"Lutz, you have to stand up or we are going to be late!" screamed my mum.
Oh shit, I have to hurry!
I rushed into the bathroom, quickly washed my deep black hair and pale face. I almost forgot to brush my teeth—until I saw the toothbrush resting on the windowsill, silently reminding me of its purpose.
For my outfit, I chose the clothes my parents had bought for me: a white shirt with a small pocket on the top left, black trousers made of coarse sheep's wool, and simple black shoes.
I knew these clothes were below the average standard of wealth. But for me, they were the noblest garments I could wear right now.
"Are you ready?" shouted my mother from the other room.
"Yes, I'm coming!"
The moment the door opened, a warm summer breeze wrapped itself around my body. It felt surreal—ten years had passed in this world already.
Once everything was set, we walked to the nearest public carriage stop at the plaza. In a brisk walk, we arrived just in time.
"To which stop do you want to go?" asked the driver."One stop costs two copper coins, the next four, and so on."
"We're heading to the stop at Via Aurum Street," said my father.
"Then that's going to be 32 copper coins."
For comparison: 100 copper coins equal one silver coin. My parents made, in a good week, about six silver coins combined. So this payment surely hit them like a dagger to the heart.
After an hour-long ride in the carriage, we were nearly there. Towering buildings came into view—painted in beige, brown, and a soft gray. They resembled castles merged with modest malls, grand yet practical.
Eventually, we arrived at the large gate leading into the school grounds. A polite assistant stood waiting, clipboard in hand.
"Your surname, please?" he asked.
"Pauperis," I answered.
"You may proceed through the gate and follow the red carpet. At the end, a teacher will meet you, show you the buildings, and explain the rest of today's schedule."
We stepped inside.
Instantly, beautiful light shimmered across the marble floors. Tall, elegant columns held the ceiling high above us. The walls were carved with national emblems, and stained-glass windows in rich colors depicted historic pikemen, catching my eye.
Along the way, we saw other families—some wearing luxurious clothes, others simply soaking in the moment.
At the end of the carpet, a teacher greeted us with a warm smile. She handed us a map and led us toward the residential buildings.
They were located in the rear-left corner of the map and could accommodate exactly one thousand people.
Next to them lay a stunning garden, with a large fountain in its center. We strolled through it, inhaling the vibrant scent of nature—and the faint, floral trace of delphinium.
The teacher gave us two instructions:
"First, visit the staff room to have a short talk with the headmistress.""Second, attend the presentation about the upcoming school year and the available classes."