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Chapter 1.

Keltsea, 2010.

Where is he? Ansel wondered silently, his mind slowly filling with annoyance.

His best friend, Daeglán, was supposed to have arrived ten minutes ago, but he didn’t, and each passing moment felt like an eternity…

Typically, Ansel wouldn't mind waiting a bit longer for his friend. However, today was different. He had something incredibly important to share with him, and the anticipation was building inside him. He couldn't wait to pour his heart out to his lifelong best friend, eagerly anticipating his feedback. He had been contemplating this idea for what felt like an eternity, and he had reached a point where he was absolutely certain that it was the right path for him. The thought of keeping it to himself any longer was unbearable. In fact, he was eager to share it with not only his closest friend, but even with those he didn't know very well… However, before he could gather the courage to speak up, he needed some support, and Daeglán was the only person who could give it to him (or so he believed).

Ansel nervously ran through what he wanted to say in his mind, taking a deep breath to calm his stressful state. He felt relieved that there was nobody around, but he had anticipated this. Hardly anyone, except for older people with walking sticks, ventured to this old, relic viewpoint by the quarry, where he currently waited.

On any other day, Ansel might have lamented the lack of recognition this place received, thinking it was a real pity. However, in that moment, he found himself feeling grateful for the lack of crowds. He savored the fact that this place was his and his alone.

And on this delightful autumn day, nature painted a picturesque scene with its golden-hued trees, cumulus clouds gracefully traversing the cobalt blue sky, and the gentle caress of warm sun rays mingling with the dry, brisk, refreshing wind.

Even though this viewpoint was situated far from the sea, the air still carried a distinct salty scent with it. It was no surprise, considering that Keltsea was a marine town nestled in Ostland, a country laying between the northern mountains and the Baltic Sea, nestled between Poland and Lithuania…

All of a sudden, a gust of wind swept through the surroundings, growing stronger by the moment. Ansel couldn't help but shiver uncontrollably, as his navy blue high school uniform offered little protection against the cold…

With a swift motion, he brushed the strands of his short black hair to the side, determined to find a way to warm himself up. He then began exercising his arms vigorously, hoping to generate some much-needed heat.

“Ansel!” A voice called out his name, instantly recognizable and filled with familiarity.

Finally!!! Ansel turned around from his position, feeling a rush of anticipation, and laid eyes on his long-awaited friend.

Daeglán effortlessly rocked his school uniform, looking far more dashing than Ansel could ever hope to while wearing the exact same thing. With his tall stature and broad shoulders, Daeglán exuded confidence and drew attention. Hmm, perhaps his love for sports and food contributed to his overall attractive appearance.

“Hey! Gosh, I thought you'd never come,” Ansel remarked, unable to contain his shy but nevertheless relieved and delighted smile. “Hold on a moment, is that a leaf nestled in your hair?”

Daeglán swiftly ran his fingers through his spiky, chestnut hair, and a yellow leaf fell softly on the ground. “Mmm, check it out! It looks like a heart,” he observed, playfully giving it a little kick with his sporty shoe.

“More like a tear,” Ansel commented before smoothly transitioning to a new topic. “So, how was religion class for you today?”

Daeglán's face lit up as he responded: “Actually, it was pretty fun. The priest leading the class is surprisingly cool!”

“I heard he wears army boots,” Ansel remarked with an amused smile. “Is it true that he's into metal music, too?”

“Absolutely true,” Daeglán confirmed with a cheeky grin. “You should definitely join the class, Ansel. It's quite an experience.”

“It's too late,” Ansel sighed, a hint of resignation in his voice. “But hey, ethics class isn't too bad.”

“I hear you,” Daeglán nodded understandingly. “So, what did you want to talk about?”

Upon hearing that question, Ansel suddenly lost his courage, almost like he hadn’t rehearsed this conversation a billion times already…

“I, uh...” He stuttered, avoiding his best friend's gaze. What he was about to say sounded so crazy to him that he was really scared of voicing it. “I... I don’t want you to think that something’s wrong with me, or... uhm, well… I, I don’t know,” He stuttered eventually, shrinking in himself from fear.

“What?! I could never think like that, bro! You’re so smart, the smartest guy in the district, everyone knows it!” Daeglán reassured him, his voice filled with conviction.

He wasn’t just trying to comfort him; he truly respected him; Ansel could read it from his face, and from the sparkles of genuine admiration dancing in his warm, amber-colored eyes.

“I’ll begin then,” Ansel began tentatively, pivoting towards the viewpoint’s barrier and casting his gaze towards the towering buildings that loomed in the distance behind the quarry. “It’s actually about our town...”

“Oh, really?” Daeglán was genuinely surprised by the choice of the topic. “Why do you want to talk about Keltsea so unexpectedly now?”

“Because it's important to me,” Ansel stated with a touch of determination in his meek voice. “I’m sure you know how much I love it here… Unfortunately, not everyone shares this feeling. Many people leave for education and work.”

“True,” Daeglán approached him, leaning in as he paused next to him by the barrier. “But what can you do about this, Ansel? Even if you stay here forever, you can't convince others to do the same...”

