Narrator’s note: Apparently I wasn’t clear on this and it would have confused a few people. I add this little scene to set up the next chapter :)

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Everyone was tired the day after the party, they had danced throughout the night. Only when daylight lit the horizon did everyone return home.

On their way back home, Ragnar and Ymil were walking together. Mia’d returned home earlier because she was just too tired.

“Hay Ragnar,” said Ymil at some point. “I’m almost older than you!”

Ragnar snorted, “Sure, it’s not like I grow any older or anything…”

This joke was a running gag between the two. Ragnar was only 3 months older than Ymil but whenever it was his birthday Ragnar’d say he’s a year older than him. Off course, on Ymil’s birthday Ymil would say he was catching up in age.

“But you know? I’m looking forward to going to the Academy,” said Ymil.

“Yeah, me too,” said Ragnar with a grin on his face. “I mean, we’ll finally become adults!”

“I don’t think that’ll happen overnight…” responded Ymil with doubt on his face. “But we will learn a lot about history and politics!”

“Dude, we’re going to learn how to fight properly!” exclaimed Ragnar. “And we’ll be able to fight people our age!”

Military Academy was a mandatory form of education that prepared the children of Halram Kingdom to cope with the world they live in. It primarily focused on war, teaching them history, politics, ethics, magic and fighting. Fighting was such an integral part of their education that the Academy had incorporated a year-long fighting schedule. Every week you’d have to face a new opponent.

“Doesn’t that sound amazing?!” asked Ragnar.

“It does, but the cost might be a bit too high,” answered Ymil as he looked down for a moment.

“Aw come on! We’re only leaving in a month! We got more than enough time to spend with everyone here!” Ragnar tried to say cheerfully, but he too knew that, once they left, they wouldn’t see their families for an entire semester (6 months).

“That’s true, I guess,” Ymil was going to miss the village. He’s made a lot of memories here.

“And look on the bright side! We’re going on an adventure with Uncle Max and Mia! We’ve never gone to the capital before.”

“You’re right!” Ymil said and a smile appeared on his face. “We’re going to see the world!”

“That’s the spirit!” Ragnar hit Ymil on the back.

They reached Ragnar’s house and stopped in front of the door for a moment.

“I’m going to sleep for an entire day. See ya tomorrow!” said Ragnar and he dashed into the house.

“I think I’ll do the same.”

And so their peaceful days continued. The three children played a lot together, sometimes even fighting the odd monster in the village’s vicinity. The boys kept on training as they were preparing to travel to the academy.

That month passed by extremely quickly and before they knew it they were preparing to leave Sophia Village forever.