Minya.... Minny for friends.

[Chika]

((Minya is a Wizard, currently around lvl 50))



1. Minya's history

Fast little footsteps were heard on the wooden floor of the small house in the forest. An Ayr'Dal child, with bright blue eyes and raven black hair ran from one room to the other, and stopped at the only closed door on the second floor. With a gentle push the door cracked open, and the child totters in. Her face lights up, and her eyes begin to twinkle as she looks around in the tiny room. Everywhere she looks, she sees the most beautiful bows ever made. Gently she touches the wood, polished by the many times the bows went through her mother's hands. Longbows, short bows, made out of the finest oak and elm wood hang on the walls.
The child loved to be in that room. When she grows up, she wanted to be like momma... She wants to be just as good with a bow as her mama is!
"Minya!"
The child startles.
"Minya! Where are you?"
Quickly the little one leaves the room, and sees her momma walking up the stairs.
"Owwww you little mischievous one! Come here you!"
The pretty wood elf chased her daughter to the bedroom and tickled her till the giggles could be heard outside.
"Mommy mommy mommy!!!"
The mother laughs.
"My sweet little daughter... you just know you are not allowed to enter that room on your own you little one!"
"yes mommy.. I know I cannot go in there without you, but it is so beautiful! I would love to pick on up and practice it. Can I mommy? Can I? I know you allowed Lyrima to practice! I saw you took her to the forest with you, and SHE had the bow!"
The mother hugs her little girl and smiles at her. Nuzzles her hair and speaks with a soft voice when she answers her daughter.
"Sweet Minya, my lovely little playful girl... You just play, discover the world before you pick up the bow my love. I promise you that when the time is there I will teach you everything you need to know."
After these words she held her girl close to her heart, till both were completely calm and happy and the eyes of the little half elf got heavier and heavier, and finally dropped down, taking the girl to a peaceful sleep.


2. Discovering the gift

The sun was setting, and the sand still warm under Minya's bare feet. She loved the peaceful view over the river, and settled herself on a rock near the shore to enjoy the view. The last sunbeams made her skin glow, and her bright blue eyes sparkle. She looked like her mother. Same bright blue eyes, same long black hair... Minya's eyes go soft thinking about her mother, the Feir'Dal she loves so much. Her eyes wander the waterline, and they catch a glimpse of her elder sister, with a bow in her hands. Minya is happy for her and laughs as Lyrima misses her shot by far.
She calls her to her.
"Hey Lyri! I am here! Care to join me?"
The somewhat elder Feir'Dal looks at Minya and waves. "Not yet Minny! I will be with you later, I need to pack!"
"Pack?"
"Yes! I go to Qeynos!"
"OOH!
Lyrima walks toward her sister and continues speaking.
"Momma and poppa think I am old enough to manage myself now Minny. My path will go to Qeynos, and I will seek more training there."
Minya nods. Her mind torn in two, happy for her sister, who obviously is so excited about her journey ahead, but also the knowledge that her life will change when her sister will leave her.
Lyrima hugs her younger sister heartily as she turns around and walks back in the direction of their small forest house.

Thoughts run around in her head, her mind troubled with a question she would love to see answered from her mother.

When will the time come momma...? When will you think I am old and mature enough to handle the bow...? When will you teach me what you know, and make me as good a ranger as you are...?

She fills her lungs with fresh air and takes a hand with fine white sand. Slowly it runs through her fingers and ends up on a heap between her feet. An ant walks by, and stops to avoid the growing sand heap in front of him.
Minya smiles and does the same thing again, but suddenly she lets out a scream and drops the sand at once!
"OOH what was that??"
With big eyes and in utter surprise the young Ayr'Dal looks at her hands. With a movement of her fingers there was some kind of energy flow, which killed the little ant in front of her.
Quietly she bites her lip and tries to repeat the movement of her fingers and again, a stream of what seems to be lightning strikes the sand heap near her feet. Almost scared she hides her hands in her lap. Unaware of the gift she has, confused with the things that happen to her this day.
After sitting there for what seems to be hours Minya slowly stands up and examines her hands. She could not see anything unusual, and they feel the same as well. Deep in thoughts she starts to make her way to the house, where she passes her parents without speaking a word. For the first time in her life glad that her momma did not tell her that it is time to study the bow...

