Ten days before the Royal Necromancer Academy officially began its new semester, the Zu family residence was in complete chaos.
Not the kind of chaos caused by an enemy attack.
Not the kind caused by a mysterious creature breaking into the house.
This was something far more terrifying.
Packing.
Bags covered the courtyard. Clothes were folded into piles. Books were stacked beside travel supplies, and several family members were arguing over what the children would need during their journey.
Grandma held a bundle of clothes in her hands.
“Rayan needs more clothes.”
Grandpa looked at the pile beside her.
“He already has enough.”
“Enough? What if he gets dirty?”
“He can wash his clothes.”
“What if he gets sick?”
“He can wear another set.”
“What if—”
“Woman, are you packing clothes for a journey or preparing him for a ten-year exile?”
Grandma glared at him.
Grandpa immediately discovered something fascinating about the sky.
Across the courtyard, Rayan watched the scene with deep appreciation.
Excellent. Grandpa has finally found someone he cannot defeat.
Unfortunately, his happiness lasted only a few seconds.
“Rayan!” Grandma called.
He straightened.
“Yes, Grandma?”
“Come here. Try these clothes.”
Rayan looked at the clothes.
Then at Grandma.
Then at the clothes again.
“Grandma, why do I need to try them? They're my clothes.”
“Because I want to make sure they still fit.”
“They fitted yesterday!”
“Yesterday was yesterday.”
Rayan silently accepted his fate.
Perhaps necromancy is not the most dangerous profession in this world. Perhaps the real danger is having a grandmother who loves you.
Meanwhile, Ran's family was facing the same problem.
Her parents and relatives were packing everything they believed she might need at the academy.
By the time they finished, Ran's luggage looked larger than she did.
Ran stood in front of the bags, hands on her hips.
“Why are there so many?”
Her mother smiled.
“These are necessary things.”
“Necessary for what? Surviving an invasion?”
“For studying, of course.”
Ran opened one of the bags.
Inside were clothes, stationery, books, medicine, personal supplies, and enough neatly packed items to make a shopkeeper proud.
She opened another.
More clothes.
Then another.
More supplies.
Finally, she turned toward her family.
“Did you pack my entire room?”
Her father looked thoughtful.
“Not your entire room.”
Ran breathed a sigh of relief.
“We left the furniture behind.”
Ran stared at him.
“Father!”
Everyone laughed.
The two families had already arranged the children's travel expenses. They had also prepared enough money for their initial needs at the academy.
But the journey would be long.
First, the children would travel by carriage to a port city. From there, the Royal Necromancer Academy would arrange their passage to Academy Island.
The island itself was not connected to the mainland by any ordinary road.
Only authorized vessels operated the academy route, and students were expected to follow the academy's travel arrangements.
The journey to the port would take around five days.
That left the children enough time to purchase additional books, academy clothing, and other necessities before boarding the academy's ship.
For now, however, they had no responsibilities.
Their admission slips were safely stored.
Their entrance examination was over.
Their families were doing the packing.
And Rayan and Ran had discovered the greatest privilege a child could possess.
Free time.
The Two Most Unemployed People in the Village
While their families packed, Rayan and Ran were enjoying themselves in the village.
Rayan sat beneath a tree, reading a book that had absolutely nothing to do with the entrance examination.
Ran sat beside him, eating snacks.
For the first time in months, neither of them had to worry about finishing a chapter, answering a mock question, or being ordered to run around the courtyard.
The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.
Ran stretched her arms.
“This is wonderful.”
Rayan nodded.
“Indeed.”
“No studying.”
“Wonderful.”
“No examination questions.”
“Even better.”
“No Grandpa shouting at us to run.”
Rayan slowly lowered his book.
“Now you're describing paradise.”
Ran laughed.
They had spent so long preparing for the entrance examination that ordinary leisure felt almost luxurious.
They wandered through the village, visited familiar shops, watched children playing, and bought snacks from a small stall.
Ran insisted that they should try a new kind of sweet.
Rayan inspected it suspiciously.
“What is it?”
“I don't know.”
“Then why did you buy it?”
“Because it looked delicious.”
“That is not a reliable method of selecting food.”
Ran took a bite.
Her eyes widened.
“It's amazing!”
Rayan immediately held out his hand.
“Give me some.”
Ran hugged the packet to her chest.
“No.”
“You just said it was amazing!”
