He had been saving every extra coin he could scrape together for months. The bullies took their cut each day, but he always seemed to be able to squirrel a little something away, tucked into a corner of Millie's restaurant. His goal was simple: when the time came, he would have enough put away to make it to the city and through the gates of the academy.
Millie had known Alex since he was a boy, and though life was hard in Greymoor, she'd been quietly helping him along, giving him a little extra food and a safe place to keep his coins. Every few weeks, she'd let him count his savings in the quiet back room of her restaurant. Millie's watchful eyes made sure no one disturbed him.
Alex would lay the coins out on the table, arranging them in neat little rows, each stack a step closer to his dream. Despite this, he was far from his goal. His ninth birthday, the age when most young Sparks set off for the academy, was only a month away. His savings wouldn't be enough, he was beginning to realize.
Greymoor was only sending three new students to the academy this year. Along with Alex, two others were: a boy - Theo - and a girl - Mira.
Theo was from the town chief's family. He had all that Alex did not have: money, status, and the best preparation money could afford. His family had been respected for a long period, and his future seemed guaranteed. He walked through the village with the quiet confidence of someone who already knew he'd succeed, his eyes always casting a disapproving glance in Alex's direction.
Mira was the daughter of a local merchant family. Her father owned one of the largest shops in Greymoor, dealing in goods from towns and cities far, far away. She was popular, had a good heart, and was a gracefully beautiful young woman-by Greymoor standards, at any rate. Mira's parents did their best to ensure she would be a success, although they did not have the connections that the chief's family enjoyed. They had to pay a lot of money to secure her a place without a recommendation to the academy. Even despite the differences, Mira's family had always been kind to Alex. Her father would sometimes give him small jobs, paying a little extra to help him get by. Mira herself was quiet but friendly, always offering a kind smile whenever she saw him. She was the first to mention that he could join their family on the journey to the city, sparing him the expense of traveling alone.
The closer the day of his departure came, the more anxious Alex felt. He counted his money many times, hoping somehow he had underestimated, but it always came to the same end-he was still short. Even with the help Mira's family had given him, he needed more for the last cost of his trip and whatever other supplies he may need on the road.
One evening, when he and Millie were cleaning up the restaurant, he finally confided in her.
*"Millie, je ne think I'll make it,"* he said, trying to keep the worry out of his voice. *"I've saved up, like you told me to, but it's not enough. If I don't go this year, who knows if I'll ever get the chance."*
Millie placed a comforting hand on his shoulder and looked at him very kindly but determinedly.
*"You'll make it, Alex,"* she replied. *"If anyone can find a way, it's you. I'll help where I can, and perhaps Mira's family will too. They've always been magnanimous."*
The morning after his talk with Millie, Alex was again confronted by the bullies. However, even though he struggled with them daily, he had never let their harassment break his resolve. They jeered and sneered for his morning coins, oblivious to the giant dreams that he had kept with him. But then Alex had something which they did not: he had the spirit of a Spark, the strength to go on fighting when life wasn't exactly being fair.
And in that instant, Alex pitied them. His bullies were duds-born without the spark of Awakened potential. They'd never leave Greymoor, never know what it meant to chase a dream beyond their narrow lives. That knowledge fanned the flames within Alex, giving him a silent, fierce resolve. He was more than an errand boy. And soon, he'd prove it.
As the trip to the city was getting nearer, Alex prepared for it. His determination was observed by Mira's father, who decided to help him gather supplies. He gave him a sturdy leather satchel, in which he had placed some small provisions—some food for the road, a blanket, and a water flask.
For her part, Mira was excited about the journey. Though they were from different worlds, she made a point of including Alex in her conversations-asking him what he wanted to experience at the academy, describing her own dreams of learning about far-off places and rare artifacts. Alex was grateful for her friendship, and her warmth-a small comfort in the face of so many unknowns.
The morning of their departure finally arrived. Alex took one last look around Greymoor-the town which had shaped him and held him in a tight grip. With Mira and her family, he took a deep breath, gearing himself up for the journey ahead.
He wasn't so sure what awaited him in the city, or if the academy would be everything he dreamed. But one thing was for sure-he was ready to leave behind him this life of an errand boy. The future he had longed for was finally within his grasp, and he would seize it with all the strength he had.