Andreas’ breath caught in his throat, his heart drumming. The room felt like it was shrinking, the walls closing in around him. His chest tightened, as though the presence of this stranger had sucked the air from the room. Andreas’ mind raced, trying to reconcile what his eyes were seeing.
He had seen illustrations of people in books. He had read about the world beyond these walls, a world he had only imagined. But they were just that–stories. He had never truly considered the idea of meeting another person face to face. Yet, there he was, sitting just a few feet away.
The man looked ordinary. His pale skin was slightly freckled, his eyes a deep green that seemed to study Andreas just as much as Andreas was studying him. The top of his head along with his face was bright, orange hair. Andreas instinctively reached up to his own chin, feeling the smooth skin there, confused by why the man had hair on his face when he didn’t.
The man wore a long black cloak, his outfit weathered—a black tunic tucked into black trousers, held by a worn brown belt. He was still, unmoving, his presence both unsettling and oddly calm.
"Mo-Momma?!" Andreas’ voice cracked as he finally managed to speak.
His mother’s arms wrapped around him from behind, pulling him close to her chest, “Don’t worry my love. He won’t hurt you, he’s kind.” she said reassuringly.
The man sat with one leg drawn up, his arm draped loosely over his knee. Though his face remained still, his hands wavered ever so slightly. Andreas noticed the subtle shake in his fingers, the way his gaze occasionally flickered to the ground, as if he was just as unsure as Andreas was.
Their eyes met, and a wave of nerves shot down Andreas’ spine, freezing him in place. The man’s fear was palpable, though his expression gave nothing away. Andreas felt an odd connection to him—a shared fear of the unknown. The man’s presence was foreign, confusing, but not hostile.
“Who... who is he?” Andreas whispered as he clung to his mother.
His mother’s arms held him close, her voice gentle as she smiled down at him. “He’s someone who’s been alone for quite some time, just like us,” she said delicately. “He doesn’t know what to make of this either. But you’re safe, my love.”
Andreas watched as the man’s eyes drifted toward the floor, his movements slow and uncertain. Despite the initial shock, Andreas felt his nerves begin to settle. He trusted his mother, and her reassurance calmed him, though curiosity still gnawed.
There was something about the man that tugged at Andreas’ heart. Loneliness—he knew what that felt like.
A flicker of sympathy welled up inside him as he continued to observe the man.
“Do... does he have a name?” Andreas asked, skittish with hesitance.
His mother paused for a moment, her expression thoughtful before she glanced at the man with a warm smile.
“Reach,” the man finally said, his voice a low, husky whisper. The sound of it startled Andreas, sending a shiver through him, though it wasn’t fear this time. It was awe. The name hung, heavy and unfamiliar, yet it felt significant.
Andreas blinked, taken aback by how the man’s voice sounded. It didn’t feel threatening… it felt broken.
“Reach,” Andreas repeated, whispering.
The man flinched slightly at hearing his own name, his eyes softening. Andreas hesitated, unsure if he’d said something wrong. His mother’s hand gently squeezed his shoulder, her voice calm and reassuring.
“Why don’t you tell the kind man your name?” she urged softly, her smile encouraging.
Andreas swallowed hard, his gaze shifting back to Reach. There was a pause—a brief, nervous silence. "My name is Andreas," he said timidly.
For a moment, Reach was still, his expression unreadable. But then a faint smile tugged at the corner of the man’s mouth. It was subtle, barely noticeable, but enough to make Andreas’ eyes widen.
"It’s... nice to meet you," Andreas added, his words trailing off.
Reach’s smile widened ever so slightly, the tension in his features easing. “It’s a pleasure, Andreas,” he replied, a little stronger now.
Andreas gleamed, the warmth of those words settling into his chest. He felt a sense of pride, as if somehow this exchange was his biggest achievement. The fear that had once gripped him was now fading, replaced by a new sensation—curiosity, and a growing fascination with this man.
Andreas, feeling a surge of confidence, slid off his mother’s lap and hopped onto the floor. His small feet made a soft thud as they landed, and for a brief moment, both his mother and Reach looked at him in surprise.
“Andreas—” his mother began, but she stopped herself as Andreas walked forward.
