Chapter 26 — On the way to the academy
Two months passed smoothly.
Well... not very smoothly for Rowan,
In these two months Rowan undergone a special training. But this training was giving him a ridiculously hard time.
"Students welcome to Eldric, Master class."
The announcement echoed proudly across an almost empty room.
The only "student" present sat slumped on the wooden floor, eyes half-dead, soul barely intact.
"So today we are gonna learn about Mage history and mage system."
Eldric taught him about basics of magic, history and mage structure.
"Ughh..." Rowan hit the ground again. His hairs messy and body drenched in sweat, clothes clinging to his skin.
"Your attack pattern is very predictable." Riven's voice cut through the air.
"Don't use the same spell pattern constructively, Use different spells one by one in different combinations."
Rowan groaned but forced himself up, one hand pressing against his aching stomach. His fingers tightened around the handle of his axe. His posture straight and shoulders relaxed
"The more different attack patterns you use the more it will be difficult for your Opponent to read you. Now get ready" Riven aimed his wand. Mana particals already visible at the tip.
Rowan steadied his breathing.
Rowan also lifted his axe and took his stance eyes sharp and focused.
And Riven helped him train in battles.
"Uhh..." Rowan fell on the ground again.
Riven lowered his wand. the barrier shimmered faintly and dissolved.
"Winner Riven." one student announced.
Another student wrote something on a black board.
Riven -267
Rowan-1
"The score is truly outrageous."
The score gap of Rowan and Riven's battles of the past months was insane.
"You have improved quite a bit." Riven extended his hand.
Rowan hesitated for a second before taking the hand
"I don't think if it should be called an improvement." Rowan said with a tired laugh. "When I haven't managed to win much after that day."
He removed the mana-suppressing bands from his wrists.
A faint heaviness lifted—but so did his confidence
He sighs looking at the score board the gap is really way too High even the one score he has is the win score of the competition that he has won against Riven and after that not even once in the training he had managed to win.
"I thought i would remain undefeatable after the competition. But this score."
He lowered his head.
Riven stared at him for a moment.
Then spoke—
"The ones who have experienced defeat... are the ones who truly remain undefeated."
Rowan blinked and lifts his head his face clearly stating how much he understood it.
"umm... I don't think I understand. What do you mean."
Riven says,"Defeat reveals a person's shortcomings. And only after working on that shortcomings, a person can grow."
His eyes met Rowan. "That's why sometimes a defeat is more important. Because a win will give you temporary satisfaction but... A defeat can give you a lifelong lesson."
Rowan stare at him, his mind processing slowly .
"Ok. I think I get it."
"Those who have never faced defeat by someone gets defeated by their own victories. Because they never realise their shortcomings."
Silence lingered there for a long time.
"You know, i think you should start writing books."
Riven blinked.
"What?!"
"I'm serious. That sounded like something famous people say."
"Haha..." A chuckle escaped Riven's lips.
"If you get it then get ready." Riven aimed his wand again.
"The entrance exam is in 2 days."
Mana gathered once more.
"You need to be prepared to pass it."
Rowan lifted his axe and took his stance "Ok... Let's continue."
After sometime.
The sun dipped low.
Painting the sky in deep shades of orange and gold. Leaving it's orange hue behind while setting down.
Hufff... huff... huff...
Rowan lay flat on the ground, chest rising and falling violently. The grass scratched against his palms, but he didn't have the strength to move.
"Hey get up." Riven's hand lingered on the air.
"I— I can't... I can't continue anymore." Rowan finally said while panting, keeping his eyes tightly shut.
"You did well. Today's practice is over."
Only after hearing those words Rowan opened his eyes. He stared at the orange sky for a long time. Then suddenly—
"...."
A shadow fell over him.
"Hey! Dolt, stop admiring the sky and get up."
"Ugh... Master." Rowan finally tried to push his body Riven grabbed his hand helping him to sit properly.
Rowan noticed something in Eldric hands.
"What's that box?"
Eldric put the box infront of Rowan.
"Here, open it."
Rowan looked at Eldric, then at the box. It just looked like a simple square shape box The setting sunlight had already painted the whole ground orange so it was hard to tell the real colour of the box.
Rowan put his fingers on top of the box. And then slowly opened the lid.
Clang!.
"Huh."
The lid cricked open and what welcomed him was a set of clothes resting inside the box. He slowly lifted the jacket.
The fabric was smooth, almost weightless in his hands.
A deep smoke-violet color, uncommon and refined, with subtle silver threading along the edges. It wasn't flashy—but it carried presence.
On the chest—
An emblem was stitched.
A circular crest, woven with silver thread.
