Bane: “Human. Human. Human. Human. Human.”

Selly: “WHAT!?”

Bane: “…where is my food?”

*sigh*

It was the middle of the night when Bane and I returned from that… curious endeavour. I had just started to take the apple-onion mush out of the pot before Bane said he didn’t want any of that.

I figured as much but still hoped that he would at least try it. I’ve never heard about snakes that ate plants but I also never heard about Bane’s species so that gave me hope that I could serve him this.

I was wrong and now he won’t stop pestering me to get him some food… in the middle of the night. I pleaded with him to just wait till after we sleep but he denied. Eventually I gave up trying, ate me apple-onion mush (which wasn’t half bad) and we went back into the forest, except this time, a little bit closer to the village. My favourite hunting spots were all too close to my bathing spot, which I really didn’t want to come anywhere close by.

 I went to one of my earliest hunting spots, back when I was just a kid and laid some traps around. Then, I climbed a tree and waited but Bane is impatient and every-so-often he would as-

Bane: “Where is my food?”

I stared at him, which is quite hard to do when he’s a snake wrapped around your neck.

Selly: “Don’t you have the ability to wait? Is that possible?”

Bane: “I’m hungry. Killing that tiger made me hungry.”

Selly: “Well, you yelling might scare away your food. So, if your quiet, maybe the food will come faster?”

Bane turned his head from the foliage bellow us to look directly in my eyes.

Bane: “Fine. I’ll stop talking.”

Selly: “No, you don’t have to stop talking. Just stop being loud, that’s it.”

Even so, we sat in silence. We waited for a bit before I decided to create some conversation.

Selly: “So, Bane. How were you able to speak all of a sudden?”

He looked at me strangely.

Bane: “What do you mean?”

Selly: “You weren’t able to speak before, but after you ate that fire… thing, you suddenly started speaking.”

He looked confused for a moment before answering – “I don’t know. It just happened I guess.”

Selly: “The same thing with the flames on your back?”

Bane: “I think it was because I ate the flame. I’m not too sure though.”

Selly: “Right, right…”

We sat in silence again. Before, I, once again, started a conversation.

Selly: “You can read my thoughts, right?”

Bane: “Yes.”

Selly: “How come I can’t read yours? Isn’t this mental connections work?”

Bane chuckled. “Maybe its because you’re not smart.”

Selly: “Funny. You’re a comedian, you know that?”

*SNAP*

From below, I heard one of my traps snap shut, interrupting our conversation.

I jumped from the tree and walked over to the trap’s location.

Inside the trap laid a bleeding, but not dead rabbit with crystal-like orange eyes. It’s leg had been badly damaged and it seemed that it was unable to move anymore. Even so, it didn’t make a noise.

Bane: “Dinner!”

I pried the trap open and put the rabbit on the ground. Bane bounced off my neck and bit the rabbit once. Like the tiger, but on a much smaller scale, black veins popped out. The eyes didn’t turn pale though, they retained that orange-crystal colour. I thought that was interesting.

Selly: “Hey, Bane. Make sure not to eat those eyes. Actually, I think I’ll take them right now.”

I walked over to the now, definitely dead rabbit and plucked the eyes out. There was nothing attached to them. In my hands, they really looked like gemstones. Maybe I could sell this…

Bane had already started to eat. He tore flesh away from the stomach and ate small chunks of meat individually, extremely strange for a snake. At this point, I stopped believing Bane was a snake. He was another type of animal that just had the body of a snake.

Bane had popped out of the corpse. “This is good. I need more.”

Selly: “You’re not even done that one! Finish that and we can go hunting tomorrow. I’m exhausted right now.”

Bane quickly ate the rest of the corpse as I reset the trap it was in, preparing it for another animal. We got lucky today, that there was a rabbit just wandering around in the middle of the night.

I started to head back after I was done. Bane nestled himself on my neck like usual. I could tell that he was quite content.

I looked up at the sky. There were a few more stars out today. The three moons shined brighter as well. It was a magnificent sight.

We walked back to the village. Most of the lights were out. The only ones on came around the chief’s house and the meeting building. That was strange. They were having a meeting at this time of the night?

Well. I guess I might as well see what’s going on.

I walked past my house, over the bridge and to the meeting building. The door was open but I just peered in through one of the windows.

Man 1: “You’re sure?”

Man 2: “Positive. Imperial soldiers were heading this way.”

Woman 1: “But why? We haven’t done anything!”

