As the wagon started moving, pulling us away from the village-away from our old life-I looked back one last time. Ryn stood, watching us go. Even from a distance, I could see the same determination in his eyes that I felt in my own heart. We just had to believe in each other's conviction now.
"I will see him again," I thought, my hand gripping the wooden side of the cart. "And I will be stronger when I do."
With that promise echoing in my mind, I gave a final wave and turned away, my gaze settled on the long, unfamiliar road ahead
The wagon creaked, its wheels jumping over the occasional rock as we left the familiar, plowed fields behind and entered the wild, unkept lands.
The rich scent of turned earth and wheat I'd known my whole life faded, and was replaced by the dry, dusty smell of wild grass. I watched the neat rows of our farm blur into a chaotic tangle of weeds and wildflowers with a gentle breeze blowing through them.
"So, how long is it again until we reach the capital, uh I mean Xyfern?" I asked dad, breaking the silence.
He grunted, tugging lightly on the horse's harness. "Should be a ten-day journey, but with the way things are... we'll push to make it in a week."
"Oh, okay," I said, leaning back. A week was still longer than I wanted, but better than I expected. It would be the longest journey I had ever been on, which would give me plenty of time to think about my plans for when we reached Xyfern.
To keep my promise to Ryn, I had to get stronger. And the only way to do that right now is joining the military and being placed in one of the advanced Mana Transcendence units.
Deep down, I believed I had a good chance. Still, I couldn't shake the nagging fear that I might not have inherited as much of my mother's magical ability as I'd always hoped.
However, the real source of my anxiety was my dad. I had already made up my mind to enlist, but I dreaded the conversation. I didn't want us to part on bad terms, and I had no idea what to say that wouldn't lead to a massive argument.
Should I just be direct? "Dad, I'm joining the military." No, that wouldn't go over well.
Maybe I could lead up to it somehow? But would there even be a point? I mean I did already tell him that I was going to join when we had an argument before the village was invaded. So, he is probably already expecting something.
During the rest of the trip, the question of what to say to my dad remained in the back of my mind, but I nearly always had a distraction to help me put off coming up with an answer.
Over the next few days, we passed plenty of interesting wildlife; my favorite was seeing a flock of Quatem birds that flew overhead.
They were so unique with their two sets of wings, I always wondered what their purpose might be, but it was still a mystery. So, until someone found out, they were just funny looking birds.
Much of the land we crossed was uninteresting fields of weeds, or hilly plains.
Eventually, the plains gave way to a forest so large we had no choice but to go through it. The path inside was partly overgrown, slowing our wagon train to a crawl and adding a full day to our journey.
The forest was dark and thick. The canopy of leaves and branches choked out most of the sun's light, leaving just a few stray beams to pierce the gloom. Large, encroaching bushes crowded in on all sides of the road.
There were nearly nonstop noises, like the croaking of frogs or the buzzing of cicadas. The most distracting thing was the constant rustling in the bushes.
It was likely always from a small animal, and this forest was known to be very safe.
But the small chance that it could still be a monster had everyone tense.
My dad's eyes were regularly darting around, scanning the surroundings.
I kept my catalyst on me just in case, though I probably couldn't do much.
I thought back to when I had deflected that soldier's sword to save Ryn. Somehow, in that moment, I'd made a fireball stronger than I ever thought possible for me.
But right now, the chance of me pulling off an attack like that again felt slim at best.
About once a day, the wagon train would stop to share a meal together. It was never anything extravagant, just enough to get us to the next day.
The truth was, we gained more nourishment from spending time with each other and trying to keep our spirits high.
By the end of the eighth day, I was more bored than I had ever been in my life. I was slumped in my seat, head down, thinking, "We have to get there soon, right?"
Then I lazily looked up. There were still more vast fields in front of us, dotted with scattered trees...
"Wait, what is that?" I said, squinting at the horizon. The sun was setting behind us, casting its near-horizontal light on something that reached out of my view on both sides.
"Well, looks like we have nearly arrived at Xyfern," Dad said casually.
As we got closer, I could gradually make out what was reflecting the light. It was a thirty-foot wall.
