“Thank you, father,” Aurelius said, bowing slightly. Beside him, Tiberius stood awkwardly with a strained smile plastered across his round face.

  As they left the chapel, Aurelius decided that Tiberius would be treating him to a meal at one of the more expensive restaurants in the district. After all, nothing could be done on an empty stomach. Even less so for matters involving…gods.

  “You are paying for my meal. I don’t care how much it costs. And we’re going to the bloody Gilded Spoon.” Announced Aurelius.

  “THE SPOON? Do you plan to bankrupt me Aurelius? I know that I almost killed you but, like, have some mercy on my coins!” Yelled out Tiberius

  Aurelius didn’t respond. He merely stared at Tiberius with absolute malice flowing from his eyes.

  Tiberius’s family was modestly wealthy, and as the only child he had the luxury of being doted on. That luxury came with a generous allowance, which Aurelius now intended to exploit.

  By contrast, Aurelius was frugal with his money. Coming from an accountant’s household, budgeting had been drilled into him since childhood. Like his older sister, he set aside coin after coin until he had built a respectable nest egg of about two hundred gold.

  His sister surely had more, since she was to inherit the family business, receiving larger allowances whenever she assisted their parents with the business during her holidays.

  Today has given him an excellent excuse to cheat money off of his friend, and as an opportunist, he would abuse such conveniences as much as possible.

  “O-Ok, fine. I deserve it. It’s my treat.” Tiberius melted under his withering gaze.

  The pair made their way to the fancy part of the streets, Wyvern Row.

  Delicious smells wafted through the air, full of rich and expensive smells. There were small, quaint cafes, premium magic supply stores, fancy tavern bars and most importantly, restaurants.

  They approached the brightly painted building a few buildings down the row. Even after the peak lunch hour had passed, the restaurant was still serving quite a handful of customers scattered through its 2 stories, visible through the large, opulent glass windows.

  The cool breeze of the restaurant flowed onto their faces as they pushed through the gate. The shop was wealthy enough to afford an excellent magic-cooling system.

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  After being led to some rather nice tables overlooking the street, they ordered.

  After what felt like an unbearable wait, the grilled fish arrived, its flaking flesh glistening under a glossy coat of lemon sauce. Aurelius dug in immediately, savoring the tang. Soon after came the beef stew, thick with tender meat and potatoes, rich with an aroma that made his stomach growl even louder.

  Tiberius, wearing a look of mild horror at the prices, had only ordered a side salad—not out of concern for his figure, but for his purse.

  “You’re eating quite a bit there…” he muttered wistfully.

  “Coming back from the dead can be rather hunger-inducing,” Aurelius replied flatly, his cheeks bulging with stew.

  When the bill came, Tiberius paid with all the grace of a man having teeth pulled. The one gold and five silver coins all but emptied his pouch, giving Aurelius no small sense of satisfaction.

  “Maybe I should try almost dying too,” Tiberius grumbled as they stepped back onto the street.

  “You absolute buffoon, you were the one who nearly killed me!” Aurelius shot back instantly.

  “And once again, I said sorry! I even paid without complaining—you just ate more than I expected!” Tiberius’s voice cracked as he shrank beneath Aurelius’s glare.

  “I WILL CURSE YOU AND YOUR USELESS BLOODLINE! YOU ARE BEYOND SAVING! YOU SHOULD NEVER REPRODUCE! I SHOULD DO THE NEXT GENERATION A FAVOUR AND BLAST IT OFF FOR YOU!” Aurelius thundered.

  “I JUST SAID ONE THING! ONE THING ABOUT ELVES! Reminding you of your ex DOESN’T WARRANT MURDER! Did you think that THE MANA BOMB would bounce off my chest LIKE A RUBBER BALL??”

  The tirade spilled out now that Aurelius’s pain and hunger had abated, and he unleashed insult after insult, most targeting Tiberius’s life and nether regions. They were surprisingly creative, though repetitive, and Tiberius accepted them with little protest, nodding at intervals as though agreeing with every curse.

  The streets of Tlacualtzin bustled with weekend life. Academy students crowded the magecraft shops, families wandered in and out of markets, and the occasional adventurer strode past, distinguished by scarred armor and weary faces.

  The city thrived on adventuring culture; its mountainous caves were natural dungeons, teeming with valuable beasts. Licences and bounties were issued by the Magic Commission, and the city was renowned for the abundance of rare magical ingredients to be found nearby.

  The academies flourished from this wealth of magic items, drawing students from across the Central Continent and beyond. This mix of backgrounds gave the city a lively, cosmopolitan air. Aurelius, though fondest of Central Continent fare, always set aside coins for sweets imported from the South, unable to resist their confectionery and indulging in the byproducts of the city’s diversity.

  Above it all rose the Tower of Trust, the headquarters of the Magic Commission. Sheathed in ignivite, the colossal structure glowed with a brilliant blue light, crowned by a massive stone orb carved with the four elemental True Dragons. It was as much a work of art as it was a fortress of authority, visible from every corner of the city.

  The shops and houses gradually gave way to the Academy’s castle grounds. On the outskirts of the city center, the castle stood regal against the backdrop of the Tlacualtzin mountains. The gates were adorned with depictions of the Academy’s twin guardian spirits, and beyond them students lounged and laughed, enjoying their weekend.

  The main castle itself was a relic of the sixth era, once belonging to the Greenwich family.

  After their fall, the remnant royals gifted it to the Magic Commission, which transformed it into an academy as part of their Magical Education programme. Though ancient, the castle was well maintained. The dormitories were newer additions, plain and rectangular, somewhat jarring against the grandeur of the grounds but far more comfortable to live in.

  The Sorcerous Academy of Aethernalis lacked the prestige and funding of its larger sister institution in the city, but its halls still attracted diligent students from across the world.

  It was at the dormitory gates, with Aurelius still on the verge of throttling Tiberius, that the two finally parted ways.