3. Good bye to Lyrima.

With red eyes from crying, and a heavy head from all the emotions Minya appeared at the table for breakfast that morning.
Her usually cheerful mood seemed to be hard to find this day, and in silence she drank her coffee. A habit she shared with her human father. Both she and he adored the black liquid, while her mother and sister preferred the herbal teas much better.
After minutes of silence her mother turned her full attention to her youngest daughter.
"Are you all right Minya? You seem to be so.... Quiet this day?"
Startled at the melodious sound of her mothers voice Minya looks around the table. Her father, ever friendly with a slight smile around his lips she learned to love so much. Her mother, the beautiful woman with her loving looks. Her sister, who is so much older than Minya, so much wiser in her opinion and so much like their mother.
She lowers her eyes and continues her deep thoughts. Unaware of the looks her parents exchange with each other, and the worried look on her beloved sisters face.

How can I tell these people what happened to me yesterday? I am still so confused. I do not even know what happens myself, then how can I explain?

Minya forces herself to smile and it doesn't take long before she is her usual cheerful self again.
After breakfast the family walked Lyrima to the coast, where she was to take a boat that would bring her to Qeynos. With a backpack, filled with food for on the way, warm clothes and some coin Lyrima walked towards the ship.

"Lyrima!" Minya calls her sister back.
"Lyrima... I will miss you my dear sister, please take care of yourself!" Tears well up in her eyes as she presses her sister to her heart.
"When you arrive to Qeynos, please write to me of where you are and what you do? Please let us know soon how you fare...?"
Lyrima smiles at her younger sister and gives her a last hug.
"I will be safe my sister. I will try to find a guild that will welcome me there, and I hope one day you will join me in the city."
Excitement shows on the pretty Feir'Dal face as she turns to give her parents a last hug and she runs towards the waiting ship.
Minya raises her voice trying to reach her sister's ear with her last message "I promise Lyrima! I promise to seek you out as soon as I can and join you!"
Tears run free over Minya's cheeks now and her voice breaks at the end of her shouted message.
With an angry gesture Minya wipes the tears from her eyes. The ship leaves, and Minya sits down to look over the calm water watching the ship until all there is left to see is but a tiny spot at the horizon.... Her parents, both respecting Minya's wish to be alone with her emotions for a while left to go to the house way before she did and when Minya finally decided to get up and go home, the sun already left to make place for the moon.


4. Training the bow!

Days have past and there has been no word of Lyrima yet. Things in the house slowly got back to 'normal' and everyone got back to their usual tasks in and around the house again. The 'gift' Minya recently discovered of the energy flowing from her fingers slowly got a part of her, and she practiced it in silence when she sat on her flat stone near the river, or had her beloved walks through he forest. That day Minya gathered the vegetables for dinner that evening and her mother hunted some for the stew she planned to make. While mother and daughter were making dinner the talk came to hunting somehow.
"What do you think Minny? Do you believe you are ready to practice the bow now? I have watched you lately and I believe it is time, and you are ready to start your training now..."
Minya's eyes got big and her response was excited as she replied.
"YAY! Yes momma! I think I am ready to practice the bow, when do we start? Now?"
The pretty Wood-Elf laughed at her daughter's response and shakes her head.
"No my girl, it will be dark when we finished our dinner, and that is not ideal to practice it for the first time! Tomorrow, after breakfast I will take you with me and we will make some pretty targets for you to practice your skills."
Minya's eyes sparkled and her face was one big smile as she finished making dinner with her momma.
That day Minya went to bed early, making sure she was fit and ready to face the day ahead of her, a day full of new things, a day that would be a new beginning and change her life for ever....
Way too early the young Ayr'Dal awoke. The sun was still hiding and the birds didn't start their morning serenade yet when Minya left her bed to take a bath. On her way to the bathroom she saw her fathers sharp dagger, safely put away in a belt and she decided to take that with her to the bathroom.
With long strokes Minya combed her hair. It has grown long and reached her waist when she let it hang down. With a lace she tied her hair together, and then she reaches for the knife.
Without a single hesitation she cuts her hair with the sharp knife. Shorter and shorter... more and more she cuts from her raven black hair. Running with her hands through her hair she smiles satisfied.
"Yup yup! That will do!"
Minya sings happily as she continues her morning rituals, makes coffee and tea and waits for her parents to wake up.
Finally, when Minya started her third cup and was just about to call up the stairs she heard her momma walking down.
"Morning Momma! I am ready to go, hurry!"
The Feir'Dal looked at Minya and opened her mouth to say something, just to close it again without producing a sound. She just stood there for a few moments, looking at her daughter and her new haircut. She cleared her throat before she spoke, "A good morning to you too Minny". With a meaningful look at her hair the mother continued, "Are you prepared to go already? Let me eat something before we leave."
Minya smiled and sipped her coffee. "Oh yes! Yup yup! I am all ready to go, I have put on these light leather shoes" She pulls up a foot to show her momma "And I have cut a bit of my hair so that would not blow in my eyes! I had a good breakfast, and I dressed warm enough to be outside for the day and " pointing at two backpacks: "I even packed the bags for when we decide to stay in the forest this day!" Minya chatters on for a while, and the Feir'Dal listens to it with a smile.
"Well my girl, let us pick out a bow for you then! Come..."
Minya follows her mother up the stairs, and both women enter the room with the many beautiful bows on the wall. With a look at her momma Minya can see the love for this deadly weapon reflected on her mothers face, the way the love for her mother is reflected on Minya's face.
Carefully the mother picks a small trainings bow from the wall and examines it. "This was my bow when I practiced for the first time. It has been in the family for generations and taught me all I know. Lyrima used it as well before she was ready to use the somewhat heavier bows, and now... it is your turn."
Minya reached out to accept the bow from her mother and touches the smooth wood. She weighs it in her left hand and touches the string with her right hand trying to feel the love she sees reflected in her mother's eyes...
The wood feels strange in her hands, but Minya shakes off that feelings thinking that all she needs is time, time to get used to it. She will learn! First she needs to learn how to USE this thing and then she will learn to love it! Minya nods to herself, convincing herself she will be just like her momma, a great ranger one day!
Her mother takes another bow from the wall, and then Minya follows her mother outside.


