Fields and trees passed by while travelling by train to the place that marked the end of his journey. His gaze was lost in the scenery that was enclosed by the window's frames; the only noise that could be heard was the whistling of steam running trough the motor at high speeds. And yet, he was calm, maybe at peace with the world and when the first big chump of fresh air entered his lungs, he started to remember... maybe for the first time of his life... truly remembering by his own will every tiny detail.
In his train of thought, he recalled the day he arrived for the first time to these lands, a joyful day that with the support of his family and friends lessened the burden of the adversities that will present themselves at the right moment. Slowly moving on to the first explorations his party had, and all the merry people they met along the way of these first steps, as his young alchemist mind didn't even notice what life had prepared for him.
In these travels he understood how images can be deceitful, as well as the first new perspective of what the world really is, and how, sometimes, it's about the journey and not the destination. The young alchemist and his friends visited ancient monuments in search for knowledge and expecting to be surprised, he also knew that the main motivation was adventure itself.
This thirst for adventure led them to cross mountains, lakes, valleys and rivers, in a quest to the unknown, yet with a goal in mind. The castles, cities and ruins where just a normal scenery, pleasing to the eye, but what they felt important was the feelings it conveyed standing on those grounds; inhaling the air and feeling the wind of a world they thought they knew and yet it surprised them again and again.
After much rejoicing and one of their goals fulfilled, it was time for his friends to return home, thus starting the period of his adventure with the people he met in these strange lands, just before going alone. This period of time taught him how important companions are, and to enjoy the moments life gives you to the fullest. But not all things learned are joyful, in his memory, lingered the bittersweet feeling of saying farewell.
Just for that instant, the train shook violently and made him skip his recollection of events to when he arrived to the place that would become his home for a year of practising spells and transmutation circles, as well as human behaviour and without him knowing, learning to live.
Armed with the weapons and robes his family had given him, he looked outside his window and the nature greeted him as an old friend, encouraging him to explore, meet new people and mainly, live.
Hardships went by as time flowed slowly yet continuous, strengthening the bonds with the people he met in the school surrounded by forest. At first, his shyness limited him to trust only the people who shared his homeland, but then, the sweet side of life pushed his limits. An alchemy so ancient as the universe itself... timelines. He needed to choose well, and a future sight reminded him that he did indeed, as a small smile ran trough his face.
Peaceful times were scarce, as celebrations came one after another, they did not needed meaning, as it was a time for people to forget about reality and fly across the land of dreams and search for their own stars in a sky filled with opportunities.
As his thoughts progressed, the alchemist knew he had grown up little by little, step by step, and that those events were special to him, and he knew why... the people made them special. He was struck by companionship made possible in such short time, it intrigued him very much, and a kindness like no other made him appreciate being alive, dancing trough the crowd and standing up when obstacles made him fall.
In his head, new times came by as the people leaved the train on unknown stations. New faces crossed his mind and sight at the same time. Journeys so magical that dwarfed everything he had previously experienced in his homeland. Places he had only read about in books and heard in legends, while in his own mind, he was creating new ones.
There was a time when he started to feel the change within himself, at that time, everything felt weird, and experiences started to be more and more random, yet still interesting. People showed their true colours, and that made him happy, because, even him was understanding himself more and more.
Cities filled with knowledge and wisdom were an important part of this reckoning, as well as the signs in the night sky. Everything seemed to swirl into convergence, giving him answers and questions alike, testing each and every one of his convictions.
Now it is time to return to reality, he knows a part of the journey has ended... he changed.
His mind now has all the different potions he tasted over the course of this experience and each flavor lingers in his taste buds as if he just drank them, all of this as he sees outside the window the most familiar face in his journey, the friend who cared the most about his well being... a true friend.
It was that friend who made him see what has he become, as his eyes start to see his new armour, wandering and curious. His pulse is getting faster, and he knows...
He knows he has become a badass knight.