It was made out of massive bricks, each one four feet wide and two feet high, all painted a blinding white that seemed to stretch on forever.
But we were headed for a break in the wall, a gap filled by two towering steel doors, the peaks of which spiked over the top. The thick, riveted metal looked impenetrable.
The entire wagon train stopped just short of the doors. My dad got out and, with a few others, walked toward the gate.
He looked the door up and down. "Sooo, what now?" I thought as I watched, the world falling silent with anticipation.
BANG BANG BANG! My dad knocked so loudly and suddenly I almost jumped.
"Yeah, yeah, we hear ya," came a muffled voice from the other side.
A heavy slit in the wall slid open, and a Lionia soldier peered through. "Let me guess, your refugees, right?" he asked, his eyes scanning our weary group.
"Yes, we came from a village near the border," Dad replied.
"Well, we need to see some documentation for proof of citizenship."
"Of course," Dad said, handing some papers through the slit along with the other men.
After a few minutes, the soldier said, "Okay, you're clear to come in."
Then, after another minute, the doors began to groan open with the sound of grinding metal.
My jaw nearly dropped as I looked inside. A grey brick path, wide enough for many wagons to drive side by side, stretched out for hundreds of feet before splitting at an intersection. On both sides were rows of tall, pristine houses.
Each one was beautifully crafted with painted shutters and clean windows; nothing in our village could compare.
After a quick stop for some soldiers to check the wagons for anything suspicious, we were given directions on where to sell our goods and where to stay.
Many minutes of driving later, we left the quiet housing area and entered a marketplace roaring with life.
The air was thick with a thousand new smells all at once: sizzling meat from a food stall, the sharp scent of fresh leather, fragrant spices, and a dozen different perfumes.
The area was a sea of people, all bustling back and forth, their voices a constant, energetic hum.
Stores, small and large, were packed together, selling everything from warm bread and colorful fabrics to gleaming jewelry in luxury shops with polished glass windows.
It wasn't just the variety that impressed me, but the sheer prosperity. It seemed like everyone was carrying bags overflowing with goods.
I thought that in a city this grand, there was probably almost no one lacking.
But after we finished selling our grain and the other villagers sold what they had, I was proven wrong.
As we continued toward where we could stay, we passed a large park that had been converted into a tent camp for refugees. There were hundreds, maybe over a thousand tents, packed tightly together under the darkening sky. The smell of despair hung in the air.
My dad told me they had come with nothing, so they couldn't afford to stay in paid housing. I asked him why the government didn't help them more.
But he told me that the emergency housing had already been filled, and this was their only option.
He said the people were being provided with food, and their basic needs were met until they could find work.
But seeing them huddled there, their faces etched with loss, it still didn't sit well with me.
We slowly crept towards the center of the city, and the buildings around us began to grow taller. Initially the housing was mostly four stories tall, but gradually they grew all the way up to ten stories in height.
The structural architecture had to be perfect to make these stable and safe. Even my dad, who had been mostly stoic, craned his neck up, appearing impressed.
But the most impressive building stood in the very middle of the city. Towering three times as high as any other structure was a magnificent castle.
It was the city's parliament and government building, where the royal family also lived. It was over three hundred meters long on each of its four sides, with tall, elegant towers meeting at every corner.
Clearly, it wasn't just made for governance; it was created to withstand any attack. I imagined that even if everything else around it fell, this place couldn't.
Finally, we came to where we would stay; it was a place in one of the ten-story buildings.
After hauling what little we had up seven flights of stairs, we went inside. I set my belongings down and looked around. It was smaller and more cramped than our home, just two rooms.
A main room for cooking and eating, and a bedroom with a single bed...
"Take your stuff to the room," my dad said, his voice echoing in the small space. "I can sleep on the floor tonight."
I wanted to protest, but I knew it would only be for one night. I had my own plans for tomorrow.
Later, after we cooked and ate a quiet dinner, we sat at the small table.
A thick silence wedged between us. For a few minutes, I just stared at my plate, occasionally looking up, hesitating to say what I needed to.
I couldn't be sure, but I was almost certain my dad already knew what was on my mind.
I clutched my fork tightly, my knuckles white. Getting ready to speak, I took a deep breath and slowly raised my head.
