The city appeared in the distance like a hazy memory.
For six months, Issac had seen nothing but trees, stones, twisted branches, and the shifting light filtering through the leaves.And now, on the horizon, the first towers of the Kingdom of Flavia pierced the sky like stone ghosts.
He had stopped several times, tempted to turn back.The silence of the forest had changed him.Away from prying eyes, he had learned to listen. To feel.And now, he was about to dive back into the crowd. The noise. The smells.
He had grown.Not physically.But in the way he saw.
His steps were slower.His gait, smoother.And his breath... deeper.
The book was well hidden, wrapped in cloth, tucked inside a pocket sewn directly into his clothes.He wasn't afraid of being discovered.No one here cared about a dusty kid.
But he wasn't that kid anymore.
The streets looked smaller.The shouting merchants seemed emptier.The faces around him, blurrier.
He didn't know if he was dreaming... or just seeing things differently.
He walked without a destination.Avoiding crowded squares.Staying in the shadows.
Until the past crossed his path again.
It was in the market square, near the old stone well.A man with a round belly and a short beard was selling apples—just like before.In exactly the same spot.
Issac froze.It was him.The merchant.The one who had beaten him.The one who had humiliated him.
Issac's heart pounded harder.But he didn't move.He just wanted to pass. To forget.
Then the man's rough voice rang out:
"Well, well… look who's back."He raised an eyebrow mockingly."Still hungry, little apple thief? Or are you here to beg for another slap?"
People stopped.A few chuckles.Curious stares.
Issac clenched his teeth.
He could have ignored it.Turned around.Run away like before.
But not this time.
The merchant stepped closer, smug.
"You think you can just walk around like nothing happened?"He raised his hand slightly, as if to push him.
Issac didn't move.
But... something happened.
A tremor passed through the air.Almost imperceptible.A faint breeze around his body.
And before the merchant's hand could even touch his shoulder...
He was thrown backward.
Not violently.But enough to lose balance and fall, his basket of apples bursting open on the ground.
Silence.Then gasps.
"He didn't even touch him!""What was that?""Did you see him move?"
Issac remained still.
He didn't know what he had done.It wasn't a spell.It wasn't even intentional.
But his body...Or rather, the Energy around him, had reacted.
A quiet laugh broke the silence.
"You've improved."
Issac turned.
A boy with brown hair, dressed in fine clothes, stood behind him, flanked by two discreet guards.
The prince.
The same one who had healed him.The same one who had seen him back then.
He had grown too.But his gaze hadn't changed—direct, sharp, observant.
The prince stepped forward.
"Not bad for an apple thief."His tone wasn't mocking—just amused.
Issac stayed silent.
The prince crouched for a moment next to the groaning merchant.
"Looks like you tripped. Rotten apple, perhaps?"
Laughter rippled through the crowd.But the prince's gaze now locked onto Issac.
"You didn't mean to do that, did you?"
Issac hesitated... then nodded.
The prince smiled.
"You read something. Learned something. Saw… something."He paused, crossing his arms."You want to learn more, don't you? Officially, I mean."
Issac frowned.He didn't fully understand.Or maybe… he didn't want to understand too quickly.
The prince continued:
"The Flavia Academy. Every child your age takes an entrance test. Even those like you. Especially those like you."
One of the guards whispered something to him.He nodded slowly, thoughtful.
Then he stepped closer.
"I remember you. That look in your eyes. Would be a shame to waste a spark like that."
He placed a small round stone in Issac's hand.It shimmered faintly.
"Show this at the Academy gates, if you choose to come."
Then he turned and walked away, guards following.The crowd's murmurs resumed.
Issac was alone again.
The merchant had disappeared.The square returned to its bustle.
But he… stood still.
He looked at the stone in his hand.Then tucked it in his pocket.
He didn't know yet if he would go.But one thing was certain:
He was no longer invisible.