After turning sixteen, every child undergoes the Ritual of Awakening, a sacred procedure that reveals their talent and attributes. Only after completing the ritual does one become eligible to enter the academy and begin formal training to become either a mage or a knight.
There were numerous academies across Argentum, the country ruled by humans. Among them, one stood above the rest, its influence surpassing even many noble houses. Gaining admission to this academy virtually guaranteed a successful future. Graduating from it was a sure path to high society and a life of comfort.
It was the Arcane Academy — the dream academy for every aspirant. Given its immense benefits, the eligibility criteria were equally demanding.
And now, Vlad had received a recommendation letter to enter this prestigious academy from none other than Lucas Cendral, the Eight-Ringed Archmage.
---
"Wh-which academy?" Vlad asked, still unable to believe what he had just heard.
"You can directly enroll in the Arcane Academy after turning sixteen," Edren repeated, holding up the letter.
The shocked expression on Vlad's face slowly transformed into pure joy. He jumped into his father's arms.
"You are amazing, Dad! Thank you so much. I will make sure not to waste this opportunity."
"Hahaha, you're only realizing how amazing I am now?" Edren said, ruffling his hair. "But this letter isn't free. You need to help me with the farming and wood cutting. Only then will I give it to you."
"I will do anything you ask, Dad," Vlad replied instantly, his eyes burning with determination.
'Keke, I just got myself free labor for the next ten years,' Edren snickered inwardly.
While Vlad was still hugging Edren, Chloe quietly moved closer and tugged at his trousers.
"What? I don't have any more berries," Vlad said, lowering himself to the ground.
"Are you leaving the village?" she asked, her face carrying its usual unreadable expression.
"Not yet. I will leave after I turn sixteen," Vlad replied with a smile. "I need to train even harder from now on. You will help me, ri—"
"I'm going home," Chloe said abruptly, turning and running off.
"What's gotten into her?" Vlad muttered, confused.
"That's for you to figure out, brat," Edren chuckled before heading inside.
"Children, come inside. It's time to sleep," Elaria's voice called from the house.
Vlad gave one last look at Chloe's disappearing figure before turning around.
"Coming, Mama."
---
**The Next Day**
"D-Dad, isn't this way too much?" Vlad murmured, staring at the long list in his hand with wide eyes.
"Hah! What are you whining about?" Edren laughed. "Do you have any idea how desperately students struggle just to earn a chance at the Arcane Academy? These tasks are a small price to pay for such a valuable recommendation letter." He waved the letter proudly. "Besides, it's not like I'm dumping all my work on you. I'm busy too."
"Say that after you at least hide those bottles in your bag," Vlad muttered, glaring at the large backpack slung over Edren's shoulder. Several wine bottles were clearly peeking out from the top.
"Hahaha, those are for important adult work matters," Edren chuckled, quickly adjusting the bag to hide the bottles. "Well, I expect you to finish everything before I return."
Edren took quick steps toward the gate, hurrying out of the farm before Elaria could notice where he was sneaking off to.
Vlad let out a deep sigh. "Sigh... I should start with this," he mumbled, staring down at the daunting list in his hand.
1. Collect 500 wooden logs
2. Irrigate the farmland at the back for sowing rice.
3. Level the uneven farmland before planting to prevent water pooling.
4. Transplant rice seedlings row by row without damaging their roots.
5. Fix the fence around the farmland.
6. Loosen the hardened summer soil across the entire field before sowing.
7. Remove pests from the crops without harming the plants.
The whole morning, Vlad spent in the woods cutting the branches of tall trees. The calluses on his hands hardened after every strike of the axe. His body was damp with sweat under the scorching heat.
In the afternoon, he worked on the farm, leveling the uneven land. His back hurt from being bent for so long. His nails bled as dirt went inside them. Yet instead of feeling frustration or anger, a strange feeling of excitement had crept over him.
"This is just another way of training," Vlad said to himself, striking the land with the hoe.
When evening came, only a quarter of the land was leveled. He decided to stop there and moved to the fences around the farm, replacing the broken and spoiled logs.
When the sun reached the horizon and the stars began to shine in the night sky, Vlad decided to call it a day. He lay down on the ground.
"I will enter the Arcane Academy." A voice entered his ears just as he was about to close his eyes.
"Eh? You're copying me again?" Vlad muttered, feeling strands of Chloe's lavender hair brush against his face as she leaned over him, staring down.
She shook her head and revealed,
"I heard the academy has many tasty dishes. I can also eat as much as I want there."
"Huh? You are going to the academy to eat food," Vlad almost burst into laughter. "You are a pig through and through—"
Chloe landed a sharp kick directly to his guts, making him roll over in pain even though he had tough skin.
"I am not a pig, idiot Vlad," she muttered. An expression of annoyance formed on her face.
This was the first time Vlad had seen her expressing herself. It was also the first time she had hit him for calling her a pig, and she certainly had not held back with that kick.
She extended her hand forward while Vlad was still writhing in pain. His body was already quite sensitive after the long, exhausting day.
"What?" he asked, one hand still resting on his stomach.
"My twenty berries that you promised yesterday."
"You just said that you are not a pi—"
Another kick landed at the same spot. This one was even more lethal than the previous one.
"O-on the rock there," Vlad barely managed to point at the wooden basket placed on the rock, closer to the fence.
She removed the cloth covering the basket and found it filled to the brim with berries.
"They are more than twenty," she said in a low voice.
"Yours are only twenty. The rest are mine," Vlad said, rising to his feet.
"All are mine," Chloe declared, immediately stuffing them into her mouth.
"Hey, stop it, you greedy pig," Vlad shouted, but his words fell on deaf ears.
Whenever Chloe started eating, she would ignore any insult coming at her.
Vlad did not try to fight back for the berries. He definitely had not gone out of his way to collect them for Chloe because he felt she was in a bad mood yesterday.
They were for him, and now she was forcefully taking them.
After finishing half of the basket in a few minutes, she grabbed a stick from the ground and said with a faint smile,
"Let's train so we can enter the academy together."