The sun peeked over the horizon, dyeing the sky in an orange hue. At a small hamlet surrounded by fields of various crops, all the residents are at the entrance to the hamlet. In front of them was a wagon with a thick, brownish cloth bonnet. The creature that pulled the carriage looked like a regular, brown horse, if it weren't for the small, hexagonal red gem on its forehead.

Once the carriage stopped a man in a thick, black coat got off the wagon. He had brown eyes, short black hair and was roughly five feet tall. He didn't appear to have much muscle and his face was rugged with a little stubble, other than that, the man had no discernible features.

"I'll be setting off in thirty minutes, so make any orders and trades you want now. The next merchant that will come through will be in a week." The man said in a deep, calm voice.

"Not to worry, not to worry," said the man who seemed to be the leader of the hamlet, "we already had everything prepared yesterday. As was mentioned last week, we have four children travelling this year, mister Darniss"

Hearing this, Darniss, the merchant, smiled and nodded. Several people from the group came forward and spoke to Darniss or brought some of their harvest to sell.

After having noted down all the orders the people made, Darniss then started to get ready to leave. Three boys, age thirteen, excitedly walked to the carriage, their parents waving them off.

"Where's the lass that's supposed to be here?" Darniss asked as he was just about ready to set off.

Near the front of a crowd, thirteen year old girl, long blonde hair tied into a ponytail, her face hidden in her mother's embrace as she cried.

"*sniff* I... I don' want t-to go." She wailed, as her mother comforted her.

"Now, now Delia, it's going to be alright," her mother said, "it will only be two weeks, and then you can come home. You'll also be able to form your first pact, and if you don't go this year, you'll never be able to."

"B-b- *sniff* but what if I can't get what I want?" Delia moaned. "Why can't you come with me?"

"*sigh* Delia, you know it's time to harvest the rinja in three days. The faster we harvest them the better quality they will be." Her father comforted, "now, my brave little Delia, how about you show your mother how brave I know you are? You have the money and your luggage has already been loaded onto the wagon."

Delia wiped the tears from her eyes, revealing her chestnut brown eyes and her freckled cheeks. She puffed her cheeks, trying to hold back her tears. Knowing that she wouldn't settle down her father lifted her up and carried her to the wagon. Delia only squirmed slightly, knowing that she had no say in the matter.

"I'll miss you," She said softly, as her father plopped her on the back of the carriage and gave her a kiss on her cheek.

"She's on board now, mister Darniss," Delia's father shouted.

"Aye. Since everything's in order, we'll be leaving now. Don't worry, your children are in good hands. See you all in two weeks!" Darniss shouted, then with a pull on his reins, they left the hamlet behind and headed down the beaten path.