A Time Of Meetings

Before them

Author's note: I'm sorry if I missed or mistype some of your names.

Thank you so much to my best buddy, for drawing the cover! Go and check her out on XandyRox246 DeviantArt! She's really cool and she has lots of beautiful drawings!
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She was artistic at heart, at least that's what everyone says. For 2 weeks, she disappeared to her mother's homeland, in search of a new inspiration and at the same time, running away from the expectations of her fellow villagers. They wanted her to be one of the top knights fighting against threats and serve to protect this country.

She is the future. The children were the future. They said.

However, she had another thing in mind. She wanted to be a dreamer, to be the best of what she was capable of, but how? She questions herself everyday. Surely her mother doesn't know how to help, since her mother wasn't exactly the artistic type, but she was always supportive. Her father would have loved to help, but sadly he now resides in a far away land, even higher than the skies above.

No matter how far, his photo was there on the altar to remind them of his existence. He was alive. He was with them and he was never gone. To die, is the absence of love.

"Did you hear about it?"

"Who didn't?"

"I'm so excited for it! I can't wait to meet them again."

"They do have special charms that attract people."

"It feels like a dream."

The crowd goes wild as the news spread like a raging fire, in the dry field with strong wind above. The news about the visitors, from foreign lands and nearby the local village. The knights and magicians together with others, who possess the strength and courage many admired and looked up to.

Meanwhile, the art dreamer returns home with her mother on the carriage pulled by horses without a rest since earlier. As she reaches home on the doorstep, her friend became the first to welcome her back with the latest news.

"Nice to see you again, Tyra." She greeted her friend that came running at her without the thought of stopping.

"WELCOME BACK!" Tyra paused her steps at the very last moment. "You wouldn't believe what happened! "

"What is it?" She became worried.

"There were visitors that came to our village, while you were gone! Even though our village wasn't known by all- Hey, are you listening?" Tyra questioned as she pause on her words.

She grabbed her keys from her pocket, and opened the door. "Yes, I am. Go on. What were their business here?" She spoke in a monotone voice, perhaps she was just tired from the journey.

"Anyway, I think you should meet them!"

"What? Why would you suggest that?" She faced Tyra with a serious expression.

"Oh, come on, don't act dumb. You know you're interested. This is the time! You should go for it! They're putting out invites to join them in the lessons. You can finally stop being what others want you to be, and be honest about your true self."

"I....I don't know, Tyra. I'm not sure, but I'll give it a thought, ok?"

"Sure. Well then, i guess I'll head back home now. My parents might get worried." Tyra waved at her goodbye and turned around to return home.

"Hey, what about you?" She asked.

"I wanted to go at first, but it looks like I'm packed on schedule. I've been chosen to go out of the village for a while. You know, for the new equipments?" Tyra sounded troubled. " If you decide to go there, do tell me your experience there. And don't worry about me, I'll meet them when the next chance comes."
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It was at night after dinner. She felt unsettled.

"Do you need to go somewhere?" Her mother asked.

"Um.....maybe. I'll just head out for a while to see the news board. Perhaps there's something interesting there?" She washed the dishes before she went on her short stroll.

"Be careful, and don't be too long." Her mother reminded her.

With each step she took, she looked up the stars-filled night sky. Admiring the little bright dots in the dark and avoid into bumping trees on her way there. The lights at some part of the village also guides her path towards the one destination, she wish to see.

On a big wide board pinned against tree trunks, filled with papers of jobs and latest information about the world, among them appeared a paper to her interest.

It says "Light Your Future, Eureka!"

She noticed how, not many of the teens joined in this adventure once in a lifetime. Most of the villagers are stubborn and refuse to take useful lessons from another. She understood how parents only want the best for their children, but sometimes children want something else, other than the expectations and judgement from others.

"Oh you came back." A sudden voice interrupted her thoughts, and she flinched in reply. She slowly turned around and meet face to face to the person.

"Jeez, Foxx, don't scare me like that." Foxx chuckled. Foxx is another female friend of hers, and a wonderful hunter too.

Foxx glanced at the paper she was looking at. "So, you're joining?"

She was uncertain on how to reply. "Maybe."

"You should, and then, we could go together. I've already decided to go there, tomorrow afternoon. What do you say? It'll be fun." Foxx smiled in persuasion.

"I..."

It was an awkward pause but eventually that disappeared into thin air.

"Why don't you go?" Yet another mysterious voice.

"Mom?!" She was surprised to see her, but then again, she was spacing off a little too much, as she drowns herself in thoughts of her own. "You're ok with it?"

"Why not? Besides, you won't be alone."

"Are you sure, mom? I mean, if you want me to stay, I can, you just have to tell me, and then I'll just-

"I'll be fine. Just go on and have fun." Her mother convinced her.

Foxx patted her on the back. "It's you and me then, partner."

It was a scary thought, to go out of the village and join this adventure. What if something goes wrong?

There were so many possibilities for a mistake to happen. The fear of the unknown was strong, that it blinded her from seeing the good of things at times.

"You'll be fine" She smiled to herself with the little confident she had.

Thus, her journey began with little worries and hesitation. In order, to know more about herself. And, to meet the people who will give an impact to her life.