Kael's Decision

The soft rustling of the wind outside his window and the stillness of the afternoon allowed Kael to think more clearly, yet the questions swirling in his mind only grew more complex. He had been thinking of asking Virelle—his stepmother—about the path to magic, but quickly dismissed the thought. She was a simple, kind-hearted woman, but she knew nothing about magic. She had spent her entire life on the farm, and her understanding of the world barely stretched beyond the familiar soil of their fields.

No, Kael needed answers from someone who truly understood magic—someone who had lived it. Someone like Sir Raleigh. A mage. A person who had experienced the intricacies and complexities of magic, not just heard stories about it. But as soon as Kael thought of Sir Raleigh, another thought interrupted: perhaps he shouldn't seek him out just yet. The mage had his own work, his own responsibilities, and Kael had already been through an interrogation by him. The mage had given him some direction with the magic academy in Thornmere town, and that was where Kael's attention should focus now.

Thornmere. The name alone was enough to stir a sense of hope within him.

Three weeks—that's when the recruitment campaign for the academy would begin. Three weeks didn't feel like much, and the idea of attending the academy sparked something deep inside Kael. He could feel his pulse quicken as he imagined stepping into the grand halls of an actual magical institution, surrounded by others who shared his interest and, perhaps, his abilities. Maybe he'd even get to witness mages performing their magic, using their powers in ways Kael could only dream of right now.

Could he really be a mage? Kael had never been sure of his potential, but now, with everything that had happened, he couldn't ignore the possibility. It was like a door had been cracked open before him, revealing a whole new world. Magic. Power. Knowledge. All of it was out there, and Kael was determined to grasp it.

His heart beat a little faster as the excitement rose within him. He couldn't suppress it. For years, he had felt like an outsider in his own life, a bystander watching the world from the edges. But now? Now, it felt like he might finally have a place in something greater. Something more than just a quiet farm boy in a forgotten village.

Taking a deep breath, Kael tried to calm his racing thoughts. Patience, he reminded himself. The recruitment campaign wasn't for three weeks, and while the wait felt unbearable, it was the only option he had. Besides, going to the academy would be the best way to get answers, to meet other people who understood the world of magic. If he was truly a mage, he would learn there. It was better than rushing into something too soon.

---

Later that afternoon, Kael trudged out into the fields with his stepmother, following the same routine he had followed for years. The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the farmland. Virelle was humming to herself, working quietly beside him, pulling weeds from the soil and tending to the crops.

Kael's mind wandered. The farmwork felt like an anchor, tethering him to a life he was slowly beginning to outgrow. He wasn't sure what had changed, but it seemed as if everything had shifted when the monster had chased him, when his survival had defied logic. That moment had awakened something in him, something that had long been dormant.

As he worked, Kael noticed his stepmother's occasional glances toward him. She was always so watchful, so concerned for his well-being. Despite everything, Kael felt a warmth in his chest at the thought of her care. He never let her see how much he appreciated it—how much he had come to rely on it—but he was grateful all the same.

Though Kael had always kept to himself, finding solace in solitude, he couldn't help but feel the pang of loneliness. The other children in the village never really spoke to him, and he couldn't understand why. Maybe it was because he wasn't like them, or maybe because of the reputation his family carried—his father's absence, and the lingering rumors that surrounded his mother's death.

There was one person, though, who didn't avoid him. Saria. She was the only girl in the village who would visit him sometimes, to talk, or just to share company. They were not close friends, but it was something Kael appreciated more than he let on. Saria had a way of being kind without asking for anything in return. But even she kept her distance when it came to other people. Perhaps, like him, she was an outsider in the village's eyes.

Kael's thoughts lingered on her, but he didn't let it consume him. Focus on the academy, he reminded himself. Focus on the future.

---

After a long day of labor, Kael retired to his room once again. The book on magic still lay open on his desk, waiting for him to revisit it. But tonight, Kael's mind was too preoccupied with the future, with the magic academy. His heart beat with anticipation, the dream of magic pulling him in different directions.

He knew that the next few weeks would be long, but they would also be filled with possibilities. And Kael, for the first time in a long time, allowed himself to feel something he hadn't in years: hope.

The days had passed in a quiet, almost dreamlike pace for Kael. The anticipation for the magic academy's recruitment campaign consumed his thoughts, and as the date drew nearer, his heart fluttered with excitement. It had been two weeks since he'd decided to wait patiently for the day to come, and now, there was only one more week left. The idea of being accepted into the academy, of finally stepping into a world of magic and power, kept Kael restless, even during his mundane daily tasks.

The sun was already high in the sky as Kael sat at the dining table, eating lunch with Virelle. She smiled warmly at him, offering him the food she had prepared, her hands moving deftly as she set the table. For a moment, it was easy to forget the world beyond the confines of their small home. Life, in that quiet moment, seemed simple, comforting.

