The Road to the Academy

As they wove through the dimly lit streets, the city felt different—quieter, more watchful. Castelnero always had an edge to it after dark, but now, with the weight of tomorrow hanging over them, it seemed even sharper.

Juhtmed walked ahead, hands tucked into his coat. Lian kept pace beside him, her shoulders stiff, her sharp eyes scanning the alleys. Veyla followed a step behind, her movements easy, unconcerned.

"So," Veyla drawled, "this academy of yours—any rules I should know? Besides not stabbing people."

Lian scoffed. "You'll be expected to be invisible. Maids are background noise to nobles."

Veyla smirked. "Sounds perfect."

Juhtmed shot her a look. "It's not a game. The academy's full of people looking for an advantage. The less attention you draw, the better."

"Don't worry," she said lightly, "I'm very forgettable."

Lian snorted. "I doubt that."

They turned a corner onto the main road, where the last stragglers of the night hurried home. The inn was just ahead, its warm glow spilling onto the cobblestones.

Juhtmed exhaled. "We leave at dawn. Get some rest."

Veyla stretched, grinning. "Don't have to tell me twice."

Lian hesitated at the door, watching Juhtmed. "You're sure about this?"

He met her gaze. "It's already decided."

Lian's lips pressed into a thin line, but she nodded. "Then we'd better be ready."

With that, they stepped inside, the door swinging shut behind them. Tomorrow, everything would change.

At dawn, Castelnero was draped in a quiet mist, the streets still damp from the night air. The city had yet to fully wake, but the harbor murmured with the sounds of early-morning labor—rigging creaking, merchants calling softly, the occasional clatter of wooden crates being hauled onto carts.

Juhtmed tightened the straps on his bag, casting a glance toward the others. Lian was already prepared, her stance rigid as she adjusted her own pack. Veyla, however, looked distinctly unimpressed with the early hour, arms crossed, hood drawn up to shield her face from the crisp air.

"You look thrilled," Juhtmed noted dryly.

Veyla yawned. "Remind me again why we're awake before the sun?"

"Fewer questions," Lian replied, voice clipped. "Fewer eyes."

Veyla hummed in acknowledgment but said nothing else.

Their route out of the city took them along the quieter roads, avoiding the busier thoroughfares where patrols were thicker. Castelnero's walls loomed ahead, their weathered stone glowing faintly as the first hints of sunlight kissed the horizon.

The guards at the gate barely spared them a glance as they passed, more preoccupied with the arriving caravans than a noble and his two attendants.

As they left the city behind, Juhtmed exhaled, shoulders relaxing slightly. The road stretched before them, winding through rolling hills and dense woodlands that would eventually give way to the academy grounds.

Veyla walked beside him, watching the trees with idle interest. "So, how long's the journey?"

"Two days," Lian answered before Juhtmed could. "If we keep pace."

Veyla groaned. "Great. I just love walking for hours on end."

Juhtmed smirked. "I'm with Veyla on this one why we couldn't get a carriage at least."

Lian shot him a sharp look. "Because we're trying to be inconspicuous. A noble's carriage attracts attention."

Juhtmed sighed. "Right. Because sneaking in a second maid is totally inconspicuous."

Lian ignored him, adjusting the strap of her pack.

Veyla grinned. "Well, if we're walking for two days, I hope you two have good conversation skills."

Juhtmed smirked. "I wouldn't count on it."

The road stretched before them, the mist beginning to burn away under the rising sun. The journey to the academy had begun.

The road stretched ahead, flanked by dense woodlands on either side. The mist had begun to thin, curling away as the first rays of morning sunlight broke through the trees. The rhythmic crunch of boots on dirt filled the silence, punctuated only by the occasional rustle of unseen creatures darting through the underbrush.

Juhtmed adjusted the weight of his pack. It wasn't heavy—he'd traveled with worse—but two days on foot wasn't something he looked forward to. He stole a glance at the others. Lian, ever disciplined, strode ahead with purpose, her expression unreadable. Veyla, on the other hand, had her hands tucked into the folds of her cloak, gaze wandering across the scenery with idle curiosity.

Juhtmed sighed. "Remind me again why we couldn't at least get horses?"

Lian didn't even look at him. "Because horses cost money. And unless you want to end your allowance let by your father before even step in the academy, we walk."

Veyla snickered. "Noble boy's not used to walking, huh?"

Juhtmed shot her a flat look. "I've walked plenty."

"Sure, sure." She smirked. "From one end of a ballroom to the other doesn't count."

Juhtmed shook his head. "This is going to be a long trip."

Lian glanced back at them, eyes sharp. "Only if you two waste breath on useless chatter."

Veyla grinned. "You wound me, Lian. Talking is a vital skill."

"Not when silence keeps us alive."

"Are we expecting an ambush, then?"

Lian's expression didn't change. "You never know."

Juhtmed exhaled. "She has a point. Castelnero might be behind us, but this road isn't exactly safe. Bandits, patrols, the occasional wild animal... Pick your poison."

Veyla stretched her arms over her head. "Sounds fun. I was getting bored."

