The next morning, Towan and Elliot busied themselves, gathering their belongings in preparation for their departure. The sun had barely risen, casting long golden rays into their small room, but the air was already thick with anticipation—and a bit of tension.

“What are we even supposed to bring to this academy?” Towan muttered, his voice tinged with frustration as he slung his bag over one shoulder. It was clear he still wasn’t sold on the idea of going.

Elliot, more pragmatic, glanced at the modest pile of essentials they had laid out. “Well, we’ll need notebooks, pencils… maybe some extra clothes. We should stop by the dojo to grab a few more things before heading out,” he replied, carefully organizing the items into his own bag.

As he adjusted the straps, Elliot paused and pulled a neatly folded piece of parchment from the table. He studied it for a moment, his expression thoughtful. “And this,” he added, holding up the letter Eryndar had entrusted to them. The corners of the paper were slightly worn from being handled, but the elegant script and wax seal were still intact. “We’re supposed to give this to the headmaster. Eryndar said it would be enough to get us in.”

Towan glanced at the letter, his expression skeptical. “A piece of paper is supposed to be our golden ticket? Are we sure it even says anything important?” he quipped, crossing his arms.

Elliot smirked faintly, tucking the letter into the inside pocket of his bag for safekeeping. “I’m sure Master Eryndar didn’t write it just to mess with us, Towan. Besides, you’ll see for yourself when we get there,” he said, trying to sound reassuring, though the slight edge of uncertainty in his tone hinted at his own reservations.

Towan sighed, his gaze shifting to the horizon outside their window. “I still don’t see why we have to go. It’s not like we’re elemental essence users. What’s the point?”

“We’ll find out soon enough,” Elliot replied, his voice calm yet firm. “For now, let’s just make sure we’re ready. Master wouldn’t send us there without a good reason.”

As the brothers continued their preparations, a faint breeze stirred the air—a sign that their journey, both physical and personal, was about to begin.

“We’re lucky the dojo is on the way to the academy,” Towan remarked as he adjusted the strap of his bag, glancing at the worn map Eryndar had given them. The brothers stepped out of their rented house, the morning air crisp and cool. A light breeze rustled the leaves of nearby trees, carrying with it the scent of damp earth.

Elliot followed, closing the door behind them. “Yeah, it’d be a pain to go back and forth,” he agreed, pulling his hood up to shield himself from the sunlight breaking through the clouds.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

As they reached the edge of the village, Towan glanced at Elliot and smirked. “Shall we pick up the pace?”

Elliot returned the smirk, already channeling his essence into his legs. “Try to keep up.”

In unison, they tapped into the flow of their essence, their bodies reacting instantly. Their strides became longer, their steps lighter as they moved at an incredible speed, leaving only faint disturbances in the gravel behind them. The once arduous journey to the dojo, which used to take days, now only required a focused two hours. Along the way, they darted through narrow forest trails, their movements smooth and precise, a testament to the training they’d endured under Eryndar and their master.

By the time the silhouette of the dojo came into view, they weren’t even winded. Elliot slowed to a stop first, his boots crunching against the dirt path. “Not bad. We’re getting better at managing our essence flow,” he noted, his voice steady despite the exertion.

“Better? We’re amazing,” Towan said, a proud grin on his face. “Not many people could pull that off.”

“Don’t get cocky,” Elliot shot back, though his smile betrayed his amusement.

Ahead, the familiar building stood nestled among tall trees that swayed gently in the breeze. “Almost there,” Elliot noted, his tone shifting slightly as he looked at the dojo.

“Good,” Towan said, stretching his arms above his head. “Let’s grab our stuff and get this over with.”

But deep down, both of them knew this wasn’t just another errand. This was the start of a journey that would change everything.

As they stepped through the familiar wooden doors of the dojo, the soft creak echoed in the quiet space. The faint scent of incense lingered in the air, mingling with the earthy aroma of the polished floors. Towan glanced around, his eyes scanning the room.

“This place is surprisingly clean, considering we’ve been gone for months,” Towan remarked, brushing a hand over one of the tables. Not a speck of dust greeted him. His gaze wandered to the neatly stacked dishes and swept floors. “It’s like someone was here…” He trailed off, his brow furrowing in thought, though he didn’t dwell on it long.

Elliot moved past him, heading toward the storage room. “Probably Master came here to train,” he said, rummaging through a chest for extra clothes. “Everything looks like how he organizes things. You know how meticulous he is.”

Towan leaned against the doorframe, crossing his arms. “But if that’s the case… where is he now?” he asked, his voice quieter, tinged with something unspoken—concern, perhaps, or curiosity he wasn’t ready to admit.

“I honestly have no idea,” Elliot replied with a sigh, shaking his head as he folded a spare tunic and placed it into his bag. He paused for a moment, looking around the dojo. “At least we know he’s training… Eryndar told us he could find him anyway”

They worked in silence after that, gathering their belongings with practiced efficiency. The dojo, with its sturdy wooden beams and warm, sunlit corners, had been their home for years. It bore the marks of countless hours of training, laughter, and even the occasional argument. It wasn’t just a place—it was a part of who they were.

As they stood by the door, bags packed and ready to leave, both of them hesitated. Towan glanced back at the dojo, his hand resting on the frame of the door. “Who knows when we’ll be back,” he said, his voice uncharacteristically subdued.

Elliot nodded, his expression reflecting the same mix of emotions. “Yeah. Let’s just hope it’s still standing when we do.”

With one last look, they stepped outside, closing the door behind them. The faint creak echoed again, this time like a farewell, as the dojo was left in quiet stillness once more.