5. Practice!

"This is a nice open spot here, shall we begin?"
Minya nods slow and listens to her momma giving her the first instructions on how to use the weapon, and then it is time to try it her self.
Carefully she puts the arrow where it belongs, and pulls the string. Her mother stands behind her and guides her hands to help her aim for the huge oak tree in front of her.
"Yes, that's right Minny, first you aim high... slowly lower the bow... no, slower girl! Yes, good... Don't squeeze the bow; let the bow work for you. Good! Ok, now relax your shoulder... Don't squeeze it Minny, good... Lower your shoulder and gently release the string..."
The arrow leaves the bow after Minya released it, to bounce against a tree, far from the target and then falls to the ground.
Minya bites her lip and takes the next arrow from her pack, aims again and releases. This time the arrow lands on not even 20 feet from her, and the string painfully hits her left lower arm.
"Easy Minya... These things take time to learn, you will not be a ranger after shooting a few arrows, it will take you years of practice. Do not get upset over missing your first ones! You will learn... You will..."
Together they aim again. "Relax your fingers and your shoulder, yes good... Go up with the bow, and then slowly down... Look along the arrow to where you want to hit your target, yes, that's it! Now slowly, slowly release..."
Again the arrow misses target by far. "I will get it right, I have to get it right!"
Minya tries it again... and again... and, again. The result stays the same, she can not hit the target by far and tears of frustration well up in her eyes.
Thoughts run around in her head, and she chews on her lip in frustration.

Owwww Momma... You must be so disappointed in me. I so much want to be like you! If only I could get it right... If only this would FEEL right!

These restless thoughts trouble her mind as she keeps on trying to remember all her mother told her.
They practiced until it was time to eat their lunch, and though they were not as far away from home as Minya thought they would go, they ate the prepared lunches from their bags. Minya ate her lunch in silence, her bow resting on her knees.
"Minya...? We can always continue tomorrow if you like, or would you rather have it that you practice it alone now you know the basics a little?" Her mother's friendly face stared at her daughter who sat there in silence. Minya just nodded in agreement to her mother, not sure if she wants to practice tomorrow, or alone yet. "There is no need to rush this my girl, you can take it easy".
Minya nodded again as she stood up to collect the arrows from the trees and put them back in the holder. She picks up her bow and sighs deep. The wood still feels strange in her hands and for the first time Minya allows the thought to her head...

The bow is not for me...But I do not want to fail you momma... I do not...I so much want to be just like you, such a great ranger...

