Minerva: "I want to become a Valkyrie."
"To be recognized… to show that I'm not weak."
Roy nodded, his serious expression betraying that he understood the significance of those words.
Roy: "I want to become a two-handed swordsman."
He said.
Roy: "Strong and precise."
"To make sure no one can attack me unless I'm ready."
They continued walking, each losing some of their initial stiffness, sharing their dreams like precious secrets.
The path stretched out before them, but they didn't think about it.
The road wasn't just a passage to the Academy; it was a space where their hopes and fears could coexist, sheltered from the world's judgment.
Minerva: "What if it's harder than we thought?"
Minerva asked, looking down at the path that led into the forest.
Roy: "Then we'll do our best."
Roy replied with a smile.
Roy: "We already survived the selection exams?"
Minerva smiled back, feeling a familiar warmth in her chest.
The selection exams for the Academy consisted of simply answering easy questions, and there was also a physical test.
Despite the unknown, despite the challenges ahead, she knew that having Roy by her side made the road a little less daunting.
The sun was rising gently in the sky, bathing the path in a golden light.
Each step brought them closer to the Academy, to their dreams, and to the trials that awaited them.
Minerva felt that the world was not only a place to fear, but a place where she might, perhaps, finally, stand tall.
A few minutes later:
The path wound its way between the verdant hills, still damp with morning dew.
Tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap
Minerva and Roy had been walking side by side for a while now, their steps naturally matching, just as they had when they were children.
The silence wasn't heavy, but filled with a gentle, almost respectful anticipation.
Roy gazed at the horizon, where the road seemed to disappear into a light mist.
Roy: "Can you imagine... the Knights' Academy.
"Even as a child, I felt it was an inaccessible place."
Minerva followed his gaze.
She had grown up hearing the same stories, repeated by the village adults like legends.
Minerva: "It was always said that only the best could get in."
"That it wasn't just a school... but a symbol."
Roy nodded.
Roy: "The protectors of the land."
"Those who fight wars in place of the people."
FFFFFFFFFFFFfffffffffffffffffffff
The wind rustled the tall grass along the edge of the path.
Minerva: "Let's hope the next four years go well."
Minerva tightened the straps of her bag slightly, lost in thought.
Minerva: "The kingdom depends heavily on them."
"Without "The knights, the guilds, and the bandits would take total control."
Roy: "It's almost already the case, isn't it?"
Minerva turned her head toward him, surprised by the seriousness of his voice.
Minerva: "You think so too?"
Roy: "The guilds have too much power; they decide who is useful... and who isn't."
"As for the bandits, they are notorious criminals, positioned all over the country."
A silence fell.
The country they lived in wasn't cruel on the surface, but it was harsh.
Strength was respected there more than anything else.
Minerva: "That's why I want to become a Valkyrie."
Roy looked at her intently.
Roy: "For the country?" "
Minerva lowered her eyes slightly before answering.
Minerva: "To prove I can be strong."
"That I can protect... and that you don't have to be born powerful to become so."
Roy gave a small smile.
Roy: "I want to become a two-handed swordsman for a simpler reason."
Minerva: "Which is?"
Roy: "When I'm holding a heavy weapon, I feel like nothing can make me back down."
"That I can stand tall, no matter what happens."
Minerva: "That's a good reason."
The path continued to stretch out before them, seemingly peaceful.
Travelers occasionally passed by; some greeted them, others completely ignored them.
Roy: "Do you think they're really different over there?"
"At the Academy" "
Minerva: "You're talking about discrimination."
Roy: "..."
Minerva thought for a few seconds.
Minerva: "It's true that we're both backpackers who managed to pass the entrance exam."
"But..."
"I think they look at strength first."
"Not where you come from."
"Not the village you're from."
Roy: "Then maybe we have a chance of putting up with all these people for four years."
Minerva felt a strange warmth tighten her chest.
Part of her wanted to believe those words.
Another part knew that the world was never that simple.
Minerva: "Even if it's difficult... we can't give up before we've tried."
"I don't want to give up before we've tried."
Roy: "Me neither." "
They resumed their walk, more silent this time.
The sun was slowly rising in the sky, illuminating the road that led them to the Academy, to a future they still imagined with hope, unaware of how much it would test their convictions.
A few minutes later:
The path wound its way between the verdant hills, still damp with morning dew.
Tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap
Minerva and Roy had been walking side by side for a while now, their steps naturally matching, just as they had when they were children.
The silence wasn't heavy, but filled with a gentle, almost respectful anticipation.
Roy gazed at the horizon, where the road seemed to disappear into a light mist.
Roy: "Can you imagine... the Knights' Academy.
"Even as a child, I felt it was an inaccessible place."
Minerva followed his gaze.
She had grown up hearing the same stories, repeated by the village adults like legends.
Minerva: "It was always said that only the best could get in."
"That it wasn't just a school... but a symbol."
Roy nodded.
Roy: "The protectors of the land."
"Those who fight wars in place of the people."
FFFFFFFFFFFFfffffffffffffffffffff
The wind rustled the tall grass along the edge of the path.
Minerva: "Let's hope the next four years go well."
Minerva tightened the straps of her bag slightly, lost in thought.
Minerva: "The kingdom depends heavily on them."
"Without."
"The knights, the guilds, and the bandits would take total control."
Roy: "It's almost already the case, isn't it?"
Minerva turned her head toward him, surprised by the seriousness of his voice.
Minerva: "You think so too?"
Roy: "The guilds have too much power; they decide who is useful... and who isn't."
"As for the bandits, they are notorious criminals, positioned all over the country."
A silence fell.
The country they lived in wasn't cruel on the surface, but it was harsh.
Strength was respected there more than anything else.
Minerva: "That's why I want to become a Valkyrie."
Roy looked at her intently.
Roy: "For the country?" "
Minerva lowered her eyes slightly before answering.
Minerva: "To prove I can be strong."
"That I can protect... and that you don't have to be born powerful to become so."
Roy gave a small smile.
Roy: "I want to become a two-handed swordsman for a simpler reason."
Minerva: "Which is?"
Roy: "When I'm holding a heavy weapon, I feel like nothing can make me back down."
"That I can stand tall, no matter what happens."
Minerva: "That's a good reason."
The path continued to stretch out before them, seemingly peaceful.
Travelers occasionally passed by; some greeted them, others completely ignored them.
Roy: "Do you think they're really different over there?"
"At the Academy" "
Minerva: "You're talking about discrimination."
Roy: "..."
Minerva thought for a few seconds.
Minerva: "It's true that we're both backpackers who managed to pass the entrance exam."
"But..."
"I think they look at strength first."
"Not where you come from."
"Not the village you're from."
Roy: "Then maybe we have a chance of putting up with all these people for four years."
Minerva felt a strange warmth tighten her chest.
Part of her wanted to believe those words.
Another part knew that the world was never that simple.
Minerva: "Even if it's difficult... we can't give up before we've tried."
"I don't want to give up before we've tried."
Roy: "Me neither." "
They resumed their walk, more silent this time.
The sun was slowly rising in the sky, illuminating the road that led them to the Academy, to a future they still imagined with hope, unaware of how much it would test their convictions.
Two days later:
Two days later, Minerva and Roy finally arrived at the gates of the Academy.
The journey had been long and monotonous.
There was nothing extraordinary to report:
- Just a dirt road, winding through vast green plains and dense forests.
The ground had sometimes been hard, sometimes muddy, and the landscape changed slowly with the passing hours, as if the world itself wanted to test the patience of those who aspired to become knights.
Then, around a bend in the road, the Academy appeared.
Chapter 2: The Knights' Academy
The End