End of The Beginning

It was early morning and the sun had just come up. The morning dew covered the tiny and sleepy village of Emmerberk in a thin fog.
For most people living here it was just any other day, but not for me and Maya.
Today was the day that we’d leave and I was both excited and nervous. This was the first time I’d go on a journey like this. Sure, I had played some games that put you in a giant world before, but this was real. I was actually going to go on a journey of my own.

Maya and I woke up and packed all of our stuff in a bag made out of animal hide. From food, to clothes, to blankets and a map of the kingdom. I swung the sword I received from Johan over my shoulders, which was put in a leather sheath, and put it on my back. Maya also packed her stuff in a bag, put her bow around her body and filled a quiver with arrows.

‘You can’t have enough.’ Maya said to me and I silently nodded.

When we walked downstairs with a sleepy Casper in tow, Richard and Iris were already downstairs. We put our bags beside the front door and sat down at the dinner table.
A simple, but still quite big breakfast filled most of the table.

‘You can’t eat enough on the first day. So go on, eat up. There is plenty to go around.’ Iris said to us.
‘Thanks mom.’ Maya said.
‘Thank you.’ I said.

We started eating and both me and Maya enjoyed it a lot. Richard and Iris gave their daughter loving stares as she gleefully ate away. Their daughter was about to leave. Not forever, of course. But still for quite a while.
This was not just going to be a tiny step forward, but a giant leap and the realization of which made them realize how much their daughter has grown in front of their eyes.

‘Take your time for now.’ Richard said. We’ll see you two off once you are ready.’
‘Thanks dad.’ Maya said.

When we finished breakfast, it was quiet in the living room for a few seconds. None of us really knew what to say.
Maya then finally stood up and walked towards Richard and Iris.

‘Mom. Dad. Thank you for allowing me to go.’ Maya said to them, while spreading her arms.

Richard and Iris stood up and hugged their daughter.

‘No problem kiddo. Please take of yourself.’ Richard said. ‘And that goes for you too Micheal.’
‘Oh… yeah… Of- Of course.’ I said, surprised at them suddenly including me.

All of us helped with cleaning the dishes and we then got ready to leave. Maya and I grabbed our bags, but I stopped from putting it around my back.

…Are we sure we got everything?
I put down my bag and once again checked everything inside. Map? Check. Food? Check. Clothes? Check. Blanket? Check. Sword? Check.
I closed my bag and put it on my back. Thankfully, I have everything with me.
…But did I?
I put down my bag with a quiet sigh and once again opened it, but got interupted by Maya.

‘You know it’s not suddenly going to change the next time you check, dummy.’ Maya said to me in a teasing tone.
‘I know that.’ I quickly retorted.

I got a little embarrassed from Maya noticing this bad habit of mine and felt my cheeks heat up a bit. I must have probably looked like a fool.
I closed my bag without looking inside and put it on my back, walked a little ahead of Maya, but then I heard the sound of someone putting something down on the ground.
I looked behind me and saw that Maya had put her bag down and had started to check it as well.

‘Dummy.’ I teasingly said to her.

Maya slighlty jolted from my teasing, closed her bag and walked up to me. Embarrassed as she was, she gave me a light punch on my elbow.
She looked at me and we shared a quick chuckle from our nervousness.

‘It’s also getting to you a little?’ I asked her, while rubbing my elbow. ‘The nervousness I mean.’
‘Yeah, kinda.’ Maya answered.

Maya and I shared one more awkward chuckle. Her parents must have noticed our stupidity and were quietly laughing at us.
We opened the front door and the five of us walked outside. Most of the morning dew had already subsided, but there was still a little bit remaining.

Maya and I walked up to the northern gate, but surpisingly we weren’t the only ones there. It was a little hard to see with the little bit of fog that was still present, but there were quite a few people waiting at the gate.
Almost everyone I met so far was here; Marcus, Rock, Johan, Elize, Lucas, Julian. Even some people I didn’t know by name, like a couple kids who I recognized as Casper’s friends and who I thought were those kids’ parents.

