Ned Miller sat atop a tree, relaxing after a long day of studying with the teacher his family had contracted to tutor him. His teacher, Albert Moss, was a famous figure in town. Rumors claimed he had once been a wealthy businessman in the capital before giving it all up to move to the countryside and become a teacher. While no one could confirm these rumors, they didn't change the fact that Albert was a man of considerable wisdom and knowledge.

"The teacher really made me think a lot today," Ned mused. Just remembering the exercises he had gone through was enough to make him feel exhausted.

"Well, I think it's time to head home. Mother will be furious if I'm late again," he thought, recalling the last time he had lost track of time admiring the view from the treetop. That incident had made him hours late for dinner, earning him a long scolding from his mother.

Determined to avoid a repeat, he started climbing down carefully.

"Hey, Ned, how was the view from the top of the tree?" Lucas yelled from below.

"Really wonderful! I could see the whole town from up there. You should try it someday," Ned shouted back as he carefully made his way down.

"No way! You know how afraid I am of heights," Lucas replied, his voice now normal since Ned was closer to the ground.

"How could I forget? The last time I convinced you to climb, you started screaming for help halfway up," Ned teased as he jumped to the ground.

"Hey, don't remind me of that! It was the darkest moment of my life!" Lucas said, trembling with embarrassment. Pointing at Ned, he yelled, "I'll fight you to the death if you bring that up again!"

"Okay, okay, enough of that. Now, why are you here?" Ned asked.

"Your mother was looking for you with a really angry face, so I came to get you before she found you up in the tree. You know how much she hates seeing you there," Lucas said with a shrug.

"Strange. I'm pretty sure I'm not late, and I can't think of anything I've done wrong," Ned replied, puzzled.

"Maybe you forgot about your little betting game with the travelers at the inn," Lucas said, laughing.

"But I won two gold coins! She should be celebrating, not upset," Ned muttered, already planning his escape if things got bad.

Those words weren't entirely wrong. For a typical family, earning just one gold coin would require a whole month of hard work. Ned had managed to win the equivalent of two months' wages in a single day.

"Anyway, let's get back to your house before she finds you here," Lucas said as he started running.

The two boys took off towards Ned's house. People who saw them running together were often surprised by their contrasting appearances. Although both were twelve years old, the differences between them were striking. Ned was tall and thin, standing around 5'6" (66 inches), with long black hair, brown eyes, and fair skin. Lucas, on the other hand, was shorter, about 4'6" (54 inches), with a stocky build, short black hair, green eyes, and brown skin.

After a few minutes of running, they spotted the Miller house—a modest wooden home surrounded by a green garden filled with vibrant flowers. The Millers were a well-loved family in the town, known for their kindness and willingness to help anyone in need.

As they approached the house, the boys slowed down. Ned began adjusting his clothes to avoid looking like he had just climbed a tree.

"HAHAHAHA!"

Before they reached the door, loud laughter erupted from inside the house. Entering the living room, where the voices and laughter came from, they found Ned's father, Willard, chatting with Albert, their teacher.

"I find your stories about the capital fascinating," Willard said, clearly impressed. "I can't understand why you'd leave such a place to live in our small, isolated town."

"You don't realize the peace that a small town like this offers," Albert replied with a sigh. "In the capital, you can't walk a block without worrying about someone targeting you."

"I'll never understand why we fight amongst ourselves when there are enemies waiting at our gates," Willard said with a hint of anger. Then, noticing Ned and Lucas at the entrance, he called out, "Hey, you rascal! Do you know how much your mother has been looking for you?"

"Why was she looking for me? It's not even dinner time," Ned asked curiously.

"She wants to talk to you about the test that will determine your and Lucas's talents. That's why your teacher is here—to explain the details," Willard said, turning to Albert.

"He's right," Albert confirmed. "You already know a little about the test and how it will impact your lives."

Of course, they did. Everyone in Rio Vento knew about the test. It was the most important event in the country, determining the course of every citizen's life.

"We'll wait for your mother to arrive so I can explain more about the system and the test," Albert said.

Just as he finished speaking, the sound of the front door slamming shut echoed through the house, followed by an angry voice.

"I swear, Willard, the moment I find that boy, he'll be in serious trouble!" shouted a furious woman.