Val (first person point of view)

  "HEY! WAKE UP! We're nearly there to our destination!" The driver boomed, his voice echoing through the backseats as we sat in the vehicle.

  I slowly beagn to rouse from a deep sleep. Eclipsara, too, started waking up. The sun peeked through the windows, illuminating the vehicle.

  "I wanted to sleep more." Eclipsara groaned sleepily, lifting her head off my shoulder.

  Suddenly, both of us felt a jolt as the vehicle hit something on the ground—a rge bump. The sudden vibration startled us, shaking us out of our drowsiness.

  "I am awake! I am awake!" Eclipsara said with wide eyes, clutching my hand with a fearful expresion. Her red eye was visible, though her bangs obscured the other, and I imagined it mirrored the same fear.

  I snickered internally as I knew that Eclipsara for a brief moment had thought we were getting attacked. She was in a half asleep state after all, so her not knowing we were in a vehicle made sense. As she began to calm down, I could see her realizing it was just the rubble on the road causing the shake.

  Eclipsara squinted at me with an unamused expression. "You were just ughing in your head, weren't you?"

  "N-no...of course no-" I tried to look away, but she grabbed my chin and forced me to meet her gaze. The mischievous gleam in her red eye shattered the st of my restraint. I burst out ughing. "I...I am sorry!. It was just so..." I snickered again and ugh abit more

  Eclipsara pouted and pyfully punched me in the shoulder, though it didnt hurt. "You deserve that."

  I made a dramatic 'ouch' look and gave my best acting as I held the shoulder that she pyfully punched me at. "AH! I am wounded! How could you do such a thing?! After all we have been thought!? I Trusted you!"

  Eclipsara also joined in the dramatic rolepy pyed along. "HA! You should have known better than to trust me you overtrusting fool! I am after all the greatest betrayer of the world! HAHAHA! Bow before me and my awesome might!"

  As Eclipsara and I kept having this comedic acting banter between us, even made the driver in the front smile warmly as he was focused on the road. It was clear that Eclipsara and I had grown closer over the past few days—enough to share these kinds of jokes. Although she hadn’t yet revealed much about her past, aside from the destruction of her nation, I could see she was warming up to me. I didn’t expect her to share everything right away. I wanted her to open up when she felt comfortable.

  After a while, as we had enough fun with the rolepy and needed a break, Eclipsara started asking questions on whats to come.

  "So, is the nation of Velmoria nice? Are the people nice?"

  I nodded. "Yeah, its a nice pce. Even though its slightly behind in development, its definitely more peaceful and equal in citzenship compared to other nations thats for sure."

  The driver, overhearing our converation, chimed in. "Young dy, its a peaceful nation. Theres nothing to worry about that I can assure you. I raised my daughter there before the war, and the people there are all kind to each other. In fact, during the war, I helped drive many refugees who had defected from other nations to Velmoria. I recieved alot of letter of thanks as the treatment there was much more humane and kind than other nations"

  I blinked and spoke to the driver. "I wasnt aware you were a veil rider, sir. That must have been a huge honor for you"

  Elipsara blinked in confusion. "Whats a veil rider, Val??"

  I responded to her question. "A veil rider is a driver who moves through the "veil" of conflict, finding hidden and peaceful paths for others. Theres a few of them and their Job is often dangerous. There is a risk of them getting intercepted and attacked by hostile forces if they were to ever make a mistake in their investigations on whether a road is dangerous or not. And the job only allows a few hours of rest given due to them not wanting to risk any unsavory types to follow them."

  "Yep, thats the job description." The driver spoke proudly. "Its hard work, but its rewarding when people are happy in the end."

  I looked at Eclipsara. "It seems we have a first count description of what Velmoria is. Do you feel better now at what the driver had just said?"

  Eclipsara slowly nodded. ""Yeah, I feel a lot more comfortable about going there now.""

  I then looked at the driver. "How long do we have before reaching Velmoria, sir?"

  "About 20 minutes from now, you two should start preparing your luggage now"

  20 minutes ter...

  Both Eclipsara and I got out of the vehicle and stretched our limbs with a sigh of relief after the long 10 hour journey.

  As Eclipsara stretched her back, she then shouts out loud. "AH, IT FEELS SO GOOD TO FINALLY MOVE!!"

