"So you're going to pay for all of it? Cuz, right now I'm poor as fuck." Aldric laughed
"It's not exactly me that it's going to pay for your 'school', but the government. Either way, I will pay something for you, but not that."
Naevius stopped for a second, his mind flowing with thoughts that even he couldn't decipher. "I… I accept it. I mean, it's not every day that this type of opportunity comes flying into your window, right?"
"That's how you should always think! I'm sure you will love this opportunity!" Aldric got up from the poorly done wooden chair, struck his clothes hard enough so the dust that had built up on them would be gone. "Oh, last thing. If we are going to get you inside, we can't have you looking like some homeless"
The man pointed to a broken mirror on the wall. Naevius got up too, walking enough to see himself in the mirror. Naevius didn't have bad genes, actually, it was the exact opposite; He had the face of an angel, his hair and eye color were a beautiful dark blue, a shade of blue that reminded him too much of the ocean for his liking. But the most intriguing part of his characteristics was his right eye.
Even tho it was still a human eye, it was different too. Like a black canvas with a drawing of the universe, every time he looked into it, he felt like he was staring into the infinite. It was truly an amazing vision to behold.
The problem with the boy, though, was exactly as Aldric said. He looked like a homeless person because of the way he took care of himself. A long and messy hair that didn't match his face, a poorly shaved stubble, and even though his clothes were not that bad, they were truly damaged.
"Yeah, I could be better looking, but… It's not like I have the money to do it." Aldric immediately got a prideful look on his face.
"Don't worry about it, I will pay for you, my dear!" Said the man while shamelessly swinging his credit card in the air.
"Huh?" Naevius said guiltlessly while looking at the man, "You look really proud of that card. What's the difference between the common one?"
"You… don't know what a credit card without a limit is?" Aldric was stunned; it was clear as day on his face that he didn't expect that outcome, not in a million years. "Oh god, I'm fucked up. I'm sorry, but I'm not going to explain what a limitless credit card… It's pretty intuitive. "
The boy sighed. Both of them had been there for not a long time, so it was not a surprise when an old man walked towards them.
"Co-Could you please leave?" It was not in a bad tone; it was just an honest and humble man's request.
"Hey, don't worry, old man! We're leaving already! Take care of yourself!" Aldric nodded with his head and grabbed Naevius by his arm. Both of them walked together in the direction of the road.
Even though the village was not the richest, its simple houses and buildings still held a cozy charm, making it a place away from everything. As they walked side by side in the street, no one dared to make a sound. The reason for that silence is that Naevius was enjoying exploring new places, and Aldric noticed that he wasn't going to be the one to spoil the boy's fun.
Eventually, both of them found a secluded spot near the street, where the city had already come to an end, but a lonely car was still parked there. It was a beautiful convertible with dark red paint, with the seats being coated in amazing warm leather.
"What do you think, huh?" Said Aldric proudly, "That's one of my babies."
"Yeah, it's a nice car."
"NICE? Damn boy, do you know how rare this car is?"
"Nah, I don't." Feeling defeated, Aldric just swallowed his pride, getting in the driver's seat, he opened the door for Naevius to hop in.
The sounds of the engine started to roll out, and the car sped at a high speed. Naevius had never felt such a thrill in his life before, the feeling of the wind that was strong on his face, seeing the landscape moving vastly behind both of them. It was truly an amazing thing to see.
After a while on the trip, Aldric pointed to a compartment on Naevius's side of the car. "Get the little book inside it, there are all the things you need to know to pass the test that is coming."
"Wait, test?"
"Yeah, you expected to enter there, and just get in?" The boy snorted, but in a way, Aldric was right. It would be too easy to just get in. "But don't worry, the test is fine."
Naevius stared suspiciously at him, as if he knew something, and he probably did. Eventually, five hours passed by, and they were finally closer to the city. Aldric stopped his car closer to a ravine.
"The clouds got thick, huh? Wait a second." Both of them waited for the clouds to get out of their faces.
And when it did, Aldric looked back at the boy at his side, grinning. "It's a pretty cit…" He stopped the moment he saw the boy's expression. Naevius stared angrily at something, deep in the city's embrace. For him, it was the same as seeing someone copying in a poor way a famous art piece.
It was MOCKING, HOW DARE THEY. A White tower made of pure Ivory, that pierced the skies above, seemingly as if it were built by the fingers of God itself. But the rays of the sun were never reflected by its wall.
The man besides Naevius looked shocked. The boy didn't seem to know what a credit card without limits was, but when looking at that tower, it seemed like he knew it for the day he was born, as if he were the tower heir.