It had been eight years since Father left us. I was fourteen now.That morning felt like any other morning. Mother was preparing breakfast at the table before I left for the academy. But today was different. Today was the first day I would step into the Royal Academy, a place I had dreamed of for years.
Everything around me seemed ordinary. Mother was still humming softly while cooking, the birds were chirping on our rooftop, and children were running about in the street outside, their laughter slipping through the open window.
As I stared at the bright morning sun through the window, Mother placed a warm bowl of porridge in front of me. I smiled as I accepted it. She had also prepared two more bowls, one for herself and one for Father.
Even after all this time, she still set a place for him.
When Father first left, Mother did not seem worried. His duties as a knight of the kingdom often kept him away for a year or more. But when two years passed with no sign of him, she finally went to the palace to ask for answers. The officials there said nothing.
Three years later, everything changed. I still remember standing in the crowded square when the announcement was made."The Falcon Unit, led by Lord Sora, has fallen in battle."
Mother froze. Moments later her tears began to fall, and I could not stop mine either. I refused to believe it. Father, the knight I admired most, the man everyone respected for his strength and courage, was gone.
The announcement continued with something even stranger. The palace would be closed to the public. Guards would patrol the city more often, especially at night, to maintain order. At least that was their explanation.
I knew something was wrong. But grief kept me quiet.
Five years have passed since then. Even now Mother continues to prepare three bowls of food every morning. She still hopes that Father will return home one day and sit with us again. I know it is painful, but I cannot bring myself to tell her to stop. Deep down, even I wonder if he is really gone. The kingdom never showed us his body. They only told us that the soldiers had all been cremated on the northern battlefield.
Since that day, the kingdom has changed. The King and Queen have not appeared once. New laws keep arriving, making life harder for the people while giving power to only a few. Whispers of rebellion rise here and there, but nothing has truly changed. No one knows what is really happening behind the palace walls.
After breakfast I tried to make Mother laugh with small jokes. She smiled, if only for a moment. Then I picked up my bag and left for the academy.
On the way to the teleportation gate, a familiar voice called out behind me."Bintang! Wait up!"
I turned around. It was Roni.
He had short black hair and a build similar to mine. We had been friends since our first year at the lower academy. Back then he was timid and often cried. I was hot-headed and arrogant, and neither of us had many friends. But fate placed us in the same group, and before long we became close. He is my best friend now.
I slowed my steps so he could catch up, and we walked together. We talked about small things at first, like our lunch and the homework we had to hand in. I was not really paying attention until Roni brought up something serious.
"So, how are you preparing for the duel?" he asked.
My chest tightened at the word. Every time someone mentioned the duel, I felt nervous. At the same time, my heart burned with excitement. This was not just a fight. It would decide our future.
The duel would test everything we had learned, from magic and weapons to skill and tactics. Our performance would determine which class we entered, from Class One to Class Seven. The higher the class, the brighter the future. Only the top classes could dream of becoming Royal Guardians. The lower ones were often stuck in supporting roles or meaningless jobs.
I could not afford to fail. Not with Mother depending on me. Not after Father. Our family's life had already become difficult, and the kingdom's troubles only made it worse. I had to aim for Class One.
We finally reached the teleportation gate. It was a massive stone doorway, wide enough for five people to pass through at once. Roni and I both took out our crystal spheres, the keys that would unlock the portal.
The moment we raised them, the crystals glowed brightly. The heavy door creaked open and light spilled out, shining so strongly that it hid what was beyond. The academy awaited us.
We put our crystals away, shared a glance, and stepped into the light together.