Fragment of the Past XVII: A Long-Forgotten Dream (Felkin) (1/2)

It was a calm and clear afternoon, there was a calm stream near the forest. Water trickled and flowed quickly and rocks rose above the stream's surface, and the orange light cast was reflected onto it. The birds flew across the forest contentedly and chirped happily as they flocked in the air and nestled in the treetops. Animals like deer and rabbits ran about beneath the trees, grazed, and frolicked.

A small boy was seated crouched near the water and stirred a small twig in the stream. As a small fish swam downstream, he raised the twig from the water to avoid blocking the fish's way. He looked upon the twig in his hand and observed as it softened and the tip of it crumbled away. He tapped the dry end of the stick on the rocky shores of the stream and noticed that it was solid and wouldn't break easily. He flipped the twig and tapped the rocks with the soaked side and watched it break and crumble. He raised and looked at the stick with a smile on his face, satisfied.

Felkin then grabbed a smooth and round stone and did the same. He pulled it out from the water, and struck it against the ground, but both the dry side and the wet side struck the same way; only the wet side slid slightly as it made contact with the shore. "Huh." He remarked. He stood up and saw the orange afternoon sunlight casting the shadows of the nearby trees of the forest. As he stepped into the light, he saw that he had cast a shadow on the ground as well. He walked back and forth, fascinated by his shadow appearing and disappearing. "Felkin! Supper's ready! Better run back home!" A female voice from a nearby cottage spoke towards the young boy. "Coming!" He replied, running back towards his home.

He wore a light brown tunic and shorts, which were worn but well kept, and sandals that made gentle swishing sounds as he ran across the grass field leading to the cottage. Their house was a quaint cottage, made from wood. It was a small house, and joined a collection of houses with their backs turned towards the forest and ran alongside the road. Felkin walked from behind the house and entered through the front. As the night grew later, a man in the house struck a match and lit a candle. The candle had been lit before, and had wax running down and pooling around its base at the candle holder. It was set atop a wooden cupboard in a small dining room and kitchen with cabinets and a table with a few chairs surrounding it. A woman inside the house scooped stew from a pot atop a stove lit by charcoals, into wooden bowls, handing two to the man who handed one to Felkin. He pulled a chair back and climbed onto it as he laid the bowl on the table.

"Spoons, please." The young boy's request was heeded as the woman picked three spoons and sat at the table, handing one spoon to the man and Felkin each. The table already had cups of water for each of them, though half-filled. The man had brown hair and a receding hairline as well as a somewhat bushy beard. The woman had long brown hair, but part of it was tied up in a ponytail and flowed down in front of her shoulder. Both of them appeared to be middle-aged; the man wore simple red tunics and leggings while the woman wore a basic brown dress and a white apron. Both of them were fair skinned, but the man had dark brown eyes and his mother had a lighter shade of brown. Felkin was short and had messy and overgrown hair, a few strands covering the front of his face.

As Felkin and the man started to eat the stew, the woman spoke to them. "So... How was your day?" She asked. The man put down his spoon and momentarily stopped eating. "Me or him?" He asked. "Well... Both." She replied. "Well, business is going good. I sold a lot of logs today... Not just to people in town, but some traders came by too." "That's good." She answered. "Though cutting down trees is such a hassle, pretty much everyone needs wood for making furniture, repairs... and of course firewood. Most anybody could probably do it, but its because of the effort that it pays so much. And some of the city folk pay well because some cities have burned through their forests." The man said, before drinking a cupful of water and sighing.

"Felkin?" The woman asked. "I... played at the back of the house near the forest. I... know you said that I shouldn't go too far, so I just sat near the stream." Felkin answered. "You played with the other kids?" She asked. "A little... I mostly just played with twigs and rocks..." Felkin responded. "It's fine if you don't play with others, all that matters is that you're safe, you learn, and you have fun." The woman remarked. "Are you all as well?" The man asked. "Um... Yeah. I think so." Felkin answered.

They then all ate together in silence, Felkin ate in earnest, while the man ate quickly, the woman ate slowly, appreciating the food. The man then picked up the bowl and slurped it down, while Felkin stopped eating to examine his food. He scooped up some broth and a small vegetable piece and slurped it, then lowered the spoon back into the bowl. He then scooped it back up and observed meat on his spoon, first sipping the broth but then eating the meat. He then went on and examined and tested the taste of the stew further.

"Young man, don't play with your food." The woman said to Felkin. "Yes, mom." Felkin replied. His mother's voice was soft and gentle, but stern. Felkin then gulped down the bowl and set it down on the table. His father drank dry his cup of water and gently slammed it down onto the table. "Ahh..." He exclaimed. "I'm done." Felkin remarked. "Me too." Said his father. "Well I'm full." Said his mother, laying down a partially full bowl of soup. "Felkin, you can eat it if you're still hungry." She said, pushing the bowl across the table to Felkin. "But... I'm... not hungry." He remarked. "You're a growing boy, you need all the food that you can get." His father exclaimed, leaning back on the chair with his arms crossed. "But... It's not fair. That you get less to eat than me." Said Felkin.

His mother paused for a moment, stunned. "Well, if I don't want it, and you need it, it's fair for both of us for you to have it." She answered. Felkin appeared to be processing her words. After a while, he said: "We all had our own bowls... And we need to finish them on our own. If we can't eat it all... Then it's our fault. I think." He nervously waited in a neutral expression, waiting for any punishment. She stood up, leaned in, and ruffled his hair. She sighed before stating: "I suppose... You're right. Just... Sleep early tonight. Go to bed after you help me with putting away the dishes." She said, before picking up and gulping down the bowl of soup.

