Xavier sighed holding his forehead, the only thing he saw was extra work. Instead Xavier flung his leg professionally over his horse his bottom resting comfortably before telling Zaril'n to do the same. Zaril'n stood up from the ground dusting himself and the children helped him get behind Xavier.
Xavier would have preferred if they had a cart, but this way things were safer, he wouldn't want to be mistaken for a merchant or anything.
They all waved both boys goodbye. As they were off Xavier felt worried leaving them behind especially since Father left this morning even earlier than usual.
Xavier surrender himself to deep thoughts and tried figuring out why father wanted Zaril'n to stay. Usually when Xavier was going out for long travels Father would remain at the church and wait until he returned. Or at least see him off, And not only that Xavier found it suspicious that Father didn't seem like he wanted Zaril'n to –
" What's that!?" Zaril'n shouted excitedly interrupting his thoughts. Zaril'n was so excited his fear was extinguished.
" A wild boar," Xavier answered. He knew exactly what this trip was going to be like and just as expected Zaril'n asked many, many, far too many questions. Questions he felt reluctant, but oblige to answering.
" What's that!?"
" A waterfall,"
"And that!?"
"Giant Melon Ground,"
" Wow," Zaril'n exclaimed, he had eaten melon with the other children before, but a giant one that was of his own size seemed so much tastier. " Can I try it?" Zaril'n asked beaming.
" Sure if you feel like dying,"
"Oh,"
Zaril'n frowned. They kept riding and when the sun was high above them Xavier came to a stop in a forest. He informed Zaril'n that they'll travel on foot for a while so the horse could get some rest. Xavier appeared more tired than the horse, not because he was doing any hard work, it's because he used all his energy answering Zaril'n.
' I prefer it when he didn't talk'
Xavier thought the boy didn't know some basic things so how was he going to survive in the city. Come to think of it now Xavier didn't know much about Zaril'n or his extent understanding about anything. Could the boy read? And most of all what was his Divine gift? He was a demon so could he even have one? What do demons do? Could they even read? Write?
Xavier couldn't understand how he managed to walk over these things, but then again everything was so sudden.
" Hey Zaril'n spell Tree,"
" Huh," Zaril'n tilted his head looking confused. " Isn't tree this big tall green plant.
They come in different colour, uses and they have fruits too, some even have Blessings in them," Zaril'n answered.
" No. No. No, I didn't ask what a tree was, I asked you to spell it, with letters, human letters," Xavier responded.
" Huh?" came his confuse response. " Spell it? How?"
Xavier sighed, he already suspected this, but hearing it only made it worse.
" A Lord give me strength," Xavier sighed in prayer before hitting his head onto the trunk of a nearby tree. Now he would have to teach Zaril'n, from scratch, the scratch of all scratch.
" Can you spell your name,"
" Yeah,"
" Go ahead," Xavier answered feeling 0.3 percent better that Zaril'n might be familiar with a letter or two.
Zaril'n opened his mouth to speak, but as he mouthed his lips to speak he realize he was about to speak in his Demon tongue so he told Xavier he didn't know. Xavier only sighed again feeling all his energy leaving his body.
Instead of continuing the journey Xavier decided this trip might take nine or ten days instead. They sat down and Zaril'n listened to all Xavier teachings with keen interest. As time went by Xavier noticed the boy was a fast learner and he wasn't grounded in history, he was rooted. At least from what Xavier knew.
Zaril'n spoke of a man named Ehzia, but who even was Ehzia? Xavier have never heard of that man before.
Xavier taught him the letters and their sounds and helped him with spelling and reading. Even simple mathematics. He wasn't the fastest learner there, but he was getting along well. With the exception of math, he did more than just fairly well.
Xavier found himself enjoying their time together. He showed Zaril'n tricks using his Divine gift, playing at rivers and lakes and catching fireflies at night. Even how to make whistle using leaves. Xavier felt it was probably the best time he had in a few years. But the feeling left something bitter within.
But Xavier felt withdrawn as Zaril'n was a Demon. The enemy of human life. How could he lay in a bed made by the son of his enemies.
As they travel together they both had a wonderful time when they reached the city there were only two days left before the exams. It was such fun time that it had been days, but it felt like hours.
They reached an enormous wall that rested rising high from the distance, from the outside business of the people could be heard.
" Well we're here," Xavier announced tugging the reins a little.
He unconsciously gave Zaril'n a moment to capture the view of the environment. It was a windy, clear vibrant, blue sky with scattered gentle moving clouds. The ground they walked on was a earthy, healthy, bright green. As for as the eye could see Zaril'n saw low, laying grass and scattered trees that stood alone, or in small patches.
A long path way going straight to the walls was seen and there were many, many people walking along it.
"It's big," Zaril'n exhaled.
" I didn't notice," Xavier answered exhausted.
"This is just the front. Let's get you in," Xavier said prompting the horse to go forward.
Zaril'n found his chest beating, he could see everything.
'The sun really is amazing and beautiful, but I still don't like it really,' Zaril'n thought.
They joined in on a very long line. People had arrive from all over the kingdom and even further as in a matter of two days all the children of age would be competing for a spot in the Academy.