Invitation to the Human Academy

Oliver's heart raced as he searched the farmhouse for any sign of his sister. He checked every room, calling her name, but there was no response. As he stood in the empty kitchen, his mind was racing with worst-case scenarios. Had she been kidnapped? Had she run away? Was she hurt, or worse?

Just as he was about to give up hope, he heard a faint noise from the barn. He rushed outside, his scythe at the ready, and burst into the barn. And there, sitting on a bale of hay, was his sister Samantha.

Samantha looked up at him, her eyes wide with fear. "Oliver, you scared me!" she said.

Oliver let out a sigh of relief. "Samantha, what are you doing here? I've been looking for you everywhere. Everyone was worried."

Samantha looked down at her hands, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "I'm sorry, Oliver. I didn't mean to worry you. I just needed some time to myself, to think."

Oliver sat down next to her and put his arm around her. "It's okay, Samantha. I'm just glad you're safe. But you can't just disappear like that. You have to tell me if you're going somewhere. Promise me you'll do that, okay?"

Samantha nodded, her eyes welling up with tears. "I'm sorry, Oliver. I'll do better, I promise."

Oliver hugged her tightly. "It's okay. I'm just glad you're safe. Now come on, let's get back to the celebration. Everyone will be worried if we're not there."

Samantha nodded, and together they headed back to the inn. As they walked, Oliver couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. He had always been able to sense when something was wrong, and his instincts were telling him that something was coming. He didn't know what it was.

As they approached the inn, they saw a commotion at the door. A group of people has gathered around, all talking and gesturing excitedly. Oliver and Samantha made their way through the crowd, trying to see what was happening.

At the center of the crowd was Mary, the innkeeper. She was holding a parchment in her hand and reading it aloud to the crowd.

"It's a proclamation from the king," Mary said, her voice shaking with excitement. "They're calling for people between the age of 16 and 25 to attend the kingdoms academy to empower the future generations."

The crowd erupted into a frenzy of excitement and fear. Oliver's heart raced as he listened to Mary's words. He had always known that something was coming, but he had never expected it to be something like this.

As Mary finished reading the proclamation, Oliver stepped forward. "I'll do it," he said, his voice firm and steady. "I'll go represent our town. "

The crowd turned to look at him, and Mary gasped. "Are you sure? You may not be able to come back for a while."

Oliver nodded. "I'm sure, Mary. I have to do this. I can't just sit here and do nothing while my kingdom is in danger. I have to protect the people I love."

Mary nodded, her eyes welling up with tears. "I understand, Oliver. And I know that you'll do us proud.

Samantha grabbed Oliver's arm, her eyes wide with fear. "Oliver, no! You can't do this! It's too dangerous!"

Oliver gently removed her hand from his arm and looked into her eyes. "Samantha, I have to do this to get stronger to protect and send money back for you. I can't just sit here and do nothing."

Samantha's eyes filled with tears. "But what if something happens to you? I can't lose you, Oliver. You're all I have left."

Oliver's heart ached at the sight of his sister's tears. He knew how much he meant to her and how hard it would be for her if he didn't return. But he also knew he had a duty to his kingdom and his people. He couldn't let them down.

He knelt and took Samantha's hands in his. "I'll be careful, I promise. And I'll come back to you, no matter what. You're my sister, and I love you more than anything in the world."

Samantha sniffled and nodded. "I love you too, Oliver. But please, be careful. I couldn't bear to lose you."

Oliver stood up and looked around at the crowd. "I'll do my best, for all of you."

The crowd erupted into cheers and applause, and Oliver's heart swelled with pride and determination. He knew the journey ahead would be difficult, but he also knew he was ready for it. With his sister by his side and the support of his community behind him, he was prepared to face whatever dangers lay ahead.

Oliver spent the rest of the evening packing his bags and saying goodbye to his loved ones. He knew the journey ahead would be long and perilous, and he wanted to be prepared for whatever came his way.

As he packed his clothes and supplies into his satchel, he couldn't help but feel a sense of sadness. He knew that he might not see his family and friends again, and the thought of leaving them behind was almost too much to bear.

But he also knew he had a duty to his kingdom and his people. He couldn't let them down, no matter how much it hurt.

As he finished packing, he turned to find his sister standing in the doorway, watching him with a worried expression.

"Are you sure you have to go?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Oliver nodded his heart heavy with sadness. "I have to, Samantha. I can't let our kingdom down. I have to be strong, for all of us."

Samantha nodded, her eyes welling up with tears. "I know. I just don't want to lose you."

Oliver hugged her tightly, his own tears streaming down his face. "I'll be back, I promise. No matter what. You're my sister, and I love you more than anything in the world."

Samantha hugged him back, her own tears mixing with his. "I love you too, Oliver. Please, be careful. I couldn't bear to lose you."

Oliver nodded, and with a heavy heart, he picked up his satchel and turned to go. He knew the journey ahead would be difficult, but he also knew he was ready for it. With his sister's love and support behind him, he was ready to face whatever dangers lay ahead.

As he stepped out into the night, his heart was filled with determination and courage. He knew the journey ahead would be long and perilous, but he also knew he was ready for it. He was ready to be a hero for his kingdom and his people.