CHAPTER 22

As Cyrus left his former home, he followed the instructions he got from his mother to the letter. While he was planning to do that, he still felt irk. He had finally left his home, he could finally go out into the world, and then he would fall right back into the arms of his mother.

He was apprehensive at the thought of going back to the family, but he suddenly realised, he wasn’t going back. His mother had made a plan for him to live, to escape this life, she wanted him to live out his life, and she wasn’t going to let his father interfere.

The moment he realized this, his feet moved, his body accelerated, and he sped away. He was going to follow his mother’s instructions to the letter, and with that, he would leave this place behind. With every step he made, he got one step closer to his new life, to his new home, and to his unchained future.

He had only received some basic instructions from his mother, involving going to the local market, and waiting for her there.

She would show up there later, under the excuse that she wanted to buy some groceries. She normally took quite a bit of time shopping, as she socialized with the other women in the village, and would normally enjoy the walk to and from the local bakery.

He decided to wait on the bench in front of the bakery. He started looking around the small town square, and started to revel in its beauty. The sunlight that pierced through the foliage high up, illuminated the town square, and made it bathe in the golden light as the darkness retreated. As the rays of light descended, they seemed to shine on the fountain in the centre of the square the most. The fountain bathed in those rays, it accentuated the small engravings on it, making them come alive, and it made the water shimmer with the same kind of golden colour, making it seem like the water turned to liquid gold.

He stood up from the bench, and made his way over to the fountain. While the illusion of liquid gold faded as he came closer, another story unfolded in front of him.

He looked at the engravings on the fountain, they were like a children’s book, as they seemed to describe a story of peril, death, and destruction. However, every time someone made a scream of dread, aguish, helplessness, or any other form of sadness, a small hope was born. This hope could be in the form of a small rescue boat, a stick lying on the ground, a blacksmith’s offer, or a single gold coin, however, these hopes always appeared. It described how the people made use of these hopes, and through their own effort, they overcame either their enemies, their situation, or their fears.

Cyrus was completely absorbed by these engravings, as he circled the fountain multiple times to take in as much of it as possible, leading to some questioning gazes of passers.

As he was completely absorbed by the engravings, he failed to notice the arrival of a loud trio on the square. They did notice him however, and made their way over to him.

The trio saw Cyrus as a defenceless little lamb, unable to resist anything they would to him, and they thought of the fun that they could have. Well, two of them thought that, the third one pitied him, as he would be placed lower than even him, and he didn’t know what they would do to him.

The leading boy of the group approached Cyrus, and said with a brisk voice: “Cyrus! You’re out of your house for once! What a surprise!”

Cyrus’ thoughts were undermined by the voice as he recognised it, and was scared. The slowly turned around, looked upon the three boys standing in front of him, and breathed a sigh of relief.

“What do you want, Fern?” He said with an indifferent and sharp tone, as he quickly regained his composure.

Fern’s face contorted, and he asked with an agitated tone: “Is that how you treat your elders? Especially after you caused that whole incident, and now I have to go through a hard training regime. That is your fault, you know?! So you better be a little more, friendly. Understood?”

Cyrus snickered, before saying with the most dramatic tone he could muster: “Oh, I’m so sorry, great lord Fern! Please forgive this insignificant being for troubling you! You absolutely didn’t instigate the incident in any way, only I am to blame. Please grant me forgiveness!”

He snickered as he saw Fern’s expression contort even more, Cyrus was receiving some great amusement from irritating Fern, as he knew that Fern could not attack him. They were in the middle of the town square, surrounded by adults, and Fern was already on thin ice. If he were to instigate another incident, his father wouldn’t let him get off lightly. Cyrus knew this, and he revelled in it.

However, before they could continue their little play of insults, they were interrupted. Avary had arrived, and quickly made her way over to Cyrus, and Fern and his goons.

She was surprised to see Cyrus stand up to Fern like that, but she quickly realized the situation. He used the current circumstances and the surrounding people to make himself immune to Fern’s remarks, and he knew that he would have a safe retreat because of her.

She was so proud. Her son was able to assess the situation, put himself at an advantageous position, and hammered down on his enemy from that position.

However, she quickly saw that it would only escalate into a fight as Fern would become more and more angry, eventually he would throw rationality to the wind, and attack Cyrus. Before that happened, she quickly moved over to them.

She formed a loving and soothing smile, and said with a calm yet proud tone: “Cyrus, honey, it’s time to go. We don’t have a lot of time, and we need to get home quickly.”

Cyrus looked up from the three boys in front of him, only to see his mother standing next to him, bent over, and with an outstretched hand. She quickly took Cyrus away from the three boys.

Cyrus quickly followed Avary as she walked away from the fountain, and the town square in a brisk pace. She was greeted multiple times by different shop owners and passers, but she either only greeted them, or kept the conversation short. It was clear that she had something very urgent to do, and most people didn’t mind. They had always enjoyed her companionship, and they didn’t mind her being busy.

