~ After 3 months~
In a class full of students, the sound of murmur was echoing. Suddenly a man in his twentees came from the door while shouting
" Okay, keep quiet now. Sit down on your seats. I have an announcement to make."
The students went to their seats and sat down without any further delay. After the last of them sat, the man started addressing the class again
" All of you must be excited as your awakening is only two months away, and I have some good news for you all."
The eyes of the students shimmered in expectations as the topic of awakening was put forward as they started paying attention seriously. Seeing this the man continued his speech.
" As some of you probably know, every year the people of this village go the nearest city's adventurer guild to undergo the process of awakening. Do any of you know why?"
A kid sitting in the second column raised his hand and the man prompted him to speak
" Isn't it because that place is bigger than ours so that the process becomes faster?" The kid said his words sounding more like a question.
" You are partially correct but that's not the whole reason. Does anyone else know? The man asked again.
Seeing the whole class shake their heads indicating that no one knew the answer, the man spoke
" The real reason is that for a person to awaken, he first have to come into contact with mana." He finished
" But teacher, isn't mana everywhere around us? Said a girl sitting in the front row.
" Yes, you are correct but the amount of mana we are talking about here is huge. That amount can only be found in large mana stones, something our adventurer's guild don't have but the nearest city's has." The man gave a new piece of information to the class.
" Teacher, what was the good news you told us about at the start?" A boy sitting in the back said. The boy being none other than Arthur.
"Ah yes. I'm reaching there." The teacher saidand continued
" Listen you all, as you may not know but every year eligible candidates for awakening leave the village a month ago to reach the destination on time. But this year, we are leaving two months before. Which means we are leaving Tommorow."
" We will reach there after one month. As for the remaining month you are free to do whatever you want be it exploring, or resting, it's up to you."
The students broke down in cheers and soon the sound of murmur became vibrant once again.
"Silence! You are all to be present outside the main gate of the village tommorow morning. We will be leaving with carriages from there."
"Remember to be on time." The teacher said as he walked out of the class.
Arthur looked at the teacher exiting as he too got up and left.
The next morning came and around four hundred children from all around the village -not just the orphanage- could be seen standing in front of the main gate.What met their eyes was a long line of carriages mounted by beasts which some of them have never seen before and Arthur being one of them.
Arthur was also there as he looked at the beasts mounted in front of the carriages, the beasts had four robust legs, a swirling tail and two pointy horns on its head.
"What is that?" Came from his mouth subconsciously.
The driver felt Arthur's gaze on his mount and smiled as he replied
" It's a terello, boy. Don't worry he won't attack you as it ha been tamed." The driver said as he gestured Arthur to come near.
Arthur was hesitant but seeing the carriage driver nonchantly smilling, he complied to his words and moved towards the beast.
When he was just an inch away from terello, he saw his face and was having second thoughts about his decision.
He was about to touch the beast when-
" Gawwwwrrr" the beast roared loudly just in front of his face. Arthur was scared shitless after looking inside his mouth filled with dagger like teeth which could pierce his skin as if a hot knife passed through butter.
"Don't worry it's not angry, try again." The driver said from the sides but Arthur shook his head as he wasn't keen on testing how deep the waters were.
The carriage driver has a look of disappointment seeing Arthur turning away from the beast but remained silent as he couldn't expect more from a five year old kid.
Arthur went back to the croud and saw an Elder of the village coming their way with some soldiers.
The Elder came in front of the children and started addressing them
" Listen kids, we will be going to the nearby city via the forest route. There, we are bound to encounter some beasts and bandits but you don't need to worry and panic because of them as we are here and will take care of them."
" What you need to do is remain calm and follow the instructions you are given, unless you want to get eaten by some wild magical beast. DO YOU UNDERSTAND???" the Elder said emphasising his last words slowly but loudly.
"YES!!" the students replied in unison enthusiastically.
" Now that this situation is taken care of, when I give the signal, make groups of six and board a carriage." The Elder said and went towards the carriages.
After some time chatting with the drivers, the Elder came and gave his signal, following that all the carriages were filled to the brim.
The Elder's voice echoed in all the carriages before the mounts took their first step forward
" Let's go to the Reiner Barony!"
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[ Renan's POV]
Renan was the the current Village Head of the stonerock village, the village Arthur just left.
Renan looked in the direction of the main gate and sighed as he closed his eyes and sat there in silence.
After some time, a knock resonated on his office door
"Come in" he said with his eyes closed
" Village Head, was it right the right decision to send those kids a month prior to the awakening?" The man voiced his concern as soon as he entered.
Renan opened his eyes and looked at the man with a tired gaze and explained
" I'm just hoping that the Barony makes tham realise that awakening doesn't make them special, and that they are still just a bunch of frogs in a well."
"They can only experience that when they will see the nature people weilding powerful abilities themselves." Renan finished
" Isn't that kind of cruel?" The man asked
" It is, but it is also a necessary things to do if we don't want them to foolishly die by messing with the wrong person, stupidly thinking they are omnipotent. Let me remind you, that's what got many brats killed last year in case you forgot." Renan raised his voice as he said that.
Renan wasn't some random person, he had gotten an Ultra Rare ability when he awakened, and a Rare ability when he turned twenty. He too had have eyes filled with arrogance and used to see the people around him as nothing but ants. The attitude changed as he grew up and when he saw the reality of the world, he learned to become humble.
He came to know that there is always a bigger wall that can thoroughly crush you the moment you show a hint of arrogance to them, and he wanted those kids to understand this lesson too. But alas, it would be upto those kids if they want to adapt or perish under the wall.
The man didn't have any words to refute Renan's point. So he decided to change the topic.
" What about the bandits?, if I'm correct then the group will encounter them along the way after some days." The main asked again
" You don't need to worry about them, I've sent an Elder along with some soldiers to act as their escort." Renan cleared his doubt.
" now if you have voiced your thoughts, you may leave." Renan's slowly said as the main turned back and walked out of the room.
Renan was again left all alone with nothing but silence in his company again.
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Arthur was one of the lucky ones to get the seat at the foremost carriage. Sitting ate the corner, he looked around to see all kinds of scenery he was witnessing for the first time with excitement.
It has been three days since the carriages took off and Arthur was impressed by those beast's endurance since the group hadn't stopped even once since then.
It will take around twenty five days more to reach their destination and Arthur was happy with this time as all he did was lie in the carriage and watched as the views changed.
Soon after, a large red mountain was seen by everyone despite the high density of trees around them. It gave an clear estimate of the size of mountain to the people in the carriages.
The carriages moved towards the base of the mountain, carrying a new story in it's wake.