Most of the time, they simply sat in silence, gazing out at the passing scenery.
Still and unmoving.
The unfamiliar yet breathtaking landscapes rushed past the window at high speed, appearing for just a fleeting moment before vanishing again.
After a full day of travel, it was now midday on the second day.
Lance rested his chin on one hand, pulling his gaze away from the ever-changing scenery outside and shifting his attention to the clock inside the train car.
As scattered buildings and pastures—characteristic of the city outskirts—began to appear, he could tell they were getting close to their stop.
"By the way, Tata, what’s your understanding of the Shadow Realm?"
Apparently, he had grown tired of the view and decided to start a conversation with Talia.
In his past life, the Shadow Realm was a yet-to-be-fully-explored, top-difficulty random dungeon. But here, in this world, Lance had found countless books detailing its existence.
However, the mysterious Shadow Realm was far more complex than he had imagined. In this reality, it had become an endless series of perilous dungeons.And the Ikrit Academy of Magic, the very place he was heading, had originally been founded with the goal of training individuals capable of conquering the Shadow Realm.
Naturally, the entrance exam was related to it as well.
"If left unchecked or if a raid fails, a natural disaster will occur somewhere in the world. But if cleared successfully, the challenger gains power and wealth," Talia answered simply, her eyes remaining fixed ahead.
Before she agreed to become Lance’s teacher, no matter how many times he asked about Magic Cards, she would always respond with this same level of detachment.
Lance nodded at her reply, not pressing further.
As expected, the books were accurate.
To the people of this world, the Shadow Realm was a double-edged sword.
Clearing a Shadow Realm instance would grant a significant reward—core materials for crafting Magic Cards, and even more powerful naturally-formed Magic Cards that surpassed those artificially made.
However, failure would trigger a catastrophe somewhere in the world. If a Shadow Realm was ignored and left alone for too long, it would automatically collapse, unleashing a disaster upon reality.
Because of this, nations and major powers across the world devoted immense resources to training individuals skilled in conquering the Shadow Realm.
"The Shadow Realm… appears spontaneously at fixed or random locations. They are projections of historical events from this world or alternate realities."
Talia added another piece of information.
Perhaps it was her sense of duty as a teacher—when it came to Magic Cards, she would offer just a little more explanation.
Only a little.
But by now, both of them were used to these conversations that always ended before they could go too deep.
"I see…"
Lance murmured thoughtfully.
The books at the Border Library recorded that the Shadow Realm opens periodically, with an endless number of instances. Their timelines and settings vary—some are easy and lighthearted, while others are exceptionally dangerous.
Upon entering, people would take on unpredictable new identities, playing out historical scenarios.
Because of this, ordinary weapons, clothing, and magic tools cannot be brought inside.
Except for one thing—Soul-Bound Magic Cards.
This was precisely why Magic Cards had become the dominant tool of this era—they were indispensable when conquering the Shadow Realm.
Looking at it this way, the Shadow Realm and Magic Cards were undeniably interconnected.
The raw materials for Magic Cards came from the Shadow Realm, but having Magic Cards made it significantly easier to clear Shadow Realm instances.
It made him wonder—back when the Shadow Realm first started appearing, how did the ancient pioneers survive those hellish dungeons without Magic Cards…?
"Arriving now."
Talia’s voice, crisp and cool like a droplet of water hitting ice, snapped Lance out of his thoughts.
He turned his head and saw that the scenery outside had come to a slow halt.
A train station, its roof built of reddish-brown bricks, stood before them.
Two towering spires at either end made the entire structure appear grand and imposing. The station's interior was filled with intricate decorations—marble columns, murals, and stained-glass windows all exuding an air of deep history.
Unlike the South Wantina Border City-State, Ikrit, the royal capital, retained many of its historical elements despite its grandeur and prosperity.
Lance didn't hesitate. He grabbed his suitcase from the luggage rack and disembarked the train with Talia.
Walking through the main concourse of Ikrit Central Station, the sounds of chatter gradually faded.
Lance and Talia arrived at the edge of a wide plaza and boarded a small sightseeing carriage, beginning their journey through this new city.
The afternoon sunlight filtered through the carriage, gently swaying, bringing with it a sense of leisure and tranquility.
From a distance, the royal botanical gardens came into view, where tulips and calla lilies clustered together, their lush colors forming a misty veil of greenery.
The rhythmic clip-clop of hooves echoed against the ancient cobblestone streets, blending with the soft hum of rolling carriage wheels.
Even while simply leaning back against the seat, Lance could appreciate Ikrit’s unique architecture—grand houses with brick-red walls, steep rooftops, and intricate antique carvings.
As the carriage wound along a canal, a gentle breeze rippled across the water, reflecting the graceful silhouettes of willows brushing against the surface.
"When we get to the academy, wanna walk around a bit?"
Lance turned his head, looking at Talia.
"What do you think?"
Talia countered his invitation with a question of her own, seeing right through his seemingly friendly yet utterly shameless suggestion.
Since she was responsible for protecting Lance, she had no choice but to follow him around—regardless of whether she wanted to.
Even after three months, she still had no clue who the person trying to kill Lance actually was.
The only thing she knew for certain—Lance wasn’t lying when he said someone wanted him dead.
As the carriage passed over an ancient stone bridge, its weathered beige bricks bore the marks of time. Below, the canal waters lapped gently against the stone supports, while overhead, a flock of seagulls circled freely in the sky.
"Can’t help it. Visiting the academy today is really important for me."
Lance closed his eyes and spread his hands helplessly.
Unlike the Alchemical Institute and the Magic Engineering Institute, the Knight Institute and the Sage Institute had already begun their entrance exams.
Specifically—the Attribute Assessment.
If a candidate’s attribute growth potential was deemed too low, they could be disqualified from taking the formal exam altogether.
Since these two institutes aimed to train top-tier talents capable of conquering high-level Shadow Realm instances, their students would not only face life-threatening dangers but also carry the responsibility of protecting their teammates and preventing world disasters.
Therefore, both institutes enforced strict requirements on combat capability.
After clearing the Attribute Assessment, the second phase—the practical exam—would simulate a Shadow Realm scenario to test real-time adaptability. The third and final phase was a function-based combat test arranged by the academy.
After extensive research, Lance decided to change his application from the Alchemical Institute to the Sage Institute, which specialized in combat-focused magic studies.
His innate attribute alignment and job affinity made it impossible for him to become a physical combatant, so there was no point in trying for the Knight Institute.
"…"
Talia said nothing.
She was already familiar with Lance’s schedule and plans—after all, he had personally explained his upcoming exams to her.
But even with her long lifespan, having traveled through both the Demon Realm and countless human nations, she still couldn't determine what kind of combat class Lance even belonged to.
That headache-inducing problem…
She'd leave it to Ikrit Academy to figure out.
After all, she wouldn’t be the one suffering.