As darkness fell, casting an enveloping cloak over the village, the flickering gas lamps lining the streets became the sole providers of illumination. Recognizing the fading light, the girls decided to bring their day to a close, converging at the village centre before parting ways.
Lucia couldn't shake off the lingering heaviness that had settled in her heart since her recent conversation with Mia. It was the final day of enduring the academy's gruelling studies, and while Lucia had initially felt a surge of joy, her hopes of forging a lasting bond with Mia and embarking on a summoner's journey together now seemed naive and narrow-minded.
From a young age, Mia had always stood apart from Lucia, worlds away from the life of a simple village girl in one of the baronial territories. However, Lucia found solace in the realisation that Mia, just like herself, like any individual, deserved to pursue her own dreams and aspirations. No one had ever decreed that a village orphan like Lucia was undeserving of a better life.
With these thoughts in mind, Lucia felt the fog of confusion dissipate, her vision of the future becoming clearer. Lucia made a steadfast decision to act upon her dreams, vowing to become a summoner of remarkable power. She would honour her commitment to Mia, ensuring that when they crossed paths again in the future, they would stand on equal ground.
To Lucia, true strength in friendship meant standing side by side, sharing similar aspirations and ambitions. She resolved not to be shackled by anything or anyone, yearning for the boundless possibilities that lay beyond her current grasp.
Perhaps aiming so high seemed audacious given her circumstances, but Lucia had chosen to pursue her dreams relentlessly, even if it meant risking everything. After all, the world of summoners was far from peaceful.
However, as Lucia continued her journey, she abruptly halted, a sudden sensation of discomfort gripping her as a line of blood slowly streamed from the side of her lips. Swiftly, she brought her hands to her mouth, managing to stifle the blood threatening to spill onto the ground. Frustration etched across her face as she muttered, "Not this again."
Glancing around, she felt relief seeing the sparsely populated streets. The passersby paid her no mind, unaware of her recent episode. Lucia breathed a sigh of relief, grateful that Mia was not present to witness her condition.
"I'm glad this happened when Mia wasn't with me," Lucia whispered, her lips curving into a faint smile. Retrieving a handkerchief from her breast pocket, she used her finger to dab at her slightly bloody hands. Once that task was complete, she wiped away the remnants of blood from the corners of her lips using the sleeves of her attire. Strangely, Lucia seemed unperturbed by the fact that she had just coughed up blood as if it had become a familiar occurrence.
After tidying herself as best she could, Lucia resumed her journey, heading toward her residence.
In truth, Lucia had been referred to as an orphan due to her enigmatic past.
According to her now-deceased adopted mother, Lucia had been discovered on the bank of the village river, shrouded in blood. Villagers who had been present at the time attested to finding her adrift in a wooden basket, her cries the only sign of her existence.
The perplexing aspect was that the blood that covered Lucia came from two distinct sources. The first was the natural consequence of childbirth; it appeared she had just been born. The second source, most likely human, indicated an external involvement. Although it could not be proven, the bloody circumstances surrounding Lucia's discovery had remained unchanged.
Despite more than a dozen years passing, no one had come forward to claim her, leaving Lucia unable to escape the title of an orphan.
Lucia's past was undeniably peculiar, but it was not the sole mystery that surrounded her.
As Lucia continued her journey back to her residence, she encountered familiar faces along the way. She exchanged greetings with pedestrians and cyclists, realising that in her eagerness to check her results at the academy, she had forgotten to water the Lemon Balm herbs.
"I hope they haven't been affected. Otherwise, I might have to dip into my savings to pay the monthly tax," Lucia said, her tone tinged with concern. The mere thought of taking two silver coins from her savings pained her deeply.
Vroom! Suddenly, the distinct sound of an exhaust engine caught Lucia's attention. She turned to locate the source and caught a glimpse of two speedy steam bikes racing down the street behind her. Although she couldn't see the riders clearly, their attire indicated they were likely adventurers.
"Oh, how I wish I could ride one," Lucia murmured wistfully, her voice filled with longing. Steam carriages were a rare sight in the barony, and their owners typically reserved them for longer journeys due to their high value. The cost of maintaining a steam carriage, even the cheapest ones worth hundreds of gold coins, made owners selective about their usage.
Lucia had always dreamed of owning a steam carriage, just like some of the merchants she sold her herbs to. However, she knew her herb business, inherited from her mother, couldn't generate enough funds for her summoning ritual materials, let alone purchasing a steam carriage. Only the wealthy and powerful, including summoners of a certain calibre, had the purchasing power to acquire a steam carriage.
'I should be more concerned about gathering the materials for my summoning ritual and awakening my summoning aptitude, rather than longing for a steam carriage,' Lucia thought, her realisation of her impoverished state weighing heavily on her heart.
However, she couldn't linger on these thoughts for long as she quickened her pace, eager to reach home. The fear of losing even a single herb consumed her mind throughout the journey, alongside the impending sadness of being separated from her best friend for an extended period. Yet amidst these worries, another thought persisted in young Lucia's mind, refusing to be dismissed.
'Since I'm not keen on serving a noble house, perhaps I should consider visiting one of the guilds tomorrow to inquire about a loan,' Lucia contemplated, weighing the pros and cons of working for a noble house versus seeking financial assistance from a guild to aid in her awakening.
Unbeknownst to Lucia, awakening was about to become the least of her present and future concerns.