Trading for the Throne

Waking up the next day, Ned glanced to his left and noticed that Lucas was still sleeping. Stretching and yawning, he walked to the window and gazed outside.

The trees stood tall and wide, their branches swaying gently in the cool morning breeze. The first signs of the approaching winter were visible in the golden leaves scattered across the ground. Small birds flitted between the branches, their songs filling the crisp air, while a tapiti, a type of rabbit, was busy preparing its burrow for the cold season.

As Ned watched this peaceful scene, his thoughts drifted back to the revelations from the day before. The word mana echoed in his mind — a word he had never heard before, yet one that seemed to hold so much importance.

"I've lived in Rio Claro for as long as I can remember, but I've never heard about mana until yesterday," he pondered, leaning on the windowsill." At least now I understand why adults can do amazing things while I can't. It's all connected to mana"

Rio Claro was a small, peaceful town nestled far from the borders where battles against demons raged. This isolation allowed it to remain untouched by the flames of war. The town's economy thrived on selling herbs, groceries, and providing rest for travelers who passed through on their way to the ocean, a region known for it's abundant riches.

For Ned, Rio Claro had always been his whole world. But the events of the previous day had left him yearning to see what lay beyound its quiet borders.

Coming back to reality, Ned turned toward Lucas, the notorious sleep lover, and gave him a firm shake.

"Come on, just a few more minutes" mumbed Lucas, his eyes still tightly shut.

"We'll be late for teacher's class, if you sleep a "few more minutes," argued Ned impatiently. "If you don't get up, I'll have no choice but to trown a bowl of water on you."

"Ugh, damn it,Ned." Lucas grumbled as he sat up, his tone tinged with irritation and resentment," You really need to stop threatening me with that crap."

"You say that, but it always works" Ned replied with a laugh.

After their exchange, the boys headed to the kitchen for a quick breakfast before heading to class.

On their way to the class, they saw a man carrying a wide and tall tree on his shoulder. Before the revelations from yesterday, they would have wondering how such a feat was possible and might have asked an adult about it. The response would always be the same "It's adult power, you boys are too young to understand."

After walking for a few minutes along the road, a large wooden building came into view. Before Albert took ownership, this place had been nothing more than a patch of weed.

As they approached the door, the boys knocked and shouted in unison, "Teacher, we're here."

From inside came a muffled voice, "I'm coming," accompanied by the sound of hurried, clumsy footsteps, indicating that the person inside wasn't expecting guests.

The door swung open to reveal Albert, his expression a mix of surprise and confusion. "Hey, little rascals, what are you doing here ?!"

"For our class with you" replied Ned, staring at Albert as if he were a senile old man.

Albert scratched the back o his head sheepishly. "Ah, sorry, boys. I must have forgotten to tell you — I'm suspending lessons until the exam in five days."

——————————————————

The center of Rio Claro was the beating heart of the town, where most of the shops were clustered. Inns and grocery stores dominated the streets, theirs displays of goods bustling with activity. At this time of year, the town become lively, with people coming and going from the stores and travellers returning from their journeys to the ocean.

Amid the bust crowd were two boys who, individually, might not have stood out. But together,,their stark contrast drew attention. One was tall and thin, with long black hair, brown eyes, and fair skin. The other was shorter and stocky, with short black hair, green eyes, and brown skin.

Obvious they were Ned and Lucas.

After hearing there would be no class today, Ned had conviced Lucas to visit the central of the town, claming it would help distract them from the exam in a few days.

"I already told you this is not a good idea!"Lucas exclaimed, his frustation plain.

"I'm going,with or without you," Ned replied confidently. " But remember, if you are not there, the chances of me getting into trouble go way up."

Lucas sighed heavily, knowing full well that leaving Ned unsupervised was never an option.

"However, next time don't lie to me!" Lucas exclaimed, his voice carrying enough frustation to rival a scolding parent,

"I didn't lie to you, little grasshopper," Ned replied, adopting the solemn expression of a wise old sage. "I simply said we were going to distract ourselves from the exam." He paused dramatically, spreading his arms as if revealing a great truth. "And honestly, what better place— and what better activity— than betting in an inn? It's like... educational!"

Luca crossed his arms, raising an eyebrow. "Educational? Really? Are we learning math by counting how much money you're losing?"

"Exactly!" Ned said with a grin. "See? You're catching on already!"

Lucas, full aware of his friend's tendency to ramble endlessly, cut him off mid-sentence. "Okay, okay, I get it! So, can we just go to the inn now? I want to see you lose your money."

"Of course!" Ned replied with an energetic burst, his expression lighting up like a kid with a mischievous plan. "But this time, I'm not losing money like always. I've discovered a strategy to win! Or did you think that last time's winnings were just luck?"

As he finished speaking, his face twisted into an exaggeratedly sinister expression. He clasped his hands together like a villain in a bad play and burst into a cackling laugh. " I can already imagine the sound of gold clinking in my pockets! Mwahahaha!"

