Chapter 04: Friends And Family

The name of the game suggested a novel recreation, which Serenade Circle decidedly was not, but that didn’t make it any less enjoyable. Its complexity was perhaps too challenging for kids, but all of us had watched it played so many times that it was practically unreasonable to not play. At least, we had kept most rules intact.

It was a regional favourite. There were even Serenade Circle contests during the Solstice festival. I had barely glimpsed the real, seasoned players play out the game. The competition was held at night, and Mum was unreasonably strict about my bedtime habits.

However, if I knew one thing, it was that playing the game far surpassed the enjoyment one gets from spectating others. Ignoring the fact that Serenade Circle particularly honed one’s Way of Balance, which I was on the verge of completing.

“Arilyn, it’s your turn,” said Eran, our proxy leader for this round. He was three seasons older than me, already half a head taller, and maybe a full head above most of the kids. “Remember, even if you can’t eliminate anyone, don’t let them move another step. They’re already halfway across.”

His advice essentially translated to don’t mess up, which I didn’t intend to do. I inhaled deeply, set my sights on the opponent’s circle, and left ours, humming the most generic tune of the game. My spell would hold only as long as the melody.

Keeping my rhythm, I rushed towards their territory. They had five players left in the game, to our three. I skirted at the edge of their circle, stretching my arm as far as I could to touch my opponents without stepping into the bounds of the circle.

A simple touch would eliminate that player, but if I were to slip into their domain and they touch me, I would be eliminated instead. The complications didn’t end there.

For example, with each player eliminated, the radius of the circle would shrink so it wouldn’t become impossible to reach the remaining players. Currently, the circle was large enough to leave most of them safe.

While I darted along one side of the circle, my opponents retreated to the other. When I rushed to the opposite side, they fell back, all the while shielding their leader, Priam, out of my reach at the centre.

Our team was at a disadvantage, cut down to three members, which only meant winning would feel twice as sweet. Although I wasn’t the opener, I could sustain my rhythm the longest, benefitting from meditation and breathing control, and a little help from Alacrity. Little because half of the kids possessed the attribute. A couple with more points in it than myself.

Being the youngest doesn’t help.

I moved back and forth several times, my throat beginning to strain. The kids mirrored my tempo, advancing and retreating with each shift of my gait. After half a dozen repetitions, they had decidedly memorised my rhythm. That was where they made the mistake.

Once the opponent players grew used to my movements—and weary from the repetition—I suddenly cut my motion short and feinted to the opposite side where they had fallen back. My fingertips failed to touch anyone, but the little discordant in the tempo left their whole coordination at shamble.

Other than Priam, who remained safe in the centre, the rest faltered. I set my sights on the weakest member of the group. Diana was the youngest after me. She was frail and mostly mimicked others’ movements. Unable to keep up with the sudden change in pace, she stumbled over when my fingertips brushed her shoulder.

As she banged against a portly teammate, I tagged him too, felling two birds with one stone.

Cheers erupted from my team as I retreated, breaking the hum.

“That was so great, Arilyn!” Eran praised, patting my shoulder. I flashed a triumphant grin, gasps escaping my lips.

“The game’s ours now…” cheered the other kid.

I wiped the sweat from my forehead and sat down. My spell brought the game to even. It was all on them now.

On the other side, the little girl I had eliminated looked as if she were about to cry. It didn’t help that she was the smallest of the bunch and was always among the first two players eliminated. To make matters worse, Priam berated her for costing them a second player.

Guilt prickled under my skin as I looked away. All I could do was urge Eran to start his spell quickly, so Priam and the others would stop scolding her.

We won the round rather easily. Though they eliminated one of our members, their circle diminished to such a degree, that the last round became merely a custom where Eran walked to Priam and eliminated him.

We rotated our leader next round. The tactic didn’t work well, especially if the new leader was rash. We might have lost fewer rounds if Eran or I remained as the leader. Then it wouldn’t even be a competition. What's fun in that?

“No, you can’t lead!” Priam yelled. “It’s already 4–3. If we lose another round, we’ll lose the game.”

“But they switch leaders every round,” Diana said timidly.

“That’s because they’re winning,” Priam retorted.

“If I’m the captain, I can—”

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“You want to be the leader every day,” retorted Tullus, the chubby boy she crashed onto during the game.

“No, I don’t!”

“You do!”

“I don’t,” Diana made a fist. “The last time I led was three, no, four days ago.”

“And we lost because of you,” Tullus accused.

“We’ll lose on the very first spell if you’re the leader like the last time,” the others agreed with a crackle of laughter.

“We wouldn’t!”

“We most definitely would!”

Priam shook his head, coming forward. “If you want to become a leader,” he snorted, “why don’t you join their team instead?”

To her fault, she actually turned to us, her eyes glistening. “Can I?” she asked, her voice trembling as tears threatened to spill. “Can I join your circle? I’ll do anything you ask...”

Her plea left Eran in a tight spot. Though we rotated our leaders, he was our spiritual leader. He keeps everyone motivated and steady, and others listen to him.

“Please...” Diana pleaded.

It wasn’t simply a matter of taking another member, since her inclusion would make the team unequal.

Eran glanced around, clearly reluctant to deny her, but equally unwilling to swap anyone from our group. He seemed to hope someone would volunteer themselves. Regrettably, none wanted to join the losing team.

Ultimately, it fell to me.

Honestly, I had no desire to join the losers, either. But Mum always taught me to be gracious. It was much more so of her dedicating herself, rather than simply telling me I need to be kinder.

“Fine, I’ll swap with you,” I said, exhaling slowly.

