Scorching sunbeams beat down onto vast plains of green through thick broken clouds.

Warm summer winds bellowed, sifting through the grassy overgrowth, and onto a small hill bordering a forest of green.

There, a single tree made its home. Its broad canopy veiled the entire hill in shadow, and thereupon its trunk, a young woman slept.

She had almond-colored skin and a head crowned by dark, crimson-colored curls. The wavy hair gently hung over thick brows and her round, warm, freckled face. Her short, pointed ears peeked out from between the red coils, twitching whenever a strong breeze rolled through.

She wore a drab gray tunic and worn brown leather pants, the clothes looking slightly too big on her slender frame.

Her bare feet, exposed to the open air, were calloused and dirty. And in her arms, she loosely held a makeshift spear of wood, stone, and twine.

The wind intensified, rousing the lady from her slumber. Lids pulled back, revealing dark gray orbs set charmingly within their sockets. Eyes that quickly widened as she urgently scanned the sky for the sun's position.

Her name was Sora, and she had slept quite a bit longer than she intended.

“Ahh fuck.”

Quickly rising to her feet, she dropped the spear, scrambling around the tree as she shouted.

“Shoes, shoes, where are my shoes?!”

Sora spotted them halfway down the hill, a pair of brown leather sandals, and fastened them on as quickly.

Sprinting down the hill, she ran into the grass, heading towards the forest.

She went into the woods, dodging fallen trees, rotting logs, and errant overgrowth, booking it as fast and soon arrived at a small valley. Sora looked down from above at Tassau, a small village nestled on a river, between rolling hills and verdant farmland.

A stone mansion sat some distance away on the slope, surrounded by high stone walls.

Her eyes stayed on it for a second before she started her descent, occasionally dodging trees, and bushes before kicking off another sprint at the bottom, entering and then racing through the village.

She ran to the opposite side of Tassau, soon coming upon a cottage. Smoke slowly rising from its central stone chimney.

Slowing down to a jog, Sora opened the door and went inside.

As soon as she spotted her by the central hearth, she Immediately apologized.

“I’m so sorry, Farrah, I overslept.” and bent down, out of breath from the strenuous run.

Said woman tended to a large boiling pot. She sat on a chair, a spoon in hand, stirring what already smelled like some incredibly fragrant soup. “Good afternoon to you too, Sora.” She said, ignoring the apology.

“Come, taste, and tell me what you think.” She said, holding out the spoon.

Getting closer, Sora sampled the meal.

Slurping up the broth, she quickly went for seconds to confirm her thoughts that although tasty, the meal was still lacking somewhat due to Farrah’s conservative use of spices.

“It’s alright, but double up on the spices. It feels like you add less and less every time you cook. If this keeps going, We’ll be drinking meat water soon.” she joked.

“Oh please, It tastes as great as always. We’ll see how you feel when you’re the one paying for them. ” Farrah retorted with a snort.

Chuckling, Sora grabbed some bowls from the kitchen corner and sat down beside Farrah, handing her a bowl, and began to fill her own with soup.

The two ate in silence, the occasional slurping and crackling fire the only sounds in the room.

“So… Have you decided on where you’ll be heading?” Farrah asked.

“I’m not sure. I think I’ll just follow Salim until he gets to the largest town on his route.

Then maybe get some directions to Lenstatt or ask for his suggestions.” she answered.

“Alright then, just make sure you stay safe, okay?” Farrah said, giving Sora a deep look. “I will,” she replied with a small smile.

Sora sighed. She wouldn’t be coming back, not until she learned more about her past.

Ten years ago, the two farmers had found her. A weak and malnourished kid wandering about their farmland. No recollection of her past or how she came to be in some remote village nearly a dozen leagues from its neighbors.

She owed the two more than she could ever give for taking her in and sharing their home.

Yet even that wasn't enough to keep Sora here, not anymore.

The door rattled, drawing Sora out of her head as Thane walked in through the door,

likely summoned by the smell of bubbling soup.

He was a tall, and hairy man, making for a stark contrast when he and Farrah stood together.

“Welcome back boss, care for some soup?” Sora asked, already filling a third bowl.