She stands straight and looks at her mother as she says: "I will practice today momma! I WILL get it right, I will!"
"Good! Then I will stay with you for another hour and after that you can practice on your own if you like, would that be all right?" Minya nods and starts to aim for the same big tree again.
"Aim high Minny.... Don't squeeze the bow. Lower your shoulder, don't squeeze!" With never failing patience the mother teaches her daughter the basics of using the bow, and with renewed energy Minya starts to practice again.
Minya practiced, and practiced, until her left lower arm was red and swollen from the string hitting her every time, and her delicate fingers bled from pulling the string back.
After hours and hours she finally collected all the arrows and headed home, where her mother waited for her at the kitchen table with fresh coffee.
"Oh my! Minya look at your hands... you hurt yourself badly!" The Feir'Dal took the hands of her daughter in hers and checked the injuries on the fingers and forearm. Without speaking more she put a bandage of leaves and some potions on the bleeding fingers and the arm, then hands Minya a steaming cup of coffee.
Her father watched this from the corner of the room and exchanged understanding looks with his wife.
Minya coughs to break the silence and starts to speak. "Any word from Lyrima yet? She has been gone for weeks now."
Her parents simultaneously shake their heads and the worry about Lyrima is clearly visible on their faces. "Not a word yet Minny. She is a strong woman though... I am sure she will be all right" her mother spoke more to herself than to Minya and the rest of the evening all three were silent and in their own thoughts.
After dinner Minya stood up to wash the dishes and tidy up a bit, before she put on her coat. "I go for a walk. Will be back in a few."
Minya walks to the door, and goes through. Closing it just a bit louder than she should have, and she begins to make her way to the river.

[Chika]

6. Accepting the facts.

The sound of the water flowing and hitting the shore never miss their calming effect on Minya. Her feet still in the light leather shoes hardly leave a trace on the hard wet sand as she walks in good pace. The wind is sharp, but Minya doesn't seem to notice it and continues her walk to her favourite spot, the flat stone from where she can look out over the bay. On her left side the forest, and on her right side the river. It looks gorgeous... the sun changes the sky to all shades and colours from yellow and orange to vermilion and purple by the time she arrives to the flat stone that does purpose as her personal chair whenever she needs to be alone. She sits for a moment and hugs her knees, watching over the water and listening to the peaceful sound of the waves.

'T Is a mess Minya. You are a disgrace to your mother. You can never match her in skill no matter how hard you try. You failed her. She will be hugely disappointed that you will not follow in her footsteps like Lyri did. She will look down on you the way you look up to her now.

Captured by her thoughts Minya plays with the sand again. Sometimes chasing little flies and maggots with her lightning fingers as she started to call it. A little smile breaks through on her face as she sees a little rat along the shoreline and Minya's eyes twinkle. The rat sees Minya and looks angry, seemingly ready to attack her. The two look at each other for a while and then the rat shoots forward aiming for Minya's ankles. With a movement of her hands a flash of lightning hits the rat, stunning it for a short moment before it attacks again. This time it bites Minya, who jumps down from her rock and prepares another attack of lighting fingers at the rat, followed by another, and another hit. Finally the rat drops to the sand, leaving a strange smell of burned fur in the air. Perplexed Minya looks at the dead animal before she checks her ankle to see how bad that wound is.

"Well well Minya... I am impressed!"

Standing with his arms crossed in front of his chest her father stands lend against a young tree and he obviously watched what just happened. Though Minya had no idea her father was there, his voice did not seem to startle her and a small smile appears on her face as he walks towards her.

"I had no idea Minya. You seem to have a talent here my girl."
"Well... I have to say I just found out about this myself not too long ago poppa. I call it lightning fingers!"

Her father nods and he takes a close look at his daughter.
"Do you want to tell me about what happened this day my daughter?"

Minya slowly walks back to the flat stone and sits down. Her thoughts go back to what happened in the forest and to her feelings of that day and her face gets a melancholic expression as she speaks.

"I practiced the bow today"
The man nods and listens.
"I tried poppa... I really tried to get it right, but I just can not love the bow the way momma and Lyri can do it."
Suddenly the tears flow from her eyes and words from her lips.
"I thought I would love the bow! I always wanted to be like momma, and be a great ranger one day, but the bow in my hands just feels so.... So unnatural to me! It is something I might one day learn to DO, but I do not believe I will ever be able to learn to LOVE it poppa. And now I will disappoint momma so badly what am I to do?!"

Comforting Minya in his arms the tall human man strokes her hair trying to calm her down. When the tears seem to cease he speaks slowly with a deep voice.

