Ataraxia,

The feeling of serene calmness.

I never thought I’d use this word to describe how it feels to die. 

In that moment, all the memories, hopes, and dreams I once had seemed to vanish. And for the first time, I could simply rest without a single doubt in my mind.

However, as I gracefully sank deeper into the vast blue abyss, a single thought began eating away at death's peaceful embrace.  

This world that I've only ever known to be words on a page.

I just…

I just wish I had the chance to experience it for myself and see how beautiful it truly is.

As I sank deeper into the endless expanse below an icy cold pressure began to weigh down on me, only amplifying the tightness in my chest as I imagined the life I had wished to live. 

“Cease your worries, human child,” a bellowing voice rang from the depths, sending sound waves that shifted the tide's pull. 

“As requested by your ancestors I shall save you, although I will not place you back on the path set by your father.”

Spinning over I opened my eyes, ignoring the slight burn inflicted by the water's salty touch. All my blurred vision could muster were a pair of glowing red eyes each larger than a battleship as they rose from the depths. 

I gasped, clasping my throat as if to hold in my final breath of air.

“If you wish to learn the true beauty of this world, then I shall show it to you.” 

“Noooooo,” I jolted. My body leaping into an upright position. ‘Where in Ravaryn am I,’ I thought Clasping my forehead in the hopes of bringing some relief to my now raging headache.

Placing my feet on the floor, I slowly attempted to stand unsupported, but as soon as I lifted my hand from the wall I was struck with a shearing pain through my legs sending me straight back onto the creaky wooden bed. 

After a soft sigh, I began to try to figure out where I was. The walls were lined with old cobblestone, which emanated a soft orange light, reflecting from the fireplace in the corner. 

While I was curious about what lay beyond the door, I already knew my achy body wouldn't allow me to venture across the entire room. With that in mind, I instead directed myself towards a small open-wall window next to the bed.

Drudging across the room, I grabbed the window frame as a means of stabilizing myself before lifting the tattered wooden shutter. 

For what felt like the first time in a while I was as much blinded as I was comforted by the sun's soft warmth. My eyesight slowly adjusted revealing the fortress-like manor outside. 

Simple farmhouses were clad together with thick brick walls reinforced by trunk-sized log pillars and adorned with haphazardly crafted walkways. The path atop the wall was only accessible thanks to simple rope ladders and in that moment all the thoughts in my head and completely diverted from where the hell am I, to why in sweet Ravaryn a simple village needed to be fortified like this.   

“Grandma Grandma,” a piercingly high-pitched voice boomed through the small crack in the doorway. “He's awake, he's finally awake.” “Thank you dear, run along and find your brothers now,” a soothing voice followed.  

Navigating my way back to the bed I felt as though my legs had finally woken up seeing as I could actually walk. 

“You really should keep resting young man,” a small white-haired lady smiled from the doorway, her eyes only half open. 

“Could you tell me where we are,” my voice softly crooked as I sat back down on the bed. “Just a small, humble farming village right on the edge of Goiteia territory,” she appeased. “We used to call it the Sparkling Hollow,” the old lady smiled pridefully as she sat on a small chair by the fire. “A beautiful name for a small fortress,” I replied jokingly, realising I might have overstepped. 

“Bahaha, yes well as I said that is merely the former name of our village,” she replied, her words almost wistful. “So, tell me your name, young man,” her persona shifted, this time sounding eager and curious.

“I’m, aaaaah… my name is.” 

“As I suspected you really have lost your memories,” she said while throwing a small hunk of wood on the fire.

What, she's right I really don't remember anything at all. How could I not even remember my own name? What the hell is wrong with me, I stressed internally.

“Well you still know how to speak I suppose, and since you didn't question where Goiteia is we shall call it a start, not a good one but it's a start,” the elder continued, cutting off my thoughts in an effort to make light of the situation. 

“What's the last thing that you remember?” she questioned. I dug through my mind, still throbbing in pain only to remember a pair of gigantic piercing red eyes. My mind froze in a combination of both fear and awe as I questioned what I had seen. 

“Never mind that,” the elder chimed. Her face was nervous in reaction to my obvious distress. “how about you go for a walk outside and get some fresh air seeing as you’re not so keen on continuing to rest, but please take it easy,” she added.

Listening to the kind lady I rose from the bedside and began to head for the door. My bones seemed to creak as if waking up from a few years of sleep causing me to release occasional embarrassing whimpers. Snapping me back to reality.

