A young dark-skinned boy with black hair and grayish eyes slept peacefully on one of the branches of a large tree.
(???): Karlo!
As he opened one eye, he saw a fair-skinned man—also with black hair and grayish eyes—approaching while carrying several paper bags.
(Karlo): What is it, Dad?
Moments later, he jumped down from the branch.
(Samuel): Could you deliver today's orders? I still need to go back and prepare a few more medicines, and making the deliveries myself would be exhausting.
Karlo noticed the deep dark circles under his father's eyes.
(Karlo): Sighs Alright, I'll do it. You should at least get some rest.
(Samuel): Thank you, son. I'll just prepare a few more, then I'll take a nap—I promise.
(Karlo): I hope so.
Samuel handed Karlo the bags filled with medicine, along with a small list.
After glancing over it, Karlo stored everything inside a small magical pouch hanging from his waist—one that didn't seem to have a bottom.
(Karlo): I'm heading out, then. I'll be back soon.
(Samuel): Oh, right. Lunch is almost ready. Your mother asked me to call you and your siblings—if you see them, could you tell them to come back home?
Karlo simply raised his thumb as he walked deeper into the forest.
After walking for a while through the forest, two small Goblins suddenly attacked Karlo, wielding wooden staff.
(Green creatures with pointed ears and red eyes, reaching at most about 1.6 meters in height.)
He easily snatched the wooden staff from one of the Goblins and used it to strike the other's legs, knocking him to the ground. Right after that, he lightly struck the head of the Goblin he had disarmed.
(???): Girk!
The small Goblin quickly collapsed from the pain.
A small brown magic circle formed in the palm of Karlo's hand when, suddenly, a tan-skinned boy with black hair and blue eyes emerged from the bushes, holding a small wooden sword and attempting to attack him from behind.
Karlo easily dodged by spinning to the left. Immediately after, a large block of stone slammed into the boy's stomach, sending him flying several meters backward.
Even after taking such a heavy blow to the gut, the boy still tried to stand.
(???): Urg… This isn't over yet…
He extended his arm toward Karlo, and a small reddish magic circle began to form in the palm of his hand.
(???): "Globus Ig—"
Before the boy could finish chanting, Karlo hurled the wooden staff with all his strength, striking the boy squarely in the hand and instantly canceling the spell.
(???): Ow! Hey, that hurt!
(Karlo): How stupid do you have to be to try using fire magic in a place like this? Are you trying to set the forest on fire?
Suddenly, an arrow was fired toward Karlo—but he dodged it.
(Karlo): (There's someone else?)
He managed to spot someone hiding among the bushes.
A dark-skinned girl with black hair and blue eyes was preparing to fire another arrow, but she got distracted and lost sight of Karlo.
(???): Huh? Where did he go?
A small black fissure began to open in the space behind her. An arm emerged from the portal and touched her shoulder.
(???): Aaaaaah!
Some time later, things finally calmed down. The two children and the two small Goblins were kneeling in front of Karlo.
(Karlo): Sighs Seriously… As if the three of you weren't enough. Now Hine is going to start doing this too? Duka, what kind of stupidity did you put in her head?
(Gobu): Ut diximus, an Duka cogit nos ad hanc partem esse, an frigus putes ut semper vapulet?("As we said, Duka forces us to be part of this—or do you think it's fun to get beaten all the time?")
(Gouji): Putō tuber in capite meō crēscere…("I think there's a lump growing on my head…")
(Duka): First of all, both of you stop complaining. Didn't you see that this time we almost hit him? And second, Hine followed us on her own—I didn't convince her to do anything!
(Karlo): Is that true?
(Hine): Yes… Duka always seems to have fun when he fights you, and I was kind of bored staying in the village, since I still can't walk through the forest by myself…
(Gobu): Duka fun habet quia cerebrum non habet, mihi crede, in eo non est iocus.("Duka has fun because he has no brain—believe me, there's nothing funny about it.")
(Duka): Hey! You know I can understand you, right?
