Gramps leaned forward slightly, locking his sharp eyes onto Velren's.
"I said, you should go to the Academy."
Velren blinked.
"…The… Academy?"
Gramps nodded.
"Yeah. The one in Elyndra."
Velren frowned. His arms were still crossed, but his posture stiffened slightly.
"Wh—why are you suddenly telling me this?"
Gramps leaned back in his chair, letting out a slow exhale before taking another swig from his bottle.
"You're sixteen now, kid. That's the age most people start attending. If you wait any longer, you'll be behind."
Velren didn't respond immediately. Instead, his thoughts drifted.
The Academy.
And not just any Academy—the one in Elyndra.
A place completely different from the world he had known for... basically his whole life.
Velren had only been to the kingdom once, and even then, it was nothing more than a brief visit. The towering walls, the endless sea of buildings, the sheer number of people… it was overwhelming.
And now, Gramps was saying he should attend the academy that was in there?
The contrast would hit him like a crashing wave.
In the forest, life had been simple—hunting, training, surviving alongside the wolves. No unnecessary noise, no distractions. Just him and the wild.
But if he does go to the Academy.
That would meant...
School assignments.
Homework.
Lectures—
Ugh.
Just the thought of those things made him feel... sick.
As if reading his mind, Gramps scoffed.
"What, you gonna complain about a little homework?"
Velren scowled.
"It's not just that—"
"Then what?" Gramps leaned forward again, his gaze serious.
"You really thinking of spending your whole damn life in this forest?"
Velren opened his mouth, then closed it. He had never thought about it that way. The past sixteen years had been his entire world—his routine, his purpose. He never stopped to consider what came next.
Gramps sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
"Listen, kid. You've spent years honing your skills out here, fighting, surviving—but that's not enough. You think strength alone is what shapes the world?"
His voice was calm, yet something about it carried an undeniable weight.
"There are things moving beyond this forest. Things bigger than your little battles with Fenrir and Skoll. Power isn't just about wielding a sword—it's about knowing when to use it, where to stand when the tide shifts. And believe me, the tide is shifting."
He leaned forward slightly.
"The Academy isn't just about books and training. It's a stage, a place where paths cross—where the ones who will shape the future are gathered. You don't have to like it, but you can't ignore it."
The old man gaze lingered outside the room, its almost as if he was looking beyond its wall.
"If you stay here… you'll be left behind."
Velren remained silent.
Gramps continued, his tone was lower now.
"I... don't want you to end up like me."
Something about the way he said those words made Velren pause.
Gramps wasn't the type to show hesitation. Yet there was something in his voice—something unspoken by him.
Velren lowered his gaze, a quiet chuckle was escaping his lips.
Now that Gramps had said all that… he suddenly felt... unconfident.
"I mean… what if I actually get left behind in there?" he muttered, rubbing the back of his head.
"Or worse, what if I don't fit in at all? I've spent my whole life in this forest. I don't know a damn thing about politics, societies, or whatever else those academy types deal with. What if—"
"Hah?" Gramps cut in with a scoff.
"You're seriously thinking like that?"
Velren looked up, only to see the old man shaking his head in disbelief.
"You've been raised under my guidance, boy. And not just me—two damn legendary beasts have been your partners for years. Do you really think a bunch of brats are gonna be enough to leave you in the dust?"
Velren blinked before letting out a small smirk.
"... Fair enough."
But still… something didn't sit right with him.
After a moment of silence, his curiosity got the better of him.
"Say… is that why you've been gone so much these past few years?" he asked.
"Because of the academy?"
Gramps leaned back, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Some of it, yeah," he admitted.
"But like I told you before—I've had matters to attend to."
***
The night air was crisp, cool against his skin as Velren sat outside on the porch, gazing up at the vast expanse of stars scattered across the sky. The gentle rustling of leaves filled the air, accompanied by the occasional chirp of distant crickets.
Tomorrow, he would be leaving.
The decision had been made. He would be heading to the kingdom with Gramps to prepare for life at the academy. The thought of it alone felt… strange. The city, the people, the new routines—it would all be so different from this life that he had known.
This new chapter of his life…
It made him both scared... and excited.
His thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice.
"Heya, kid."
Velren glanced to his side as Fenrir and Skoll approached, moving almost soundlessly beneath the moonlight.
Skoll was the first to speak. "So… how's the Grandmaster holding up?"
Velren let out a small chuckle, though there was something faintly melancholic in the sound.
"He's fine," he replied.
Then, his gaze lowered slightly, and with a soft, almost knowing smile, he added:
"You two knew, didn't you?"
Skoll blinked, looking slightly surprised—but not too much.
"…Knew what?" he asked, though his tone already carried a hint of hesitation.
Velren simply shook his head.
"…It's just a hunch."
Skoll looked away, twitching his ears slightly in discomfort. There was a beat of silence before, as if realizing there was no point in hiding it further, Fenrir finally spoke.
"The academy will be good for you," his voice was firm.
"Out there, you'll find things that this forest alone can't offer"
Velren stayed silent, staring down at his hands.
Skoll, sensing his unease, nudged his shoulder slightly with his paw.
"We'll be rooting for you, kid. Hoping for the best."
Velren let out a shaky breath.
"Yeah… I guess you're right."
His voice wavered, just barely.
And then, before he could even understand why—
A single tear slipped down his cheek.
Huh?
A second followed, then another.
Velren blinked, quickly wiping his face with his sleeve, but the tears kept coming.
"Hah… What the hell is wrong with me?" he muttered, letting out a broken chuckle.
"It's not like I'm never coming back…"
Fenrir stepped forward, lowering himself beside Velren.
A moment later, Skoll followed, settling on the other side.
And for a while, none of them said anything.
They simply sat there—under the endless sky, beneath the watching stars—sharing a silence that spoke more than words ever could.