Nights in the Thee-Eyed Yak caravan often end in parties until the wee hours of the morning. But this party, according to Yak, was exceptional, for it was to welcome a new member to the family that would accompany them far and wide.

The marked children went to bed early; the journey in the woods brought back dark memories, and the attacks of the abominations still had both teens exhausted. As an avid night owl, Ronan spent the night making preparations and enjoying the party, hobnobbing with old colleagues and sometimes being the center of attention.

However, the festivities were not reason enough to slack off the following day, and the Three-Eyed Yak himself was the one who, in many cases, dragged his family out of bed to start the day.

"A new morning awaits you all!" Yak shouted throughout camp, along with the knocks on the wooden doors of each wagon.

As they waited for breakfast, Fynn and Yue had a task to accomplish. While Ronan divided among the horses' saddlebags what they would take with them, giving the wagon and utensils to Idda and the caravan, the children set about learning that messenger spell.

Sitting at a table, side by side, they tried to fold the paper Ronan had given each of them, as it was drawn on the diagram he had left in front of them. The draw was in a yellowed notebook battered by travel with weird words, signs, and other drawings.

The task was almost childish, but it was part of the ritual of that simple spell. The papers they used weren't ordinary; It was a thick papyrus that they then had to place on another black colored paper, dyed with a typical plant of Aeton.

"How are you kids doing?" asked Ronan. The marked man sat in front of them, watching the frowns and gestures on their faces that showed how focused they were.

The folds were to make the paper take on the shape of a bird. The bird Yue created was very similar to the bird in the diagram. Fynn's, well, came a little close to resembling a bird.

"This doesn't look like a bird, does it?" asked Fynn, embarrassed.

Ronan weaved his head and his long, unbound hair before giving his opinion, "Perhaps, if it crashed into a wall."

The boy was further embarrassed by that, but soon Yue came to the boy's rescue.

"I'll help you," exclaimed the akajsi girl, who soon guided the boy from scratch.

Ronan leaned across the table and smiled in pleasure as he watched the pair of children carry themselves. The marked man saw in them a strong friendship; whether it was a product of the need to survive, or a genuine friendship that grew early, it was nice to know that it seemed they would support each other, no matter what.

Once Fynn's paper had a shape resembling the diagram Ronan made, it was time to check if the spell would work.

"Listen up, kids," Ronan said, clearing his throat, ready to lecture. "The magic I will teach you is simple. However, that doesn't mean that everyone can perform it. Some people spend years studying a single spell to make it work, while others have a natural talent and can perform it once they learned the formula."

Fynn raised her hand to ask, "Magic isn't common among people?"

"Not as much as it used to be," replied the Marked Man. "As far as I know, magic used to be much easier to perform, but people have lost the talent over time."

"Why?" asked Yue.

Ronan shrank as he tied his hair back, "I don't know. If you want to hear the whole lesson about magic, once you get to Adhaz, ask Kyrus."

"It's not the first time you've mentioned that person," Fynn assured her with innate curiosity. "You've mentioned that one and another name..."

"Rawani," Ronan clarified. "They are almost the Marked examples. Rawani, The Grand Mistress of Arms, is considered one of the best Marked Fighters. Kyrus, on the other hand, is considered not only one of the best Marked Mages but also one of the greatest mages in existence."

"Wow, amazing," exclaimed Fynn smiling.

Ronan nodded, "They're both amazing." The marked man then returned to the subject at hand, pointing to the papers. "The magic in those papers is willpower-oriented. Once you do the whole ritual, everything left is to believe."

Yue looked at her mentor, "Belief in what?"

"Believe that it's going to work," Ronan expressed with a smirk.

"That makes no sense!" exclaimed Yue, outraged by that answer, "How are you supposed to believe in something you don't know will work?"

Ronan shrugged with a grin, "Let's give it a try..."

Ronan pulled his travel pen and inkwell from his bag. Once the writing tools were placed, he urged them to fill the paper with some scribbling.

"Open the paper and draw something!" the man exclaimed with a smile. "Once you do, close the paper, and while you have it in hand, think of the person who should receive it. Then, if you want, send it to me, or why not, to Idda."

Fynn and Yue looked at each other, the first confused, the latter skeptical.

