Hiro laughed, his grin wide as he looked at Kyren. “That’s funny, Kyren. Well, it can’t be you—Rezhura’s got blonde hair and brown eyes!”

Kyren chuckled, scratching his head. “Blonde hair, huh? I’ve got black hair. Guess that rules me out!” He smiled, relieved that he had made Hiro laugh.

“What the hell am I even thinking? “,Kyren thought, shaking the idea from his mind. Still, something nagged at him, so he asked, “Is Rezhura still active today? I mean, is he still going on quests?”

Hiro raised an eyebrow, slightly confused by the question, but he answered anyway. “Yeah, Kyren. There are rumors that he and his Royal Squad are working on something big—an SS-level mission. Speculation is they found a colossal hole somewhere that’s radiating some kind of powerful aura. It’s said the hole can suck in anything that gets too close.”

“I see,” Kyren murmured, finally convincing himself that he wasn’t Rezhura. “That’s enough of that, Kyren.”

With the question settled, they returned to their plan: making Hiro’s dream a reality. Determined, Hiro and Kyren embarked on a journey of hard work, taking on any job they could find in Vermint Town to save enough money to enroll in Sky Academy.

Their days started early. At dawn, they helped out at the local farms, sweating under the sun as they sowed seeds, harvested crops, and tended to the fields. The farmers appreciated their dedication, paying them fairly for their efforts. After working the fields, they would head to the blacksmith, Baren, where they learned the art of crafting weapons and armor. Baren also taught them the basics of handling weapons—something Kyren found particularly helpful as he worked to regain his memory.

In the afternoons, they helped Cora at the market, with Kyren quickly becoming known as one of the town’s most hardworking and reliable young men, right alongside Hiro. As the sun set, they spent their evenings in the library, studying and preparing for Sky Academy’s entrance exam.

Kyren absorbed the new knowledge like a sponge, learning about Roots—the magical power inherited from one’s ancestry—and the various races inhabiting their world. He learned about humans, elves, and demons, and the mixed races born from their unions, such as Pixies, Imps, and Orcs. He also discovered the unique traits of each race: the humans, despite lacking inherent magical power, had unmatched intelligence; the elves were magical prodigies but physically fragile; and the demons were physically powerful but known for their short tempers.

“Humans don’t have roots. That’s… strange”. Kyren pondered as he read. “Wait? What race do I belong to also? I don’t know.”

…

Their cycle of work and study continued for weeks, and soon enough, they had saved 13 silver coins—enough to cover their entrance fees and most of their living expenses in Arramaya City.

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One afternoon, as they were finishing their work in the market, a merchant named Darius, who had been watching their progress, approached them. “You boys are something else. Your determination is inspiring,” he said with a warm smile.

Kyren and Hiro smiled, grateful for the praise, but before they could respond, Darius made them an offer. “I’m heading to Arramaya City with my caravan. I could use a couple of skilled guards for the journey. The pay’s good, and it’ll get you to the city without needing to spend your savings on travel.”

Kyren and Hiro exchanged glances. It was an offer they couldn’t refuse.

“Let’s do it!” Hiro said with a grin. “We’ll get paid and make it to Arramaya City without spending our savings. It’s perfect.”

Kyren nodded in agreement. “This is the break we’ve been waiting for.”

They quickly accepted Darius’ offer, and word spread through town about their upcoming journey. The blacksmith, Baren, who had come to appreciate their hard work, called them over just before their departure.

“You boys have earned my respect,” Baren said, his gruff voice tinged with warmth. “I want to give you something for your journey.” He led them to his forge, where an array of finely crafted swords, shields, and armor gleamed in the light. “Pick what you need,” he said with a nod.

Kyren and Hiro’s eyes widened as they carefully selected iron swords and sturdy wooden armor. The gear felt like an extension of themselves, perfectly balanced and expertly crafted.

“Thank you, Baren,” Kyren said sincerely, clutching the sword’s hilt. “This means a lot.”

Baren clapped Kyren on the back with a grin. “You’ve earned it. Make sure you put those to good use at Sky Academy.”

Hiro grinned as he inspected his shield. “We won’t forget what you’ve taught us, Baren.”

After bidding farewell to Baren and thanking Cora for all her help, “Hiro my boy, be careful, I know you dreamed about this for a long time, represent our town and one day become the officials here.”

Hiro smiled with his renewed confidence. “For sure! Thanks a lot also cora, you are like my mother, and I’ll bring something good for you if I comeback here.”

Cora patted Hiro’s shoulder and looked at Kyren. “You too new kid, I hope you find your memory in the way.”

Kyren nodded. “Yeah.”

…

The two set out with Darius and his caravan. Their journey to Arramaya City began at dawn, the caravan loaded with gemstones, fine fabrics, and exotic spices.

As they traveled through forests and plains, Kyren and Hiro stayed alert, keeping watch for any potential dangers. They took their duties seriously, but there was also a sense of excitement—they were finally on their way to Arramaya City.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the caravan stopped just outside the city gates. Hiro and Kyren set up camp near a crackling fire, their faces illuminated by the warm glow.

“This is it,” Kyren said, looking toward the grand city. “We’re finally here. The home of Sky Academy.”

Hiro nodded, his eyes filled with wonder. “It feels unreal, doesn’t it? From Vermint Town to here. My dreams are actually happening.”

Kyren smiled, but his mind wandered. “We’ve made it this far, but why do I feel something I right? Why do we took it all so easily? Will we be able to pass the exam?” He shook the thoughts away, focusing on the present.

To lighten the mood, Kyren turned to Hiro. “You know, Hiro, we’ve done a lot of work, but we haven’t really tested ourselves yet. How about a friendly sword battle before we head to Sky Academy? It'll be a good warm-up.”

Hiro’s eyes lit up with excitement. “You’re on, Kyren! But don’t expect me to go easy on you!”

They both laughed as they grabbed their wooden practice swords, settling into their stances. Hiro held his sword firmly with both hands, while Kyren tried to create his own stance, focusing his grip on the hilt.

“This should be fun”, Hiro said, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “Let’s see what you’ve got, Hiro.”