When Ian opened his eyes, he found himself inside a moving carriage. His body felt heavy, and his mind was still foggy. A familiar voice pulled him back to reality.
"Hey, kid. You're finally awake," Goblin said with a smirk.
Ian turned toward him and asked groggily,
"Why are we in a carriage? Where are we going?"
Goblin chuckled.
"Obviously, we're headed to the testing grounds. Did you really think you'd have time to say goodbye to your village?"
Ian frowned slightly, hurt by the blunt tone. Still, curiosity got the better of him.
"Goblin… Where exactly is this test happening? And what kind of test is it?"
"No need to call me 'sir'. Just 'Goblin' is fine," he replied casually. "As for the test... that's confidential. I can't tell you much. But I will say this—many people will be participating, and it'll last for about two years. If you can endure it, you'll come out of it far stronger than you are now."
Ian's eyes widened.
"Two years…?"
The shock was real, but the idea of becoming stronger lit a fire inside him.
Goblin went on,
"You've just awakened your ancestral bloodline. Your body must still be exhausted. Rest while you can. Tomorrow will be a big day."
Feeling the weight of those words, Ian leaned back and slowly drifted off again, wondering what awaited him at the capital.
---
The next morning, Ian awoke to the soft rumble of the carriage wheels and golden sunlight peeking through the wooden slats. He turned to Goblin and greeted him.
"Good morning."
Goblin, half-annoyed, responded,
"You're not exactly a morning person, are you? Here, take this piece of bread. That's your breakfast."
Ian looked at the small, dry piece of bread with disappointment.
"Just this? I haven't eaten since yesterday. Isn't there anything else?"
Goblin narrowed his eyes.
"Kid, you should be grateful you're getting even this. When I was your age, I didn't even have that. And if you think this is rough, wait until the trials begin. You're in for a real challenge."
Ian sighed and stopped complaining. He quietly began eating the bread.
Then something caught his eye. In the distance, towering stone walls and a massive castle came into view. A sense of awe overtook him.
"Is that… the capital?" he asked excitedly.
Goblin nodded.
"Yep. That's Reidan, the capital of the Iron Empire. Better take a good look while you can—'cause you won't be seeing it again for a long time."
---