TZZZZZZZZ

  A portal opened in the main square of the small town that surrounded Aberelt Academy. It buzzed for only a moment before a young man stepped through, bundled from head to toe. A torn scarf haphazardly wrapped around his neck in an effort to keep himself warm.

  Albion had made it in one piece. A beaten and battered piece but at least he had made it.

  He sat in the middle of the town square, and just spent some time feeling the warmth of the air around him. It was magnificent. There was no snow coating the buildings around him. No chilly wind whipping at him, searching for any exposed skin.

  No it was peaceful and warm in this little town square, the only cold remaining was the frost that slowly dripped from Albion’s cloths onto the hard stone masonry that built the walkways that ran through the town square.

  It was such a peaceful town.

  Actually, it seemed a bit too peaceful.

  There was no one else around, no voices in the distance, no chattering in the main square…where the hell was everyone?

  The buildings all seemed empty ass well.

  What the heck?

  “Are you all right young man?”

  “AHH!”

  Albion jumped and scuttled backwards, distancing himself from the voice that called out to him out of instinct. When he saw that it was just a little old woman though…he allowed himself to quickly calm down.

  “Hahaha, your a little jumpy young man…what’s the matter? You look soaked…”

  “I just came in from the snow, it took me a long time to get here. So I was covered in a little bit of ice. I feel much better now, it's melted off pretty much.”

  The old woman brushed the remaining snow off his coat and started digging around in her handbag.

  “What were you doing out in the snow young man? It’s dangerous out there. You could catch a cold if you don't dress warm enough.”

  The old woman took out a handkerchief from her bag and did her best to pat his face and hair dry.

  “I came here to take the test to get in to Aberelt. Do you know where I might be able to sign-up?”

  The woman did her best to hold back her laughter. She couldn’t suppress a slight chuckle from escaping her lips though.

  “Young man, perhaps no one told you but…you will not be able to sign up for another two weeks, and I know you walked all that way. It is very impressive…but there is a specialized train that stops in the town over that comes every month. There was no need to walk the distance, I'm sorry to say.”

  Albion was mortified.

  He did all that…for absolutely nothing.

  “Where is everyone…”

  “Well the shop keeps only come by during sign-up season, and the student’s and teachers start preparations for the new year during the month of test week. So they are all either in the school or out of town. I’m the only one around these parts really.”

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  ‘All for nothing.’

  Albion was trying his best to catch his breath. He was only just barely keeping himself from hyperventilating in pure outrage.

  What was this.

  What kind of cruel joke was the world playing on him.

  Perhaps the old woman saw that he was suffering inside because she placed her hand on his shoulder and said the five words that shot to his very soul. The five words that could earn the trust of any young man. The five holy words of any weary traveler.

  “Would you like some food?"

  Albion ate greedily from the feast the kind old woman placed before him. It was all so tasty, there were all kinds of meats, skewered and marinated. There were soups and stews. A few vegetable dishes that tasted better than any kind of vegetable dish he had ever had before.

  It was pure bliss.

  Heavenly.

  One meal was all it took to calm down the outrage boiling in his heart.

  Even if it still irked him when he thought back.

  “Are you enjoying the meal?”

  The old women sat just opposite of Albion. She herself had a little to eat as well, but nowhere near the mountain of food that Albion had already consumed.

  “Iss derishush.”

  He didn’t stop chewing to speak he just kept stuffing food in his mouth, trying his best to get the food into his stomach as fast as possible.

  The old woman was clearly amused by the young man. He was a bit childish but clearly smart. He had made it through that snow alive after all. Few could do that at such a young age, especial without any training. And a little bit of luck. He was a bit dense though.

  “So…young man what is your name?”

  “Albion.”

  “Albion? A good name, I am Joan. Anyways, I wanted to ask…why do you want to go to Aberelt so bad that you risked your life like that. That icy hell is not an easy place to cross. You can’t have had a good time.”

  Albion didn’t really have an answer, the Journal had forced him to do it…well not really he had the choice not too. He would be demoted but, in all likelihood it wouldn’t hurt him that much. He might loose certain privileges at the Library but he barely had any to begin with. So he couldn't blame the Journal.

  It was something much simpler in all honesty.

  “I was…morbidly curious I guess. I want to be able to explore places I haven't been, and live a life my mom would have thought was interesting. A life full of excitement. For that I will need to be stronger, more knowledgeable, and far more skilled then I am. So this is where I ended up.”

  He had to admit that the book had made a wise choice for him. To do what he wanted to do in life. He needed to come here. The Journal, however annoying it was, only had his best interests in mind.

  He needed to really learn what was in store for him and what he needed to accomplish to succeed.

  Even if it hurt, even if the journey sucked. Even now when he looked back on his experience in that icy hell, he had found thoughts. That cave was beautiful. Shinning with the light of all those Prana crystals. It was a sight he never would have seen in his old life.

  If he wanted to see more sights like that he was going to need to become a better version of himself.

  “Really?”

  The old woman looked, pleasantly surprised by his answer.

  “That’s some good motivation young man. I hope your dreams come true. You don’t have anywhere to stay right? Why don’t you stay in the spare room for the time being, I won’t mind at all.”

  “Really?!”

  “Of course, your a delightful young man to have around. Just make sure you keep your room tidy and help out with the chores.”

  “I will, don’t you worry. Thank you so much Joan. For everything.”

  “It's no problem at all. You're probably exhausted. Go take a shower and get some rest. I’ll wake you up in the morning.”

  Albion did as Joan asked and was quickly covered in a heap of warm blankets. He had never felt more comfortable in his entire life. The bed was his own personal heaven. He regretted ever taking comfortable beds for granted.

  With the warm feeling of joy filling the hole his old life had left in his heart, he fell asleep comfortably, dreaming through the night of meat skewers and warm stew.

  He really liked it here.

  He was glad that he had come.