Even with the use of dirt and clay, the absence of books and paper made learning a humongous task. Finn realized this early. He could not rely on tools, so his memory was the only option.
It took him three years to master speed learning, but it was definitely worth it. His colleagues began relying on him as a walking encyclopedia, and he relied on them for combat skills which he criminally lacked.
Despite being the youngest and weakest boy in class, by using knowledge as leverage, he slowly pulled himself to the top.
“Teacher, what exactly are we missing?” Finn asked.
“Do you want me to be honest?” The nun crossed her arms. She furrowed her brows and looked genuinely serious.
Taken aback, Finn looked around the room. It wasn’t just him she was speaking to. ‘The placements are already grim.’
“I want to know,” said Annie.
“Yes,” Gabriel followed.
“Tell us,” Natalie added.
“We want to know,” said Tommy and the entire class rose to its feet. “No matter what’s up ahead, we will rise to the challenge.”
Mr. Griffin showed a satisfied grin but said nothing. On the other hand, Ms. Martha took a deep breath.
“Fine. Since you’re big boys and girls, let me ask you this: Who am I?”
“Martha Brown, 37 years old, single, profession: nun, specialty: theology,” said Finn.
Martha raised an eyebrow.
“Measurements...”
“That’s enough. What’s my specialty again?”
“Theology,” the boy repeated.
“Is it language, history, geography, or math?” The entire classroom widened their eyes. “What about construction, politics, etiquette, or agriculture?”
“But you know all that stuff,” Natalie blurted out.
“Yes,” Ms. Martha looked at her with remorse. “To a beginner or an intermediate level.”
Whenever the church called her in for a report, the nun took the chance to expand her knowledge. She read every book she could get her hands on and shared everything she could with her students. But, it was never enough.
“I’m sorry.” Ms. Martha lowered her head. “I can vouch for Mr. Griffin, and my theology and history is up to par, still... You should not expect your education in other subjects to match what nobles or city children are taught.”
Once the students left and the classroom was empty, Martha finally allowed her eyes to get wet. If only she had taken more classes during her youth; if only she had gathered more influence in the church.
Eventually, she noticed a large calloused palm was resting on her shoulder. “You did great,” said Mr. Griffin. “You gave these children a future.”
“No.” Martha burst into tears. “I gave them false hope.”
Stolen story; please report.
A week later, a few old carriages arrived to take the children away. In the end, all of them had decided to try their luck. Despite the odds, eight teens were going to attempt the SwordArt academy’s exam while seven more would try to get into Goodfellow.
Eight future warriors and seven future scholars hugged their parents and boarded their carriages. Only five more remained. They carried the same bags as in the forest, yet the weight on their shoulders was incomparably heavier.
“Are you sure about this?” Joe asked his son. The other children’s parents were asking similar questions.
“Yes,” Finn answered firmly. ‘I owe Michael for getting John John off my back. I owe Natalie for teaching me how to fight. Tommy will help Annie no matter what, and I owe him... a lot.’ A content smile appeared on Finn’s lips. “I’ll get us through it,” he gave his parents a thumbs up, “even if I have to kick God’s ass.”
Not only were they behind in most theoretical subjects, but none of Shallow Creek’s students knew anything about magic. However, for Annie to get the education she deserved, there was only one place they could aim for: the one academy which excelled equally in theory, physical combat, and magic studies alike, the highest ranked academy in the entire empire.
“We’re going to Phoenix Academy!” Michael lifted up his fist. “It’s time to show those nobles what’s what.”
Finn felt two gentle hands grab his face. “Cheer up.” Elizabeth pulled the edges of his mouth into a smile. “You’re not alone. No matter what, we’ll always love you.”
Finn hadn’t even realized he was frowning. The hug his mother gave him at that moment became lodged in his memory for the rest of his life. After 14 years of preparation, he was finally leaving home.
‘I did everything I possibly could.'
Pre-academy classes were separated into eight years, yet they did nine. Each subject should’ve been taught for an hour per day, but Martha taught for one and a half. The kids even studied and trained together after classes, so it was safe to say that from dusk till dawn, for eight years straight minus the holidays, their group had done nothing but prepare for this day.
‘Yet is it still not enough?’
“Who says that?” a gruff voice drew Finn’s attention. Looking up, he saw Mr. Griffin crouched on top of a walking horse as if it were a stool.
‘Did he just read my mind?’
The knight gave him a wink. The carriages stopped, and the parents stared. Mr. Griffin took a deep breath and stood up on top of the horse, poking the animal with his sword sheath for balance. The animal neighed, but after the knight gave it a look, it immediately calmed down and let the knight trample it under his feet.
“Listen up, you whiny bastards! You’re now officially men and women, so quit worrying about things you can’t control. What does worrying do for you on the battlefield?”
“It gets us killed,” everyone muttered out of reflex.
“Yes,” the knight frowned. “So, act your age, bloody hell...” Never, in their nine years of learning under him had their teacher looked this frustrated or his students so downcast.
“Just so you know, Ms. Martha was crying. Are you going to allow that?”
Finally, the teens raised their heads. Finn clenched his teeth and many did the same.
“Yes, it’s going to be tough, but what isn’t? Have any of your classes ever not been tough? Has life ever been easy on you?”
“But, we’re not ready,” John John stood up from his carriage.
“So?” Griffin shrugged. “It’s precisely this self-talk that’s holding you back. You think I was ready for my academy exams? A demon once tried to take my life. You think I was ready for that?”
The parent’s jaws dropped to the floor, and Mr. Griffin started laughing out loud. He took off his old, tattered shirt revealing a body covered in scars. His chest alone had small cuts, large cuts, bite marks of a hundred different creatures, and a deep gash from his left shoulder to his kidney that was somehow purple, covered in puss and made Finn’s back chill just by looking at it.
“I could’ve died a million times to mages and monsters alike. I stand here, in front of you, out of sheer luck. But you have more than that, don’t you?” He gave Finn a look.
“Just so you know, Phoenix academy was Miss Martha’s goal from day one. It’s the reason she bothered teaching you lot, so do not let her down. Understood!?”
The answer did not come immediately as usual. Everyone still needed time to process.
‘It’s an uphill battle.’ Finn climbed onto the old, open carriage. ‘But it isn’t hopeless. With my mind, their brawn and Annie’s magic, we might just pull off a miracle.’
He felt a palm on his shoulder. Annie was holding onto it and Michael was holding onto her. All five teens held each other's shoulders in a circle, and they were all smiling.
Eventually, Tommy said “Remember when we used to play pirates? I believe we have earned the right to some loot.”
The teens smiled, and Griffin of the molten blade grinned. Thunder roared from the horizon, and a new storm was about to begin.