However, the three boys left standing were quite stumped by this, as they were suddenly interrupted by Avary, and saw her being unusually hurried. They shrugged it off, and decided that hanging out on the town square wasn’t much fun, instead they went to Minos’ house.

As the three boys set off, so did Avary and Cyrus. Cyrus did not know where they were headed, but he knew that it was better than where they came from. They hurried through the pathways carved into the trees, with every step they furthered the distance between them and the town square. Cyrus began suspecting that they would leave this small village, and maybe settle in another one. They could also go to a town, or even the capital! Living in the capital would be a lot nicer, and they would be able to go to the national library!

He would be able to read so much on so many different subjects, he would be able to learn all kinds of magic from those books, he would be able to become strong through his knowledge. If only, if only he could become strong enough for him and his mother to live in peace. He just wanted to continue their peaceful and joyous days of reading books, playing, and exploring the world around him.

He never really desired something like power, he desired peace, he desired knowledge, he desired happiness, and so much more. However, he knew that to fill those desires, you need power. The heroes all wanted to protect their loved ones, or their kingdom, or something else, and they gained the power for that. Cyrus knew that power is more important than anything else in this world, and those that wield it, are its masters.

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Cyrus kept coming closer and closer to his new home, while its location, or inhabitants were unknown to him.

As Cyrus was contemplating the meaning behind power, and possible ways to achieve it, Avary was more concerned with the near future. They came closer and closer to her goal, and she could only hope that her plan would succeed, since it depended on the mercy of one family.

They went further and further away from the village centre, the pathway branched off less and less as there were less houses, and they came closer and closer to their goal.

They finally reached the pathway Avary desired, and they quickly changed course. After several more minutes of walking, the pathway seemed to reveal a house carved into a tree. Cyrus presumed that this would be his new home, and was very eager to explore it. His expression betrayed his emotions, as a big and heart-warming smile formed on his face.

While Cyrus was happy, Avary became more and more nervous with every passing moment, contemplating if this really had been the best thing to do. If this would fail, the next best option would be leaving the village, and trying to make a living in a new village, or wandering the country. She did not want this to happen, as it would most likely limit Cyrus’ growth, unless they had a stroke of luck. However, Avary was not going to gamble the future of her son on luck, and resorted to this last measure plan.

They finally arrived at the door, and with a nervous expression, and a shivering hand, Avary knocked.

The sound of her knocking seemed to reverberate through the air, as the sound around her drained away, and left her alone with thoughts for a moment. Her mind was filled with horrid scenes of either she, or Cyrus being tortured by her husband, living a life of poverty, or them ending up dead on the side of the road from starvation.

These thoughts seemed to last an eternity, before they were finally cast out. The door opened, with Lyvia stood in the doorway, and the thoughts vanished like snow before the sun. Her rambled and shattered thoughts quickly gathered, they took in the situation, assessed it, and came up with the best possible solution in only a few seconds.

The best solution was, begging for her and Cyrus’ life.

As Lyvia opened the door, she was unpleasantly surprised. Avary and Cyrus Tyrrith stood in front of her, instead of one of the Vitafius family members she had expected.

Her emotions swelled up, and her expression contorted. She didn’t question the fact that Avary came all the way out here to spite her, and instead focused on the presumed reason she was here. Lyvia believed whole heartedly that Avary Tyrrith came all the way out here, to berate her because of Daelyn, or to berate Daelyn because of his race. The only thoughts that crossed her mind were the possible arguments, insults, and even punches that could be thrown out. She had prepared her mind, and her body for an argument that had the possibility to escalate, and was completely stupefied at what really happened.

Lyvia watched as she saw Avary Tyrrith, the wife of one of the more prestigious families in the village, get on her knees, and bow in front of her.

Her forehead even touched the ground, as she bowed as low as she possibly could, and begged Lyvia.

She begged her with a sincere and nervous tone: “Lyvia Theandor, I have done you and your family little good in the past, and I’m aware of this. However, today I do not come with bad intentions. Instead, I come to ask a favour. Cyrus has been banished for defending Daelyn, and while I do not hold you responsible for this in anyway, I still wish to ask for a favour.”

Lyvia still stupefied, was just able to conjure up a soft ‘what?’.

“I wish to ask for a favour, I hope you will hear me out.”

Lyvia’s mind was completely scattered as she had prepared for something completely else. She had never expected that Avary would come to beg for a favour, but as her brain was able to process the information more and more, she became more and more wary. If Avary would come to them and ask for a favour like this, she should be in quite serious conditions, and it also seemed like she was quite desperate. While Lyvia was still shocked, she was cautious of the favour Avary required.

Lyvia voiced her concern, as her expressions changed from shock to indifference, and she responded with a cold and sharp voice: “What kind of favour?”

Lyvia could see Avary tense up, she could see her flinch, before she stated her favour.

