Dawn

"Kyrian, go fetch me the bucket. We're going to get water from the river," spoke the woman from afar.

"Yes, mother!" Kyrian hollered back as Kyrian's little feet marched along their yard where shrubs and plants were growing to reach a small shack they call home.

Looking for the pail wasn't that hard since they had few things inside their home - a simple fire stove, utensils that had been chipped, and a simple floor bed. The mother and son did not even have a bathroom since they used the nearby river for daily hygiene.

As Kyrian got the pail, he heard a scream that cried out pain.

"Please, you can hurt me but do not bring my son into this. I can give you what you want as long as you give me three days," Milayah begged the knights to extend the payment for the tax that the King was expecting due to the war that had been raging on for decades. The war was on the verge of ending, and the last push compelled the king to ask his subjects to increase the taxes even at the expense of the poorest people. Another substitute for the tax is to bring their first-born, regardless of gender, as long as they are fit and healthy.

Kyrian is a little boy aged 3 or 4 years old - sending him to a war that will probably last for a year or two is not reasonable in any way possible. These children do not have any combat power or intelligence to meaningfully contribute to winning the war. But with magic and alchemy, using children's blood and souls due to their purity and innate mana as a catalyst to become potions, tonics, or feeds for their steeds of war, they can become a strategic war resource. "One day! If I do not receive the payment within 24 hours, we will take your son. There are no more concessions to this. Be thankful for the grace I have given you. I only take pity on you because you're a widow, but that is all the mercy I can give you." The knight declared as he walked away.

In a whisper, he added, "The war is almost over, and all the sacrifices my comrades had given will finally free us from the grasp of the demons."

As soon as the knight left their field of vision, Kyrian asked in a cute voice, his eyes brimming with worry and wisdom "Mother, will I be taken away by the bad guy?" From how the adults were talking, he knew the current situation in their village as more and more children he played with were disappearing.

"By the Goddess Elyra, no. My son, I will do everything in my power to pay the tax, and if it isn't enough, we'll run away from here."

"But mother, running away from Xynnar village will mean instant death! Magical beasts are prowling in the forests beyond the village. I heard Uncle Jamie say that we need a magic user or a knight to accompany us if we want to leave here. Besides, won't the villagers and knights see us if we try to leave? That bad guy probably sent guards on many houses to see who's going to run away."

"Here you go again, being a smarty pants. Let me tell you a secret: I know of a hidden passage that can allow us to pass through the forest without being seen by anyone. Here is a map that your father gave me before he died. He told me that this waterfall will lead to a faraway land where raindrops taste like honey, and the fruits are heavenly." Milayah brought out a piece of parchment that illustrated a pathway towards a waterfall. Within the map, there were writings that Kyrian couldn't read. Poverty hindered Kyrian's talent in learning, but he was still able to memorize the pathway and recognize the landmarks that were shown on the map.

Milayah observed her son proudly as she knew that her son was a genius ever since he learned how to speak. He was able to gather information quickly from little clues, make inferences most adults wouldn't notice, and still act innocent even though he knew more than he let on. Milayah knew that there was another way to earn money, but she knew that Kyrian would never forgive himself if she sold her body to the guards. She would also dishonor her husband if she went along with this passing thought. Kyrian would instantly know where she got the money since she was a fine-looking woman in a remote village where royal knights were aplenty. He knew that his mother was frail and incapable of stealing. Selling old items were also out of the picture because they had no valuables, while borrowing money from the villagers wasn't an option because most of them were struggling to pay the taxes too, so he would be able to infer the reason how she got the money if her mother was able to pay the tax. 

"How did father get this map, mother?"

"He told me he stumbled upon it inside a cave while hunting for food. He never tried using the map because he didn't want to risk anything as we were just starting a family."

Kyrian knew there was something deeper about the map, but he didn't press on. If his mother believed that it wasn't the time to know, then it wasn't the time to know.

Time passed, and the sun slowly disappeared from the horizon. Torches lit aflame the village, and guards went on patrol to look for stragglers and beasts that may have gone past the borders.

