A sweet aroma wafted throughout the campsite.

-"Orana's cooking never gets old!" Shiv said hefting his nose in the air.

-"How do you smell it already? Are you some kind of mutant or what?"

-"I am a wizard silly" He said rubbing her hair with a playful grin.

-"As IF, you couldn't even conjure snow if you tried" Vyla responded.

Coming through the last trees they could clearly see the wagons parked in the large clearing. It was the same clearing they parked at the start of summer last year and it will be the same the next. There were thirteen wagons with twelve of them belonging each to a family and the last wagon being the elder's.

The wagons were pulled by a creature very similar to that of an ox but the caravan did not need to be fast. Coming closer the laughter of children could be heard with the occasional shouts of men and women. The wagons were placed like a protective barrier around the campfires in the middle.

At the edge of one of the wagons a lone women stood peering at them. Irna greeted them with a yelp bordering on angry and happy as she headed straight for Shiv. Shiv stopped and took on a bashful expression as he tried to formulate a sentence in his head. Irna was a tall woman especially for her age of 21. A bit slender for her height but otherwise she looked quite pretty. Red long hair and yellow eyes with freckles around them.

Irna came to a stop glaring daggers at Shiv.

-"Shiv you said you'd be back yesterday and Varko told you to, to.. Well he told you to do something!!" She screamed at him.

-"Alright, alright it's all my fault, sorry Irna. We uhhhh.. Got sidetracked by.. by some Farnekks? He said not trusting his own words.

Irnas eyes went wide. "Farnekks!?" She quickly approached Vyla asking her if she was okay and checking for wounds if she had eaten alright. Did Shiv put her in danger and so on. It was kind of endearing but she had enough of this from Orana already. Shaking her head at any accusations against her companion Shiv let out a sigh in relief.

-"Don't think you're in the green yet, Come here Vyla there's soup and bread."

Shiv held his breath until the pair had vanished behind some wagons. Those two will be a handful in a couple of years. Irna had taken it upon herself to educate Vyla in the ways of ladies when they had become betrothed. After spending a year in service of lady Ghaela she had become obsessed with anything deemed lady like.

Better get in some practice before dinner. Shiv stumbled off to find his uncle for some sparring.

Irna led the way through the camp and Vyla followed with her stomach growling loudly. They sat themselves down by a large pot simmering above a fire. Next to them a pair of older women were talking. They gave Orana a look of disapproval and ignored her while greeting Vyla with a smile.

Irna returning the favour quickly scooped up some soup into two bowls and nabbed some bread. Vyla, slightly uncomfortable motioned to Irna that they could sit somewhere else.

-"I'm fine right here" Irna said.

-"Are they still mad about you serving Lady Ghaela?"

-"Well I can't blame them. All we're told is that we are safer together and any who leaves are effectively banished. Such a barbaric custom" She said to Vyla almost whispering that last bit. Vyla nodded and taking a bite out of the bread.

-"Well when I grow up I'm gonna travel the world, I love you guys but it's boring here." She said slightly hugging Irna.

-"You better take me with you then.. And Shiv of course, don't worry I'll keep an eye on him" Irna smiled at her. "Oh you better hurry up and finish! The elder was looking for you and your mother"

Vyla nodded and slurped down the rest of the soup, standing up she said. "Thanks for the soup Irna and she's not my mother!" Vyla jogged towards her wagon only to see that it was empty. She turned to the largest wagon in the group and started to walk briskly.

She looked up the steps leading into the wagon and took a deep breath. Her mother or loving caretaker as she had nicknamed her stood inside speaking with the elder. She looked to be around 40 summers old and had short blond hair. She used to be a mercenary and you could tell as she looked strong enough to lift a small wagon.

Upon her arrival the pair turned to her and Orana stepped towards her. She took her head in her arms and hugged using a bit too much strength. After the hug she steeled herself against the onslaught that were about to commence. However Orana stayed quiet. Well.. That's new. Vyla thought visibly confused.

-"You're about to become an adult Vyla I can't fret over you anymore" Orana said with a sigh.

-"We'll be passing by the ceremonial grounds in two weeks. Now.. Do you remember where these grounds are located? Elder Nim said taking on an educational tone.

-"uhh near Travosk?" She guessed haphazardly.

-"No girl, it's in the Travoski mountains. Travosk is on the other side. Now we'll be having studies every day for two hours until we've reached the foot of the mountains"

Vyla swallowed in trepidation "But I have sword practice and herb-lore, and, and.." she trailed off.

Orana answered "No sword or bow training until you've passed the ceremony" Vyla looked ready to sulk but quickly changed her mind seeing both the elders and Oranas stern faces.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

-"Let's start our lessons now, Orana if you would be so kind" Orana nodded in response and left the door after hugging Vyla again.

Vyla sighed as she tuned out the elders voice to a mere background hum.

It was dark when she exited the elders wagon. Nim had forced her to learn the history behind the ceremony by heart. Feeling hungry again she stalked towards her wagon in hope to scavenge some leftovers from dinner. On her way over she remembered the book she took from the scary place. She also recalled the whole place ripping apart the earth shrink into a cube and then melt into her hand.

Well I wanted change so I guess this is it? Ruffling through her pack she couldn't find it. Huh? Where is it? Hey give me my book back She thought angrily. On her command a myriad of small black metal pieces erupted from her hands. They formed together in front of her in to a book. The same book. It landed in her palms gently and it only took a few seconds.

