The sun peeked through the curtains as Avery and I packed our remaining things. Madame Dupont called out to us, "Breakfast is ready, girls. The carriage will leave soon."
The carriage had been set the day before. We had acquainted ourselves with the carriage master, Sir Dupont, who happened to be a cousin of Madame Dupont. He explained how the journey would go, "It would roughly be a 3 days journey. We would be going through the city, and the rest is just the forest. But we need to be careful, cases of raids have been reported near here", he pointed to the middle of the forest.
We packed our things into the trunk, and he alerted us that we learn how to ride horses. "Uhm, why?", Avery asked. "It is essential for you to know. Normally, horses are provided to the students for combat training. So it's good to start early" he said.
In total, we were 5 children going to the Academy, plus a carriage for holding our luggages and food. An extra man was added, for security reasons. Therefore, we were all assigned horses, and two horses were used to push the carriage. Sir Dupont also requested for an extra horse, for himself.
We said our farewells to everyone. Madame Dupont hugged us tightly. "Girls, I'm proud of you. Write when you can." Feeling excited, we climbed onto our respective horses and set off. We made sure that Marlon was comfortable in the carriage before we set off. Unfortunately, we didn't have appropriate riding gear, so we had to adjust our skirts and manage somehow.
As the village faded into the distance, Avery did her best to make important landmarks along the way.
As the journey slowly became boring, the other children engaged in a hearty conversation on our expectations of our new school.
"I heard they give clothes for free", one boy(Albert) exclaimed. We all laughed. "That I don't believe", a girl(Adelaide) snorted, "They wouldn't have time for commoners like us". Sir Dupont observed us carefully from a distance. He was guarding us from the back of the convoy. I slowed my horse down to meet his horse's pace.
"How is the school like Sir, please?", I enquired. He gave out a soft chuckle and patted my head.
"The school is quite large. There are rooms for everyone, it doesn't matter whether you're a royal or commoner. There's always an orientation done every year for the first years, and later on students are called in groups to study them: their health conditions and whatever necessary. Just enjoy yourselves there and always remember: you are serving as representatives of your village, so stand proud, and stand tall".
Everyone nodded and sighed in agreement, and the monologue soon turned to another conversation.
From the village to Yveta was quite a distance, but approximately it takes a day to reach the city, if you set off early. Marlon would occasionally poke his head out of the windows to take in the scenery. Once in awhile, we took breaks along the road, either for someone to ease themselves, or a refreshment break.
We soon reached a narrow road, and Sir Dupont told us to settle there for the time being. "We have to join the Solrana group", he said, and as if on cue, they appeared from the other side of the road. There were two carriages, and three grown ups supervising the journey. The children amongst them were 7, and one child stood out to me.
He had golden hair that shone like the sun, and his eyes looked like how water reflects light. As the grown ups acquainted themselves and made plans for the rest of the journey, Avery persuaded me to strike a conversation with the Solrana children. "I know you're big on the anti social thing and all, but try and get more information about the school", she said. What even made her words more suspicious was when she started to push me towards the boy I had observed earlier.
"Hi my name is Avery. And this is...", she said, pushing me towards him. "I'm Aria. Nice to meet you". "The pleasure is all mine. Please call me Archie", he said and planted a soft kiss on our hands. Avery couldn't hide her shyness and she started to blush. After excusing herself, I made sure to inform Archie that I wasn't interested in being his friend but rather I'd like for us to be informants. "It's important to know specific information that can be proved useful for the opposite sex. Don't you agree?", I said and stretched out my hand. He shook his enthusiastically, "I fully agree. It's not easy to make friends, but it's easier to get information if we know our motive".
Our conversation was cut short when it was announced that we would stay in the city for the night.
Yveta was quite grim when we arrived. The only sound noticeable were crickets. A lot of stores had closed and few people roamed around the streets. An inn had been rented out beforehand for lodging and eating for the night. It took no time for everyone to be assigned rooms, and since Sir Dupont knew our history from Madame Dupont, Avery and I were given a room. Fortunately for Marlon, pets were allowed into the premises.
We quickly settled into the room and ate the food prepared for us: vegetable stew and roast chicken with grape juice. Marlon was given fish cakes and water. Afterwards, we decided to talk for awhile before we retired to bed.
The next day was hectic; we had to rush and continue our journey, especially because for some reason we were behind schedule. The carriages were set ahead first before we had to catch up to them. During that time, the grown ups taught us a lot of things we needed to know about riding. Archie steered his horse towards our direction. "Good day to you ladies", he greeted. "Good day", we replied. Avery pretended to hear her name from a group of children and left us alone. " How do you see the journey soo far?", he asked. "It's splendid, thank you", I replied. "Your pet is the tabby right?". "Yes, why?".
He pointed to the carriage. Marlon was sitting on the roof, by an eagle. It seemed they were having a conversation. "The bird is yours?", I asked. He nodded in response. He asked a lot of questions about me and I responded to them all, but when it came to talking about himself, his actions made me tell that he was hiding a lot of stuff.
Before we knew it, evening had arrived, and so had bad news. Sir Dupont rushed to the back with another adult, "Slow down kids. The roads here aren't safe".
The forest was more gloomy than he had remembered, he said to the other adult, and we could tell something was amiss. We suddenly heard a gallop. "IT'S AN AMBUSH!", Alfred yelled as he rushed his horse to our side. He had been by the carriages, when the Secret Society attacked. "The Secret Society?", we all yelled in shock.
"The kids here with abilities, follow me!", Sir Dupont cried out, but no one except Avery, Archie and I moved forward. "Sir keep the others safe, you can trust us", I assured him, and lead them to the scene. The society had surrounded the carriages and were chanting a strange incantation.
The adults on the carriages had fainted, and they started to look pale. Archie waved his hands in the air and shouted, "Stop it!", but someone had stretched out his hands and whispered something that we couldn't hear, but it seemed like the force that Archie had pushed with his aura was absorbed and destroyed. "Avery. Aura", I said and she immediately understood.
Aura gushed into my system, and I had to be fast or else I may get hurt again. "Go back to where you came", I said, eyes closed and hands stretched out. The chanting stopped. They weirdly formed a straight line, and disappeared into the forest. After confirming that the other adults were safe and sound, Sir Dupont carried them into one of the carriages, and instructed us to lead the convoy. "I've taught you how to read the map. Now lead us out of here".
The convoy sailed through rolling hills and dense swamps, the rhythm of the carriage wheels hypnotic. Marlon had curled up onto one of the now sleeping adults, snoozing.
"I guess he didn't hear the commotion", Avery said, smiling faintly. The carriage slowed as we climbed down the final hill, shadows flickering in the moonlight.
As we emerged into a clearing, a gleaming spire appeared in the distance – the Academy of Basic and Advanced magics.
Avery gasped. "Is that...?" Sir Dupont nodded, keeping on a stern look. "The towers of the Academy. We're almost there."
A figure emerged from the building, rushing towards us. A soldier. Sir Dupont ushered us to slow down.
"Please state the place of departure and purpose please", the soldier said, taking glimpses of the carriages and us. "Solrana and Cuvia. Transportation of children to the Academy", Sir Dupont replied.
The soldier grinned excitedly and said, "Welcome to the Academy. Your future starts now".