The books about dragons, their variants and subspecies, those concerning the creatures and species that inhabit Ilnolia, and, of course, those concerning the newly received Entities. The little wooden, jointed figurine representing a dragon, the finely sculpted wooden sword, and the small, intricately carved wooden box containing a pencil and a pen.

  All these items, along with a change of clothes, made up the entirety of the luggage that Elwyn took with him to Agnos Academy. Of course, he attached his short sword to the right side of his backpack, just in case.

  Indeed, the young boy did not need much more, since the academy provided everything, its occupants required. Once there, he would receive a uniform, lodging, access to a communal dining hall, and most importantly, the materials and resources necessary for work and study.

  Elwyn is now eleven years old, and it is one week before spring and the start of the school term at the academy. Thus, once his bag was packed, the young boy left his room after casting one last look inside, before heading down to the living room where everyone was waiting.

  — Elwyn, have you gathered everything you need? asked Volden.

  — Yes, Father-Volden. I have everything I need.

  — Good. In that case, let’s go; the coach will be here soon.

  It must have been mid-morning, and the small family gathered to head toward the east entrance of the village. Along the way, Elwyn thought about greeting every villager he encountered, even though he had already said goodbye to everyone the day before.

  Once they reached the large wooden gates, Elwyn and his family began to wait for the coach that would take the young boy to the port of Estal. From there, he would take a boat to the small town of Erana and finally another coach to Agnos Academy.

  — Elwyn… began Ophélia.

  The young boy then turned toward the young woman, who was beginning to cry softly.

  — Elwyn… Promise us that… you will be good and not get into any mischief once you’re there. Promise us… that you will make lots of friends and work hard. Promise us also that… you will write to us at least once a month.

  Elwyn then gently took Ophélia’s hands in his and looked her straight in the eyes.

  — I promise you, Mother-Ophélia.

  A tear began to slowly roll down the young woman’s face.

  — Even though it seems hard to me… added the young boy.

  — I know, my dear… I know… replied Ophélia, her throat choked with emotion.

  With those last words, the young boy was referring to the fact that he must continue to keep the secret of his origins even within the academy. He had to always keep his bronze concealment ring with him, keep his Domain a secret, and not use his powers recklessly, lest his silver eyes betray him.

  In the end, the only thing he could say was that he was just a half-Entity, and that was all.

  Elwyn knew that such a heavy secret could weigh heavily on any relationship. He also knew that friendship is built on a foundation of trust.

  So, is it possible to become friends even if you know almost nothing about the other person? Or rather, is it possible to become friends even if everything you know about the other is just an entanglement of half-truths?

  For now, these questions remain unanswered.

  Then it was Volden’s turn to say his goodbyes.

  — Well… I don’t have much more to add beyond what Ophélia just told you. Except maybe… that you shouldn’t overdo things once you’re there.

  The young boy then turned to Volden, who had taken an oddly serious look when he said that.

  — What do you mean by that? asked Elwyn, intrigued.

  — Elwyn, ever since you learned to walk, you’ve been doing too much. You work too hard, you practice too much, and you think too much. There are times when I even wonder if you ever sleep… Anyway… I think it would be better if you thought about yourself and… took some time for you. You could, for example… I don’t know, go for a walk in town or to the market, visit the shops and other boutiques you come across. In short… what I really mean is that it would be healthier for you to open yourself up to other horizons rather than just focusing on becoming the strongest or the best. I sincerely believe that one day you will achieve your goals, but… I don’t think you should rush it, at the risk of isolating yourself from others.

  At this advice, Elwyn became pensive for a long moment and tried to grasp the essence of what Volden was conveying.

  — If I understand correctly, ‘everything in its own time’ and ‘the right moment’ both imply that you shouldn’t rush into things, risking poor preparation and therefore failure in what you undertake.

  — That’s the idea. Don’t confuse speed with recklessness, Volden added.

  Elwyn then gave a slight smile, showing that he had indeed understood.

  — Very well, I understand now. In that case, I’ll be more careful with myself and take more breaks during the day.

  Volden sighed with relief, for the young boy had understood even if he had tangled his words.

  Finally, it was time for Le?na to say goodbye to her older brother, as the coach’s sound was gradually being heard from the village.

  The seven-year-old girl had stayed with Ophélia and was clutching the left side of her mother’s blue dress. She was not at all happy that her older brother was leaving so far away for such a long time.

  The young boy then stepped in front of his little sister and knelt down to be at her level.

