Ever since the news of the academies - for wizards and knights alike - opening again had spread, every young one who wished to be a knight or a magic caster began testing themselves, working hard to get accepted.
Jarett and Lecter came by the twins' home more often. Jarett could stay longer since the maid his sister hired had already started working. He still didn't spend as much time as Lecter, nor was he there as early as him. He still had to provide, so he'd go to their farm and try to harvest something to sell and earn or he'd go hunting.
Sometimes the twins and Lecter would help. Well, mostly the twins. They especially excelled at hunting. Lecter supported from the sidelines. Asking for his hell was practically pointless.
"What sort of tests do you think they'll give us?" Lecter asked. Laying down on the grass outside the twins home.
"Who knows? Perhaps some questions about magic and maybe ask us to cast a few spells." Jarett took a guess.
All the while the two had been conversing, the twins had been awfully quiet.
"Hey, it's been two months since your father and uncles left, are you two okay here on your own?" Jarett asked out of concern, especially since there were beasts dwelling not too far away.
His guess was that they weren't attacking because of the three men, but none of them had been around. What if the beasts attacked one day? The hill was indeed within their territory.
"We're fine." Raten answered. "There's food, we can get water, there's no problem really."
"And the beasts?" Jarett asked.
"There's a seal around here, they can't get in even if they wanted to." Kiyan explained.
"Okay then." Jarett dropped the question.
"Is something bothering the both of you? You've been awfully quiet." Lecter said. "I mean it's not like you talk much with the both of us anyway but you've been very excited about the academy, but today it seems the flame has dwindled."
"The exams are in three days." Raten said. "If we pass we get to go out and see the world. That is a bit worrisome for me."
"Oh, I see. You're both scared of leaving home. It's okay, there's a large world out there, even I am nervous."
Although Lecter was somewhat right about them being anxious, it wasn't because they were leaving home. It was because they feared what the world had prepared for them.
Kiyan let out a puff of breath.
"Well, the only option is to be so strong that nothing affects us, that no one can hurt us." Kiyan said.
Lecter was a bit puzzled by his words but said nothing about it.
The rest of the day was spent talking about random nonsense after which Jarett and Lecter left for their homes.
The day for the exams came faster than it should have for Lecter. He was very anxious.
"This is what I've wanted. Time to take the first step." He took a deep breath. "Thankfully, father isn't home."
His mother helped him pack his clothes. "I can do that mother." He tried to take it from her but she refused.
"Let me do this one thing. I won't be able to do anything for you in the next four years," She said.
"You think I'll get in?" He asked, losing confidence. Perhaps it was his father's constant nagging and calling him useless that was taking effect now.
"Of course I do. I have confidence in my son, he should be confident in himself too. You've worked hard for this, there's no doubt in my mind that you'll be accepted." She pinched his cheek a bit.
"Here." She handed his bag of clothes over to him. He hung it over his shoulders.
"Goodbye mother." He gave her a tight hug. She hugged him back, squeezing him a bit too hard.
"Go fulfill your dreams." She bid him farewell.
********
Meanwhile, Jarett was over the moon that the day was here for him to set foot on the road to becoming a wizard.
He held his small bag of clothes and ran to his mother's side. She lay on a makeshift bed. He knelt beside her and took her hand in his.
"It's only by your and sisters' persuasion that I am leaving." He said to her, feeling guilty that he had to leave her in this condition. She had gotten a lot better mysteriously, but still..
She smiled at him and touched his cheek.
"This is all you've wanted, is it not? Don't worry about me, I'll be fine," She said.
"I'll send letters to you every week, okay? Please take care of yourself."
He brought her hand close to his face. He placed a small kiss on the back of her palm and smiled back.
"I'll come back the best!" He claimed and rose to his feet. "See you soon." He said and walked out of the house. The maid was returning from getting water from the well.
She smiled at him when she saw he was ready to leave.
"Do take care of mother for me." He said to her and ran off.
********
"90, 91, 92..." Raten was upside down on a rock with one hand holding him up vertically. His long soft white hair touched the rock's surface as he moved his body up and down doing handstand push ups. He had already done a hundred with his other hand.
Kiyan was on the other side doing sit ups.
"96, 97, 98, 99..." They said simultaneously when a strong gust of wind blew past them. It was so strong it pushed Raten off the rock, while Kiyan rolled to the side.
"What the?" They turned to see the cause of the wind.
It was Agnar, Raymond and One-eye on the enormous beast, Wolverion.
The beast flapped its wings slowly and then landed on the ground.
"You flew in with Wolverion, you must be busy." Kiyan said. Raten moved closer dusting off some dirt and twigs off his body and hair.
"I didn't think you'd show up here today." Said Raten.
"It just felt right that we said something at least. Besides, you'll be far away for a long time. I won't get to see my student again and I was just about letting you touch my sword." Raymond grabbed onto Raten, squeezing his head again. Something that has happened a lot of times.
"Really?! You'll let me hold it?" Kiyan asked with glee inching closer to him.
"I'm Raten! Raten!" Raten struggled to set himself free from Raymond's hold.
"You deceived me again?!" Raymond let go of Raten. "There goes your chance." He shook his head.
"But you're the one who was mistaken again!" Kiyan argued.
"What were the both of you doing anyway?" One-eye asked.
"Just getting rid of nervousness," Raten answered. Kiyan was still begging Raymond to let him hold his sword.
Agnar took a step forward and the twins immediately stood side by side.
"What are we to do?" Kiyan looked up at his father.
"Whatever you feel is right." Agnar placed his hands on both their heads and ruffled up their hair.
"I won't be able to show up if something goes wrong. You're completely on your own once you set foot out of here, so try not to get into trouble. At least not too soon." He said.
"Agnar's playing his role as a father, I never thought I'd see this in my entire life." One-eye wiped his non-existent tears and sniffled.
"He's being a caring one at that, I think the world's about to end." Raymond joined One-eye in wiping some non-existent tears.
"Can you two not be stupid for five seconds?!" Agnar snapped.
"Anyway," he returned his attention to the boys. "Do whatever you can to survive, while living your life. Teferi or Silverstone, out there in the real world it's going to be very hard. The hands that control the strings of this current world are nothing but brutal. Unforgiving."
"If we waver, we are done for." Kiyan said.
"Strength is the only option." Raten added.
They repeated the words he always said to them.
"Run along then, start your journey. Own this next chapter." One-eye said with a smile.
"Oh and if anyone tries to act stupid, show them the true meaning of brutality." Agnar grinned.
The twins then picked up their already packed bags from the ground and began running down the hill.
"We're going to be wizards!"
"Woohoo!" They shouted excitedly as they ran.
"The next generation of Teferi released to this world." One-eye said. "So, how long do you think they'll last before fighting the authorities?" He asked.
"A year at most." Raymond said.
"Actually, I think it depends on when the academy starts teaching about magic cores." Agnar guessed.
"Either way, that's their business now. Let's have some booze!" Raymond slid his hands over One-eye's shoulder.
"Azyar, Horeln, till we meet again. Just don't be on your deathbeds." Agnar whispered to himself staring downhill.
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