When day came, Akito, Andy, and Ray were, as usual, by the river, talking about what they'd been up to, and throwing snowballs.
Andy threw a snowball at Akito and smiled, dodging Ray's projectile. "Master Richard told me I could rest today, so I'm free all day."
Ray was a little disappointed and threw another snowball towards Andy, who easily deflected it with her hand.
"Andy, you're like a master now, dodging every snowball, it's impossible to hit you!"
Ray complained until he caught a snowball from Akito directly in the face.
"Ray, move more, don't just stand there!" Akito smiled as he made another snowball.
The spirit of competition hung in the air; they pelted each other with snowballs and laughed. Everything stopped when they couldn't feel their hands anymore. Andy chuckled and breathed warm air onto her hands.
"Well, that was fun."
Ray's teeth chattered, and he shivered from the cold.
"Not when snowballs are flying at you from all sides like you're target number one."
***
Winter flew by for them unnoticed.
Three years passed. Spring was approaching, and Ray sat opposite his father in his private room.
"Ray, you're fifteen, you're an adult now. This spring, when it arrives, you will leave this house and go to the capital to study at the academy there."
Ray felt something break inside him. He liked it here, with his friends; he had spent almost his entire life here. Ray felt despair, no, rather anger. He stood up and walked towards his father. Ray decided then and there that he wouldn't simply bend to every whim of the man he called father anymore.
"I'm not going there. I don't care what you say; if you want, leave me without an inheritance, but I'm not going there. You want me to go there? Then it'll be on my terms, and they're simple: I want Akito and Andy to study with me at this academy."
Ray had a serious and determined look. His dark eyes flashed dangerously. Now he didn't look away from his father's eyes; no, he looked into his soul. The man was clearly surprised. He sighed, then adjusted his hair.
"Since that's what you want, fine, so be it. But know this: if they do anything wrong, I will stop paying for their education, and you will do everything I demand of you, and you will marry the woman I choose."
Ray's lips twisted into a self-assured smile, and he took a step back. "I'm confident in my friends; they definitely won't do anything like that."
Ray left his father's room and went to his own, leaving the man alone in the room.
"Since when did Ray become so… confident and brave?" He poured himself a glass of expensive alcohol and looked out the window. He felt a certain pride in his heir.
When Ray closed the door to his room, he fell to his knees. His hands trembled, and a storm of emotions raged in his heart, from fright to joy.
"Did… Did I really say that? And so confidently too… I can't believe my eyes; maybe this is a dream?"
On the next day, the servants finished dressing Ray, and he went to his friends. Winter was already leaving this world; there was mud everywhere and lumps of unmelted snow.
The air already carried notes of spring. Ray met Andy and Akito.
Akito was now the tallest in their group, more composed, and his hair had grown a bit. His cloak was no longer too big but fit perfectly. Andy, in turn, had become more restrained and mature, though the same spark for adventure still shone in her eyes.
"Friends, I want to tell you that my father wants to send me to study at the academy."
Akito's face darkened slightly after Ray's words. He had only recently gotten rid of his nightmares, and now Ray was leaving.
"Really?" Andy asked, looking at Ray with a certain sadness.
"Yes, but I convinced my father to let you both come with me! I had to compromise on some things, but that's not important."
"What!?" they both exclaimed, their faces expressing shock and bewilderment.
"That's right, so, tell your parents and pack your things so you don't have to fuss with everything later."
At home, Akito told his parents everything. They were surprised. There were still three days left until the beginning of spring. He packed all the essentials in his bag: clothes, some personal items, and took off his cloak, putting it in his backpack.
It was already spring. The three of them sat in Ray's carriage and rode along. Ray smiled, Akito looked out the window, and Andy held a sword in her hands.
After a few hours' journey, they finally arrived at the Draka von Cruiser Academy. They stood opposite the expansive golden gates, along with other high-ranking young people.
The academy itself was huge, with everything necessary. It had several buildings with all the equipment, and a large dormitory with several floors. Akito looked at the gates and didn't turn back. He understood that this was a big step into the future.