Entry 009 – First Night in the Dorm

Uniforms showed up while we were gone. Their tidy folding satisfied my OCD tremendously! 

Books on the desk: Runic Lexicon is thick enough to kill a man. I opened it, read two lines, and immediately closed it because I knew I’d be up till 4 a.m. if I kept going.

My new casting ring is still warm. Like it’s happy to be here.

Tomorrow we start actual classes.

I’m terrified.

I’m so excited I could puke.

Both at the same time.

Goodnight, future legendary wizard me.

—Liam

Entry 008 – The Day We Got Our Rings

Dear Journal,

I have an actual magic ring on my finger that literally levels up when I do.

Jordan cried laughing when his slid on and I did the troll voice. Vanessa screamed like she was dying for half a second and then laughed for five minutes straight. Professor Diamond kept calling everyone “darling” in that fancy voice and I’m pretty sure half the girls want to be her when they grow up.

Also blood magic hurts like a mother for exactly one heartbeat. 10/10 would do again.

I smell like a campfire and I’m never taking this thing off.

Night.

—Liam

Entry 007

Dean Kamotano just casually conjured an entire five-star dinner service like it was nothing.

He also said “these are, after all, your college years” and the whole hall lost it.

I drank sparkling water with a perfect lemon slice that appeared out of thin air.

Professor MacGorne laughed at something and the ley-line map on the faculty table lit up like it was happy.

I’m never leaving this place.

If anyone tries to wake me up I’m throwing hands.

—Liam

Entry 006

Jordan and I tried to sneak into House Melodia to “scout the talent.”

Got caught by a Quebecois greenhouse goddess who literally said “Vas-y” and let us go.

Then we crashed the Melodia welcome and watched a fourth-year make a paper crane fly around and peck her ear. I almost cried.

Vanessa Lane called Professor MacGorne “MacGorgeous” to his face (well, almost). Jordan is now on a mission to buy a three-piece suit.

Ended the night toasting under a floating crystal chandelier that was spitting northern lights on our food.

Still not convinced this isn’t an extremely vivid dream.

—Liam

Entry 005

Tomorrow I say the words and vanish from my neighborhood.

Suitcase packed, hearthcard burning a hole in my pocket, glucose meter tucked beside the rune chisel like it’s the most normal thing in the world.

Dad hugged me tonight and just said it again: “The choice is yours, son.”

Mum cried into the cannoli. Nonno slipped me an extra $50 “for coffee in Alberta” and whispered that saints travel with stubborn Italians.

Jordan’s already spam-texting memes about turning into eagles on day one.

I keep rereading the welcome letter like it’s going to change.

Four thousand kilometres and one portal away from everything I’ve ever known.

I’m terrified.

But I’ve never been more ready.

See you on the other side.

—Liam

Entry 004

Just wrapped up MTG night. Adam is still sulking because Tommy dropped a Blightsteel on him for the third time and I countered literally everything he tried to do. Mrs. T brought down espresso at 1 a.m. like it was Christmas morning. 

Life is stupidly good right now.

But every time the room gets quiet I feel it humming under my ribs: two months until I’m gone.

Jordan sent me a 3 a.m. voice note (Toronto time) absolutely vibrating because he’s now convinced our very first shapeshifting lesson will be something lame like a goldfish or a snail.

He spent twenty minutes ranking every animal he refuses to become and swore that if they start with “anything without legs” he’s faking a glucose crash and hiding in the infirmary.

I couldn’t stop laughing.

Then I couldn’t fall back asleep because… yeah, what if he’s right?

I keep staring at the black hearthcard on my desk. It’s just matte plastic right now, but I swear it feels warm.

I’m living the best summer of my life and counting the days until I leave it behind.

Weirdest feeling in the world.

—Liam

Entry 003

I still can’t believe today actually happened.

This morning I was just some uni kid from Montreal, stressing about exams and whether I’d ever figure out what to do with my life. By tonight? I’ve walked through a secret door under Banff, stepped into an underground magical city, held actual runes in my hand, watched a blacksmith the size of a fridge (wearing a Santa hat, no less) explain blood-bound artifacts like it’s normal, and eaten conjured food that literally vanishes if you don’t finish it.

The Banff Bazaar… man, there’s no way to describe it properly. It’s like someone took Venice, a Middle Eastern souk, and a fantasy novel, shoved them into a glowing canyon, and lit the sky with stars that aren’t even real. Gondolas floating on a river underground. Workshops full of gears that turn themselves and spirits made of earth hauling tools around. Gary basically gave us free chisels to carve our own runes one day. And Father Smithmas fist-bumped Jordan like they were old mates.

Professor MacGorne just strolled through it all like it was a casual Saturday, dropping bombs like “yeah, we use bitcoin because we can turn lead into gold” and “legendary artifacts are possible if you’re good enough.” He even bought us lunch—moose sausage and elk steak that appeared out of thin air.

I kept waiting to wake up. I didn’t.

Jordan’s already planning what flying animal he’ll shift into first. Typical.

There was one weird moment at the end—some drunk guy yelling about a “Blightweaver” being spotted in France. The professor’s face changed completely. He rushed us out after that, portaled us straight home through a bathroom door. He told us to hide the orientation packages when they arrive. So… yeah, maybe not everything in this world is safe and shiny.

But standing on my front porch tonight, staring at my totally normal house, all I could think was: nothing feels normal anymore.

And honestly? I’m okay with that.

Classes start in September. I’m in.

Whatever this is… I’m all in.

-Liam

Entry 002

I had my second meeting with Professor MacGorne today. 

He spiked BOTH of our teas with a conversation enhancer he called 'Moonlit Clarity Tonic'...

It tasted like the cool night air.

At first I was afraid...but then it kicked in, and his words felt true—like they were the only things that had ever been true.

He meant me no harm, and is genuinely a good man. 

We talked about shapeshifting, battlemages, druids, abjurers, and a bunch of other magical things that made my head spin—in the best possible way. 

He explained that the campus is hidden somewhere remote, and that for privacy reasons, he couldn't take me there until I've accepted his offer...but he did settle on showing me around the Bazaar nearby! 

Tomorrow I meet another magical prospect from Toronto, and then Professor MacGorne is taking the two of us into the magical town together!!! 

I'll finally get a taste of the magical world! 

I'm ecstatic. 

Stay tuned, I’ll report back after the bazaar!

—Liam

Entry 001
I’m Liam Russo.
I’ve never kept a journal before, but everything changed today.A professor in a three-piece suit just recruited me…
to a hidden university of magic.Magic is real.
And it wants me.The catch?
I have to abandon the dream I’ve chased my whole life—becoming a doctor (or pharmacist) to heal people the normal way.I haven’t decided yet.
But if you’re reading this…
you’re coming with me.Stay close.
— Liam