Astrid gulped, the sound resonating within the quiet air as she gripped her haversack's straps, her knuckles turning white. A murmur escaped her lips, "Today's the day." 

Kenji, standing stalwart by her side, mirrored her anxiety, his hand restlessly gliding over his sheathed katana. "Indeed," he said, his gaze steady, "Today is the day."

As Adara and Storm approached, they were met with the sight of their friends' noticeable tension. Adara's hands held the reins of two horses, with Storm managing another pair. Kenji offered a trembling smile, his voice shaking slightly as he said, "Morning." He extended his hand, accepting one of the horses from Storm.

Astrid remained frozen in her spot, her breath coming out in slow, calming puffs of air. Finally, she found the strength to move, her hand reaching out to take the reins from Adara. A breath of relief whooshed out of her as she whispered her gratitude.

"Are you ready for the journey?" Adara and Storm queried, looking at Astrid and Kenji for affirmation. Nods of agreement were their reply.

Surprised by the absence of their families, Storm voiced his thoughts, "I'm rather taken aback that your families aren't present."

Eyes fixed on the path stretching before them, Kenji responded, "We bade them farewell at home. Adding another goodbye here...it would be overwhelming."

Understanding dawned on Adara and Storm, the heavy implications of the situation sinking in. Yet, they were interrupted by Astrid's sudden cheerfulness. Her eyes sparkling with anticipation, she beamed, "Shall we embark on our journey, then?"

With mutual consent, the four friends mounted their horses. A resounding "Ya!" punctuated the air as they galloped down the dirt path, the formidable mountain that they were to traverse standing as a distant silhouette against the horizon.

Two hours passed in a blur of landscapes, and Kenji suggested they rest the horses and hydrate themselves. Dismounting, they approached a nearby lake where the horses eagerly drank while the young quartet refreshed themselves with splashes of the cool water on their heated faces.

The sun had reached its zenith and was pouring down its relentless heat. Looking at the map they had been entrusted with, Adara stated, "We must reach the other side of the mountain before nightfall." The statement hung heavy in the air as they all understood how much ground they needed to cover.

Lunch, prepared by Astrid's mother, was a shared meal, the silence punctuated by the occasional crunching of food. They had half an hour to rest, stock up on water, and then continue.

By the time they reached the base of the mountain, another couple of hours had slipped by. Adara reminded them of the urgency of their task.

"We are at a critical juncture," Adara began, her gaze steady on the looming mountain. "Once we start ascending this mountain, we must forego any breaks. Our progress has been slower than anticipated. We still have the responsibility of delivering these horses to the farmer residing on the other side, not to mention the necessity of finding a suitable location for our encampment."

Astrid's nod came in response. "We must hasten our pace, virtually doubling our speed. Although supper is not a concern, we must focus on securing a safe haven for our overnight rest."

Kenji's affirmation followed, his words echoing the collective resolve, "Understood. As we all share this understanding, let's proceed."

Casting a glance towards the afternoon sky, Storm studied the sun's position. "We have roughly five to six hours to traverse this mountain. The prospect of completing the remainder of this expedition on foot is not particularly appealing."

Miraculously, they managed to conquer the mountain within a span of five hours. After a brief respite, they hastened towards the farmer's dwelling, a detour from their original route. Their village had a limited number of horses, and the animals in their possession were slated for use by the next group of trainees after some rest. The farmer was tasked with the horses' return.

With their farewells to the farmer echoing in the wind, Adara steered them back to their designated path, leading the way onwards.

As the sun started to dip towards the horizon, they quickened their pace. The impending darkness added an urgency to their steps. After an hour and a half of hard trekking, they sighted a thicket – a welcome haven. A clearing within its depths revealed an ideal camping spot, likely left behind by the previous groups.

With a flicker of a smile, Kenji commented on their classmates' thoughtfulness. As they settled down for the night, Kenji put to boil the water they had collected. Astrid busied herself with starting a fire, while Adara and Storm foraged for more firewood.

Around the crackling fire, the weariness of the day seemed to recede. Kenji introduced them to a new type of tea, made from a special herb grown in his family's garden. The soothing beverage, along with their shared camaraderie, created an oasis of tranquillity amidst the arduous journey that lay ahead.

As twilight enveloped the world, Astrid delved into her pack, extracting portions of food she'd packed earlier. Dividing it amongst them, she raised a suggestion, "Perhaps we ought to determine our respective watches for the night?"

In an instantaneous response, Storm claimed, "I volunteer for the final watch!"

Adara couldn't resist a jibe, "Already weary, are you?" At Storm's playfully snarled retort, she just chuckled.

Swiftly following suit, Kenji chose the opening shift. "I'll take the first watch," he chimed.

Astrid, gently nursing her tea, chimed in, "I find sleep's embrace swift and deep. Hence, I’ll claim the shift preceding Storm’s."

Adara acknowledged their choices with a nod, declaring, "Then, it seems, Kenji, you shall be my tocsin." 

With the watches set, Kenji navigated the conversation to their onward plans. “What direction does our compass point to next?”

Adara unfurled the map before them, a world contained within ink and parchment. Her finger traced their location, "This is our current position," before sweeping across the expanse, landing on the capital. “And that's our destination.”

Astrid groaned, lamenting, "How ignorant was I about the sheer distance to the capital!"

In response, Storm humorously posited, "Perhaps because the distance never mattered to us before this."

Refocusing on the path ahead, Adara outlined, “We'll traverse a large swath of our journey through this forest that currently envelopes us. There's a chance we might encounter trainees from the South-South-West Village, as our path intersects theirs. The forest provides solace in the form of shade during the scorching day yet might usher in a frigid night.”

Storm, after examining the map, predicted, “It appears we're set for an arduous climb tomorrow.”

With a grimace, Astrid humorously dubbed it, “Seems like tomorrow is leg day.”

With a sardonic chuckle, Kenji retorted, “Ah, the joy of leg day,” before reclining onto his back, gazing at the celestial tapestry above.

Kenji, like Storm, sported grown-out hair. His cascading locks, a rich dark brown, were usually styled in a top knot, stray tendrils framing his face. Underneath the starlight, his hair, released from its constraints, served as a cushion for his head. His features - light brown skin, petite nose, full lips – were illuminated in the ethereal glow. At a mere thirteen, Kenji, with his slender physique, mirrored the stature of his companions.

Storm and Adara, hailing from a family of modest means, had leaner frames than their companions. Adara's distinctive cheekbones, defined jawline, and full lips lent her an air of unique elegance, while Storm's long, raven-black hair, thin nose, and full lips infused him with a regal allure. However, their striking features were often masked by their seemingly intimidating personas.

Astrid was a distinct beauty in her own right. Her ash-blonde hair, cropped just past her collarbones, framed a round face, setting her apart from her companions' sharper profiles. Her hazel eyes, set under thick lashes, her larger nose, and slightly tanned skin, blended harmoniously, enhancing her radiant appearance. Although she was the shortest amongst them, her personality more than made up for her stature.

Kenji's gaze shifted from the luminescent moon to his companions. A gentle admonishment left his lips, “You should all rest. Night has already descended us. Adara, I shall awaken you when your watch begins.”

© Crimson B