Woman 2: “It’s not for us they come. You’ve heard rumors about us Padians and the Spordians right? They say that war has been brewing for a long time now, just as it happens, we’re right on the border.”

Man 2: “So, they’re going to use our village as a military camp? What happens to us?”

Village Chief: “We’re being moved to the city.”

I heard a voice I recognized. It was the village chief.

The room stayed silent for a moment after he spoke.

Before… “You knew about them?” Man 1 said.

Village Chief: “I did, and I tried to stop them, but they threatened to attack us if we showed resistance. We aren’t considered Padian or Spordian yet.”

Woman 1: “We’ve been a part of Padia for years! What are they talking about?!”

Woman 2: “Yet, we’re the only ones that continue trade with both countries. If I were a military commander, I wouldn’t trust us either. We’re lucky that they’re sending us to the capital with some supplies and jobs. Apparently, many villages have been sent over there already.”

Man 1: “So, we just pack up and move? We don’t get a say in this?”

Village Chief: “I told you. I tried and I failed. The army was adamant in their decision of taking this village as a decisive battleground against the Spordians. A mountain and a river, a trade route would be easy to construct and complete, alongside the forest… the defensive values our village gives make it a prime target for both sides. Padia just got here first.”

Woman 1: “But what about the children! They’re being stripped from they’re homes and sent to some foreign land! What do we do about them?!”

There was silence before the village chief spoke again. “They’re to not live with us, but in the dormitories of the Imperial Magic Institute of Battle and Combat.”

Man 2: “They’re what?!”

Village Chief: “Alongside the supplies the army sent us, they would be sending our young to the Institute. Apparently, the order was given by the Queen herself. Like I said before, even though we’re just a small group of villagers, the defensive properties our village has, increases our strength. Padia doesn’t have as many soldiers as Spordia, so they worried that Spordia would capture us first using sheer numbers. They’re giving us irresistible bribes to secure this spot. This was another reason why I had to give in. Going to the Institute gives our children a great advantage in the future, even if they’re admission was due to bribing.”

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The adults started whispering amongst themselves, comprehending the information the chief had given them. I too was contemplating my future. Even in this village, so far away from the capital, we had heard rumors of the Institute.

A place where children of all ages could train their magical abilities, physical strengths and bonds between their familiars. They learned about politics, war, economics, arithmetic, geometry, the elements, essence, magic and other subjects that I only just heard of.

Supposing… saying that I went to that Academy of learning… I could become a state politician just because I had that school under my name and a number of other jobs would be completely open to me!

Yes chief! You made the right choice!

Man 1: “But still… losing our home because of the whims of the upper class… it doesn’t seem right…”

Silence took over the meeting hall again.

Bane: “Human. What are we doing here?”

Absorbed by the conversation, I forgot that Bane was still wrapped around my neck. Inside, the adults started talking, but much softer. I had to strain my ears to hear what they were saying.

Man 2: “Did you hear something?”

Woman 2: “It sounded like someone was talking.”

Village Chief: “Someone go check. We don’t want to cause panic for the villagers.”

They’re coming out?! God damnit Bane, if they find me, I’ll be in lots of trouble!

Bane: “Don’t worry, I can hide us.”

Selly: “How?!”

The doors of the meeting hall opened and I could hear footsteps walk over to the right-side of the building, where we were hiding.

Bane: “Don’t move.”

I stayed absolutely still and closed my eyes even though they could still see me. Ooh, I’m going to be in so much trouble.

I waited for a bit before I heard the footsteps walk away and move to the other side, then back to the front of the building, closing the door behind them.

I opened one eye. Bane was laughing at me, quietly.

Bane: “Haha, you closed your eyes? That’s hilarious.”

Selly: “Shut up.”

Inside the building, they continued their conversation.

Woman 1: “Did you find anyone?”

Man 1: “No, there wasn’t anyone there, I checked both sides.”

Man 2: “What about the back?”

Woman 2: “The wall at the back of the building is too thick, plus the document rooms are there. Anyone by there wouldn’t be able to hear our conversation. Either they ran away very quickly, or we were just being paranoid. Either way, we can’t do anything about it.”

Village Chief: “Sigh. Let’s hope it’s the latter. I wouldn’t want this news to spread so early. I think we should adjourn this meeting for tonight. It’s late. I’ve decided to announce this in a few days. Until then, we keep quiet about it.”

They’re leaving again? At least this time, I’m ready.

I dash backwards, careful not to make a sound and hide behind one of the nearby houses, I poked my head out, so I could see who was leaving the building.