“Isealon bless you, child. Thank you,” he answered, taking the bowl and sitting next to Farrah.

As the three continued eating in silence, Sora opened her Atlas.

Listra Gormund

Rank: ✦

Genus: Provost

Class: Light Caster

Health: 100/100

Stamina: 120/120

Mana: 120/120

Stats:

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

Might: 10

Durability: 10

Agility: 14

Intellect: 13

Wisdom: 10

Source: 11

Essence — 43

Skills:

* Spear Mastery — T0 lvl 8

* Pilot — T0 lvl 5

Wish I had enough time to exercise more, maybe raise my strength a couple of points before E-rank, but I can do it after. I’m already so close I can taste it!

Closing the Atlas, Sora finished her bowl and waited for the other two.

After lunch, the three of them headed back outside. Farrah and Thane had their portion of the farmland to work, and so did she.

A couple of hours later, the sun sat well past midway in the sky. Only four to five hours of sunlight remained, and Sora had to get to the caravan before they left.

She’d dreaded and looked forward to this day for weeks as the time came closer and closer for her to say goodbye. Having packed her bag the day before and went inside the cottage to grab it, and change into an Identical and slightly less dusty set of clothes.

Thane and Farrah stood by the hearth, sporting sad smiles. She hugged them, tears streaming down her face. “I love you two. Thank you for dealing with me for so long.” She uttered between tears. “I don't know where I'd be without you guys.”

“Of course, dear. I wouldn't have it any other way”, said Farrah, her eyes welling with tears.

Meanwhile, a quiet Thane gave her a strong pat on the back, its message clear.

Fearing that she might not leave at all if she stayed any longer. She mustered the courage to break away from the pair as the three of them walked outside. “Once I become a rich noble in some faraway city, I’ll come back for you guys, okay?” she half-joked.

“So don't any of you kick the bucket while I'm gone, yeah?”

Farrah and Thane nodded along and smiled, neither understanding the idiom, but they had accepted their adopted daughter’s occasionally odd quirks and mannerisms long ago.

“May Isealon guide your steps and, Elandali, your dreams.” Said the two as they bowed. Sora returned the gesture and gave them both one last peck on the cheek, before waving goodbye as she started her trek towards the town market.

On the way through, she said her goodbyes and many more farewells to the neighbors and people she’d come to know over the past decade. Many more kids her age and younger said goodbyes of their own, handing her little luck trinkets and homemade gifts to take along on her journey.

A couple of minutes of trekking through the village led her to its center, the market. If it could even be called one. The place was nothing more than a glorified clearing.

Several carriages took up more than half of the area there, while over a dozen people milled around them, storing and double-checking their straps and stored goods. While others fed and prepared the horses for departure.

Quickly making a detour, Sora stopped to feed and pet the creatures, caressing their silken black fur as if a long-lost lover before being chased off by the handler.

Continuing onwards, she spotted Salim, a thin, middle-aged man with a scroll and quill in his hands. He wore thick gray robes and stood at the very front of the string of carriages.

The Nykh had skin of a deep purplish-blue hue, while his head and facial hair were a snowy white. He had white orbs in place of his iris and pupils, a stark contrast to his sclera that were a dark and dull gray.

“Sa-aal!” she called out, “your favorite customer is here!”

“Hello Sora,” he chuckled, giving her a look over.

“I see you’ve made up your mind, Should I assume you’re still adamant about leaving town?” He asked.

“I don’t intend on staying here another day, if that's what you mean.” She replied, sporting a grin. “I’d walk all the way to the capital if I had to.”

“And I don’t doubt that one bit,” he replied. Sighing, as he directed his attention back to the scroll.

“So, what’s our first stop?” Sora continued as she dropped her bag on the ground.

“Another village about two days heading south, near Walden” he replied, scribbling some more onto the scroll.

“Mind if I ask a personal question?” he continued

“You just did,” she answered with a snicker. Ignoring the quip, he asked anyway.

“Why are you so intent on leaving? You likely live in one of the safest provinces in the kingdom, if not the continent.” he asked.

Rolling her eyes, she fired back another question. “Did you become a merchant just to sit in one place and not go anywhere?”