‘W-What are you guys doing here?’ Maya asked them.
‘We came to see you off. It’s not just your parents who care about you, you know?’ Rock said.
‘News travels fast here and someone going on a big journey is sure to get the attention of everyone.’ Julian said.
‘You guys…’ Maya said with a little shake in her voice. She teared up a little, but held it in pretty well.
Everyone who was gathered here looked genuinely happy for Maya. Everyone here cared about her in some way and she cared about them.

Maya went to her parents and hugged them for one last time.

‘Take good care of yourself. Okay dear.’ Iris said.
‘I will.’ Maya responded.

They let go and Richard and Iris then walked towards me.
Why are they doing that?
Richard and Iris then started to hug me too for the very first time.

‘Please take good care of our daughter for us.’ Iris said to me.
‘I will. Don’t worry.’ I said to them.
‘Good luck with finding out how to go home.’ Richard said to me and gave me a strong pat on the back.
‘Thanks. Both of you. I wouldn't have known what to do, if it weren't for you two lending me a place to sleep.’
'You're welcome.' Richard said.

We let go and I saw that Maya was currently hugging Casper. The little guy was finally starting to look a little more awake.

‘Goodbye sis.’ Casper said to his sister, while hugging her.
‘Bye Casper. Take good care of yourself okay?’ Maya said.
‘Hmmm.’ Casper responded and then walked up to me. ‘Micheal, don’t start bullying my sister for whatever reason.’
‘CASPER!’ Maya embarrasingly shouted and everyone who had gathered started to laugh.
‘You don’t have to worry about that.’ I said with a small grin, while patting Casper’s head.

Once we said our goodbyes here, it was time to go. All of the fog had now disappeared and we were greeted by the sun to the right of us, breaking through the clouds that covered most of it.  
It sure is a beautiful day.
We stood in front of the gate side by side and then looked at each other.

‘Are you ready to go?’ Maya said with confidence.
‘Nope.’ I said half-jokingly. ‘Let’s go.’

Maya and I took one step outside the village and we heard the people behind us say their goodbyes and farewells for one final time.

‘Bye! Bye you two!’

Everyone who came to see us off, were waving at us. While we were walking, we did the same. We looked back at them and waved back.

‘Bye everyone!’ Both me and Maya said back to the villagers.

When we were at a pretty sizeable distance, far enough for us to no longer hear everyone, both of us stopped waving and continued to walk ahead. With the only thing we saw, being whatever is in front of us.
The river to our side, indicating the path we would take, shone in the brightness of the sun.

I turned to Maya who I thought would feel somewhat lonely for leaving everyone. She showed a soft expression that was neither sad, or lonely. She looked a little downward and closed her eyes.

‘Maya?’ I asked, wondering if she was okay.

Maya then suddenly stopped in her tracks and turned around. She stared at the northern gate which was still somewhat in view. She took a deep breath and…

‘THANK YOU EMMERBERK!!!!’ Maya shouted. ‘I’LL BE BACK ONE DAY!!!’

…She started to shout towards the village she was raised in. All her feelings of gratitude packed into one powerful shout.

‘Come on, you too.’ Maya said to me, nudging me to do the same.

Is she serious right now? …Ah, screw it.
Swept up in the moment, I stood beside Maya and shouted back as well.

‘THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR TAKING ME iN!!!’ I shouted and I think I even heard my voice crack.
‘Voice crack.’ Maya said to me playfully and with a mischievous look on her face.
‘Shut it you.’ I played along with her and lightly punched her elbow.

Once we finished shouting our gratitude towards Emmerberk and everyone who lives there, after one month since I first came to this world, Maya and I went on our merry way to the rest of Resilia.
Strangers at first and friends before we knew it. We don’t know what lies ahead, or what awaits us. Nor do I even know if there is truly even a way back for me. But whatever it is, we’ll be there for each other. All the way until the end.

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To be continued.