The morning mist still clung to the grass when Ayan stepped out of his small wooden hut, a simple bundle slung over his shoulder. Tang San was already outside, adjusting the strap of his own bag. The village chief, Old Jack, stood nearby with that mix of pride and worry only elders seemed to possess.
"Ready, boys?" Old Jack asked, his wrinkled hands tightening around his walking stick.
Ayan gave a casual shrug. "I was ready yesterday."
Tang San smiled faintly. "We're ready, Grandpa Jack."
---
The Departure
The three of them began the walk toward the dirt road leading out of Holy Spirit Village. Fields of golden wheat swayed around them, and the smell of damp earth mixed with the faint scent of morning dew.
For a while, the journey was quiet, until Ayan decided silence was boring.
"So, Tang San," he said, "are you going to beat up all the rich city kids the moment we get there, or should I?"
Tang San shook his head. "We're going to study, not fight."
Old Jack chuckled. "Hah, just focus on your studies. A beginner academy is the first step. Behave yourselves — I don't want the headmaster sending me letters about troublemakers."
Ayan smirked but didn't reply. Trouble, after all, had a way of finding him whether he invited it or not.
---
On the Road
They passed farmers leading oxen, traders pushing carts, and children playing in the dust. Occasionally, Old Jack would point out small towns in the distance, explaining how Spirit Masters often passed through on their way to greater cities.
When they stopped for a short break near a small stream, Ayan leaned back against a tree, watching Tang San carefully polish his hidden weapons.
"You know," Ayan said, "I think Nuoding Academy is going to be fun. We'll have a roof, food, and a bunch of new people to annoy—"
"To learn from," Tang San corrected.
"—and maybe to annoy," Ayan finished with a grin.
---
Arrival at Nuoding City
By late afternoon, the towering walls of Nuoding City came into view, casting long shadows over the road. The sounds of a bustling marketplace reached them even from outside the gates — merchants shouting prices, horses clopping over cobblestones, and the faint clang of metal from distant forges.
Old Jack's eyes softened. "Here we are, boys. Nuoding Beginner Academy is just inside. Remember — this is where your real journey begins."
Ayan glanced at Tang San and smirked. "Our real journey? Sounds like fun."
Tang San adjusted his bag, eyes calm but determined. "It's only the first step."
And together, they stepped through the gates, unaware of how much their lives were about to change.