18

  The Academy of Belkos. In all its majestic appearance, had forgotten it resided in the Pale. The School of Warriors and Adventurers, where young hungry generations came to it to earn a name for themselves. Warriors were granted access to every hold in the world and could serve in its army or grandest battles throughout the world. Adventurers, the free folk who wanted to harbor throughout the world and explore to their heart's desire. The two types of people who ruled the world of Eurafalia, walked through these halls before their tales ever began.

  The carriage carrying Omar, Luna, and Magnus halted as pedestrians walked in front of them. Omar rose from his seat and could see the beacon of the Pale from inside the capital. They were still a couple of dozen miles from its entrance, but the dark azure sky to the distance highlighted the glowing academy hanging off the mountains to the distance.

  Belkos looked nothing more than a rural stone castle, hanging off a great mountain from the distance. Its thick stone walls protected the structure, wrapping around the entire mountain above the frozen sea. From the east side of the mountain, you could see the decorated halls lit up in the late afternoon, connecting the twenty stone towers and buildings. The keep was fortified. Though the days of the school's prime seemed to have passed, the architecture of its construction matched that of King Phizers held in the capital.

  The carriage exited the capital, continuing into the silent mountain pass where the only thing to fear was rubble debris collapsing onto travelers.

  The horse's hooves clattered through the road, as silence encased further. Omar remained writing in his journal to himself, as Magnus fixed his shield's rough coating. Luna sat next to Omar and in front of Magnus awkwardly in silence. Her hands clasped together as she went back and forth between them.

  “Well, it's um… not like the capital.” Luna nervously laughed.

  Magnus raised his head, placing a small grin. “Never been outside the capital princess?” He laughed, as she shook her head. “It is surely not the same. The mountains are quiet. Nothing will affect our journey to the academy. We hone the warriors at Belkos by making them take out any scourge that lies between the capital and the academy.”

  “Dangerous!?” Luna’s face fell in shock. “They are students correct? My sister will be one!”

  “And your sister was left at the registration center in the capital for that reason.” Omar put his pen and notebook up. “How else can the future warriors of this world become strong, if not pushed? I would be more pleased with the training nowadays, than back when Magnus was enrolled some hundred years ago.” Omar joked. Magnus dropped his head with a grin.

  “Ah, good times,” Magnus added. Luna felt speechless taking Omar’s unusual joke seriously. “I am only thirty-six princess.” He assured her.

  Omar continued moving the luggage tossed into the back of the carriage to his side, so he could reach his bag. Luna rested her hand on her heart, thinking of every possible and terrible thing the “old” training style could entail.

  “Worse?” Luna muttered to Magnus. “If these children of the future are being treated like vermin now, what did your leaders do to you in the past?”

  Omar raised his onyx eyes at Magnus with a narrow glance. He nodded his head as Magnus laughed thinking to the good ole days.

  “Let’s see. I came here close to nearly fifteen years ago actually. Me? I was this dimwitted and arrogant Viking from a small clan. That got me very attracted to the instructors. My clan leader Merek, a good man said to stick to the shadows, I did not do that. “Never let them know your name he said.” My instructors knew mine from day zero. The training style back then was kill or be killed.”

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Magnus looked behind them at a group of weary travelers heading into the city.

  “Every day I would wake up before dawn and train until hours after dusk. My group would be sent to a location to practice our magic and sword skills in survival settings. Our instructor was a man named Hunter. He was a rough shot from a bandit clan who knew the ways of the world. It was either strive for excellence in all we did or die.” Magnus answered.

  Luna sat in the carriage flabbergasted. She covered her mouth gasping. “By the gods. How could they do that.”

  “Usually half the cadets met their end at training. The other half survived, but the other half died in their first adventures. Then another in the battles they fought. Leaving about five percent of trainees from the class alive after the first three months out of training. The world only can have so many warriors in it.” Magnus answered with a cold response. “Me and a woman are all that remain from my class. We both work partially at the academy now.”

  Magnus cracked his knuckles batting down on his shield. “Natasha her name is. Historian and knows the world. You will love her Luna. Likely the two of you will work together also. She handles world affairs currently on top of the history of Eurafalia.”

  “Also the woman who will decode Shay’s message for us,” Omar noted.

  The carriage creaked bumping on the windy mountain road. The sound echoed against the towering rocks looming around them. Luna peered out of the carriage window sheets to see her breath catching at the breathtaking views of the approaching castle. The mountains seemed to stretch on the horizon endlessly radiating a burst of light with the vibrant wildflowers spread around the trail.

  The scent of pine and honey caught Luna’s nose as she smiled at the sight. “How does everyone fit in this castle? You say it is a college, but it appears to be a regular castle?” her curiosity often got the best of her.

  Omar smirked, shaking his head while drinking a brew from his pouch. “Luna. It’s a college for mages and warriors. You’re letting your perception get the better of you.” He gestured towards the majestic peak of the castle. Dozens of eagles flew in circles around the top of the castle and vanished into thin air.

  Luna rolled her eyes. “My perception getting the better of me.” She stared Omar up and down. Her mind polished a perfect comeback, but her words were mute. She could only snorkel covering her face. “Okay. Good one.”

  Omar sat dazed. Magnus could understand the contentment of her response even laughing alongside her. “I don’t get it.” Omar resonated.

  The carriage halted. “We’re here sirs and madam.” The driver echoed. The three thanked the driver and followed out of the back of the carriage.

  “Princess.” Magnus caught her attention, as Omar took her hand helping her from the carriage. Her head tilted to Magnus who raised his hand high. “Welcome to the College of Belkos.”

  The grand archway of Belkos opened its gates to the three with no sentries posted at the front gates. The castle now closer, hung over their heads and felt irregular to its display from further away. The towering structure wove from the magic that held it together and pierced the azure sky. Luna’s heart melted in excitement, for the first time in her life she was stepping into her dreams of uniting the realms.

  Ancient runes illuminated at the gates and a blue aura formed around the outer walls. The courtyard was filled with bushes and blooming flowers well maintained against the vibrant polished stone. The sounds of laughter and conversation echoed through the gates, but no trace of the source could be found. Luna’s brow rose in confusion as Omar tugged her hand softly.

  “You ready?” He asked her. “Uniting the realms starts through here.” He stated.

  Luna’s face blushed red, gripping his hand tighter. She glanced down at her dress, dusting herself off and fixing her hair. The environment around her felt unfamiliar, yet more comforting than the place she called home all her life. She rubbed Omar’s soft warm hand and nodded.

  “Is that even a question.” She laughed. “I do, however, wish to see the Prince’s palace soon.” She giggled.

  Omar sighed holding back a faint laugh. He nodded his head bringing her closer to his body. “I am sure that could be arranged.”

  “Oi.” Magnus fixed his throat. He gripped his waist awkwardly clearing his throat. Magnus’s eyes could only observe the trail waving the two over. “How about we get inside, yeah? You two can do whatever you want behind closed doors. But, um, we are on a timeline too, you know? Possibly saving the world here.” He turned walking through the gates. His body vanished behind the gate's blue magical energy.

  Luna and Omar disparted for a moment. Omar rubbed the back of his head pointing forward. “Guess we should get going.” He awkwardly stepped forward. “Did I manage to embarrass you?” Luna laughed. Omar shook his head as the two walked through the gates and everything around them shifted.

  “By the gods.” Luna’s face flushed in disbelief.