Anthony looked at Ema, who held onto him tightly, embracing him with her small arms. It was the day when Anthony would depart for the imperial capital with Lysandra, and Ema didn't want to part with him. Despite his attempts to console her, Ema was visibly affected, her eyes filled with tears. Although she understood the situation, it was difficult for her to say goodbye to her older sister.
After a quiet conversation with Ema, he finally managed to convince her to let go. Though it hurt, Ema knew that Anthony would visit her again, and that gave her so comfort. With a resigned sigh, Ema finally released her embrace, allowing Anthony to prepare for his departure.
Anthony took a transparent crystal from his ring and explained its function to Ema. It was a device that would allow them to communicate over long distances: she could send him a ssage, and he would respond, like a sort of remote communication. Ema received the crystal and tucked it into her ring, drying her tears and trying to smile at her brother's comforting gesture.
After a while, Lysandra erged from the room. She nodded, indicating that she was ready to continue with the preparations for their departure. Her task was to gather so garnts for herself and Anthony, making sure to bring what was necessary to the academy.
Lysandra couldn't deny her excitent and anticipation; her eyes also glead with eagerness to arrive as soon as possible in the imperial capital.
Anthony nodded along with Lysandra as he glanced at Ema, who accompanied them holding hands. Together, they left the house and t their parents at the door. Anthony's mother approached slowly and gave him a warm hug, wishing him to take care and not to forget to visit her. His mother smiled tenderly at seeing her son.
Noah, Anthony's father, placed his hands on his son's shoulders and nodded solemnly. Anthony returned the gesture, expressing his understanding and respect for his father's words. Then, Noah took a crystal from his ring and handed it to Anthony, explaining that it contained enough money for his stay at the academy. If he needed more, he just had to send him a ssage.
Anthony's eyes lit up with gratitude, and he quickly accepted the crystal, thanking his father with a big smile. After all, who wouldn't like to receive extra money for free?
After exchanging so words with their parents, Lysandra also shared so reassuring words, informing Anthony that his enrollnt in the academy was already complete, so he didn't need to worry.
With tears in her eyes, Ema also bid them farewell, while Roberto and Nicol were also present to say goodbye.
With a smile, they left the house and found themselves in front of a carriage, the sa one they had arrived in. The driver, an elderly man, bowed to Anthony and Lysandra, and before getting on the carriage, Anthony turned to look and nodded towards his parents and Ema's family.
The carriage began to move, leaving behind the family ho and heading towards the imperial capital. The journey was scheduled to last about 5 days, leaving 3 days before the inauguration of the imperial academy.
Although Anthony was excited about the idea of attending the academy, his expression beca pensive as he realized that he would have to study. He rembered the stories he had read about people with abilities that allowed them to get exam answers easily. At that mont, Anthony began to miss the system.
*****
In the deepest and darkest part of the forest, surrounded by dense fog, a group of beings gathered in a hidden clearing among the ancestral trees. These figures, tall and with corrupted green skin, seed like a grotesque distortion of their original form. Each of them emanated an ominous presence and a putrid odor that filled the air around them.
In the center of the group, the leader: "No, wait, don't say that... yes, you're right... I don't believe it... SHUT UP!" With his deford features and bloodshot eyes, he murmured incomprehensible words as his mind struggled against the dark influences surrounding him.
His companions, equally corrupted, remained silent, but tension and madness could be perceived in their hunched postures and malevolent gestures.
These creatures, once human but now transford by the corrupting power of Nigothor the Ancient, had fallen into the deepest darkness. Corruption had granted each of them supernatural strength, but at a terrible cost: the loss of their humanity and submission to the whims of the Ancient.
Of course, they didn't care in the slightest, after all, they all believed in their god, after a few hours. The leader of the dark congregation, with his empty and dark eyes, scrutinized each of those present with a penetrating gaze. His words, charged with unquestionable authority, resonated in the oppressive silence of the forest clearing.
"The beginning of the academy is only seven days away," he proclaid with a grave and sepulchral voice. "The lord's words are clear: he wishes for one of us to infiltrate as a normal student. The lord craves more loyalty, more souls to offer in his na."
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As his words reverberated in the air, the followers of the leader knelt in submission, their deford faces showing a fanatical devotion to their dark god.
The sky itself seed to respond to their presence, with dark clouds writhing and swirling as if feeling the weight of the darkness surrounding them; at the sa ti, the sky split open, an imnse pressure fell upon the place, and from that darkness, a green hand erged.
In the deepest part of the forest in zone 7, the Ancient-rank creatures moved stealthily, aware that the beginning of the academy was approaching. For them, this was the perfect mont to obtain a large number of souls and thus strengthen themselves even more. Aware of the importance of this date, they moved their faithful followers and infiltrated them as normal children.
*****
Anthony and Lysandra imrsed themselves in the beauty of the journey, barely having elapsed a day since their departure. The landscapes surrounding the carriage, with their calm and serene forest, inspired a sense of peace and awe in the couple. As they moved forward, they shared exciting conversations that filled the journey with vitality and anticipation.
Each mont together strengthened their connection and fueled their enthusiasm for what awaited them in the imperial capital.
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