First Meeting
A place called Nicklecleak

"The beginning of your journey can be the first stepof a great destiny."

- 1 -
+ William Merringer +

Tidal is the name of thevast world in which we live, a place with a large variety of landscapes,animals, and civilizations of all kinds. Kingdoms, republics, and empires havebuilt borders. Still, the diversity of culture and commerce expands on its own.

 One of its continents isNicklefleak, an enormous island in which natural boundaries are potent stormssurrounding the land but fade once a month at different map points. Near thesouth, a village called Omaken, the doctors' town, built on the planes andslopes, and it has a steep road to access. This is the place that I learned tocall home.  Beneath the surface, there isa famous and poisonous mine of silver orbs name Vankoq. This is a ruse to hidethe city from visitors, to which only the brave and clumsy would dare to enterat their own risk. In that place, a peaceful and hidden kingdom sought over theharmony of the world, characterized by being neutral in its decisions andinterventions, with an oath to send its people to help in places in great need,weakened, corrupted, or damaged by war.

 Our leaders were AngesTra'anem, an idealistic, brilliant, and dreamer with her feet firmly rooted onthe ground, which administrated and distributed the benefits and rewardsreceived by our people in exchange for their services. She inherited the titleof principal and lady of the medical institution taking the responsibility tosend the youngsters to the world, to spread our belief that the world deservesa better future. For this motive, a celebration must be held to welcome us ascitizens of Omaken before they send us off.

 Lady Agnes thought that wewere not ready. We were barely entering into the caterpillar's cocoon, even ifwe studied five years to tune their skills. But she couldn't take this awayfrom us; this was our moment to grow, make different choices, and look at thepath ahead. The soon-to-be doctors felt ready to begin their journey that willallow them to decide if they would still want to be Herbnz – medicsdedicated to heal, help, and bring tranquility – this was adecision that would become a lifelong duty. On the brink of the goodbye, thefamilies let their emotions flow, their loved ones will depart for a long year,and there was a possibility of not coming back. They have to face theadversities of letting go.

 Among those students stoodup a young woman with a sociable and lively personality. Her dark brown haircurls fell to the side of her temples, her large honey eyes showed a torn edgehighlighting her light complexion and moles, known as Daisy Marie Dockstand.

 A team will be assigned todifferent countries and regions, consisting of a doctor and a bodyguard fromthe candidates. Both classes studied separately for five years, learning theother arts superficially to understand their work and complement theirknowledge. Dockstand did not like the idea of an Ardatar, and she thought thatthe majority of people that took that option wanted to gain fame or become merebounty hunters and mercenaries.

 Lady Agnes wore a beautifuluniform, a navy-blue skirt covered by a white gabardine with gold edgescreating the image of a lamb, thick white gloves, boots, and a belt as black asnight, matching her ebony hair. Accompanied by the leader of the Ardatars, adark-skinned man with a noble countenance, null hair, and a warrior heart, thefire burned through his eyes. A light armor, leather boots, and gloves coveredhim, his uniform was navy blue, and his belt simulated a lion's jaws. He wasthe Master of the Ardatars, Crucious.

 Behind him, a retinue offifty bodyguards marched while Lady Agnes stopped her apprentices. Both leaderscontemplated the probable disagreements between the two groups, taking intoaccount our nervousness; our new companion's adaptation was part of the test.

 Crucious noted the nervouslook in one of the doctors and the cough of my colleagues. For the Master, itwas a sign of self-doubt.

 The families watched us withpride, each one of us was the bearer of a message of harmony in a conflictiveworld; we had a mission, an idea, although not everyone shared it entirely. Theelders knew that the ones with doubts could be lost in power struggles or leaveour path and take the easy road, but a team of two could work, the bodyguardsas the conscious and the doctors like the heart of the safe-keepers.

 A steep path lies ahead; Itwas evident from the first day when they asked us if we would be willing toembark on this journey filled with problems, or like Daisy Marie Dockstandwould say," On this honorable path."

- 2 -

+ DaisyMarie Dockstand +

  We tried to remain calm under the intense gaze of two of Omaken seniorcitizens.

 "Today is the day when a new group of Herbnz will leave this city.As you know, we are a source of healing, protection, and life. We representhope, but also with this comes a huge responsibility in the form of theinhabitants of Tidal."

 Her words expressed confidence; in a non-continuous period of years,groups of Herbnz would go out to the world, about half returned, and the otherstayed in the nearby kingdoms performing different tasks, finding their way.People used to say that those who left the island and returned were destined tomake significant changes in the world. Still, even if we had those highaspirations and goals, we needed to have our feet on the ground, or thisjourney would become more dangerous than we could imagine. When she finished,we made a reverie.

 Lord Cruccious was less Sutil, "Your swords and weapons are themost efficient shield, but they are not the basis of who you are. Defend theinnocent, it is part of your existence, and it is forbidden to fall into thehunger of destruction. Countless lives will be in your hands and on those youwill protect, it doesn't matter if you help one or two, make it count, it willsuffice, your goal is to stay alive and keep your Herbnz safe" Thebodyguards stuck their swords on the ground as a sign of respect.

 Both leaders took out small notebooks containing all travelers; two menbrought two beautiful chests covered by six small seals and large brooches.Lady Agnes and Master Crucious opened one, respectively. Within them weretwenty-five letters arranged at random with the name of our companion. I didnot like the idea. I have heard that many of the Ardatars were glory seekers atothers' expense.

 "Each of you will have to extend your hands forward to receive.Also, we are giving only twenty-five of these. The people who receive them willcall their companion's name and leave the village with their belongings. No onecan complain. Almost everybody has eighteen years old. You will have to behaveas young adults", Lady Agnes mentioned with authority.

 Our teachers walked in a militaristic way, followed by the men with thechests; Lady Agnes gave the letters to the Ardatars with a smile while MasterCrucious showed us his severe glance.

 Nervously I kept my fingers crossed. They stopped in front of ussimultaneously; that was the first time that our eyes met. The boy's hazel eyeslooked at me inconspicuously. He was paying attention to my reaction. Still,Lord Crucious met me with his gaze, so I decided to take the letter withconfidence, taking my nervousness to my stomach's depths.

 The other students were ready to open their envelopes; we were not theexception.

"Each of you will intercalate, the first of the Ardatars willbegin, and the last of the Herbnz will follow, say your name and the name ofyour companion out loud, show respect at any time."

The first one stepped forward with an anxious look on his face.

"Amaranto Devious," An Ardatar laughed but received apacifying look from his officer, turning pale in an instant "EdnaVeranti" My classmate took a step forward, her Ardatar went to meet her,presenting her sword and sheath with respect. Both went to the villageentrance, where their parents gave them their own travel bags to leave withoutdelay.

 "Crox Fellowords" Was the next; anyone could see the fear ofuncertainty in his eyes. "Flora Bonola" This time, the name of theyoung Ardatar made laugh one of the doctors. Lady Agnes took one of her glovesoff, smiling, causing instant silence.

Both classes continued reciting their names. New meetings and goodbyesfollowed the trail of their words when suddenly it was my turn.

"Daisy Marie Dockstand" My mouth trembled a little when Iopened the envelope and read the name inside "William Merringer," Inoticed a confident smile on the boy in front of me, we were together on thisjourney, but I didn't know what to expect from him. It was a strange momentwhen our paths converged with a single glance.