Lucas rolled his eyes and muttered under his breath, "This is going to be a disaster..."

The boys pushed through the bustling crowd, walking for a few more minutes. Ned kept rambling about how he was going to empty the travelers' pockets with his unbeatable strategy, while Lucas sighed repeatedly, enduring his friend's delusions.

Finally, they found themselves standing in front of a wooden sign that read "Clear River Lodge."

Clear River Lodge was one of the most popular inns in town, celebrated for its cheap prices, hearty meals, and, above all, the safety and welcoming atmosphere created by its owner, David. Whose reputation for fairness and warmth drew travelers from all over.

Ned, already familiar with the establishment, strode confidently through the door, his eyes scanning the room like he was on a mission. Lucas followed close behind, his mind racing with possible excuses to give Ned's parents when this inevitably went sideways.

Inside, the inn was alive with chatter and laughter. Every table and chair was occupied by travelers sharing stories of their journeys. The air was thick with the smell of roasted meat, ale, and the sharp tang of stronger spirits, creating a heady, intoxicatin atmosphere.

"It's impossible to make a profit at the ocean these days," grumbled a drunk traveler, his words slurred as he raised a large mug of beer. "The prefect's taxes on food and lodging in Seashore are killing us!"

"Don't get me started!" his comrade replied, slamming his mug on the table, his face flushed with anger. "We risk our lives out there, and these nobles take half our earnings with their damn taxes!"

Then, noticing the two boys who stood out clearly against their surroundings, the drunkest of the group bellowed, "Hey, little boys! What are you doing here?" His voice was tinged with mockery as he added, "The place to buy diapers isn't here, you know!"

The comment drew a few chuckles and curious glances from the other guests, many of whom seemed surprised to see two young boys in a place like this.

Ned, unfazed by the remark, smirked and shot back," Oh, thanks for the tip, old man! I was going to ask you where you get yours, but it seems like you're already overdue for a change."

The room erupted in laugher, with even a few of the drunkard's comrades struggling to stifle their chuckles. The man's face turned red, a mix of embarrassment and anger bubbling up as he slammed his mug on the table.

However, just as the tension in the room began to rise, a cheerful voice from the back of the inn cut through the air.

"Well, look who we have here! If it isn't the best gambler this old man has ever laid eyes on!"

The speaker was none other than the owner of the Clear River Lodge, David. Standing tall and broad-shouldered at an impressive 6'2" (1,90 meters), David was a striking figure with shoulder-lenght blond hair, light brown eyes, and fair skin that seemed to glow under the warm lantern light.

As he spoke, his voice carried a friendly authority, and he strolled through the inn with an easy smile that immediately lifted the mood. Those who caught his gaze couldn't help but feel a comforting warmth radiating from his ligh brown eyes—like the inviting glow of a fireplace on a cold night. Yet, there was something enigmatic about them; staring too long felt like peering into a bottomless abyss, where untold secrets seemed to linger, unreachable and unknown.

Stoping near Ned, David spoke in a playful tone, "I take it you're here to bet again, aren't you?"

With a sly smirk, Ned shot back, " And what else would I be here for?"

David let out a hearty laugh, his voice carrying easily over the din of the room.. "hahahaha, fair enough! Let me guess—your last winning have made you even more bolder?"

"After today, you'll all have to call me master" Ned declared dramatically, his chest swelling with pride."I've developed a strategy that's impossible to beat! Mark my words— I'm leaving here with pockets full of gold!"

David chuckled, his faint smile lingered as if he had been anticipating this very moment. "Alright then, little rascal. Follow me!"

With that, he led the boys toward the stairs to the second floor. Ned and Lucas followed, Ned brimming with excitement while Lucas looked increasingly resigned to whatever chaos was about to unfold.

Meanwhile, back at the drunkard's table, the man who had taunted the boys slammed his mug down again. His embarrassment had boiled over into anger.

"I'm not letting this slide! They think they can just waltz in here and—"

Before he could finish, one of his companions, the only one who still seemed sober, placed a firm hand on his shoulder.

"Let it go," the sober man said, his voice low but steady. "You don't want to mess with this."

"What are you talking about?" growled the drunkard, his brows knitting together in confusion.

The sober man glanced briefly toward the stairs where David had disappeared with the boys, then leaned in slightly. His tone was calm but carried an edge of warning.

"Ever wonder why this place is always so... peaceful? No matter how much people drink, no one ever dares to cause trouble here. That's not by accident."

The drunkard's frown deepened, his mind working through the implications. "Are you saying that he...?"

"I'm not saying anything," the sober man cut him off, leaning back in his chair. His gaze drifted to the ceiling, distant, as if recalling something best left forgotten. "Sometime, what you don't know is what keeps you alive."

The table fell into an uneasy silence. The earlier bravao was gone, replaced by anxious glances toward the staircase. Even the drunkard's hand, still clutching his mug, trembled slightly before setting it down.