“Yes. That's why I'm not sharing.”
Rayan looked at her with genuine disappointment.
This girl has learned the art of betrayal.
After a moment, Ran broke off a small piece and handed it to him.
Rayan tasted it.
He paused.
Then he looked at the remaining sweet.
Ran noticed his expression.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You want more, don't you?” You are reading on g.com, the official source.
“No.”
She narrowed her eyes.
“You're lying.”
Rayan looked away.
“I'm merely reconsidering my earlier opinion about your food-selection method.”
Ran burst out laughing.
For a little while, they forgot that they would soon be leaving home.
But the thought never stayed away for long.
Whenever they passed the village entrance, Rayan remembered that their departure was approaching.
Whenever Ran looked toward the road, she imagined the long journey ahead.
Neither said much about it.
They were excited about the academy.
They were also reluctant to leave the people they loved.
Both feelings could exist together.
And neither child knew how to explain that properly.
The Departure
On the morning of their departure, the carriage stood outside the Zu family residence.
The horses were ready.
The luggage had been loaded.
Grandpa had checked the travel arrangements twice.
Rayan had checked his own bag three times.
Ran had checked hers five times.
Then she checked it again.
Rayan watched her suspiciously.
“Are you looking for your documents?”
“No.”
“Your clothes?”
“No.”
“Your snacks?”
Ran paused.
Then she opened the bag.
Rayan stared at her.
“Unbelievable.”
“What?”
“Nothing. I have learned not to question your priorities.”
Their families gathered around the carriage.
Rayan's parents stood beside him, trying to smile.
Ran's family surrounded her, offering final reminders and advice.
“Eat properly,” her mother said.
“Don't skip your training,” her father added.
“Don't argue with Rayan too much.”
Ran immediately protested.
“Why is everyone assuming I'm the one who argues?”
Rayan raised his hand.
“I would like to submit supporting evidence.”
Ran turned toward him.
“Rayan!”
He lowered his hand.
“Withdrawn.”
The adults laughed, but the laughter gradually softened.
The moment of departure had arrived.
Rayan looked at his parents.
He had spent years with them, enjoying a family life that he had never expected to receive again.
His previous life had taught him how painful it was to lose people.
His present life had taught him how precious it was to have people who cared.
Now he was leaving them for the first time on such a long journey.
He tried to smile.
He genuinely did.
But his eyes began to sting.
Beside him, Ran was already crying.
“I don't want to leave yet,” she whispered.
Her father immediately placed a hand on her shoulder.
“You're not leaving forever, Ran. You'll return during your holidays.”
Her mother wiped her tears.
“You've worked hard for this opportunity. We're proud of you.”
Ran nodded repeatedly, trying to stop crying.
It didn't work.
Rayan looked at her.
Then at his own parents.
Then he made the mistake of trying to say goodbye.
“Father, Mother, I'll—”
His voice broke.
His mother embraced him.
Rayan held her tightly.
For a few moments, he forgot to act like the calm and capable person he wanted everyone to see.
He was simply a child leaving home.
His father gently patted his back.
“Take care of yourself, son. Listen to your grandfather, look after Ran, and don't try to solve every problem alone.”
Rayan nodded against his father's shoulder.
“I will.”
His father smiled.
“And remember that you can always come home.”
Those words struck him harder than he expected.
Come home.
In his previous life, home had never truly felt like a place he could return to.
Now he had one.
And he was afraid of losing it.
Rayan tightened his embrace for a moment before finally stepping back.
He wiped his face quickly.
That's enough. I need to maintain some dignity.
Then he noticed Ran crying even harder.
He immediately abandoned his dignity.
“Ran, why are you crying more now?”
“Because I'm leaving!”
“We're both leaving!”
“That makes it worse!”
Rayan opened his mouth.
Closed it.
Then nodded.
“Fair point.”
Their fathers continued comforting them, reminding them that the academy was an opportunity, not a permanent separation.
Grandpa waited patiently beside the carriage.
He understood their feelings.
He had also left home once.
Although his own journey had ended rather differently.
Before the children could climb into the carriage, a familiar voice suddenly called from behind them.
“Wait!”
Everyone turned.
Grandma was hurrying toward the carriage with a small pouch in her hand.
She stopped in front of Rayan and Ran, breathing a little faster than usual.
“Here. Take this.”
Rayan looked at the pouch.
Ran looked at the pouch.
