A lone female, dressed in usual anaxi clothing was slowly walking down the road toward Vienda. She could already see the rooftops and chimneys, and smoke that was swirling from them. Smoke, cities ... Why would someone like to live in overcrowded habitats? Akhira never quite understood that as she hated being around too much people.

She stopped and looked around to make sure no one was following her. Thank heavens, she was alone. Already irritated from the long road that was behind her and even longer road that awaited her, she really didn’t want another creature bothering her; at least not now.

Akhira sat down by the tree few steps away from the road and put shoes beside her. She didn’t like wearing shoes; when it was cold they were quite welcome, but not when it was warm enough to be barefoot. She just liked to feel earth and stones underneath her.

A soft growl came from her stomach. Akhira opened the bag and took out a chunk of bread, her today’s dinner. While eating, she decided it was enough of travelling for today; Surwood Isle won’t go anywhere in the meantime.

Her foster parents told her it’ll be Wick Festival soon. She didn’t care much but she really needed to find a wick teacher so going to the festival was probably the best idea. Akhira shuddered at the though. Festivals meant loud music, loud people, and a lot of loud people actually, chaos, loud chattering, and a mass of loud strangers. While thinking about this, she took too fierce bite and accidentally bit her tongue. She inhaled sharply and felt hot tears in her eyes; by the stars, this hurt! As painful as the bite was also the idea of her on Festival. But like shoes, this was the necessary evil if she wanted to learn magic.

A young man driving a caravan appeared in the distance. As he came closer Akhira could hear him singing softly. It was an old tune, about going off to war far too young. He was travelling in the opposite direction to Akhira and soon caught up with her. He pulled his kenser up in front of her, his field revealing him to be a wick.

"Hesta, chip, you wouldn't happen to know if there's clean water nearby, would you?" He pointed a thumb at his kenser. "My friend Socks is getting thirsty."

Socks looked at Akhira and chirping sound.

The singing and sound of wheels on the road caught Akhira’s attention. She froze, bread in her hand half a way to her mouth, only her brows moved when she turned her sight in the direction of the caravan. She slowly put the bread back in her back and waited, completely still and almost camouflaging; there was nothing threatening about the caravan though, but old habits day hard.

She tensed as the caravan stopped in front of her, and looked at its owner. When realizing that he’s also a wick, Akhira relaxed a bit and allowed herself to move slightly.

Akhira thought for a moment and then pointed in the direction she came from.

“Pond is not far. Go there,” her answers were always short and when she had to speak, she was always creasing the edge of her skirt, like if speaking was painful for her.

The man tipped his hat at her.

"Much obliged, miss. You wouldn't happen to be heading to Surwood, would you?" He said congenially, relishing the chance to chat to someone after being on the road for a while. "There's a whole bunch of us taking a boat out in a week, you should come with us. Be much cheaper."

The young man hopped back onto the driving seat, giving Socks a pat as he went.

"You should think about it, have a good one, chip."

He made ready to snap the reins and wander off.

Surwood? Akhira nodded. She was more and more interested in that man. Not only that he was a wick, he was also heading in the same direction sooner or later.

She fixed her gaze to the grass for few seconds, organizing her thoughts. In a week time it'll be quite crowded on a boat which was bad thing for her. But at least it'll be cheaper, like that man said, and maybe someone will take interest in teaching her ... Anyway, no matter what, she was taking that boat.

Akhira didn't even hear man's last words, it was his movement that caught her sight again.

"Your advice is appreciated," Akhira said before he could go. "I will take the boat too."