“Mmm… I’m not so sure. I think, I could convince them,” Ansel shared rather bashfully, turning to his best friend. “I mean, that’s exactly what I want... To make people change their minds, to make them fall in love with this town enough to stay. Even though,” he curled up his fists slightly, “that’s not going to be easy... Keltsea would need to change really a lot.”

“Change, how?” Daeglán asked, eyeing him curiously.

“Oh, I have many ideas,” Ansel replied rather mysteriously, not wanting to disclose right away that he had been pondering the topic for months already. “Still, to make those plans come true, I’d...” He paused again, and after a deep, deep breath, he finally spoke up about what was on his mind, all along. “I’d have to become the president.”

“Yeah, I suppose so,” Daeglán concurred, casually crossing his arms; almost, as if he didn’t realize how much it cost Ansel to utter those words. “But you don’t want to do it, right? I mean, run for president... Or do you?!”

Ansel didn’t say anything to confirm it, yet the wishing look of his eyes told Daeglán everything.

“W-Wow!” Daeglán gasped, his eyes widening from surprise. “Are you serious, Ansel?! You want to become the president?!”

“Yeah,” Ansel nodded shyly, albeit with true conviction. “I mean, when I grow up, finish high school and college, etcetera.”

“Got it,” Daeglán nodded, taking a moment to catch his breath. “Phew… Oh my, wow! That's an absolutely brilliant idea! It's definitely a challenge, but nonetheless, it's fantastic!” he praised him with genuine enthusiasm.

“Thanks... I always knew you'd be supportive, but I have to admit, I was secretly scared that you'd burst into laughter and tell me to stop daydreaming!” Ansel confessed, relief shining through his eyes and a genuinely honest smile lighting up his face.

“Burst into laughter? Me? Nah, no chance! Why would I?!” Daeglán shrugged nonchalantly. “I can totally picture you owning this city, ruling it like a boss... And, I’d be your most trusted gangster.”

“Ahaha,” Ansel chuckled. “That would be too good to be true...”

“But wouldn’t it be grand? Come on. You know that it would.”

After their laughter faded away, Daeglán spoke: “Do you actually know what it takes to become president? Any special studies required?”

“No, not really. All you gotta do is be a citizen of Ostland, be at least eighteen years old, have your name registered in the electoral register, and, of course, stay out of trouble with the law,” Ansel explained, listing the four basic requirements.

“Seriously?” Daeglán raised his eyebrows in astonishment. “I'm surprised that it's that straightforward. It doesn't sound difficult at all!”

Ansel nodded and replied: “Well, the process of applying itself isn't too complicated. The real challenge lies in actually gaining supporters who will vote for you in the elections...”

“Oh, right… That might pose a bit of a challenge,” Daeglán agreed, looking Ansel directly in the eyes. “But hey, I have faith in you, bro! You're super brainy, I'm sure you'll figure something out... Plus, we're just sixteen, so there's still plenty of time ahead of us! More than enough time to get prepared. I have no doubt that you'll succeed, and I'll do whatever it takes to support you, even if it means plastering the city with posters featuring your ugly face…”

Ansel blushed upon hearing that, clearly embarrassed. “Hopefully, it won't come to that... I can always hire someone else to assist me. Plus, I'll make sure to promote myself online... In fact, I've made up my mind to start a blog this weekend.”

“Keep me in the loop! I'll be sure to provide you with feedback. But don't forget to focus on building real-life connections, too,” Daeglán reminded him, all eager to assist him in any way that he could think of. “You'll need a solid network of friends to make this happen!”

Upon hearing that suggestion, Ansel's expression dropped slightly. He was extremely shy from nature, and found striking up conversations with others to be quite a challenge…

Daeglán was well aware of this, and so, he felt the need to lend a helping hand. “Hey Ansel, you know what?! I'll be the one to show you the ropes on how to be more open! We'll make it our mission to befriend everyone in our class, mark my words. Everyone has the potential to be sociable!” He exclaimed enthusiastically, then playfully hit his shoulder. “Even you, man! Remember when we were six and you built that free lemonade stand to brighten up people's day?”

Ansel couldn't help but feel ashamed as he recalled the memory. “That project didn't quite go as planned... I guess, I just didn't have enough persistence.”

“It doesn't matter! The most important thing is that you gave it a shot. That's way better than just sitting around and complaining, right?” Daeglán always strived to look at the positive. “You were always taking action and trying to make the world a better place for others, even strangers. I'm definitely in your corner, and I'll always have your back, you know?”

Ansel's heart warmed as Daeglán's heartfelt words struck a chord within him.

“Thanks,” he replied, his voice filled with newfound courage and optimism. “I really appreciate you taking this so seriously. From now on, I’m going to believe in myself, too. No matter how hard the road ahead gets... I’ll never give up!”

“And that's the spirit!” Daeglán praised him, giving him a one-armed hug and pulling him close for a second or two.

He then whipped out his phone, wanting to commemorate this special moment, and they captured a selfie.

*

Over the weekend, Ansel kickstarted his blog by pouring his heart into writing five articles brimming with his most important ideas. And on Monday, Daeglán took initiative to help him make a lasting impression on his classmates.

“It's already the third week of September,” Ansel remarked, his nerves creeping in. “Do you think it's too late to start befriending now?”

“It may be late, but hey, late is better than never,” Daeglán reassured him, brushing away a few strands of Ansel’s hair, and straightening his school tie.