Crown Jewel of Arcane Elemental Academy: Aurora Village

Aurora Village hits home in so many ways. Not only is it a place Yote finds solace; it’s a dose of nostalgia for Yours Truly.

If there is one common denominator between myself and Yote Diamondback, it’s that we’ve both found homes in Aurora Village, albeit in two different worlds.

In Eastern Ohio, just west of West Virginia’s northern panhandle and a few miles from the Ohio River, sits the town of Wintersville, Ohio. And it’s the only village I based Aurora on.

So much of what you see in Aurora, sans the Arcane Elemental Academy, is in Wintersville. Its landscape, with Main Street sitting at the apex of Appalachia’s rolling hills. Local businesses that resemble homes line much of Main Street, from pizza parlors to specialty shops.

Corporate America has a presence, but it’s often relegated to the east side and it’s mainly auto part stores and fast food outlets. Restaurant chains are rare, with primarily local outlets springing up there and in neighboring Steubenville.

Aurora Village matches Wintersville, Ohio’s surrounding landscape

Just beyond Main Street sits what used to be a location of a local grocery store chain. In Arcane Elemental Academy, a version of that chain is still alive and well.

While most visit the place for food and necessities, Yote and her friends go there to catch the view. In front of the store and looking to the west, the rooftops of those local businesses, residential areas, places of worship, and the iconic water tower emerge.

In the spring and summer, the view brings optimism, given the blossoming landscape decorated in front of those homes and local businesses. A sense of calmness encapsulates the view during the autumn season when those leaves change from green to rust, yellow, and red. During those snowy months, the place looks like a Christmas/Yule village under the frosty skies.

Heading out back, one realizes that this store sits right on the edge of town. When they catch the scenery, it’s nothing but deciduous forest and evergreens. Toward the evening hours, the sunbeams cast an array of yellow, orange, and pink streaks, giving the landscape a majestic feel.

Arcane Elemental Academy stands near the bounding countryside

Walking along Main Street, one can look in either direction and catch the rolling hills, the occasional farm, and random water towers far out in the distance. Into the horizons that carry a sense of wonder.

The walk down Main Street reveals the bustling side of town, where it branches off onto a road that dips into an older, calmer part of the village. A road that eventually leads into that open countryside.

But Yote and them keep walking on Main Street, past that busy intersection, and toward Arcane. The land flattens out as they make their way back to school. Still, when one looks back at Main Street, that same iconic water tower viewed from anywhere in the town stands over that village. If they can see that tower, they know they’re close to home.

So, how did Yote end up in such a brilliant place? Catch the first three chapters of The Arcane Prophecy and find out.

Check out The Arcane Elemental Academy Hub for more in-depth profiles.