I opened my mouth, just starting to form the first word, "I-"
"So, you are going to the recruitment office tomorrow, right?" Dad said, cutting me off. His voice was calm and almost cold, without any hint of surprise.
I froze, stunned that he had just come out and said it himself. "Y-yes, I am," I replied, my own voice barely a whisper.
He sighed, a long, weary sound. "I see then. Well, I'm not going to try and stop you."
I blinked. "Wait- you don't mind me joining the army?"
"Of course I do!" he snapped, a flash of his old anger returning before it softened. "But if joining the army is your conviction... well, it would be wrong for me to stop you."
"And your mother," he added, his voice dropping, "she would have never forgiven me if I did."
I thought back to when Mom first started teaching me basic spells. I remembered the thrill of casting my first one successfully and excitedly telling her I wanted to be a mage when I grew up.
She had smiled and said it wouldn't be easy. I told her I didn't care. She told me, "Well then, if that's what you want to do, don't let anyone stop you."
I promised I wouldn't, but after she died, that commitment had faltered. It was only fully relit after meeting Ryn.
"You're probably right," I said, a wave of relief washing over me. "Thanks, Dad," I added, as I started to smile slightly with a feeling of gratefulness for the respect, that he had shown me.
"Just... promise me you'll be careful. Prioritize your safety," he said with a pained expression on his face.
"Of course, I always will," I answered, thinking that dying before I could make a difference was the very last thing I wanted.
Early the next morning, I was awoken by the sun shining through our only window.
I sat up and stretched. "Well, today's the day," I thought, feeling excited and nervous.
From my chest of clothes, I pulled out a dark green leather tunic, a pair of sturdy brown pants, and the small bag I used for my catalyst.
The clothes had small signs of wear, but they were durable. Which was exactly what I might need for something like a military exam.
I snatched an apple from the table and quietly slipped out of the apartment while my dad was still sleeping.
Enlistment tests began at seven, so I made sure to arrive a bit early. The main building was an ancient fortress; its massive grey stone walls marked with age but impeccably maintained.
A nearby clock tower read 6:46 AM. Glad that I had some spare time; I took a deep breath and began to enter.
I walked under a wide, archway that led into the main courtyard. A lush green lawn surrounded the brick path, which split into three directions ahead of a tall signpost.
To the left, the sign pointed toward the living quarters, which was made up of multiple large buildings that looked like they could each hold a hundred soldiers, maybe more.
Straight ahead was the main building, where military supplies, weapons forging, and planning took place.
And to the right were the training building to learn magic and weapons skills. That was where the testing would take place.
As I walked towards the training building, I caught a glimpse inside through the tall glass windows. I could tell there were already quite a few people inside.
Once inside, I went straight to the registry desk. After giving my information, I was told to wait with the others.
As I waited, I glanced around. At the far end of the hall was a polished wooden stand holding the Affinity Prism that would be used for the testing.
It reminded me of the Mana Transcendence testing sphere I had shown Ryn in the forest. My mother's book explained how this one worked.
The prism would glow with the color of a person's elemental affinity, but if someone had unique magic, it would quickly flash as it cycled through colors, unable to locate a matching element.
Excitement, determination and nervous expressions had now filled the room. I felt somewhat of a combination of all the above and now it was time for the testing to begin.
"Attention everyone!" A tall lady wearing a Lionian uniform called out, her voice reverberated in the room. "If you are here to join the magic units of the army, please follow me."
She began to walk towards the Affinity Prism, and about half of the people there, myself included, followed behind.
"Please form a single line everyone," She instructed. I found a spot close to the front of the line.
"First, we need to test what your magical Affinity is with this prism... or if you possess any magic ability at all."
The line moved quickly, as I saw the prism light up with many different colors; a brilliant red for fire and a deep blue for water were the most common.
While spells of all elements could be learned by any mage, I knew a person's affinity was what determined their most effective spells and what element their Mana Transcendence abilities would likely use.
Finally, it was my turn. My mom's affinity was for ice magic, so I already knew what to expect.
