There were already a lot of people gathered in front of the city hall so they had to squeeze their way past them towards the front where the rest of the youths between 16 and 21 from the village had gathered.
They had gather slightly to the right of the city hall and were almost all looking nervous. Ryamus and Rina greeted the ones they knew and went on to stand together with their friends. Evian had friends amongst the youths going to Selvin Academy, but they all knew that there were doubts about which department Evian would be admitted to, so over the last couple of months they had started keeping their distance from him. Not because they had been rude or anything, but they had stopped asking him to join them, when they went to the river to swim in the warm weather.
Therefore Evian stood alone and looked down the highway nervously and waited for the caravan he knew would change his life forever, although he didn't know whether it would be for the better or worse or even how much it would change.
A quietness slowly spread in the square, a quietness filled with expectations of the caravans arrival.
The larger the clouds of dust grew the more quiet the square became until you could hear the horses hooves on the hard pressed soil of the highway and the creaking of the caravans wheels. Evian drew a deep breath and exhaled slowly as the caravan entered his line of sight and came to a slow stop just in front of all the waiting youngsters.
When the dust settled people started talking again. They talked about how worn-down the wagons appeared to be, how worn out the cloaks of the riders were and they talked about how starved the youngsters that walked behind the caravan looked.
Evian was just as surprised as everyone else about the constitution the caravan was in and instantly thought that he didn't want to go with it anymore.
"Welcome to Glynlon" the village elder shouted to drown out the gossiping that was a result of what the villagers were seeing in front of them.
"Is everyone alright?" he asked in fear that the caravan should have been attacked during its trip.
""Thank you for the welcome and to answer your question, yeah we are all fine. The dust on our clothing is just a simple result of a now four month long journey around the Kingdom to visit all the villages" a warrior answered while he was dismounting.
The horse was giant, tall than Evian and was black like the black Sun. It snorted and threw with its head but one hand on its side by the warrior that had just dismounted made it stop moving and stand still like a statue.
"Bring some water for the travelers" the village elder said, which Evian for some reason couldn't recall the name of.
From the crowds of people came 6 adult males from the village caring barrels filled to the brim with cold water. They had been in the basement of the city hall, where the were an underground current that could keep beverages cold. Not as cold as if ice was put in, but ice was a luxury that the villages few mages didn't use their powers for.
Evian had expected that, all the youngster that looked exhausted from following the caravan, would tumble forward to get water but the all lined up nicely in two rows and quietly took turns to have the small cup they all carried by their belts filled. Same thing happened with the warriors and the mages although they didn't mix with each other but kept to each their own barrel of water.
Evian couldn't quite understand what happened, but it seemed like there were a hierarchy amongst them seeing as some of the youngsters made way for others to get water first. He had always been told that everyone that attended Selvin Academy would be treated the same. That everyone would get the same tasks to carry out and the the privileges given would be the same whether you were a shepherd from the boonies, the child of one of the most wealthy merchants or the crown princess.
Without any tumult all members of the caravan were given something to drink to relieve the worst thirst. There were still water in the barrels and Evian found himself wondering why nobody asked if they could get more but no one did and they all seem contempt with the share they got.
"Are all youngsters going for Selvin gathered?" the warrior suddenly asked loudly.
The were some tumult when parents and smaller siblings started moving away from the center of the square so the youngsters going were left standing alone in front of the warrior.
"As you all know it is required by law that all the youths in the Kingdom over the age of 15 and under the age of 22 attend Selvin Academy" the warrior said when all the people had settled in and had went quiet once again.
"My name is Darwen and I am the leader of The Pugnator department of Selvin Academy and I have been entrusted with the safety for this years round of recruiting" he continued in a low but very audible voice.
"Next to me is Melvin, leader of The Magus department and he will now give you some more information about why we are gathered here."
The older man that without question was a mage and which age Evian estimated to me in the high 70's, stepped forward to stand beside Darwen.
"As Darwen have just said my name is Marvin and I have been tasked to tell you about the next year of your lives". His voice was raspy and you had to pay attention to understand what he was saying.
'The next year' Evian thought before Marvin continued.
"All humans are born with a capacity for magic but it varies greatly from person to person. There unfortunately don't exist a way for one to improve the amount of magic one is born with and it will therefor be one of the two most important factors in the decision about which department of Selvin you'll attend".
It was nothing new that all was born with magic in their blood or that it was a deciding factor for where you were going to spend your five years of study at Selvin, but what Marvin said next created quite a bit of disturbance amongst the youngsters because this was completely new to them.
"You will during the first year at Selvin all receive the same education and teachings. This is a part of creating a basis for each and everyone of you so that your magical powers don't suddenly run amok."
"If you by the end of the year end up in a situation where non of the departments finds you allegeable, we'll block your magic completely and you will never again be able to use magic". Marvin finished.
Evian was both shocked and surprised seeing as he had resigned himself to the idea that he would never see his family again. But now it seemed like it would only be a year before he was back home with his mother and father. And yet, he started to think about how embarrassing it would be for his parents to have him living with them after having been at Selvin and deemed useless for the country.
The other young people were also shocked, and it took a moment for the seriousness of what had been said to sink in. Almost all of them began complaining at the same time. Well, except for a few. Evian noticed that Rina, her friends, Ryamus, and two of his friends weren't saying anything but were instead just looking at Marvin with expressions that Evian couldn't quite understand. Evian glanced at those who weren't complaining in turn and wondered what that annoying buzzing sound in that appeared in the back of his head whenever he was looked at them or Marvin.
"...so it means that you probably... Selvin." Evian nearly jumped as the words suddenly appeared in his head. Marvin had apparently separated those with high magic aptitude from those with a low aptitude by using magic while speaking. But why had Evian only become aware of it when he looked at his siblings and their friends? He was pulled out of his thoughts as Marvin continued.
"That's enough information for now. I will explain more gradually as we travel to the capital."
"When we soon set off, you from Glynlon will be at the back, as you were the last to join our caravan," said Darwen.
"Boys start by putting your luggage in wagon number 2 and girls your luggage goes to wagon number 3, then line up in rows"