  — Le?na, I’m sorry to leave you like this, but I have to go. I have to discover the world with my own eyes.

  At these words, the little girl began to sniff and cry softly.

  — I don’t want to. I want… you to stay… with me.

  Elwyn then extended his arm toward Le?na and gently took her free, slightly trembling hand in his. He then softly stroked it with his thumb to comfort her.

  — Le?na… I can’t stay here forever. I must leave and take my future into my own hands…

  Elwyn paused briefly.

  — … If my departure is hard for you, what about Mother-Ophélia and Father-Volden?

  The little girl then turned her gaze toward her parents’ faces and saw that they were just as saddened as she was, before looking back at her brother, who, as usual for the past year, appeared calm.

  — Le?na, I need you. I need you to be strong. You must be strong for Mother-Ophélia and Father-Volden once I’m gone.

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  Surprised by this sudden request, the little girl calmed down and even stopped crying.

  — Is it… true? You… need me?

  — Yes, I need you. You must make sure that Mother-Ophélia and Father-Volden stop crying after I’m gone and that you continue to support them in my place.

  For the first time, Elwyn asked Le?na for help.

  Even though this request might seem insignificant, for the little girl it was not.

  For the first time, this big brother, who seemed capable of anything, had acknowledged his own powerlessness.

  For the first time, this big brother turned to the little girl, who had followed him like a shadow, never quite catching up, and asked her for help.

  For the first time, she saw herself as his equal.

  That is why Le?na agreed.

  It was to show her older brother that he was not mistaken in placing his trust in her.

  It was also for that reason that the little girl’s face began to harden, taking on a resolute expression.

  — Alright… I will do it. I will be strong.

  — Thank you, Le?na.

  The coach finally arrived at the East entrance.

  Elwyn then let go of his little sister’s hand and gently patted her head in farewell, before turning one last time to his two adoptive parents and bowing slightly before them.

  — Mother-Ophélia, Father-Volden, thank you for taking such good care of me since I came into your home.

  The young boy then straightened up.

  — Well, it’s time for me to go. So, I say goodbye and take care, he added, looking one by one at the faces of each family member.

  Having done that, Elwyn turned and went to join the coach driver, who was waiting for his client.

  The man in question must have been in his fifties, with a black beard and mustache, slightly graying, well trimmed. He was dressed in a long, thick black cotton hooded coat, along with boots and gloves of the same color.

  The young boy showed him his travel contract, which he had received from the Divinity Ogme, to go to the small port town of Estal. Once the document was verified, Elwyn boarded the coach, and they set off.

  From his window, the young boy bid one last farewell to Ophélia, Volden, and Le?na before disappearing along the country road heading east.

  _________________________

  The journey to Estal took five days by coach, and they encountered no obstacles along the way.

  At the same time, the road passed through Rina, one of the three major cities in the country, and then connected to Esthia, the capital. The security on the road was thus very good, which allowed Elwyn to fully enjoy his journey and the landscapes.

  He saw vast fields of grain and flowers stretching as far as the eye could see, as well as various orchards during pruning season.

  “How different things can be depending on the species? In any case, it takes a lot of arms to manage all that… How long did it take humans to develop the methods of cultivation they use today?”

  He also noticed large pastures where he saw various animals such as sheep, cows, horses, pigs,…

  “I hope the animals are well treated and fed. I wonder what they think of their living conditions. I hope they are at least satisfied.”

  Of course, during this journey the young boy spent an evening in the large city of Rina.

  The city, with roughly ten thousand inhabitants, had two sets of walls. One on the outside, built of cut stone, and another on the inside, whose stones appeared to have been cut, smoothed, and polished like glass.

  According to the coachman, inside this splendid wall lay the district of the nobles and wealthy citizens of the city, which meant that outside that wall was the, poor district.

  This infamous poor district was rather dirty and damp…

  Even in the village, things were less dirty when it rained.

  Apart from the main streets, the others were dark, narrow, and winding. The houses were mainly made of wood, and those closest to the first wall were in poor condition and inhabited primarily by non-humans.

  In a country that is primarily human, locals are favored over foreigners… Why do foreigners continue to live here when they are not treated equally with the inhabitants?

  But strangely, the closer one got to the central wall, the better things became. The streets were wider, paved, better organized, and well lit. Most of the houses were half-timbered, like the one in which I grew up, though less well maintained.