Reach’s tense posture stiffened slightly, his gaze softened as the boy approached. Andreas, heart pounding in his chest, clasped his hands together and bowed deeply in front of Reach. His movements were awkward, but sincere as he lowered his head.
After a moment, he turned to his mother, searching her face for approval. She smiled warmly, her eyes gleaming.
"Uhm... Momma said this was the right way to greet someone when I first meet them..." Andreas said shyly, glancing to Reach.
For a brief second, Reach seemed stunned. A faint snort escaped him, and his lips twitched into a smile. "I see. My apologies then," he said.
Slowly, Reach stood, and Andreas’ eyes widened in awe. The man was tall—taller than Andreas had expected. The boy blinked in surprise as he craned his neck to take in Reach’s full stature. It was as if the man stretched up to the ceiling.
Reach noticed Andreas’ reaction, pausing for a beat before bowing in return, his movements slow and deliberate. Then sat back down.
Andreas beamed, his chest overcome with pride. "You can always just shake their hand too, but it’s a little less formal," Reach said, tinged with amusement.
Andreas’ face lit up. "Oh, I wanna try!" he exclaimed, sticking out his hand.
Reach hesitated, but then extended his own hand, enveloping Andreas'. Andreas’ eyes went wide as they shook hands, his mouth hanging open in wonder.
As they let go, Andreas noticed something—a slight waver in Reach's hand. It was barely noticeable, but it was there.
Curious, and a little confused, Andreas tilted his head. "Uh... are you scared?" he asked, the question slipping out.
Reach hesitated, his gaze shifting to the floor for a moment. "Yes," he admitted quietly, "I'm pretty scared." He paused, his eyes searching Andreas'. "But... are you not?"
Andreas blinked, taken aback by the question. "Uh... I was at first," he admitted, glancing at Reach. "But you don't seem mean," he added earnestly.
Reach’s brow furrowed as he blinked in confusion. "That's... not what I meant," he muttered, soft but strained.
Andreas scratched the back of his head, unsure of what to say next. "Oh, uhm... well, I didn't know if there were others. It's always just been me and Momma," he replied, looking toward his mother for reassurance. "But you don’t seem scary.”
For a brief moment, something flickered across Reach’s face. A lump formed in his throat as he glanced back at Andreas’ mother. "What... what do you mean?" he asked, his voice weak. He could feel a knot beginning to tighten in his stomach.
Andreas’ mother cast her gaze downward, her hands resting limply in her lap. There was a heavy sigh, "This is the first time Andreas has met someone," she said tender- ly.
Reach stared at her in disbelief. "His first time?" he asked. He turned back to Andreas, who looked at his mother, puzzled by the sudden shift. "He looks ten... How long have you been in here?" The question hung in the air as if Reach were afraid of the answer.
Her expression was one of quiet resignation. "It's been a long time. I've lost track," she said, her voice barely a whisper now. She glanced at Andreas before continuing, her words slow and measured. "Andreas was born here. It was the month of Nativity... the year five eighty."
Reach's breath hitched, his chest tightening as the weight of her words sank in, striking him like a physical blow. His face drained of color. "We're in Vitalus... in the year five ninety," he whispered, his voice hollow.
Andreas’ mother kept her gaze lowered. “Ten years, I guess that makes me twenty-five,” she said softly, the shock absent from her voice.
Her voice remained calm, almost detached. Reach watched, expecting a larger reaction—a sign of panic or despair—but what he saw was a woman who had made peace with fate. "I had always wondered," she said, her tone flat. "But it doesn't really change anything for us, does it?"
Reach's throat tightened, words failing him as Andreas shifted nervously. The boy looked between them, his confusion deepening.
"No," she continued, her voice steady but distant. "We're still here. Just as we were before. The world has kept spinning, and we've been forgotten." She glanced down at Andreas, her face softening into a bittersweet smile. "But we’ll keep going, just as we always have."
The tension in the air was thick. Andreas furrowed his brows. "Is it bad? That we've been in here for so long?" he asked, his voice small.
Reach glanced at Andreas' mother before answering. "What does the boy know about all this?" he asked carefully.
