main passenger area. "What could be better than this?"

"Only one way to find out," Ren replied, making a decision that felt both impulsive and entirely appropriate. "Come with us."

"I can’t!" Lia protested, though her tone suggested she very much wanted to. "I’m not an Imperial Student!"

"You’re with Imperial Students," Ren said firmly, taking her hand and guiding her toward the private section. "That should be sufficient justification."

"But the rules—"

"The rules are that Imperial Students get private accommodations," Mirabella interrupted with amusement. "They didn’t specify that we couldn’t bring guests."

Lia’s protests were clearly more token resistance than genuine objection, and she allowed herself to be guided toward what promised to be even more luxurious accommodations.

The private cabin section was indeed extraordinary.

Individual rooms featured the same high-quality materials as the main area but with additional amenities that spoke of genuine luxury.

Comfortable seating that could apparently convert to sleeping arrangements, private washroom facilities, and magical climate control that maintained perfect comfort automatically.

The dark blue rugs were so soft they seemed to cushion each step with gentle support, while the furniture was designed with ergonomic precision that made sitting feel like a therapeutic experience rather than simple rest.

"This is incredible," Lia said softly as she settled into one of the chairs, her expression shifting from excitement to genuine appreciation for the craftsmanship and attention to detail evident in every element of the cabin’s design.

"It’s definitely impressive," Ren agreed, though he was already wondering what the accommodations suggested about the academy’s expectations for Imperial Students and the resources they were willing to invest in their comfort and development.

As the airship began to rise with smooth, silent motion that felt more like gentle levitation than mechanical flight, all three students moved to the large windows to observe their departure from Side Block B.

The view was remarkable. Below them, the complex that had been their home for the past month grew smaller with each moment of ascent.

The dormitory buildings, training facilities, and arena where they had competed and celebrated all shrank into miniature representations of themselves.

Other students throughout the ship could be heard expressing similar awe as they watched their temporary home disappear beneath them, marking the definitive end of their prospective status and the beginning of whatever awaited them at the true Imperial Academy.

Ren found himself caught between wonder at the spectacular transportation and continued concern about the decision he would need to make regarding Academy Head Valeria’s offer.

But for the moment, surrounded by friends and embarking on a journey to unknown destinations, he allowed himself to simply appreciate the extraordinary experience of flying toward his future in luxury he had never imagined possible.

Whatever complications awaited him at their destination, this journey was definitely something he would remember for the rest of his life.

[End Of Volume 1: The Top Trio!]