The town square was crowded with people going about their morning routines. Merchants set up stalls, calling out their wares, while travelers passed through, some heading toward the marketplace, others moving toward the road leading out of town.
Near the center of the square, a large wooden carriage stood, its horses stamping their hooves impatiently. A man in a long coat stood by the front, holding onto the reins. He had a thick beard and a deep voice that cut through the morning noise.
"Greyfort Academy-bound carriage! Last call! If you're heading to Greyfort, get on now!"
A group of kids, all around the same age, hurried toward the carriage, carrying bags over their shoulders. Some looked excited, others nervous. They were all here for the same reason—to enter the military academy.
I adjusted the strap of my bag and stepped forward. The wooden cane rested on my side, my new sword hanging on the waist. Without hesitation, I climbed up into the carriage, settling into one of the empty spots on the bench.
The other kids followed, some squeezing into the available spaces, others shifting their bags to make room. Once everyone was inside, the coachman shut the door and climbed onto the driver's seat. With a sharp flick of the reins, the horses pulled forward, and the carriage lurched into motion.
The journey to Greyfort had begun.
___
The space inside was cramped but not unbearable. The benches lined both sides, leaving a narrow space in the middle. Sunlight streamed through the small windows, casting a glow over the wooden interior.
Caspian glanced around. There were about a dozen kids, both boys and girls, all heading to the same place. Some looked excited, chatting with each other, while others sat quietly, lost in their own thoughts.
A boy sitting across from Caspian stretched his legs out, grinning. He had messy blond hair and an easygoing expression. "Well, this is it. No turning back now."
A girl next to him, who had short dark hair and sharp eyes, smirked. "You sound like you're going to war already."
The blond boy laughed. "Isn't that what we're training for? Might as well get used to the idea."
Another boy, who sat near the window, scoffed. "You talk like you've already won battles."
The blond boy shrugged. "Not battles, but I've trained. My father made sure I knew how to fight before I even decided to apply to Greyfort."
The dark-haired girl raised an eyebrow. "Trained with what?"
"Sword, mostly. Some hand-to-hand combat. And you?"
She crossed her arms. "Same. My family's in the military, so I had no choice but to learn."
Caspian listened quietly, observing the conversation.
Another girl, sitting near the door, leaned forward slightly. She had long brown hair tied back in a ponytail and a curious expression. "Does everyone here already know how to fight?"
A few kids nodded, while some exchanged uncertain glances.
The boy by the window shrugged. "I know how to use a spear. My older brother taught me. But I've never been in a real fight."
The blond boy smirked. "Does fighting your brother count?"
The spear user rolled his eyes. "Only if bruises count as trophies."
A few kids chuckled at that.
The girl with the ponytail smiled slightly. "I've only trained a little with daggers. My uncle runs a small guard post, so he let me practice with the recruits. But I don't think I'm that good."
The dark-haired girl gave a small nod. "That's why we're going to Greyfort. No one expects us to be great yet."
The blond boy leaned back, crossing his arms. "Still, it's going to be tough. I heard that the entrance exam is no joke."
Caspian finally spoke. "It's not."
Everyone turned to look at him.
The blond boy raised an eyebrow. "You sound sure about that."
Caspian met his gaze evenly. "Because it's true."
The dark-haired girl tilted her head. "You know something we don't?"
Caspian shrugged. "Just that Greyfort isn't an easy place. If anyone thinks they can slack off and still make it, they're in for a rough time."
The spear user sighed. "Great. Just what I needed to hear."
The girl with the ponytail smiled. "At least we're all in the same situation."
The carriage hit a small bump, making everyone shift slightly in their seats. The road stretched on, fields and forests passing by outside the windows.
A boy sitting near the back, who had been quiet until now, suddenly spoke. "Do you think we'll all end up in the same class?"
The blond boy shrugged. "Maybe. Depends on how they sort us."
The quiet boy hesitated before asking, "And… if we have to fight each other?"
The group fell silent for a moment.
The dark-haired girl exhaled. "Then we fight. It's training, not personal."
The blond boy grinned. "Besides, maybe we'll all end up on the same side."
Caspian didn't say anything. He knew better.
At Greyfort, competition was fierce. Friendships didn't always last when survival was on the line.
But for now, these kids didn't need to know that.
The carriage continued down the road, carrying them all toward whatever awaited them at Greyfort Academy.
The carriage rattled along the dirt road, the wheels kicking up dust as it moved further away from town. Inside, the group of kids continued talking, some excited, others nervous about what lay ahead.
Caspian sat quietly, listening. He had expected conversations like this. Most of them probably thought Greyfort was just another step toward becoming soldiers or knights. But they didn't know the truth.
He didn't say anything at first, but when the blond boy started talking about how Greyfort might not be so different from the elite academies, Caspian couldn't help but speak up.
"You've got the wrong idea about Greyfort."
Everyone turned to look at him.
The blond boy raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
Caspian leaned back slightly, adjusting his seat. "You think Greyfort is like the other academies? Like Ironspire or Valorhold?"
The boy with the spear nodded. "Isn't it? I mean, it's a military academy. We're training to fight, just like they are."
Caspian shook his head. "No. Greyfort isn't like them. Those academies pick the best—the most talented, the most powerful, the ones with noble blood or strong mana. Greyfort takes the ones they don't want."
A brief silence filled the carriage.
The girl with the ponytail frowned. "That's… not what I heard."
"Then what did you hear?" Caspian asked.
She hesitated. "That Greyfort is a good academy. Not the best, but still a place to learn and get stronger."
Caspian sighed. "It's a place for those who have no better options. The noble families send their second or third sons there, the ones who won't inherit anything. The commoners who don't have powerful connections end up there, too. And those who failed to get into the elite academies? They get sent to Greyfort because it's the only place that'll take them."
The blond boy frowned. "That can't be right. Greyfort wouldn't exist if it was just a place for rejects."
Caspian met his gaze. "It exists because the kingdom needs bodies for war. It doesn't matter where they come from."
The boy with the spear shifted uncomfortably. "That's… kind of depressing."
Caspian didn't respond. He just watched their reactions.
The blond boy studied him for a moment, then smirked. "You sure know a lot about this. What, are you some kind of genius?"
A few of the others chuckled, but Caspian didn't smile.
"No," he said simply. "I just pay attention."
The dark-haired girl leaned forward slightly, watching him. "Then why are you going to Greyfort? If you know all this, why not try for a better academy?"
Caspian hesitated for half a second. He couldn't exactly tell them the truth.
Instead, he shrugged. "Same reason as most of you. Didn't have much of a choice."
The blond boy chuckled. "Well, whatever the reason, I'm glad I'm not going in blind. At least now I know not to expect anything fancy."
The girl with the ponytail sighed. "Still, we're going to have to prove ourselves if we don't want to be left behind."
Caspian nodded. "That's the one thing Greyfort does have—competition. If you want to stand out, you have to fight for it."
The boy with the spear groaned. "Great. More pressure."
The dark-haired girl smirked. "Better get used to it."
The carriage hit another bump, and the coachman shouted something at the horses. The road stretched on, leading them closer to Greyfort and whatever awaited them there.
Caspian closed his eyes for a moment, listening to the chatter around him.
This time, things would be different.
And he was ready.