To the Academy!

Clank… Clank…

The carriage rattled along the dirt road as it carried Hayden and the twin brothers, Brody and Henry, toward the Dawnspire Academy of Chivalry.

The journey would take two days, and the three brothers were accompanied by two servants from the manor who doubled as their coachmen.

The mood inside the carriage was surprisingly light, given the usual tension between the siblings.

"So, Hayden," Brody said, leaning back against the cushioned seat with a grin. "Ready to become a Knight? Or are you just here to make the rest of us look bad?"

Hayden rolled his eyes. "I'm just here to learn. Unlike some people, I don't need to show off to feel important."

Henry chuckled while adjusting his glasses. "Careful, Brody. He's got a point. You've been showing off since we were kids, and it hasn't gotten you anywhere."

Brody shot his twin a mock glare. "Says the guy who spends more time reading books than swinging a sword. At least I'm not afraid of a little hard work."

"Hard work?" Henry retorted. "Is that what you call swinging your sword around like a madman? I'm surprised you haven't taken your own head off yet."

Hayden couldn't help but laugh. Despite their constant bickering, Brody and Henry had a way of making even the most ordinary situations entertaining.

Anyway, it was a welcome distraction from the nervousness he felt about starting at the academy.

He was already healed from his terrible constitution but he help but feel a sense of urgency after hearing about the existence of the magic beast.

To be honest, he was already expecting that magical creatures could appear in this world considering there are magicians in existence as well.

However, while staying within the manor, he actually heard a group of people being eaten alive by such monsters and it felt like a daily thing based on how the servants had reacted…

It seemed that since he was living within the protection of the manor, he hadn't really felt the pressure or the danger of the outside world.

In any case, he was hoping that their journey to the Academy would be safe.

"So," Hayden said, changing the subject, "what's Dawnspire like? I've heard it's... not exactly the best academy in the kingdom."

There was no book in the library mentioning the Dawnspire Academy. He only heard that it was established by retired Knights and that was it.

Brody shrugged. "It's not Frosthelm, that's for sure. But it's not terrible. The instructors are decent, and the training grounds are well-maintained. The problem is the students."

Henry nodded in agreement. "Most of them are from minor noble families or wealthy commoners who couldn't get into the bigger academies. They're not exactly the most motivated bunch."

Hayden raised an eyebrow. "And you two? Where do you fit in?"

Brody smirked. "We're the exceptions, obviously. Brody and Henry Gray, the pride of Dawnspire. Well, at least I am. Henry here is more like the... bookish mascot."

Henry rolled his eyes.

"Don't listen to him, Hayden. Brody's just bitter because he's still stuck in the Apprentice stage while I'm already a Squire."

Brody's smirk faltered, and he crossed his arms. "That's only because you suck up to the instructors. I prefer to earn my progress the hard way."

Apparently, the reason why Brody hadn't reached the Squire stage was that he failed an etiquette examination.

After all, becoming a squire would make you serve a true Knight. A squire needed to know a bunch of things and Brody didn't quite like that process. Nonetheless, he had already studied enough and he was confident to become a squire once he took another test.

Hayden chuckled. "Sounds like you two haven't changed much. But seriously, is it worth it? Going to Dawnspire, I mean."

Henry leaned forward, his expression turning serious. "It's what we've got. Frosthelm might be the dream, but Dawnspire is our reality. And who knows? Maybe you'll surprise everyone and make something of yourself there."

Brody snorted. "Yeah, right. Hayden's just a kid. He'll be lucky if he doesn't trip over his own sword on the first day."

Hayden smirked. "We'll see about that."

***

As the carriage rolled on, the conversation shifted to lighter topics as the brothers exchanged stories about their time at the academy.

It was an eye-opener for Hayden as he learned a lot of things from these two.

But as they approached a small village settled along the road, the carriage suddenly came to a halt. The coachman's voice called out from the front.

"Young masters, there's a group of people blocking the road."

Hayden leaned out the window to see a cluster of ragged figures standing in the middle of the path. They were beggars—men, women, and children with hollow cheeks and tattered clothes.

Their eyes were desperate as they approached the carriage, holding out their hands.

"Please, sirs," one of the men said, his voice hoarse. "We haven't eaten in days. Spare some coin or food, if you can."

Brody frowned, his hand instinctively moving to the hilt of his sword. "Stay back. We don't have anything to give you."

Henry, however, reached into his bag and pulled out a small pouch of dried fruit. "Here," he said, handing it to the man. "It's not much, but it's all we can spare."

The man's eyes lit up with gratitude as he took the pouch. "Thank you, young master. Bless you."

Hayden watched the exchange, his Ocularis Lens analyzing the beggars. Their conditions were dire—malnourished, exhausted, and clearly desperate. But something about the situation felt off. The Ocularis detected faint traces of energy around the group, almost as if...

"Brody," Hayden said quietly. "Something's not right."