“My favour is, it is that you take us in, and protect us from my husband.”

Lyvia was deeply surprised at this, and voiced her concerns regarding her favour.

“What makes you think we are able to defend you against the Tyrrith family? You should be the one that is the most aware of their power, and we can’t just take in a banished child and his mother.”

Avary looked up, and with a desperate tone, she shouted: “But you can call help from your relatives, right? They should be able to crush the Tyrrith family with ease.”

Lyvia’s expression turned sour, as she said with a cold yet awkward tone: “We are not a part of that family, so don’t associate them with us. I don’t have the power nor the willingness to call upon that family.”

Avary was surprised by this, before she lowered her head, lowering it once again to the floorboards, and started letting out tears.

“Nothing can save us now.” She muttered softly.

Lyvia looked upon the woman in pity. Avary had hoped in all earnestness that she would help her, but it was in vain. Lyvia would never return to that damned family, and neither would she beg them for help. However, she could not turn this woman down. It was not out of pity, or self-gain, but out of recognition. Lyvia recognised her situation, as she was once in a comparable situation. Thrown out from her house, not knowing how to survive, and not having anything or anyone to rely on.

As she was just about to close the door on them, Avary lifted herself up, and made one last plead.

“If you can’t take both of us in. Then I beg of you, take in Cyrus. He is a banished child, and while I would love to see him grow up, I would rather sacrifice my own happiness, even my own life, to give him a worthy upbringing. He is a smart, gentle, and hardworking child, and I would hate myself for him to rot away in some back alley. So, please, take him, and protect him.”

Lyvia’s mind was filled with different images as she remembered the first days of her existence outside of her elderly house, trying to survive, hoping for someone to save her, and being disappointed by the people in the world. She remembered the struggles she had to go through to survive that horrid place, the numbness she felt in that time, and the salvation she received by becoming an adventurer.

She remembered the letter that was in Daelyn’s cradle. They had sworn to give Daelyn a home to where he could return to, something she had craved in those days, something that she would not withhold from her worst enemies, as she did not wish the loneliness, sadness, and desperation she had felt on anyone else.

She turned around to face Avary, she saw a desperate and broken woman staring at her. She saw a woman with tears in her eyes, a shivering body, and an expression that was filled with helplessness. Lyvia saw herself in that expression, she saw the young girl that was helpless at the hands of the world around her, and she would not let that girl down.

As she was about to calm the girl, assure the mother, and help a person, she was interrupted.

From behind the foliage on the route to her house, resounded footsteps, heavy footsteps. There seemed to be multiple as they were racing towards them at high velocity, making the leaves and branches flail like there was heavy wind, and the sounds of forest critters die down, as if there was a dangerous predator.

Avary turned around and looked on with fear in her eyes, as her husband appeared form behind the foliage with an expression filled with fury. He made his way over followed by one of his most trusted servants, and he was only a few dozen meters away from them.

Avary quickly grabbed Cyrus, and tried to escape in whatever direction she could. She saw only saw one way out, as her husband blocked her original path, she looked down. She quickly moved towards the edge of the plateau that adorned the house, and was ready to jump as she was impacted by a pole thrown by her husband.

She flinched from the impact, and fell on the ground. Cyrus stood next to her, with fear in his eyes.

As her husband arrived, she quickly moved to shield Cyrus from any possible harm. Eldrin didn’t seemed to mind this, and quickly tried to pick her up, only to be met with resistance.

Despite her inferior physical nature, Avary fought back with every ounce of strength she could muster from her meagre body, and held on to her child. Her hair became dishevelled, her clothes became ragged, and so did her breathing.

Lyvia quickly moved in to help Avary, and tried to push Eldrin off of Avary, who was gripping her tightly.

The struggle of the three resulted in Avary being thrown off to the side, as Eldrin used his moment of respite to get Lyvia off of his back.

He was about to pick up Avary, until he saw the one that caused this. Cyrus.

Eldrin blamed this situation on Cyrus, he blamed his wife’s disobedience on his banished child, he blamed his wasted morning on him, he blamed him for defending a human, for betraying him, he started blaming Cyrus for everything, and the anger swelled up in him.

As he roughly picked up Avary, he forcefully parted mother and child by ripping Cyrus from her. Her clothes quickly gave in as Cyrus was ripped away from her, and she even had some marks on her arms from Cyrus’ grip.

The force of his father’s actions had caused Cyrus to lose his balance, and stumble towards the edge of the plateau, where he fell with his back on the edge, only to have gravity win out, as he fell from the plateau, towards the ground below.

Everyone saw Cyrus fall off the platform, Lyvia tried to save him by grabbing his feet, but she was too late.

As Cyrus was in the middle of falling, a window popped up in front of Avary.

A window with a choice, a choice between her and her son, her happiness, or that of her son’s.

A choice that would dictate their lives regardless of the outcome.

A choice of life and death.