Atem: The path of their lives

Chapter 1

The dreaming girl’s view

Limitless.

The expanse I see everytime I look into the distant horizon beyond my village’s outskirts…the potential of every living being.

All the joy and pain in this world. They’re all limitless.

Would you believe it? The adults say that the earth we walk on is older than a hundred generations of people combined could ever be.

Yesterday I hurt my leg while running around and felt the most intense pain in my life. I screamed like a baby and before I realized it, my eyes were full of tears. Just like that, all the humans in the world have suffered for as long as imaginable. I read about it in one of mother‘s books once when she had forgotten to hide it after going out. With only our fragile bodies, fighting nature. Finding food. Building houses. Creating civilizations. Surviving.

Having to fend off unbeliveably scary and big monsters everywhere we go. Scaling mountains and brooding through endless swamps no matter whether it be freezing cold or boiling hot, only to find a place where we could settle. Always living on the border between life and death and reveling in both happiness and suffering alike.

And it’s not just humans. Everyone has it equally tough.

Even those that are a bit more physically gifted than us humans, like those people with scales that sometimes come to visit or the ones with tails and fur that bring us new food and things to buy every month.

My father often says: „To struggle in vain against what has been forced upon us is natural. Not giving up means that we are alive.“

Luckily, one day we found a way to fight back against the unfairness of this world.

Or maybe it found us.

– –

Today, mother shattered a giant boulder without even touching it and saved the man trapped beneath it.

[?????]

With just a sound, even though it sounded like gibberish to me.

„A thousand thanks, mrs Andern! I thought I was gonna be a goner for a moment there!“

It only took a moment.

„Be quiet, Simon. More importantly, where do you need me to heal you?! I’ll have it done before the rune scribes get here.“

For people like her, to shatter the unfairness of our world is only a matter of speaking. Even though I can’t understand it yet. Not even when father does it.

It was the same when I hurt my leg. Mama rushed over to me and muttered something under her breath. After a while, I realized I was screaming just for the sake of screaming, since all the pain was gone. My leg was fine. It was Incredible.

It’s just like that wherever I look around.

When I wake up I’m greeted by the sight of a water stream flowing directly upwards.

Once in a while, when I’m allowed to go with my father into the city, I see a giant tower with glowing blue markings all over it and boats slowly flying from one district to another. People bringing forth water out of thin air to water the crops.

When mr Romanti waves his fingers in the air, it comes gushing out, seemingly appearing out of nowhere.

That is the power of intent.

Or so they say. I don’t quite get it, but it feels as if there is nothing we can’t do. As if an infinite amount of possibilites is stretching out in front of me. It all makes me so happy that I can’t help but grin from ear to ear every day.

That’s the kind of world we live in.

„Bea! Beatrice! Uh, where has that girl run off to again? She should already know that it’s time to eat.“

Ah, I forgot.

„Papa! I’m up here! I’ll get down and come home right away.“

The grey haired man turned around, instantly recognizing the voice resembling the piercing but soft carressing of the wind, only to let out a small sigh followed by a laugh.

„Her favorite spot, huh…“

As the energetic young lady ran down the small hill on the border of her hometown, he prepared to go back home with her.

„Gone daydreaming again, weren’t you?“

„I was just thinking about how cool papa and mama are while helping others. I wanna be like that too!“

A boisterous chuckle filled the quiet sunny meadow.

„You still have time for that, Bea. You will have to learn many important things before you can even think about it.“

The girl’s bright smile then turned into a sour pout.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

„Learn, learn, learn, that’s all you ever want me to do… but hey, I’ve got a better idea! You can go on ahead while I take it through the village square. I’ll be fast, I promise.“

„Well… why not. After all, it won’t be me you’ll be apologizing to if you’re late.“

„Great, thanks!“

Now standing alone, the man took a deep breath and smiled as the child standing beside him just a few moments ago disappeared between houses.

„On the other hand, maybe I shouldn’t have agreed to that. Perhaps I’ll be the one getting punished instead of her…“

– –

The warm breeze hit my face and combed through my hair as I sped past the scurrying townsfolk and wooden houses.

I love this. I want to go see Gil and the others. The old man, too.

„Hey, young lady, over here!“

Speak of the devil.

I stabbed my heels into the ground and sharply stopped in my tracks.

„Good day, mister Fern. How’s the fence from the other day?“

„Much better than after that storm, thanks to you all. Make sure to stop by sometime…and oh! Young Gil passed by earlier, said he was looking for you. I’m pretty sure you can find him by the fields.“

„Got it. I’m also looking for him, so I’ll be on my way now. You can count on me coming over, especially for that pie you always make. Well then, have a nice day!“

„Sure, you too! …Guess I have to get baking for her again.“

Turning around, I took off in a mad dash once more.

The heat was the most intense at that time, since it was the middle of the day. I could feel my tongue drying out and started regretting not taking the shorter route with my father.

The fields, huh? I gotta be quick, or else mother will lecture me again.

– –

The sunshine sharply stabbed me in the eyes as I stopped to catch a breath and looked around.

Ah, there he is. I haven’t seen him in a while.