"Minya... We never asked of you to become a ranger, you always need to remember that you are loved by us no matter what your choice of profession will be. All we ask of you is to be who you are... and to become who you want to be, and for that matter.... WHAT you want to be. The blood of your mother and your father runs through your veins girl. Your mother is born to use the bow, and Lyrima's father I heard was a very talented druid, but not unsuccessful with a bow himself. Both Feir'Dal, so Lyrima has the natural agility to be a ranger. Through your veins is human and Feir'Dal blood. You will always be different from all three of us and exactly that is what makes you so special."
He holds her at an arm length distance from himself and lifts her head with a finger to look her in her eyes.
"Never forget who you are Minya. Only YOU know what is best for you, and in heavy times there might be no one else to rely on then yourself.
The disappointment you feel deep inside yourself is not your mothers. She will not be proud of you if you do things because you think you are expected to do them, what she will be proud of is to see you make your own decisions and go your own, chosen path."

Minya took her time to let these words sink into her and found comfort in her fathers loving arms. After a while she had the idea she fully understood the meaning of his words and nodded quietly.
"You are right poppa. Who am I to doubt your trust in me? And momma's trust in me? I know myself loved and I know you have always respected my choices so far. I think I just needed you to remind me of something I already knew."
"Then show me that pretty smile of yours my lady. Stop worrying about things that are not real, and start looking at the future. Your future."

Minya smiles at her father and nods relieved. "Yes... Thank you poppa!"

The two start to walk back to the house together. A strong arm shelters the small woman against the starting rain, and their laughter and her giggles carry on the wind as they start to run.



7. Lyrima's letter.


Months go by.
Minya slowly got used to the idea that she will never use the bow, and that magic is her path, her direction in life. Often she made her parents laugh when she spoke about her lightning fingers and what she could hit this time, and sometimes questions came up they could not answer.
Her father spent his entire days in the study lately, and further life proceeded pretty much as it was before Lyrima left the house. Sometimes Minya had a question, and hoped for her parents to give her an answer, but more often she didn't get one.
This afternoon they had their usual coffee and tea, and again Minya asked about the arcane.
"Mommy? Why is it that with a bow you can aim for the trees, and I can not hit them with my magic?"
Her mothers teacup stocked somewhere halfway her mothers mouth and the table and a slight frown appeared between her blue eyes.
"You can't"?
"Nope! Every time I try that, the lightning just won't leave my hands!"
Minya looks at her hands, the scars of where the bowstring hurt her fingers so badly was still slightly visible on her right hand.
"Think these scars have something to do with that Mommy?"
In deep thoughts her mother sipped the hot tea, while she looked at her daughter. Suddenly she stood up from the table, grabbed her coat and headed for the door. "I need to speak to your father Minya. I will be back before dinner" And with that she left the house.
Minya shrugged, and finished her coffee. After that she cleaned up the kitchen and went to the living room where many books were lined up on the shelves.

Ways of the archer... Bows and arrows... Fletching your own arrows... Rangers path...

Minya mumbles softly and heads to the shelves on the other side of the room.

The many faces of nature... The healing druid...

With a sigh Minya turns away from the shelves. "This won't help either" she spoke to herself.

She decides to go to the river for a while. Sitting on 'her' stone always made her feel calm and happy. On her way there she put up the collar of her coat. The wind was still cold at this time of the year, though the worst rain was finally over. The wind carried all kinds of sounds from the forest at her left side, and Minya stopped for a while to listen to the birds, the leaves whispering in the wind. Sometimes she could hear a deer run or the high squeaking of the chipmunks when the wind was right. And the wind was right; the sounds carried far this day. Her ears didn't miss much, she could even catch some fragments of a conversation, 2 people arguing about something, she just couldn't make out about what.
"Not ready" "can't teach" "defend" "Qeynos" Minya had no idea what these people spoke about, and was ready to move on when one word reached her ears... "Lyrima". That was obviously her father's voice that called out that name. The name of her sister! What were they discussing? The voices trailed of further and further. No words could be made out of the sounds that were mixed with the whispering leaves and the singing birds. Minya gave up. Were they talking about her sister? Why? Why now?
Minya continued to walk to 'her' stone while she thought about this.
She knew that her parents got a letter, with the explanation why it took Lyrima so long before she wrote something. Lyrima's ship somehow sunk, and she was brought to land by a captain Varlos on the Island of Refugee. It took her a long time before she could reach Qeynos and write home. Looking at the date on the letter, it also took the letter a long time to reach their homes, but the happiness the letter brought with it made up for it all.
It was a long letter. Lyrima met a man on her journey's, a human, called Guthric. They got married, and they hunt together nowadays. Together they found a guild, called SAGA and they asked if, when Minya would go to the main land, she would join her soon.
Minya was excited about that thought! Joining her sister again was something she would really like. She misses her sister more than she thought she would. They had never been apart this long yet! At least... Minya was the second born, and before that Lyrima was only child for a while. Minya though, grew up with her sister. Her sister was just a part of her life, like the leaves belong to the trees and the water belonged in the river.
The letter was an invitation for Minya to come to Qeynos, but her parents didn't want to discuss that at all.
In thoughts Minya draws circles with a stick in the wet sand, while she hums softly the tune of an elven song.
By the time she looked up again, she saw the sun was sinking into the river already, time for dinner!
On her way home she jumped from rock to rock along the shore, and raced the last part through the trees.
Her parents were waiting for her at the dining table.

