Echoes of Fate: Isaki

Three weeks had passed since Isaki and his father, returned to the peaceful village of Dawn from Asdra. The journey had been long, but fruitful. Isaki had acquired his new sword, a finely crafted blade. He had trained for this moment for years, under the careful guidance of his father, and now the weight of the weapon in his hands seemed to confirm it—he was no longer a child.

In the quiet days that followed their return, Isaki celebrated his sixteenth birthday. It was a simple celebration, just him and his father, sharing a rare moment of ease. There were no grand parties, no extravagant gifts, just the warmth of home and the quiet pride in his father's eyes. Yet, even in these brief moments of peace, a sense of anticipation hung in the air. Isaki's mind was already looking ahead, thinking of the future.

In two days, he would meet Instructor Tora at the designated spot and begin his journey to the village of Fey Bell, where the path to his destiny lay waiting. The military training was behind him, and now, the academy awaited. A new chapter of his life was about to unfold.

________________________________________

Meanwhile, in the village of Fey Bell, preparations were in full swing. The cadets had spent the last few days readying themselves for the journey ahead. Soon, they would board the ships that would carry them to the three prestigious academies, each of them eager to prove themselves. Some were driven by ambition, others by a deep sense of duty, but they all shared the same excitement—and the same nervous energy.

Inside a modest office, Instructor James sat behind his desk, surrounded by a stack of reports and documents, yet his mind was elsewhere. He had been thinking about the group of cadets he had trained for the past three years. Some would excel, others might struggle, but all of them were ready—or as ready as they could be. The thought made him proud, but it also weighed heavily on him. The world beyond the village was unpredictable, and he knew that some of these young men and women would face challenges far greater than they could imagine.

His thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. Before he could respond, the door swung open, and a young cadet walked in with the casual confidence of someone who had long been familiar with the place.

"James," the cadet said, his tone easy, as if addressing an old friend rather than a superior.

James looked up from his desk, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "You're still calling me by my name, huh?" he said, his voice filled with amusement, though there was a hint of reproach.

The cadet leaned against the doorframe, shrugging. "Well, the three years of military training are over, aren't they? No need to call you 'Instructor' anymore."

James chuckled, shaking his head. "You've always had a way with words, haven't you?" He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "But even if the training's done, a little respect wouldn't hurt. You never know who might be listening."

The cadet smiled, but there was something more behind his expression—a weight that hadn't been there in years past. He had grown. The mischievous boy James had once known was now a young man, hardened by the trials of training.

"So," James began, his tone shifting to something more serious, "have you decided? Which academy will you be going to?"

The cadet nodded, his face settling into a more determined expression. "I have."

James observed him closely for a moment, a thoughtful look in his eyes. "Good. But listen carefully," he continued, his voice dropping slightly. "When you get there, keep a low profile. Don't draw too much attention to yourself. The academy may be a place to grow stronger, but there are eyes everywhere. You don't want to make the wrong kind of enemies." His gaze was steady, filled with the experience of someone who had seen what ambition and power could do to young men.

The cadet's face darkened slightly at the warning, a hint of melancholy creeping into his eyes. He nodded, his voice quiet but resolute. "I'll be careful. I know the past... but I won't let it define me. I'll keep moving forward."

James felt a surge of pride, though he didn't let it show. The boy had grown wiser, and there was a strength in him now that James hadn't seen before. "Good," he said simply. "That's the spirit. Focus on the future, not the past. You've come a long way, but the road ahead is even longer. Remember, what happens next is in your hands."

There was a long pause between them, the silence heavy with unspoken thoughts. Finally, the cadet spoke again, his voice softer this time. "I just wanted to thank you, James. For everything. I wouldn't be here without your help these last three years. You didn't have to, but you did."

James's expression softened, a rare vulnerability showing through his usually stern demeanor. "It was my duty," he said after a moment. "But more than that, it was for your father." His voice grew quieter, almost wistful. "He was a good man. And you..." He trailed off, as if searching for the right words. "You've got his strength. I see it in you."

The cadet's eyes flickered with emotion at the mention of his father. For a moment, memories flashed behind his gaze, but he quickly buried them. "Thank you," he said quietly, a mix of gratitude and sorrow in his voice.

As the door to James' office clicked shut, the young cadet walked out into the cool evening air. The sun was setting, casting long, golden rays across the courtyard of the training grounds, where cadets moved about, preparing for their departure in just a few days. The weight of the conversation still lingered with him, but he was determined. The academy was only the next step in a journey he was ready to face.

