Three days flew by, and on this particular morning, a middle-aged man arrived with a horse-drawn cart.
Howard welcomed him into the house, poured a cup of water, and handed it to the man, who hastily accepted it. "Uncle Howard, I can't stay long this time. I need to take Liam and leave right away. I still have to pick up the other children from the village. Phantasmal Academy will be picking them up early tomorrow morning. I'll come visit you another day."
Howard nodded slightly, a hint of reluctance in his expression, and decisively said, "Alright, I'll leave Liam in your care. Thank you." He then turned and gently patted Liam's head. "Remember what Grandpa told you. If you get selected, stay focused at Phantasmal Academy. If not, don't feel burdened. Come back home."
Liam looked at his grandfather with deep affection and nodded heavily.
Liam had never left the village before; this was his first time.
The middle-aged man smiled and said, "Uncle Howard, don't worry. Liam is a smart kid. I see him helping out at the clinic all the time. We'll be on our way now. I'll bring news from the Academy as soon as I have it."
With that, he hurriedly led Liam to the cart. As soon as Liam entered the cart, he saw a boy about his age with rough skin and a sturdy build, almost twice his size. The boy's bright eyes were fixed on Liam, and he grinned widely.
"Liam, I heard you went up the mountain a few days ago and brought back some Spiritmoss," the boy said, pulling Liam to sit beside him.
Liam smiled at the boy, Rowan Thorne, the village chief's son and one of his few close friends in the village.
"I did. I tried to find you yesterday, but your dad said you went to town with your uncle. Next time you're back, I'll share some with you."
Rowan's eyes lit up, and he hugged Liam's shoulder tightly, laughing heartily.
"I could have come back earlier, but I heard there was a book about Arcane illustrations. I know you've always wanted one, so I went to find the seller. I only got back last night."
Liam knew Rowan was downplaying the effort. Books on Arcane were rare and expensive, especially in the mortal realm. Rowan must have gone through great lengths to get it. Liam felt a warmth in his heart.
As they spoke, the coachman whipped the horse, and they set off.
Howard stood still, watching the cart disappear into the distance until the dust settled, then turned back to the house.
"Kids grow up and find their own paths…" Howard murmured to himself, taking a deep puff from his pipe, the wrinkles on his face deepening.
In the bouncing cart, a group of children chatted excitedly. Their faces were filled with anticipation and joy. They bumped into each other with the cart's movements, laughing all the while.
They were on their way to the Phantasmal Academy selection. Serenitown had five spots. Rowan sat in the center. Finnian Ashwood, another of Liam's childhood friends, was also there. Little Fat Bill, the notorious troublemaker, often got chased by his father all over the village. Surprisingly, the usually quiet Elena Ravenswood was very talkative in the cart, which surprised Liam.
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“Hey, what do you think Phantasmal Academy is like?” asked Finnian, her eyes sparkling as if she could already see the mysterious buildings and powerful Arcanists.
“I heard that every tower in Phantasmal Academy floats in the air!” Elena said excitedly, gesturing with her hands. “And those towers are covered in strange runes only true Arcanists can read.”
“Really?” Little Fat Bill's eyes widened in disbelief. “Does that mean we can fly around too?”
“Of course!” Elena nodded vigorously, her golden hair flying with the cart's motion. “My books at home describe so many things—like invisibility, fire-breathing, water-spouting. Anything you can imagine.”
Rowan, sitting in the middle, couldn't help but interject. “I heard they have special magic books. If you're willing to put in the time, you can learn any ability you want.”
“Wow, does that mean we can become really powerful?” Little Fat Bill fantasized aloud. “I've always wanted to fly or become invisible so my dad can't catch me. Then I can go wherever I want.”
The group collectively rolled their eyes at Little Fat Bill.
“I just want to become strong!” Elena said with determination, her fists clenched. “I want to learn powerful spells, then travel far from the village and see the world.”
Liam grinned, showing a row of white teeth. “That's my goal too. My grandpa always says that what's written in books is shallow. Only by experiencing things firsthand can you truly understand them.”
“Exactly,” Elena agreed eagerly, feeling she had found a kindred spirit.
Rowan laughed at everyone's plans. “You guys are something else. But my dad said that as long as we work hard, we'll succeed. And since we're all from the same village, we have to help each other out.”
“Right!” they all agreed firmly. “We have to help each other and work hard together.”
The cart continued to jostle along, the scenery changing from dense forests to open plains, and then to distant, looming mountains. Everything was new and exciting to them.
The journey to the town was long. After a while, the children grew sleepy and dozed off, leaning against each other. They didn't know how much time had passed when the cart finally stopped, and the noise of the town began to reach their ears. The children woke up and looked around eagerly.
They were greeted by a bustling town. The streets were wide and clean, lined with various shops and stalls. Crowds of people moved through the streets, and the vendors' calls filled the air, creating a lively and vibrant atmosphere.
Liam and his friends had never seen such a busy place. They stood by the cart, their eyes wide with wonder. The streets were filled with people in fancy clothes, farmers with baskets, and guards in armor. Everyone was busy with their own tasks, moving in an orderly fashion.
“Wow, so this is the town? It's huge!” Liam exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with amazement.
“Yeah, it's so lively. It's much busier than the last time I was here,” Finnian said, her face full of excitement.
“Look over there, a candy stall!” Little Fat Bill pointed to a nearby stall, excitement in his voice. The children saw the stall filled with intricate sugar figures, each more detailed than the last.
The middle-aged man driving the cart saw the children's excitement and laughed. “Kids, gather your things. We need to head to the meeting point.”
Liam and his friends quickly gathered their belongings and followed the driver through the bustling crowd to a central square in the town.
The square was already filled with children just like them, their faces alight with excitement and anticipation as they chatted with one another.
Though the town was small, it was exceptionally lively today. Vendors lined the streets, their calls blending into a vibrant chorus. In the center of the square stood a makeshift stage, surrounded by villagers and children, all waiting eagerly.
Liam looked around and saw many children from neighboring villages also gathered there. He recognized a few familiar faces, and they nodded to each other, sharing a mix of nervousness and excitement. This was a significant moment in their lives; whether they succeeded in entering Phantasmal Academy would shape their future destinies.
On the stage stood two people, a man and a woman, dressed in blue robes that exuded an air of nobility and mystery. The man appeared to be in his early thirties, with handsome features and a steady gaze. His robe was embroidered with intricate runes, and he carried a finely crafted staff at his waist. The woman looked slightly younger, with a beautiful face and eyes that reflected a calm intelligence. She too wore a blue robe and held a thick book of magic in her hands.
Next to the stage stood several elderly townsfolk, dressed in simple cloth garments. Their faces showed respectful expressions, and they occasionally nodded and bowed to the pair on the stage, clearly holding them in high esteem.