Chapter 12 - The way back
Yue closed the book and stretched her limbs and released her light orb. In her past life when her parents were still alive they always stressed the importance of staying in one place when lost. That way the people who look for you don’t keep passing you by, it was why Yue choose to stop here where it looked like it was the city square. But right now Yue couldn’t even focus on reading since when lost you really feel like looking yourself instead of relying on others. Yue could try and use the wind mana to search for her father but even though Yue had known this before she was hesitant to use it. Unlike a small common light orb the wind magic going throughout the city might catch the notice of a mage.
Yue sat depressed on the fountain focusing on not walking randomly and getting more lost. ‘Must stay in one place,’ Yue repeated in her head even as her feet started a rapid impatient tapping.
“Yue!”
“Yue!”
Yue sat up straight, someone was yelling her name! Standing Yue looked around but not spotting anyone decided to call back.
“I am here!”
Yue heard footfalls and then springing out from a corner her father appeared. He looked hazarded and worn out, but upon making eye contact his face lit up. Both Yue and Brian ran toward each other and then Brian hugged Yue tight.
“You are grounded when we get home.” Brian said with a slight catch in his voice.
“Un,” Yue had no argument she was at fault after all.
Then even though Yue was six years old Brian swept her up in his arms and headed back to the weapon shop. His old friend offered a spare room since his oldest daughter had gotten married and moved out.
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Yue sat in the wagon while she waited for her father to make a deal with the caravan master. The caravan master had an african skin tone and had the build of a warrior rather than what the previous overweight caravan master. Swinging her legs Yue looked around the caravan and noticed it wasn’t just the caravan master that was in good shape. Last time only the guards looked fit for battle but in this one each member that were helping load wagons were battle ready. It didn’t look like there were any mages but each caravan member had warrior garments and weapons. Just as Yue was thinking about pulling out her book she spotted someone near her age if not older.
Her hair was black, braided in tens of braids then gathered in a high ponytail. Like the caravan master and many others in this caravan she had an african skin tone and a fit body. Yue also noted curiously that she had a bow staff tied on her back that had iron spikes at the two ends. The girl was moving about the caravan with practiced ease stopping to talk and help others with the wagons.
Yue had a startled jump when her father hopped into the drivers seat, she had been so distracted that she didn’t notice him come up.
“We were lucky Yue. Not only is this caravan headed in the right direction but they are leaving today. Although in exchange for protection in addition to pay I have agreed that we will help out with the group chores.” Brian smiled at Yue.
Yue nodded at her father, in fact she had been surprised that last time they hadn’t been expected to help. Besides the more work you have the less likely you will have time for boredom.
The caravan started to move but this time rather then talk Yue and Brian lapsed into a comfortable silence. At one point Yue took out her book and read about the travels of Theo but the wagon remained in a calm silence. On the second day Yue’s reading was interrupted by battle cries in the air as a group of bandits rushed out of the forest in the front and side of the caravan blocking passage.
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Brian jumped out of the wagon and grabbed a sword he kept by the diver’s seat, “Yue get to the inside of the wagon!” Brian yelled then rushed to face a bandit that was running toward them.
Yue jumped down and ran toward the back of the wagon when she spotted the girl from earlier. With bow staff in hand she was fighting off a bandit along side her fellow caravan members. Coming to a decision Yue quickly rushed to one of the fallen bandits and gabbed his dagger. Although Yue would rather a sword either one or two adult weapons were still too heavy and large for Yue’s age and height. Dagger gipped tightly Yue ran toward the girl who now was being double teamed and starting to lose. Yue was at the backs of the two bandits when she reached them. The girl noticed Yue and quickly tried to signal Yue to leave but it distracted her and the bandit’s blade sliced a cut on her forearm. Yue didn’t run but rather sliced the dagger at one of the bandit’s inner knees. The bandit screamed out before losing balance and falling. Surprised at the sudden fall of his companion the second bandit instinctively turned around to see Yue only to get his head bashed from the girl. Both Yue and the girl quickly glanced around for other bandits but all of them seemed to have been taken out by the rest of the caravan.
The girl turned to Yue with a smile and nod, “Good job, I didn’t expect someone so small to be able to do anything.”
Yue pouted slightly at that, what the girl said was true Yue was on the short side while the girl was tall. “Thanks.” Yue replied with a bit sarcasm.
The girl laughed and put out her hand. “I am Nivita, eight years old.”
Yue gave a slight smile and shook hands. “Yue, six years old.”
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The two became fast friends after that and always were together in the caravan. Yue with her father’s permission (he was uninjured from the battle) even slept and traveled in Nivita’s wagon. It turned out Nivita was the caravan master’s daughter and had been traveling with her father since she was a baby. Nivita told Yue about how she would run the caravan one day and Yue told Nivita about how she would become a great crafter. When the caravan stopped for the night Yue and Nivita did chores together and by the fifth day Yue felt as if Nivita was more of a sister than a friend.
During the final hour of the trip Yue gripped two friendship bracelets in her hands as she tried to figure out if it was the right thing to do. After the third day Nivita mentioned on how she hoped to see Yue one day again but knew it was unlikely and even if they did they may not recognize each other. Yue had been depressed after that and thought of the idea of magic or rather enchantment. After watching her father for years Yue had figured out how to do the simplest enchantments and was able to make two bracelets from strings that glowed when near each other. However Yue knew that it would mean that Nivita might figure out about Yue’s magic, so Yue still wasn’t quite sure it was the best choice.
The wagon started to slow and Nivita jumped in with a glum face, “I guess this is goodbye.”
Yue felt tears gather and knew that her decision was made, she needed a slight hope of meeting again. Yue held out her hands and opened them showing Nivita the bracelets. “These bracelets glow when they get near each other, If we both have one then maybe one day we will see them glow again and can look for each other.”
Nivita stared at the bracelets then at Yue, before placing one on her wrist. Pulling Yue into a hug Nivita said, “We will meet again I know it. And when we do I expect you to craft me the best weapon you can.”
Yue hugged Nivita back just as tight. “Un.”
Brian peeked his head in the wagon. “Time to go Yue.”
Yue and Nivita separated, the caravan moved on and Yue with her father moved their wagon to the village entrance.