Meanwhile, the mother and son ate their dinner and prepared to leave the village. They packed lightly since that was all they could pack. They only brought a gourd of water and the few clothes they had. Along their journey, they would forage for sustenance, and use rainwater to refill their gourds to quench their thirst. They used their old dark blankets to drape their visage and blend with the night.

Stray howls and hoots of owls could be heard as they traversed the forest. The moon was bright, and the stars shone as if they were guiding the mother and son to escape their fate.

Miraculously, they were able to move past the guards, beasts, and other creatures in the dark in peace. Perhaps it was the guidance of the gods that no one noticed them. It was almost impossible for the mother and son to not encounter any hindrances in their long journey.

Weeks passed, and the moonlight shone upon them as they trekked through the forest until they heard the distant waterfall. It was a gentle whisper in the wind, a soothing symphony of nature that mingled with the rustling leaves and the calls of hidden birds. It was a soft, rhythmic cadence, hinting at the powerful cascade concealed somewhere beyond the forest, drawing the mother and son with its serene, melodic allure.

Kyrian brought out the map and recognized the landmarks written within it. As they walked closer to the waterfall, he was able to see the grand cascade in the distance. The water plummeted from a towering cliff, crashing into the pool below with a roar that grew louder with each step. Mist rose from the impact, creating a shimmering veil that danced in the sunlight. Kyrian could feel the cool spray on his face, refreshing after the long journey. The waterfall's sheer force and beauty were captivating, the sight and sound melding into a breathtaking display of nature's power.

"Mother, we're here!" Kyrian exclaimed as a rarely seen childlike expression appeared on his face. After weeks of long journey, he learned a lot of things in their path to the waterfall. With the canopies as their roofs and the soft soil as his bed, Kyrian became more attuned to nature. It was relatively a peaceful trip.

"Yes, dear. We've arrived at last." Milayah hoarsely said in relief. She had a lot of reflection during their journey to reach the waterfalls. She also knew how suspicious it was to Kyrian that they did not encounter any problems during their journey, but she had no plans to tell him right now.

"Mother, what are those glowing balls of light floating around the waterfalls?" Kyrian asked.

"What do you mean glowing balls of light?" Milayah was astounded since she couldn't see what Kyrian was seeing.

"It's the first time I'm seeing them too, mother. They feel refreshing when I absorb the balls of light. I feel like something that has been missing within me returned after for a long time."

Milayah was surprised that his son could already see mana at the age of four. Usually, noble lineages awaken their ability to sense mana at the age of 12, and most of the geniuses who reached the pinnacle were able to sense mana at the age of 9. Meanwhile, Kyrian, who had no prior knowledge, training, or guidance was able to see it; not just sense it.

"Those little balls of light that you are seeing are called mana, Kyrian. It is one of the fundamental forces binding reality together. If you have the ability to manipulate it, it will give you the power to bend the world to your whims."

 "How do you know all this, mother? Weren't you supposed to be a normal farm girl who grew up in a remote village? That's how the villagers described you."

Milayah laughed wistfully and said, "I broke my mana core and lost the ability to wield mana a long time ago. The last time I used it was to manipulate the memories of the villagers to blend in properly. I can't see the mana you were seeing; I can't feel the refreshing feeling you were feeling. All I have now is you, my most precious son. Promise me that you will live. Not just survive, but live."

Kyrian already had an inkling of suspicions growing up as her mother knew things that were normally not known by the people of Xynnar. Now that he just confirmed that her mother was a mage. He didn't know how powerful, but a mage who stood above the rest of the mortals.

"It doesn't matter if you broke your mana core, mother. I will find a way to restore it when we get out of here, and while I'm looking for the solution, I will always be here to protect you!" Kyrian said proudly with his chest out as a way of lighting up the conversation.

"Oh, Kyrian. I know you will. Let us rest here for a few days before going inside the waterfall. We don't know what's beyond that place, but knowing your father, he wouldn't intend to harm us by giving this map to us." Milayah lied to her son as she knew the consequences of activating the runes within the waterfalls. She wanted to spend the last few days she had with her son peacefully.

