Elyndra leaned back in her seat, feeling the gentle sway of the wagon as it bumped along the road. At first, the movement was kind of fun, like being rocked in small boat. But as the hours passed, her excitement about leaving Renway, and the sadness too, started to fade, and all that was left was a big, boring feeling.

She stared out the window, watching the trees and hills roll by. The world outside looked like a never-ending painting, with everything starting to blur together after a while. She sighed and shifted in her seat, wishing she could practice her Pebblemancy. But the wagon wasn’t very big, and she didn’t want to accidentally send a pebble flying and break something.

With nothing else to do, Elyndra decided to make a plan, a plan for what she would do when she got to school. She reached into her bag and pulled out her little notebook and a pencil. The notebook was one of her favorite things, its pages a bit wrinkled from being opened and closed so many times. She liked writing down her thoughts and dreams, and right now, she needed something to think about besides the bumpy road.

Flipping to a blank page, she started to write:

1. Make friends who like books.

As she wrote it down, Elyndra thought about how much she loved spending time in the library back in Renway, spending time with Mara. She hoped her new school would have a library just as cozy, with shelves full of books to explore. But more than that, she hoped there would be other kids who liked books too. She wanted friends who would get excited about stories the way she did, friends who wouldn’t think she was weird for loving to read so much.

2. Learn how to be the best Pebblemancer ever.

This one made her pause. Elyndra remembered the first time she had tried to use her magic without really knowing what she was doing. It had been so hard, and she’d gotten so tired afterward. But then, when she used the Pebble Shot skill, it was like the magic just flowed out of her without any effort at all. The pebble had zipped across the room, and her mana hardly went down at all.

Why was that? Elyndra tapped the pencil against her chin, thinking hard. It didn’t seem fair that using her own magic without a skill took so much more energy. She hadn’t had a chance to ask Priest Jamesson about it before she left, and now the question was buzzing around in her mind, making her curious and a little frustrated. Maybe the teachers at the school would explain it. She really hoped they would. She wanted to understand how her magic worked, and why the class skills made it so much easier.

Would she learn new skills at school? Ones that were even more powerful? The idea made her feel a little excited again. There was so much she didn’t know yet, and she couldn’t wait to learn.

3. Find a way to make money so I can come back to Renway often.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

This one was important to Elyndra. She didn’t know much about how to make money, but she knew that traveling probably cost a lot. If she wanted to visit Renway, to see Nina and everyone else, she’d need to save up. Maybe she could find a job at the school, or maybe there was a way to use her magic to earn some coins. She didn’t have all the answers yet, but she was determined to figure it out. Renway was her home, and she wanted to be able to go back whenever she missed it.

4. Bring the family some presents.

Elyndra smiled as she wrote this down. She wanted to bring something special back for everyone in Renway. Maybe she could find or even make some magical trinkets, or dig out some special books, or something else that would show them how much they meant to her. She didn’t know what those presents would be yet, but she knew she’d find something. She wanted them to know she was thinking of them, even when she was far away.

Elyndra looked at her list and felt a little better. Having goals made her feel like she was in control of her journey, like she was taking the first steps toward something big and important. She knew the road ahead would be long, and there would be challenges, but she was determined to make the most of it.

The wagon slowed down and came to a stop. Elyndra looked up, surprised. They had arrived in a small town with a big sign that said “Spacre.” The driver hopped down from his seat and spoke to her through the window.

“We’ll be spending the night here,” he explained. “I’d recommend you sleep in the wagon,” he said with one of those smiles that adults use when they’re planning something sneaky.

Elyndra looked around the wagon. It wasn’t exactly cozy, even with its soft seats. She frowned a little, not sure how she was supposed to sleep in here, there wasn't even a pillow.

The driver noticed her hesitation, and his grin suddenly grew huge, his eyes twinkling with mischief having got the reaction he wanted. “Watch this, the carriage will soon be Fit For a Princess,” he said, and with a wave of his hand, the inside of the wagon began to change.

Elyndra gasped as she watched the walls stretch out, making the wagon bigger. In the middle of the space, a cozy little bed appeared, complete with warm blankets and pillows.

“Now it’s fit for a princess,” the driver said with a wink.

Elyndra stared in amazement. “How did you do that?” she asked, her voice filled with wonder.

“It’s magic,” the driver said with a chuckle. “Spatial magic, to be exact. It lets me make more room inside the wagon and bring out some furniture, so it’s nice and comfy for you. One of my more dramatic Driver class abilities.”

Elyndra’s eyes sparkled with excitement. She had read about spatial magic, but seeing it in real life was so much more amazing. “Thank you,” she said, her heart swelling with happiness. “This is so cool!”

The driver smiled and patted the side of the wagon. “Anything for you, little lady. Now, get some rest. Tomorrow’s another big day of travel. We’ll be picking up some more little ones in the morning, heading the same way as you in fact.” He said with a wink. "Maybe you won't be so bored for the rest of the way"

Elyndra nodded, face growing red with embarrassment whilst suddenly beaming with delight as she jumped onto the bed to hide. The bed was soft and warm, and as she snuggled under the blankets into a little cocoon, she felt safe and happy. She closed her eyes, thinking about all the adventures that awaited her. The driver gave a quick chuckle before closing the window.

“Goodnight,” she whispered to herself, and with that, she drifted off to sleep, dreaming of the new friends she would make in the morning and the magic she would learn.