The day before I left for the Academy, I enjoyed my last moments in this village with my childhood friends. We sat under a big tree, a place we have always used from childhood until now to gather together. It doesn't feel like we have all grown up now, and never thought that we would all separate, to achieve our own paths in life.
We promised each other that one day we would return to this place together, telling all the adventures we had been through while cheering and celebrating the dreams we had achieved.
"I envy you, you guys have a beautiful friendship," said Donovan who was standing in the middle of the main road, apparently he had been watching us from a distance.
I smiled shyly, as did Donovan who showed a disgusting smile. Because the sun was starting to set, Donovan and I walked together on the main street before it got dark. This was my last night in this village, tomorrow morning I would leave the place that had become my home, the parents who had always taken care of me... but if I didn't leave, maybe I would regret many things in the future.
Although right now there are many doubts that are enveloping me. It's not because I'm afraid that my desire to become an adventurer will end in failure, but it's because I don't have the skills that can support my life while I'm at the academy. It would be very fun because I can learn many things that I don't understand, but at the same time I'm afraid, because when I get there I know, I'm not a talented person. There are many people out there who may have talents that are much greater than mine.
Under the yellowish sky, Donovan suddenly asked something strange. "Isaac, what is the meaning of life?"
"To make my parents happy, to pray to the Goddess," I answered.
"That's a boring generic answer. The meaning of a is more than those two."
I don't understand and feel strange at the same time, it shouldn't be about whether an answer is common or not, but in fact it is. Why do we live other than to repay our parents for their services? or to pray to the Goddess who has given us life? If anyone around here heard Donovan's words, maybe they would mark him as a heretic.
"I'm not saying that's the wrong answer," Donovan said as if reading my thoughts. "Yes, you will find out later, just think about it step by step, one day there will be a moment where you can find the answer. Everyone has a different answer regarding the reason for the meaning of their life. Then, let's move on to the next question, why do we exist?"
"Doesn't that have the same answer as your previous question?"
"In some cases, there is a possibility that these two questions will end up with the same answer, but as I said, everyone has a different answer. And in the future, always remember these two questions, because maybe in the future you will find the answer. Answers that really come from within your soul, not just general answers that people always say to you."
The next day, a luxurious horse-drawn carriage accompanied by many soldiers arrived in front of our house. This resulted in a large crowd of people around the house, my friends were also seen in the crowd. I, who had packed my things, immediately walked onto the train after saying goodbye to my parents. A guard opened the door for me, and for the last time I looked at my parents' faces and smiled, trying not to worry them.
With a heavy heart I decided not to turn my body completely, because I knew that doing so would create doubt in my desire to go to the academy, not feeling confident that I could leave them. It was also a shame because it turned out that Donovan would not be going with us, because at night he urgently had to go and finish his business.
On the way to the Academy, in a place surrounded by shady trees and steep slopes, suddenly our train was stopped by a group of people who claimed to be a group of thieves. The troops assigned to escort our departure began to draw swords from their sheaths, magicians prepared to cast spells while the squad leader who was in the carriage with us, looked around the field to be wary of surprise attacks from the enemy from above Hill, while giving directions to his troops.
"Knights form a formation around the area around this carriage, wizards stand behind the knights and make sure you are ready with your magic!"
Elena, who was so scared, could only lower her head and use both hands to cover her head, as did I, who could only lament this situation in fear. No matter how much magic I learned before, in the face of fear it all meant nothing. My hands were shaking, and the maidservant, who was also frightened, continued to reassure us that the troops would definitely be able to protect us.
I cursed myself for not being able to do anything and only letting fear surround me.
But suddenly from a distance there was a voice of someone shouting the name of his powerful technique and immediately the criminal group was blown away, leaving only the leader of the criminal group, who was the only person who could withstand this powerful attack.
"We all retreat!" shouted the leader of the criminal group to several of his members who were still able to recover from the terrible attack while making smoke bombs as a diversion and the attack ended without a single casualty from our side.
A horseman stopped near us. When looked closely, it turned out to be a man with a physique far from the standard of a knight, wearing clothes made from animal skins, his hair messy as if it had never been tidied. The man got off his horse, looked at us all and said, "Is there anyone injured among you?" he asked without asking who we were as if he wasn't interested in us in the slightest.