Under the soft glow of his desk lamp, a young man, Mortimer, sat cross-legged on his unmade bed, a well-worn book spread open on his lap. The pages, creased and slightly yellowed from years of use, held a story of a darker age where monsters ran rampant and grand adventures were around each corner. Perched on the open windowsill of his bedroom was a lone raven, its dark eyes gazing at him with an unnatural level of intelligence. His stomach fluttered with nerves, his thoughts oscillating between the comfort of home and the unknown challenges of school waiting just beyond his door.

  His voice quiet, he stared at the raven, "What do you think, Jinx?" The raven cawed a single time, as if responding. "I hate having to leave them, but just think about all I'll learn." His fingers danced along the edge of the page he fingered. "I'm gonna miss them, especially the little ones, but I have to go." Sighing ruefully, he muttered under his breath, "Hopefully I can awaken my magic before they assign mentors."

  The week before, the letter had arrived, and the golden crest of the Willow-Branch Academy glittered in the afternoon light. The Willow Branch Academy was the most prestigious magical academy one could get into. It was its own nation in its way and received students from almost every land. The letter was an acceptance letter, but one that allowed him to take the entrance exam. If he did well enough, he could even get sponsored and not have to worry about the cost. If he failed the exam, well then, he could kiss his dreams of using magic away as he'd never be able to afford any instruction in the kingdom. When he'd received his acceptance letter, he'd begun studying right away. It was a long, grueling month that left him stressed and restless. He'd applied because he'd always loved magic and believed he had a knack for mana manipulation, though belief wasn't enough sometimes.

  Two weeks before he was to take the exam, a panic began to arise within him. He scoured his old schoolbooks, practically lived in the local library, and all but begged Ms. Belinda, the librarian, to quiz him on every possible topic. She obliged with patient amusement, often reminding him between chuckles: "Mortimer, dear," she'd said on many occasions, "just breathe. You've enough knowledge to put most scholars to shame, and that's just on mundane topics. I'm sure you'll pass the exam with flying colors. If you don't, I'll eat one of those old dusty tomes you seem so fond of."

  At that, he began to relax slightly, but he still studied himself to the point of exhaustion. At which his mother and Ms. Belinda forced him home and made him rest some. After it had all passed, he realized the test, while challenging, wasn't as hard as he had believed it to be. he left feeling a bit hopeful and even went to apologize to Ms. Belinda. All she said in response was to keep in touch and send her a letter telling her where he scored on the test. Smiling, he agreed and went home to stress some more about the results.

  Over the next week, he settled down some, living his daily life with his parents and little siblings, all of whom were at least a decade younger than him. They kept him busy and his mind off his pending acceptance. Days later, when the letter finally came, his entire family exploded with joy. Mortimer himself was filled with relief and a sense of overwhelming joy. His mother cried, and his father laughed. His siblings jumped and ran throughout the house, hooting and hollering his name.

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  With a bit of a sad smirk, Mortimer glanced back up at Jinx, who tilted its head curiously at Mortimer. "You know what, buddy, at least you'll be there with me, right?" With that, he closed the book on his lap and packed it away in his traveling bag. After stroking Jinx's wings, he made to leave.

  Outside the door, the merchant waited atop his wagon. Mortimer had managed to hitch a ride with him on his way back to the capital. Though he was a little weary of taking Mortimer with him, a few remarks from the local merchants seemed to appease him, as well as a promise that Mortimer would help him unload when they arrived. From there, he'd wait until the portal to Willow-Branch Academy opened.

  After throwing his stuff into the back of a wagon, Mortimer turned to his family and began to say his goodbyes. “I’ll miss you all,” he said quickly, avoiding their eyes, "and I'll write as often as I can." He looked down at his little siblings who clung to his side, desperate to keep him with them. “Take care of them and behave alright?” He paused just long enough for his mother to hug him tightly, his siblings clinging even more tightly to his sides, before he stepped back, heart thudding. He then turned and climbed onto the wagon, his thoughts already racing about what could be awaiting him.

  As the wagon left the village gates, Mortimer turned and looked back, the feelings of anticipation and fear twisting his stomach into knots. He saw his siblings standing down the road, still waving, their small figures growing smaller and more distant, and he waved back one last time, chuckling to himself. Breathing deeply, he tried to steel his nerves and pulled out the book he had been reading earlier.

  The Headmaster's Office At the Academy

  "So what did you call me here for, Alastair? Surely, it was not just to sit and catch up."

  Smirking Alastair simply looked at the man sitting across from his desk and pulled out the file on one of his prospective students, pending the results of the measurement test. Without saying a word, he handed the file over and continued to smile smugly as his compatriot read over it. Puzzled, the man looked up, his eyebrows knitted together. "Well..?" he asked skeptically. "All I see is some kid who got the highest on the entrance exam. Not really that noteworthy, is it?"

  With those words, Alastair's smile grew exponentially. This is just what he had hoped for, he had gotten the chance to surprise him, this old man who seemed to know what everyone was thinking. Sitting up in his seat, he stared the man in his eyes and pointed to the student's file, saying, " Look here." he paused, waiting to see if he noticed. When he kept searching, he pointed out the student's general profile.

  Age 18,Hailing from the Kingdom of Solaria, Born during the Winter Solstice, Dormant Core, and a Commoner."

  Alastair grinned even harder when he noticed his old friend freeze up at the last two statements. He had hoped it would happen at the third, but the last two were truly the most outstanding. His friend stared him hard in the eyes. "Are you sure?" he asked, his voice a storm of emotions; a hint of hope peeking through. Alastair simply looked at his friend with the same smile as they sat in silence. The boy was impossible, or so they thought. A dormant core... full of possibility, and a commoner. Not noble born or some rich merchant's kid, a village boy. Alastair's smile neither faded nor faltered. If he was right.....well, they'd just have to see what would happen.