"Let me go pick up my clothes and walk with them in hand as we head home. That way I can start training now." Zarue said as they walked over and picked up the clothes. Letting out a soft grunt as they stood up. "Guess it is time to push and make way towards the 'Academy', at the capitol starting tomorrow."
The next day.
The morning air was crisp and foggy, the start of fall leaving a bite in the air. The sun was barely starting to poke up from the horizon to the east. At the start of a forest at the base of a mountain range sat a cottage. Roughly one kilometer to two kilometers away from a village to the north of the cottage.
The door to the cottage opens with a soft creak, as if mournful for the coming emotions that this family would face on this day.
In the doorway stood two adults, and in front of them, a young person and a fox. The young person wearing gear as if going on an adventure that would last a lifetime and possibly never bring them back home.
"Zarue, dear. Please take care of yourself and make it to the capitol as safe as possible. There will be more than your fair share of dangers on the path ahead. Hopefully you will bump into other travelers and will find a group you will get along with during your journey." Vetiol said sweetly as she gave Zarue a warm hug.
"Your mom is right, Zarue. Do be careful. Make sure to write as much as you can afford to. I am sure the messengers will more than willingly help you. For a fair price. With that being said, make sure you watch your money. That is probably the one thing we did not really go over with you as a life skill, but, you know how to survive, clean, hunt, and cook for yourself. Aside from defending yourself of course!" Regen said with a cheerful smile as she too, gave Zarue a big hug.
"I will be careful moms. I promise, I should get going, I need to be there in time for the opening ceremony. Yes, I will write to you as best as I can while saving my money. Hopefully, I will be able to take small jobs that will allow me to go into the countryside and be able to hunt and gather for myself, while making small trinkets to sell to shops for spare coins." Zarue responded, giving both moms hugs in return, with soft pecks on each of their cheeks.
"Hey, please do not forget about myself, Young Master, mom Regen and mom Vetiol. I will be with the Young Master and help as best as I can, while keeping a low profile of course!" Relrem yipped in a playful tone.
"Of course, Relrem! We all know you are fully capable and will take care of Zarue!" Vetiol replied sweetly as she knelt down and gave Zarue a hug around his neck, then followed by Regen and Zarue, making the fox wag his tail happily.
As the family stood in the doorway, smiling and giving warm wishes, Zarue put the hair tie blindfold on. As they finished putting it on, the family sensed a forming of Ki just a few meters away from them.
"Relrem, conceal yourself." Zarue said in a low commanding voice.
Sensing the change in Zarue's tone, Relrem nodded and went to Zarue, taking his place on their arm where the circlet that was now a tattoo and rune for moon were on the right arm.
As soon as Relrem disappeared, a person could be seen walking up the path. This person was a young man clad in uniform. He did not look tired, nor did he look friendly. With a stern face and cold glint in his eyes. The man walked up to the family, looking over each of them slowly, as if sizing up prey.
"You are from the 'Academy', are you not?" Regen asked slowly.
A scornful look came across the young man's face as Regen asked this before hotly replying.
"Do not address me peasant. Everyone must go to the school, but I see it is wasted on the likes of you, since you are unable to tell from who goes there, to those who rule the roost and actually gain something from it." While saying the, the man pointed to a patch on his uniform, that of a carrier crow sitting in the middle of a small crown.
"Oh ho! I am sorry! I could not see your patch saying you were a noble that was attached to the messenger division." Regen replied, her tone civil, but leaving no room to err if offended.
"Cease your petty drivilery. I am here only to pass this on to your son Zarue." The messenger man curtly stated as he pulled out an envelope and threw it on the ground. "Here peasant, pick it off the ground, you do not deserve to receive this letter from the hands from the likes of someone as high caliber as myself." An evil smirk spread across his face, showing how he loved bossing those who he deemed lower than himself.
Shrugging with no time to deal with someone with such a bent ego, Zarue knelt over to pick up the letter. As their fingers touched the parchment a boot came and stepped on Zarue's hand, pushing it against the ground, as the foot ground its heel into their hand.
"Oh, whoops! Where are my manners! I did not see you as I went to turn and walk away!" The messenger said as he applied more weight on his foot, causing Zarue to wince in pain from sheer agitation from the scoundrel.
"It is she, by the way, little messenger boy." Zarue stated curtly before lifting their hand up with the message in hand, causing the young man to lose his balance and fall on his rear end.
Startled at the sheer strength of Zarue, the messenger stood up quickly and brushed himself off. Grunting in disgust.
"A family of all women, what a pitiful sight. You are lucky our customs protect you, and for that matter, won't change anytime soon." Turning with a harumph, the messenger walked off down the path back into town.
"Ugh! I wanted to strangle him so bad!" Vetiol said hotly, startling Zarue and Regen from the silence that had come to the family after he had left. Then causing all three to laugh at the sudden outburst.
"Well Zarue, you should read that letter before you leave! Something important might be in it." Regen said patting Zarue on the back.
Nodding in agreement, Zarue opened the letter, only to be stunned by what she read.
**********
To the Student
It is with great importance that we send this letter to you to notify you that as of receiving this letter, your arrival to the Capitol College of Training has been delayed until you are the age of eighteen.
However if you are noble, royalty, or can afford the fee of one platinum or one hundred gold pieces, you may come immediately and start your education.
Kind regards,
The Dean
**********
Release: Mon/Wed/Fri
Hey there reader! Thanks for reading this latest chapter! I would appreciate it if you could leave a review on this chapter or on the novel page. Maybe even a power stone if you so choose! These things will help me know how the audience (you) are enjoying my writing and where I need to improve!
Also a heads up! Still deciding on when to create a discord server so it would be easier to talk to me with ideas or writing issues that you may see that I do not!