Chapter 26: Arrival at the Academy
The massive walls of the capital loomed closer as the caravan rumbled along the wide, cobblestone road. The city stretched out beneath the shadow of the Academy, its streets bustling with life even in the early morning. Kael couldn’t take his eyes off the towering fortress that rose high above everything else. The Academy. It was more imposing than anything he had imagined, a place built not just to house students, but to test and break them.
As they approached the gates of the capital, Kael’s chest tightened with a mix of excitement and nerves. The city’s towering walls seemed to swallow the road ahead, and soon, the caravan passed through the massive iron gates that marked the city’s entrance. Kael craned his neck, taking in the sight of the bustling streets filled with merchants, nobles, and soldiers. It was a far cry from the quiet village of Darvan.
Inside the city, the roads were wider, the buildings taller, and the energy was electric. People hurried through the streets, carts clattered by, and voices rose in a constant hum of activity. Kael felt like a small piece of something much larger, something more powerful than he had ever known. He could feel the pulse of the capital, a city that was alive with ambition and intrigue.
“Quite the change from Darvan, huh?” Tarin muttered, glancing around with wide eyes. His usually relaxed demeanor had given way to awe as he took in the sights and sounds of the capital.
Kael nodded, his gaze still fixed on the Academy in the distance. “It feels… bigger than I imagined.”
Alec was silent, his sharp eyes scanning the streets as if already making mental notes about the city’s layout. Mira, on the other hand, sat quietly beside Kael, her hands folded in her lap. She seemed calm, but Kael could tell from the way her eyes kept darting toward the Academy that the weight of what they were about to face hadn’t escaped her.
The caravan wound its way through the city streets, drawing the attention of several onlookers as it passed. The people of the capital knew what the arrival of the scouts’ caravan meant—the new recruits were on their way to the Academy. Kael could feel the eyes of the passersby on him and the others, their gazes a mix of curiosity, envy, and perhaps even pity.
“Almost there,” Alec said, his voice low and focused. “The real challenge starts soon.”
Kael nodded, knowing Alec was right. The trials had been brutal, but they were just the beginning. The Academy was where the true tests awaited, where only the strongest, the smartest, and the most ruthless could rise to the top.
The caravan passed through another set of gates, these ones guarded by soldiers in gleaming armor, their stern expressions making it clear that only those permitted would pass. Beyond the gates, the road sloped upward, leading to the towering fortress that was the Academy itself.
The Academy was a sprawling complex, a fortress of stone and iron that loomed over the city like a giant watching over the land. The walls were high, dotted with watchtowers and thick with defenses. It wasn’t just a place of learning—it was a stronghold, built to withstand sieges and house the most powerful warriors and mages in the kingdom.
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As the caravan came to a stop just outside the main gates of the Academy, Kael felt his stomach twist. This was it. The moment they had all been working toward. The scouts began to dismount, and the chosen recruits were instructed to gather their belongings.
Kael climbed out of the wagon, his legs stiff from the long journey, but his senses immediately sharpened as he took in the sight before him. Dozens of other recruits were arriving from various caravans, all of them looking just as nervous, excited, or determined as he felt. There was a sense of collective anticipation in the air, as if everyone knew they were about to step into a new world—one where only the strongest would survive.
A tall, severe-looking man wearing the insignia of the Academy approached the gathered recruits. His sharp features and the hard glint in his eyes made it clear that he was not to be trifled with. He stood before them, arms crossed behind his back, his voice cutting through the air like a blade.
“I am Instructor Darius,” the man announced, his voice cold and commanding. “You are here because you have been deemed worthy to enter the Academy. But understand this—getting here was the easy part. From this moment on, everything you do will be scrutinized. Every step, every decision, every action will determine your future.”
Kael felt the weight of Darius’s words settle over him. There was no room for error here. This wasn’t like the trials in the forest, where they could rely on each other to survive. At the Academy, they would be tested as individuals, and failure could mean more than just losing their place.
Darius’s eyes swept over the crowd of recruits, his gaze hard and unforgiving. “Some of you may think you’ve already proven yourselves. Let me disabuse you of that notion. The real training begins now, and many of you won’t survive it.”
Kael’s jaw tightened. The message was clear—there would be no mercy here. Only those who could rise above would remain.
“You will be sorted into divisions,” Darius continued, pacing slowly in front of them. “Your division will determine your training, your ranking, and your place within the Academy. Those at the top of their divisions will rise quickly. Those at the bottom will fall.”
Kael exchanged a glance with Alec, who gave a slight nod. They understood. The divisions would divide the recruits not just by skill, but by their potential to succeed. It was a hierarchy, and Kael intended to be at the top of it.
“The first trial begins tomorrow,” Darius said, his voice dropping to a low growl. “You will be tested physically, mentally, and strategically. Those who fail will be sent home, their dreams of the Academy shattered.”
Kael’s heartbeat quickened. The first trial. It was already starting. There would be no time to adjust, no time to prepare. They would be thrown into the fire immediately.
“Find your barracks,” Darius ordered, gesturing to a row of stone buildings along the edge of the courtyard. “Rest while you can. Tomorrow, we will see who truly belongs here.”
With that, Darius turned and walked away, leaving the recruits to gather their belongings and head toward the barracks.
Kael grabbed his pack and slung it over his shoulder, his mind racing. The trial was starting sooner than expected. He had hoped for a brief moment to settle in, to take stock of his surroundings, but it seemed the Academy wasted no time in weeding out the weak.
Alec and Mira fell into step beside him as they made their way toward the barracks. Tarin, who had been unusually quiet since their arrival, walked a little behind, his gaze focused on the towering walls of the Academy.
“You think the trial will be like the ones we’ve already faced?” Mira asked, her voice quiet but steady.
Alec shook his head. “No. This will be different. The Academy’s not just testing our strength—they’re testing everything. We’ll have to be ready for anything.”
Kael knew Alec was right. The trials they had faced in the forest had been brutal, but they had been designed to test their endurance and survival skills. The Academy would be far more calculated in its approach. They would be tested on their ability to think under pressure, to adapt, and to fight smarter, not just harder.
As they approached the barracks, Kael took a deep breath, steadying himself. This was it. The moment they had been working toward. But as the weight of the Academy’s expectations settled over him, Kael couldn’t shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of something far more dangerous.
The Academy wasn’t just a place of training—it was a crucible. And only those who survived the fire would emerge stronger.
That night, Kael lay in his narrow bed in the barracks, staring up at the stone ceiling. The room was cold and stark, a far cry from the comforts of home, but he didn’t mind. This was where he belonged now.
As sleep began to tug at the edges of his consciousness, Kael’s thoughts drifted to the trials ahead. He didn’t know what the Academy had in store for them, but he knew one thing for certain: he wouldn’t stop until he reached the top.
He couldn’t afford to fail. Not now.
The Academy was his chance to rise above, to become something more than he had ever imagined. But with that chance came risks. And those risks would soon become very real.
The Academy would push him to his limits—and beyond.
And Kael was ready.