(Hine): …And I also thought that if I learned how to fight, my "Awakening" would happen sooner…
(Karlo): Hine, you know that only happens after you turn twelve. It was the same for me, for Duka, and for everyone else. You still have a few months before you reach that age—but I'm glad you're already preparing. I'll talk to old Gouber and see if he can train you.
Her eyes lit up.
(Hine): Really? Thank you!
(Duka): You only act like a nice brother when it's with her.
(Karlo): That's because she doesn't try to attack me every time she sees me. Speaking of the old man—Gobu, Gouji, do you know where he is? I have a shipment of medicine to deliver to him.
(Gouji): Erit in villa, ibi te comitabor.("He should be in the village. We'll accompany you there.")
(Karlo): You two should head back home already. Dad said lunch is almost ready. I'll just finish today's deliveries and then go back.
(Hine): We'll get going then. See you later.
(Duka): All this fighting made me hungry.
The two children headed back home while Karlo followed the Goblins toward their village.
The Goblin village was not very large. It consisted of only about a dozen tents, one of them twice the size of the others, surrounded by a simple wall made of wooden stakes and stones.
Most Goblins wore clothing made from the hides and leather of animals they hunted. Some larger Goblins carried spears and wore simple copper armor—these were the ones responsible for protecting the village.
Several Goblins greeted Karlo as he walked toward the large tent. Upon entering, he saw five Goblins inside. Three of them were lying down, burning with fever, while an elderly Goblin stood beside one of them, checking his condition.
(Karlo): Grandpa Gouber, I brought the medicines you asked for.
(Gouber): Thank you, Karlo. Please thank your father for me.
He turned toward another Goblin who was helping tend to the sick.
(Gouber): Medicinam eorum quamprimum fac.("Have them take the medicine as soon as possible.")
Karlo handed several medicines to the Goblin.
(Karlo): How are they doing?
(Gouber): Fortunately, it's just fever and headaches. They should be much better by tomorrow. And you—how are things going? Ready for tomorrow's test?
(Karlo): Tsk Don't even mention that test. I still don't know why my parents signed me up for the entrance exam of the academy in the country of Meiten. You already taught me everything I needed to know about magic.
Gouber simply smiled.
(Gouber): There is still much you don't know, Karlo—I assure you. Once you enter the academy, you'll realize that your knowledge is still small compared to everything the world has to offer. And it will be good for you to see what lies beyond the forest.
(Karlo): It's not like I've never been to Meiten before… Ah, I almost forgot—Grandpa Gouber, could you start teaching Hine? Just the theory is fine, since she still can't use magic.
(Gouber): I understand. Tell her I'll be free tomorrow to begin teaching her.
(Karlo): Alright then. I should get going—I still have a few more deliveries to make.
(Gouber): Very well. I won't take up any more of your time.
(Karlo): See you later.
(Gouber): Farewell, young one. Good luck on your exam tomorrow.
Karlo returned to the forest, this time heading toward the village where he and his family lived.
The village was quite large, filled with many houses, shops, and various other establishments. It was easy to tell that hundreds of people lived there.
As he crossed a small bridge, he saw two women washing clothes in the river while chatting with a siren—a creature with blue skin and hair resembling seaweed, half humanoid and half fish. When they noticed him approaching, they waved cheerfully. Karlo respectfully waved back.
As he walked through the village, he saw countless different creatures interacting with one another, some even chatting with humans. A large ogre—a creature nearly three meters tall, with orange skin and two heads—was helping a lumberjack carry heavy logs.
Nearby, two sakis—small beings barely over forty centimeters tall, with brown skin, completely white eyes, red fur on their heads resembling a cap, and only one leg—were playing with a silver wolf cub. The cub looked similar to a normal wolf, except for its shiny, coarse fur. Beside them, an adult silver wolf slept peacefully under a tree.
He also noticed an elderly man rocking back and forth in a chair on the balcony of his house, surrounded by a group of agnis—birds covered in flames with yellow eyes. Despite being made of fire, they neither burned anything nor caused the old man any harm.
