At dawn, the children gathered in front of the school gate as Carla Brown had instructed. Backpacks on their backs, sleep still clouding some of their eyes, while Adam stood in the back, staring at the dirt between his feet without any sign of interest.
They boarded the large carriage meant to transport them. Throughout the trip, there wasn't much conversation. Krista stared out the window with unbroken curiosity, wondering about the capital she'd heard stories of, while Neil sat quietly, eyes closed as if reviewing plans in his mind.
As for Adam… he simply rested his head on the edge of the seat, lost in vacant gazes that reflected nothing but disconnection from everything around him.
The road stretched for long hours, passing through sprawling farmlands, then small towns they didn't stop in. The closer they drew to the capital, the more luxurious carriages and riders in gleaming armor appeared along the road.
And then…
The royal capital appeared.
The scene was as if they had stepped out of their old world into a living mythical painting.
Massive stone walls wrapped around the city as though embracing it, tall towers gleaming under the midday sun, royal red banners adorned with the golden lion emblem fluttering in every corner, and streets paved with smooth, clean stones stretching as far as the eye could see.
The front square was crowded with luxurious carriages, merchants, and knights. On its edges rose tall buildings with colorful stained-glass windows, and at its center a massive fountain sprayed streams of water in every direction.
When the carriage stopped and Carla ordered them to disembark, the reactions varied:
Krista stood frozen in place, mouth half-open, her eyes darting between every detail. She whispered:"…Oh my God… everything here… shines."
She placed a hand over her chest as if her heart couldn't take in the vastness. A gold-encrusted carriage passed in front of her, and she nearly stumbled in awe.
The other students were split between those staring at the sword- and armor-clad soldiers, and those gazing up at the tall buildings, a mix of awe and quiet fear in their eyes.
Neil stood calmly, showing little surprise. His eyes moved slowly, as if he knew exactly what he would see. He waved at one of the carriages and said in a low voice:"As I expected… the capital never disappoints."
Krista glanced at him curiously, but couldn't find the courage to ask how he seemed so sure.
As for Adam…
He stood at the edge of the square, his back slightly hunched, looking at the lavish market activity with no sign of wonder or curiosity.Anyone seeing him for the first time might think he had been born here and knew every corner of the place, but the truth was he couldn't care less.His hands in his pockets, his eyes moved slowly between faces without trying to understand them.
He didn't say a single word.
When Krista looked at him, she felt this boy had nothing to do with the scene at all… not with joy, nor with fear, nor even passing curiosity.
Carla sighed as she watched them all. She raised her hand and pointed toward a wide street leading to one of the smaller palaces:"Come on. We'll head now to the lodging prepared for you—it's called Franco Inn. From there, identity checks and registration invitations will begin. Remember… this is a moment you'll never forget as long as you live."
They moved one by one through the crowd.The sound of wheels on stone, merchants' calls, the footsteps of knights…Everything was strange and new, except for Adam, who seemed as if the capital itself meant nothing to him.
Deep inside, he wasn't watching the city… he was watching himself, searching for any thread to stir something in his chest… but found nothing.
When they crossed the wide main street, they moved in a tight line behind Carla Brown, who checked every few steps to make sure none had lagged behind or lost their way.
They stopped before a massive four-story building, its facade adorned with floral carvings and stonework trim, while colorful flower pots hung from its balconies. At the entrance, the kingdom's flag waved with the golden lion emblem upon it.
Carla said loudly:"This is the royal lodging prepared for all of you until the official distribution orders are issued. Remember… during this time, you'll meet students from other villages that suffered from the attacks."
When they entered the reception hall, the room was full of children and teenagers with weary faces and simple clothes. Some sat in corners watching the others, while some gathered in small circles whispering.
They saw them all clearly:
– A thin boy with pale eyes clutching the handle of his bag as if the weight of the world rested on his shoulders.– A girl with thick short hair, head held high, glaring at anyone who approached as if silently challenging them.– Two children even smaller than Krista, holding each other's hands tightly in visible tension.– A youth a little older than the rest, arms crossed over his chest, looking at them with a gaze half-curious, half-cautious.
A murmur of whispers began to fill the hall:
"Those are from Itragan Village… I heard the masked man attacked their village himself.""It's true… they say some of them saw the massacre with their own eyes.""Look at that black-haired boy… they say he never laughs."
At that moment, Neil stepped forward, observing the faces coldly. He knew none of these were ordinary… all of them came from heavy pasts.
