Rebirth of a Fey Lord

Eogan stood in front of the bathroom mirror, gripping the edges of the porcelain sink so tightly his knuckles turned white. The cool, damp air of the Academy's lower halls settled around him, carrying the faint scent of stone and soap. His reflection stared back, looking as tense as he felt. The Introduction to Magic class was less than twenty minutes away, and his mind churned with doubts. Would he measure up? Could he keep pace with the others?

"You're going to be fine," Leanan's voice cut through his thoughts. Her reflection appeared beside his, though she wasn't physically in the room.

Eogan glanced around instinctively, ensuring no one else was nearby. "Easy for you to say. You're not the one walking into a room full of strangers ready to prove you don't belong."

Leanan's face softened. Her silver hair shimmered like moonlight, and her eyes gleamed with gentle reassurance. "You belong here as much as anyone, Eogan. The fates didn't place you here by accident. Trust yourself."

Eogan exhaled, some of the tension in his chest loosening. "I hope you're right."

Suddenly, the door creaked open, and a tall boy with auburn hair and a confident stride walked in. Eogan's stomach dropped as he realized he appeared to be talking to his reflection. Leanan's image vanished instantly, leaving Eogan alone to deal with the situation.

The boy paused, raising an eyebrow at Eogan. "You all right there?"

Eogan's mind raced. "Uh, yeah," he stammered, scratching the back of his neck. "Just, uh, giving myself a pep talk. First-day jitters, you know?"

The boy's expression softened, and he chuckled. "Understandable. The first day can be rough." He stepped to the sink beside Eogan, washed his hands, and gave him a brief nod before leaving without another word.

As the door swung shut, Eogan let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. His face burned with embarrassment.

"Nice save," Leanan whispered from somewhere in his mind, amusement evident in her tone.

"Don't start," Eogan muttered, splashing his face with cold water. He dried off, straightened his robes, and steeled himself before heading to class.

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When Eogan arrived, the classroom was already buzzing with activity. Students filled the long benches, their conversations a mix of excitement and nerves. At the front of the room, a collection of ancient tomes and artifacts rested on a wide desk, and a chalkboard displayed the words: Introduction to Magic—Professor Maelis.

Eogan scanned the room, his heart sinking when he spotted Lorcan near the back, waving enthusiastically. He made his way over, careful to avoid eye contact with anyone.

"You made it!" Lorcan said with a grin, patting the seat beside him. "Thought maybe you'd gotten lost or something."

"No, just... needed a minute," Eogan replied, sitting down.

Before Lorcan could respond, the boy from the bathroom walked in. Eogan's heart skipped a beat as their eyes met. To his surprise, the boy gave him a broad, encouraging grin before taking a seat across the aisle. The gesture left Eogan more flustered than reassured.

The boy leaned over, his voice carrying an easy confidence. "Glad to see you made it, mirror pep-talker."

Eogan's cheeks burned, but he managed a weak smile. "Yeah, uh, thanks."

The boy extended a hand. "Name's Lirien. Means 'light of the world' in case you're wondering. And you are?"

"Eogan," he replied, shaking Lirien's hand.

"Eogan," Lirien repeated as if testing the name. "Good to meet you. Heard there was a unique genius among the new arrivals. Must be you."

Eogan blinked, caught off guard. "I'm not sure where you heard that."

Lirien grinned, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Oh, I have my sources. Don't be modest, though. A little confidence will take you far here. Treat me like an older brother if you need advice or someone to keep the older nobles off your back."

Lorcan snorted. "Careful, Eogan. This one's already got the charm turned up to eleven."

Lirien laughed, the sound warm and infectious. "Only because I like to see everyone thrive. Anyway, first class. Let's see what Professor Maelis has in store for us, shall we?"

As the lecture began, Professor Maelis handed a stack of papers to the front row, instructing the students to pass them along. When Eogan received his copy, he stared at the document in confusion. The title at the top read: Introduction to Magic: Syllabus. Below it was a dense block of text, followed by bullet points, dates, and a long list of assignments and expectations.

"This syllabus outlines the course structure," Professor Maelis said, her voice calm and authoritative. "Pay close attention to the section on safety protocols. Magic is not without risk, and your responsibility begins here. Note also the grading breakdown and key dates for evaluations."

Eogan's eyes glazed over as he tried to make sense of the document. The words blurred together, and the sheer amount of information made his head spin. Lorcan didn't look much better. His brows furrowed as he mouthed the words on the page.

Lirien leaned over with a knowing smile. "First syllabus, huh?"

Eogan nodded, grateful for the distraction. "I've never seen anything like this. Is it... normal?"

"Pretty standard," Lirien said, his tone easy. "But don't worry, I'll walk you through it. Most of this stuff is fluff. Here's what actually matters:" He pointed to a section labeled "Key Assignments" and "Safety Protocols." "Keep track of these dates, follow the safety rules, and you'll be fine."

Lorcan leaned over to listen, looking equally relieved. "So we don't have to memorize all of it?"

Lirien chuckled. "Not unless you enjoy torturing yourself. Focus on the highlights. The rest will make sense as we go."

Eogan relaxed slightly, his initial panic subsiding. Lirien's guidance made the overwhelming document seem more manageable. For the first time that day, Eogan felt a flicker of confidence. Maybe, just maybe, he could handle this.

Professor Maelis gave a brief overview of the curriculum as the class continued. "This term, we will begin with the fundamentals of magical theory and progress to controlled spellcasting. By the end, you should all be capable of performing basic enchantments safely."

She paused, her gaze sweeping the room. "Remember, magic is not just about power. It's about precision, discipline, and respect. Those who forget this do so at their peril."

The gravity of her words settled over the students, and a hush fell over the room. Eogan scribbled down notes, his earlier nerves now tempered by determination.

As the lecture wound down, Lirien clapped a hand on Eogan's shoulder. "You've got this, both of you. Just take it one step at a time."

Eogan managed a small smile. "Thanks, Lirien. I'll try."

Lorcan grinned. "If nothing else, we've got the world's most cheerful guide to get us through."

Lirien laughed. "Happy to help. Now, let's see if we survive day one."