Amidst the chirping of crickets and the hooting of owls, a tanned boy with a slightly muscular body practiced his swordplay at a small clearing in the middle of the woods.
His upper body was bare and drenched in sweat. Every time the boy lifted the rough-edged sword and swung it, beads of sweat fell on the grass. Although his sword technique was simple and lousy, one could still sense the determination in each swing.
A few minutes later, he stopped practicing and lay down on the ground, completely exhausted. His chest heaved up and down as he stared at the twin moons in the night sky.
It's been over a month since we departed from the Cormier Kingdom, he wondered.
In the past month, the traveling party had crossed two kingdoms already. They were attacked by wild beasts a few times, but their attacks had always been thwarted by the mercenaries guarding the carriages.
Fortunately, they hadn't been attacked by any magical beasts or the mindless ogres and trolls that resided in the untamed wilderness.
The boy turned his head and glanced at the dozen carriages surrounding a large bonfire at the edge of the woods. He had a thoughtful expression on his face as he wondered:
I overheard the other kids mention that our journey to Moon City would take another two months…
The famous Moon City was the capital of the Nightingale Kingdom. And the destination of the traveling party was the renowned magic academy in Moon City, the Clover Academy.
Every year, children from the neighboring kingdoms travelled to Moon City in hopes of enrolling in the prestigious Clover Academy and embarking on the path to becoming a Magus.
The boy was no different. He, too, dreamed of becoming a Magus.
His name was Adam Constantine. When he was a child, he happened to come across a Magus who changed his life. From her, he learned that he had a talent for spell-casting.
Naturally, he was ecstatic when he learned that. After all, in the world he lived in, Magi were mighty beings who were revered by the masses. They were strong and wise. They could control the elements of nature as they wished and create miracles.
Moreover, this was a world where the strong preyed on the weak. If one didn't have sufficient strength, they would never amount to anything. Whether it was the mortal world or the magical world, strength was everything.
Adam didn't want to live the rest of his life in mediocrity. And so, ever since he found out about his talent, he had been meticulously training every day, resolved to become a Magus and travel around the world.
Unlike the other nobles in the traveling party, however, Adam was an orphan and a commoner. He could only rely on himself. Growing up, he did whatever odd jobs he could find. And soon, he had saved enough money to make this journey.
But he doubted the meager coins in his possession would be enough...
Thinking of his money problems, Adam couldn't help but sigh helplessly. He thought to himself:
After we reach Moon City, there should still be some time left till the academy's entrance examination. I'll think of a way to earn some money by then.
But no matter what, I must enter the academy and become a Magus!
He got to his feet and did some light stretching. After picking up his sword and other belongings, he walked to a nearby pond to wash himself. It was almost time for dinner.
The pale light of the twin moons shone on the surface of the pond. Accompanied by the pleasant sound of the birds and the gentle rustling of the wind, it created a peaceful atmosphere.
Adam couldn't help but instinctively relax. But he still looked around for any potential dangers before removing his pants and warily walking into the pond.
His body involuntarily shivered upon coming in contact with the cold water. But he soon got used to the temperature and then started washing his body. He peacefully bathed in the pond, relaxing his sore muscles. The cool water was refreshing.
The surface of the pond reflected his young visage. He had dark eyes that shone with childlike innocence, and concealed beneath was tenacity that was rarely found in children of his age.
His black hair was parted from the middle and reached the bottom of his neck. Adam's facial features were average. He was neither handsome nor bad-looking. No, if he were to be honest, his appearance was actually a little below average.
Suddenly, his stomach rumbled, and he couldn't help but stroke his belly underwater.
I should head back. He was famished after that intense round of sword practice. He was about to get out of the pond and dry himself when suddenly he caught sight of something peculiar from the corner of his eyes.
"Hmm?" He squinted his eyes. "What's that?"
In the center of the pond, a pristine white lotus floated on the surface, and around it were three verdant, round leaves. The lotus looked ordinary, but strangely enough, it also seemed to radiate a subtle divine aura that made others want to prostrate before it in veneration.
Adam was dazed as he looked at the white lotus, his mind gradually feeling refreshed for some strange reason. Or was he simply imagining it? He couldn't tell.
Almost a minute later, he snapped out of his daze and looked at the strange flower in surprise.
"What is that?" He muttered in amazement. The lotus was so mysterious. Although it looked simple, he was sure he hadn't quite seen anything like it before.
Suddenly, he seemed to recall something and thought, Could this lotus be one of those precious natural ingredients used to make magical potions?
He felt excited as he thought of that possibility, and before he knew it, he found himself swimming toward the flower.
If I can sell this ingredient in Moon City, I should be able to earn enough money for the academy's enrollment fee!
Adam swam without trying to make too much noise. He was afraid someone might be attracted by the commotion he made and discover the lotus as well. He couldn't allow that. This flower was his ticket into the academy. He wouldn't miss this opportunity.
Soon, he arrived at the center of the pond, the lotus now within his reach. With an excited grin on his face, he reached out with his hands and tried to gently grab the lotus.
But the next moment, expression froze.
The moment his fingers touched the white petals, the lotus vanished. And then, his eyes rolled back, and he lost consciousness.