Felkin's father patted his son's shoulder profusely while chuckling heartily. "You... You're a brave one, kid. Even I wouldn't be able to do that." He exclaimed. His mother walked up to the man and punched his shoulder lightly. "Well, he was kind of right." She said with a smile. She picked up two bowls and cups before placing it down on the corner of the kitchen counter. "Carry your bowl and your cup here, and don't forget to wash them tomorrow." She said. "Yes, mom." He replied carrying his bowl, spoon and cup to the counter. He then went past the dining room and to a hallway leading to the bedrooms and to the other rooms of the house.

"Go to bed early!" His mom called out from the other room. "I will! I'm just going to pee first!" Felkin replied. "Alright!" His mom answered. As he walked towards their bathroom at the end of the hallway, he heard a noise coming from his parents' vacant bedroom. The door to the room was slightly ajar, and a gust of wind caused it to creak open. He curiously walked inside the dark room and approached the source of the sound. He slowly walked, and listened closely to determine if it wasn't just his imagination. The sound grew louder and louder as he got closer, like an object rattling furiously within a box. He got closer and saw the closet door open, with a long box at the bottom of it shaking wildly. Afraid, he quickly stepped out of the bedroom and walked to the dining room to tell his parents about it the noise. He turned the corner to the dining room, and saw them talking with each other, he didn't want to interrupt them so he waited and listened.

"Don't you think it's time?" His father asked. "I'd... Like him to enjoy his childhood for a time... And we decided to hide him, remember?" She answered. "His Fate's going to reach him eventually... The difference is if he's ready or not." He answered. The woman sighed. "Let's... Let him sleep one more peaceful night." She answered. Understanding barely, Felkin realized and went back to his parents' bedroom to see if the sound persisted. He peeked inside and saw that the noise and movement had ceased. But when he turned around, he walked right into his father. "Whoa, kid. Looking for something? Maybe you need a drink of water? If you want to sleep in our bed tonight again if you want to." He said to Felkin. "Again? I don't remember sleeping in your room." He asked. "Well you slept beside many times beside us when you were a baby... But even after you grew a little and started sleeping in your own room, you went to our room in the middle of the night, and we found you sleeping in the closet!" He exclaimed. "The closet?" Felkin asked.

"Yeah... We were so worried because we couldn't find you anywhere in the house, we were surprised to see you inside, sleeping and hugging a box!" He added. Felkin seemed to think for a while before going to the bathroom. After he was done, he walked towards his bedroom and said goodnight to his parents. "Good night mom, good night dad!" "Good night son." "Good night Felkin!" His mom said from the dining room. She then walked towards him and leaned down to give him a kiss on the forehead. After giving her a tight hug, he went into his room and stumbled into bed, and lied down. He stared into the wall in the direction of his parent's room. He lay awake for a while, before closing his eyes and quickly falling asleep.

In the morning, he washed the spoons, cups, and bowls in the clean and clear stream. He hummed a faint song as he washed them clean. A girl walked up to him that appeared to be around his age and spoke to him. "What... Are you doing?" She asked, amusedly. She was in a short white dress, with what appeared to be bandages or white wrappings around her arms and legs, as well as around her eyes. "I'm washing the dishes in the water. I think this is a stream, I know it's not a lake or a river because it's too small. And my dad taught me that water from oceans and seas taste salty, but this water isn't salty. But... I might be wrong." Said Felkin.

"Well. You are awfully trusting of me." She answered. "My parents say to me that I shouldn't talk to strangers... But they say that I should help people if I can. As long as it isn't coming with them or taking something, they'll give me." He answered. "You don't... look like you're from here, I don't think I've seen you in the village with the other kids before." Felkin added. "Yes, I'm... not exactly from around here. But... aren't you afraid of me, fascinated, curious or... repulsed?" She asked curiously. "Well... I'm a little curious because you're a stranger, and about what you're wearing... What's the third word? Re... Re-" "Repulsed. Disgusted by my appearance. Didn't your parents tell you to avoid those whose bodies are bandaged?" She asked. "Um... Bandages... I remember my dad telling me that they're used for someone who's injured or sick. And my mom says to not stick too close to people who're sick. Are you... sick?" He asked. "Er, no... Not exactly... At least its not contagious." She answered. "Are people avoiding you because they think you're sick? That's... unfair." Said Felkin, standing up from the ground.

"I... suppose... That's true in your point of view." She answered. "If... people are avoiding you because of that... Then... I can be your friend. Then we aren't strangers anymore. And if you're new here, maybe I can show show you around." He extended his hand towards her. She held her hand out, and he shook it. "I'm Felkin. What's your name?" He asked. "I'd... rather not say." She answered. "Hmm... What am I going to call you then?" Felkin said with a hand on his chin, wondering. "Maybe I should just leave now..." The girl replied. "I got it! I'll just introduce you as my 'friend'." He exclaimed. "Felkin, are you done with the dishes?" His mother called out to him. "Coming!" He replied, picking up the bowls, cups, and spoons, and running back to his house. "Just wait here, I''ll be back in a second!" He said to the girl.

