I walk out of the ranger’s guild to the start of a light patch of rain. As it moves out of sight my mother approaches me. “Why?” she asks “you have always rushed into things faster than you should. Why would you not accept.”

I steel my voice and face as much as possible, trying to show unshakable determination rather than childish excitement as I reply. “I found out that I now have a chance to be trained in the use of magic in the greatest academy that this country has to offer.”

“When?”

“In the scroll from the stealth test.”

She smiles. “I am never going to be able to talk you out of this am i?”

“no.”

Her backpack opens and she pulls out a pouch. “Take the money from the furs we sold. We would probably never use it anyway. I will talk your father out of chasing after you.” She strains a half smile. “I knew you may do something like this about now.”

“I will be gone for a few years at most and come back wiser for it, more powerful too.” I tap my chest with my fist. Mother simply hugs me so hard it hurts.

“just don’t do anything stupid, always travel in a group and never let your guard down. People are far more dangerous than any drake.” Tears on the edge of both our eyes, we part. I am surprised she was so supportive of this choice. I have one last stop before I meet the traveling performers that I may travel with.

As I approach the old shop for possibly the last time in years. Tears from parting with my home had all but run their course. I knock thrice and enter. This time both of my friends are there. Henry greets me at the door, Cameron is polishing an immaculate case and the owner of the shop that Cameron calls father is sitting behind the counter.

“Hi…” I greet my oldest friends with a quiet voice. “what’s wrong? I know you. You would never have failed those tests. You are better than most rangers at this stuff.” I feel my face split with one of the widest smiles I have ever made. “I got a chance to do what we dreamed about. I came here to say goodbye.” I reply as their eyes fly wide open.” TELL US EVERYTHING!” they cry in unison. I giggle and tell them everything that had happened.

The moment I end with the words. “and so I ended up here” the two of them were smiling just as much. “You should leave now. We have kept you too long. Take these.” As I am dragged out of the shop by my two grinning friends and tossed onto the road with a book and the set of writing materials they taught me to read and write with. I am shocked. This is worth a small fortune. I would have tried to refuse but I was starting to gather unfriendly stares from the few inconvenienced shoppers stepping around me. I walk off quickly towards the western gates of the city.

Macias already looks completely at home within the caravan of brightly coloured cloth surrounded by light hearted music and people. The only unpleasant face belonging to a red-faced man sporting a huge brown moustache. From his description in Macias’ story I knew him to be his father. Paying attention to the merchant in a huff I step up to Macias as he greets my arrival with an open smile and a wave to me. “so this is the one you told me so much yet so little about.” Said a young woman standing nearby. “yes he is.” “My friend, this is Olivia, the dancer who handles the caravan’s protection. As I understand it she would be happy to hire you.” The pretty woman gives my arm a small squeeze and steps back. “I would certainly hire anyone with muscles like those.”

I spend the remainder of the day and some of the night talking to each member of the group whenever they are not preforming. Great tales of mighty explorers and mages and smaller converations about love and everyday life are told repeatedly with huge flair and emotion. The one that interested me most was a fortune teller named Avira. I quickly realise her powers do not use conventional magic at least and that she would never teach me but her tales were still some of the most heartfelt and longest some probably from experience of many years on the road others from folklaw and legends.

Soon enough we go to sleep with my own room paid for by the agreement with the innkeeper. The next morning, I leave my home for the first time ever for new horizons and a vague hope of being something great.