Chương 38: Before the Journey

Rain began before dawn. It was not heavy enough to become a storm, nor gentle enough to be ignored. It tapped against the academy windows with a steady rhythm, turning the courtyard into a sheet of dark stone beneath the pale morning sky. Leo stood beside the window of his room, fastening the final button of his coat. His belongings had already been packed. There was little to take. A few changes of clothing. His training sword. Several books.

A small pouch containing the mana stones he had kept hidden from everyone. He looked at the pouch for a moment before placing it inside his luggage. The journey to the Royal Capital would take several days. That meant several days away from the academy. Several days surrounded by people he barely knew. And, more importantly, several days without the quiet routine he had become accustomed to. Leo picked up his bag. Before leaving, he looked around the room. Nothing had changed. The same desk. The same bed.

The same window through which he had watched countless sunsets. For some reason, leaving it behind felt stranger than he expected. He opened the door. The corridor was already crowded. Students moved toward the main hall carrying bags and equipment, while instructors stood near the stairs, checking names and ensuring nobody had forgotten anything important. Amon appeared from around the corner carrying two bags over his shoulders.

"Leo!" Leo looked at him.

"You're late."

"I am exactly on time."

"You're sweating."

"That is because these bags are heavier than they look." Masha followed behind him, carrying a single travel case.

"You packed too much." Amon frowned.

"I packed the essentials."

"What essentials?" Amon pointed toward one of his bags.

"Food." Masha stared at him.

"That is not an essential."

"It is to me." Alice arrived a moment later. Unlike Amon, she carried almost nothing. She looked at Leo and smiled.

"You're ready?"

"Yes." Her eyes moved briefly toward his luggage.

"You didn't forget anything?"

"No."

"Are you sure?" This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. Leo nodded. Alice seemed satisfied. They continued toward the main hall together. None of them noticed the figure standing at the far end of the corridor. Professor Gareth watched them disappear down the stairs. His expression remained unreadable. Then he turned toward the other instructors.

"Are all the students accounted for?"

"Yes."

"Then we leave in twenty minutes." The academy courtyard had been transformed into a temporary departure station. Several large carriages stood in a line beneath the rain. They were reinforced with steel along the sides and covered by magical barriers designed to protect the passengers from weather and minor attacks. At the center of the courtyard stood the academy's headmaster. He gave a short speech. There were no grand promises. No dramatic declarations about glory. Only a reminder.

"You are not traveling to the Royal Capital merely as students. For the duration of this journey, you represent this academy. Remember that before you act." The students listened quietly. Then the gates opened. One by one, they climbed into the carriages. Leo sat beside the window. Alice sat opposite him. Amon and Masha occupied the remaining seats. As the carriage began moving, Amon leaned toward the window.

"We're finally leaving." Masha looked at him.

"We have been outside the academy before."

"That's different."

"How?"

"This time, we're going somewhere important." Leo glanced at him.

"You've never been to the capital?"

"No."

"Then why do you sound like you know what it is like?"

"I've read about it." Masha smiled.

"You read about the restaurants."

"I read about everything."

"You know the names of twelve restaurants."

"That is still knowledge." Alice laughed softly. Leo looked outside. The academy gates slowly disappeared behind them. For several minutes, nobody spoke. The road stretched ahead through the countryside, surrounded by wet fields and distant hills hidden beneath the morning mist. Leo rested his head against the window. He had left one world behind. Now he was leaving the first place in this world that had begun to feel like home. The thought stayed with him longer than he expected. By midday, the rain had stopped.

The clouds remained, but sunlight occasionally broke through them. The road became busier as they approached the main trade route. Merchants. Travelers. Caravans. Knights. The kingdom was beginning to reveal itself beyond the academy walls. Leo watched everything carefully. The villages were larger than those surrounding the academy. The roads were better maintained. Even the magical infrastructure became more advanced. Street lamps powered by mana crystals appeared beside several settlements.

Small communication towers stood on distant hills. The kingdom was far more developed than Leo had initially assumed. Amon suddenly pointed outside.

"Look." Leo followed his gaze. A group of knights was traveling along the opposite side of the road. Their armor carried the crest of a silver wolf. At their center rode a young man wearing a dark cloak. Several students in the carriage recognized the insignia.

"Royal Knights?"

"Probably."

"They look strong." Leo said nothing. The young knight briefly turned his head. Their eyes met through the carriage window. Only for a moment. Then the caravan passed. Alice noticed Leo's expression.

"What is it?"

"Nothing."

"You looked interested."

"I was observing." Amon laughed.

"You always say that." Leo returned his attention to the road. There was nothing particularly strange about the encounter. At least, not yet. They stopped before sunset at a small roadside settlement. The instructors decided that continuing through the night would be unnecessary. The students were given rooms at a local inn while the carriages were moved into a nearby stable. For the first time that day, everyone was free. Amon immediately disappeared toward the dining hall. Masha followed.

Alice remained outside with Leo. The village was quiet. Lanterns illuminated the narrow streets, and the smell of freshly baked bread drifted from a nearby shop. Alice folded her arms.

"It feels strange."

"What does?"

"Leaving the academy." Leo looked at the road ahead.

"Yes."

"You're going to miss it?" Leo thought about the question.

"I think so." Alice smiled.

"That sounded almost emotional."

"Don't exaggerate."

"I wasn't." She laughed. Leo looked at her for a moment. There was something different about traveling with his friends. At the academy, they had always been surrounded by other students. Here, away from the familiar walls, their group felt smaller. Closer. More real. Alice looked toward the darkening sky.

"Do you think the Royal Capital will be different from what we've heard?"

"Probably."

"Are you excited?" Leo considered it.

"No." Alice raised an eyebrow.

"Not even a little?"

"I want to see it."

"That sounds like excitement."

"Curiosity."

"Whatever you say." She smiled again. Then her expression changed. Her eyes moved toward the road. A carriage had stopped at the far end of the village. A man stepped down. He wore ordinary traveling clothes. Nothing remarkable. But he looked toward the inn. Then toward the academy carriages. His gaze remained there for several seconds. Leo noticed. The man eventually turned away and disappeared into the crowd. Alice looked at Leo.

"You saw him too."

"Yes."

"Do you know him?"

"No." Neither of them spoke for a moment. Then Amon's voice came from behind them.

"You two are missing dinner." The tension disappeared. Alice turned around.

"Coming." Leo gave the distant road one final glance. The stranger was gone. He followed his friends inside. Much later, when the village had fallen silent, a lone figure stood on the roof of a building overlooking the road. The figure watched the academy's carriages resting beneath the moonless sky. A small piece of paper was unfolded in one hand. There were only three words written on it. Royal Capital — confirmed. The figure folded the paper. A gust of wind swept through the village.

When it passed, the roof was empty. And far away, the road continued toward the capital. End of Chapter 38.