Chapter 2: The Capital and the White Feathered Guest
After waving to the old man, Ash headed toward the main gate where the shadow of the huge walls fell.
Guards whose armor bore the crest of the kingdom stood at the entrance.
From their posture and the facial expressions visible under their helmets, it was obvious that they were exceedingly bored with their duty. They were inspecting the crowd with reluctant gazes.
Just as Ash was about to pass the guard and step inside, a silver armored arm blocked his way.
"Hold on!"
Ash paused, the smile on his face not trembling for even a moment.
He lifted his gaze from the guard's arm and looked at the broad shouldered guard who was at least two heads taller than him.
"Identification," the guard said, extending his hand.
"Ah, of course! Right away!"
Ash lowered the old bag on his back to a single shoulder.
He plunged his hand into the depths of the bag and started rummaging.
Rustle, rustle...
Ash's hand went back and forth inside the bag, unable to find what he was looking for.
At one point his hand touched a hard object and he pulled it out with hope, but it was just an interestingly shaped stone he had found on the road.
He threw the stone back into the bag sheepishly. Sticking the tip of his tongue out slightly and frowning, he continued digging in a concentrated manner.
The guard let out a deep breath.
His patience was overflowing. The merchants waiting in the line behind had already started grumbling.
"Will you be able to find it today, son?" the guard said with a sarcastic voice.
Just then, Ash's fingers touched what he was looking for.
"Found it!" he shouted with joy.
He raised the crumpled identification document with slightly worn edges into the air triumphantly and handed it to the guard.
Rolling his eyes at the boy's unnecessary excitement, the guard harshly took the document from his hand.
His eyes scanned quickly over the lines.
Name: Ash Age: 16 Status: Orphan Origin: North Registered region: Eastern Border, Black Forest Barony Orphanage.
The guard raised his eyebrows. The Eastern Border... It was one of the poorest and most uncanny regions of the kingdom. Especially the fact that he was originally from the North... The North had been invaded by the demon empire years ago.
And the boy in front of him came from a remote orphanage.
His clothes were falling apart, his sword was rusty, and he probably did not even have five coins in his pocket. It was impossible for him to survive in the capital.
Before handing the document back, he asked the question he had to ask as per procedure:
"What is your reason for coming to the capital?"
As Ash put his bag back on his back, his eyes shone and he answered as if saying the most natural thing in the world:
"To join the Academy!"
The guard's bored and weary attitude froze instantly. His eyes narrowed and he looked at the boy with a new attention.
The Academy... One of the most prestigious and most unreachable institutions of the empire.
A place where only those with noble blood or incredible wealth could enter.
If an orphan with patched clothes coming from the Eastern Border originally from the North said "I will join the Academy" there were two possibilities: Either he was a total lunatic or...
The guard's mind worked quickly.
Illegitimate children of noble families sometimes came to the city secretly like this.
Or perhaps he possessed an old and forgotten bloodline.
No one could demand to enter through this gate with such confidence without a powerful dynasty or a secret supporter behind them.
If he caused difficulties for this boy and the boy was really under the protection of someone important, the guard would be in big trouble.
The guard's posture straightened instantly.
The scornful expression on his face was erased, leaving its place to a cautious respect. Holding the ID with both hands, he gently extended it to Ash.
"I understand," he said, his voice surprisingly softened. "Your documents seem complete. You may pass."
Ash took the ID back and stuffed it into his pocket. "Thank you, sir! Have a good watch!"
He passed through the gate cheerfully waving his hand and dove into the city.
'How kind everyone is,' he thought to himself. 'They told me the capital was cold and ruthless, but even the guards are smiling.'
However, Ash's thoughts were wiped from his mind the moment he saw the view on the other side of the gate.
Because the thing in front of him was not just a city, but like a dream woven from stone and magic.
The main street stretching before him was so wide that ten horse carriages could easily pass side by side.
The road was paved with smooth stones reflecting the sunlight.
And the structures rising on both sides of this road... Ash had never seen such tall buildings in his life.
Five, six, even seven story stone buildings reached for the sky.
The architecture of each one was like a work of art with colorful ivy hanging from balconies, stained glass in windows, gargoyle statues carved into the corners of roofs...
On the right side of the street, workshops and blacksmiths with colorful smoke constantly rising from their chimneys were lined up.
The sounds of hammers created a rhythmic melody almost like the heartbeat of the city.
Hissing sounds spread to the street as blacksmith apprentices plunged incandescent swords and armor pieces into water.
Right next to them were mage shops where potion bottles shining in glass showcases, enchanted stones hanging in the air, and parts of obscure exotic creatures were displayed.
