Just got my first official grades from Professor Vance’s Advanced Arcane Theory class. A solid A-. My hands were shaking when I opened the scroll. It’s not the highest in the class, but… it’s mine. All those nights practicing glyphs until my head hurt, writing essays by candlelight, it actually counted for something here.

I know some of my classmates have private tutors and libraries full of grimoires. I have a creaky kitchen table and three siblings who ‘help’ by asking a million questions about what a ‘glyph’ is. (Vidar, it’s a magic drawing. No, you can’t eat it.)

Sometimes the gap feels impossible to cross. Today, for a moment, it just felt like a distance I could walk.

Mum, Dad – this one’s for you. And for every kid from the outskirts who’s told their spark isn’t bright enough. Keep fanning those flames.