EdgarFig
patreon
[ 8 ] Childhood
🕑 Added 2024-11-10 04:51:01 +0000 UTC“Watchya doing, Kal?” Came a squeaky through the white picket gate that enclosed the yard.
Kal turned around to spot a curious, skinny girl with a rosy, blonde fringe watching him.
“Oh, hi Ellie. Didn’t know you were visiting today.”
“Surprise!” Ellie waved her hands.
“A bit late for that,” Kal rolled his eyes.
“Hey Kal, can you call your mother?” Tammy said, walking up behind Ellie, her face hidden behind a pile of boxes she carried.
“Mom!” Kal shouted toward the house. “Ellie and her mother are here.”
“One minute.”
“She’ll be out soon.”
“Do you mind?” Tammy said, pushing up against the gate.
“Oh, yeah,” Kal bounced over and unlatched the gate and pulled it open for them.
“Oh my,” Tammy puffed, staggering from side to side and lumping the boxes down by the door. “That was close,” she exhaled and wiped her brow.
“Mommy, Mommy!”
“What is it, Ellie?”
“Can I play with Kal?”
“Ask Kal.”
“Sorry, I was just in the middle of something,” Yandi said, pushing through the front door. “Has everything been delivered from the Lorran already?”
“Yep,” Tammy nodded. “Pretty exciting, huh?”
“What’s all that?” Kal asked.
“Not telling. It’s a surprise,” Yandi beamed.
“Great,” Kal sighed.
I have a feeling that surprise is more for them than it is for me.
“Kal…” Ellie said, pressing her index fingers together.
“Huh?” Kal turned to her. “Oh, right.”
“Do you want to…”
“Play? Yeah, fine. Whatever.”
“Really?” Ellie’s eyes brightened.
May as well get this suffering over and done with.
“Sure, whatever. What do you want to do?”
Ellie turned to the back of the yard. “The scary forest.”
“The forest?”
“Hey, Ellie, don’t go scaring yourself,” Tammy interrupted. “You know how it affects your sleep.”
“But Mom!”
“Ellie,” Tammy tsked.
“Fine,” Ellie huffed and stomped over to an empty spot in the yard, sat down, wrapped her arms around her legs, and hugged them against he chest.
“Ellie?” Kal said, approaching her.
“What?”
“The forest.”
“What about it?”
“You called it the scary forest, remember?”
“Uh Huh. So?”
“I’m just wandering why.”
“Why what?”
Sighing, Kal shook his head. Talking to kids wasn’t getting any easier. “Why did you call it the scary forest.”
“That’s what the big kids called it. They told me there were scary things in there. Like monsters,” Ellie nodded wide-eyed.
Probably just kid’s tales, Kal thought, looking out across the forest that bordered his home—but maybe it was worth investigating anyway.
For another time, maybe.
***
“Do you know the secret?” Ellie suddenly said as they played in the garden.
Snapping trigs and throwing them as he pretended to play along, Kal distantly replied, “No.”
“The birthday,” Ellie cupped her mouth and whispered.
“Birthday? Cool.”
“We’re gonna be five.”
“Yay,” Kal said unenthusiastically.
“It’s special because we go to school next year.”
“School?” Kal perked.
Oh yeah, I’m starting school soon, aren’t I? That means more kids. Oh my days, this is going to be so boring.
“Yep,” Ellie nodded. “I’m so excited.”
At least someone is.
Kal turned to the house, where he could see his mother and Tammy through the window talking over tea.
“You be the Mommy, and I’ll be the kid,” Ellie said, passing Kal one of her dolls.
“Hey, Ellie, do you want to check the scary forest out?”
“But my Mom said–”
“They’re busy. We won’t go far. Just see if there are any scary monsters,” Kal said, lowering his brow and raising his hands like claws.
Gasping, Ellie slowly nodded.
***
“Stay close,” Kal said. Ellie walked a couple of feet back, and while he didn’t expect monsters in the forest he had lived next to his entire life, he also didn’t want to get in trouble if she got herself hurt.
