The carriage rocked as it continued down the uneven road, the sound of wheels grinding against dirt filling the air. The afternoon sun had started to lower, casting long shadows through the trees lining the path. The group inside the carriage had settled into a more comfortable rhythm—some still chatting, others simply watching the road ahead.
Caspian leaned back against the wooden frame, arms crossed. The conversation from earlier still lingered in his mind. The others didn't seem too concerned about what Greyfort really was. Maybe they still held onto the hope that it would be different, that they could carve out a future for themselves regardless of where they ended up.
He didn't blame them.
Hope was what kept people moving forward.
The blond boy, who had been quiet for a while, suddenly turned to Caspian. "So, if Greyfort isn't like the other academies, what kind of training do you think we'll get?"
Caspian opened his eyes. "Basic military training. Combat drills, strategy lessons, survival skills. Nothing fancy, but enough to turn you into a soldier."
The dark-haired girl tilted her head. "But not a knight?"
Caspian shook his head. "Knights come from noble families. They're trained in the best academies and given proper weapons, armor, and mentors. At Greyfort, you learn how to fight, not how to be a hero."
The boy with the spear frowned. "That's kind of disappointing."
The girl with the ponytail smirked. "What, you wanted to be a knight?"
The boy shrugged. "I just thought it'd be… grander. You know, fighting for honor, getting stronger, proving ourselves."
Caspian watched him carefully. "If you want to prove yourself, Greyfort will give you plenty of chances. But don't expect it to be fair."
The carriage jolted slightly as it hit another bump. The coachman muttered a curse under his breath before adjusting the reins.
The blond boy tapped his fingers against the wooden bench. "Alright, but what about magic?"
Caspian exhaled. "Greyfort teaches it, but don't expect the best instructors. The elite academies keep the best magic users to themselves. At Greyfort, you're on your own."
A few of the kids exchanged uncertain glances.
The girl with the ponytail leaned forward. "Then how do we get stronger?"
Caspian met her gaze. "We fight. We train. And we don't wait for someone else to teach us everything."
Silence followed his words, but he could tell they were thinking about what he said.
The dark-haired girl finally sighed. "Well, sounds like we have our work cut out for us."
The blond boy grinned. "Guess that just means we'll have to work harder."
Caspian didn't respond. He glanced out the carriage window, watching the trees blur past.
The road stretched endlessly ahead, lined with tall trees that swayed with the passing wind. The carriage creaked as it rolled over uneven ground, but the conversation inside hadn't lost its momentum.
"So," the blond boy leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "If Greyfort is a place that takes in students the other academies don't want, are there other places like it?"
Caspian frowned, thinking. In his past life, he had never given much thought to other third-rate academies. He had been too focused on surviving Greyfort, too occupied with the war that followed. But now that he had a chance to look back, a few names surfaced in his mind.
"Yeah," he said slowly. "There are a few."
The group leaned in, waiting for him to continue.
"There's Blackridge Academy," he started. "It's in the northern provinces. It's a rough place, mostly takes in kids from border towns. People say if you survive training there, you can survive anywhere."
The dark-haired girl raised an eyebrow. "Survive?"
Caspian nodded. "Their training is brutal. They push students to their limits, and they don't care if someone gets injured. They only keep the ones who make it through."
The boy with the spear frowned. "That sounds… dangerous."
"It is."
A short silence settled over them before the blond boy spoke up again. "Any others?"
Caspian ran a hand through his hair, thinking back.
"There's Duskfall Academy," he said after a pause. "It's different from Greyfort and Blackridge. They focus more on assassins, spies, and unconventional warfare."
The girl with the ponytail perked up. "Assassins?"
Caspian shrugged. "That's the rumor. No one really knows what happens inside Duskfall. But the few who graduate from there usually end up working in the shadows. They don't become generals or famous warriors—they become the kind of people you don't hear about."
The dark-haired girl shifted uncomfortably. "That sounds… unsettling."
Caspian didn't disagree.
He exhaled, trying to recall any other names. "Then there's Ironvale Academy. It's small, and not well known. It used to be a mining camp before they turned it into a training ground. They focus on endurance, heavy weapons, and siege tactics."
The boy with the spear whistled. "Sounds like a lot of hard work."
Caspian smirked. "It is."
Hearing himself list these places, a thought struck him.
In his previous life, he had never considered these academies. He had been too focused on Greyfort, too busy struggling to stay alive. But each of these places had produced warriors, soldiers, and survivors.
Had he underestimated them? Had he missed something important?
The blond boy gave him a curious look. "How do you know all this?"
Caspian blinked.
Right.
They wouldn't expect some random kid heading to Greyfort to know about other academies.
"I read a lot," he said simply. "There were books on military training and different academies at the library back home."
The blond boy tilted his head. "You must've read a lot."
Caspian shrugged. "I wanted to be prepared."
The dark-haired girl looked at him closely. "You talk like you've already been through all this before."
Caspian met her gaze evenly. "Maybe I just think ahead."
She studied him for a moment before nodding. "Well, whatever the reason, it sounds like you know what you're talking about."
The others seemed to accept his explanation, and the conversation shifted toward different topics—their hometowns, their expectations for Greyfort, and what they hoped to achieve.
Caspian listened, but his thoughts were elsewhere.
He had spent his past life thinking Greyfort was his only option. But now, he realized there had always been more than one path.
He just hadn't seen them before.