I grew up around magical creatures. When I came of age, I was tasked with training drakes and griffins for the military and for the kingdom's defense. I took pride in my job, did my best for the creatures, but I had no say in what happened to them after they left my care. That wore on me until the day came when I was no longer needed. The war was over. They had no more need for the creatures I trained.

  So I took my leave, took my earnings, and disappeared.

  Packing up my old life didn’t take very long. Most of the things in my quarters weren’t actually mine. They belonged to the academy and the stables and the institutions I spent most of my life serving. Sure, I could have taken the many commendations with me, but it didn't feel right.

  I packed all of my clothes in one bag and my books in another. Mixed in with my clothes I hid the treats and treatments that would be borderline impossible for me to find once I left. I had no intention of continuing my line of work, but you never know when it might prove useful. Better take them with me than let them go to waste.

  “It’s amazing how small your life feels when you put it all together,” I muttered to myself. “At least it’ll be enough to start something new. Who knows, I might even collect more things in the next chapter.”

  Not that I have many plans for my next chapter. Right now, all I want is to go somewhere quiet and be alone for a while. Enjoy the outdoors. Read more books. Just be without anyone expecting anything of me until I can figure out what I want to do next.

  Zera chirps, drawing my attention to the window she managed to open. How she managed to do that will forever remain a mystery because she never does it when she thinks I'm looking, but it is one of her many talents. It took a lot of convincing for the breeder who supplied the military with its mounts to let me keep her. I had to promise to sterilize her, because they didn't want to risk passing on her lack of growth to future generations.

  She might be too small to ride, but she is clever and loyal. She’s also pretty dang feisty for something so skinny with her wicked long tail. Granted, some of that spunk comes from me, but most of it she found on her own.

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  I gave my quarters a final sweep, making sure I had everything of import in my bags before I left. They'd probably let me come back if I forgot something, but honestly, I never wanted to. This place consumed enough of my life already.

  “Are you certain you wish to leave?” Arthur asked. “You are welcome to stay on in a limited capacity, if you wish.”

  “I am certain,” I said, clasping him on the shoulder. Arthur already had his belongings moved into the other staff apartment. He’d have made a decent neighbor, but I wasn’t in the mood for neighbors. I desperately needed a change in scenery, and I felt confident that I’d be leaving the place in good hands.

  “Good luck in your future endeavors, Mara.”

  “Likewise, Arthur. I’d stay and chat but I've got a lot of ground to cover, so I will leave it at farewell.” I shouldered my packs, nearly loaded down with the weight as I stepped outside. Zera quickly came to stand in front of me, standing perfectly still as I loaded some of the bags onto her back.

  It felt strange to be leaving the training grounds with my life on my shoulders, potentially to never return. The fluttering in my chest almost felt like relief. Peace. Zera nudged my hand while we walked and I started scratching the ridges near her ears. One of her favorite spots.

  We walked for a while before finding transport that would allow a drake onboard. I had to pay a little extra, in case she made a mess. She didn’t, and while I got that money back, I ended up spending about the same amount keeping her fed.

  It took a few days to leave the capital behind, and we stayed on the train for an extra day after that before departing. From there, Zera and I walked and hitchhiked our way back to a place I hadn’t seen in years. It was a charming little town on the river, full of life and color and people from all walks of life.

  We didn’t quite reach the town. Instead, we detoured into the woods, following a trail that only a few of the locals knew about. I lost track of it a few times, but we eventually found what I was looking for.

  “Welcome home,” I said. Zera stopped beside me, and we stood there for a few minutes, staring at the quaint little two-story cottage in the center of the clearing.

  Our new home.