Felkin ran inside and laid down the soaked dishes on the kitchen counter. As he made his way to the front door once more, he bumped into his mother. "Whoa there, what's the rush?" She asked. "I have a new friend just outside. Oh, I need to introduce you to them." said Felkin. "Okay, I'd like to meet this friend of yours." She replied, as Felkin took her by the hand and they both exited, and went around to the back of the house. "Where... is she?" Felkin wondered, looking around but nobody was present except them two. "Maybe... It was one of the neighborhood kids and they just ran off? Or maybe it was someone playing a prank?" His mother said, as Felkin worriedly looked around back and forth.

"Well, I have to leave now for work... Don't forget to buy the things we need in the market, after that you're free to play with the other kids, or you can go straight home if you want to." She said to Felkin, before turning around to leave. Felkin raised his hands toward her, she bent down to hug Felkin and kiss him on the forehead. As she walked away, Felkin tried searching and looking around his surroundings to no avail. "Don't forget, the list is-" "On the table!" Felkin replied as his mother left. "Be good." She answered as she travelled from earshot. After a while more of searching, he entered the house dismayed. He took the written list of the goods he was to buy in the market, and the pouch of coins on the table nearby.

He exited and closed the door to the house, and began his way to the road, and towards the market further into town. He walked down the road, as the townsfolk began to exit their homes to buy goods from the market early in the morning, or to take up their respective professions. He waved and bowed to the people as they did the same to him, people were passing by going the same, or the other direction as him. "Hey Felkin." Said a man pushing a cart along the road. "Hey, kid!" Said a woman tending to some crops on the side of her home. "Good morning, going to the market again today?" Said by a chipper old woman greeting him sitting from a chair in front of her house. "Yes, ma'am." He answered. "How's your dad?" Asked a man passing by. "He's... fine?" Felkin responded, not knowing what to say. "Say hi to your mother for me." Said a woman walking down the street. "I will." He remarked.

Felkin walked down the sun cast dirt road, and turned the corner as he made his way to the market, being greeted by the others all the while. From a short distance, he saw the other village children in the street running around and after each other, playing tag. He immediately went towards behind the houses and hid from their view. But when Felkin looked towards the trees in the forest, he saw the young girl he encountered earlier peeking from the trees. "Hey! You from earlier, I thought you left!" He said as he ran towards her, but she retreated bck into the trees. He ran after her and saw her turning away from him. "Hey!" Felkin exclaimed. "I... thought I said I wanted you to stay away from me." She remarked. "But... But, I haven't... had a chance to show you around yet?" Felkin said, unsure. "Huh... Hmm..." She said, surprised. "Are you... afraid?" Felkin asked. "Well... No..." She remarked. "Then..." Felkin held his hand out towards her.

"I don't want you to be alone. Maybe I'm selfish if I want something you don't..." "Alright, I'll take you up on your offer." She answered, holding his hand. They then walked back to the road to the market hand in hand. "The road's a dirt road and unpaved... Lots of houses and a market, this place is self-sustaining and doesn't need support and resources from a nearby city... Most of the villages I've observed are smaller, but I've seen few that are more populous." She remarked, looking around. "Observed... So you've went to many places? This is the only village I've been to, but my parents say that we moved here when I was really young." Felkin replied. "I guess I'm somewhat of a traveler." The girl answered.

The two of them then proceeded to the road, but she was then beginning to be seen by a few of the passers-by who began to whisper about and became curious about the bandaged girl. "Hey, whose child is that?" "That girl... What's wrong with her?" "I haven't seen her before... Is she from outside town?" "Those bandages... Is she sick... If she's one of 'those'... and she spreads that sickness..." The good reputation of one in the small village was dictated by the perception of good deeds done and word of mouth. However, rumors and gossip often formed preconceptions and the people there were quick to pass judgement, and easily distrustful. "Isn't that him? 'Their' kid?" "What's he doing with an outsider?" "Bless his heart, helping the sick..." Felkin walked obliviously and contentedly, but the girl perceived the stares and the whispers quite clearly. She was tired but used to the reactions of others throughout the years and years.

"Uh... Felkin, do you know this person? Maybe she's sick... and you really shouldn't talk to strangers easily..." One of the adult villagers walked up to Felkin and spoke to him. Though the girl's sight appeared to be obscured, she turned around to face the villager. "Well... I have no contagious disease to speak of as my bandages are more for certain injuries I possess. As I am new in town, he so graciously offered to show me around. At my condition, who could I be to reject the offer; and what could I have done to harm him?" She asked. "Uh..." The villager backed away, uneasily and had no response. 'She talks funny... But I think that what she's saying is right. But I don't want trouble for her, or the others...' Felkin worriedly glanced towards her, and then they both continued down the road.

"Sorry about that..." Felkin said to her. "No worries, I'm used to it." She answered. "The market is just ahead." Felkin said, trying to cheer her up. They walked hand-in-hand until they reached the market, but then were in the path of the streetchildren who were preoccupied until laying eyes on the two. "Hey! Look at the village pet, who's he with now!" Called out one of the boys who stopped from playing. "Oh? Did he get a girlfriend?" "Does he need a girl to protect him?" "Does he think helping a sick person is going to get him more attention?" The girls and boys detested Felkin due to the goodwill he had from the other villagers they thought was unfair. The leader of the children stood over Felkin and walked over towards the two of them.

Felkin stepped in front of the girl and stood his ground as the boy poked and pushed at him. "Hmph..." Felkin was silent as he faced down his bullies. "We... we just want to pass through." The bandaged girl said, hiding her frustrations. "The boys are talking here, don't just butt in." The boy said as he walked in to give her a shove. Though she thought it was childish to be angry at a young bully's cheap insults, she could not help but be irked by not letting them pass along. As she was angered, the darkness within her welled up and desired to latch down upon the one she had negative emotions towards. Felkin tried to walk around those who were blocking their way. The other boy then stood in front of his way and bumped himself into Felkin. "Let's just go another way around..." The girl said, trying to pull Felkin back for them to take a different route. Felkin complied, walking backwards as led by the wrapped girl.

