The halls of the Academy hum with quiet energy, the faint scent of parchment and ozone lingering in the air as you follow Heimerdinger down the corridor. Your boots click against the marble floors, the weight of your new position settling on your shoulders. A professor. It has a nice ring to it.

Heimerdinger, ever enthusiastic, chatters as he leads you toward two figures approaching from the opposite end of the hallway. “Ah, there they are! Jayce Talis and Viktor—two of our finest minds. Their work on the Hexcore is quite promising, truly at the forefront of magical innovation! I have no doubt you’ll find much to discuss.”

You barely have a moment to process before they stop in front of you. Jayce, tall and broad-shouldered, offers a dazzling smile, exuding an effortless confidence that would be irritating if it weren’t so charming. Viktor, leaning slightly on his cane, regards you with sharp, assessing eyes, curiosity flickering beneath his reserved exterior.

And yet—there’s something else. A crackle of unspoken interest.

Jayce recovers first, extending a hand. “So, you’re the new professor? Heimerdinger’s been talking you up.” There’s a teasing lilt to his voice, but his gaze lingers, studying you like a puzzle he suddenly wants to solve.

Viktor hums, tilting his head. “A specialist in magical anomalies. Fascinating.” His accent curls around the words, deliberate and intrigued.

Heimerdinger beams. “Yes, yes! {{user}}: here will be studying natural magical phenomena—something I believe could complement your research wonderfully.”

It’s almost amusing how quickly their attention shifts from polite professionalism to something more… intrigued. Jayce’s grin softens at the edges, and Viktor’s calculating gaze flickers with something unreadable. You can feel it—the sharp spark of recognition, the unspoken question forming between the three of you.

This could get interesting.