“Yes,” he said, completely serious.

Sora snorted at his answer. “Well, you don’t seem to be doing a great job of it.”

“Well, trust me, if I had it my way, I’d be back home with servants feeding me Podberries by the bunch,” he said with a frown.

Chuckling at the merchant's misfortune, she finally gave an answer.

“I’ve lived here for years, and as nice as it is. I want to see more of the world out there, besides I don't want to spend the rest of my life here, hiding every time the faith comes looking for aco-.”

Interrupting her with a loud cough, Salim gave her a low glare, “OF COURSE YOU WOULD, it is nothing to be ashamed of, not many can stand before the priests of the faith and not feel shame.” He said, peeking back at his crew.

“Sorry, I was… Uh… YES! I as a mage am just much too embarrassed to show my face beside the blessed ones of the holy faith.” She quickly recited, trying her best to look ashamed.

Shaking his head with a deep sigh, the merchant continued in a lower voice. “As for your call to adventure, I just hope you don't bite off more than you can chew.” He finished, releasing an exhausted huff as he noted one last item on the scroll before rolling it up and tucking it somewhere inside the leading coach.

“By the way, Where do I put my bags?” asked Sora, looking at the loaded Carriages.

“You'll be riding in the front with me,” Sal replied. “You can place your bags there.”

She turned to him with a growing smile, “Aww thank you, you love me that much?”

Giving her a squinting look, he said. “No, I just fear you’ll swipe some goods while no one’s looking.”

Sora chuckled, suddenly finding the nearby stonework incredibly captivating.

“Oh, come on, it was one time. Plus, I was just a kid. If I knew those berries were that expensive, I wouldn't have accepted the bet and put them right back where I found them.”

He said, “well-” However, a commotion from the market entrance interrupted their conversation. Sora looked over only to discover several guards in the shaman king's signature black armor walking over to the carriage.

“Lord Merlyn’s retinue? What are they doing down here? I already gave him everything.” Salim said to himself. Turning back to face her, he said. “Sora get in the Cart. I’ll attend to them before we go.”

Following his directions, she happily began to back away, getting an uneasy feeling from the incoming group. But one of the five guards yelled out before she even took three steps, zeroing in on her. “HALT!”

Sora stopped, as her stomach began to churn, bile threatening to rise up to make their exit.

What hello would they want with me? Is it because I'm with Salim? Or maybe one of the crew reported me…

She gave the merchant a side-eyed glare, whispering. “What the hell did you drag me into?!”

Equally frustrated, Sal returned the question. “I should be asking you that! What did you do to get his attention? I told you to stay quiet!”

Sora was ready to snap back at him, but the merchant cut her off, “In either case shut it and let me do the talking, and don’t make eye contact.”

“Got it?” he reiterated.

“Yeah, I got it.” she whispered.

The guards stopped before the two visibly nervous fellows, and Salim stepped towards, immediately taking the lead.

“Good evening gents, does Lord Merlyn require my service once more?”

Yet the leading guard ignored him, treating the merchant as one would an ant, and spoke, talking directly to her. His voice had a deep and grinding timbre, sounding as if she was talking to a man of stone.

“Lord Merlyn has requested your presence, you will come with us at once,” He commanded. While glassy, murk-filled eyes bored straight through her from behind the black helm.

A blur of gray, blue, and white suddenly entered her view as Sal stepped in between the two and tried once again to take control of the situation, this time a bit more aggressively.

The wind around the market intensified, as it began to surge through the area with increasing force.

Sora couldn’t see the merchant's face, but she could certainly imagine what he looked like right now, instantly recognizing the telltale signs of his magic. This immediately doubled her heartbeats, her brow sweating as the situation was getting increasingly hostile.

She looked over at the villagers, who were starting to congregate around the edge of the market, curious and utterly unaware of the growing danger.

Should I tell them to get away? No, that might just set off the guards, and Sal is outnumbered. Shit shit shit! What the fuck can we even do here?!

Outnumbered and surrounded by her neighbors, Sora had a decision to make. Although it sure didn't feel like one, as she could take a stand and resist or bend down and capitulate.

Either way, someone was going to suffer.