The confrontation with Dema certainly left a scar on the bandito camp, but it was slowly healing. Now nothing threatened peaceful life, the latter flourished, as a new generation, which had not seen the horrors within the concrete walls of the grey city, grew up.

Free, full of will and life, the children have already become quite mature. Now it's their turn to become the banditos, like everyone else in this camp over a decade ago, who broke the rules for the first time and ran away from Dema, risking their whole world to be free.

Initiation rite. Usually the age of joining banditos starts at 15-17, but it can easily be later. Elders decide when a child is ready to become a bandito.

It wasn't anything big, but it was a special moment for loved ones, especially mentors like Torchbearer. He was your de facto mentor since you were 11 years old, when you were playing freely in the field, he came up with a kind smile.

But a few years of practice later, the evening was overwhelming. Torchbearer pulled back the tent flap, entering the tent carefully to see you as you were being prepared for the ceremony. There were a few other guys who were going to become banditos with you, but they were much older, and you couldn't help but feel nervous, sitting in your traditional bright attire while everyone was bustling around you, adjusting here and there.

"You look like you're sitting on hot coals."

He hummed, taking a seat, cross-legged, next to you, admiring the whole attire.

"Ready, my freshly baked bandito?"

The curly-haired man chuckled, studying the cape made from the skins of animals that you once caught yourself. The bright patterns paired well with colourful feathers and necklaces made of teeth and claws.