Chapter 13: The Journey to the Unknown
Riven stood at the entrance of his village, the heavy backpack slung over his shoulders, his gaze fixed on the road ahead. The wind gently blew, lifting small clouds of dust and dry leaves that danced around him. In the distance, the mountains, shrouded in mist, rose like silent giants, a natural barrier between his home and the great capital he had heard so much about but had never experienced.
"This is the first step."
The young man closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath of the cool morning air. In his hands, the dagger his father had given him, more a tool than a weapon, hung at his side. He didn't know if it would be enough to protect him from what was coming, but it was all he had.
The village he was leaving behind had been his home for his entire life. A simple place where days were split between tending to the land and training with the beasts under his mother's watchful eye. But Riven had always known that it wasn't all the world had to offer. The capital, with its great tamers, tournaments, and promises of opportunity, was his only choice. Though the fear of the unknown clouded his mind, the determination for a better future pushed him forward.
Beside him, Nyx stretched, her little paws flexing as she let out a soft growl, as if sensing the tension in the air. The young beast, energetic and loyal, would be his only companion on this long journey. Their bond, still young, was strong, and although Riven knew he wasn't as experienced as other tamers, he trusted that together, they could face whatever came their way.
— "Are you ready?" came a soft voice behind him.
Riven turned and saw his mother standing just a few steps away, her face a mix of pride and worry. Her hands, weathered from years of hard work, gripped the fabric of her dress as if trying to hold onto her son just a little longer.
— "Yes." Riven nodded, though a spark of doubt burned within him. He didn't want to worry her, but the fear of the unknown was unavoidable.
— "Be careful, my son. No matter what happens, you'll always be part of this family." His mother placed a hand on his shoulder, as if trying to transfer all the strength he didn't yet feel. — "And, Riven… don't strive to be the best. Strive to be yourself. That's what truly matters."
Her words sank deep into his heart. It wasn't the grand farewell he had imagined, but something far more sincere. A reminder of what really mattered amid the madness that awaited him. Before tears could escape, he turned and began to walk down the path that stretched before him, leaving behind the safety of his home and stepping into a much larger and dangerous world.
The road to the capital would not be easy.
The First Day of the Journey passed without major trouble, but the first glimpses of the challenges of the outside world became evident. Riven had grown up with the idea that the world was simple, but as he walked along the rough trails that cut through the nearby forests, he began to realize how wrong he had been. The uneven ground made it hard to progress, and the afternoon heat grew more intense as the day wore on.
— "This is going to be harder than I thought." he thought to himself, struggling to balance the weight of the backpack that seemed to grow heavier with each step. Nyx, walking happily beside him, would stop now and then to sniff the air or play with a fallen branch, but Riven could feel the weight of every moment. Sometimes he wondered if he was truly prepared for this.
The road was lonely, the kind of silence that only nature's wildness could offer. He didn't expect to meet anyone in the coming days; the journey to the capital would take weeks, and the first village where he could rest was much further away.
As the day wore on, anxiety began to creep in. What would he do when he arrived in the capital? The thought of the bustling city, filled with competitors, politicians, and powerful tamers, haunted him. Would what he had learned from his mother be enough? And his bond with Nyx? The fear of not being good enough followed him throughout the afternoon.
As night fell, Riven found a small clearing where he decided to camp. The sky, painted in shades of orange from the setting sun, was clear, allowing him to see a spectacle of stars as darkness descended. The solitude of the night made him think about everything he was leaving behind. His mother, his home, his life in the village… none of it would be the same once he crossed through the gates of the capital.
Nyx curled up beside him, her body's warmth offering some comfort in the chill of the night. Despite everything, there was something reassuring about the presence of his companion. He wasn't completely alone. Together, he and Nyx would begin to face the challenges ahead.
But the road to the capital would be long. And Riven knew that each day would bring new trials that would push his limits. The next morning, he would continue his journey, determined to reach his goal: to be recognized as a competent tamer, no matter what his origins or lack of experience might suggest.
The capital... a place full of promises, but also shadows. I'm not ready for what lies ahead, but there's no turning back. My mother is right, it's not about being the best; it's about being true to myself. If I can do that, then maybe—just maybe—this journey will make sense.
The next morning, as Riven broke camp, he felt the weight of the journey beginning to sink in. The quiet moments with his mother echoed in his mind. She had always taught him that a tamer's true strength didn't come from the beasts they controlled, but from the bond they forged with them. His thoughts were interrupted by Nyx, who was already jumping around him, eager to continue their journey.
As the day unfolded, Riven began to encounter the more intricate aspects of life on the road. The blistering sun, the hunger that gnawed at his stomach, the constant battle against exhaustion—all were things he had never truly experienced before. His survival instincts, honed over years of training with his mother, were now pushed to their limits.
One evening, while resting under the vast expanse of the starlit sky, Riven began to think about the path that had brought him here. He hadn't asked for this journey, nor had he ever dreamed of leaving his village, but now that he was on it, there was no turning back.
Maybe this is the way I'm meant to go.* Riven thought, watching Nyx sleep at his side. *I don't know what the future holds, but I know this: I can't keep running from the world. I have to face it head-on.
But as much as he tried to convince himself, the fear lingered. He could still hear the voices of doubt in his head: *Am I good enough? Will I really make it?*
With every step, Riven was learning the harsh truth of the world. The capital wasn't a magical place where all dreams came true. It was a place of competition, rivalry, and struggle. His dreams of being a great tamer would need more than just training; they would require everything he had.
Each day, as he walked further from home, he found himself wondering whether he had made the right choice. But despite the uncertainty, one thing was clear: this journey, no matter how difficult, would shape him into something greater than he had ever been. **The future was waiting, and he would meet it, one step at a time.