Her gaze hardened, though her words remained gentle. "There's no reason to instill fear. He's happy, and that's all that matters to me," she said firmly.
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"And... at least tell him why?" Reach’s voice was softer now, unsure of how to approach.
"Ignorance is bliss," she said, her eyes lowering once again, shutting the conversation down as the room fell into a heavy silence.
"Momma, what are you talking about? What does he mean?" Andreas asks, his eyes searching his mothers for answers.
"Let’s just leave it, kid," Reach cut in, his voice low.
Andreas blinked, confused, but Reach turned his attention back to his mother, his brow furrowed. "But I am curious... you haven’t tried to flee? If they sapped your mana, it’s bound to come back in a few months' time, right?"
Her face mellowed at the question, her gaze still firmly on the ground.
Reach shifted awkwardly, realizing he might have overstepped. "I’m sorry–" he began to apologize, but she raised her hand and grasped the collar of her dress, stopping him mid-sentence. With a calm motion, she pulled it down, revealing a deep, jagged scar in the center of her chest—a hollow, empty space.
Reach’s breath caught in his throat, his eyes widening as he stared at the scar. He whispered, disbelief seeping. "Your lacryma... they took it..."
"They carved it out," she said quietly, her voice resigned but steady.
Andreas looked between them, wide-eyed. "Momma?" he whispered.
Reach couldn’t tear his eyes away from the scar, the weight of what had been done pressing down. "That’s a cardinal sin..." he murmured, barely audible. "But why?"
Her face softened, sorrow glimmering in her eyes. "It was taken from me after I conceived Andreas," she said.
Reach’s heart ached for her, for Andreas. He snapped out of his thoughts when she gently slid her collar back up, hiding the scar once more.
His gaze shifted to Andreas, trying to ease the tension. "What about you, kid? Your lacryma... still intact?"
Andreas looked up, startled. "Who, me?" he stammered. "Uh, no. It’s still here." He lifted his shirt, revealing the faint blue crystal embedded in his chest.
"Good," Reach said quietly.
"Mmm," Andreas mumbled, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "But... I’m not too good with magic. I’ve never been able to use it right."
A chuckle escaped Reach, though it was strained. "Guess I can say the same. I’ve been sapped of my mana completely, but my lacryma’s still there. In time, it’ll restore itself."
Andreas’ eyes widened with curiosity as he shuffled to sit. "So... you’ve been out there?" he asked, firm and eager.
“Outside, you mean?” Reach replied, a faint smirk pulling at the corner of his lips. “Yeah, I’ve been out there all my life. Until I ended up in this lovely place.”
A spark of excitement lit up Andreas' face, his expression shifting with awe. "What!? That’s so cool!" He said. "Does every man have a weird voice like yours?"
“Andreas—” his mother started, but Reach let out a cold, raspy laugh that echoed through the room.
"Elyon knows I could use a cigar right about now," Reach muttered, leaning back slightly.
Andreas' eyes widened with intrigue. "A cigar?"
"Something you shouldn’t ever touch, trust me on that," Reach added quickly, catching Andreas’ mother’s knitted brow out of the corner of his eye. "But nah, the voice? That’s all thanks to me smoking too much." He glanced back at Andreas.
Andreas grinned. "That’s... amazing," he said, looking up at Reach.
Reach arched an eyebrow, amused by the boy’s admiration. He looked over at Andreas’ mother, who was clearly unimpressed. "Amazing, huh? You know, there’s a whole world out there kid. It's filled with way more amazing stuff than this old man's bad habits."
Andreas scooted closer, "Like what? What’s it like out there?"
Reach studied Andreas for a moment, his eyes softening as he considered how to answer.
“Well," Reach began, his voice a little quieter now, "it’s loud, first of all. People don’t shut up, lots of mountains, trees, and animals. Carts clattering along the cobblestone roads all day. You’d be surrounded by noise. And the sky? It’s endless. It changes colors—blue during the day, red when the sun sets, and at night... it’s filled with stars. Thousands of ‘em."
Andreas’ eyes grew wide with wonder, his imagination painting the scene as Reach described it. "Stars... like from my book," he murmured.
"Yeah," Reach said softly. “Except better, 'cause you’re standing there, under them.”
