CHAPTER 62 – SETTING OUT
The results board had been hung on the northern wall of the Academy's main courtyard.
The crowd gathered in front of the stone wall was quieter than the usual post-exam excitement. No one was shouting, no one was celebrating. Names were read, gazes lingered for a moment, then people quietly went their own way.
Seryn stood at the edge of the crowd. He didn't approach the board. He didn't look for his name.
There was no need.
Those who knew him were already looking. Some quickly averted their eyes; others held their gaze a few seconds longer than they meant to. None of those looks were hostile. But none of them were comfortable either.
Things left hanging make people uneasy, he thought. People want clarity.
After a while, the crowd dispersed. Only a few students remained in front of the board. One of the instructors took the results list down, as if there was no longer any point in leaving it on the wall.
Seryn turned away.
This part was over.
Caravan registrations were handled in the lower administrative building that opened onto the Academy's harbor. A narrow path descending stone steps stretched all the way to the lakeshore. From the outside, the Academy island looked like a place of education—but once you reached the harbor, it felt unmistakably like a point of passage.
Seryn didn't join a line. There wasn't one anyway. Travel was planned. Where each person was going was already listed.
The clerk spoke without lifting her head.
"Daskal."
"Yes."
"End-of-term caravan. Starts with harbor passage. Inland route. Final destination not listed."
"Normal."
She raised her head and looked at him for the first time. Her eyes lingered on his face for a brief moment.
"Your ship departs in the late afternoon. Twelve people in the caravan. Four guards. Highest level: C."
Seryn nodded. That was normal too.
"Weapons?"
"With me."
She closed the ledger. "After disembarkation, travel continues by land. Teleportation circles are city-based. No direct line."
"I know."
She looked like she might say something else, then thought better of it. "Then… have a good journey."
Seryn turned away.
The Academy harbor was calmer at this hour. Large trade ships didn't dock here. This place was mostly for transit—student caravans, small cargo transfers, the Academy's own needs.
The ship wasn't small, but it wasn't impressive either. A broad-hulled, low-sailed transport vessel suited for lake travel—though considering the lake was nearly the size of a small sea, whether it was truly sufficient was debatable. The crew was quiet. There was no rush.
By the time Seryn stepped onto the deck, the other passengers had already taken their places. When the ship moved, the island slowly fell behind.
The Academy's towers turned into silhouettes within the mist. Stone walls, training grounds, examination halls… after a while, all of it became a shadow drifting on the surface of the lake.
Seryn leaned against the railing.
The crack in his chest didn't react to the departure.
That, too, was information.
So you didn't belong here, he thought. Or maybe you don't anymore.
The lake was vast. The Academy island was only a small part of this enormous body of water at the heart of the continent. Reaching the shore would take hours.
The wind was cool. The scent of water was heavy.
As the ship advanced, something moved beneath the surface. A slight disturbance. One of the crew glanced over from beside the mast but didn't raise an alarm.
Soon after, the waves settled again.
There were no great threats in this lake. But it couldn't be said that there were none at all.
As the sun set, the horizon turned into a crimson line. The lake reflected the light, making it look as if it were burning from below.
Seryn didn't look away.
This is how journeys begin, he thought. Quietly.
Night had fallen by the time they reached the shore.
The port city looked rougher compared to the Academy. Thicker walls. Harsher guards. There was no education here; there was order.
The caravan assembled. Twelve travelers. Four guards. At the front stood a broad-shouldered, middle-aged man. His sword was plain, but clearly well-used.
"From here on, we travel by land," he said. "First stretch lasts until morning. We don't move fast at night."
No one objected.
The road wasn't paved. It was a mix of dirt and gravel. The wagons moved slowly. They passed along the edge of a forest. The trees weren't dense, but they limited visibility.
Seryn walked instead of riding in a wagon. The guards noticed, but didn't comment.
The first attack came around midnight.
The bandits weren't professionals. There were six of them. Their weapons were mismatched. But they were bold—bold in the wrong way.
When the attack began, no one shouted.
The guards immediately took positions. The lead guard, a B-level, drew his sword and stepped forward. Seryn didn't retreat, but he didn't charge either.
The first bandit attacked one of the guards. The second went for the wagons.
Seryn moved.
He didn't speed up. He didn't use power. He was simply where he needed to be. When the bandit swung his sword, Seryn shifted one step aside. The counter was simple. The arm was disabled. The man went down.
The second bandit tried to flee. One of the guards stopped him.
The attack lasted less than three minutes.
No deaths. Two injured. The rest fled.
The guard leader looked at Seryn. He didn't say anything. He just nodded.
They spent the night in a small village.
The village was simple. Stone houses. Little light. The people were quiet but hospitable. An inn was opened for the caravan.
When Seryn retreated to his room, he felt tired for the first time. Not physically. Travel-weary.
He sat on the bed and took the envelope from his bag.
He placed it on the table and looked at it for a while.
Home, he thought. Does that word still apply?
No answer came.
They set out early the next morning.
On the second day, there were small monster attacks. Low-level creatures. Not dangerous, but they required attention. Seryn didn't intervene. The guards handled it.
On the third day, they reached a large city.
It was a transit hub. Teleportation circles functioned here—but not for long distances. They were chained, city to city.
The circle area was crowded. Security checks were strict.
Seryn joined the line. This time, he waited.
When the circle activated, the air grew heavy for a brief moment. Then the world shifted.