The first person who came out was Emi’s mother, followed by her father. It makes sense that they would be in the meeting. They own a lot of land nearby and their family has a lot of money. Even if the army took over the village, they would be fine. They could also make a profit from the army just being there. Their familiars, Pama and Paidra flew beside them. They didn’t tell Emi, but her familiar is the daughter of their familiars. I wonder why they didn’t tell her though.

Following them was the magician. The magician was very smart but also very mysterious. When she first came to our village a few years back, the villagers were skeptical of her, but she proved useful by curing some illnesses and the village gradually accepted her. Sometimes she teaches the children. Her familiar was a white bat that hung from the underside of her hat.

After her came the blacksmith. A muscle man for sure. He helped the village by making various tools for farming and screws for doors. He mines the ore himself from somewhere in tall mountain. He’s a nice guy and I sometimes help him in exchange for a little bit of money. His familiar is a rocky golem. He usually just uses him to carry things.

Then the village chief came out. He scanned the area briefly, just to make sure and continued back to his hobble. I chuckled in my head. As careful as ever. His familiar was weird. It was a sentient sword that could fight by itself. I never saw him do much other than float around the chief sometimes.

I always wondered why he has a sword for a familiar.

They quickly dispersed, leaving the meeting hall empty. I gained a lot of information today. I stretched my arms and walked back home. That was interesting, but something I would have learned eventually. Nothing important now.

Bane: “We’re done now?”

Selly: “Yeah. We’re done.”

Bane: “Then we’re going to sleep now?”

Selly: “Not much we can do other than that. I mean, you could tell me how we weren’t found out.”

Bane: “Oh, I’m not sure. I just feel like I could hide.”

Selly: “So, you went off instinct? Again?”

Bane: “It worked, didn’t it?”

Selly: “…”

He was right. It did work. Twice. Maybe listening to his instincts is a good idea?

Selly: “I’ll introduce you to the rest of the village tomorrow. I can finally get back at those older kids who always made fun of me for not having a familiar.”

Bane: “I rather not. That seems like too much work.”

Selly: “All you need to do is be wrapped around my neck, like you usually do.”

Bane: “I really, rather not.”

Selly: “Fine. I’ll introduce you to only one person then? How does that sound?”

Bane: “Okay. Why not?”

We continued our conversation for a bit. I told him a bit about the village before we got back to our house and went to sleep.

---

The next morning.

Bane: “Human. Human. Human. Human. Human. Human. Human. Human.”

Selly: “WHAT?!”

Bane: “There’s a commotion outside.”

I looked out the window and saw the villagers and their familiars grouping up and moving to the outside of the village. They carried bags and other belongings with them. Wasn’t the village chief going to tell the village next week? I assumed the move would happen after he told them.

I got out of bed and quickly packed what little food I had. Apples and onions. Bane wrapped himself around my neck. The rabbit eyes were still in my pocket. I looked back at my little shack. It wasn’t much but it gave me shelter for all these years.

I left my home and closed the door behind me. I was sure that I would never come here again.

I ran and joined the line, going wherever we were going.

???: “Selly? Selly where are you?”

A familiar voice rang out, calling me by that stupid name.

Farther behind me, in the line was Emi, for sure. I pushed my way through and found Emi looking for me.

Emi: “Selly… wait. You have a snake around your neck. Is that your familiar?”

Selly: “Yeah, it is. Also, can you tell me what’s going on?”

Emi looked down. “Apparently, we’re being moved to the city. I don’t want to go to the city! I liked it here, in Sapline…”

Selly: “So we really are moving…”

Emi: “You knew?”

Pamila chirped inquisitively.

Selly: “Yeah, I knew. I heard the adults talking about it yesterday at night. Didn’t think it would happen so soon.”

Emi: “The village chief was arguing with the soldiers about that. He asked them to give us more time. They said they couldn’t spare any. Now we’re here.”

Selly: “It’s not so bad, is it? I mean, the perks that come with mov-“

Emi: “What perks? All we were told was that we were moving to the city. That’s it.”

Selly: “Did that soldiers say that?!”

Emi: “No.., it was the chief. Why would you ask that? Do you know something?”

I considered my options. I could either lie, which I have no reason to, or I could tell the truth, which I didn’t need to do. So, I did neither.

Selly: “I do know a bit more, but not much. If the village chief decided to keep quiet about it, then I he must have a good reason. You know how much I know him, right?”