"That's right, run away again! Gonna go hide behind your mommy and daddy now?" The boy said as Felkin slowly walked backwards, still facing the group of children laughing at and insulting him. "Yeah, the coward and the sick girl are walking away. Its good that you're getting her away from us so that she doesn't infect us with her gross illness! You two can get sick and-" The girl was disgruntled and clenched her hand around Felkin's for just a moment. She felt anger for a second, but the boy was soon silenced, but she was surprised that it was not by her. "Don't... Talk about her like that. What you say about me... It's true. But talking about her without knowing anything about her... It isn't fair." Without even noticing him, Felkin had closed the distance in a blink of an eye and gripped the taller boy's shoulder tightly. "Hey, hey! Let him go!" A woman called out to Felkin and the other children who were frozen in place.

Felkin let go and the boy fell to the ground, seated. "His eyes..." One of the children remarked. "Hey, what's this about? Are you two fighting?" The woman exclaimed. The leader of the bullies quickly stood up and dusted himself off. "It's nothing." He remarked, as Felkin rubbed his eyes. The street children slowly backed away and left with wariness and disdain clearly seen in their faces. 'Interesting... I was curious why I was drawn to the boy somehow, but it seems like it wasn't just my loneli- No. I need to verify this further...' The bandaged girl thought to herself. "And you, don't think you're safe from trouble young man. I don't think your parents will be pleased if they know you've been involved in fights." The woman remarked, as Felkin turned his head away from her in guilt.

The woman then knelt on one knee and put her hands on Felkin's shoulders. "You... You don't usually pick fights. What happened this time?" She asked. "I..." "He... was just trying to defend me from them." The bandaged girl said, walking feebly towards Felkin. "My, my. Those bandages. You must be seriously ill, or sick. And those wrappings on your face, can you... see with those on your face?" The woman said, extending her hand towards the girl who retreated slightly. "I can see slightly, but I still need some help. And..." "He was trying to help you." The woman exclaimed. She then ruffled Felkin's hair and sighed before standing back up. Felkin turned his head and looked up towards her. "Were they trying to insult or bully her?" She asked. "Yes..." Felkin shyly answered and looked down at the ground.

"Well... You had good intentions and you were defending someone, but you still shouldn't hit someone. Even if they're mean to you." She said to him. "But, but... They just won't stop. I try to avoid them, talk to them but... I can't let them be mean to others!" Felkin said hesitantly but forced his words out. "Listen close. Even if somebody is trying to harm you, hurting them is just going to make things worse. Just because somebody does something bad to you, doesn't mean that you're allowed to do that to them. Okay?" "Okay." Felkin meekly responded.

'Hmm... This mindset is quite naive. To simply expect matters to be resolved and to endure the actions of others will not stop others from trampling down upon you. But... Teaching the virtue of kindness to a child, is certainly much better for them than encouraging retribution. But are the only two paths be to die as a victim or a martyr, or to be a vengeful arbiter, exacting their judgement on others they deem unworthy as they see fit?' The girl thought as Felkin apologized to the woman. "So... were you on the way to the market today?" The woman asked Felkin. "Oh, yes." Felkin exclaimed, as he produced a piece of folded paper from his person. The woman then took it and then walked down the street. Felkin then went to the bandaged girl and led her by the hand as he followed the woman. "This list... You know, I'm used to you buying all of this stuff, so you don't even need the list anymore." She handed it back to Felkin.

The three of them walked a short distance to the stalls and stores set up, as the few pedestrians and villagers whispered and gawked at the girl. The woman then went to her stall, and then started picking up vegetables, breads, and cured meats as Felkin fished up coin from his pockets. The woman's stall was alike a small wooden building with baskets and wooden boxes full of foods and greens. There was a sign above, and a wooden counter where she laid a basketful of Felkin's requested goods and where he laid and stacked his coins. The woman took the taller stack of coins for herself but pushed the smaller stack towards Felkin, who pushed it back towards her. "Come on, your family has provided me enough money with you buying food regularly. You should really take the discount sometime." "But... It isn't fair to the others, and to you. If I want to buy something... Then I want to pay the right price for it. If I accept this... Then what they say about me is true..." Felkin remarked.

The woman sighed again and crossed her arms. "You know, don't mistake favors from other people as unfair. Sometimes, people just want to help others, and do good things for their friends. And those kids would say any mean thing about you and you don't have to worry about them. Besides, your parents would appreciate paying less..." She exclaimed. Felkin looked up in thought for a few seconds. "I... guess so." He said as he pocketed the few coins she did not take. He then picked up the basket and it hung low nearly hitting the ground as he could barely bear its weight. "Uh... can you... No, I'm fine." Felkin said as he struggled to bear the load and he slowly walked forward.

The girl walked forward and then gripped the large handle of the wicker basket with one hand and lifted it up with ease. "Thank... you." Felkin said to her. "Say hi to your mother for me! And you can keep the basket!" The woman called to Felkin as they walked away. "You're... Stronger than you look!" Felkin said to the girl as he struggled. As they walked down the street back towards Felkin's house, the bandaged girl sensed the whispers and the veiled discussion behind their backs. Whether it be intrigue or gossip, positive or negative, she detested it. She was reminded of the whispers that surrounded her in her past, and still followed her wherever she went. "You..." She started, but Felkin interrupted. "I... know they're all talking about me. I'm... used to it." He said, trying not to seem sullen.

