-EIGHTEEN YEARS LATER-
(First Kingdom, The Proun village)
"You can not hide. You. Know. That."
A dark voice spoke to me. In the dark fog where his violet eyes shone, his voice echoed as if he were meters away from me. Together with the veil of fog in front of my eyes, his calm yet sharp voice made the hairs on my neck stand on end, and his approaching footsteps even more frightening. It was like a creature. His hand was right between my eyes. I held my breath longer and longer, waiting that he will disappear.
But the fear was real.
He was approaching. Silently. Viciously.
A real monster.
But that feeling, that fear, was enough to wake me up.
As soon as his hand touched my face, a quick move was the first thing I made. I quickly rose up from I was laying down and lifted my arms to protect me. I was panting heavily and was looking around rapidly. The calm and soothing light from the window and the empty room was the first thing to collide with my sudden noise, and yet again I realized it was another dream. I was heavily breathing because of what I saw, and my back was sweating like an animal. I didn't know what did I see in my dream, but it was sure horrifying.
Then I realized that I was still in my room. Like other days, today started with a nightmare.
I put my foot down on the floor and let my body from the edge of it. I was about to get out of bed and wash my face, but then a familiar silhouette came to greet me.
It was my uncle.
His tall figure, with his muscular body and tall dark clothes, came through the door, leaving his dark long cloak to flow a little as he moved. His white bushy beard and set-back hair, with his more mature-looking body features, had a grumpy emotion filled with them. He wasn't smiling much, as mostly it would be his usual mood that I am used to seeing him.
"Did you have the same nightmare again, Ryuu?" he said with a calm voice, being much kinder than normal,
My uncle wasn't a person that was very warm to others. He was a disciplined man that was incredibly dedicated to doing his work and living the simple life he had in mind. His relationship with me as a family member was protective, but it was joyful enough to laugh and have fun. Most of the time he would order me or make me learn things to do or be even better. We would do training, go get supplies from the town, or just spend our time getting our shed much stronger. He wasn't much understanding of failure, since he implemented that he saw potential in me and didn't want this to go to waste.
So early in the morning, just like this one, it was sure he had something in mind.
"Yes, as always." I replied while wiping my sweat with my hand.
Even though I've seen this nightmare every time, I've never understood it. I was being chased over and over again every time. But by what? It didn't look like a monster, but it didn't look like a person either. Every single night for the past years since I was sixteen until I turned 18 this year, this nightmare continued on continuously, ruining most of my days with less sleep, and more fear. I was having a hard time dealing with it and trying to cope with these new problems that I had to deal with every night. I was also getting scolded by my uncle for being less energetic and sleepy on weekdays too, causing me to do many mistakes.
*sigh* *I think it's going to stay in my head for a while.*
It was really a big problem to be added to the other ones I had.
Then my uncle approached me with a glass of water in his hand. He gently put it on the nightstand next to the bed and lowered his body to look at my sweaty face and talk to me. As I raised my eyes with a shaky body, he started talking with a low voice tone and said,
"Here, drink some water."
I was having a little problem reaching and holding the glass cup with my hands, since my palm was very slippery and I was still shaking. But I firmly gripped it and drank some until I felt better.
My uncle then added,
"Are you feeling better now?"
"Yeah, I'm better." I replied, taking a better and longer breath each time,
Maybe I wasn't psychically in pain, but mentally it wasn't getting out of my head.
"Good, we have to go down to the square with you today, remember, we'll get something for the farm." My uncle said while getting ready. He took his usual small bags of coins, and put them inside his small pocket, tightening his cloak much more.
I got out of my bed and stepped on the floor. My legs felt like jelly from toe to hips, causing me to lose my balance for a little. I gripped the nightstand and finally took a very deep breath that would help me get to my senses. I needed to start the day, so I got my clothes under my bed, and put them on. I quickly got my stuff and caught up with my uncle at the door.
I was thinking that fresh air would be pretty good to set me up for the day, and I wouldn't need to think much since it was our normal daily routine. But my uncle suddenly stopped me, and handed me a dark cloak, falling down from his palm gently.
"Don't forget to wear this."
It was one of those long black capes. With a long dusty surface, and kind of an old-looking style to it, it was something that covered up person's head and back. It looked like it would fit my body perfectly, but I didn't understand why we would need such a thing and why he handed me this.
"Why do I have to wear this?" my voice came out asking with confusion.
"The whole village complains a little about your clumsiness, so it would be better if you didn't show up."
"I don't think I'm that clumsy."
"Oh is that so? Do you remember last week?"
"When we visited the village?"
"Yes, that's right. But I'm talking about the time you almost burned the village. And the week before that you let the horses escape, and the week before that....."
"Okay, okay. I understand. I'll wear this."
"Good, we have to go down to the square with you today, remember, we'll get something for the farm." My uncle said while getting ready. He took his usual small bags of coins, and put them inside his small pocket, tightening his cloak much more.
I got out of my bed and stepped on the floor. My legs felt like jelly from toe to hips, causing me to lose my balance for a little. I gripped the nightstand and finally took a very deep breath that would help me get to my senses. I needed to start the day, so I got my clothes under my bed, and put them on. I quickly got my stuff and caught up with my uncle at the door.
I was thinking that fresh air would be pretty good to set me up for the day, and I wouldn't need to think much since it was our normal daily routine. But my uncle suddenly stopped me, and handed me a dark cloak, falling down from his palm gently.
"Don't forget to wear this."