"Wow," Andreas murmured. "What did you do out there?" he asked eagerly
Reach’s eyes softened at the boy’s curiosity. "A lot of traveling. I was an adventurer and... a hunter," he said, hesitating on the last word.
"That sounds awesome!" Andreas exclaimed. Then, with a tilt of his head, he added, "But... what’s an adventurer?"
Andreas' mother let out a gentle sigh, giving Reach a pointed look. "Just make sure you keep it appropriate."
Reach chuckled gently, shaking his head. "Of course." He turned back to Andreas. "An adventurer is someone who takes on guild quests to complete all sorts of dangerous tasks. You travel a lot, explore, take on monsters sometimes." He paused, choosing his words more carefully. "The jobs vary. Mostly, it involves dealing with less-than-friendly folks."
Andreas blinked, "So... you fight the bad guys?" he asked, full of awe.
Reach hesitated, then smirked faintly. "Uh... yeah. Basically"
Andreas' eyes lit up as an idea flashed across his mind. Without a word, he rushed to the small pile of books stacked beside the bed, eagerly grabbing one. Holding it to his chest, he ran back over to Reach, who raised a curious eyebrow as Andreas thrust the book toward him.
“What’s this?” Reach asked, taking the book from the boy's hands. Andreas' mother watched the interaction with a slight smile, her curiosity piqued.
“It’s The Kingdoms of Aurelius!” Andreas said excitedly, flipping the pages until he found a large map. “Look, this is where we are, right?” He pointed at a small part of the map, bordered by the sea.
Reach leaned in, his finger tracing the outline of the landmarks. "Yeah, this is it." His finger moved over the map. "Covenentia, land of the humans," he explained. "To the east of us is Sanctoria, where the elven people live. The King resides there, in the capital."
“And over here?” Andreas asked, pointing to the chunks of land southeast and south of Covenentia.
Reach’s lips quirked in a half-smile. "South of us is Redemptora, the land of the beast people. A real joy to have around, you’ll love them," he added sarcastically, “South- east of us is Cavaria, land of the Catalans, lot of mountains there.”
Andreas' finger hovered over a small chunk of land, isolated in the center of the four sprawling regions, surrounded by water. “What about this place?” he asked.
Reach leaned back slightly, his eyes narrowing as he glanced at the spot Andreas was pointing to. “That,” he said, “is the Titan Continent.”
Andreas blinked. “Titan Continent?”
“Yeah,” Reach continued, scratching the back of his head. “A place no one in their right mind gives a crap about—or rather, no one sane enough to try. The whole thing’s crawling with monsters. Not your average ‘big, scary orc’ type, either. I mean ancient, godlike beasts that could crush entire armies without breaking a sweat.” He gestured vaguely toward the map. “Strong enough that even the Sereth Knights or the Dominions don’t mess with it.”
Andreas was entranced, his gaze fixed on the map, absorbing every detail. "Did you see all these places when you were an adventurer?" he asked, eyes wide with awe.
"Besides the titan continent, I did," Reach said softly. "I’ve seen it all."
Andreas’ face lit up. "So if I become an adventurer, I’ll be able to see the world too?"
Reach hesitated, his smile faltering for just a moment as he glanced over at Andreas’ mother. Her expression was sorrow. She gave a subtle nod.
“Yeah, kid,” Reach said, ruffling Andreas’ hair. "You will. But you’ll have to work hard. The world’s a big place…”
***
Hours passed as Reach shared stories from his adventures, painting vivid pictures of the lands, towering mountains, and hidden dungeons. Andreas listened intently, his eyes heavy with the weight of wonder until he finally drifted off to sleep.
His mother gently lifted Andreas, tucking him into the bed. She lingered for a moment, brushing a stray lock of hair from his forehead, her face glowing with a bittersweet smile. After a quiet moment, she turned back to where Reach was still sitting, lost in thought.
"I think having you here will be good for him," she said softly, breaking the silence. Her voice was gentle as she sat beside Reach.
Reach blinked, snapping out of it. "It’s just been the two of us for so long… He’s never had anyone else to talk to, to learn from. I hope you don’t mind sharing the space too much," she added with a faint smile.