They continued until they were near Felkin's house at the edge of town. Suddenly, a small pebble flew through the air and struck Felkin in the forehead. "Urk!" He turned around to see the same boy from earlier running away before his gaze met Felkin's. "Ah..." Felkin sucked in air and snickered as he gently touched and winced as he touched his head. "Those kids! Are you... alright?" She asked, infuriated. 'Why... Am I this concerned? About this child whose life is fleeting compared to my own, a leaf in the wind that would turn to dust quickly in comparison to my lifetimes. And yet... I've stayed far too long already. Each time I make these visits in a new city, a new town or a village, I get distracted...' "I'm... fine. Let's... just get back home." Felkin said, the two of them then picked up the basket which they had dropped.

They reached Felkin's home, and he asked the girl to wait for him outside. "Wait here." He said as he opened the door, walked inside, and set the basket down. "Hup." He remarked. As she waited, she remembered the sensation of lashings across her back, and of the pelting of stones across her skin. Though her wounds had healed quickly, her pain was never numbed. Reviled and cursed, her wrappings were to occlude her extraordinary vision even slightly. Her eyes could see the darkness within others and saw it as clearly as she sensed it welling within herself. Felkin then exited the door of his home and met with the girl outside. She raised her hand and pointed at his forehead. He tapped gently at his head and felt a thin stream of blood flowing slowly down his face and cheek. "I'll... just wash it off in the river." He said, as he walked towards the water and then sat down near the riverbank.

He cupped his hands and filled them with water, before splashing his face, in a somewhat calm manner. Then he dipped his cupped hands under the water but as he raised them, his hands began to become shaky. With another splash, he quickly put his hands in the water once again. From there, his splashing became more frantic and frantic, blasting his face with more and more water as his face became scrunched and his tears became one with the rivers' waters. Splash, splash, splash. He then slammed both of his fists into the water creating a large splash of water before he leaned in and dunked his head under the water, using the river to mask his loud yell. As the girl touched Felkin's shoulder, he had picked up a small stone from the bottom of the shallow river, and he threw it away in a rage before stopping and looking up towards her.

"What?" He asked, his eyes red not by the energy of the abyss but because of his tears. "You aren't bleeding anymore." She remarked. "Yeah, I... feel fine now. I'll go back inside later, if you need help getting back out of the town or where you were..." He remarked, sniffling. "I... don't mind staying for a while." She answered. Felkin stood up and walked towards his house. "Are you sure? We only have water for drink, and we don't have that much for food." "That's fine." She responded, following him. He went around to the front to enter the house, and she looked back to see that the stone Felkin threw had struck a tree across the river. It creaked and crackled, before splintering and having its top half fall backwards. "Are you still there? Do you need help?" Felkin asked. "Coming!" She responded.

She entered Felkin and his family's humble abode, and Felkin grabbed two cups, a pitcher of water, and pulled a wooden chair for the girl to sit on. "We don't have a spare cup, so this you'll have to use my mom's instead." He said as he poured both of their cups full. The bandaged girl picked up the cup of water and drank it. Felkin used both of his hands to pick up the cup, as his fingers were slightly shaky. 'This boy... Earlier, he made use of my power... Usually, when humans come into contact with the energy of the abyss, they either become irrevocably changed into inhuman beasts, or their bodies would be torn apart and destabilized by the sheer power of the energy.' "Ahh." Felkin exclaimed as he put down the cup of water. He took a piece of bread from the basket and tore off a piece before eating it. He offered it to the girl who waved her hand away as an act of refusal. 'Besides, I would never allow my darkness to leak out or emerge if I didn't expressly desire it. No, he... Unconsciously maybe, he took the energy for himself...'

As Felkin finished eating he sat back on the chair. "There's nothing much to do here except eat and sleep. I usually just play around near the forest and the river outside." "That's... fine." She replied. "I'm... going outside, if you want to follow..." "Sure." She answered. Felkin hopped off the chair but suddenly had an alert look. "What is it?" She asked, suddenly tense. "Be right back." Felkin said as he ran to the bathroom and closed the door behind him. 'Hmph.' She held back a chuckle. 'Felkin... If I hadn't been there, he'd... still be tormented and pushed around, he'd certainly be held up and take longer to accomplish his task. But because of my involvement, their hatred and aversion towards him intensified. Now... if he hopes to reconcile or at least try and earn back favor, he'll be subjected to them and endure, though I suspect being friends with them now is unlikely. Or... he could earn a place of safety as the others will even fear to attack him in fear of retribution if he uses my power to subjugate the others. But... are these the only two choices?' She asked herself as Felkin exited the bathroom with his hands freshly washed.

"We can stay here if you like..." Felkin said to her. "No, you said you wanted to go outside, let's... go outside then." She replied. Felkin walked up to her and extended his hand which she took, and Felkin helped her down the chair. As they exited and made for the trees beyond the river, she asked him a question. "Do... your parents know about what's been happening?" Felkin looked down at the ground shyly as he continued walking. "No..." He replied. "What will you tell them about that?" She said as she pointed to Felkin's forehead which had somewhat healed. "Maybe... I tripped and fell. Or... I hit my head running into a tree." said Felkin. "But not telling them, its only going to make the problem worse, if there's anyone who can help its them." She replied.