After walking a bit farther, Karlo arrived at a modest house with a small flower bed. A man was watering the flowers using magic, and a large griffin—a creature with the body of a lion, the wings and head of an eagle, and two small horns atop its head—was sleeping beside the house.
(Zoen): Good morning, Karlo. Did you come to see Happie again?
(Karlo): I came to deliver some medicine. I won't be able to stay long—I still have a few more deliveries to make.
He knocked on the door, and moments later a woman opened it.
(Debbie): Oh, hello Karlo. How can I help you?
(Karlo): I just came to deliver the medicine. How is she doing?
(Debbie): She's much better now, but I told her not to get out of bed until she's completely healed.
Karlo entered the house. When he opened the door to one of the bedrooms, he saw a harpy sitting on the bed—a humanoid being covered in feathers, with wings instead of arms and talons instead of hands and feet. She appeared to be around Duka's age. Her feathers were the color of the sky, and there was a small scar on her left shoulder.
(Karlo): Hi, Happie. I came to check on you. Have you been taking your medicine properly?
The harpy nodded, clearly happy to see Karlo.
(Karlo): Good. Keep it up and you'll be out of that bed soon. Though honestly, I wouldn't mind staying in bed all day—maybe I'll catch a cold so I won't have to take that entrance exam.
The harpy frowned.
(Karlo): He laughs I'm just kidding, relax. My mother would literally kill me if I didn't take that exam.
Karlo took a package of pills from his pouch and handed it to Debbie.
(Debbie): Same daily dosage as always, right?
(Karlo): Yes. Well, I'd better go—I want to finish my deliveries before lunch is ready. See you later, Happie. Take care, okay?
He turned toward the exit.
(Happie): Ah… g-good l-luck on y-your e-exam!
Karlo and Debbie smiled upon hearing her speak.
They walked to the front door.
(Debbie): Thank you again, Karlo.
(Karlo): No problem. If you need more medicine, just ask and I'll bring it.
(Debbie): I'll remember that.
They said their goodbyes, and Karlo continued delivering medicine to other villagers—humans and members of many other races alike. His final stop was a relatively large tavern.
He entered the tavern. Despite it being lunchtime, the place was empty. Only a middle-aged man with his arm in a cast was carrying a large crate of food.
(Louis): Sorry, we're temporarily closed—oh, it's you, Karlo. How have you been?
Karlo saw the man lifting heavy loads despite his broken arm and felt irritation rise.
(Karlo): What the hell do you think you're doing? Didn't my father tell you not to strain yourself while that arm is in a cast?
(Louis): S-Sorry… I just can't stay idle all day. And I need to restock supplies.
Karlo took the crate from Louis and carried it to the back of the tavern.
(Karlo): And where are Katrina, Polko, and the others?
(Louis): Since the tavern will be closed for a while, I told everyone to take some time off.
Karlo returned to the front.
(Karlo): You don't need to close the tavern just because you can't cook. Just put someone else in charge.
(Louis): You know I don't like others touching my kitchen—it's sacred ground.
(Karlo): Takes a deep breath If you insist…
He quickly examined the cast.
(Karlo): At least everything looks fine—the cast is secure, there's no swelling, and no other injuries. But for Vitana's sake, just rest.
(Louis): Alright! If the village's future doctor orders me to relax, who am I to refuse? RAHAHAHAR!(Yes, that really is his laugh.)
Karlo gave Louis a thorough check just to be sure there were no other issues. Then he left the tavern and headed home.
On the way, he passed a statue in the village's central square. The statue depicted a man wearing a mask with a small ball on the nose, an odd wig topped with a top hat, and loose clothing covered by a large cape.
A Silvili elderly woman—a being with pale skin, greenish hair, pointed ears, and amber-colored eyes—stood in front of the statue, gazing at it.
(Karlo): Good morning, Elder Nilv.
The small woman turned toward him, nodded, and smiled.