Reach chuckled, a short grin forming on his lips. "Doesn’t seem like we have much of a choice, do we?" he joked.
She let out a quiet laugh. "I suppose not."
There was a moment of silence before Reach looked at her more closely, curiosity flickering in his eyes. "You never told me your name."
She hesitated for a moment, her eyes dropping to the floor before she met his gaze again. "Havyn," she said softly. "Havyn Alethi."
“Alethi…” Reach repeated quietly, nodding to himself. "I see." He glanced over at Andreas, his expression softening. "You’ve done well by him. His heart is in the right place." Reach’s voice grew quieter. "He reminds me of someone I once knew… he’ll do just fine out there."
Havyn smiled, her eyes warm. “Thank you, Reach. He's all I have, and I want to continue giving him everything I can, even if it’s not much.” Her voice wavered slightly at the end.
Reach nodded. His gaze shifted to the ground.
“And what about you? Do you have a family?” Havyn asked.
Reach hesitated, his jaw tightening slightly. "Yeah... I have a brother and sister," he said, cracking just a little. "And my mom and dad."
Havyn tilted her head, concern flickering in her eyes. “Are they not worried about where you might be?” she asked quietly.
A long pause stretched between them, Reach’s eyes growing distant, almost as if he were looking through the walls. “Nah,” he said quietly. “They’re all fine.”
Havyn studied his face, sensing that there was more beneath the surface. But she didn’t push. They sat in silence for a moment, the quiet of the room enveloping them. The only sound was the soft crackling of the dim lantern, flickering weakly against the stone walls.
"Sometimes," she began, muttering, "I wish I could do more for him. Give him more" She glanced at Reach, her expression tired. "But this is all I’ve got."
Reach was silent for a moment, his gaze on Andreas before shifting to Havyn. "You’re doing enough," he said. His tone was low. "You’re giving him love, hope, and that’s more than a lot of kids ever get. Even out there."
Havyn chuckled, but it was dry. "You make it sound like I’m some kind of saint." She pulled her knees to her chest, wrapping her arms around them. "But I’m just surviving… avoiding death."
Reach studied her for a moment, his face unreadable. "Surviving can be its own kind of heroism," he said. "Especially in a place like this."
Havyn blinked, turning to look at him. His words caught her off guard. She opened her mouth to say something, but the words wouldn’t come. Instead, she let out a small, shaky laugh. Reach slowly smiled as he watched.
They sat in silence for a few minutes, the quiet not uncomfortable, but warm.
"Do you think death would be better?" she asked faintly.
Reach turned to her, his brow furrowing. "Death? No, I don’t think it would,” he said firmly.
Havyn studied him. "Why not?" she whispered. "I mean, isn’t it easier? To just... let go? Stop fighting?" Her words trembled.
Reach let out a long, steady breath. His eyes drifted toward the ceiling. "Death might seem easier," he admitted. "But it's final. We don’t know if there’s a second chance. And no matter how bad things get, as long as you're breathing, you still have a chance. A chance to change things. To fight. To hope."
“One day…” He continued, looking over at Andreas, “he’ll know what the world is. He’ll see it, not because he read about it in a book, but because he’ll step out into it. You can still give him that." He said, then dropping to a whisper. "But not if you’re gone."
Havyn looked away, wiping the tear quickly before it could fall. The weight of her exhaustion bearing down on her.
"It might end the suffering," Reach said, "but it also ends any chance of changing things. And as long as you're alive, you still have control. Control to change something, even if it’s just a small part of this world. For Andreas. For yourself."
Havyn was silent, her eyes fixed on the floor as she let his words sink in. The quiet stretched between them again.
Havyn let out a slow breath, her fingers jittering slightly.
"Thank you, Reach," she whispered, her voice thick.
As they sat there in the dim glow of the lantern, Havyn's head slowly leaned against Reach’s shoulder. Her breathing evened out as she drifted into sleep. Reach remained still, surprised by her sudden trust.
He glanced back at Andreas, studying the peaceful expression on the boy’s face as he slept soundly. Reach’s eyes hardened with resolve, his gaze shifting between mother and son. His mind raced as he clenched his jaw, whispering to himself.
"We’re getting the hell out of here."