I placed a hand on each side of the cold glass prism. Thinking of my mother, I channeled my energy. A brilliant, icy-white glow bloomed from inside. "Yep," I thought with a proud smile, "I did inherit her ability."
But then the glowing stopped. "Huh? Is this supposed to happen?" I asked, looking up at the instructor.
Before she could reply, a different light started glowing from within the prism. It was a warm, yellowish light.
"Well, when someone has an affinity for two different elements then, yes," she answered.
"And I think you're the first one here to have an affinity for light magic too," she added, sounding impressed. "You should consider yourself lucky."
"Light magic?" I knew for a fact my mom didn't have an affinity for that. So where did it come from? Maybe there was a reason I was also blessed with it... at least, that's what I hoped in the moment.
In short time, the test had finished. About ten percent of the people trying out failed, either from having no magic ability at all or it being too weak.
Now we just had to wait for the results. Everyone left would be allowed to join if they passed the general fitness test, which I knew would be no problem for me.
But what really mattered was where I got placed. Most here would be placed in a regular unit, where they could still have a chance of reaching Mana Transcendence.
However, being placed in the advanced unit meant you would receive extra resources and training, with the goal that everyone reaches Mana Transcendence level one before their first official battle.
Even if the unit was only made of twenty people, if they all were at Mana Transcendence one or two, they would be a near-unstoppable force on almost any battlefield.
And now, having an affinity for two elements, I felt like my chances of being placed in the advanced unit had just improved significantly.
I looked down as I held my catalyst in my hand, thinking that just a month ago, being here would have seemed like an impossibility.
"Hey there!" A cheerful voice said right in front of me. I looked up, startled. A girl about my age stood there with bright, eyes and a wide smile, was standing there.
She had fiery red hair which seemed to enhance her energetic look about her. "I'm Amy."
Then she gestured to a guy leaning against a nearby wall with his arms crossed. "And this is my friend, Grant." I looked over at him.
He was solidly built, with dark hair and calm, grey eyes that seemed to be taking everything in. His quiet and still posture was a complete opposite to Amy's energy.
"Hey, we only met like two minutes ago," he said flatly, pushing himself off the wall.
"So, what does that matter???" She replied like it was perfectly normal.
"hmph, whatever," he said, shaking his head chuckling slightly. Then he looked at me directly, and his expression became slightly more friendly. "Anyway, nice to meet you."
"Oh, uh, nice to meet you too," I said, still a bit caught off guard. "My name is Aurora."
Now that I took a better look at them, I recognized them from the test. Amy was the girl whose fire affinity had made the prism glow brighter than anyone else's.
And Grant was the only one in our entire group to have a unique, non-elemental ability; his test had made the prism flash chaotically with a dozen colors.
"So, I saw your test! Having two affinities is amazing!" Amy said with genuine excitement.
"Th-thank you!" I replied, feeling my cheeks warm a little. "I saw both of your tests too, they were incredible. Amy, your affinity is so strong, and Grant, having a unique ability is so cool."
"I'm glad you think so too, Aurora!" Amy said, her smile widening. "I figure the three of us will all be in the advanced unit for sure... so we should be friends!"
"Oh, uh," I hesitated, not quite sure what to say. "Isn't that kind of sudden? I mean, we just met..."
"That's pretty much what I said when she asked me," Grant said. "But I don't really have anything to lose, so I figured, why not," he added, a real, small smile appearing on his face. I could tell he was being honest about everything he was saying.
"Yeah, it is sudden," Amy said laughing slightly and as she lightly scratched the side of her head, "but I'm a great judge of character and I can tell you're a good person!"
"Oh, I see, um..." I thought for a second. Amy was very forward, and Grant seemed more reserved, but something about them made me feel like I could trust them.
I couldn't think of any reason why not. I smiled back at them. "Sure, I agree. That sounds great."
Grant nodded, his own smile widening just a little.
"Great!" Amy declared. "Then from here on out, we are officially friends. We'll watch out for each other and have each other's backs if we get in desperate situations."
She held her fist out between us. "Does that sound good to you guys?"
Grant met her fist with his own. "Sounds alright to me."
I met their fists with mine, a feeling of anticipation and excitement spreading through me, "I wouldn't want it any other way."