Karlo's family home was located on the outskirts of the village. It was a two-story building—the first floor housed the pharmacy and a small clinic, while the second floor served as their living quarters.
He entered the pharmacy and headed toward a door at the back. Behind it was a staircase leading upstairs, which he climbed.
(Karlo): I'm back. Today was exhausting—it's been a while since I had to make this many deliveries.
When he reached the dining room, his siblings were already seated at the table.
(Hine): Welcome back, Karlo. Did you talk to Grandpa Gouber?
(Karlo): I did. He said he can start teaching you tomorrow, so you'd better wake up early.
(Hine): Okay! I can't wait for tomorrow.
(Karlo): Where's Dad?
(Duka): He's still in the shed, finishing up some more medicines.
(Karlo): I figured…
A tall woman with dark skin, black hair, and blue eyes emerged from the kitchen carrying a tray of food.
(Rilya): Hi, sweetie. Everything alright with today's deliveries?
(Karlo): Yeah, but it was exhausting. I practically walked through the entire village—and outside it too—delivering medicine.
(Rilya): I get it, but relax. Now it's time to fill your belly.
She set the food on the table, and they began to serve themselves.
Rilya noticed that Duka's hand was slightly swollen.
(Rilya): What happened to your hand, dear?
Duka grew nervous.
(Duka): Uh… a-a bee stung me, that's all…
(Rilya): She simply smiles I see. And you, Karlo—ready for tomorrow's exam?
(Karlo): Tsk Do I really have to take that stu—He quickly fell silent, realizing he was on the brink of death.
She kept smiling.
(Karlo): Yes… I think I'll pass the exam without any problems.
(Rilya): That's good then.
They finished lunch, and time passed until nightfall.
Karlo was already in his room, preparing to sleep. He threw himself onto the bed and stared at the ceiling.
(Karlo): (When I wake up, it'll already be the day of the exam. I really don't feel like going… but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't curious about what it's like there.)
A purple magic circle appeared in his hand. Suddenly, black spheres formed and extinguished every source of light in the room. Soon after, he closed his eyes and fell asleep.
The next day, around four thirty in the morning, Karlo stood at the front door, ready to depart.
(Samuel): Did you bring everything you need?
(Karlo): Yes—certificate, documents, everything's here.
(Samuel): Remember to—
(Karlo): Not get into trouble, I know. Don't worry… murmurs as long as no one messes with me…
(Hine): Good luck on the exam!
(Duka): He'll probably do fine on the practical test—but the written one…
(Karlo): At least I know the basics. And you—do you even know how to divide?
(Duka): Tsk Whatever. I'm going back to sleep. Good luck anyway.
Duka turned around and went back inside.
(Hine): Yawn
(Rilya): You should go back to bed too, Hine.
(Hine): Okay… good night, everyone…
(Samuel): I'll put her back to bed.
They returned inside.
(Karlo): Well, I guess I'll get going.
Rilya suddenly hugged him.
(Rilya): Good luck, my son.
Karlo hugged her back.
(Rilya): Don't hold back.
(Karlo): You know I won't.
Karlo whistled.
From a small stable behind the house, a large griffin came running out energetically.
Karlo stroked the griffin's head.
(Karlo): Good morning, buddy. Ready to go?
(Liber): Kryaa!
(Karlo): Alright then.
Karlo mounted Liber's back. The griffin quickly prepared for takeoff.
At high speed, the two flew toward the city of Alcarcia, where the academy was located.
(Samuel): Has he already left?
(Rilya): Yes. He just did.
(Samuel): I see… I hope everything goes well.
(Rilya): Relax, man! Our son won't get into trouble… I think.
(Samuel): He laughs Knowing him, it won't take long for something to happen. Strangely enough, that's not what worries me.
Rilya noticed that Samuel was truly anxious.
She placed her hand beneath his head and gently pressed it against her chest.
(Rilya): That was over twenty years ago. The kingdom has changed its stance on dark magic. Everything will be fine.
(Samuel): I hope you're right…