David examined himself in front of the mirror. The dark, loose-fitting robe felt surprisingly cozy. He smiled, feeling the loose garment sway as he turned around. He imagined his best friend Joe would laugh at him if he ever saw him dressed this way.

"Still having a dream of yesterday?"

He jerked his head to the door. Talim had just stepped inside their dorm room, regarding him with a teasing smile.

David's face flushed. "Don't you know when to knock?"

"I do. But we share the same room," Talim smirked. "I've heard you've had an interesting day with Elen."

His face reddened. "You're too nosy for a boy."

"Can't help to think about it when you keep smiling around without a reason."

"Knock it off. It's not about her."

David had never liked somebody finding out about his special feelings for someone and kept pestering him about it. And why did he care so much?

"Wait a minute," David said. "Don't tell me you like her."

Talim's face became sober. "Whatever. In her dreams."

David made his voice sweet-sounding. "It's alright, Tal. You can have her."

"Oh, gross, shut up," Talim scowled. "Forget about it. I'm fetching you for breakfast."

They went together to the school cafeteria. The ground floor was divided by several long tables. The place changed compared to what David had seen last night when Talim brought him there to dinner.

The stone walls were now lit by illuminating orbs instead of torches blazing in sconces. The stained glass windows of intricate mosaics filtered the sunlight coming from outside. This time, the place was not jam-packed with students. David spotted empty seats in every row.

Just like a regular school, students would have a tray to choose the food they wanted. David took milk, scrambled eggs, toast breads with honey for breakfast. They sat together, facing Zenki and Drake to the other side.

The two boys shared the dorm room with them. They had introduced themselves last night at dinner. Zenki was the skinny boy with a young face and stuttered a lot. He couldn't be older than David. Drake was almost a head taller than him. He had a brown complexion and curly dark hair.

"What's up, new boy? Are you ready for the test?" Drake asked.

David's heart skipped a beat. "A test? What kind of test?"

Talim, whose mouth was full, tilted his head at Zenki.

"I-tt-t's just a test to determine what kind of talent you have."

"Nobody has really explained to me what this talent is," David said.

"Talent is the kind of power you have," Drake said. "It's literally the same thing as what kind of mage you are."

"People who have powers are called mages. The categorization of their powers is what we called talent," Talim finally said. "Your talent can either be shaping, manipulating, enchanting, witching, or combinations of two or more."

"What's a test look like?" David asked.

Talim chuckled. "It's not that scary. They will make you do a demonstration of your ability before you get admitted."

"The problem is I don't know how to use my power."

"That's why they are going to assist you. Normally, the Magus will be present," Talim said.

"Excuse me," a short woman in a brown robe chimed in. It was just yesterday since David had met her first in the dungeon. "David, the Magus will have to see you," Neri added.

"Now?" he asked.

The other three boys exchanged curious looks.

"It is urgent. You should come alone."

David hesitantly left the cafeteria and followed Neri. He had barely touched his breakfast. As they crossed the courtyard, his mind swam in thoughts.

Why did the Magus want an immediate meeting with him? Well, he was really expecting to see him soon, wasn't he? Did he already find a way back to Earth? David's inside fluttered with nervous anticipation as he watched the elegant columns on the hallways. He couldn't wait for the news.

Shortly, they reached the wooden door to the fancy room. Neri opened it without knocking, and David entered. Dectus was leaning his back against the mahogany desk. His expression was hard to read.

"Hi," David said, sitting down on a pillowy couch. "Can I go home now?"

The Magus crossed his arms against his chest. "I have spent the whole night researching what lies behind your unforeseen appearance. It mostly involves looking back to the past."

"And?"

"The conclusion is no surprise at all. Nobody has ever crossed the threshold to this world from beyond for the past centuries."

"Does it mean I'm lying or what?"

Dectus stared at him for a moment. "No, my boy. Although the withdrawal of this realm from the others occurred long before the old kingdoms had been established, there may be a little chance for an unprecedented anomaly over time. But given that idea, you're the very first to arrive. Otherwise, someone with enough power must have played a role. The question is who?"

"I don't understand. You mean someone sent me here?"