Then, Yue took the initiative, awkwardly trying to draw a face on the paper. Once that was done, she passed the inked pen to Fynn and folded the paper simply. Finally, the girl thought about sending it to the marked man sitting in front of her.

Yue was startled as the paper closed before her eyes and dropped it on the table. The letter became a black ball that spun on the table before quickly immolating itself.

Ronan, at that scene, couldn't help but laugh out loud as the brave and tough girl in front of him let out a small scream out of surprise.

"This is silly!" exclaimed Yue, angry and embarrassed.

"Too bad I didn't get to read your message," Ronan exclaimed with a chuckle, laughing even harder as Yue poked him with her black eyes. "Don't worry, I didn't expect you to make it the first... or second. Or third."

"Magic is dumb," Yue exclaimed, folding her arms.

"It just takes practice. Or being born with the talent..."

Ronan and Yue then watched as a bird flew into the middle of the pair's discussion. Next, both watched as a little black bird flew over the camp and landed where Idda was.

With heavy dark circles under her eyes, the red-haired girl had barely slept last night from the party and the first night's nerves. Together with Rulvir, the caravan's chef, they prepared cups of milk and plates of vegetables and bread to eat. Idda was startled to almost drop the jug with milk when she saw how a bird kept flying around her.

The girl then saw how that bird was made of paper. "What is...?"

As Idda took that bird in hand, it decayed, opening up and exposing the message inside; a smiley face. The girl raised her eyebrow in disbelief and turned her gaze around, observing her old traveling party.

Ronan and Yue soon turned to Fynn, who watched them blankly, not understanding what he had done.

"Was that bird yours?" asked Ronan.

"Y-Yes," exclaimed Fynn hesitantly.

"How did you do that?" asked Yue.

"I don't know, I swear!" exclaimed Fynn. "I just folded it and thought I'd send it to Idda."

Ronan watched Fynn in amazement, incredulous at what had happened.

"I guess that's a natural talent," Ronan exclaimed.

Ronan had figured something out, and the amazement was evident on his face.

After that incredible natural talent display, Ronan kept his word in teaching them that spell. But, as he had said, it was time to leave once that was done, so once they had eaten their breakfast, it was time to get back on the horses.

During breakfast, the group could see how the caravan members hit it off with the girl; it soon looked like she was going to become part of the family. Idda watched from across the table at Fynn and gave her a smile.

Finally, it was time to leave. The caravan bid them farewell.

"Last night's stories were good, Ronan," Yak exclaimed with a good-natured smile. "I hope you'll bring new and better ones next time."

"I'll do my best, old man," Ronan said, climbing into his saddle.

Idda hugged Fynn and Yue tightly, wrapping her arms around them in a seemingly endless embrace.

"I promise I will write you," Fynn exclaimed. "I'll learn, and I'll write you."

"I know you will; I'll look forward to your letters..." said the girl with a kind voice and smile.

"I... I owe you an apology," said Yue.

Idda looked at the girl in confusion.

The girl averted her gaze in sorrow, trying to find the words.

"When it happened..." the girl lowered her voice quickly as if, by doing so, she wished to avoid remembering the incident at the cabin. "I didn't want to go back. I didn't want to go back there, and I didn't want to go back to the city. I was afraid and..."

"You don't have to apologize, dear," Idda soon took the girl by her face and caressed it. "You were afraid; anyone in your situation would have felt the same..."

"Not everyone..." exclaimed Yue, peeking sideways at Idda's hand, then looking at Fynn.

"No, you're right," Idda exclaimed, hugging Fynn with her other arm.

"It's time to go!" Ronan called the children with that, and they soon ran to the horses. "We've got a long way to Lastrel ahead of us."

"Have a good trip," Idda exclaimed, watching the children mount their horses.

"You too, girl," Ronan said, smiling at that russet-haired girl, "I hope to hear good stories from you and that you can be free..."

Idda nodded, "Thank you, Mr. Ronan."

With a quick gallop, the group left the caravan, thus leaving Idda behind with her new life, a life that promised to have adventure and excitement.

Almost in the blink of an eye, the group crossed the town of Cansiff and then took the road that would lead them to the main road.

The roads were getting shorter, and they were only days away from finally reaching the ports. From there, their new life awaited them a sea away.