Krista swallowed nervously. She felt their tension spilling into her chest, and a strange feeling overtook her:Each one here carries a pain like ours.
For a moment, she felt she wasn't alone.
Adam stood at the back, his face expressionless, but his eyes took in everything with quiet speed. The frightened children… the wary teenagers… the teachers standing near the desks to register names.
For no clear reason, he suddenly felt that his being here wasn't mere chance.
"Adam."
He noticed Neil's voice, turning toward him lightly, as Neil spoke quietly while looking toward the newcomers:"These… will be part of everything later. Don't forget their faces."
Adam didn't reply. He simply nodded slowly, as if recording the note in his mind, then returned to his silence.
Carla moved toward the reception clerk and began registering her group:"Itragan Class – 17 students, Miss Carla Brown – all from affected areas."
At that time, some of their students exchanged glances with the other villagers. Some looks were curious, some fearful, and some with something strange… perhaps silent respect.
In one corner stood a pale girl in a gray robe, staring at Krista with eyes gleaming with questions. When their eyes met, a brief glance passed between them, as if each were trying to guess which one would last longer in the coming stage.
As for Neil… he watched everyone with the caution of a hunter.
– Those who had lived through the hell of the attack.– Those who had lost parents and siblings.– And those who had come, like them, to try to survive, learn, and change.
After a few minutes, Carla finished registration and gestured for them to head to the stairs:"Your rooms will be on the second floor. Arrange your things and prepare yourselves… tomorrow the official interviews and invitation distribution will begin."
They began climbing one by one, each stealing glances at the others, feeling the weight of a moment that would never repeat.
And among all these glances… Adam remained at the very back of the line, his eyes distant, but this time, for the first time in months… he seemed to be thinking of something beyond his present.
Krista walked silently behind Carla, but inside, she wasn't calm at all.Each step on the capital's royal tiles felt like it struck a wall inside her mind. Everything around her felt bigger than she imagined: the tall buildings, the new faces, the children from other villages, even the air… felt denser.
"Am I ready for this?"The question slipped into her mind, despite all the training she'd gone through, despite all of Neil's blows, and all the nights she'd spent focusing on the light and repeating incantations until her tongue burned.
When they entered the inn, she felt a tightening in her chest. It wasn't exactly fear… but a feeling of being very small in a very vast world.She looked at the other children, and comparisons swirled inside her like a storm."That girl looks stronger than me… that boy doesn't seem afraid… am I the only one who feels like it's hard to breathe?"
Then her eyes drifted to Neil.He walked with his usual calm, as if nothing bothered him, as if his being here was natural, even expected."Neil… always seems to know what to do. Always a step ahead. Even when he was teaching me, I never felt he was testing anything… just guiding me with confidence."
But what bothered her more wasn't Neil… it was Adam.Adam, who showed nothing. No wonder, no excitement, no tension.As if he lived in his own world, with no connection to cities, travel, or even those around him.
"Is he stronger than us? Or does he just not care? What goes on in his mind?"She had once told him his thoughts were complicated, but he grew more mysterious by the day."What is he hiding? And why… can't I stop thinking about him sometimes?"
She shook her head lightly as if to chase away these thoughts."My focus now is on my goal. I'm here to change. To become stronger."
But an inner voice whispered:"Stronger… for Neil? To keep up with Adam? For myself?"
The questions were many, and annoying. But she didn't run from them.Instead, she decided to write them in her notebook that night, as she always did when things became tangled in her mind.
When they sat in the hall, she drew her bag closer to her chest, then looked at the high ceiling."I'm scared… but I'm ready to carry this fear to the end."
Then she looked at Neil again, and a small smile curved at the corner of her lips."If I'm going to walk among these strangers… I want to be at least one of those who are worth reckoning with."
When Krista entered with them into Franco's Inn, she felt that the very name added something of awe and dignity. She had heard about it from her teacher, Carla, how it had been built decades ago to shelter travelers from distant villages.
She contemplated the high walls adorned with old knight emblems, and for a moment felt she was in a sacred place rather than just an inn.
"Franco's Inn… here we will spend many nights before the exam begins… before they decide our fate."
Her heart was beating fast.Despite the fatigue of the road, she couldn't sleep right away, and remained standing, watching Neil who looked relaxed as he inspected the rooms, and Adam who sat in one of the corners showing no sense of anything.
"What is he thinking about now? And what will we become after all this?"
She raised her head to gaze at the high ceiling, then quietly gasped as she whispered to herself:"Here… our life will truly begin."