“And boy,” she consoled, rising from her chair to place her hand on my shoulder. “The less you think about the past, the more you ought to remember.”

The warming sensation of the sun had begun to fade causing the air to become notably cold.

Burly-looking men were hauling oversized logs that I could only assume to be for further reinforcement of the wall. Making the town feel both busy yet still empty as if something wasn't quite right. It was more of an instinctual feeling. Everyone's expressions just held a certain grimace unfit for that of farmers. 

The town itself was colourlessly dull. Nothing like the flickering images of what I assumed was my home, occasionally passing through my mind like a gust of wind. Bright flowers and fruitful trees were replaced with overgrown shrubs and withered grey roses. 

“The Sparkling Hollow my ass,” I whispered aloud, my feet drudging through a concoction of mud, dirt, and tree bark. “The Hollow Keep… that's its official name anyway. Suits it much better don't you think,” a voice rang from above. “Aha sorry, I didn't mean any disrespect,” I muttered. 

Lifting my gaze I noticed that the boy was similar in age to myself. He was lying in a hammock on the side of a large watch tower conveniently bolted below a protruding crescent in the wall. 

“No disrespect taken,” the boy replied, swinging down from the tower before catching himself on the side of the retaining wall.  “This place has definitely seen better days,” the lanky boy agreed whilst walking towards me.

He had long, flowy black hair and rectangular-framed glasses. However, the one characteristic that couldn't be missed was his overly bright orange-hazel eyes, which appeared to reflect through his glasses. 

“The name’s Cayden. Nice to meet you, newcomer,” he said, holding out his hand expectantly. Returning the gesture, I shook his hand before craning my neck to look up at him. “I’m Everett,” I said in surprise.

“Woah he remembered,” a tenor-pitched voice chimed in. “didn’t you have serious memory loss or somethin',” the little boy continued, peeking his head out from behind Cayden’s elbow. “Yeah, I’m just as surprised as you are,” I waved.

“Ha,” Cayden sighed while scratching his head. Well, Everett, this is my little brother, Ezra,” he introduced more out of a sense of obligation than actual interest.

“‘Little,’ HOW DARE YOU,” Ezra scorned. “C'mon, I meant it physically since you have got to be at least a foot shorter than me.” 

“Ya know you really should show me some respect ‘young’ Cayden especially because I’m your...” Ezra’s banter ceased as Cayden placed a hand over the boy's mouth. “We're twins,” Cayden exclaimed. “What, he looks at least 4 years younger than you.”

Biting Cayden's hand, Ezra began to roar once again. “FOR THE LAST DANG TIME…” “THWACK,” An open-sided hand struck Ezra’s head, silencing him once more, thanks to the village elder who seemingly materialised out of thin air to keep Ezra in check.

“I’m the older one,” Ezra whispered, his enthusiasm no longer present. “Bahahahahahaha,” I erupted. “HOW DARE YOU LAU…” “SMACK,” Ezra was walloped once again, only making me laugh even harder. 

Cayden winced in response to my laughter as if he was holding back in an attempt to maintain his mature facade. Eventually, he gave in, roaring out and chuckling over his words. “I promise Ezra I’m only laughing because of this dumbass Everett.” I paused, giving Cayden a fitting death stare that could have only lasted two seconds before we both bellowed in laughter once again. 

After what seemed to have been at least a few minutes Ezra’s silent bloodlust finally subsided, and the perpetrator of his abuse chimed in. 

“Everett dear, I’m glad you have remembered your name. It's truly nice to see that you have met your saviours, these boys are the Dragomir twins,” the elder spoke, her smile in perfect harmony with her words. 

“My saviours you say?” “Yeah, we found your sorry ass,” “BONK.” “Washed up on the beach, if it wasn't for Cayden, I wouldn't have even bothered to check your pulse, though ye were goners,” Ezra retorted, bouncing around in his amusement after being struck once again by the elder. 

“It's a miracle that you survived,” Cayden continued. “If it helps with your memory I’d have to assume that you came from Omorphia, the kingdom of the Spellbound Sea, it is our neighbouring kingdom after all.”

“Now now Cayden please don’t overload the poor boy, I'm sure meeting ‘Ezra’ was quite enough.” The elder raised an eyebrow, dropping her smile if only for a brief second. “Come now boys, it's getting dark how about we have some supper,” she proceeded. 

“DING, DONG, DING, DONG.” The piercing chime of a rusty tin bell beckoned through the valley, and for the first time, the Elders's cheerful character had finally broken.