'Of course, that's assuming they care about him enough to do something about it. I am presumptuous in the fact that they would not harm him in reaction to this news, and that they would respond to his defense, but not telling them at all could be of greater consequence. I'll need to wait and see more, particularly why he does not tell them.' She thought. "I want to tell them, but... I'm afraid I'll make things worse if they do something about it, and maybe what they worked for to earn a place in the village will go away. They might already be affected just because of what happened today..." Felkin remarked, saddened. "Well now that what happened earlier happened, you'll definitely need to tell them now." She responded.

"What about earlier, in the way that woman was speaking to you, you must have not told your parents about the situation, or you've gotten a similar talk to them already." The girl pointed out. "Yeah, she's... Aunt Carla. She's a good friend of my parents, even when they first came here. She's nice to me and I buy from her every few days." Felkin answered. The two of them then reached the water and Felkin stopped and turned towards the girl. "I... want to show you something. It's just beyond the river and a few trees in the forest. Do you need help in crossing?" He asked. "No, I got it." She replied, and she raised her dress slightly as the two of them crossed the water and entered the tree line.

They walked for a short while until they came upon a small clearing, a circular area of trees with a small boulder in the center and then Felkin sat down cross-legged in the center. "Your... bandages are wet... Are you... alright?" "It doesn't bother me." She answered, sitting beside him. "This place... Is this where you stay?" The girl asked him. "Yeah. This place is quiet... And it makes me feel... Happy, not tired." "Relaxed?" She finished. "Yeah." Felkin answered. He breathed in deeply and enjoyed the forest breeze blowing the treetops' leaves away and shaking the branches gently. He stood up and then walked up to the towering trunk of a nearby tree. He looked upwards the branches to see a nest with a crow and its young.

Felkin swiftly climbed the tree reaching near the top of the tree's branches in seconds. "Woah, do you… do that often?" The girl said, surprised. "Oh, It's just practice. Being out here for a while gives me a lot of time." He replied nonchalantly. Before reaching the top, he clung onto the bark with one hand while using the other to bring out a piece of bread from his pocket. He was careful not to come too close or agitate the crows and then slowly his hand to offer the food for the crows. The mother crow quickly flew down, picked up the piece from Felkin's hand, and then flew up to its nest to break apart the bread and feed its young. Felkin then slid down the trunk with ease. He looked up expectantly with a content smile before the crow flew down and landed on his shoulder. "You're good with animals?" She asked him.

"When I started to stay in the forest, I brought food of my own, and some of the birds and squirrels came because of the crumbs. I was bored and... lonely, so I started feeding them and they started becoming friendly to me." Felkin remarked. "I'm more partial towards dogs myself." She answered. "Dogs are nice too, but some of them don't want to be friends so I stay back in case I get bit." Felkin answered. "How about… deer? Do you… like deer?" She shyly asked. "Well… I don't dislike them. Some of them are nice, some are mean. Just like… people, maybe. All animals are like that… But sometimes I think about how maybe we can just be all friends…" Felkin remarked longingly. "Hmm…" The girl remarked, solemnly.

She then stood up, but the crow on Felkin's shoulder turned towards her, agitated; and then started crowing loudly towards her. "Hey, what's wrong?" Felkin said to the bird, but his words were drowned out by the crow's incessant crowing. She then raised her hand in a closed fist, and then as she slowly unfurled her fingers, the crow then slowed its screeching as she did so, until she had an open palm facing upwards. "Come to me." She whispered. The bird then flew and rested atop her forearm. "Huh." Felkin remarked. "You seem troubled, what is it?" The girl asked as the crow calmly sat upon her bandaged arm. "The crow was freaking out earlier, but it suddenly calmed itself down. You... did something to it. I felt it, something changed its mind." Felkin exclaimed.

"Are you wary of me? Scared?" She asked. "No, I'm... curious. Can... you teach me how? Can I use it?" Felkin asked. "To pacify those street children? This... power is dangerous to tamper with the human mind." "I... yeah." Felkin sighed exasperatedly. "Come on, let's go back." Felkin said, but then the girl noticed something on the stone, a drawing made from mud. "Wait, I didn't notice it earlier, but..." "What?" Felkin asked. "Can you turn around and cover your eyes for a moment?" She asked. "Why?" "Just..." "Alright." Felkin turned around and complied. The girl quickly walked forward and then lifted the wrappings on her face to uncover one eye. The glare of her singular eye was alike a bright red spotlight, and she saw the drawing on the stone, the outline of which glowed as she looked upon it. "This..." She said to herself before covering her eye back up. "You can open your eyes now." She said to Felkin.

"What did you see?" Felkin asked. "Where did you see that?" She asked and pointed towards it, still glowing red. "I... saw it in a dream." Felkin remarked. Upon the rock, there was a depiction 'the' segmented sword, complete with the runes engraved upon it. "What other strange things have you experienced?" The girl asked. "I... hear strange things coming from my parents' bedroom at night sometimes." He answered. "Uh..." "It comes from a box in a closet in the room. It sounds like something metal?" "Oh! Like that?" She pointed towards the drawing. "Maybe..." Felkin remarked. "Let's go." The girl replied, before running back out of the forest. "Oh. Alright!" Felkin said, following.

