Evian lay in his bedroll, the earthy scent of damp soil and grass filling his senses. The sounds of the night crept in: the distant rustle of leaves, the soft hooting of an owl, and the low murmurs of the others in the camp. The stars twinkled overhead, dotting the velvet sky with pinpricks of light. Yet, despite the peaceful surroundings, Evian found it hard to relax.
Thoughts of Mira, the crown princess, whirled in his mind like a tempest. What would it be like to meet someone so different from him? Someone who had grown up in the grandeur of the royal palace while he had spent his days running through the woods and climbing trees. Would she be friendly, or would he feel the weight of her title pressing down on him, suffocating any chance of friendship? Would he even get a chance to talk to her, or would she be surrounded by guards and courtiers, too busy with her royal duties to pay attention to a mere villager?
Evian rolled over, trying to push those thoughts aside, but the uncertainty remained. He could feel Vax's bedroll beside him, the faint sounds of the boy's rhythmic breathing providing some comfort. Some form of steadiness.
Several days late, as the gong's sound echoed once more, the camp awoke. Today, they would reach Atmylon and within the capital they would reach the Selvin Academy, and the excitement was almost tangible in the air. The group quickly packed up their camp, and set out on the last stretch of their journey.
As they walked, the suns climbed higher, spilling light over the landscape. Evian tried to focus on the rhythm of their march, the crunch of dirt and twigs beneath their feet. Vax walked beside him, occasionally chatting with their fellow travelers. The atmosphere felt charged with excitement and anticipation, everyone eager to reach Selvin Academy and see what awaited them.
After hours of trekking, they finally reached a crest that overlooked the valley below. A city so large that Evian couldn't see the end of it came into view. The city was nestled between the ocean on one side, what appeared to be large fields the the other side, mountains in the back and the hills and forests they had just excited.
"We made it!" Vax shouted, earning himself a stern look from the guard nearest him.
They all started their descent down the hills towards the next year of their lives.
Evian followed, feeling a surge of energy as they neared the capital. As they descended, the sights and sounds of Atmylon enveloped them. The air was thick with the smell of fresh bread and herbs, and the bustling sounds of merchants calling out to customers filled his ears.
They entered the city, greeted by friendly smiles and curious glances. Evian felt a mixture of awe and apprehension as he absorbed the vibrant atmosphere. Colorful stalls lined the streets, displaying goods from all over the land: shimmering fabrics, hand-carved trinkets, and an array of fruits and vegetables that dazzled the eye.
"Look at that!" Vax pointed to a stall overflowing with bright, tropical fruits. "Let's get some!"
Before Vax could run of Evian griped his shoulder and said:
"Remember what Darwen said to us yesterday evening".
Vax looked at Evian with a questioning look. Evian sighed and explained
"We can not to go away from the caravan. It is one of the rules of new students"
Vax sighed as he remembered the strict rules that Darwen had told them yesterday.
The caravan continued through the city of Atmylon until they reached square, where there were enough room for the entire caravan.
"We'll stay here tonight" Darwen told all the youngsters and continued
"And before any one can ask: We will reach Selvin Academy tomorrow morning, and no you are not staying in your tents tonight. Tonight you'll sleep in the beds found in these buildings"
All the youngsters started to cheer when they heard the good news. They all started to find a room to stay in for the night.
Later that evening after they had a good meal Evian and Vax was sitting on the edges of their beds in the room they shared with Ryamus and his friends.
"Is Atmylon what you thought it would be?" Vax asked, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
"It is more then I could ever imagine," Evian admitted. "I've heard stories, but they're always so grand. I never thought that they would all be understatements."
"I know right!" Vax's enthusiasm was infectious, and Evian couldn't help but smile.
"And tomorrow we might get to meet the princess" he continued with a crooked smile.
"Yeah, but what if she doesn't like us?" Evian's voice dropped to a whisper. "What if we don't fit in?"
Ryamus snorted: "And why would she even talk to you? You are a skinny little insecure boy."
Evian looked a Ryamus and saw the smile on his face.
"Damn it brother I can never tell from you voice if you are serious or not" Evian sighed and then smiled at Ryamus. "Thank you for always keeping me down to earth."
Evian was lost in though for a few moments and the looked at the boys in the room feeling a flicker of determination igniting within him. "Well. We'll just have make the most of it."
After a while, they resumed their journey. The path from Selvin to Atmylon was well-worn and lined with flowering trees, their petals falling like confetti in the breeze. The excitement in the air was palpable, and Evian felt a sense of camaraderie with the others in their group. They were all on this journey together, each of them carrying their own dreams and hopes for the future.
The next morning they all prepared for their first meeting with the Selvin Academy.
"Alright everyone. Let's set out" Darwen call and they all started to move as one.
As they drew closer to the Selvin Academy, the landscape began to change. The bustling noises of the capital gradually gave way to the imposing structure of the Academy. Tall walls surrounded the school, and watchtowers loomed over the entrance. The gates of Selvin were grand, made of intricately carved wood and flanked by guards dressed in shining armor. They were not as grand at the capital gates had been but they were more guarded then that capitals gates had been.
"Whoa," Vax breathed, staring in awe at the gates. "It's even more impressive than I imagined!"
Evian felt a thrill of anticipation. They approached the gates, where a guard stepped forward, his expression serious yet not unkind. "State your purpose."
"We are travelers, here to attend Selvin Academy," Darwen stepped forward, speaking on their behalf.
Evian thought it strange that Darwen as the leader of Selvin Academy's warrior department was not recognized until he glanced upwards a saw several hundred faces glance down on the from atop the tall walls and he understood that this was tradition. They had to announce that they had come and that they knew where they were.
The guard scrutinized them for a moment before nodding. "Very well. You may enter." He pushed the gate open, and Evian felt a rush of excitement as they stepped into Selvin.
"Look at that!" Vax pointed to a fountain in the center of a square, water cascading gracefully from carved stone figures. "It's like something out of a storybook!"
Evian nodded, feeling a sense of wonder wash over him. They walked down a long paved path leading towards a build so grand and beautiful that Evian had never thought it possible. The building was separated into several parts with tall swirling towers, huge windows and thik walls. All of which was a blinding white color whit intricate patterns in all sorts of colors though with red green and blue being the dominate ones.
"This is it!" Vax exclaimed, his eyes wide with excitement. "We're really here!"
As they stepped into the academy building, a sense of purpose settled over Evian. This was the start of a new chapter, filled with possibilities and uncertainties. Whatever awaited them in the days to come, he would face head on. And perhaps, in the midst of this grand adventure, Evian would discover the truth about Mira and the secrets of his family.
With his heart racing and hope rekindled, Evian stepped forward, ready to embrace whatever the future held. The journey to Atmylon had been long, but it was only the beginning.