Chapter 8: The Day of Departure
A month had passed since the awakening ceremony, and the excitement that once stirred the Maglor household had now turned into a quiet tension.
Kaelen’s days had been peaceful on the surface, but he wasn’t a fool he had noticed.
Derek had been coming home later than usual, shoulders heavy, eyes tired. He wasn’t gambling, drinking, or cracking his usual jokes anymore.
Instead, he had been busy collecting skill books, gear, and rare materials.
Derek was preparing Kaelen for something bigger than either of them had imagined.
The new academy "Dawn" was opening in just a week.
Once Kaelen stepped through its gates, he wouldn’t be allowed to return home until the end of the semester.
That was the rule. No exceptions, not even for nobles.
And so, on the morning of his departure, the weight of that truth finally sank in.
"Dad... I don’t want to go," Kaelen muttered as his eyes began to blur. His small fingers clenched tightly around the hem of Derek’s coat.
"I’ll be alone. I want to stay with you..."