“Okay,” Ellie nodded and followed.
A paddock style fence and gate lined the back of their property, and Kal carefully unhinged and opened it, trying not to make a noise.
“It’s pretty back here,” Kal said, walking along flower beds and vibrant green thickets that filled the forest’s undergrowth. “Are they?” He raised a brow and approached what looked like little blueberries.
They have to be.
“Figberries, yum!” Ellie exclaimed and pushed past Kal to pocket handfuls of the berries.
“Figberries?” That’s right, Yandi has made figberry pies before, hasn’t she?
“Can I?”
“Yep,” Ellie nodded, handing Kal a few berries.
“Umm, sweet and tarty. Delicious,” Kal said.
“Yep, they’re my favorite.”
“Everything is your favorite,” Kal groaned, remembering how Ellie constantly said that.
“Yep,” Ellie nodded, stuffing her mouth with the berries.
Turning his gaze to the darkness of the forest floor to his left, Kal felt the air cool.
“Chilly,” Ellie complained, rubbing her arms.
“Yeah,” Kal murmured, his gaze thinning.
There’s something in there; I can feel it. The mana.
Suddenly, the forest appeared to stretch, and Kal felt his mana core thump, sending him stumbling backward and tripping on a rock.
“Kal! Are you alright?” Ellie rushed to his aid.
Sitting on his butt, Kal shuffled back across the dirt, gaze locked on the forest’s depths.
“Kal,” Ellie echoed, grabbing his shoulders.
“Back, get back!” Kal commanded, pushing Ellie behind him.
Wind rustled the leaves and Kal gulped as an eerie silence fell over the forest and the chill grew stronger.
It’s coming, I can feel it.
Kal’s eyes widened as a figure flashed out from the undergrowth, and he raised a hand toward it, summoning and shooting one of his Ice Darts in the blink of an eye.
“Shit,” Kal mouthed and blinked.
Thudding to the floor, a white rabbit lay motionless on the ground with the ice shard protruding from its body, staining it red.
“MOMMMY!” Ellie screamed at the top of her lungs.
Great, just freaking great.
***
Ellie left sobbing alongside her mother. Thankfully, the ice shard had melted before Tammy reached the scene, and Ellie wasn’t capable of describing what had happened.
“Kal,” Daedrik said as they watched Yandi walk Tammy and Ellie to the gate. “What did I say about using your magic? I thought he had moved on from this.”
“Sorry, Dad. But I didn’t mean to. It’s just tha–”
“No excuses.”
“But–”
“Kal. I told you this was serious, didn’t I?”
“Yes, Dad,” Kal slumped.
“I know it’s hard, but in a few years, we can let people know all about the magic you can use. You’ll still have to hide the extent of your power, but at least you won’t need to hide it entirely. But until then, you must keep it to yourself, understood?”
“Yes, Dad.”
“Good. Now go to your room, and count yourself lucky that Tammy didn’t see anything.”
***
Pushing his bedside table up beside his window, Kal climbed it and pulled the curtains back.
I know I’m not going mad. Maybe I screwed up shooting that rabbit, but something is out there, and it reacted to my mana core. I just know it.
He needed a proper answer. The way his core had reacted was beyond weird. Something out there was magical; he could feel it. But it wasn’t like his father. He had spent his entire life around Daedrik and never felt his core react like that.
Unfortunately, whilst Daedrik’s library was quite expansive, he hadn’t seen anything that helped explain what had happened in the forest.
Could it be related to my demonic core?
If kids around Ebenshire are talking about this scary forest, then perhaps it’s a folktale? And if folktales about the forest exist, then maybe I can find something useful in the library in town.
He had gone back and checked for anything mythology-related but wasn’t surprised when he didn’t find anything. Daedrik was essentially the magical equivalent of a scientist, and Kal doubted he ever read for entertainment.
I just need an excuse to go into town now. Luckily, that wouldn’t be too hard. Yandi loved making trips into town, and there was always something she needed to buy.
