The sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows over Ashen Grove as the day drew to a close. Axton walked the familiar path back to his home, the weight of the world pressing heavily on his shoulders. He was lost in thought when a voice cut through the stillness of the evening.
"Axton!"
He turned to see Elias running to catch up with him, his usual confident smile softened with a trace of concern. "You look like you've got the weight of the world on you."
Axton managed a small grin, though it didn't reach his eyes. "It's nothing."
Elias eyed him for a moment, then glanced around, as if sensing something more. "Have you heard the rumors?" he asked in a low voice.
Axton raised an eyebrow. "What rumors?"
"The academy's coming," Elias said, his voice dropping even lower. "I overheard the elders talking. They're sending representatives to the village soon. You know what that means, right?"
Axton frowned. He'd heard whispers of the academy in the past, but it was always distant, like a story told by elders who spoke of a world beyond Ashen Grove—a world he would never see. "So, they'll choose who's worthy, I guess," he muttered, trying to dismiss the thought.
Elias shook his head. "No, it's not just about power. They test more than just that. They look for… something else. You know, the ones who stand out. They say it's not always about the strongest, but the most unexpected."
Axton felt a chill run down his spine. "Who are these representatives, anyway? What makes them so special?"
Elias looked over his shoulder, lowering his voice even further. "I heard they're from all over the realm. They've been coming to villages like ours for years, looking for… candidates. People who might have potential—potential beyond what they even realize. It's always been a long shot, but…"
Axton's stomach twisted. The idea of being chosen for something—anything—felt both enticing and terrifying. "So what happens if we're… chosen?"
"I don't know," Elias said, his face unreadable. "But I've heard the stories. Some people go to the academy, and they never come back. Others, they return… different."
Axton paused. "And you think—"
"Look, I'm just saying," Elias interrupted, "something's changing. It feels different this time."
The two walked in silence for a while, each lost in their own thoughts. Axton couldn't help but wonder what all this meant. He'd always felt out of place in Ashen Grove, but what if this was the sign that something bigger was waiting for him?
As they neared Axton's home, Elias paused at the edge of the forest. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Yeah, take care," Axton said, nodding. But as Elias disappeared into the trees, Axton couldn't shake the feeling that something was stirring in the village—a quiet storm on the horizon.
That night, Axton lay awake, staring at the ceiling. He couldn't stop thinking about the academy, about the mysterious visitors, and about the strange sense that his life was about to take a turn he couldn't control. His parents had always been kind, but they had never spoken of his future, of his potential. What if there was something about him they hadn't shared?
The clock ticked on, but sleep would not come. The night outside seemed to hum with the promise of change, and Axton couldn't help but feel that his ordinary life in Ashen Grove was slipping away, inch by inch.