Emi: “Still! Why can’t you tell me? Even if the chief has a reason to not tell the village, why not just me?”

She reasoned well. I didn’t need to tell her, but there was no dire situation that prevented me from sharing this information. I know she won’t tell anyone else.

Selly: “Ok fine. Apparently, the army had sent us supplies to help support our village in the city. Along with that, the King himself gave an order, allowing the children acceptance into the Institute.”

Emi looked around nervously. Even she can get serious at times.

Emi: “Really?”

Selly: “Yeah, I heard them discuss it last night.”

Emi looked off in the distance, obviously thinking about something.

Emi: “That’s really amazing!”

Selly: “I know. When I heard it, I was extremely excited myself.”

Emi: “I can’t believe it. We’re going to the Institute. Both of us!”

Selly: “Hey, I only heard it from the village chief, and he only heard it from the military. I wouldn’t be surprised if they lied about that just to get us out of the village. Once we’re out, we can’t do anything much anyway.”

Emi looked down, hey enthusiasm quickly put out.

Emi: “Right… can’t get too excited or I’ll get more hurt…”

I looked at her solemn face. Argh.

Selly: “Buttt, I’m sure they wouldn’t lie. Even if we are just a small village. We have about 500 people in population. We could definitely spread some rumors that would sully the military, and even the King’s good name. Double-crossing us would be difficult.”

Emi perked up after hearing my words. She smiled a small smile.

Emi: “Thanks, Selly. I know you’re just saying that to make me feel better, but its fine. I’m fifteen now. I’m old enough to marry. I can handle myself.”

Damn, she really knows me well.

Bane: “Human. Maybe we should start walking. I can see the end of the group.”

Emi: “Did your snake just talk?!”

Pamila squawked in surprise.

Selly: “Oh, yeah, long story. I’ll tell you when we get closer to the front of the line. Being at the end weirds me out.”

I grabbed her hand and we made our way through the crowds. I didn’t notice the blush on her face.

Once we had reached near the front of the masse, she shook my hand off.

Emi: “You didn’t need to hold me hand for so long! Geez, no sense of privacy.”

Selly: “That was so we didn’t get separated! Did I hold your hand to hard?”

Emi: “No… its fine.”

Slowly, without our conversation, I started to pay attention to my surroundings.

The villagers weren’t silent. They were clearly voicing their thoughts. Some were scared, others were curious, but I wasn’t really focused on them.

Past the mass of people, I could see military soldiers, knights and magicians setting up defenses and doing other activities in and around our homes.

Only a small amount of us noticed this though. Those of us that did really couldn’t do anything about it either way. It did feel weird having our homes violated and repurposed, we all knew it was for a good cause. At least we tried to convince ourselves that it was.

Emi pointed near the front of the crowd and whispered to me, “Selly, look.”

I looked at where she was pointing, there we could see many carriages, carts and wagons. The villagers at the front were all ready placing their belongings in the carts while some started to seat themselves in them.

The group moved along slowly, probably due to the disorder but when it was our turn, we saw the village chief.

Chief: “Setrialon… Emi? What are you doing here? Aren’t you travelling with you parents?”

Selly: “Chief.”

Emi: “No, being with Selly is much more fun!”

The chief shook his head.

Chief: “Fine. Put your belongings in any of the carts. Then, choose one to ride. Make sure you pick the right cart. A lot of them are uncomfortable and its going to be a long ride.”

Selly: “Got it Chief.”

Emi: “Ok!”

The chief briefly looked at the snake around my neck before going back to conversing with us.

Chief: “You kids stay safe alright? You have to take care of each other. Okay?”

Emi: “Don’t worry! I’ll protect Selly!”

Selly: “I have my own familiar now…”

Emi: “Doesn’t matter!”

Chief: “Haha, get on now you rascals!”

The chief patted me back and pushed me towards one of the carts. Me and Emi picked a comfortable-looking one and sat down.

By the time the line was almost cleared, it was almost dawn. Luckily for us, our cart only had the two of us in it, leaving us with lots of room. A bit of time passed before the sun started to go down and soon, the carts started to move by themselves, using magic.

Emi had already gone to sleep, and I figured that I should do the same. I grabbed my bag of apples and onions and rested my head on it and slowly closed my eyes, Yawning. Fatigue forcing my consciousness to disappear.

Selly: “Goodnight, Bane. Keep watch for me?”

Bane nodded. With the knowledge that Bane was watching, I fully closed my eyes, resigning to exhaustion and falling asleep.