Just as Kael took a bite of his meal, the door to their small cottage slammed open with a force that startled both him and Virelle. In the doorway stood Jorran, his burly frame filling the entrance, his expression grim.

Without a word, he tossed something toward Kael. The sealed scroll unfurled slightly mid-air before it landed on the table with a soft thud. The wax seal bore the emblem of the Caervorne Dominion—a wolf's head with eyes that seemed to gleam even in the simplest of imprints.

Kael frowned, his stomach tightening with an unpleasant sense of foreboding. He glanced up at his stepfather, confusion evident in his gaze.

Jorran's face was stone, his jaw clenched. "Get ready. The kingdom's army is calling for you," he said, his voice carrying the weight of finality. "The recruitment period starts, and you're signing up."

Kael blinked, the words taking a moment to sink in. He had been expecting many things, but this was not one of them. He set his spoon down slowly, a knot of frustration and confusion tightening in his chest. "What?" he asked, his voice betraying a mix of surprise and disbelief. "But—"

Virelle's voice joined his in protest. "Jorran, you can't be serious. He's just a boy! Why would you—" She paused, trying to gather her thoughts. "Kael's not ready for the army. You know that, right?"

The words hung in the air like a bitter wind. Kael's eyes flicked between his stepmother and his stepfather, a sinking feeling growing in his chest. Virelle's worry was palpable, and Kael could see her hands trembling slightly. She had always been protective of him—more so in recent years, ever since they moved to this village. But now, her worst fear seemed to be coming true: she feared losing him.

Jorran's eyes hardened as he stepped into the room fully, his boots thumping heavily on the wooden floor. "You think I care about his age? We live on the edge of the kingdom, Virelle," he spat. "There's danger everywhere. Bandits, monsters, raids. Every year, these recruitment drives happen, and every year we hear about what's happening beyond our borders. The army needs men. And Kael? He's strong enough. The kingdom's offering 10 Bronze coins for each volunteer."

Kael's gaze narrowed. The incentive was clear: money. Jorran had always been practical, but this—this was about something more than just survival. It was about the coins. Kael could feel the bitterness rising in his throat as he turned his attention back to the scroll. The words "Caervorne Dominion Military Recruitment" seemed to taunt him.

"I'm not going," Kael said firmly, his voice steady despite the anger welling up inside him. "I've already made plans for the magic academy. The recruitment's in a week, and I—"

"You'll go!" Jorran roared, cutting him off. "You'll go, and you'll like it. I'm not letting you waste away in some godforsaken academy when there's a real fight to be fought. The army needs men like you. And what better chance than now? Think about the future, Kael. What else do you have here? This is your chance to serve, to make something of yourself!"

Kael's fists clenched under the table, his nails digging into his palms. He could feel the pressure of the world around him tightening, suffocating him. The idea of the army, of becoming another faceless soldier in a vast, indifferent machine, repelled him. But even more so, the thought of giving up his chance at the magic academy—the very thing that had ignited his excitement and hope—felt like a betrayal to himself.

"Jorran, stop this," Virelle begged, her voice trembling now, her hands clasped tightly together. "I won't let you take him. Please. We don't know what kind of life he'll have in the army. The dangers, the wars..."

Jorran's eyes flicked from Virelle to Kael, his expression hardening. "I don't care about your soft sentiments. You don't understand the world outside this farm, Virelle. You're too wrapped up in your own worries. He's not a child anymore. It's time for him to learn what real life is."

Kael's breath quickened, his heart pounding in his chest. This was it. The ultimatum. His body felt stiff, as if his very bones were locking up in protest. He didn't want to go to the army. He had dreams, bigger than any Bronze coins could buy.

"I'm not going, Jorran," Kael repeated, his voice a little louder now, more determined.

Jorran's eyes flared with irritation. He stomped his foot on the floor, causing the room to reverberate with the force of his anger. "You WILL go!" His voice was low, dangerous now. "You have no choice in the matter. I don't care what you want, Kael. I've made my decision."

With that, Jorran spun on his heel, his booted steps heavy as he walked out of the house, muttering curses under his breath. The door slammed shut behind him with a finality that seemed to echo in Kael's chest.

Kael sat frozen at the table, the taste of anger and helplessness burning in his throat. He glanced at his stepmother, whose worried eyes were full of unsaid words. Neither of them spoke for a long moment.

Finally, Virelle reached out, her hand trembling as she touched his. "Kael... I don't want you to go. I—I just want you to be safe." Her voice cracked, and Kael felt a pang of guilt twist deep inside him.

"I won't go to the army, Virelle," he said softly, his gaze steady, though his heart thudded painfully in his chest. He couldn't. Not after everything. Not when magic, a future that he could control, was so close.