As they set off for the academy, Velgrim and his sister Lyra were eager to test their skills on the open road. Traveling in a cramped carriage day and night held little appeal. They'd agreed to make the journey a training exercise, filled with encounters rather than simply arriving comfortably. Besides, why not clear the path of monsters and bandits? It would be far more invigorating than sitting idly.
Their parents had insisted on sending an escort of guards and servants, but Velgrim and Lyra chose to face the journey alone. They wanted to travel without the entourage expected of nobles, knowing this was their chance to act as free individuals rather than as young masters and mistresses. By taking the harder route, they'd prepare themselves for the challenges waiting at the academy.
On the first night, they encountered their first taste of adventure. A group of bandits blocked the road ahead, a sly grin spreading across their faces as they spotted Velgrim and Lyra. It was clear these men thought them easy prey. But Velgrim's hand moved instinctively to his sword hilt, his eyes narrowing. Lyra, calm yet fierce, nodded at him with a spark of excitement.
"They must think us helpless," she murmured, her tone laced with amusement.
The bandits charged, their sneers replaced with cries as Velgrim and Lyra moved into action. Velgrim's sword swept through the air with deadly accuracy, while Lyra's agile strikes made quick work of their would-be assailants. The skirmish ended almost as soon as it began, with the siblings victorious. They looted the bandits' stolen gold and valuables, pocketing their spoils before continuing on. This was no longer just a journey; it was the first step in their training as Ashbornes.
The second day saw them face wild beasts that prowled the forest's edges, their eyes gleaming in the shadows. Velgrim and Lyra fell into a well-practiced rhythm, each covering the other's blind spots. It was rare they had the chance to fight side by side in a real battle, and the intensity of it left their senses sharpened, their bond strengthened. The beasts, though ferocious, were no match for the combined skill of the siblings.
The challenges forced Velgrim to push himself harder, his sword techniques honed through each clash. Lyra, graceful yet unwavering, adapted to each attack with a fluidity that impressed him. Though younger than many of their siblings, they proved themselves capable and worthy. By nightfall, they shared stories of their victories, laughing and recounting the thrill of their battles under the starlit sky.
On the third day, the road brought a mix of bandits and more creatures, but they met each encounter with renewed vigor. Dust clung to their clothes, the scent of earth and battle lingering on them, yet the exhaustion was accompanied by pride. They had forged their way to the academy on their own terms, learning to rely on each other. Velgrim especially felt the thrill of independence, a feeling he had not experienced under the watchful eyes of their family and servants.
Finally, as dusk settled on the third day, the towering spires of the academy loomed in the distance. They had arrived, having survived every trial along the way. They glanced at each other with a shared sense of achievement. Their journey was not just a path to the academy-it was a testament to their strength and unity as siblings, warriors in their own right.
YOU ARE READING
Twilights of the Gods
Fantasía"Centuries ago, the battle mage who dared to challenge the gods was sealed away in eternal darkness, his name erased from history. But prophecies whispered of his return, and now, after ages of imprisonment, he has been reborn in a world dominated b...
