It was afternoon when Ayman and his friend Simed left the training camp. Training usually lasted until evening, but that day, given their excellent results, they had been given special permission to leave early.
The two young men, both black-haired and of medium height, were walking along the main street of the cadet training barracks district, the only one in the entire city.
It was one of the safest areas of Mericivis, not only because it was located in the middle of the city, but also because it was well guarded by several patrols of soldiers, given its proximity to the north gate, a strategic point to defend in case of invasion, which it was hoped would never happen...
As a result, the neighbourhood was well maintained and the inhabitants were wealthy. The houses were brick, intact and solid. Definitely the opposite of the outside...
"Is it possible that those idiots still don't understand that they have no chance of beating you?" Simed said laughing as they headed towards the gate connecting the outer area with the middle area.
"After today, I think they finally get it," replied Ayman, who, in contrast, seemed less cheerful.
"I'm tired of facing opponents weaker than me. Why haven't I been chosen yet?"
Ayman was fully aware that he was undoubtedly the most talented cadet in the entire academy and by far the strongest among his peers. He was proud of this, but not entirely satisfied; the gap between him and his opponents in duels had become too wide, and his room for improvement was now minimal.
He was also worried that he had not yet been chosen by the Gods; he still had just over two years to be chosen, but the most talented were usually chosen well before the age of fourteen, as he had deduced from reading the stories of the great Chosen ones of the past. He was about to turn fourteen in a month.
"Come on, they're a nuisance, but a victory like that should be celebrated. You haven't got a big head, have you?" Simed joked.
Ayman turned to Simed with a half-smile and looked at him with his grey eyes, straight into his friend's black eyes.
"Me, got a big head? Against such weak opponents?"
"Yes, I'd say you've got a big head. And you haven't even been chosen yet!
'If only I were chosen, at least I could face stronger opponents and, above all, I could..."
Ayman didn't finish his sentence and his face darkened; at that moment, he remembered why he wanted so much to become stronger.
"I'll avenge you..."
Simed knew exactly what his friend was thinking at that moment; after all, he had known him since they were children and he felt the same way; it was common among the inhabitants of Mericivis...
"Anyway, is everything ready for tonight?" asked Simed, changing the subject and trying to escape the negative feelings that were troubling them.
"Almost, just a couple of things to sort out. But nothing complicated."
"I'm sure Kadir will be really happy today."
Ayman smiled.
"I hope so, my brother really deserves it."
Meanwhile, the two boys reached the end of the street, which opened onto a large open space with no houses. On the other side of this space was a bridge that crossed a canal between the imposing walls and the intermediate zone. Armed soldiers stood guard over the crossing. No one could cross the bridge without permission. Only the inhabitants of the intermediate zone, the Chosen and the cadets from the military barracks were allowed to do so. Ayman and Simed were recognised by the guards and allowed to cross the bridge and the large north gate without any problems.
Once they had passed through, they found themselves on another bridge, which also crossed a water channel.
After that, there was no open space, but instead it led directly to the streets of the outer ring of the city.
Once outside the inner walls, they entered the city proper. In fact, it was as if they had entered a completely different city.
Ayman and Simed ended up on a street that was narrower than the bridge, full of potholes and puddles. The houses were still made of stone in that area near the bridge, but they were much more neglected and damaged. They continued walking for a while before reaching their destination. The further they moved away from the inner walls, the more damaged the streets became; the houses were no longer made of stone but of wood, neglected and dilapidated. More than houses, they were real shacks. Not to mention the people who, unlike those protected by the inner walls, were less and less smiling, thinner, poorer and dirtier the further away they got from the inner walls. But it was normal, after all, the outer crown was much more dangerous and overpopulated than the space and resources available.
After about an hour's walk, they arrived in front of a wooden house that was in much better condition than the others. The door and window were intact, and there were even floral decorations that made it look more welcoming and charming.
"I'll leave you here, see you tonight, mate."
"See you tonight."
After saying goodbye to his friend, Ayman approached the front door and paused for a few seconds.
'Okay, now is not the time for negative thoughts.'
A slight smile appeared on his face and he entered.
"Attack!"
As soon as he crossed the threshold, two creatures just over a metre tall lunged at him with lightning speed, clinging to his legs.
"Got you!" said the creature with short black hair, clinging to his right leg; it looked at him with two bright blue eyes and a smiling face turned upwards.
'You can't escape! You're ours, hehe!' continued the other creature clinging to his left leg, also with blue eyes and black hair, but this time reaching down to her shoulders.
'Yes, yes, I'm yours. Well done. But now could you let me walk, you little troublemakers?!' said Ayman, smiling at the two creatures who had attacked him.
"Rayan, Sophie. How many times do I have to tell you? Stop bothering your brother every time he comes home. At least give him time to sit down..."
Those words were spoken with resignation by a young woman in her twenties with auburn hair and hazel eyes. Her pink cheeks stood out gracefully against her fair skin.
'Thanks, Melissa, but I'll take care of them now!
Ayman suddenly grabbed his little brothers by the collars of their shirts, lifted them off the floor and glanced around the room; the house they lived in wasn't very big. It consisted of a room with a fireplace, a table surrounded by five wooden chairs, a small wood-burning oven, various kitchen utensils and, on one side, a large, somewhat shabby bed, which was the bedroom of his brother Kadir and his wife Melissa, and finally a tiny bathroom.
Ayman then threw his brothers onto the bed next to him, where the three of them slept. It wasn't exactly soft, but the two landed without hurting themselves.
"Eheheh, you're so strong, big brother! " said the twins in unison, their eyes full of admiration for Ayman.
"Well, after all, I am the best cadet in the academy!" Ayman replied proudly.
"You're not getting big-headed, are you, Ayman? "
After hearing those words, he turned to Melissa and smiled, almost irritated.
"Me, get big-headed over something like that? What do you take me for? "
"Oh no, big brother really has got a big head!"
"Hey! Don't you start too, you little brats!"
"Help! Big brother is angry!"
"Run for your lives!" said the twins before running outside to escape the wrath of their big brother Ayman!
"Hahahaha, you guys are really good!" said Melissa, laughing.
Her voice was really sweet and pretty.
"Are you hungry? There's some rice left over from lunch, if you want some."
"No, don't worry, Melissa, I already ate at the academy. How are the preparations for tonight going?"
"Almost everything is ready. I just have to decorate the room, but that won't take long! Besides, Kadir's friends will keep him a while, so they'll be back shortly after sunset. But I need you to go to my grandfather's to pick up the gift we chose for him."
"Oh, okay, I actually had to stop by the teacher's to return a book he lent me."
Ayman went over to the bed and pulled out a small basket from underneath it. Inside were some books, a real rarity in Lifedis. He took one with a very elegant and carefully crafted binding; it looked very precious. The title of the book was "Fundamentals of Magic by Oldius Mazz".
"Thank you, Ayman, and tell my grandfather not to dare not come tonight."
"Of course, I'll tell him."
Ayman then covered the book with a small veil and went outside. Their neighbourhood was fairly quiet, but it would not have been wise to go out with a book that could be worth many silver crowns in plain sight.
He said goodbye to his little brothers, who were playing outside with the other children in the neighbourhood, and headed for the old master's house.