Vyla stood still for almost a minute before she started to look through the book. It felt nothing like metal. It seemed to describe this NX-009 anything relating to it. She could barely read in the dark so she saved it for tomorrow. Hopefully she could find some time to read between her busy work, hopefully.  Finding that Orana was already sleeping she wondered where Shiv was. Oh right hes spending the nights at Irnas family's wagon as part of the betrothal. Vyla quickly fell asleep.

Total darkness enveloped her as she opened her eyes. It was not morning yet, where am I? She tried to peer through the void but couldn't see anything. Suddenly a low light appeared around an object which seemed to take up the center of the room. Vyla recognized it as a larger version of the metal cube which she had assimilated. Approaching slowly she stretched out her hand, it was warm and she could hear a slight hum emanating from within.

The cube lowered itself with stairs taking shape indicating for Vyla to ascend. She stepped on to the first step as it moved by itself taking her to the top. On top rested a strange object. It floated there a few inches above the cube. It vaguely looked like Lady Ghaela's weapon. Orana had told her it could kill at a distance faster and more accurate than a bow or crossbow.

This one looked smaller and more lethal. In a way it made Ghaela's weapon look rudimentary. Suddenly it turned into a spear and then a sword. It took on the shape of a few other weapons finally settling on a pitch black dagger. Vyla walked up and grabbed it. She inspected and threw it into the air. While in the air it transformed into two short swords which she caught on their way down.

I think I'm getting the hang of this, they take whatever form I wish! She held them towards the light wherever it came from and tried to think of adorning her weapons. The hilt and handle quickly changed color but the blade remained black. Looking quite pleased with herself she heard a familiar screech behind her.

Quickly turning around she could see a fully black ghast. It screeched again as it lunged for her. I dunno how to wield two swords what the hell, Why is a ghast here. The dual swords transformed into a single one but too late as she could feel nothing...

Vyla screamed.

-"What's wrong Vyla! Come one wake up!" Vyla opened her eyes to see Orana standing above her in the wagon. Holding her hands to her throat she felt no wound or anything really. A dream.. No it was more than a dream. I know my dreams.

-"What's gotten you so scared Vyla not even Nim's horror stories spooked you when you were younger."

Shaking her head in reply she dressed herself and started helping with breakfast. Vyla speculated heavily while trying to listen to Orana's prattling. What is that cube thing? Can I make armor for myself? Can I make a house or a ghast?

A flick to her forehead brought her back to the conversation. "Did you listen to a thing I said Vyla?" Vyla hesitated before shaking her head in denial. "Well I hope you pay better attention to the elder's lessons, you are doing that right?"

-"Yes Orana" She answered. "You know you can call me mother you know I love you right?" Orana said. Vyla nodded and smiled "I love you too mom."

-"Well don't keep the elder waiting off you go." Orana smiled and shooed her away.

She sat through the lessons with the elder almost falling asleep. After the lessons she had herb-lore and then she had to do her part and hunt for food. Her herb lore teacher and todays companion in her hunt was named Syde. Orana was the leader in a straight up fight and Syde was the authority a non straight up fight. If it involved scouting, foraging, hunting or bowmanship she knew a thing or two.

The caravan was a tight knit community like a family on its own. When a pair become betrothed they start to save up for a wagon or build a wagon themselves. As long as they acquire a wagon with their own efforts they may marry and add to the caravan. They are even allowed to start their own caravan and many have done so over the years. The legend says that there was only two wagons in the beginning and now there were hundreds or thousands spread out over the world.

They had no contact between them however unless they would cross paths. To outsiders they were simply nicknamed drifters. There were tales of outlying Caravans taking to the seas and those were called floaters. To them however they were all family. Every child had to learn, if you were not a productive member of the family at thirteen summers you were left behind.

Two weeks passed quickly by. Herb lore, Elders lessons, Sparring with mother and Shiv. Vyla had been kept busy as the caravan set up camp at the base of the mountains. Up ahead somewhere in the mountains the ceremonial grounds could be found.

-"So.. Do you feel ready?" A rough voice sounded off behind her followed by a slight chuckle.

-"I'm as ready as I'm ever gonna get uncle Varko.. I think" She answered him.

-"Well don't go and embarrass us now girl just remember what you've learned and it'll be easy"

Vyla nodded while putting on a smile but she was feeling a bit dismayed. She had failed to summon the cube outside her body if that's even possible she thought. She had not had any more dreams either and the book was gone yet again.

Bringing her back from her thoughts she could feel a yank on her fur. One of the children had approached her and asked: "Whatts the cerimony vayla? ar yuu gonna bi okai?"

"Well Raci, you see the mountains right. Up there somewhere is the ceremony grounds. Part of the ceremony is to survive for a week in the mountains. After a week I need to return with a fur from any animal, my own handcrafted bow and a special rock which can be found near the ceremony grounds.

Raci looked confused for a second. "Soo wi stai herr one wiik?" Vyla nodded and Raci sprinted off.

The next day. The whole caravan had gathered at the edge of the camp. The elder stood at the end with her hand on Vylas shoulder while addressing the crowd. It took about ten minutes, short and efficient.

"Now.. We bring our child Vyla in front of the gods and may she bring honor to our caravan!"

Shiv and Irna came up to hug her and wished her luck. Orana merely nodded at her but she could see a tear slide down from a distance. The elder bent down and handed her the only weapon she was allowed to bring. A single dagger.

The elder suddenly pushed her and turned to walk away from her as the crowd followed suit.

The ceremony had started..