[Chika]

8. Decisions made.


Minya closed the door behind her and smiled to her parents. "Hoi hoi!" She exclaims. "I'm home!" She kicks out her boots and throws her jacket over a chair while she heads for the coffeepot on the small kitchen counter.
While she pours herself a cup she notices her parents silence. Turning around and leaned back against the counter, she blows over the edge of the cup, to cool the liquid a bit and faces her parents.
"Something wrong?" She asks.
Her parents both shake their head in denial, and with a smile her father replies to her.
"Sit down Minny, I think we need to talk for a moment."
Minya takes the closest chair to sit on, puts her cup in front of her and pulls up her knees to get her bare feet from the floor. Hugging her knees she looks with bright eyes from her father to her mother, and back, waiting for what they have to say.
Her mother started with a question.
"Remember you asked me this afternoon about magic Minny?"
Minya nods, and picks up the steaming coffee again. "I remember that yes".
"Well" her mother continued, "I could not answer your questions Minya. And that bothers me a bit. Ask me about rangers and I can help you, but with magic I am just... of no use to you. Your questions will become more complex and there will come a time that you will really want to study spells and books about it."

Her father takes a deep breath before he speaks.
"We agreed, your mother and I, that if you wish, we will pay for the boat that can take you to Qeynos Minya. There you can seek out a mage trainer, to get the education that you need, so you can study the ways of the magician and choose your path wisely. Here, on this island are no trainers of the kind you need, and our knowledge does not reach as far as you need now".

Minya nods and drinks her coffee, while she thinks this over.

A chance to learn the way of the magician Minny. A chance to develop what you can do, and a chance to find out if magic is your way. A chance to be reunited with Lyrima and join her in the guild she speaks highly of. Can I do this? Could I find her? Where do I live?

"Qeynos is under constant attack these day's Lyrima wrote. Gnolls, vermin, even orcs attack villages and cities. If you advance well, you might serve the queen by defending the gates from these attacks some day. This you can only do if you learn to fight properly, and if you study the right books. No doubt your learning will begin there my girl. The only thing we doubt is if you want to go now, or wait a while longer before you start your journey".

The sound of her mothers voice made her look up, and she sees the worries reflected in her momma's eyes.
"I know I shall need to go there some day... I also agree that my wishes to find out more about magic become stronger each day, and I would love to start my studies as soon as possible".
Minya bites her lip as she continues.
"I have no idea where to turn to when I arrive there though. I don't know how to find Lyrima, nor do I know how to find Saga, the guild she found. And how can I be sure the guild will take me in as a member without hesitation"?

Her father reaches in his pocket and takes out the letter Lyrima wrote to them. There were several pieces of paper added to the writing, and her father laid them all out on the table for her.
"Here. Look at these" He points to a map, and a note with directions. "This leads to the guild halls of Saga. Lyrima added it to her letter so you could find your way there easier. And this", he points at another paper, "is where she lives with Guthric, her husband. The village is called Willow Woods, and you will get directions on how to get there as soon as you leave the ship she writes in her letter."

Minya takes the papers and studies them. She was never good with maps, and this was no exception. Turning it up side down, and back again trying to figure out how it should be held she sees the path marked on it with a pen.
"Oh! Look! This should be clear enough I think!"

Her father smiles and her mother's look is even more troubled than before.
"Are you sure you want to go already Minya... It would be fine if you wait a while longer before you leave...."
Her mothers voice is soft when she speaks.