"The history we have is incomplete. After the emperor named himself, he went to the extent of ridding the knowledge of yore. Prominent libraries had been burned to ashes. Repositories of learning were purged out," Dectus said. "But an ancient script was passed down through the memories of rebelling intellectuals. A piece of archaic knowledge deduced that it took the combined efforts of the three Magi to detach this whole place."

"Isn't the emperor one of the Magi?" David asked. "If he had helped to seal this whole world, he would've been the only one with sufficient power to summon a person from another world."

"Perhaps that made sense. But I doubt he could just undo what the three of them established."

"Didn't he just beat them?"

"It's still a mystery how he got the best among his brethren. Considering the mastery of his craft, there can be a little doubt that it was the Magi of Drundar who proved more capable compared to the two," Dectus said. "He may have discovered an arcane knowledge unknown to everyone."

"The only way to know is to go to him," David challenged.

The Magus narrowed his eyes. "If he truly conveyed you here, then what is his reason?"

David pressed his lips together, unsure how to respond.

"Don't doubt yourself, child," the Magus assured. "I don't believe the emperor would send you. Although I don't know any of his motives, he was never known to be interested outside the boundary. On top of that, a proven source offers a significant theory."

"What source?"

"You will know later," Dectus said. "Now, I want you to show me what you are capable of."

David tensed. "Like now? I-I don't know how."

"Do you sense your power, David?"

"Not really."

"The first step to wield your power is to know where to access it. Look inside yourself."

David tried to focus inward, but he wasn't sure what he was looking for. "I don't understand."

Dectus held out a hand. "Look into me."

He took his hand, and his mind immediately perceived the energy inside his body, strong and steady. The force pulsed inside as if it was his own heartbeat.

"I can feel it."

"Good," Dectus said. "You have similar power. Look deeper inside yourself. Close your eyes, and get curious about your center. Where is your essence housed? Is it in your gut? In your chest? Or behind your eyes?

"I still don't get it," David said. "I'm just me."

"Think harder," Dectus suggested. "Where is your core? What part of you takes over and holds you together?"

David's effort brought him to a blazing element in his chest, pure and mighty, it continued to send a throbbing force all over his body. His power was there as clear as he had felt it in the forbidden forest. "Yeah, I feel it in my chest."

Dectus released his hand. "Now you know where to access it. The next step is how to engage it." He spread his arms wide and turned around. "Now, for the starter, think of this room as a shophouse. Tell me which one of these things you want to have."

David pointed to one of the landscape paintings on the wall. "I think that one."

"If you want to buy that precious art, will you tell it to come to you?"

"No. I'd grab it and go to the counter."

"That's right," Dectus said. "Your will would motivate you to take the action. It's the same as how you should harness your power. Talim told me what you did to him back in the forbidden forest and how you tried to engage with it inside the carriage. Somehow it might have confused you. Keep in mind that although your emotion could increase the potency of your command, it wasn't the key."

"So the key is my will?"

"Not sufficiently. The keys are finding the source of your power and discovering what you must do to tap into it with your will. Care to try?"

David nodded. His mind raced with excitement. Would he finally become a wizard? Someone that could cast a real spell like in the movies? If his whole team found out about his crazy power, they would certainly call him a freak. Anyhow, having powers seemed cool. He couldn't wait to see what he was really capable of.

The Magus pulled a thick white candle from the drawer. He then placed it on top of his mahogany desk.

"Try to light the candle."

David felt a mild stage fright. He had never tried to use his power besides the occurrence in the forbidden forest. And what he did back there was entirely different from lighting a candle. He could feel his power rolling inside him. He tried to mentally reach the candle and ignite it. Nothing happened.

"What happened?" David asked.

"You tell me."

"It's weird. I could sense my power alright, and I willed the candle to light itself."

"You still don't fully understand it." Dectus pointed a finger to the candle. A red flame as thin as a thread snaked toward the wick, giving it life.

"What did you do to your hand?"

"Nothing important. Hand gestures help me focus to accomplish a smooth command. For some, it may be for formality. Remember what I told you: seek your power and command it with your will," Dectus said. "The candle would not ignite itself, it's your job to do it. Borrow the heat from your power and try to influence it. Then you should be able to manifest it physically."

