As the days passed, Rayan worked tirelessly—taking on small tasks, saving every copper he could from his gate guard duty and odd jobs in the village. He had a goal in mind, and he wouldn't rest until he achieved it.
Little by little, the coins added up.
Finally, he had saved enough—not just for himself, but for someone who had always stood by him: Lina.
One quiet morning, Rayan walked with Lina to the Academy Registration Office. There, he handed over the required fee and applied for her enrollment.
She looked shocked. "Rayan... are you sure?"
"You've supported me all this time," he said firmly. "You're a mage. You deserve a proper education. I want you to have a future too."
Lina's eyes shimmered with gratitude. She was officially accepted into the academy and would begin next week. Since mage courses required more intensive study, Rayan also paid for her dormitory fee, knowing she'd need to live on campus.
After settling that, he made his way to the weapon shop in town.
His old training sword was worn and chipped. If he was going to survive as a student, and an adventurer, he needed something more reliable.
He searched through rows of blades—some too fancy, others too expensive. But finally, he found one: a well-balanced iron longsword, simple, strong, and within his budget.
Next, he picked up a set of leather armor, light enough to move in but tough enough to protect against monsters.
And he didn't forget Lina.
At the magic vendor's stall, he bought a beginner's wand—sturdy, with decent mana conduction. It wasn't lavish, but it would help her focus her spells better during classes.
Later that evening, he returned to their room and handed the wand to her.
"I got this for you," he said, trying not to sound too proud.
Lina took it gently, running her fingers along its smooth surface. "It's perfect... Thank you, Rayan."
He smiled. "Now we're both ready."
Though his academy response letter hadn't arrived yet, he felt close. Everything was falling into place.
Now, all he had to do… was wait.