Chapter 2 - A New Home
It was the middle of summer and the sun was high in the middle of the sky, it was around noon. In the vast forest north of the capital of Elma was a small group of people travelling. The children were all kept inside the carriages pulled by horses given to the group by the Elma Kingdom.
During the few months after, the war died down, the people of the Ranaun tribe gathered near the capital and left soon after the meeting with the king. Many people of this small tribe died as they were sent for battle throughout the continent to hold back the Ragohu and other border country’s attack. However, due to this tribe’s high affinity with nature magic they contain high healing capabilities allowing them to survive through most attacks. Nonetheless, many people still died leaving some children without parents.
A red-tailed hawk was seen flying in the sky and it flew down into one of the carriages near the back of the small group at an extremely fast speed one with no training would not be able to see it.
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A hawk flew into the carriage and landed in front of an old man. This old man had grey-white hair and a medium length beard. He looked about 50 and had an aura of a leader or a king. He took the letter attached to the leg of the hawk and read it.
“It seems trouble is brewing yet again.” he said aloud with his brows knitted.
In the carriage there seems to be another person hidden in the shadows.
“So it seems you can’t escape after all.” the person said with a chuckle as if expecting the trouble to come.
“It is not something you need to interfere with. I refuse your services and that is final. Stop coming here bothering us.”
“Elder, please understand. I’m only here on a mission. I’ve already stated everything I need to say. Till the next time we meet...” the unknown person showed an amused smile and bowed. “If you are still here, of course.” The shadow disappeared leaving only the elder and the hawk in the carriage.
**sigh**
The elder let out a long sigh before burning the letter with magic and sent the hawk away. He then left the carriage and addressed to the person pulling the horse outside. It was a young looking man seemingly in his 20s.
“Lein, go and inform every family that we are going to have an announcement meeting at the next rest stop.”
Lein nodded and called for a man nearby man to take his place before he left to inform the families.
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The sun was setting in the horizon in the west. Sounds of the nocturnal beasts were heard in the distance. The carriages were lined up and some fires were lit for cooking purposes. A little distance away near a clear lake a few people were gathered. Most of these people were male and looked to be from 20 up to late 30s.
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*AHEM*
Everyone turned to face an old man standing on a raised platform made from vines.
“I had just received notice that we are going to be in the spotlight for a little while longer due to our large role in the war.” the Elder spoke. The people were silent listening to each word carefully. They all felt the ominous atmosphere the Elder is emitting.
“It is best if we stay cautious as we travel. We have finally been able to regain our freedom from the Kingdom. Most of you probably were not yet born when we first signed the contract. Many of our own had died while serving the Kingdom but now we shall turn over a new leaf. Those who stand here now are ones who decided to regain our independency. I have high hopes for everyone to recreate the most powerful magical tribe. But first we must survive. Our first priority is to protect the children, for they will be our pillars of support in the future.
According to this notice, this danger that creeps closer will fall upon us and the chances of survival are slim, but I have hope that it shall not be the end.”
“What does the notice say, Elder.” one of the men in the group asked.
The Elder sighed and shook his head slightly, “The letter only contained one word.”
Silence.
“‘DANGER’”
The one word, as if written in a hurry describe the unknown future. All the Renaun tribe had ever wanted was freedom: to roam the world and settle down in a peaceful area, to seclude themselves from conflict and war. However, due to their high value of honor of being debt-free they were chained to the Kingdom of Elma for 500 years. Now their chain had broken yet the shackles are still there.
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The meeting disperses and men from the families returned to their children and wives. In one of the carriages near the entrance sat Emy. Her skin reflected the moonlight giving her an ethereal glow. She waited until she saw a man with golden hair appear from the trail leading to the lake. She quickly stood up and went towards him.
“Is everything alright?” She asked as she approached him. She can sense the gloom around him.
“Mmm...just that we should be more cautious on our travels.” he responded with the slight smile. “How is Naulo?”
Emy smiled at her husband, “He is sleeping in the carriage. You must be hungry; I’ve prepared some food for us. Naulo’s already eaten some soup.”
Auo nodded and followed Emy into the carriage.
There were a total of 8 carriages for the 8 different families. These families were survivors of the Battle of Ev. The Renaun tribe had more people but some of them decided to stay within the cities of Elma and live their lives there. 8 carriages seems a lot but the Kingdom of Elma forced them to take it. The carriages were top quality with magic imbued onto them to make travelling more comfortable. A normal brown horse pulled each carriage. The carriages were high quality so it does not take much to pull it and horses were in high demand in the Kingdom at the moment due to the war.
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A year has past. In the snowy mountains of Esmori far to the north of the Elma continent near the borders. The weather in these mountains were either snowing or windy or both. The below freezing temperatures made human habitat near impossible. Nonetheless, the Renaun tribe was able to live there with ease. Due to their high magic affinity the mana covering their bodies block out the freezing winds.
On the side of one of the cliffs, small houses were set up in a semi-circular formation with the largest house in the center belonging to the elder. Storage houses for extra supplies and stables were placed in the center as well. The houses were made mainly of wood obtained from a nearby forest located 32km (~20 miles) to the east of the village and some ice for windows.
In one of the houses a small child was seen with their head near the ice window staring outside into the snow. The child had large round electric blue colored eyes surrounded by long eyelashes and glossy black hair reaching his mid-back and bangs that falls naturally over his forehead. The skin was ivory in color in contrast to the hair giving a delicate feel to the child. If one were to see this child one would think, “What a beautiful girl!”
“Naulo, come over here and put on this coat. Your father will return soon to take you to the elders for your test.” A sweet voice called from behind the child. The child turned around and jumped off the couch looking seat and headed towards the voice’s owner.
Emy brought out a very thick white fur coat and put it on Naulo. She completed his attire with thick mittens, boots, and a hat. People of the Renaun tribe can withstand the cold well, but Emy and Naulo were not part of the tribe so they had to equip themselves well before they leave so they don’t freeze to death.
“Now you just sit here and wait for your father, okay?” Emy asked Naulo and he nodded cutely. She then picked him up and placed him on the couch seat covered in white wolf fur and returned to the kitchen to cook dinner.
Naulo was now a little over a year old and was required to take a magical affinity examination. Children of every race everywhere take this exam at this age. It is unknown when this tradition started but never has one not taken it had survived. Supposedly, this test also activates one's magical power and allow the person to start absorbing mana from the atmosphere.
Now all Naulo had to do was wait for his father to come back from the meeting with the elders to set up the test. Naulo was the only one testing this time because children could only be borne to members of the Renaun tribe every 4 years at the very least. Children conceived between Renaun tribe members’ survival rates were also very low so not many children were born. Luckily, 3 children were born healthy a few years ago.
Naulo stood up on the couch and looked outside the window once more and waited.