The Path to the Academy

The sun hung high in the afternoon sky, casting a warm glow over the quiet Ashenbrook village. It was a peaceful place, nestled between towering mountains on one side, a dense forest on another, and a river that originated from the mountains, flowing gently past its edge. The village itself was small, its streets lined with simple homes and modest shops. Most of its inhabitants were elderly, as the younger generation had long since left for the cities in search of opportunity.

At Rowan's grandparents' restaurant, the atmosphere was calm. The few customers present were either sipping tea or engaged in hushed conversations, their voices blending with the faint clatter of dishes from the kitchen. At one of the wooden tables near the window, Lucian and Rowan sat surrounded by books and notes, preparing for the upcoming Ravenshade Eldermere Academy entrance exam.

Lucian rested his chin on his hand, reading a paper about chi and magic relation. Across from him, Rowan flipped through his notes, his expression twisting with frustration. "I swear, if I have to read another paragraph about mana fluctuations, I'm going to set these papers on fire," he groaned.

Lucian smirked. "That would be a great way to fail before even taking the exam."

Rowan huffed and leaned back in his chair. "Speaking of failing… did you hear about that guy last year? The one who barely made it past the first test?"

Lucian raised a brow. "What happened?"

Rowan snickered. "He tried to fake his way through the magic talent test by saying he had opened the 1st chakra gate. Turns out, he never even opened a single chakra gate. He collapsed midway through the second test when his body couldn't handle the strain of manipulating mana."

Lucian let out a breath, gripping the edge of the table. "It's not surprising. The academy doesn't accept just anyone. Only the strongest and most talented get in."

Rowan nodded, his expression turning serious. "And once you graduate, you're practically guaranteed a high-ranking position in the kingdom. Soldiers, strategists, scholars… some even become nobles through merit alone."

Lucian's gaze darkened slightly. "For some, it's about power and prestige. For me… it's about something else."

Rowan studied his friend's face for a moment. "Your parents."

Lucian didn't answer immediately. Instead, his mind drifted back to a memory from eight years ago. He was ten years old, standing at the doorway of his home, watching his parents prepare for their departure.

"We'll be back soon, Lucian," his mother had said, ruffling his hair. "Just a little more work, and we'll return before you know it."

His father had smiled. "Stay strong, son. We'll see you soon."

Lucian had stood at the doorway long after they disappeared down the path, waiting for their figures to return. But they never did. The scent of his mother's perfume faded from the house. His father's voice became a distant echo in his memories. Days turned into weeks, then months, then years. No letters. No news. No bodies. They had vanished, as if swallowed by the very shadows of the academy.

Lucian clenched his fists under the table. "I need to get in, Rowan. Not just for the prestige. Not just to prove myself. I need to find out what happened to them."

"But it would have been easier if we just listened to that professor," Rowan murmured.

Lucian's jaw tightened. "Or more dangerous. The academy is prestigious, sure. But why would a professor hand us an invitation without making us prove ourselves first? No strings attached? No conditions?" He shook his head. "That kind of offer is never just a favor. It's a trap—or worse, a test."

Rowan exhaled slowly. "Then we'd better pass that exam, huh?"

The conversation shifted, and as the afternoon wore on, the restaurant gradually became busier. Lucian got up to help, moving swiftly between tables, serving customers, and assisting Rowan's grandparents in the kitchen.

After a while, Rowan suddenly leaned against the counter, lowering his voice. "You know, I've been thinking about Magnus."

Lucian turned to him, wiping his hands on a cloth. "What about him?"

Rowan frowned. "You said you thought he had at least three chakra gates open, right? No way. I think he has four. A professor with just three gates wouldn't be that terrifying."

Lucian considered it. "It's possible… but still, the level of control he had over us—it felt unnatural."

Rowan nodded. "Exactly. It wasn't just power. It was something more."

They fell silent for a moment before Rowan spoke again. "The academy isn't just prestigious, Lucian. It's… dangerous. I heard rumors about students disappearing."

Lucian looked at him sharply. "Disappearing?"

Rowan hesitated before nodding. "Yeah. No one talks about it much, but every few years, a handful of students just vanish. No explanation, no records, nothing. Like they never existed."

Lucian's fingers tightened around the cloth in his hands. "That just makes me more determined to find out the truth."

Rowan sighed and leaned on the counter. "By the way, did you hear? Elysia managed to unlock her first chakra gate today."

Lucian blinked. "Already?"

"Yeah. Meanwhile, we can't even figure out how to unlock ours," Rowan grumbled, running a hand through his hair. "I've tried everything—meditation, training, focusing on mana flow. Nothing's working. I swear, if one more person tells me to 'just feel the energy,' I'm going to punch his face"

Lucian stayed quiet, but doubt clawed at him. What if he never unlocked his chakra gate? What if he failed before even stepping into the academy? He gritted his teeth. No. He couldn't think like that. There had to be something he was missing. Lucian frowned in thought. The process of unlocking a chakra gate was different for everyone. For some, it happened naturally, while for others, it required deep concentration and discipline. Some people even trained for years without unlocking a single gate.

He knew that without opening at least one gate, he wouldn't be able to wield magic properly. And without magic, getting into the academy would be nearly impossible.

"What do you think it takes?" Rowan asked, watching him closely.

Lucian exhaled. "I don't know yet. But I'll find a way."

As the sun dipped lower in the sky, the entrance bell chimed, and a familiar figure stepped inside. Elysia, with her silver hair neatly tied back, walked up to the counter with a small smile. "Busy as always, huh?"

Lucian wiped his hands on his apron. "You could say that. What brings you here?"

Before she could answer, Rowan appeared from the back. The moment he saw her, his posture stiffened slightly. "E-Elysia, you're here… at this time?"

Elysia tilted her head, smirking. "Oh? So now I can't even visit my brother?"

Rowan turned slightly red, scratching the back of his head. "N-No, that's not what I meant—"

Lucian chuckled. "Don't think too hard about it, Rowan."

Elysia's smirk deepened. "You look flustered. Is there something you're hiding? Maybe a secret admirer?"

Rowan immediately tensed. "W-What? No! That's ridiculous!"

Elysia leaned in closer. "Oh, really? Then why are you acting so suspicious?"

Rowan's face burned as he waved his hands frantically. "I—I just remembered I have something important to do!" Without another word, he spun on his heel and bolted toward the back of the restaurant.

Lucian chuckled, shaking his head. "You didn't have to tease him that much."

Elysia grinned. "I almost feel bad… but teasing him is just too fun."

After finishing his shift, Lucian untied his apron and stepped outside. The streets were quiet now, illuminated by the soft glow of lanterns. The distant sound of the river accompanied his footsteps as he made his way home with Elysia

He looked up at the sky, the stars twinkling above like distant memories—fading, unreachable. His hands curled into fists, nails digging into his palms.

"If my parents had really vanished into the academy's depths, then I'd dive into that darkness myself. Whatever it took. Whatever price I had to pay."

To be Continued....