Episode 11 – "The Path Beyond the Forest"
The morning sun filtered through the thin veil of mist that hung over the village. Birds chirped softly, as if whispering farewells to two figures standing at the edge of the dirt road. Kael adjusted the strap of his small bag, his hand lingering over the wooden carving of a crescent moon that hung from it—something the old shopkeeper, his adoptive father, had given him when he was five.
Behind them, the village stirred slowly, unaware—or pretending not to care—that two of its quietest residents were about to step into a world far greater than they'd known.
Lyra stood silently beside him, clutching a small satchel against her chest. Her eyes scanned the village roofs, her lips pressed tight. Her long silver-blue hair moved with the morning breeze, catching the sunlight like dancing frost.
"Are you sure about this?" she asked quietly.
Kael turned, offering her a calm smile. "Yes. And you're not going alone."
From behind them, heavy footsteps approached. The shopkeeper couple—Kael's guardians—walked up, holding a bundle of food and a carved pendant. The old man handed Kael the necklace.
"It's not much," he said, voice rough. "But it was mine when I was your age. May it keep you grounded."
Kael took it gently, bowed his head, and tied it beside the crescent carving.
Lyra's eyes softened. She had no family to bid her farewell. The village had kept her at a distance, unsure what to make of a girl with two elements.
Before they could speak again, a carriage rolled up. It was modest, not royal or flashy, but bore a seal on its side—the mark of Principal Thorne.
An older man in mage robes stepped down and handed Kael a sealed letter with a wax crest.
"This," he said, "is your pass into the Academy. Recommendation from the Principal himself. Once you show it at the gate, they'll take you in directly."
Kael bowed. "Thank you."
As they prepared to leave, the villagers slowly began to gather—silent, watching. A few muttered prayers. Others only stood still.
Only the village elder, a kind woman with clouded eyes, approached. She looked at Lyra, then at Kael.
"You're walking a path where shadows watch," she whispered. "Hold your truths close, and your bond closer."
Kael nodded solemnly.
They climbed into the carriage. As the wheels began to turn, Kael caught the last glimpse of the only home he had known—the weathered shop, the crooked lantern post, the quiet people.
Lyra looked down at the sealed letter in her hands. "Do you think… they'll accept us?"
Kael leaned back, eyes half-lidded. "They don't have to. We're not going there to be accepted. We're going there to survive."
And outside the slowly moving carriage, the forest opened to a winding road bathed in golden light—leading them toward the unknown, toward a place where ambition, secrets, and power would test them like never before.
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