Lian muttered something under her breath, but she let the conversation drop, picking up the pace.

As the hours passed, the road wove through thick forests and open meadows, sunlight flickering through the shifting leaves. The occasional merchant cart passed by, creaking under the weight of goods bound for distant cities. A few wary travelers walked in the opposite direction, heads down, eyes flickering toward them before quickly moving on.

Veyla seemed to take note of everything, her sharp gaze cataloging details as they walked. "So, tell me more about this academy."

Juhtmed shrugged. "I don't know much about it myself, what do you want to know?"

"Everything. What's it like? How does it work? Who do I have to avoid?"

Lian gave Juhtmed a look, as if daring him to sugarcoat it.

He sighed. "The academy is… complicated. It's not just a place for learning—from what i have understand it's for nobles, and influential families who send their children to secure the future of there country. Which means most of the students are either trying to prove themselves or destroy each other."

Veyla raised an eyebrow. "Sounds charming."

"It's politics wrapped in training. Every lesson, every event, every interaction is a game of power. If you're weak, you're used. If you're strong, you're a threat."

Veyla whistled. "And you willingly signed up for this?"

Juhtmed smirked. "Didn't have much of a choice."

Lian's voice was flat. "None of us did."

Veyla gave her a sidelong glance. "And you? Are you one of the cutthroat elites?"

Lian's jaw tightened. "I survive. That's all that matters."

Juhtmed changed the subject. "As for who to avoid? Most of them. But if I had to pick, stay away from the noble of our Empire."

Veyla grinned. "What's wrong with them?"

Lian rolled her eyes. "They'd eat you alive."

Veyla tilted her head. "Would they?"

Juhtmed sighed. "Let's just say i'm not that close with the other noble of my own territory."

The sun crept higher, warming the dirt road beneath their feet. Around midday, they stopped at a clearing near a shallow creek. Lian unpacked a small bundle of bread and dried meat, wordlessly splitting it between them.

Veyla eyed her portion, unimpressed. "This is it?"

Lian arched a brow. "If you want to hunt something, be my guest."

Veyla shrugged. "Maybe later. I do my best work at night."

Juhtmed chuckled. "Good to know. Though, I'd prefer we don't have to fight anything on the first day."

Lian took a measured bite of her food. "Better to be ready anyway."

As they ate, the distant sound of hooves on dirt reached them. Lian's hand moved subtly toward the knife at her belt, eyes narrowing.

Juhtmed tensed. "Stay casual."

A group of riders came into view, their cloaks marked with a crest Juhtmed didn't recognize.

The lead rider, a young man with sharp features and a practiced sneer, pulled his horse to a stop a few feet away. His gaze flicked over them before settling on Juhtmed.

"Well, well. If it isn't Juhtmed, I didn't expect to meet you here."

Juhtmed kept his expression neutral. "And to whom do I have the honor?"

He was caught off guard by juhtmed's reply. "I'm Renard Sellebel it seem you forgot me" He harbored a cocky smile, "Look like you still the same pathetic kid. Where's your carriage? Your entourage?"

Juhtmed smiled tightly. "Im traveling light."

Renard's eyes flicked toward Veyla and Lian. "You still have the same maid...I can see that you add a new one."

Juhtmed shrugged. "Something like that."

Renard chuckled. "How humble of you. Well, try not to get robbed out here. The roads aren't safe for people like us."

Juhtmed met his gaze evenly. "I'll manage this on my own."

Renard's smirk lingered a moment longer before he pulled on the reins, guiding his horse forward. His men followed, dust kicking up in their wake.

Once they were out of earshot, Veyla let out a low whistle. "That guy was insufferable."

Juhtmed exhaled. "I don't even know who he was, and the way he talk to me was quite unusual, i mean people already talk down on me but they were from my family so i couldn't say much but to a random noble and he speak like he know you lian."

Lian scowled. "Like he present himself Renard Sellebel, you must have don't remember him due to your lack of memory, but his family his one of the five house of celestia similar to Dervain."

juhtmed leaned back on his hands. "So that could explain his confidence towards me and since our family influence mean nothing here and at the academy he don't have to act in front of me."

Lian nodded. "That's it your highness, its why i try to prevent us to use an carriage to avoid this type of interaction."

Juhtmed didn't answer. He didn't have to he know she always try to protect him.

The rest of the day passed in steady travel. As the sun began to dip below the horizon, they found shelter beneath a rocky overhang, gathering wood for a small fire.

Veyla stretched out on her cloak, arms behind her head. "So, are we taking turns on watch, or do we trust that the trees will protect us?"

Lian scoffed. "I'll take first watch. You two get some rest."

Juhtmed nodded, but Veyla just smirked. "What? No trust for the new maid?"

Lian gave her a look. "Not yet."

Veyla chuckled, but didn't argue.

As Juhtmed settled in, he cast one last glance at the darkened treeline. Tomorrow, they would be closer to the academy. Closer to everything that waited for them there.

He closed his eyes, letting exhaustion take over.

Tomorrow would come soon enough.