“What’s the hold-up!?” Adion yelled for Holen to hear.

“There seems to be a problem up ahead!” Holen responded.

What is it this time? We don’t have time for any more delays.

Adion stepped out of the carriage to get a look at the situation.

It was a complete stop on the road. Carriages blocked the road as far as Adion could see.

“I’ll go take a look. Wait here,” Adion said and started running up the road to see what the problem was.

When things were finally looking up, something just had to slow us down again.

They were just about to reach Dormia, and even if they were low on time, Adion believed they could get to Cyalis without being late. If nothing else came in the way, that is.

It had taken Adion and his companions over a month to even get to the Rellen Kingdom. The blizzard that had started after just a few days into their journey had lasted for a week, and they barely managed to travel any distance at all during that time. What was worse, when the weather finally calmed down, Holen realized they had gotten lost. The road was nowhere to be seen, just snow in all directions, reaching higher than the carriage they were traveling in.

It had then taken ten days of slow travel before they finally stumbled upon a small village, where they managed to stock up on food and get directions. At that point, Adion was close to losing hope of ever making it in time. But as a blessing from the gods, after a few more days of slow travel, the temperature had started to rise. Soon enough, the snow was even beginning to melt, and more and more carriages could be seen on the road.

As the group was just about to reach Dormia, the snow was basically gone altogether, and spring had arrived with a vengeance. Even if they didn’t have much time before they had to be in Cyalis, Adion was very optimistic.

That was until Adion saw what was causing the long line of carriages.

What? Where is the bridge?

Adion arrived to see the road abruptly come to a stop. The only thing that could be seen was water and, in the far distance, the outline of a city.

“What is going on here?” Adion asked a middle-aged man who was leaning against a carriage nearby.

“The most snow I’ve seen in my life melted in just over a week. This is the result. The Vell has risen higher than the bridge leading to Dormia. Nothing to do but to wait for the water levels to settle again.”

“How long would that take?” Adion asked.

“I don’t know,” The man shrugged, “I’ll get paid for however long it takes, so I don’t mind waiting.”

“What’s the situation further upstream? Do you know?” Adion asked.

“Can’t imagine it’s much different,” The man said, “But it could be worth a shot.”

Damn. I don’t have time for this.

Adion looked out over the flooded river, thinking about a solution.

Admission is in eight days. Just getting delayed for one day would be bad. But what can I do? Should I head upstream and look for a place to teleport? I could take the Perk and Tib with me and send Holen back. There should be a carriage for rent in Dormia.

Just as Adion was about to head back to the carriage to discuss it with his subordinates, he spotted something on the water.

“Is that a boat?” Adion said. The man looked out over the water to take a look.

“It seems like it,” The man said, “Perhaps a ferry. I’ve heard they are doing some construction work at the harbor in Dormia. They might have come to pick up one of their carriages.”

I’ll need to get a spot on that ferry.

Adion ran back to his carriage as fast as he could.

“What’s going on up there?” Holen asked as he spotted Adion.

“The Vell is flooded, the bridge is completely submerged under water,” Adion said.

“What? Then-” Holen was about to say something but was interrupted by Adion.

“A ferry is coming. We have to get a spot on it, so get going,” Adion said.

“But there’s a line,” Holen said.

“I don’t care, drive past them,” Adion said, getting into the carriage again.

“What’s going on, boss?” Perk asked as Adion took a seat and the carriage started moving.

“You’re in luck, Perk. It looks like we’ll get to go on a boat after all,” Adion said.

“Really?” Perk asked.

“Mm,” Adion nodded, “Just wait. I’ll explain later.”

Adion turned to look out through the carriage window. There were a few angry shouts as they drove past the others, but no one got too aggressive. There were a few carriages that decided to follow, though.

“We’re here!” Holen yelled as the carriage came to a stop.

Adion got out of the carriage along with Perk and Tib.

“What has happened here?” Perk asked.

“Too much snow has melted too quickly,” Tib said, looking out over the flooded river.

“That’s right,” Adion said, “So our only hope is this ferry.”

Tib and Perk both looked up and spotted the approaching ferry.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

“Will we be able to take the carriage with us?” Tib asked.

“I hope so,” Adion said, “But if we can’t, we’ll leave it and get a carriage once we’re across.”

“Right,” Tib nodded.

After a few minutes, the ferry arrived a bit away from the lined-up carriages. A skinny middle-aged man stepped out to address the gathered crowd.

“Please, make some space,” The man said, “We have carriages that need to disembark. We’ll take some of you back to Dormia once they’re all off. The price is 50 gold coins per carriage.”

“50 gold coins!?” An old man yelled, “That’s robbery!”

“You don’t have to accept. You are free to wait for the river to settle and continue your journey then. If you don’t wish to wait, however, the price is 50 gold coins.” The man on the ferry said.

50 gold coins is a crazy price. But I’d be willing to pay much more just to get going.

“I’ll pay!” Adion yelled out, “Our carriage is the one over there. Where should we go?”

“Good!” The man on the ferry smiled, “Make your way over there,” The man pointed out a spot to the left of the ferry. “Everyone else interested, and willing to pay the price, can line up behind their carriage!”

Adion breathed out in relief and made his way back to the carriage with his group.

