Dream Wizard

Winter passed peacefully and uneventfully. After the unpleasant incident in the alley, Arthur's life returned to its usual rhythm. He helped his mother with household chores and occasionally accompanied her to the market to buy groceries. From time to time, he visited his father in the workshop, spending hours watching him work with massive logs. Arthur got the impression that Tom put not just strength but also his soul into his work.

Sometimes, under the warm rays of the winter sun, Arthur would go for walks through the snowy streets. He loved walking past small houses with smoking chimneys, hearing the distant sound of an axe splitting wood or the voices of children throwing snowballs at each other. Occasionally, he joined in the local kids' games. Although Anya was too shy to play with others, Arthur noticed that she enjoyed watching the fun from a distance.

Anya, in fact, became a frequent companion. After the incident in the alley, she seemed to open up a little more in his presence. They often met by chance near the seamstress's house or on the street and spent time together. Anya showed Arthur her drawings and shared the fairy tales she had made up. One day, she even gave him a small drawing of a knight with a sword guarding a castle. Touched by the gesture, Arthur hid the gift in his desk drawer, deciding it would be a reminder of his new friends.

As winter drew to a close, the snow began to melt, bringing a sense of renewal. The townsfolk started preparing for spring—cleaning yards, painting fences, and pulling tools out of sheds. Arthur increasingly heard his mother talk about school. She reminisced about her childhood and her own school days.

Eventually, the day Arthur had been waiting for arrived, bringing with it a mix of excitement and nervousness. It was his first day of school.

The morning was clear and cool. Arthur woke up early, not waiting for his mother to wake him. He felt both joy and a bit of tension. This wasn't just his first day of school—it was a big step toward becoming part of this world.

He quickly washed up, put on his new school uniform, specially tailored for him by Elizabeth, and went downstairs. Martha had already prepared breakfast—warm bread with honey and hot herbal tea. Tom was at the table too, encouraging his son with a warm smile and stories about how much Arthur would learn at school.

When it was time to leave, Martha walked him to the school gates, straightened his shirt collar one last time, and wished him luck. The school building was large, two-storied, made of gray stone with tall windows letting in the light. Outside the entrance, children and parents were gathered, exchanging farewells and well-wishes.

Inside, the school felt new and slightly intimidating. Long hallways with rows of doors, the noise of voices, and the sound of footsteps on the wooden floor. Arthur followed a group of children his age, led by a teacher, trying not to get lost in the chaos.

The first day began with a ceremonial assembly in the main hall, where the teachers welcomed the new students. Arthur listened as one of the instructors spoke about how every student here would have the chance to unlock their potential, become stronger and smarter, and find their place in the world. These words stayed with him.

After the ceremony, they were taken to their classroom. The teacher, an elderly man with kind eyes, began explaining the school rules and schedule. To Arthur's surprise, the lessons included mathematics, writing, history, several basic languages, and basic knightly training, which especially piqued his interest.

The lessons went by quickly. The teacher explained the material in a simple and understandable way, and the children listened with interest. During breaks, Arthur met several other kids who seemed friendly. He tried to be open and polite, remembering the importance of building good relationships.

By midday, the much-anticipated knightly training lesson began. Teacher Richard, a stately man with a silver beard and hawk-like eyes, gathered the students in a circle. Today's lesson focused on breathing techniques—the foundation of any knight.

"Breathing is the key to strength," Master Richard began, his voice deep and soothing. "Imagine drawing in the energy of the earth, the solidity of stone, and the flexibility of the wind. Exhale all fear, doubt, and fatigue."

His voice seemed to put the children into a trance, and they listened intently to his explanations. After half an hour, Richard finished and gave the students time to practice.

Arthur followed the instructions, feeling the cool air fill his lungs and his body gradually warm up. With each breath, he imagined his bones growing a little stronger and his muscles more flexible.

But the training was just beginning. After the breathing exercises, they started practicing with weapons. Wooden swords whirled through the air, creating intricate patterns. Master Richard demonstrated a new stance, where the body became like a drawn bow, ready to release an arrow at any moment. Arthur mimicked the movement, trying to maintain his balance. His muscles ached, but he felt a surge of energy.

By the end of the lesson, Arthur was exhausted but determined. He noticed that some of his classmates handled the exercises better and realized he had a lot of work ahead.

After school, Arthur returned home tired but happy. Martha greeted him with a warm dinner, and Tom asked about his day. Arthur eagerly shared stories about the knightly training, his attempts at the breathing exercises, and his new acquaintances.

The next morning, Arthur woke up feeling a slight excitement about another day at school. The memories of the previous day's lessons were still fresh in his mind. He quickly got ready, had breakfast with his parents, and left for school with the bag his mother had carefully packed for him.

The first lesson was history. The teacher, an old man with silver hair, spoke about great heroes of the past whose wisdom and strength changed the course of history and founded the kingdom. Arthur listened, captivated, especially by the tales of those who became wizards and knights.

Anya sat a few desks away, quietly listening to the teacher.

In the next lesson, mathematics, Arthur tried to talk to Anya, offering to help her with a problem she didn't understand. She hesitated at first but then looked at him with her big green eyes and quietly agreed.

"Thank you," she whispered.

This brief exchange showed him that Anya was still a bit shy but willing to accept help. Arthur felt he had managed to chip away a little at her reserved nature.

After lunch, the children had another knightly training lesson. Inspired by the previous day's exercises, Arthur did his best to replicate the breathing and movements that the teacher had demonstrated. By the end of the lesson, he noticed that Anya was also trying hard, but the exercises were much more challenging for her. She tired quickly, and her movements were a bit clumsy.

After the lesson, Arthur decided to approach her.

"You're doing well," he said, trying to encourage her.

Anya, initially a little embarrassed, nodded.

"Thank you. I'm not very strong, but I'll try my best."

When school ended, the children began heading home. Arthur noticed that Anya was about to leave alone.

"We live close to each other. Want me to walk you home?" he offered.

Anya hesitated for a moment but then agreed.

They walked through the narrow streets of the town, covered with a thin layer of snow that hadn't melted yet. Arthur told her about how his father taught him woodworking tricks, and Anya shared her dreams.

"I want to draw not just for myself but for others. My mom says everyone can make the world brighter if they try," she said, looking at the sky, where gray clouds were starting to gather.

Arthur thought about how important it was to have dreams and to follow them. He liked that Anya, despite her shyness, aspired to something greater.

When they reached her house, Anya stopped at the door and turned to Arthur.

"Thank you for walking me home. Today was a good day!"

"And thank you. You know I'm always happy to help."

She smiled at him, less shyly than before, and disappeared behind the door.

When he returned home, his mother asked how his day had gone. Arthur briefly recounted the events but didn't go into detail. A new feeling was taking root in his heart—a desire to protect those he cared about and to become better for himself.

These thoughts stayed with him as he fell asleep, looking forward to what lay ahead.