The magical journey of a countryside boy

After Craig finishes drying himself, he and William start walking back toward town, bathed in the amber glow of the setting sun. William follows a few paces behind, noticing that everyone who was enjoying the river earlier has already headed home, leaving the path quiet and deserted.

​Without warning, Craig speaks up, his words jolting William to a sudden halt. “I know you and Dad are hiding something.”

​“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” William replies, his voice laced with a rushed, nervous edge.

​“You don’t have to lie,” Craig says, continuing forward without breaking his stride. “To be honest, I’m not even that interested in your secret.”

​William hurries to catch up with him. “I’m not lying.”

​Craig turns his head, a smug grin spreading across his face. “Really? Because you have a stupid tell whenever you lie—”

‘Do I really have a tell, or is he just messing with me?’ William thinks, his mind racing.

​Craig turns back toward the road and keeps walking. “Like I said, I don’t really care about what you and Dad are hiding. If Dad’s in on it, then it must be something important he can’t tell us.”

​“What makes you so sure about that?” William asks, matching his step.

​“Well, you’ve always been a little weird. Plus, your reaction just now gave it right away,” Craig says with a grin.

​“It’s not actually anything bad, it’s just...” William stammers, trying to explain.

​Before William can finish, Craig cuts in. “I told you, I don’t want to know! Now come on, the last one back to the house is a rotten egg!”

​With a sudden burst of speed, Craig bolts down the dirt road.

​“Hey, that’s not fair!” William yells, a quick laugh bursting from his chest as he sprints after him.

The night passes without incident, though a suffocating tension lingers throughout the house. Even Emma, usually full of chatter, keeps her questions to herself.

​William lies in bed, feeling every bit of his exhausted muscles. The non-stop travel from Bruges to Arindale, followed immediately by the long trek back to Riverstead, leaves him far more drained than usual.

​The next morning, William wakes up well after sunrise, his muscles still stiff and sore from the journey. He steps into the living room to find Emma sitting alone.

​“Where is everyone?” William asks.

​“Dad is out taking care of the mules. Mom went out to buy a few things, and Craig left early to meet Hans—he said he needs to put in extra work today,” Emma replies.

​So everyone is keeping busy... but Mark is coming back today, William thinks.

​His thoughts are cut short by Emma’s voice. “Go wash your face, William. I’ll get your breakfast ready.”

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​William nods and steps into the washroom.

​A short while later, he returns to the main room. Emma sits silently at the table, a hot bowl of vegetable stew waiting in front of an empty chair. William takes a seat and begins to eat.

​Suddenly, Emma breaks the quiet. “So... are you really planning to go to the capital?”

​William’s hand freezes, his spoon trembling slightly. He looks up to find Emma staring at him with a dead-serious expression. A sharp pang of guilt twists in his chest, but he gives a slow nod.

​“Why?” Emma asks, tears threatening to spill over her lashes.

​“Because it’s the kind of opportunity I’ve been searching for my entire life,” William replies gently. “And you don’t have to worry—I’ll come back to visit. It will be just like when I stayed in Arindale for the last three years.”

​“It’s not the same!” Emma argues, her voice cracking. “In Arindale, we always knew where you were. We could visit you whenever we wanted! We won’t be able to do that anymore.”

​Hesitation locks William’s throat. Before he can find the right words to comfort her, a firm knock echoes against the front door.

​Glancing at Emma’s tear-filled eyes, William stands up. “Let me get that.”

William opens the door to find Mark standing on the threshold, a lazy smirk on his face. “Kid, are your aunt and uncle home?”

​William shakes his head. “They stepped out, but they’ll be back shortly. You can wait inside.”

​Mark steps into the house, catching a glimpse of Emma wiping her tear-stained face before she hurries off into her bedroom.

​Mark lets out a low sigh. “Kid, let me give you the greatest piece of advice you’ll ever hear from a senior. Listen carefully.”

​Is he going to tell me about magic? Or the academy? An eager, expectant look lights up William’s face as he leans in.

​Mark looks him dead in the eye and says, “A real man isn’t supposed to make women cry.”

​’Huh? What is that supposed to mean?’ William thinks. A sudden realization hits him, and he snaps back in indignation, “I didn’t make her cry!”

​Mark gives him a skeptical look before a teasing grin spreads across his face.

​William clenches his fists in annoyance. Before Mark can tease him further, a burning question comes to mind. “By the way... I wanted to ask you something.”

​“Go ahead,” Mark says, walking over to the dining table.

​He grabs the back of a chair to pull it out, but William’s next words hit him like a physical blow.

​“Are you royalty?”

​The chair slips from Mark’s grip and clatters loudly against the floor. Mark erupts into a violent fit of coughing, his face twisting as William watches him with a bemused, awkward expression.

​Finally catching his breath, Mark looks up. “Kid... royalty? Seriously? I’m a commoner, just like you. What in the world made you think I was nobility, let alone royalty?”

​“Well... you had that royal badge,” William replies softly.

​Mark closes his eyes and massages his temples, letting out a long, weary sigh. “That’s standard issue for escorts, kid. And it’s not even a permanent crest.”

​William stares at him in horror. “It’s a fake?!”

​“No, it’s a temporary token,” Mark clarifies. “Its enchantment only lasts for a month. After that, it rusts and crumbles into pieces.”

“So there are different types of badges?” William asks, his eyes beaming with curiosity.

​“Yeah, kid, there are multiple tiers,” Mark replies, picking the fallen chair up from the floor and finally taking a seat. “The one I have carries some of the lowest authority. At most, I could use it to requisition a town’s local garrison. That’s about it.”

​Before William can ask anything else, the front door opens.

​Rob steps into the house, his eyes landing instantly on Mark sitting in the main room. The casual atmosphere in the air vanishes as a heavy, serious look settles over Rob’s face.