Not far from the dormitories, near the courtyard's edge, two figures stood in conversation. Eveline, with her graceful stance and air of nobility, was speaking to Rosa, her loyal handmaid and companion for as long as she could remember. Eveline's striking beauty was hard to miss—tall, with red hair that fell in perfect waves. She exuded an aura of authority and superiority that made it clear she wasn't just any cadet.

Rosa, slightly taller, stood beside her. Her eyes sparkled with excitement, as though the anticipation of their departure was too much for her to contain.

"Where are we headed now, Eveline?" Rosa asked, her voice eager but with a friendly tone.

"We'll be returning to the Land of Nobles," Eveline replied, her voice filled with pride. There was a sharp edge in her tone that spoke of ambition. "I've spent enough time in this backwater. It's time for me to rise to my rightful place."

Rosa smiled, a sense of relief evident in her expression. "And the academy you'll be attending?"

Eveline glanced over her shoulder at the towering dormitories behind them, filled with cadets who would soon be setting off to different academies. A slight smirk played at the corner of her lips. "I'll be attending the academy in the Land of Nobles, of course," she said. "There's no better place for someone of my status. The others…" She paused, eyes narrowing as if already dismissing the cadets behind her. "They think they're strong, but they have no idea what real power looks like."

Rosa's eyes gleamed with admiration as she looked at Eveline. "I never doubted that you would surpass them all. Your strength is unmatched now."

Eveline's smirk deepened. "I've spent years training, enduring this forsaken village and its challenges. But now? Now, I'm strong enough to crush any noble who stands in my way. Even that person." Her voice grew colder, the weight of the last words hanging heavily between them. She didn't need to say the name, but Rosa understood. Eveline had a rival, one whose shadow had loomed over her ever since she was a child—a figure from her past who had always been just out of reach.

Rosa shifted slightly, sensing the tension in Eveline's voice. "It's true," Rosa said carefully, "you've grown so much. No one will be able to look down on you anymore, especially not the other nobles."

Eveline nodded, her eyes drifting to the horizon where the sun was dipping lower, casting the village in twilight. "In four days, we'll board the ship for Espoir," she said, a glint of determination in her gaze. "From there, we'll take the train to the Land of Nobles. I'll finally be back where I belong."

Rosa's face brightened at the thought. "I can't wait to leave this place," she admitted, her tone slightly exasperated. "The village of Fey Bell is… well, it's dull. I miss the grand halls of the castle, the luxury. I've had enough of the cold and mud. It'll be so good to return to the Land of Nobles, to your family's estate."

Eveline allowed herself a brief chuckle, amused by Rosa's impatience. "Don't worry, Rosa. We'll be back at the estate soon enough. The castle will feel even grander after this." She lifted her chin, eyes glinting with an unmistakable hunger for power. "And when we arrive, I'll make sure everyone knows how much I've changed. The other nobles… they won't stand a chance."

Rosa smiled and nodded enthusiastically. "I'm sure they'll be in awe."

Eveline's expression turned slightly softer, though the coldness in her eyes remained. "Good. I want them to be surprised. I want them to see that I'm not someone they can dismiss anymore."

A silence fell between them for a moment, the weight of Eveline's ambitions hanging in the air. The distant sounds of cadets preparing their gear filled the background, a reminder that their journey was about to begin in earnest.

Rosa looked at Eveline, a hint of nostalgia in her eyes. "It feels like only yesterday we left the castle for this place."

Eveline gave a small nod, her gaze fixed on the setting sun. "The past is behind us now, Rosa. What matters is the future."

With that, the conversation ended, and the two stood quietly, watching the horizon as the last rays of sunlight disappeared. In just four days, they would leave the village of Fey Bell behind and set out for their next destination. For Eveline, it was the first step toward claiming what was rightfully hers.

As Rosa's thoughts wandered back to the luxury of the castle, Eveline's were already planning her next move—already thinking about how she would dominate the academy, how she would rise above the rest, and how she would finally face that person again.

Meanwhile, back in his office, James sat at his desk, staring out of the window at the fading sunlight. The village of Fey Bell was quiet now, the cadets preparing for their future journeys. His thoughts drifted back to the young cadet who had just left his office.

"He's grown," James muttered to himself, a quiet smile forming on his lips. "He's not the boy he was three years ago. They've all grown." He leaned back in his chair, watching as the last light of day disappeared. The world outside was changing, and soon, these cadets—his cadets—would face it head-on.

With a sigh, he turned away from the window and let the darkness settle over his office. The future was uncertain, but one thing was clear—these young men and women were ready to step into it, and nothing would ever be the same.