"Momma... I do not believe it will make much difference if I stay here longer. There will be no use in waiting longer here, with you both, not making any more progress. I have been thinking about it myself for a while already, and I agree. Time has come, and I think I should be headed for Qeynos soon."

She stands up and hugs her parents warmly.

"Thank you both... so much. When the day comes and I leave for Qeynos, I will not disappoint you, and I promise to write about my adventures".

They talked about some of the details during dinner and agreed that Minya would leave the day after tomorrow, to look for her sister, and Qeynos, and training.



9. The journey starts.



The day started as every other. Minya woke up early and made tea and coffee for herself and her parents. Slightly nervous she looked at the map her sister sent, over and over again. By now she knew the map by heart, but still she looked at the path Lyrima marked, and the crosses she wrote on the map to make sure she would find her way to her fast, and safe.
"Good morning Minya"
Her father walked into the kitchen and poured himself some coffee.
"I hope you slept well this night, my daughter?"
Minya looked up from the maps and smiled at her father. She replied to him while she ate her breakfast.
"Surprisingly well poppa! I have packed my bags yesterday in the evening, and since the boat will not leave until late this afternoon, I shall have the rest of the day to spend with you and momma."
Her mother also walked into the kitchen and joined them at the breakfast table. They laughed a lot, and described each other what they thought the mage trainer would look like, how it would be to meet Lyrima again, and what Guthric would be like. They ate their breakfast together, and cleaned the table together.

After the meal her father went to his study, and returned with a small, but thick book in purple leather bindings. He put the book on the table in front of Minya.
"Minny" he started explaining, "I have been working on this writings over the past months..."
He paused a moment to ponder his next words.
"It is a writing, a book if you wish, with everything in it I learned. I know that may sound weird to you, but I have put every effort in it, to make this book a guide for you whenever you need one."
Minya looked at her father, and back to the nicely bound book in front of her on the table. She reached for it, and wanted to open it to read, but her father's hands covered hers in a tender gesture.
"No Minny..."
Questioningly she looked back up into her father's eyes.
"You can open it when you need an answer to a question. Only when you need guidance, you shall find the answers in this book. Do not open it for other reasons than finding answers, it shall not teach you things if you read in it without questions.
Do you understand that Minny?"
Minya ran her finger over the smooth leather bound book and picked it up, pondering her father's words.
He continued. "A book, is just as a spell scroll, something that can teach you a lot, but only when you are ready to learn about it. To those, who read a book and are not ready for what's in it, it will be no more than letters, without meaning."
Minya nods slow and understanding, after her father finished speaking.
"So it will be like... a friend... Whom I can speak to when I need good advise at some point".
"Yes. That is a good way to look at it. I would have gone with you myself, but I am needed here," the human put his arm around his wife's shoulders, "and this is a thing you need to do yourself."
Her father took the book from her hands, and put it in a pouch, made of the smoothest leather Minya had ever seen. There was no place for anything else in the pouch; it fitted like a glove around the book. Soft straps allowed her to bind it around her waist, like a belt. Smiling she put it on, and moved around a bit.
"It's very comfortable actually poppa! And... thank you so much...!" She jumped towards her father and hugged him for a long time. "You're welcome my daughter... remember to use it when you need to."
The man smiles at his daughter, and at his wife. "Now, what about a long walk all together my girls?"
They laughed all three, and after they got their coats and shoes they went for a long walk along the shore, resting at Minya's favourite spot, the flat stone looking out over the river.

"All aboooooooard!!"
The human at the harbour shouted non-stop. His voice carried further than most, and certainly was loud enough to be heard in the noise there always seemed to be in the harbour.
Minya's hand reached for her waist, to feel if the book was still there. She smiled reassured when she felt it there, and tightened the straps of her backpack before she walked towards the ship with her both parents on her side.
They said all they wanted to say during that long walk earlier, so there was not much left to say.
Minya reached out for both her parents and spoke with soft voice.
"I will miss you both. When I reach Qeynos I will send a message telling you how I fare and where I am."
Her mother nodded fast, and motioned Minya to the boat. "They will not wait my dear. You shall have to go aboard now, before it leaves without you."
With a deep sigh Minya turned around to face the ship that would bring her to Qeynos, and slowly she walked the wooden walkway.
Once on the ship she found a place at the front, and searched for her parents in the crowd.
Her mothers raven black hair was easily found, and her eyes stared fixedly at the couple until there was nothing more to see than a flat line at the horizon