The road to the capital stretched long and dusty under the summer sun.
Five boys from the village walked along it together, their bags slung across their shoulders, laughter carrying across the open fields.
They had been traveling for three days now.
Blisters, sore legs, cheap roadside food—none of it mattered much.
They were on their way to the Knights Academy.
And to them, that meant the beginning of their real lives.
At the center of the group walked Constantine.
Or simply Con, as everyone called him.
His silver hair caught the sunlight softly, moving with the wind as he walked. The white blindfold wrapped around his eyes fluttered gently, but his steps were steady and confident.
He didn't stumble.
He didn't hesitate.
He simply walked.
Anyone watching closely might forget he was blind at all.
Beside him strode Daren, the loudest of the group, broad-shouldered and always full of energy.
Ahead of them walked Mikel, who carried most of the food because he insisted he was "the responsible one."
Behind them were Jorin, tall and quiet, and Tomas, who complained the most about sore feet.
"Con," Tomas groaned dramatically, "tell me there's a river ahead."
Con tilted his head slightly.
The breeze brushed past his ears.
Birds chirped nearby.
Then—
"Yes," Con said calmly.
"About two hundred steps ahead."
The others immediately perked up.
"See?!" Tomas shouted. "I told you we should ask him!"
Daren laughed.
"We always should."
Jorin nodded.
"His hearing is better than maps."
They didn't treat Con like someone fragile.
They never had.
Back in the village, they had sparred with him, raced him, argued with him like anyone else.
The only difference was that when the group traveled at night—
Con kept watch.
The first night on the road had proven that.
They had set up camp beside a cluster of trees.
Daren had taken first watch.
Which lasted about ten minutes.
Then he fell asleep.
Con had quietly said from the other side of the fire:
"Someone's coming."
Everyone woke immediately.
Two travelers passed by the road moments later, their wagon wheels creaking softly.
Since then, the boys had agreed on something simple.
"Con hears everything."
So at night, he was their guard.
Not because they pitied him.
But because he was the best one for the job.
By the third day, the road grew busier.
Merchants passed with wagons full of goods.
Travelers walked toward the capital gates in groups.
The distant sound of horses echoed across the road.
The capital wasn't far now.
The boys stopped at a roadside well to rest.
Mikel leaned against the stone edge and groaned.
"My legs are dying."
Daren drank water straight from the bucket.
"Knights don't complain."
"Yes they do."
"Only weak ones."
"Then I'm definitely weak."
The group laughed.
Con stood beside them quietly, listening to the wind shift across the road.
Then—
He heard new footsteps.
Soft.
Measured.
Someone approaching alone.
He turned slightly toward the sound just as the footsteps stopped nearby.
A woman spoke.
"Excuse me."
Her voice was calm.
Clear.
Not timid.
The boys straightened instinctively.
Daren answered first.
"Yes?"
"Is this the road to the capital?"
Mikel nodded quickly.
"Yes, just follow it north. You'll see the walls before sunset."
"Thank you."
But the woman didn't leave immediately.
Her footsteps moved closer.
Closer to Con.
Then stopped.
Silence lingered.
Con tilted his head politely.
"Is something wrong?"
The woman hesitated.
"…have we met before?"
The question surprised everyone.
Daren raised an eyebrow.
Con shook his head calmly.
"I don't believe so."
Another pause followed.
The woman studied him carefully.
Her name was Arin.
Long ago—
She had been the first disciple of the Divine Mirror.
The first person who had believed the artifact held something sacred.
The first who had felt its presence.
And now—
Standing in front of the blindfolded boy—
She felt something strange again.
Not recognition.
But a faint echo.
Something deep in her chest stirred painfully.
Like remembering a dream she couldn't fully recall.
She frowned slightly.
"…I see."
Con stood politely, waiting.
Arin forced a small smile.
"Sorry. I must have mistaken you for someone else."
"It's alright."
She lingered for one more moment.
Then turned and walked away.
But the strange feeling didn't leave her.
Something about that boy felt…
Familiar.
She didn't understand why.
And that bothered her more than she expected.
Arin continued down the road slowly, the unease still sitting quietly in her heart.
Behind her, the boys stared at Con.
Then Daren burst out laughing.
"Well!"
Tomas slapped Con's shoulder.
"You've been on the road three days and you're already getting hit on!"
Con blinked beneath the blindfold.
"…what?"
Jorin crossed his arms.
"She asked if you'd met before."
"That's suspicious."
Mikel nodded seriously.
"Very suspicious."
Daren grinned.
"You didn't even see her face and you're already charming travelers."
Con sighed quietly.
"I didn't charm anyone."
"Sure you didn't."
"Maybe she fell in love with your voice."
"That happens in stories."
The boys continued teasing him as they resumed walking down the road.
Con listened to their laughter with a small, helpless smile.
He didn't understand why that woman had asked such a strange question.
But the moment passed quickly.
Soon, another sound reached his ears.
Far ahead.
Thousands of footsteps.
Carriages.
Voices.
The massive gates of the capital opening and closing.
Con lifted his head slightly.
"The city is close," he said.
The boys immediately cheered.
And together, they continued walking toward the towering walls of the capital.