It was one of those long black capes. With a long dusty surface, and kind of an old-looking style to it, it was something that covered up a person's head and back. It looked like it would fit my body perfectly, but I didn't understand why we would need such a thing and why he handed me this.
"Why do I have to wear this?" my voice came out asking with confusion.
He looked at me with a serious face. It was as if I was unaware of what I had done. He put his arms together and looked at the door. "The whole village complains a little about your clumsiness, so it would be better if you didn't show up." He added, looking back at me.
"Clumsiness?" I said, "I don't think I'm that clumsy."
I thought I was hearing my uncle wrong because of how early we woke up. But after I got to my senses, I realized something important.
"Oh is that so? Do you remember last week?"
"When we visited the village?"
"Yes, that's right. But I'm talking about the time you almost burned the village. And the week before that you let the horses escape, and the week before that....."
"Okay, okay. I understand. I'll wear this."
It seemed like my workouts and those nightmares have been messing with my mind ever since. I was starting to exhaust myself, causing my body to be all weak like this, work even less than I should, and even forget crucial information, mostly caused by fear and overlapping events and emotions.
I didn't want to embarrass myself any further, so I took the cloak off his hand.
"Good, I'll wait for you at the door."
It was kind of embarrassing and annoying to be reminded of what you've done. Especially when I didn't know what had exactly happened or when it happened. And since we were in the village a couple of times before, it was actually more embarrassing to think since I could have done something that I didn't remember.
I didn't like the idea of doing something like that, but I had to follow my uncle nonetheless. So I grit my teeth and got out of the house.
The cold air of the earlier morning was caressing my hot-headed face and was pushing my cloak to my hips. I took little steps over the gravel-filled, soil and grass-covered road. Our wooden house was above a high hill, upon a small mountain covered with a small forest. We lived in a wooden house, covered with not much of fancy designs, with three small rooms, and many storage items filled inside. It was a very small place, but cozy enough for the two of us to spend our years here.
I was here with my uncle since I ever knew myself. My uncle raised me very well and I have been cherishing every moment ever since. But being so stuck in a singular place like this was also soul-tiring too. Every single day I was wondering what could happen. What could be? What was there behind all these big palaces, and shiny festivals? Why was I here from the very beginning, and not closer to those people?
Was I different?
"Ryuu. Are you coming?" My uncle said behind me, seeing that I was dozing off to my thoughts again.
I caught up to my uncle and got on the horse-drawn carriage with him to travel.
We started riding towards the kingdom by morning and it took us about a couple of hours of driving and traveling, and chatting a little. We went from flat paths to weird-shaped rocky places, and many bush and tree-covered long roads. We were under heavy rain for quite some time, but we managed to reach the square of the village towards noon. We got off and dried all our equipment at the nearby shop. Luckily nothing was wet and the sun rose high again.
And the good part was, the markets were crowded as usual and a lot of festivities were organized.
"Why are there so many festivals today?" I asked, smiling slightly at the jaw-dropping crowd.
"Today is the 18th anniversary of the Kingdom's founding. People prepare the usual types of festivals, celebrative events, and many fun things that the youth mostly enjoys. This happens every year since most people migrate from various parts of other kingdoms to this kingdom, mostly to see their relatives, celebrate the unknown fun events of this kingdom, or just be away from all of the fuss on the others. They are probably preparing things for that."
Then I pointed to people dancing in the middle of the city with my finger, and asked,
"And what are they doing over there?"
"They dance in the middle of the city to celebrate. It's some kind of appreciation and It's something couples do."
"Well, when you were young, would you come here as a couple with somebody?
My uncle seemed that be a little annoyed with my question.
*Sigh* "I guess I shouldn't have brought you."
He then looked at me, and added,
"I have a little bit of work. Buy some apples from here, I will meet you later in the square."
It wasn't far away from here since we didn't come here walking. And I thought it would be better to leave him alone after my question.
"Ok, I'll take care of it." my foot stepped infront.
Then I got out of the carriage and started walking. My uncle rode away from me and went to gather some things before we went home.
"At least I tried it."
Now I was alone. I've been walking through all the vendors, looking for things that interest me. Some of the stands had different candies and sweets, some had award-winning contests, and some had items for sale. It was like a normal festival, but it was many times and many times larger than usual. It was obvious that a large part of the kingdom was celebrating this.
But just then I was passing by, I noticed something in the marketplace. Some people had gathered, watching an event in fear. They were looking at something that made them terrified.
It was a man. But a troubled type. He was beating an innocent man in front of everyone.
"You still haven't paid what you owe me, you scum."
"I'm sorry! I promise I will pay you back soon enough!"
"Your words are just full of lies! And your lies make me sick!"
I waited that someone would stop him and get him on the ground. But to my shock nobody did something. They were shocked too. They were terrified. But to stop it, they did nothing. Nobody was speaking about it nor they were acting.
It was a disgusting view.
I wanted to do something. Wanted to help him since others didn't. But I realized that I was too scared too. Couldn't move. I was planning to stop him, but I didn't know how I could. Fear had already taken over me. And now, I was shaking.
"You should have thought about that from the very beginning!" The man shouted once more before punching the other innocent man.
"I beg you! Please stop! It's my fault, give me one more chance!"
But then I realized something else too. Yes, it was scary. But the anger that grew in me was just as big as my fear. I knew I was scared but now my body was shaking with anger. It appeared inside me, then it took over my whole body.
"Stop now! If you continue like this, you will kill him!" I shouted.
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