Chapter 4: Travel to the Capital Part. One
“Congrats Drook, your village has created three dual affinity candidates. Yours is the first village on the outskirts to even have one so far let alone three. I hope to see you three at the academy in a month." - Nayak
"Hmm, what's at the capital?" -Gwen "Yeah, what she said." - Gary
"Oh Drook, you haven't told them about the academy's recruitment?" -Nayak
"Tell them? I didn't even know about it, till you just said it. This is great news kids!" - Drook
The village head put his hands on the shoulders of Gary and Coal and looked each of them in the eyes.
"You three may be able to attend the academy right outside the kingdom's capital. It's a school to train young talents to prepare them for specific jobs in the kingdom."
"You could become a knight or soldier fighting for the kingdom, a battlemage or a healer, or even a scholar. Lots of different professions get trained there."
The possibility of attending the academy filled the trio with a mixture of excitement and nervousness.
They had grown up in this small village, and now they were faced with the prospect of venturing out into the larger world.
As they thought about the potential opportunities that lay ahead, their minds overflowed with questions and concerns.
Yet, despite the uncertainty, they knew that this was an opportunity they could not pass up – a chance to explore their newly discovered dual affinities and to train them.
As the villagers erupted into a boisterous celebration, thrilled at the prospects of their young heroes, Nayak discreetly took his leave.
Nightfall draped the village in a blanket of serenity, and Coal found himself deep in a heartfelt conversation with his parents.
They expressed their pride and joy, but also shared their concerns about the challenges and dangers that would surely lie ahead.
"Son, your mother and I know that you have great potential, and that you wish to leave the village to experience adventure and a life outside the village." - Brad
"You have always been a very smart boy, and your father and I are very proud so we know you'll do fine in the bigger world. However, we also know that you are a young boy and that your brain is still growing so make sure to listen to the adults around you okay?" - Rachel
Coal was a little shocked at the easy acceptance by both his parents. He believed that at least his mom would be vehemently against his leaving, but a look of understanding was on both of their faces.
"Coal, you'll always be my baby boy no matter where you go or what you do. Did you think growing up would change that? Your father and I also had our own adventures back in the day, and it is what let me and your father meet and then have you. Go out there and have fun, but make sure you send messages back and come visit." - Rachel
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With those words, the three of them shared a heartfelt hug, letting the warmth and love of their family bonds wash over them. Eventually, Coal excused himself and retreated to his bed, feeling both excited and nervous about the journey ahead.
As the night wore on, Rachel and Brad continued their conversation, reminiscing about their own adventures and reliving the joy of their youth. As dawn approached, they eagerly looked forward to the future that awaited their son, and the incredible stories he would someday share with them.
In the morning, the entire village gathered to bid farewell to the three newly made adults. Emotions swelled as heartfelt goodbyes and well-wishes were exchanged while the trio prepared to join a caravan bound for the capital.
The caravan that the trio joined was a well-known and respected one, traveling throughout the outskirts of the kingdom and traversing the far-reaching deserts in the south.
Its primary purpose was to conduct trade and amass a diverse selection of products that would be highly sought after in the capital's bustling markets. Furthermore, the caravan also facilitated the exchange of valuable information and knowledge, making it a vital lifeline that connected the remote villages to the heart of the kingdom.
With a warm smile, the village head introduced Coal, Gwen, and Gary to Dia, the experienced and resourceful leader of the caravan. He gently reminded the young trio to listen to her guidance and wisdom as they embarked on their travels.
Dia, sensing their excitement and determination, welcomed them with open arms, reassuring them that she would support them in their journey. Together, they set off towards the horizon, leaving behind their familiar village, as they plunged into the world of adventure and discovery ahead.
Dia quickly revealed the charismatic and reputable qualities that made her a beloved leader among the travelers. With her natural charm, she could easily lower the guards of those around her, fostering a sense of trust and camaraderie within the group.
Her warm demeanor, coupled with her exceptional organizational skills and knowledge, solidified her status as a trustworthy guide and mentor for the young trio. As they journeyed together, Coal, Gwen, and Gary found themselves eager to learn under Dia's guidance and to become worthy contributors to the caravan's success.
Coal, Gwen, and Gary soon opened up to Dia, sharing their aspirations to grow as individuals and make a significant impact in the world. Touched by their enthusiasm, Dia responded with warmth and encouragement.
Recognizing the potential within each of them, she entrusted her second-in-command, Korr, with the responsibility of finding skilled mentors to train and educate the trio.
Korr first took it upon himself to teach Coal, Gwen, and Gary about their earth affinities, as he himself was also blessed by this element. Introducing them to his contracted spirit, Porro, a creature that resembled a small rock bear, he began to instill in the trio an understanding of their innate connection to the earth.
Korr explained to the young trio that throughout history, people had given various names to the energy they harnessed, such as Mana, Qi, or Aura. However, he emphasized that these were all different terms for the same underlying force.
"This energy is the source of our power, and although it is ever present throughout the world it can be more dense in certain areas than others. Since each of you has an affinity with Earth you should be able to sense this energy in your gut right above your belly button.
Sensing the energy is the first step to being able to utilize it. Circulating the energy within your body will strengthen it, and moving it outside of your body will allow you to use it to empower spells and other magical feats.
I will give you a demonstration of one of the easiest ways to use the earth's energy that is known for its endurance and strength." - Korr
His entire body became a darker brown and his skin hardened almost scale-like.
"What you see here is me using the earth's energy to harden my skin to be on par with iron. There is a great benefit to this in that you can always use it as long as you have energy and that you'll still have the feeling of your skin even while hardened while armor would take away some of your sensitivity." - Korr
His skin quickly returned back to its normal, more squishy state.
"Although simple it uses up quite a lot of energy, so you will need to practice to only use it when and where you need it. Here take these swords and take some swings at me." - Korr
Coal, Gwen, and Gary all grabbed the swords, not really sure if they should attack Korr. Even though he told them to swing at him and that he would be fine they didn't feel right about it.
"Come on if you can't even do this you'll never be someone great in this world. Besides I'll be fine, you whelps couldn't hurt me if you tried." - Korr
"Alright then I guess we'll have to give it our all." - Coal
"I'm sure he's very skilled, let's see what he's got." - Gwen
"Alright let's go!" - Gary