“Isn’t 50 gold coins too much?” Perk asked.

“It’s far too much,” Adion said, “But it is more than worth it for us. We can’t afford to wait.”

“It’s a good thing you’re rich, boss,” Perk said.

“Well, money is definitely useful,” Adion nodded, “Unfortunately, I’m starting to run out of it. I’ll need to find a way to earn some more.”

They arrived at their carriage, and Adion left the money for the ferry with Holen and got in the carriage with the brothers.

“Just let us know what to do, boss,” Perk said, “I’m sure we’ll be very useful in making money.”

“Mm, I’ll think about it,” Adion said as he leaned back to relax. He felt the carriage starting to move.

“Maybe there is a way to earn some money in Dormia,” Tib said, “I’ve heard it’s a very wealthy city.”

“It’s not like it’s an emergency. I have plenty of money left,” Adion said, “And we don’t have time to stop in Dormia. We’ll have to get going immediately.”

“Right,” Tib nodded.

To think I’d be cutting it this close despite leaving Rethi so early.

Adion felt how the carriage boarded the ferry. When it came to a halt, Adion opened the carriage door to take a look outside.

At least we managed to solve the situation pretty quickly. If there wasn’t a boat that could take us across, I don’t know what we would have done.

“Come on out,” Adion told Tib and Perk, “You should enjoy the trip.”

The brothers stepped outside, and Adion walked up to Holen at the front of the carriage.

“Any problems?” Adion asked.

“Nothing besides you being 50 gold coins poorer,” Holen said.

“Good,” Adion said. He saw that a few more carriages had decided to take the offer of a ride across the river.

As the ferry started moving, Adion and Holen walked to join Perk and Tib by the railing.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a winter like this one,” Holen said, “You are quite unlucky, Adion.”

“It’s fine,” Adion sighed, “But we’ll need to hurry. Admission is in eight days.”

“Don’t you think they’ll postpone?” Holen asked, “I’m not sure there will be many students making it in time. At least not from Iitha and the Delovan Empire.”

“From what I know, most people travel to Cyalis in the summer leading up to admission. No one wants to be late, and traveling in winter is not a pleasant experience, as we have just discovered. It also gives you time to get familiar with the city.”

“I see,” Holen nodded, “That makes sense. So why didn’t you?”

“I was painting,” Adion said.

Holen looked at Adion questioningly, but he didn’t explain further.

“They might be willing to accept latecomers this year due to the weather, but I’m not planning on being one of them,” Adion said.

“I’ll make sure we get there in time,” Holen said, “Even if I have to drive through the night.”

“Thanks,” Adion nodded.

“It’s the least I can do,” Holen said, “This journey has become quite expensive for you, and who knows what they’ll charge for latecomers in order to accept their admissions? I’ve heard the prices are ridiculously high as it is. You still have enough for that, right?”

“It costs money to go to the Academy?” Perk asked.

“Of course, it does,” Adion said, “How would they be able to keep the Academy running otherwise?”

“Doesn’t the Academy own the city?” Tib asked, “That should be more than enough.”

“I guess that’s true,” Adion nodded, “But they can’t just give away the best education on the continent for free either.”

“Isn’t that what the Age of Discovery is all about? I thought the Headmaster was a Sage? Shouldn’t he want as many people as possible to grow strong and knowledgeable?” Tib questioned.

“The world is far from that idealistic,” Holen said, “No one does anything without gain.”

Tib turned quiet and stared at the water in thought.

“I’m sure they can make exceptions if someone can’t afford to pay,” Adion added, “And the most talented people that go there are accepted for free.”

“They are?” Tib asked.

“Mm,” Adion nodded, “If you are put in the diamond class, there is no charge. That’s why I won’t have to worry about it.”

“You’ll get into the diamond class, boss?” Perk asked.

“Of course, I will,” Adion said.

“Amazing,” Perk said.

How common do you think someone like me is? Perk needs to get more experience.

“I know it is very rare to be a middle Bronze mage at your age, Adion,” Holen said, “But I don’t think it’s a guarantee to enter the diamond class. There are many talented people in this world, and the most talented all head to Cyalis. You should make sure to have enough money just in case.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Adion said, “I’m not only relying on my strength.”

With a ‘Gift’ like mine, I might even be able to convince them to pay me to join the Academy.

The ferry finally reached Dormia’s harbor, and Adion entered the carriage along with his subordinates. Holen started driving the carriage off the ferry as soon as he was given permission, and Adion breathed a sigh of relief.

Finally, there is nothing in the way for us to reach Cyalis.

“Ganta,” Perk said, looking out the carriage window as Dormia came into view. “It’s the most beautiful city I’ve ever seen.”

“It’s like the whole city has been carved out of some precious marble,” Tib agreed.

“Can’t we just stop to take a look around, boss?” Perk asked.

“No way,” Adion said, “We have no time to waste. We’ll have to travel at full speed to make it to Cyalis in time.”

“Okay,” Perk nodded with a gloomy expression.

Holen didn’t drive in through the city gates but made his way straight to the road leading to Cyalis. Adion smiled as he felt the carriage carrying them at a faster pace than ever before.

It’s been a rough journey, but it will all be worth it. Just the final stretch left.