***
“Why are you so insistent all of a sudden?” Yandi said as she stirred a pot atop the kitchen harth. “I thought you hated going into town?”
“Nuh uh, I changed my mind. I want to see the library. I heard they have all kinds of cool stuff.”
“What kinds of cool stuff?” Yandi questioned.
“Ahh–books?”
“I should have known,” Yandi groaned and slumped. “I dreamt for a moment it might be the giant caterpillar they have on display. But no, that would be too normal for my Little Beetle.”
“Yeah, that too,” Kal nodded enthusiastically. “The giant caterpillar.”
“You think I was born yesterday, mister?”
“Ohh, come on, Mom. Can’t we go?”
“Fine. I suppose we need to pick up a few things for school anyway. I can’t believe my Little Beetle is already leaving for school. Are you excited?”
“Not really,” Kal shrugged. “Doubt they’ll be teaching me anything interesting.”
“For you, no, probably not,” Yandi admitted. “But you’ll have a chance to meet more little friends. How cute would it be if you and Ellie formed a little band of buddies?”
“So cute,” Kal rolled his eyes.
“All this talk of school has got me excited. Alright, you win. Go get ready now. We'll take a visit into town.”
***
A cobblestone path lined by timber fencing and flowering hedges cut through parcelled paddocks and greenery as it winded through the outskirts of town. The path passed by a watermill that sat on the Eben River, the water that ran over its wooden paddles gently foaming across smooth rocks and marking the border of the town proper from the outskirts where they lived.
With every step they took toward town, the stone-wall homes with their terracotta tile-roofs grew tighter, cramping together and forming narrow alleys that road bent around, lined by wagons and townsfolk in their worn hemp clothes going about their business.
Kal had done well to avoid the town since his birth, and not just because Daedrik spent every other minute warning him about government mages. While it was a pretty little town, the entire place had less magical wealth and important knowledge to share than his father’s library alone, and as such, Kal held little interest in the place.
His father was something of a rarity in Ebenshire. Mages in general, were rarely found in smaller, relatively safe towns within the Kingdom’s interior, like Ebenshire. If they weren’t in the capital studying at one of the great magic academies, they were usually out hunting demons or making use of their skills in a border region.
Even his grandfather had only chosen to settledown in Ebenshire because of Daedrik. His parents had explained how Daedrik’s parents had decided to move somewhere quiet, but still relatively close to the capital—Lorran—when his mother got pregnant. Having grown up in Ebenshire, Daedrik had many fond memories of the place, and brought Yandi back to the town when she fell pregnant.
Since the roads were patched all the way from Ebenshire to Lorran, Daedrik was able to easily travel during the semester to provide classes, and then back home again.
Reaching the library—which was an old, stained stone facade sandwiched between government buildings near the center of town—Yandi pressed all her weight against the heavy wooden door, gritting her teeth as she strained to hold it for Kal.
“Why–is–it–so–heavy,” Yandi huffed as she let the door go.
“Bye, Mom,” Kal waved and disappeared into the endless shelves.
“Wait,” she raised a hand, but he was already gone. “Don’t I get a hug?”
“Minors under ten need a guardian,” a grumpy old woman with sunken eyes gargled from behind the reception desk, tapping on a brass sign.
“I know, but maybe you could make an exception. It’s not like he’s going anywhere with this heavy door, am I right?” Yandi bounced her brows.
The old woman pursed her wrinkly, dry lips and tapped the sign again.
“Oh, c’mon. I’ve got a bunch of shopping to get done today, and he won’t cause any problems. I swear it. That kid is a grade-A bookworm. He’ll entertain himself.”
“Minors under ten–”
“Hey, if it isn’t the magnificent Yandi Jakari in the flesh?” Said a man wearing what could only be described as a platemail wizard’s hat. Stepping into the library and extending his arms, he continued toward Yandi. “How many years has it been? I must admit, I was hoping that I might bump into you or Daedrik while I visited.”
“Andric?” Yandi said with a surprised yelp as the robe-wearing man wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tightly.
