"It hasn't even been two days since you returned and yet, you're leaving again, this time even for longer. All I request of you is that you bring glory to the name of our family."
"Well miss you but I know you'll come visiting a few times and once you're in your final year, you'll have the leeway to visit as you see fit." Davyon said standing face to face with his first son, Seth who was prepared to leave the city.
Seth stood in front of the Institute's carriage that had come to take him back to the institute. They had arrived a day later than expected so they didn't even bother staying for a night. After resting for a few hours, they prepared to set out.
Leah walked forward, standing beside Davyon and their son. "Seth my child, all I ask of you is that you take good care of yourself. Eat lots, wash up regularly, and…"
She winked at Seth without saying the last part and he seemed to understand.
"What's the meaning of that?" Davyon asked, eyeing both of them.
"It's supposed to be a secret between a mother and her son. Don't ask." She insisted.
Seth hugged his four-year-old brother, Nuhel tightly for the last time."I'll be back soon, little Seth." Seth rubbed his brother's head.
"It's Nuhel!" The young boy replied, showing his disagreement with the name Seth called him.
"You'll always be little Seth to me."
"Hmmph." Nuhel threw his face to the side, acting like he was ignoring Seth.
"Come on. You should grow faster and stronger too. I don't want to leave you behind so much. The only reason I'll be coming home regularly is to check on you though." Seth said to his younger brother.
"Really?" Nuhel's head quickly turned back in Seth's direction.
"Of course. I'll come with presents too." Seth assured him. Both of them had grown closer to each other during these past few years. They were the only children left behind.
Seth turned to the final person standing along with his parents. It was his personal maid. "Meena, I'll always be grateful for all you've done for me. I'll be back, so please wait for me."
"I serve you only young master and since my master has requested that I wait, I can only wait." Meena, Seth's maid, gave her master her assurance.
"I'll be back soon." He got into the carriage and closed the door shut. The carriage, pulled by four well-built horses, started pulling the carriage out of the estate of the Samiels.
*****
The journey to the imperial capital wasn't an arduous one. The trip had taken over five days and Seth's escorts were well-trained and could easily face any attack against them. Beast attacks were the most common but as they got further away from the city of Zhod, they were attacked twice by rogue mages that robbed carriages.
The journey still required about a week and it was looking good. There was no deadline to bring Seth back to the institute but the escorts wanted to end this mission as quickly as they could. That didn't mean they rushed all the way to the capital either.
They took their time as they steadily advanced toward the end of the journey.
The closer they got to the capital, the safer the journey became.
Beasts and robbers dropped noticeably and it only continued to go down as they got closer.
After a week and five days, they arrived at the imperial capital. A city bustling with life and vigor.
The imperial capital of Nicadia, Nidia was thrice as big as Zhod. It was over ten times as populated and even more advanced. Construction was a level above Zhod's as its houses were 3 stories tall on average and some even got to five stories.
The road was inlaid with bricks and so were the houses. As the carriage moved through the roads, turning at appropriate turns, Seth saw the many beautiful sceneries in the city. A market that sold rare plants and flowers, a complex that different buyers and sellers of mana cores.
He saw hotels of different ranks, a few banks he would likely be checking on later, and a stream that was Over a hundred meters wide with a bridge above it for people to walk on.
After every fifteen meters, every street had a pole that held an orb hanging around. One that would go on once the sun set and only go back off when the sun rose.
After hours of moving in the city, they finally arrived in front of the Institute.
Its name was boldly written on a banner over its white and red pillared entrance. [MIN - Magic Institute of Nicadia].
The institute stood on ten kilometers of land. Boasting arguably the best buildings in the city aside from a few places.
The institute had more than forty different buildings with about sixteen of them being identical to each other. Those were the dormitories of the students enrolled here. The brown-colored dormitories were larger than most buildings with a few exceptions.
The carriage continued to pull through the institute as Seth took glances at his surroundings. He saw students all in uniforms, a mixture of black, gold, and white.
Seeing this dress, Seth was getting eager to become a student.
The carriage stopped in front of a building, one filled with students going in and out and even passing around it. One of the escorts urged him to step out.
Taking a deep breath, Seth walked out of the carriage and followed behind the escort, his presence drawing the attention of other students as he walked into the building.
For someone like Seth to arrive here in such an elegant carriage, it meant he was here to register. What drew their attention was that this newcomer arrived when there was still an ongoing study year which meant he was either extremely talented or came from an extremely wealthy family that could buy his way in.
This was one of the special buildings for lectures and it held the office of the principal.
Seth walked into the principal's office along with the escort.
"My humble greetings to the principal of the institute." Seth gave the old man a bow and a smile.
"The young master of the Samiel family sure knows how to be modest. I, Principal Rintoff Salmit, am honored to have you here." The man replied, gesturing for Seth to take a seat.
"Thank you, principal." Seth sat facing this old institute's principal known as Rintoff Salmit.
"I just have one question." Seth looked at this old principal who he could clearly sense was brimming with mana on a level that most humans only dream to achieve.
"Go ahead." Principal Rintoff said to the young boy in front of him.
"Why was I requested to be here when I'm not even fifteen yet?" Seth asked. The question still bothered him so he wanted an answer from the source of the request.