Chapter 10

Muren passed by an open park and happened to see a young man sketching a portrait in a parchment paper.

He sat beside him and complimented the beautiful sketch.

It was an intricate image of a person standing above a stage in front of a large crowd.

"I have always dreamt of being able to sing in front of many people," The young man said. "I want to reach people through my voice."

He then stared sadly at the parchment paper with the sketch.

"How old are you?" Muren asked.

"I am 15."

"Hmm, very young, indeed. Worry not and continue believing in yourself. Do not be disheartened because you have a lot of time. One day, we shall all be free to hear you sing and see the pictures you draw."

"Do you really think so?"

"Yes. Shall I become your first audience, then?"

The young man gladly sang his heart out with a soft, yet brave song. The melody was almost like a lullaby, but the lyrics were strong and inspiring.

Muren said his farewell to the talented boy and began striding back home.

A little later, the lights were shut out as the young night fell in.

Everyone got inside their houses in silence and blew their candles out.

The soldiers began their roaming once more and the silent fighter had prepared himself to sleep. However, as he was almost in between drifting to his dream world, he had heard a loud thud from outside.

It was enough to wake him up.

Another sound was heard – someone had shouted and quickly swung a wooden door.

Muren peeked from their window gaps and saw the guards forcibly entering a neighborhood house.

Muren immediately jumped out and bolted towards the scene along with the other neighbors who had been curious.

The newly wed who just recently had a secret ceremony in the deep woods was both caught undressed inside. The man and woman were forcibly separated from each other and were immediately questioned.

Muren had guessed that they were to be interrogated about their status.

Before living with each other and having children, the heads and officials from the colonizers would confirm first about their capability and hand over a documented permission. Since the caught newly wed was either unaware or truly incapable of raising a child, they had not requested permission from the office.

If they had been proven incapable, they would be isolated and separated from each other by throwing the man to a faraway village.

Muren and the other neighbors were forced to go back to their houses.

There were still noisy rustles from outside and Muren could only imagine the restlessness of the people.

He had always heeded to his mother about an adage, "You must not bottle up a strong emotion. Do not even endure it for the pent up burdens will only get heavier and would someday take a toll against you."

He heeded to such adage, but for someone's sake, for goodness or whatever, the cruelty only heightens.

And it stirs up strong emotions that must be endured and must be hidden to prepare to fight in the war. But how can you not endure seeing a young man's broken dreams and a wistful lover's broken relationship?

How can you not endure seeing the world silently go downhill in burning flames?