  Unfortunately for the young boy, access to the wealthy district was guarded by soldiers in full metal armor and was not accessible to people without a pass. Moreover, for a reason unknown to him, the walls leading to that district are blocked by the Ethereal Plane. In fact, this invisible wall takes the form of a dome and prevents the young nephilim from crossing it, though it fails to block the Entities that appear as a misty trail.

  Overall, the impression of this visit was rather mixed for Elwyn.

  The city may be large and populous, but that does not prevent it from feeling uncomfortable. One feels oppressed by all these houses and narrow alleys. There is an unhealthy social hierarchy: if you are poor, you will have a dirty, rundown house, your life will be difficult, and even your health will suffer… I much prefer my life in the village.

  And there was another rather problematic aspect, the significant presence of mist-like Entities in the city, especially in the poor district. If he had been able to stay longer, he would have done much more cleaning than what he managed during his night in the city.

  Furthermore, some of the humans he passed on the street gave him the impression that he did not belong there.

  _________________________

  The afternoon had barely begun when the coach arrived near the entrance of Estal, a fortified borough of a few thousand inhabitants.

  Once the gate was passed, a smell that had been faintly perceptible for a while fully asserted itself in the young boy’s nostrils.

  A clear, fresh, and invigorating smell.

  A salty smell.

  The smell of the sea.

  Leaning his head out of the window, Elwyn was able to see the entire borough below and the sea.

  This vast and splendid azure expanse of salty water stretched endlessly into the horizon, its depth as unfathomable to mere mortals as it was mesmerizing.

  After recovering from this impressive and sublime view, the young boy realized just how vast the world was and how the beauty of its landscapes could never be fully described. No word in a book, no illustration, not even the account of a traveler could capture even a fragment of the reality seen with one’s own eyes.

  This thought fueled his thirst for discovery, and he immediately resumed his observation of the world around him.

  Despite its rural aspect, based on his very brief experience in Rina, this borough resembled a rather affluent small town. The streets were wide, paved, well organized, and maintained.

  This is because Estal is a trading hub through which many resources and raw materials pass between the kingdom of Esthia, the artificial island of Agnos, and Aelynthi, the elven kingdom located just north of Agnos.

  Most of the houses in this borough are larger than those in the countryside and much sturdier, as they are built with wood and cut stone. Of course, there are still some poorer areas here and there, but these are minor, and life is generally very good thanks to the abundance of work at the port.

  “It’s much more welcoming than Rina. The scenery is more beautiful, natural, and bright. And it’s much cleaner too. Do they use magicians to take care of the cleaning?”

  After a few minutes of strolling along the streets of the borough, the coach finally stopped right in front of the docks. The young boy stepped off and faced a large building with a stone tower positioned atop an open book displayed as a symbol on its fa?ade.

  It was the symbol of Agnos.

  — And here we are, my little guy, we’ve arrived at a safe haven, so to speak. All that remains is for you to enter this building for what comes next.

  Elwyn then bowed slightly to the coachman.

  — Thank you for bringing me here.

  — You’re welcome, little one. I’m paid for this, the coachman replied, before heading back to the relay station.

  The young boy then turned toward the large building and pushed open its door.

  Gling Gling

  The sound of a small bell resonated in the entrance hall.

  Elwyn paused at the entrance and surveyed the surroundings.

  From the back of the room to its center, and including the side walls, there were countless shelves and libraries overflowing with books and parchments of all kinds. He could see scholars retrieving documents, reading them, taking notes on parchment, putting the documents back, and then starting over with others, before finally transcribing their notes into a large book. In the center of the room, just past the shelves, stood a reception desk manned by a young woman with brown eyes and short brown hair.

  — Welcome to the Agnos delegation. How may I help you?

  Elwyn approached the reception desk, rummaged through his belongings, and produced a paper which he handed to the receptionist.

  — Hello, I’m here to join Agnos Academy.

  The young woman quickly scanned the letter ratified by the Divinity Ogme before returning it to the young boy.

  — Everything is in order. I welcome you among us. You’re in luck, the ship bound for the island of Agnos has just returned to dock, right in front of this building. You only need to wait a little while before it departs again.

  — Thank you for the information.

  — If you wish, you may stay here and read a book while you wait, or you can take a walk outside and return before the ship leaves.

  — I’ll take a walk around the area before boarding the boat.

  — Very well. In that case, I wish you a pleasant time in the streets of Estal.

  Elwyn politely bid farewell to the receptionist before leaving to begin his small tour of the neighborhood.