They reached the house, entered and then the girl looked around and then walked down the hall towards the rooms. "Where's their room?" She asked. "Right here." He said, pointing towards the half-ajar door. As she pushed the door open, Felkin stayed. "I'm... not allowed to go in there." He said. "Its in the closet right?" "Yeah." She then opened the door and then took a look in the closet. She picked up the box and opened it. She formed a wide-mouthed grin as she looked at the object with glee. "Ha-ha..." She exclaimed. "What is it?" Felkin asked. "Its as you drew it." She showed the box with the segmented sword within it. "Whoa..." "You're... More than I expected. At first, I thought you were simply a human that could manipulate the elements and their energy. But no, this, this... Is why you're special. This is why I'm drawn to you. This... changes things." She said in a devious manner.

"What... I don't understand what you're saying..." Felkin backed away, slightly afraid. The sword in the box started to shake vigorously towards Felkin. "Now... This is a situation... The other powers would find you sooner or later, but only 'I' was first..." She said, walking towards him holding the box as the sword starting to shake faster and more violent. Suddenly, the sword shot out and leapt towards Felkin, who caught the handle of the sword perfectly in his hand. The girl walked forward with the widest smile, but in her delight, her crimson eyes flashed red behind her wrappings and even behind her eyelids. But as soon as she had released her ambient dark energies, runes and lines suddenly became visible on the walls and ceiling of the house.

"Ah... Barriers, or maybe a trap. Its done to suppress power and energy of any kind... Did it activate when you touched the relic, or is it because of me... Ah, ha. It hardly matters." She remarked, pleasantly tickled by the situation. The runes covering all over the surfaces of the house started to flash bright red light. "What's... happening? I'm... getting afraid now!" Felkin exclaimed, terrified. "Your parents made good measures to hide you, but you being, well... 'You' makes a result like this ineviatble." She said, striding forward towards Felkin. "Please. Stay back. I'm confused... Please, don't move!" Felkin said, raising the sword in his hand towards her. He backed away as the girl slowly walked forward towards him.

Outside, Felkin's parents ran and stopped at the door, the two of them ran and met at the doorstep having ran from their respective places of work and then turned to each other. The man dropped the stack of logs strapped to his back on the ground, but still held firmly an axe in his right hand. He then brought out a metal talisman on a chain from his worn coat, and showed it to the woman. The small metal object in the shape of the shield was glowing and flashing red. The woman then opened her clenched hand which revealed a similar object, which was in the shape of a sword and was also flashing red. "So something's happening..." She said to him. "Best case scenario, he just found the sword in the closet." He replied. "Worst case?" She asked. "You already know..." He said with a grim expression, pocketing the talisman and then gripping the axe with both hands. She pocketed hers, and then gripped the handle of the door before breathing deeply. She turned towards him and then they nodded at each other. She turned the knob and then pushed the door open.

"Felkin? Honey, are you there?" She asked, as the two of them cautiously entered and then looked around at the main dining and kitchen area, looking up at the walls and roof's runes forming the shape of a net and glowing red. She pointed towards the left, and he walked slowly carrying the axe in a ready stance, their steps were trained and silent. "Kid, you here?" The man said, looking behind the few shelves and cupboards in the left side of the room. The woman inspected the right side of the main room with the kitchen and the dining area, and tried to peek behind the cupboards. "Are you behind here?" She asked, trying to be calm but her voice was starting to express worry. There was a knife in a rack of cutlery on the wall raised high where Felkin couldn't reach. She took one with her fingers and twirled the blade in her hand and gripped it without noticing like an old habit.

They then convened at the area before the hallway, at the sides of the hall entrance before the rooms. The man clenched the axe tightly, and the woman gripped the knife's handle. Their eyes expressed a fierce and sharp determination, akin to a soldier's gaze, before going to war. The two of them then proceeded down the hall, with a serious glare and calm demeanor. "Felkin dear, are you sleeping?" His mother asked, as a last-ditch hope of no dangerous invader currently in the house. The two of them stopped before Felkin's room, before they both quickly ran in with their weapons raised. They saw nothing of Felkin after a quick search of his bed and around the room, and then they both exited the room and faced theirs with their hearts full of dread to the impending possibilities.

"Lux." She whispered and traced a shape on the knife, making it glow with an ethereal light. "Ignis." The man said and then thumped the axeblade with his fist which ignited it aflame. They walked slowly and then rushed inside with their weapons raised. "Hello." The girl from within greeted with a pleasant and cordial tone. She and Felkin were seated on the bed with a small space between them. He appeared to be slightly frightened and confused, he was avoiding the girl's gaze and still held the sword in one hand and had his arms towards the ground and his sword beside his leg. "That's!" "You..." Felkin's parents now recognized the girl, and offered her their scorn. "Phoebos, witch of-" "Please. I've no interest in the title of 'witch'. Not anymore at least." She interrupted the man in an eerily kind tone.

"What do you want?" The woman asked. "Don't you already have some kind of a guess? Rea the lightblade, Theorian the strong arm. Your reputations precede you." She responded. They then rushed forward, but they could only make one step before Phoebos quickly struck the wall and the runes on it shattered and the room returned to normal. "Oh, sorry about that. I wanted to give you the courtesy of arriving here before I broke the spell." She said while having her other hand covered in darkness, in front of Felkin's throat. "The protection, the warding is gone!" Rea muttered as she looked around in fear. "You'll... Lead them all here!" Theorian cried out, stepping forward. "Don't... take another step closer. I knew that from seeing the runes on the wall, so the cat is out the bag. Well, sooner or later nothing will be able to conceal him." She said, nearing her hand to Felkin's neck.