At its center, an abstract symbol resembling intertwined arcs of energy—like currents of mana flowing in harmony.
Simple.
Yet dignified.
The emblem of the Darve Dojo.
It had the same emblem that was outside on the dojo's board.
Rowan looked at the jacket for a long time.
"The trailor was away for sometime so it took a while but... congratulations." Eldric exclaimed.
Rowan looked at the jacket for a long time as if time itself has pause. his fingers tighten around the fabric, his lips twitched for a bit before curving into a smile.
---
In the small hut. The atmosphere was warmer then usual.
Fizzz... Fizzz..
The oil cracked against the pan.
Rowan's mother Mira. Quickly poured vegetables on the pan when the heat reached desirable temperature.
The sizzling sound filled the room, accompanied by the rich aroma of herbs and spices rising into the air.
Harold sat nearby, sharpening his axe slowly.
The rhythmic scrape of metal against stone echoed softly.
Knock... knock...
"Must be Rowan." Mira muttered looking back. As she was about to go.
Harlod stood up. Gesturing her to stay as he goes towards the door. And open it.
There. Rowan stood outside. But this time somthing was different.
Harold stood there for a long time.
"What happened, why are you—"
Mira peeked from the side as she also looked and froze.
Rowan stood outside. Wearing a jacket that has an emblem engraved in it's pocket. The jacket was smooth fitting Rowan perfectly.
Rowan stood there awkwardly shifting his gaze from his parents to the jacket.
His hand reached to rub the back of his head. As he finally took a deep breath and looked at his parents.
"Wow... Son." Mira hugged him immediately.
"You look very handsome in it."
"Yeah, i—"
Before Rowan could say something his mother led him inside the hut. And made him sit on the chair.
"I finally got my dojo uniform." Rowan finally exclaimed lifting the box.
"congratulations son." His father put a hand on his shoulder.
Rowan just looked at him with a wide smile.
he just sat there, not having any words to express this feeling.
After some time.
The food was put on the table Rowan was still wearing his dojo jacket.
The bowl was put on infront of him. The aroma and scent of food reached his nose. He looked at the bowl for a long time.
The steam curled upward in thin spirals, brushing against his face before fading into the air. The warmth carried a familiar scent—earthy, slightly bitter, yet comforting in a way words couldn't fully describe.
"Harbel soup." he muttered under his breath with a smile.
His voice was softer this time. Quieter.
As if speaking too loudly might disturb something fragile.
Across the table, Mira smiled warmly.
"Yeah. Your father found fresh herbs today, so I thought I'd make it."
Rowan nodded slowly.
His eyes remained fixed on the surface of the soup.
Tiny droplets of oil shimmered under the dim light, drifting lazily. The chopped greens floated gently, carried by the faint ripples from his trembling hand.
"Thanks papa."
Rowan's father sat a proud smile on his face.
Rowan took a spoonful of the soup and ate it.
"It still taste the same."
He started eating the soup taking spoon after spoon of the soup nonstop.
Looking at that his mother and father chuckled.
Rowan lifted his head and looked at his parents happy face. Seeing them happy A smile formed on his face too.
His took another spoonful of the soup but suddenly froze mid way.
The world shifted.
Not violently.
Not suddenly.
But like a quiet ripple spreading across still water.
A memory flickered in his mind.
"Wow! Mom, herbal soup."
He remembered.
When his entire family was still at their old home.
It was the day before his brother went to the academy.
"Wow! Mom, herbal soup!"
A younger voice rang out—bright, full of excitement.
Rowan blinked.
He wasn't in the hut anymore.
Or rather—
He was.
But not this one.
The walls were wider. Cleaner. The wooden beams polished, untouched by time or hardship. Sunlight poured in freely through the open windows, illuminating the room in a warm golden glow.
Laughter filled the air.
Carefree.
Unburdened.
And At the table—
A smaller version of himself leaned forward eagerly, eyes sparkling as he stared at the bowl placed in front of him.
"Careful, it's hot," Mira said back then, her voice carrying that same warmth—but lighter, freer.
Before worry had settled into it.
Before life had weighed it down.
Harold sat beside them, arms crossed, pretending to be uninterested—but the faint curve of his lips betrayed him.
And then—
A figure moved.
Seated between them.
Rowan's gaze shifted.
His breath caught.
"…Bhaiya."
His older brother.
Laughing softly as he ruffled young Rowan's hair.
"You're always this excited over food," he teased.
"And you're always late!" young Rowan shot back immediately, puffing his cheeks.
The table erupted in small laughter.
Back to the present
Rowan swallowed hard staring at the soup resting on the spoon. He brought the spoon to his lips and ate it.