“I barely ever see old friends these days. Not with what demon hunting has become. The bloody things endlessly flood into the Kingdom these days. I am constantly telling the officials something needs to be done about it.”
“I’ve heard rumors. Is it really as bad as they say?” Yandi’s brow twisted, and her jaw hung.
“Well,” Andric said, holding a hand beside his mouth. “You know I can’t go into too many details. Only what’s publicly available. But enjoy your peace while you have it.”
“Oh? What do you mean?”
Andric leaned in and whispered into her ear. “It’s only a murmur for now, but there’s talk of conscription. Things can’t keep going like this. The government just can’t get enough mages. I’ve been working seven days a week myself.”
“Really?”
“That’s been you and me,” he added, leaning back and poking Yandi’s shoulder. “What are you doing here in the library, anyway? Knowing Daedrik, I wouldn’t be surprised if he had more books than this little backwater excuse for a reason to waste tax coins.”
“My son,” Yandi slumped. “He’s somewhat of a bookworm. Gone and ran off somewhere,” she added, waving toward the bookshelves. “And now I guess I’m stuck here watching him.”
“Got somewhere to be?” Andric probed.
“A bunch. So much shopping to do. I try to knock it all out in one go when I come into town. But somebody,” she jerked her head toward the grumpy old woman behind the counter. “Won’t let me leave him unattended.”
“Go, get your shopping done,” Andric insisted. “I’ll look after the boy. I’ve got some study to do here anyhow.”
“Really? Wait, what study have you got to do in a place like this?”
“It’s nothing really. A few weird sightings around here. Mostly just mana fluctuations. From my understanding, there have been strange rumors about sightings around Ebenshire for years. A few junior mages have even investigated these sightings on several occasions in the past but never found anything. The bigwigs back in central even had it crossed off as mana fluctuations. But with the mood being as sensitive as it at the moment, they wanted someone to come check it out again.”
“Oh, yeah,” Yandi nodded. “I remember few people cautioning us when we moved here. Apparently, it was why we were able to pick up our property as cheaply as we were. Not many of the locals want to live near the edge of the forest. But of course, Daedrik wasn’t worried.”
“He’s probably a little rusty these days. Been years since he did any demon hunting that I know of, but you’re right. It’s the main reason I doubt I’ll find anything. Then again, professor life is pretty cushy; who knows what he's missed.”
“Don’t let him hear you say that; he might get ideas. I suppose a mage like you never gets too worried, but I’m perfectly happy having my man in a safe academy position.”
“Oh, I do sometimes. But not here. If there was a real fiend around here, I would have sensed it by now. This is more of a vacation than anything else. I’ve been on the frontline for months, and sending me here is a way to rotate me out without giving me a real vacation. And it stops the locals from complaining so much. So, I’ll do the needful and put their minds at ease.”
The woman behind the counter turned to Andric and tapped on the sign that read “quite please,” and shushed him.
“Sorry,” Andric grimaced. “Anyway, like I said. I don’t actually expect to find anything. But I’ll take a couple of weeks' rest happily. It’s been nonstop recently.”
“A couple of weeks? So, you’ll be in town for a while then?”
“Sure will be,” Andric nodded.
“Come to Kal’s fifth birthday then. It’d be great for all three of us to catch up.”
“You sure about that?” Andric flashed a sly grin. “Remember, I was the one chasing you before Daedrik. I’m not so sure he let go of that one.”
“Ha, I’m sure he’ll be fine. Remember, he’s the one that won. Besides, you two were friends for years before I showed up.”
“Fine, you convinced me. I’ll be there. Now, I better go back to looking important and let you get on with your very important shopping,” he leaned into Yandi’s ear again. “I have a feeling one of the locals here might report me to central if they think I’m not working hard enough.”
“They very well might,” Yandi giggled. “Well, thank you,” she added and turned to the old woman. “My friend Andric here will be minding my son.”
The woman narrowed her gaze on Andric and grunted in dissatisfaction before tapping the sign again.
“Right, I got it. Quiet,” Andric said, zipping his mouth.