As days passed by, the constant sound of waterfalls became a familiar lullaby to Kyrian and his mother. She watched him with a tender smile as he played near the edge, his laughter mingling with the rushing water. Each day, the roar of the falls grew more comforting, a steady presence in their final days together. The path they walked was steep and rugged, but she held his hand tightly while teaching him the knowledge she knew about the world of Elyra while cherishing every moment. The waterfall was their sanctuary, a place where time seemed to stand still, allowing them to savor the beauty of their last shared adventures. The sound of the falls was a bittersweet symphony, a reminder of the love and memories he would carry with him always.

Alas, all good things in life have an end. Before the sun rose, Milayah asked her son to go near the waterfall. She asked him to close his eyes, think of the happiest memory he had, and cherish it in his heart.

In Kyrian's mind, all the days he spent with his mother were the happiest memories of his life. He cherished it and followed his mother's wishes even though deep down - he knew something amiss.

His instincts were right as the moment he thought of it, it happened.

The ground rumbled, and the waterfall suddenly stopped flowing. The surrounding area suddenly went still, and mysterious letters of different colors suddenly glowed as soon as the ground stopped rumbling. Kyrian opened his eyes as the connection with his memories and the esoteric power his mother was emanating suddenly connected. He saw his mother floating in the air, and the aura she was exuding was beyond majestic. Even in his mind, the stories of kings and queens in the royal kingdom wouldn't compare to the regal authority his mother was emitting. Milayah spoke some words that Kyrian couldn't comprehend no matter how hard he tried to listen. Afterward, an iridescent gate manifested in the still waters of the waterfall. The moment that the gate appeared, Milayah landed on the ground, gasping for air, visibly weak.

Milayah spoke hoarsely, "I used the remaining life force stored within me to make our journey as smooth as possible, and the last remnants of it to open the gates towards the Western Continent: Aicras. Remember the lessons I told you during our stay here. I want you to live, Kyrian. Live." 

"Mother! Why did you have to use your life force? We could just live here peacefully until the end of the war and return!" Kyrian sobbed as he wailed.

"Even if we spend it here, I wouldn't last a few weeks anymore. The life force I spent in deterring the beasts and hiding us from danger in our journey depleted the last of my reserves. You should get a better future in another land, nurture your gifts, and become the strongest you could ever be to control your fate than to be trapped here."

"I do not care about being the strongest! If I could spend a few more days with you, then I would do so! What's the point of becoming strong if I do not have you by my side?" Kyrian argued with her mother while hugging her as she lay limply on the ground. He felt that it was unfair to sacrifice herself without asking him for his thoughts.

"I don't want you to go, Mother."

Even the waterfall in the background seemed ashamed of the tears falling from Kyrian's eyes. His voice was thick with emotion, the words barely escaping his trembling lips. The roar of the water, once a comforting presence, now felt like a distant, uncaring rumble, unable to drown out his sorrow.

"I know, Kyrian. I know. I love you, my son. But I want you to escape your fate, become unbound by the chains of fate, unlike the rest of us."

Kyrian's eyes widened in awe and sorrow as he watched Milayah's body shimmer and glow like the sun's first rays appearing on the horizon. The ethereal light bathed her in a golden aura, illuminating her serene expression. But as quickly as she glowed, the light began to fade, and her form started to disintegrate into the wind. In her last moments, she turned to Kyrian, her voice a soft whisper carried by the breeze. "Even I couldn't escape Fate. Only in Death can I find true Freedom." She said, her words lingering in the air even after her presence had vanished.

Kyrian grasped in panic at the air where her mother disappeared, hoping that everything wasn't real. The little boy cried until his tears dried up, but even if his tears filled the oceans, his mother would never return.

A new dawn arrived, but Kyrian did not bother to look at it. The sun rose over the horizon, casting its golden light over the waterfall and the surrounding forest. The world continued its rhythm, but Milayah's absence left a palpable void. The place where he and his mother had spent their last days together now stood silent, the only remnants of their presence being the memories etched into the rocks and the trees. The iridescent gate shone silently, while the waterfall's roar seemed quieter, almost as if it mourned the loss of the boy who once laughed and played at its edge.

The dawn was beautiful, but without his mother, it felt incomplete, a reminder of the fleeting nature of time and the enduring power of love.