When Ash continued walking with admiration, an endless marketplace stretched before him.
Fruits Ash did not even know the names of, silks of the east, furs of the west, and spices of the south were displayed on the stalls.
Sellers were shouting to attract customers, and the sounds of bargaining rose in a hum.
But the most impressive were the people.
Mages wearing fancy gold embroidered robes unlike anything he had seen before walked by tapping their staffs on the ground.
Knights passing by them with shining silver armor and cloaks fluttering in the wind looked like fairytale heroes.
Luxury carriages pulled by noble horses slowly parted the crowd.
Noble women with powdered faces and expensive fans watched the outside from the windows of the carriages.
Ash walked with his mouth wide open, his head constantly turning left and right. His eyes shone even more with every new detail he saw.
"Incredible..." he whispered to himself.
As he moved forward drawing zigzags in the crowd, he could not see ahead very well because of his enchanted state. He bumped into people hard a few times.
"Ah! I am very sorry!"
A burly merchant he bumped into looked with disgust at the patched clothes on Ash and the rusty sword on his back. "Watch where you are going, you sewer rat!" he grumbled and walked away shrugging his shoulder.
But Ash did not even hear this insult.
At that moment he was busy looking at the engravings on the marble pedestal of a giant hero statue. He did not even notice the scornful glances people threw at him that said "you do not belong here."
After a while, he came out to a large square where the buildings became sparse.
Right in the middle of the square, there was a huge fountain the height of a three story building.
Waters pouring from the statue of a goddess holding a water pitcher at the top of the fountain gathered in a crystal pool. The sound of water was like peaceful music suppressing the noise of the city.
Ash threw himself onto an empty bench near the fountain.
His legs were aching from walking for days.
He took his bag onto his lap, untied its strings, and took out a piece of dry meat wrapped in cloth.
When he started chewing the meat, he felt the warmth of the sun and the coolness of the water on his face.
However, there was only one question in his mind:
Where is the Academy?
He had to ask someone after filling his stomach.
He knew the last days for registration to the Academy were approaching and he did not have the luxury of being late.
Just as he was about to take the second bite, he felt a movement at the other end of the bench.
When he turned his head, he made eye contact with a snow white and extremely elegant cat.
The cat's eyes were a blue as clear and deep as the sky.
The cat did not seem afraid of Ash.
On the contrary, it walked on the bench with the air of a noble, sat right next to Ash, and wrapped its tail around its paws.
It lifted its head, looked at the dry meat in Ash's hand, and meowed demandingly.
"Meow."
Ash smiled. "Are you hungry too, little friend?"
He tore a generous piece from the meat in his hand. "Here you go. This is one of the last pieces but sharing is nice."
He extended the meat to the cat in his palm. The cat sniffed the meat gently, then started eating with a quick movement.
While the cat ate its food, Ash reached out and stroked its soft head and behind its ears.
The cat must have liked this contact, as a slight purr rose from its throat.
Ash swallowed his last bite too and yawned slightly. His energy was restored. He got up from the bench and fixed his bag and rusty sword.
"See you, little friend," he said to the cat. "I need to go and make my dreams come true."
He walked toward the guard patrolling at the corner of the square who had a red feather on top of his helmet.
The guard was leaning on the spear in his hand, watching the passersby.
"Excuse me!" called Ash, approaching the guard.
The guard turned his head. His gaze started from Ash's old boots, went up to his patched trousers, his faded shirt, and finally to his face.
There was obvious judgment in his eyes. He hated dealing with beggars in the capital.
"What is it?" he said harshly.
"Well..." Ash did not mind the man's harsh attitude. "Can you tell me where the Academy is? I need to go there."
The guard's brows furrowed. For a moment he thought he was being mocked, but when he saw the foolish sincerity in the boy's eyes, he just sighed.
He extended his gloved finger toward the north of the city, in the direction of the towers that were higher up and faintly visible among the mists.
"Do you see that hill?" he said. "Follow the main road going towards there. But let me warn you son, you have to walk quite a bit in this direction."
Ash looked in that direction. The hill seemed kilometers away from here.
"I suggest you go with a carriage or something if you have money," added the guard, knowing the boy had no money. "Because walking might take you two or three hours. Maybe more."
Ash thought of the few copper coins in his pocket. A carriage was definitely not an option.
"Thank you!" said Ash, bowing slightly to the guard. "I like walking!"
While the guard shook his head and returned to his work, Ash took his first step toward the direction shown, toward the misty towers.
The capital adventure was just beginning and a three hour walk was the last thing that could stop him.