Just as Jimmy and Sister Lisa turned away from the gates of Nymera, still reeling from the quiet rejection, the loud hum of a sleek, polished luxury car rolled into view.
A black and silver emblemed carriage—hover-enhanced, chrome-plated—stopped with the elegance only old money could afford.
Jimmy glanced back instinctively.
The same school guard who had turned him away with a tired, indifferent smile suddenly straightened his back, fixed his cap, and rushed forward.
From the car stepped a tall, striking boy, about Jimmy's age, clad in custom-fit academy prepwear. His stride was confident, every motion exaggerated by the attention he was used to. Behind him followed a woman in a regal dress and a man in an ornate ceremonial cloak—clearly influential figures.
The guard bowed slightly and took the boy's admission form, barely scanning it before nodding rapidly and making a call.
Within seconds, two senior staff members from the institute arrived at the gate, all smiles and respectful bows. They welcomed the trio as if they were royalty and ushered them through the shimmering gate.
Jimmy noticed something unusual—a subtle but familiar sequence of numbers on the registration sheet held by the boy.
But before he could make it out clearly, the car and its occupants disappeared inside.
Lisa, however, had sharp eyes. And she did see it.
She squinted at the document as the guard held it up. Her heart skipped a beat.
The boy's application number was exactly one digit after Jimmy's.
Her eyes widened in disbelief.
"Wait a minute," she said, stepping forward with a tone that made the guard blink. "That boy applied after Jimmy. His number is later than ours. Why is he being admitted… when Jimmy just got rejected?"
The guard's face stiffened. "Ma'am, please don't create a scene."
"You already created it," she snapped. "Explain it."
But the guard folded his arms and said nothing more. His eyes darted around nervously, and his lips stayed sealed.
Jimmy gently touched Lisa's arm, signing:
"It's okay. We still have one more school. Let's go."
Lisa clenched her fists but nodded, swallowing the bitterness building in her throat. Inside, she was raging.
Jimmy, too, felt something inside him for the first time: A flame. It wasn't sadness. It wasn't confusion. It was anger.
But he calmed it.
With a deep breath, he looked at the map on his phone and pointed at the next stop.
"Let's go," he signed. "Today's the last day. If we reach on time… maybe we can still make it."
Lisa stared at him for a moment—proud, heartbroken, and inspired all at once—then nodded.
The Long Journey
To get to the next school, they'd have to cross almost half the outer city.
Metro first, then bus.
A 3-hour journey.
Time was ticking.
They rushed to the nearest metro station, weaving through crowds, scanning Jimmy's Codex to get a discount fare, and grabbing the earliest train. Lisa kept checking the time. Jimmy kept checking Luna's status in the Codex—she was calm and ready.
After switching trains and finally catching the last leg by a shaky bus ride, they arrived.
The gates of Veyrith Academy of Tamer Arts were not nearly as grand as Nymera's—but they were still vast, beautifully built with stone, glass, and elemental runes.
It was 11:30 AM.
Still time.
Jimmy approached the guard and handed him the admission ID, Whisp Master ID, and Brain Certificate.
This guard was different—more methodical.
He took the papers carefully, verified the seal, even cross-referenced them on his handheld tablet.
Then he gave a call to the office, stating Jimmy's name and ID.
A long pause.
Lisa and Jimmy shared a nervous glance.
Then, finally, a voice on the other end answered:
"Admit him. Tell him to report to Testing Arena 3."
The guard nodded. "Welcome to Veyrith. Please proceed."
A door opened. Lisa nearly cried in relief.
Veyrith: The Testing Grounds
The academy interior was calm and structured. A few other applicants roamed the halls, mostly already done with their tests. The walls were lined with murals of past graduates, famous tamers, and battles frozen in magical frames.
They followed behind another applicant—a confident young man with three taming badges already pinned to his chest—and entered the wide-open Testing Arena 3.
Lisa went to sit in the observation gallery, her heart pounding.
Jimmy stepped into the circle.
In the middle stood a tall instructor in grey robes, her presence sharp and unreadable. She was reviewing files on a glowing slate when she noticed Jimmy.
"Ah. You're Jimmy."
She stepped forward, reading from the digital profile.
"You're mute. I see. And… you lost your eyesight in a recent incident."
Jimmy nodded.
The instructor gave a moment of respectful silence.
"By Veyrith protocol," she said firmly, "we begin with a brief theoretical interaction—followed by a battle demonstration. You may use any means necessary to communicate. Cards, gestures, Codex translation, or telepathic link if you possess one."
Jimmy nodded, already pulling out his Taming Codex.
With a flash of blue, Luna emerged, landing gracefully by his side.
The instructor blinked, impressed by the form and spirit of the Whisp.
"She's well-trained… And I don't recognize the species. Let's begin then."
Luna sat loyally at Jimmy's feet, awaiting his signal.
Lisa watched from the gallery, her breath caught in her throat.
This was it.
Jimmy stepped forward. The world had doubted him.
But now, his actions would speak louder than words ever could.
#3 badges - D grade whisp master