Dead eyes stared out the window of the carriage. The bags beneath them looked like they belonged to a person who had experienced 80 year of life yet those eyes seemed to hold strange youthfulness. In there, they was hope, a hope so unusual it could only belong to a thirsty, lost man in the middle of a desert, a hope of a dying man about to make his final stand.
The wheels of the carriage rumbled along the dusty road, kicking up several storms of dust into the chilly air. Both sides of the road were surrounded by dry trees stripped of their leaves, autumn reminder the cold of winter was closing in.
Inside those eyes fought a quiet war of thoughts.
'is this be my chance to escape this reality? or is life preparing another cruel joke for me'.
I sighed.
My eyes burned from exhaustion and excitement. Today is the day I awakened or at least tried to. I had spent the entire night cursing the moon that seemed to move deliberately slowly. Nevertheless the sun came eventually, it painted the sky in golden bliss, and I've never experienced such a beautiful day break.
The beauty did nothing for my exhaustion, though. The sleepless night had been torture and my body demanded it's due.
For the upteenth time I look out the window once more, and I saw it. Stone walls far ahead stretching from one end of the horizon to the other. From this distance, they didn't seem so tall
'We are here'
My breath shortened. A thin line drew across my forehead. I could hear my heart pounding loudly trying desperately to escape my ribs. I became so tensed that I forgot to appreciate the walls properly.
It took 30 minutes more before the carriage reached them.
Only then did I understand their true scale.
the walls did not just stretch long. it towered upward that it looked like a monument to the sky itself. so grand I guessed it could brush the clouds.
'how was this even built?'
I pushed the questions aside and looked around. Other carriages crowded the entrance.
There are two big gates and a smaller.
One of the larger gates gleamed with white marble. A grand entrance. It had the largest opening although there were considerably less people trying to enter through there. One look at these carriages screamed luxury.
That must be the noble's gate.
The middle gate was smaller, yet still eligant. Commoners used that one, mostly rickety carriages with the occasional luxury merchant trying to blend in with the nobles.
I hopped of my carriage, my figure is finally revealed. I approached the driver and dropped 50 bronze coins on his outstretched hand
"Thank you" I said
My voice cracked, I had not spoken a word since I boarded.
I joined the line for the third gate.
The third gate had a torn, worn down entrance for the absolute bottom of society. The poor and forgotten, the people like me.
Not much was done to make the gate appear beautiful. It was made of metal, it weighed thousands of pounds and had cracks and dents.
The commoners had always awakened the worst talents while the nobles were creatures made to actualize legendary feats. This was because the more talent there is in a bloodline, the higher the chance of awakening powerful abilities.
Although commoners rarely awaken, there made the longest line, each of them desperately hoping to create a miracle, a myth of the little lizard who became a dragon yet there were in for pill of disappointment, at least most of them were.
Fifty minutes later, I was close enough to see the officers controlling the fllow.
Four people stood ahead of me.
A man stood ahead holding the hand of who I considered to be his daughter, she looked young and cheerful. Had that youthful spirit that reeks of a sheltered childhood and sh…
My train of thoughts was broken.
"NO MONEY, NO ENTRY!! GET OUT OF HERE, BRAT."
I looked sideways just in time to see a guard, shove a boy my age, sixteen., out of the line.
I quickly checked my bag
A hundred bronze coins lay there
This was my life's wealth
At the gates, there were four guards, three in front seemed lackies who stood guard, the one I assumed was the boss was sitting in the shade cross legged unconcerned with the commotion right in front of him
"You bastards" the boy shouted "The academy doesn't charge for entry, you are just extorting us"
"Shut up" said the guard barked
" What… you think I don't know the other gates don't pay?, just wait till I become a master, I'll show all of you"
Inside i silently applauded the boy.
I would not dare cause a scene.
'F*ckin nobles' I cursed silently
The boy rained colourful insults at the guards
"The academy is not a place for scum like you, you would most likely awaken a useless skill" another guard said
"That's if you don't die because you can't control your mouth" a third guard added a threat hoping to silence the boy
"Forty bronze coins, pay up!!"
Only now did I realize it was my turn.
I had been too focused on the boy. The father and daughter duo that stood before me were already making their way through the gate.
Why did he sound so rude though, probably think I can't afford it
I looked down at myself, faded black T-shirt, dirty tattered jean, a crossbag slung lazily across my shoulder.
I reached into the bag, pulled out 80 bronze coins and handed it to him.
"For me and the boy"
I pointed at the kid still glaring at the guard.
he stared at me shocked that a stranger would pay for him
The guard scrowlled, somehow this put a smug grin on my face
"What's your name boy"
" I'm Damien sir"
" You seem like a good lad so I'll give you a piece of advice, mind your business if you plan to live long"
'i hope I haven't brought trouble for myself'
"I don't mean any disrespect sir, a man such as yourself, ordained by the academy itself should not pay attention to a brat like me. I'm sure you are one of the strongest awakened out there" I smilled with my crooked teeth hoping flattery would work
"That brat disrespected us, his entry cost sixty shillings" the boss finally spoke
He either did not believe I possess that much or just wanted to end the noise and return to relaxing on the job
I reached into my bag and brought out my last 20 shillings and handed it over, the guards did not like this would have wanted to cause more trouble for us.
Just as he was about to speak, we saw a man in casual clothing walking out of the gates
"Good morning master Green" they shouted in unison as if there had rehearsed. The boss also opened his eyes and greeted the newly arrived man
"Good morning boys, what seems to be the problem. I could hear your commotion from far away" Green did not look threatening in the least, quite frankly he looked like one of those overly handsome men in the slums who were interested in kids except he looked to neat to have ever stepped in the slums.
The formally demonic looking guards welcomed us in with polite smiles. I could already guess that Green handsomeness and casual attitude might be a facade
"Welcome to Avalon academy"