„Gil!“

His tall and robust physique revealed him wherever he went. The closer I got to him, the more distinctly I could make out his features: short golden hair, eyes as blue as the sky, a bronze skin tone and scratches and minor scars all over his arms partially covered by the long sleeved cloth jacket he was currently wearing. But most importantly, a warm smile.

Or so I thought, but for some reason, Gil wasn’t smiling that day.

„Bea, finally.“

The muscles in his face seemed to relax for a second just for him to start growing pale right after.

„What is it? Is something the matter? You don’t look so well.“

„No, it’s nothing. I just…“

His gaze fell upon my eyes and it felt as if he was staring directly into my soul. As if he was finding the courage to say something but seemingly couldn‘t. After a few seconds he curled his lips upwards and I felt a reassuring air spread around him, exactly like usual.

„…I just wanted to spend some time with you. The weather is nice today and I’ve got some time on my hands.“

He’s back to normal. Now is my chance.

„Sweet! Then carry me! Carry me!“

„Of course, my princess. Come on.“

The boy nearing the beggining of his adulthood sighed briefly before kneeling down and putting me on his shoulders only to stand up and spin around with surprising ease.

„Hahaha, yes, just like that! I see you haven’t lost any of your strength, my loyal knight! Now onwards, towards lunch!“

„…And where would that be, young miss?“

„Why, where papa and mama are, of course!“

„Right.“

Following those words, we started leaving the green fields full of farmers and crops behind, the sun warming up our backs along the way. With my head above all the other adults, carried by my best friend.

It’s been some time since we last did this. I missed it. Gil is older than me but he’s the one I have spent the most time with in this village.

„How is your adventuring going? That lady with the bow you brought along last time? And your mother, how is she? And–“

The boy chuckled as he was assaulted by an onslaught of questions.

„Curious like always, I see. Slow down.“

„Sorry.“

„It’s fine, I’ll tell you everything. I haven’t been getting much money from contracts and such lately, since it feels like the monsters have been growing stronger everyday. When it comes to Emily, she separated from me and went east to the Pelagus continent. Said she wanted to teach people how to defend themselves better.“

He stopped talking for a second, as if he was carefully thinking about what to say next.

„As for my mom… she‘s in a pretty bad condition right now, but I have a feeling that she will get better soon.“

„So that’s how it is. If you think so, Gil, then I’m sure it will all end well.“

His only response was an ambigious sound that seemed neither affirmative nor discouraging.

After walking a few dozen steps ahead, he started talking again, as if to destroy the awkwardness between us.

„What about you though? I hope you have been studying rigorously. You’re not gonna live out your whole life here and if you want to protect yourself, you‘ll need to at least be as strong as your parents. It feels like that’s the minimum these days.“

„Everyone keeps telling me that…“

I’ve just been delaying my duties so that I can laze around lavishly everyday, but I suppose there’s some truth to what they say.

I should study more. I used to do so but was too young to find it captivating enough for me to continue. Studying languages, history and the world around me. That‘s what is required for me to able to help others, just like mother. She says experiencing all sorts of sensations and feelings is a part of it too. The biggest nuisance, though, is the amount of books and scriptures I’m supposed to read through until I leave this town…. they can be interesting, but usually they’re just very bland and tiring.

However, I want to help. I want to chip away at the limitlessness of this world. I wish to be like them. That’s why I will do it, even if it’s annoying. Even if I have to get out of my comfort zone.

„…Alright, I’ll start again…tommorow.“

„That’s better than nothing. I think this is the right path for you, since I doubt you would make a great swordswoman with those weak little arms.“

„Hey!“

He smirked a little as he teased me.

„At least they’re not all scarred like yours.“

„These are the marks of a warrior, mind you.“

„Whatever.“

Our little banter continued on for a while before it started escalating. After a while, Gil seemed just about ready to end our one sided disscussion about why he wouldn’t make a good husband for any of the girls his age.

„Ahh, cut it out already, Beatrice! I don’t have the willpower left to listen to the ramblings of a sassy child.“

„Hah! That’s why the bow lady left you!“

„Why, you little…“

For a moment, he seemed to forget that he was carrying me and accidentally loosened his grip on my legs, only for me to start falling backwards.

„Woooaaa–“

„Watch out!“

I closed my eyes, expecting a hard fall, except it didn’t come. Instead I felt a familiar feeling as I ended up in the strong arms of an aspiring swordsman.

„That was close. Hey, don’t tell your dad about this, okay?“

I wanted to affirm him that I wouldn’t even think of mentioning this to anyone, but then I saw a shadow looming right over him.

„No need to say anything. I saw it all.“

It was father. Right behind him was our house.

We’ve come all this way without even realizing it…

I didn’t have the leisure of appreciating that fact though, because I quickly realized what was going to come next.

„I wasn’t expecting you, Gilliard, but I’m more than willing to teach you both how to behave properly.“

He’s angrier than usual. That means mother must have lectured him already.

„Not to mention, the food has gone all cold while you lot were strolling around.“

Heh. I’m in trouble.

– –

Having repented and learned our lessons, both of us took a seat at the dining table and enjoyed a fine meal.

In the end, it didn’t end that badly. Even though after father’s scolding came mother‘s…more importantly, today was fun. I hope every day stays like this.