The taste was still the same but somehow the soup felt a little different now. Like something was missing.
He lifted his head and looked at his parents their happy faces. His lips twitch before forming a small smile.
He stared at the empty space between his mom and dad. He could see A shadow of someone. Someone that was not with them right now and it was unclear where that person is or what he is doing.
Rowan's hand tightened slightly around the spoon.
The warmth was still there.
The taste—
Still the same.
But the laughter was gone.
The space between his parents was Empty.
His eyes lifted slowly.
Mira was smiling.
Harold was watching him quietly.
Both of them happy.
Both of them trying.
And yet—
That space remained.
Unfilled.
Unspoken.
Rowan's gaze lingered there.
For just a moment longer.
As if—
If he stared long enough—
That missing presence might return.
Might sit there again, and...
Might laugh with them again.
A faint breath escaped his lips. Almost soundless.
Rowan shook his head and he again started eating the Herbal soup.
He took another spoonful.
This time—
He didn't stop.
Didn't pause.
Didn't let the memory pull him back again.
He simply ate.
One spoon after another.
Quietly and simply.
---
2 days past in a blink.
Rowan is standing outside the hut. His mother wiping his face with a towel.
"Now, all good son."
Rowan nodded. His face still carrying that faint smile.
His eyes wondered to a small patch of land nearby . The soil was turned upside down and it looked like somthing is planted inside the soil.
His mother looked at his face. And said,"Your father planted some of the herbs seeds on the ground."
Rowan looked at his father,"Huh... I didn't know papa knew about farming."
At that Harold chuckled,"haha, my father was a farmer son, he taught me about farming. Just like how I taught you wood- cutting."
"Grandpa was a farmer?" Rowan looked at his father with wide eyes after knowing the new information.
His father nodded And looked at his son for a long time, he patted his shoulder before taking him in an embrace.
"Do well son."
His father patted his back while hugging him. For Rowan his father's expression weren't visible but those words oddly felt different.
"I hope you live a bright life."
Rowan didn't respond immediately.
But something tightened in his chest.
His father slowly released him.
His mother stepped forward and patted his head." Son." she looked at him for a long time as if savouring his face. "live well."
Rowan stood still. His heart felt an unexplainable ach on those words. But still he looked at his parents.
"I will write you letter." Rowan turned after saying that.
While walking he turned back at his parents again. And gave them a smile as he started walking again.
It wasn't clear when he will be able to return. Or when he would be able to fulfill his Promise. But for now, to accomplish those things.
he have to move forward.
--
Darve dojo
Eldric stood outside the dojo, tapping his foot on the ground.
'When is this dolt coming.'
His eyes flickered as he finally saw Rowan running towards him.
Sigh
Rowan stood infront of Eldric, panting heavily.
"Sorry, if I got late."
"You were, almost."
Rowan lifted his head and noticed that everyone was there,
Riven
Master Garrick
And other students of the dojo are standing too.
Master Garrick steps forward and fix Rowan's collar.
"Good luck. Rowan."
He hands over Rowan the recommendation letter. Rowan opens the letter and read it.
'Finally, i could go to the academy.'
SCREEECH!... SKRRRT!
A sudden noise interrupted Rowan from his thoughts, he tured towards the direction of the noise and froze
A sleek black vehicle stood at the entrance.
Its surface gleamed like polished obsidian, reflecting the light in sharp lines. The design was smooth, almost elegant—far beyond anything Rowan had seen.
Rowan's eyes sparkled looking at the vehicle.
"Wow! What is this?"
Eldric tapped his shoulder.
"It's a car you idiot, surely you didn't think we would go to Grand Aetherion by walking all the way."
Rowan saw Eldric going towards the car. Another person came out of the car as both him and Eldric shook hands.
'It looks like they know each other.'
"Rowan." someone called him. Rowan turned and saw it was Riven.
Riven stepped forward, he looked at Rowan for a long time before extending his hand.
Rowan looked at his hand and shook it.
"Since you are going to Grand Aetherion this year. You better pass the Entrance exam."
Rowan nodded.
Riven pulled Rowan and wishpered in his ear.
"If you came to this dojo after failing the exam... Then I will kill you."
Rowan flinched. He patted Riven's shoulder thinking it's a joke but when he saw Riven's calm face. It doesn't look like he was joking.
"Hey–! Dolt" Eldric called him. "Let's go."
Rowan bid the dojo master and students farewell. As he walked towards the car and sat on the back seat with Eldric.
The car door shut.
The engine roared to life.
As the dojo slowly faded behind him—
Rowan looked ahead.
Toward something unknown.
Something bigger.
Something waiting.
---
The journey had begun.
---
Chapter end.