Felkin was afraid, his eyes open wide and was tense and frozen in place. "What... do you want!" Rea exclaimed, pointing her blade towards the 'witch'. "State your demands... And we'll do it in exchange for him." Theorian said, looking back towards his wife and then back at Phoebos. "We... just want him safe, please." Rea remarked. The young girl then put her hand behind Felkin and tapped his shoulder, who exhaled quickly and heavily with eyes wide as if just broken out of a trance. She then pushed him forward, and he ran quickly into the arms of his mother who hugged him briefly.

"Are you alright? Did she do something to you?" Rea asked her son. "No she didn't hurt me. I told her about your room and this box and then lights started flashing everywhere and-" "Don't worry you're safe now." She quickly put Felkin behind her and raised her weapon back towards Phoebos. "What... do you want?" She asked as the two of them were confused and backing away, wary. "Look at the boy's back, I already acquired what I desire." She replied with a smile. "Turn... around kid." Theorian said as he turned to Felkin but his axe was still raised towards the girl. Felkin turned around to reveal a mark on his shoulder blade, a glowing red centipede circling around with a cracked skull in its mouth. "What did you do?" Rea asked her, with a calm fury in her voice.

"As I see it, the higher powers or those with ample knowledge and power including me, have two choices in regards to the boy. Most of them will select the choice to dispatch of him, as because he has the possibility to be an asset, he is quite a danger to them. But the second option... The one that will keep him alive is for the side that will benefit the most from his survival. If I were to, for the lack of a better term, make use of his strength then..." "You plan to use him as a pawn? To make him your soldier and make him fight in 'your' wars?" The man asked angrily. "Oh please, they'll seek him out to kill him with or without my involvement. At least now, he'll get enough power to protect himself! I'm doing you a kindness and a better chance to confront an inevatibility." She said, standing up and with her words brimming with self-confidence.

"You're despicable..." Rea said with a spiteful tone. Suddenly, Felkin went slack and his mother quickly caught him with her free arm and still pointed her knife forward. "See, he's taking to it better than I expected!" Phoebos said, seeing the mark she placed on his back curl and twist into a lemniscate, the symbol of infinity inherent within him. "You..." The man exclaimed, holding his axe with both hands and was ready to attack. "Now, now... Let's not get too hasty. One step and this village turns into a well for the abyss, a tear of overflowing and unstoppable darkness. Uninhabitable and Inhospitable to human life." She said as she raised her arm towards the sky and opened merely one of her eyes behind her wrappings, casting them in a harsh crimson light. "Take... Take him and run, run far from here!" Theorian said to Rea, which looked at him with concern, before nodding and running out. "Come on, its not like I'll give chase... I've no reason to." Phoebos replied, sitting back down and crossing her legs over each other.

"You... The curse you put on our son, its... Irreparable! The path you've set him on, its a path of danger, hardship, and misery! Maybe if I can stop you here..." He said, raising his axe and preparing to attack her. "He was cursed the moment he was born if that's what you're worried about. And even if you could best me, the link I've placed is not to me, but to the abyss itself. Removing it would be like conquering darkness itself!" The girl remarked. "We're human. The best we can do is hope to try." Theorian said with grim determination, as he charged forward. Rea carried Felkin with one arm as she ran outside and away from their house. Bright red light flashed from within the house and shone from the windows. "Mom... where..." Felkin feebly muttered. "It's alright, you're gonna be fine!" She said towards him as she ran swiftly.

Above them dark clouds began to cover the sky, and ominous thunder rumbled overhead. As they ran in the street, curious villagers and onlookers gazed at them and looked worriedly at the clouds. Some of the people saw Rea carrying Felkin and asked themselves and each other what the situation was about and whispered towards each other. "What's happening, why is she running with the kid?" "Are there bandits attaking or raiding the village?" "No, I don't think I see any, and wouldn't they be calling out if there was?" "The two of them are running out alone, where is her husband? They couldn't be running from him?" "No, no. Couldn't be? Maybe he fended off a robber?" "That knife in her hand looks unusual..." Whispers from the shadows and the voices of the people were muddled together in the darkness in their peripheral vision. "Hey, hey! What's wrong!" Carla the stall owner ran up to Rea and she received the unconscious Felkin into her arms. "That knife... What... What happened? Is there an attack?" Carla asked. Rea looked back towards their house to see that the flashing red light suddenly disappeared and then turned back towards Carla.

"We... need to get out of here. It's dangerous!" "So, is there an attack?" A villager asked, stepping forward. Rea bit her lip and then yelled: "Yes, it's a bandit attack! Bandits are attacking! We need to flee the village!" As she cried out, the villagers began to go into their houses to hide or prepare to escape in a panic. "Where's Theor?" "No time to explain, we need to leave!" Rea responded, before they started running. As they ran and others were preparing to leave, the windows of Felkin's house crashed and shattered as beasts of darkness jumped out and began barreling down the road. "What are those things?" The shopkeeper asked. "Just run!" Rea exclaimed. The door of the house then blasted open, and the girl was standing horizontally still, though levitating above the ground.

As two more beasts crawled from the door behind her, she swiftly flew forward still appearing to be standing still in the air. Alongside her, the four werewolves ran on all fours and swiftly crawled towards them. "Ah! Monsters!" "What are those things!" "They.... can't be real!" "Unholy beasts!" The villagers who saw the supernatural ocurrence scrambled to pick up whatever belongings they could take and mustered their unaware friends and family to escape with them. Phoebos had an unnerving smirk as she glided along the air, heading straight towards Felkin's direction. "Wait, stop! Something's coming!" Rea exclaimed, and stopped Carla and herself in their tracks. "Something that's worth stopping running from them?!" Carla exclaimed.