No matter how difficult it was to bring up, Eric knew he had to say something for the sake of his future.
After all, registration for Knight Academy opened on Monday, and he wasn't a miracle worker. With only one day left, where was he supposed to come up with $10,000?
When his father, Michael Parker, came home exhausted from work, and the family had just sat down for dinner, Eric finally gathered the courage to speak.
"Dad, Knight Academy registration starts next week, and I want to apply. But... the registration fee is $10,000."
As soon as the words left his mouth, the entire table fell silent.
Michael was in his early 40s, not old, but he looked worn down. He worked at a ceramics factory outside of town as an ordinary laborer. The factory paid relatively well, around $3,000 a month, but that income came at the cost of his health. Working in a hazardous environment for years had taken a toll on his body.
With two kids, one in high school and the other in middle school, the weight of providing for the family rested heavily on his shoulders. The daily expenses were high, and he still had to save for Eric's college tuition and, eventually, a wedding and house down the line. It left the family living hand-to-mouth.
$10,000 was nearly half a year's savings. For the family, it was a huge burden, but Michael understood that the opportunity to attend Knight Academy could change Eric's life.
Eric's words made his father pause. His mother, Mary Parker, seemed like she wanted to say something, but in the end, she stayed quiet. His younger sister, Amy, kept her head down, not saying a word. She knew her brother wanted to apply to Knight Academy, but she also knew how distant that dream was.
Michael took a sip from his glass, looked at his son, and after a long pause, nodded. "Tomorrow, you can go withdraw the money. Give it a shot."
"Dad…" Eric began to say, trying to reassure his father, but his father raised a hand to stop him. "Whether you pass or not doesn't matter. It's good enough that you're willing to try. And if you don't make it, that's fine too. At least you'll know you gave it your best shot."
Hearing this, Eric finally felt the weight lift off his chest. He knew how difficult it was to get into Knight Academy, but if he didn't try, he'd spend the rest of his life wondering what could have been.
After dinner, Mary handed the family's bank card to Eric. Although there wasn't much in the account, his parents gave it to him without hesitation.
"Go withdraw the money tomorrow and come back early," his mother reminded him. Eric knew a large part of their savings was in that account. In the past, he would never have touched it, but now he had to face reality.
…
Early the next morning, Eric got up to go to the bank. His parents had already left for work, and his mother had prepared breakfast for him—a few small dishes and a bowl of fried eggs. As Eric sat at the table, slowly eating, he felt an unusual sense of calm.
After finishing breakfast, he got ready to head to the bank, planning to observe how different this world was from the one he remembered.
Just as he was about to leave, his sister Amy rushed out of her room, looking eager. "Eric, I'm coming with you!"
"What for?"
"I just want to! Besides, you still owe me money! You have to buy me something good today!"
Eric chuckled. Even though he was only going to the bank, there was no harm in taking his sister along.
…
As they walked down the street, Amy happily glanced around as if she were seeing everything for the first time. Billboards along the road were plastered with knight-themed advertisements.
"Master recommended, the top skincare choice for knights!"
"Run faster with the warrior's choice of footwear!"
"Ancient family formula, helping you become stronger!"
These ads were everywhere, even though actual knights in the town were few and far between. But advertisers never missed an opportunity to attract potential customers.
After walking for a while, Eric and Amy arrived at an ATM. Eric inserted the card, entered the PIN, and withdrew the first $2,000. As the cash came out of the machine, Eric froze.
Amy noticed his hesitation and asked anxiously, "Eric, is it counterfeit money? I heard some ATMs give out fake bills!"
She was starting to panic, but Eric remained silent, going back to the machine and withdrawing another $2,000. After the cash was in his hand, Eric paused again, deep in thought.
Amy, now even more worried, asked, "What's wrong with you? Say something!"
Eric smiled and handed her the money. "Here, hold this. Tell me how it feels."
Amy took the money, confused, and mumbled, "Feel? What do you mean? Are you not going to apply to Knight Academy?"
Eric couldn't help but laugh. Then he started withdrawing more money, depositing it back, and repeating the process, with amounts ranging from $100 to $200. His constant back-and-forth transactions left Amy utterly bewildered.
Finally, someone in line behind them couldn't take it anymore. A man shouted, "Hey, kid, enough already! How much more are you going to withdraw? A million dollars?"
Amy's face flushed red with embarrassment as she quickly tugged on Eric's sleeve, urging him to stop. But Eric, unfazed, calmly finished his transactions before leading his sister away from the bank.
As they left, Eric had a broad grin on his face, a feeling of pure satisfaction bubbling inside him. Unable to contain it, he started laughing to himself, "Heh heh heh…"
Amy, now slightly alarmed, clung to his sleeve and asked nervously, "Eric, are you okay?"
"Heh heh heh…" Eric continued laughing as he quickened his pace, pulling his sister along toward home.
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