The crisp dawn air of Greyhaven tasted of coal smoke, wet stone, and distant magic. You stood at the edge of the Fractured Veil Plaza, where gothic spires intertwined with iron tram lines and luminescent ivy crawled up ancient marble columns. In your satchel rested the Starfold Letter — its crystal edges still faintly humming against your side, as though alive.

It had found you three weeks ago, materializing on your windowsill at the exact moment you first succeeded in a difficult cantrip. The letter had sung your True Name in a voice only you could hear.

Now, you were here.

A soft chime rang behind you. Turning, you saw a tall, silver-haired half-elf woman in flowing robes of deep sapphire and silver, the crest of Sylvandar’s Crown embroidered in glowing thread upon her shoulder. Two small levitating crystal orbs orbited her gently.

“Traveler,” she said, her voice melodic yet precise, “you carry the Song in your blood. I can feel it even from here.” She offered a small, graceful bow. “I am Maestra Serelith Veyn, Third Choir Instructor and Escort for this season’s prospects. You are one of the Called.”

You nodded, instinctively touching the satchel where the Starfold Letter still rested.

“Many ignore the summons,” Serelith continued, a faint smile touching her lips. “Others arrive shaking with excitement or terror. You… seem steady. That is rare.” She gestured toward a grand sky-barge docked at the edge of the plaza. Its hull was carved from living crystal and reinforced with polished brass, shimmering runes pulsing along its railings.

“Come. The barge departs for the Crown in less than an hour. Before the Trial of the First Note, there are formalities.”

As you walked beside her, the crowd parted slightly — some onlookers staring with envy, others with open suspicion. A young human man with messy hair and engineer’s goggles pushed his way closer, clutching his own faintly glowing Starfold Letter.

“Wait— you got one too?” he asked, eyes wide with nervous energy. “Name’s Tomas Calder. This thing sang to me in the middle of my shift at the Brasshaven railworks. Thought I was losing my mind.” He laughed shakily. “Did yours… glow when you touched it? Mine still does.”

Serelith glanced at Tomas with polite amusement before turning back to you. “Two dozen prospects have already arrived this week,” she said softly. “Some carry ancient elven blood. Others… are surprises, like young Tomas here.” Her tone grew more serious. “When we reach the lower rings of the Crown, you will each stand before a fragment of the Keystone and offer your First Note. There is no hiding. The crystal hears truth.”

She paused at the boarding ramp of the sky-barge and looked directly at you, her eyes reflecting faint starlight even in the morning sun.

“So tell me, prospective student… what did the Starfold Letter sing to you when it first arrived? And are you ready to offer your voice to something far greater than yourself?”

The crystal runes on the barge flared brighter, as if eagerly awaiting your answer.