Chapter 54: The journey begins
Their conversation is interrupted by a firm knock on the carriage window.
William looks toward the window before standing and sliding open the small hatch. Mark's face appears on the other side.
“Come on, kids,” Mark calls out. “We've reached the main group. Get down and join the other carriages.”
William and Edward climb down onto the dusty road. In front of them stretches a long convoy of carriages and wagons, surrounded by several armed guards. Multiple horses stand nearby, harnessed and ready to pull the heavy loads.
William looks over the convoy, taking in the barrels, crates, and other supplies packed tightly into the wagons.
Edward's eyes narrow in confusion.
“Why are they carrying all these goods and pretending to be a merchant caravan?”
William shifts his gaze toward Mark, who scratches the back of his head with an awkward expression. “I... don't know much about that,” Mark admits. “The professor said it would help us draw less attention.”
William nods slowly, taking another look at the massive convoy.
Before he can say anything else, a sharp, annoyed voice rings out from behind them.
“Markus, you're late.”
William turns to see a young woman with brown hair approaching them, her expression clearly irritated.
Mark looks at her and offers his usual lazy smile.
“Oh, I almost forgot. You're in charge now.”
The woman's expression darkens instantly. Before she can snap back, Mark gestures casually toward the two boys.
“Kids, this is Evelyn,” Mark says. “She graduated in the same year as me.”
He pauses before adding with a completely straight face,“And if you hear someone screaming at night, it's probably her.”Evelyn stares at him in disbelief before letting out a long sigh and walking away without a word.
“Come on, kids. Follow me,” Mark says, walking ahead with William and Edward following behind.
This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
“Don't you think she'll be mad?” William asks.“Don't worry about her. She's always mad about something,” Mark replies casually.
He gestures toward the line of carriages.
“You see the third carriage from the front? Go ahead and take a seat in there, okay? And keep your questions to yourself. No need to irritate your next driver.”
With that, Mark turns and walks toward a different carriage.William and Edward exchange a glance before heading toward the one Mark pointed out.
As William climbs inside, his eyes sweep across the carriage. More than twenty people are already there, most sitting quietly or talking among themselves.
‘Are all of them mages? Or are some of them ordinary soldiers?’
His attention is suddenly drawn to one of the men standing near the front of the convoy.Before William can get a proper look at him, the man turns and meets his gaze.William freezes.
‘Idon't know if they're mages, but they certainly aren't ordinary.’He quickly looks away and scrambles into the carriage.
---
At the front of the convoy, one of the armed men approaches his superior.
“Captain, did something happen?”
“Nothing,” the captain replies, still watching the carriage where William disappeared. “Just checking out the new arrivals.”
He pauses before a faint smile appears beneath his scarred face.
“Well... the academy has found something decent to work with.”
---
Inside the carriage, William is immediately greeted by two unfamiliar faces sitting across from him.Both boys wear clean but well-mended clothes and simple sandals, their appearance completely contrasting with Edward's luxurious attire.
“Hello, my name is Edward, and this is William,” Edward says, gesturing toward him. “What about you two?” “Hello. My name is Dan, and this is Bert. We're from the same village.”
Dan briefly stands as he introduces himself before sitting back down.Edward quickly starts chatting with them, while William takes a seat beside him, listening quietly and answering whenever someone directs a question his way.
As they talk, William learns that the two boys come from a small village neither he nor Edward has ever heard of. Dan is the son of the village blacksmith, while Bert's family works a farm—much like William's family did before they moved to Riverstead.
The more they talk, the more William realizes how little the two actually know about the academy. They barely understand anything beyond the simple fact that they're heading to a place where they will learn magic.Even now, both boys seem unable to fully believe it. Magic had never been something they imagined becoming a part of their lives.
Their conversation is suddenly interrupted by a sharp jolt as the carriage rolls into motion.William looks out through the small window as the familiar surroundings slowly fade into the distance.
‘So this is it.’ He watches the road stretching behind them.’My journey toward magic... and the fulfillment of that promise... finally begins.’