Hard card

The next day in the morning. Artus was sitting with his family to discuss the future.

"Artus, we will leave today for the academy, we will arrive at the academy a bit early, we can't delay our journey".

"We can't afford the possibility of unforeseen events occurring, causing us to miss the trails."

Gabell was planning their journey, he and some other villagers were planning to go to the academy together escorting the children.

They planned to rent a carriage together to save money, the journey would take some time.

"Artus, take care of yourself and pay attention to your health".

"Don't get in fights, especially with the nobles".

Milla was worried about Artus, after all, he was a small child who had lived all his life in this small village, for him to suddenly go to the Royal Academy, she was afraid that he would not be able to adapt.

Not only that, but the Royal Academy is also mostly a place for nobles, he as a commoner would be looked down on, and maybe bullied, she was afraid that he would not be able to defend himself.

*KNOCK* *KNOCK* 

Artus stayed silent and did not say much while his father and mother discussed things. He kept looking at the door, it was as if he was waiting for someone.

When Gabell opened the door, he saw a young lady standing at the door, she looked elegant, surrounded by noble air, she wore a dark green cloak that hid her body.

"Hello".

"I am Seers Galehart".

"You must be Artus's Father, Gabell".

"Hello, young lady".

"How do you, Artus?".

Seers gave a light smile.

"I will answer all of your questions, but first can I come in?"

"You wouldn't keep a young lady standing at the door, would you?"

*******************************

Gabell, Milla, Seers and Artus were all sitting together around the small table.

"Let me introduce myself again".

"I am Seers Galehart, a mage at The Royal Arcanum Academy".

Seers were surprised to see that Gabell and Milla did not react when she mentioned that she was a mage, for people living in this distant small village, a mage was akin to the king, some would show respect, some would show fear, others will show flattery trying to carry a favor with the mage.

But Gabell and Milla's facial expressions did not change much, especially Milla, she kept looking at Seers with deep light in her eyes.

"I want to talk Artus with me to the Academy".

"I will give an invitation letter to the magic division of the Academy".

Gabell and Milla were suspicious and slightly surprised.

Gabell asked in a calm tone.

"Young lady, can you tell us first, how did you meet Artus?"

"As you know, I was supposed to arrive at the village with my companions to carry on the talent tests".

"But on the way something urgent came up, so I had to leave, I entrusted my companions to the tests including the magic affinity evaluation using the magic stone".

"I finished my business, so I resumed my travel to catch up to my companions on their way to the Academy".

"I passed the village on my way".

"I happened to meet Artus by chance, he was sitting on the edge of the village".

"I could see that he was a talented and smart child, we had a small conversation"

"I learn that he was given an invitation letter to the Scholar's division of the Academy".

"It was clear that he had a good affinity to magic, so I was surprised to learn that he did not receive an invitation letter to the Magic division trails, it seems my companions did not know how to use the magic stone correctly, so they made a mistake in evaluating him".

"Artus is very talented, he would be a great mage, it would be a waste to send him to the Scholar's division".

"So, I want to take him to the academy with me".

Gabell and Milla listened to the whole story carefully, they were happy when they learned that Artus would have a chance to be accepted to the Magic division, after all, he wanted to be a mage.

But they were somewhat suspicious of this young lady, although she showed good intentions and wanted to correct the mistake that happened during the evaluation for the magic affinity, she only had to send them an invitation letter to the Magic division, she didn't have to take Artus with her.

Yesterday Artus and Seers agreed to make up a story to explain everything, even Seers herself was surprised about the well-made story that Artus came up with, but Artus could see that his parents still had doubts.

"Father, Mother, I was the one who asked Lady Seers to take me with her".

Gabell and Milla looked at Artus.

"When I met Lady Seers yesterday, she taught me a lot of things about magic, she told me that she would give me an invitation letter to the Magic division"

"So, I asked her if she could take me with her to the academy, she could teach me about magic".

"Even though I now had an invitation letter to the magic trails, I knew nothing about magic, so I still would not be able to stand a chance in the magic trails, especially against other candidates who were noble or came from a rich background, these people had hired mages to teach them or took private lessons in magic".

"I don't want to merely participate, I want to get accepted, to enroll in the academy".

"So, I asked Lady Seers if I could accompany her to the Academy, I could learn one thing or two from her to increase my chance at the acceptance of the academy".

Artus said in a low voice while his head was slightly down, he did not want his parents to see the guilty expression on his face.

Gabell hand tightened into fists, while Milla's eyes began to tear and became redden.

Artus knew that his parents' biggest sore spot was their financial status since he was born, they had done everything they could to provide him with the best, they did not want their current poor financial status to impact Artus's future, they felt very guilty towards Artus in that aspect, Artus knew that, so he never asked them for a thing.

But today he was forced to hurt them, his parents were very protective of him, so if he wanted them to allow him to go with Seers, he had to play this hard card.

In his heart, he said in a low voice.

"…. I am sorry…."