David pointed at the candle. He could clearly sense his power. It was there, blazing furiously as if impatiently waiting for him to use. Pushing hard, he willed the heat from his power to punish the candle. A surge of furious flame appeared in front of him. Like an uncontrolled flamethrower, it almost swallowed half of the room.

The Magus shoved him back, made him momentarily lose his balance. With a wave of his hand, the fire vanished, leaving no trace of its existence.

"You've pushed harder than necessary. I told you to light the candle, not the whole chamber."

David couldn't help to suppress a smile. He had not expected how it came out so natural to him.

"How do I know when to push right?"

"Such skill can be learned through practice," Dectus said. "You've bothered me, David. Manipulating fire is the most common talent a mage can acquire, but I have never seen such amount of power employed in a first try."

"Does it mean I aced the test?"

Dectus smiled. "The test aims to indicate where you rank. It doesn't matter anymore. I would like to personally train you."

"Sure. What else can you teach me?"

"You don't have to learn all of them in a day. Most techniques require a considerable time and effort to develop."

"Okay, what now?"

"There are two power-sources at play in Atlantia. One is the inherent essence bestowed on an individual. Another comes from the language of high Ifric."

"Talim mentioned it to me. He said I might be able to learn it too."

"That is part of the reason why I need you to seek my counsel," Dectus said. "The language of the old has become less relevant today than ever. Few scholars of great talent can only manage to speak a word of command. Considering your power, I would willingly witness your potential knack with it."

"Only a few people with power? I was thinking it is the native language you speak here."

"What do you mean?"

"We speak English," David said as if sharing common knowledge. "It comes from my world."

Dectus tapped a finger on his cheek. "I have a suspicion that this language is not native here, but I cannot prove how. It has always been the common tongue of Atlantians since the time I learned to speak it."

"Is there any other language besides the two?"

"I don't believe so. There are phrases spoken exclusively for witching, but they are more of a chant than the latter."

"Does Ifric sound the same with English?"

Dectus retrieved the candle from the desk. He held it out in front of him and muttered an unfamiliar word, providing new flame in the wick. He was not actually sure if he heard him say, sing or hum it. Or maybe, three different sounds were combined to speak the word. But David had clearly understood what it meant.

The word translated automatically in his mind: Dectus had summoned the heat and transferred it toward the candle, producing fire as the result.

"I think I understand what you just did," David said.

Dectus' eyes immediately darted to him. "You do?"

"Let me have a try."

The Magus passed the candle to him, and David took it.

"Do I have to sing it?" David asked.

"You still remember the word, and how I pronounced it?" Dectus checked.

David nodded.

"You have to say it clearly and correctly. You don't have to be loud, but the pitch matters."

"Okay, I get it. How should I begin?"

"Same principle with how you do it with your essence. The only difference is that the power is the word itself. Influence the heat with the word and will it to the wick."

David focused on his target and spoke the word. He could feel the power releasing in his mouth. And in less than a second, a flame flickered into being.

Dectus fixed him with a suspicious look. "I know I would expect a surprise, but this is still ridiculous. You have an unusual aptitude even in Ifric. Do you still remember the word?"

"Yeah, I guess. "

The Magus blew out the candle. "Now try it again."

David complied. He spoke the word again, intending the heat into the wick. The candle came to life once more. It felt no harder than his first attempt.

Dectus closed his eyes shortly and took a deep breath. "That's even surprising. Do you know how much time it took me to master that single command?"

David shook his head.

"Almost a decade," Dectus replied. "To most people, the word would sound rubbish. In some who have potential, the earliest attempts would not be fruitful. The heat would hear but not respond. Most importantly, once the word is uttered, successful or not, you have to relearn it again."

"I ought to forget the word once spoken?"

"That's how it works. At least for most of us. There's no way around it. That's why it should take years of practice to finally tie it in our minds," Dectus said. "But you've done it twice with great ease and without slipping the word out of your mind."

"I'm supposed to be the only exception?"

"I don't think about the emperor, but for now, you certainly stand out among the rest."

"Why do I have so much power?"

"That's it. It leads us back to my sole reason for calling you here," Dectus said and snapped his fingers.

The shelves split apart into two, revealing a portal behind.

"Now you need to see the Wisdom Tree."