Grandma opened it slightly.
Rayan immediately shook his head.
“Grandma, we already have money for our expenses.”
Ran nodded.
“Yes. Our families have already prepared everything we need.”
Grandma pushed the pouch toward them.
“I know that.”
“Then we can't take this,” Rayan said politely.
Grandma's eyebrows rose.
“Why not?”
“Because we already have enough.”
She stared at him.
Then she looked at Ran.
Ran gave a small, apologetic smile.
Grandma's expression softened, but she remained firm.
“This money isn't for your academy expenses. Your parents have already taken care of those. This is from me.”
She pressed the pouch into their hands.
“Buy something you like. Eat something delicious. If you see something interesting, you can purchase it without worrying about whether it is necessary for your studies.”
Rayan's eyes brightened.
For a fraction of a second, he nearly accepted the pouch immediately.
Then he remembered something from his previous life.
Wait.
If someone gives you money, don't accept it too quickly. It makes you look as though you were waiting for it.
He immediately arranged his expression into one of noble reluctance.
“Grandma, really, this is too much. We can't possibly—”
He glanced at the pouch.
Then back at Grandma.
“—accept such a generous gift.”
Grandma pushed it toward him again.
“Take it.”
“Grandma, I insist—”
“Rayan.”
“Yes?”
“Take. It.”
Rayan accepted the pouch.
“Thank you, Grandma!”
The change was so immediate that his father began laughing.
Ran, however, was genuinely reluctant.
She held the pouch carefully and looked at her grandmother.
“Grandma, you don't need to give us so much.”
Grandma patted her head.
“I want to. And when you miss home, you can use some of it to buy something that reminds you of us.”
Ran's eyes filled with tears again.
She hugged her grandmother tightly.
“I'll miss you.”
“I'll miss you too, child.”
Rayan watched them quietly.
His smile softened.
Then he slipped his pouch safely into his shadow space.
Parents provide the necessary expenses.
Grandma provides the emergency happiness fund.
Excellent. My financial situation has improved considerably.
He glanced toward Ran.
She was still hugging Grandma.
Rayan suddenly felt a little guilty about his own performance.
Only a little.
Grandpa cleared his throat.
“Alright, Ran. Let Grandma go so we can leave.”
Ran held on tighter.
“One more minute.”
Grandpa sighed.
“If we stay another minute, Rayan will start crying again. Then his father will start crying with him, and we'll never leave this village.”
Rayan's father immediately protested.
“I am not going to cry!”
Grandpa looked at him.
His eyes were already red.
Silence followed.
Then Ran began laughing through her tears.
Rayan joined her.
Even Grandma laughed as she patted Ran's head one last time.
“Go on, child. Have a wonderful journey.”
Ran finally released her.
She climbed into the carriage beside Rayan.
Grandpa took his place at the front.
The driver gathered the reins.
As the carriage began to move, Rayan and Ran leaned toward the window.
Their families stood outside, waving.
Rayan waved until they became smaller in the distance.
Ran continued waving long after the house had disappeared from view.
Eventually, she lowered her hand.
Rayan sat beside her.
For a while, neither spoke.
Then Ran opened her pouch and counted the coins.
Rayan stared at her.
“You were crying a moment ago.”
“I can do two things at once.”
“You're counting Grandma's money already?”
“I'm making sure it's safe.”
“Of course.”
Ran finished counting and tucked the pouch away.
Then she looked at him.
“Rayan?”
“Yes?”
“Do you think the academy will be fun?”
Rayan glanced through the carriage window at the road ahead.
He thought of the books, the training, the mysterious island, and the countless things he had yet to discover.
“I think,” he said slowly, “it will be interesting.”
Ran smiled.
“Then let's find out together.”
The carriage rolled toward the horizon.
Their childhood home was behind them.
Their new life at the Royal Necromancer Academy was waiting ahead.
And Rayan had a feeling that the peaceful days were about to become much more complicated.
He only hoped that Grandpa's training would not become even worse.
Unfortunately, he had forgotten one important fact.
Grandpa was still sitting at the front of the carriage.
And Grandpa had excellent hearing.
“Rayan!”
“Yes, Grandpa?”
“Since you're thinking so much, tell me the five major historical treaties of the neutral zone.”
Rayan's face went blank.
Ran immediately covered her mouth.
The journey had barely begun.
And his peaceful days were already over.
To be continued...