A few days later...

Unity town was behind them as they now followed a new path, a path that led to the Wutherhorn dynasty, a place Jacob was yet to explore.

It would mean a new experience for both him and Xenia, and a rekindling of old relationships for Light.

Jacob was curious to see how Light would be welcomed into the estate, his father would definitely look down on him in disdain. His brothers would try to make jest of him.

After a while, Jacob’s thoughts drifted entirely, he now wondered why he had grown up without a sibling.

He looked at Xenia, she was the closest thing he’d had to a sister since the day he was born, even in his past life he had no siblings. In this world, he could only create clones.

But he waved the thought away, if he didn’t have any brothers or sisters, it ws because he wasn’t supposed to have any, that was the will of the universe.

As the carriage moved along, Jacob watched painfully as Light constantly tried to engage Xenia in conversation.

"Xenia, do you know I used to be a palm reader when I was younger." Light asked enthusiastically,

"Oh really?" She said, nodding slowly.

"Yes! Give me your palm, I’ll tell you your future." He smiled, a wide grin that only came off as creepy to the woman.

"I don’t really like people touching my hands." She responded to him, looking straight ahead with a listless expression.

"H—How about you just... show me?" He beckoned, his voice becoming even more high pitched.

"I’ve had my palm read so many times, I’m not interested in seeing my future, Light—why don’t you read young master Jacob’s palm?" Xenia smiled her usual smile, gesturing for Light to practice his palm reading skill on Jacob.

"Ugh!" Light scoffed as he looked at Jacob.

"Hey! I’d like to know my future too. Xenia’s not the only one that deserved to have their palm read." Jacob retorted, feeling disappointed that Light didn’t much prefer to read his palm.

"I don’t want to." Light muttered silently to himself as he turned his head to the side.

"What’s that, I didn’t hear you?" Jacob leaned forward, putting his hand against his ear.

"I said I don’t want to! Okay!" Light yelled, folding his arms and pouting.

Jacob burst into laughter, Light may have the looks and physique of an adult, but he was still just a little boy at heart.

He had not changed much from the little twelve year old boy in the Forest.

Just as Jacob was laughing, there was a clicking sound that came in through the roof of the carriage.

Everyone ignored it, maybe it was a bird, maybe it was a pebble or a fruit that fell from a tree. Maybe it was even rain.

They continued that discussion until they heard it again.

PECK! PECK!

It was louder now, more persistent, Jacob and Xenia looked at each other, but none told the coachman Leon to halt the carriage until...

"Young master Jacob?" Leon called from the coachman seat of the carriage.

"Yes Leon, what is it?" Jacob asked.

"It appears that a raven has arrived for you from the Castle."

Jacob wondered if his parents had sent him another letter, he had been waiting for a response from them for a while now.

When Leon handed him the folded letter, he half expected the writing on the paper to be familiar.

But it wasn’t.

_ _ _

Dear Jacob Ironfell,

After a thorough review of your potential, we are pleased to inform you that you have been selected for admission into Mountain Elite Academy.

Your acceptance has been reserved, and your enrollment will become active upon reaching the age of eighteen.

At that time, you will be expected to report to the academy grounds and complete the registration process.

Mountain Elite Academy accepts only the most promising young talents from across the continent, and we believe you possess the qualities required to stand and compete among them.

Until then, continue your studies and training diligently. We look forward to witnessing your growth.

Congratulations, Jacob.

Signed,

Headmaster Typerion Voss.

Mountain Elite Academy.

_ _ _

Attached to it was a response letter from his mother, and his father, responding to his previous letter.

They also encouraged him to join the academy, as it was one of the best in the world.

Jacob stared at the piece of paper until he felt the sting of hot breath on his neck, he turned around so quickly the paper almost ripped in his grip.

"What are you—!" He almost cursed when he saw it was Light, reading his letter from behind him.

"Mountain Elite huh?" Light said. "I have a cousin who went to that school."

"Oh yeah? What’s it like?" Jacob inquired, rubbing his neck lightly to remove the smell of Light’s breath from it.

"Well, I heard only the best of the best get into it, and it’s highly competitive. That’s all I know." Light answered, shrugging.

"That sounds interesting." Jacob smiled, he just could not hide his competitive nature, even in small gestures, it could be seen how competitive the young man was.

"You’ve been given a great honor, Young master Jacob." Xenia said, a faint hint of excitement in her voice, but it was also accompanied with suppressed disappointment. She knew when the time came, she would not be able to follow Jacob to the academy.

"You really think so?"

"Yes." She responded.

"Whoa, she’s right sir! I know people who’ve been trying to get into that academy for ages, for them to send you a letter on their own, then that’s something." Leon whistled, there was no waking day where he wasn’t impressed by Jacob’s achievements.

Jacob looked back down at the paper, an academy was a chance to explore a whole new world, meet different people, girls especially. He still didn’t have a girlfriend in this world, even though he hadn’t been searching for one.

"An academy huh, I can’t wait!"