  "I know right!" I replied, equally relieved.

  The driver, too, stepped out and stretched. Thats when Eclipsara suddenly had a moment of realization.

  "VAL! I forgot, but since we are here in Velmoria now, we can read the letters Dr. Trauss had given us."

  I nodded. "True, let me take them out"

  I reached my hand into the bag and took out 2 letters-one for Eclipsara and one for me. I handed Eclipsara her letter. As I opened my own letter, I discovered an unexpected third letter hidden inside—another one with a different name on it. I quickly caught it before it hit the ground, puzzled but feeling a sense of foreboding. I had a feeling my letter would reveal its purpose soon.

  And thus Eclipsara and I started reading our respective letters.

  Dr. Trauss letter to Val

  Dear Val

  If your reading this letter then it means you have arrived to the nation of Velmoria. I know things may seem overwhelming for you and Eclipsara at first, but you will find yourself used to it soon enough. Val, my boy, I consider you as my own child. You have been with me for many years that I consider you as someone close to me. Your a kind child Val. I hope that one day youll be able to get rid of the hatred you have for yourself. You don't deserve to hate yourself. While you are gone, the settlement and I will miss you dearly in your absence.

  Now enough for the emotional talk. There are a few things I wish to let you know. First of all, I have made you a student of a doctor that once mentored me in my younger days. Now I know what your probably saying right now:why?. While you have rejected talks about being a doctor and being my apprentice with the excuse that theres someone better than you and I deserve a better student. I believe the real reason you’ve rejected my offers is tied to something in your past—something that fuels your self-hate. I have seen in your eyes that you wish to be a doctor, but arent thinking your worthy enough. And thus, I have already written a letter to my old teacher about you. He has agreed to train you and he wont take no for an answer. He'll find you, not the other way around. Trust me youll know who he is. His personality is...well...unique.

  Once again, I apologize for being pushy alot, but I know you wont make the first move yourself and thus I have done it for you. Your probably being sentimental there Val, dont lie to me. I know you boy.

  As for Eclipsara, I already have a bit of an idea on who she really is, but she herself will let you know ter on. Once again, just a theory. I suspect that girl will tell you ter on, but for now be patient. And now for that hidden letter you must have found out by now. I want you to give it to a woman known as Sylvaris, she has dragon horns on her head despite her human appearance. This woman appears in a famous tavern around moring time. She has silver and red hair and you can find her quite easily as she is easily distinguishable from others. I want you to go to that tavern immediately upon your arrival and give this hidden letter to her. She will help you with the housing and help you on alot of things. Now everything I wanted to say is now done. Ill send you more letters just in case anything happens. Good luck on your journey Val. You will always have a home to rest here when things get tough.

  Sincerely,

  Dr. Trauss

  P.S. If the doctor and Sylvaris are upset with you at first, it’s probably because of me. Actually, scratch that—it’s definitely me. You’ll see soon enough. And please massage them. It’s good for their mental health.

  Val (first person point of view)

  The words in the letter hit me unexpectedly hard. Harder than I thought it would. Dr. Trauss had already done alot for me that I cant even fully express my gratitude for all the things he had done for me. As I find myself touched once again by his words, I must have been looking abit sad that by the time Eclipsara finished her letter she looked at me with a strange look.

  "Missing them?" She asked me quietly.

  "yeah...I am." I admit to her. "They did help me alot before I met you after all"

  Eclipsara smiled with absolute gremlin energy. "Well, dont be sad for too long! You got me after all!" She pointed her thumb at herself and gave a huge mischievous grin.

  I ughed. "Yeah, true true. So what did Dr. Truass tell you on your letter?"

  "Oh, it’s nothing," she said quickly, her voice unnaturally high. "Just told me to do well in school and all that!"

  I raised an eyebrow. "I see." I then mentioned the hidden letter I had found. "Dr. Trauss told me to deliver this letter to a silver and red-haired woman with dragon horns named Sylvaris. For some reason, he seemed worried about her—no, more like scared."

  "Really? Why so?"

  "Dont know, but it seems we will find out soon. Ready to go?"

  "YEP!" Eclipsara replied with a delighted nod.

  And so, the journey to meet the mysterious dy begins.