“Really?” Diana’s eyes sparkled.

My teammates protested, but I made up my mind. My new team seemed more excited about her exclusion than my inclusion. Priam welcomed me, graciously assigning me the opening spell.

That hardly changed much. While Diana played the role of leader lead, Eran maintained everything. I eliminated two players in my three spells, but we lost the game, anyway.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, I bolted home before the others began chanting their taunts. Because it simply wasn’t enough to win; you also had to annoy those you defeated. That was the true spirit of the game.

Solas, I hope they grow up soon.

Of course, Eran didn’t join in their taunting, nor did Diana, who was simply content with her small victory.

[Congratulations! You have completed the Way of Running I (100/100)]

[Congratulations! You have awakened the attribute: Agility (Elementary).]

[+1 Agility.]

“Finally,” I muttered, stumbling mid-stride. Mum didn’t let me train actively, so it had taken me longer to complete this Way. Oddly enough, she didn’t allow me to sprint like the older kids in the mornings or evenings, but she didn’t mind me playing for hours. Weird rules adults make.

“Arilyn, wait!” Eran called, running to catch up with the blonde girl in tow. “Why do you always run home?”

“Running is fun,” I replied simply.

I understood why he was here—his house was on the same path, the closest to ours—but Diana’s home was in the centre of town. Why was she out this late?

“I heard tomorrow’s your birthday,” Eran said.

I turned to face him. “Who told you that?” I asked, suspicion creeping into my voice.

Does he want me to invite him? But there’s no celebration though... Unlike many patricians, Mum detested pandering to every little thing that was worth celebrating.

“Your ma came to get fresh eggs and milk this morning,” Eran explained. “She mentioned it to ma.”

“You’re getting a birthday cake!” Diana chirped.

Now I was excited too.

“I’ll wish you a happy birthday tomorrow,” Eran said.

“Me too!” Diana chimed in. “Me too!”

“Then I’ll thank you both tomorrow,” I chuckled.

Eran’s house was further down the road, divided by sprawling wheat fields, all owned by his family. He bid goodbye and veered onto another path, but Diana didn’t follow him.

As I neared my home, I noticed she was still trailing me. I turned to give her a curious look. The spring evenings weren’t as brief as those in winter, but it was already getting dark.

“Mum, I’m home!” I shouted upon arriving. Diana hovered at the doorstep. Finally, unable to ignore her any longer, I asked, “Aren’t you supposed to go home?”

Diana nodded urgently. “Mama asked me to invite your mama to fix the water at our inn.”

“Fix the water?” I arched my eyebrows. “I don’t think Mum does that. Wait, you mean, repair the runes in the water system?”

Diana seemed unsure but nodded anyway.

“Is the water not heating?” I asked, while heading to clean myself. “Not purifying?”

“There is no water.”

“That she can fix, probably,” I assured her. “Mum!”

She appeared instantly, wearing her apron. “Welcome back. Oh, did you bring a friend home?”

“No, she came for you.”

“Good evening,” Diana greeted quietly.

“Their inn’s water system is broken.”

“I see,” Mum said, turning to the girl. “Anything more I should know to fix?”

The little girl looked out of her depth. “I don’t know,” she admitted. “Mama asked me to bring you.”

“She let you wander alone this late?” Mum frowned. “What if you didn’t know the way? Can you even navigate back in the dark?”

Diana hesitated, finally realising how dim it had become. “I... Mama asked me to call you in the afternoon, but I went to play and forgot.”

Mum rubbed her temple and crouched to Diana’s height. “I’ll have come to fix the problem in the morning, but I can’t let you wander back alone now, can I?”

Diana looked relieved.

“I’ll go grab my gear,” Mum said, standing up. “Ari, do you want to come along?”

I considered it briefly and shook my head. Repairs might not take long, but Mum tended to dive into small talk with other women afterwards. And let me tell you, they were hardly ever small.

She prepared quickly, slinging a leather satchel over her shoulder. Before leaving with Diana, she crouched beside me. “I’ll be back soon,” she said. “Do you remember the house rules?”

“Don’t wander at night,” I recited, “and don’t let strangers in.”

She kissed my forehead and vanished down the path with the blonde little girl. I watched their figure fade into the darkness before stepping inside.

Now that I had the entire house to myself, I wondered what I should do. Then I remembered, tomorrow was my birthday! Mum probably had my gift hidden somewhere.

My eyes lit up with excitement. But before I could begin my search, someone knocked at the gate.

“Who is it?” I called, scurrying to the entrance. Then I remembered the rules and decided against opening it immediately.

“Is this Ashlyn’s house?” replied a feminine voice.

I crept to the side window to get a look at the visitors. The voice was unfamiliar, and the figures outside were strangers too. In the dim light, I made out two people: a woman and a young girl, both swathed in thick coats and carrying bags.

The younger girl noticed me peeking and moved closer to the glass window. She stared at me, opened her mouth to speak, but ultimately said nothing.

“Oh, my, are you Arilyn?” the older woman asked, her eyes lighting up as she spotted me. “You have Ash’s eyes.”

I frowned. “Mum’s not home. She’s out, working. Will be back soon. Can you wait until she returns?”

The woman smiled warmly, but the younger girl stared at me with frosty eyes.

“We certainly can. After all, we came a long way to meet you. What’s a little more waiting?”

“To meet me?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. “I thought you were here for Mum.”

“That too,” the woman said with a mysterious smile that felt so much familiar. “You may not recognise us, but we’re actually family.”

“We’re your aunts!” announced the haughty girl.