The sun, a traveller of the cosmos, was nearing its western edge of unbirth. Shadows kept lengthening in the lush vale. Among the opaque shades, a small

boy was playing. His friend, also a magician, was accompanying him. His guardian, I, was keeping a close eye on the wondrous child. While watching him, some

peculiar details caught my eye. Unlike three weeks ago, the consistency with which he could successfully employ sorceries was notable. I was certain now

that if he began the process of casting Fas Bü, I would definitely witness the swift growth of a new sapling. Each dryadic effort of his shook me to my

core, and forced me to look inward. Fire had been at my side when I choose to take Farriz under my wing. A catalyst of change, the flames set in motion

the mechanisms of freedom by which the little sorcerer could truly live as himself. On the other hand, I had forgotten to consider the evident: Fire burns.

With careful handling it could very well serve as a method of cleansing the obsolete underbrush, creating a fresh environment for new trees to grow. Without

this variable of caution however, the ruthless termination of an entire forest was entirely possible. Had I, in my careless rage, singed the roots of this

new life, this blooming boy? Or had I offered him a new, more hopeful road on which he could tread on? Even if the latter was closer to the truth, the path

that I was currently taking him through was laying right no top of an active battlefield.

Indeed, he was condemned to live a scarred life either way. It was up to me to determine the severity of the wounds he would inevitably receive on each

track that was offered to us.

"Swimming in deep thoughts again, eh?" my brother swatted away my perpetually darkening thoughts. "You needn't do so. Just look at Farriz! Look at how far

he has come."

"I know, it is impressive for him." I turned to face Nacian. He was wearing a plain shirt and his usual confident demeanor. His white beard was contrasting

the black tunic nicely. The red band which I had gotten used to seeing on his forehead wasn't on there. I figured that he had finished everything he planned

to do before coming to see me. Seeing my contemplative countenance he said:

"Why the glum face? Did a rat chew on your ears this morning?"

"Sure" I replied. Even while I was in this sorrowful state my brother's unashamed grin gave me a slight dose of joy. "Your jokes are terrible."

"I know!" he enthusiastically responded while pointing upwards with his finger. I chuckled faintly, and moved my gaze towards my grandson. "Oh come on,

what's bothering you?" Nacian asked. "What's wrong?"

I took a deep breath and sighed. It felt as if a corroding mist had retired itself from my lungs. With great shame in my soul I stared at the ground

beneath my feet.

"You're not thinking about the boy, are you?"

"I am." Upon hearing this, he slowly sat down next to me. I understood his compassion perfectly from his movements.

"Her home was quite violent and prohibitive, was it not?" he asked. "It is quite likely that you have saved him from a terrible fate."

"At this point, I don't even know." My grandson's laughter echoed in the background. "With us, she gets hunted down. With us, she has to endure traumatic

events she has never had to before. If I didn't bring him with me, maybe he would've been happier."

"You've told me about his parents before. His father is a raging beast, and her mother insults him with reckless abandon." A sense of warmth spread within

me thanks to his brotherly empathy. "On especially abhorrent nights, he would witness his father beat his mother senselessly, is that true?"

"My biological son was too scared of me to do anything while I was around, but Farriz has talked about such occurrences with me." I got in a word before he

was able to say anything back. "Even if these are true, his life is in much more danger than before. You can't deny that. If Hearrain didn't get us out of

that situation yesterday, we would be red stains on the ground beneath the feet of that beast."

"Do you think that he would live?" he asked softly. The words were not lacking in conviction.

"I just told you that he would."

"Not live as in keep breathing, but as in live!" He paused to look at me. With a single glance, he had calmed the storm of thoughts in my head. "They would

certainly see him as a girl, and you know what those kinds of people think of women. How our father thought of you." Another face of sympathy and

understanding. He had always been at my side, and so no one else could give me as much comfort on this moment as him. Despite my previous interruption of

his reply, he patiently waited for me to say something.

"I couldn't let him serve his sorry parents for years," I began, "and then be married off to some brute." As my brother, Nacian knew exactly what to say

when consoling me. With his counsel my guilt, like the black mist of my lungs, was dissipating.

"At least with us, he has a chance of becoming something greater." We both turned our heads to stare at the two children not too far away. Weaving small

spells around each other, exhibiting new magical things they had learned, playing innocently, the sight of their joy and lively mannerisms was a true marvel

to behold. "Our parents never even sent you to school" my brother said. "He is one of the most inquisitive souls I've met. You know how adamant he is about

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

learning."

"I couldn't tear him away from his book to save my life." My voice was starting to regain some firmness. "Never in my life will I be able to conjure up

enough will to impede his progress."

"Imagine his father telling him that he couldn't go to school because he's a girl." One final time, he turned his head towards me. On his face was the

unyielding expression that he would look at me with when he was sure I was going to become convinced. Throughout the years he had perfected this technique

on me.

"They were those types of people" I said while sighing. Finally, with my sibling's aid, I was able to reach some certainty of purpose. "Har ano nesó,

oachall mana innaçnu geöchdinen aok-muástla oleithm" I said.

"Cisnintle." He sedately got up from the ground. "Yiame héirdh. Farriz'd yiame másbla çlaorighotgan."

"Wait, you don't have your band. I thought you hadn't done anything today." Crossing my arms together I jokingly remarked: "Is the chief cook getting lazy?"

"Not remotely" he said as he smirked. "Hearrain phased out most of my wife's statues, and just to be safe I made her store the band as well."

"I see. We'll meet again at the table" I said. He nodded approvingly, and walked away to attend his business.

The cosmic traveler had sunk halfway beneath the horizon, and the darkness was rising from the other side of the earth. Underneath many objects, the shade

had begun to fade away. Before calling his name, I examined Farriz one last time. The boy who once seemed like the bearer of a curse that I had brought upon

him, now portrayed himself as the thriving vessel of love to me. I drew breath.

"Farriz! Dinner is ready!" He shifted his focus onto me. "Okay, I'm coming!" he said. As he explained the situation to Eirrír, I wondered what he would

choose to do after becoming old enough to make decisions of his own. Just like the circadian decease endured by the nearest star, death was also due for me.

After my inevitable demise, would he try to live a life relatively free of tumult? Or would he stoically pursue the betterment of this world? To me, it

didn't matter. My only duty was to ensure his happiness, and the full realization of the potential that he carried within himself. Until my body was nothing

but food for the worms, I would relentlessly pursue this goal.

Until death.

Yet again, we were treading the paths of the grassy plains. A cold wind was ambling close to the ground, and the grey clouds had nearly obscured the entire

sun. Rain would lend its blessing to the dirt soon enough. A new day had brought with it the tonic breeze of the third season. With Farriz at my side, I was

walking with the crowd towards a particularly verdant cavern. As described by Hearrain's husband Saozade, this cave wash lush with not only plant life but

with magic as well. Slipping through cracks on the walls were brilliant auroras, which were continuously consecrating the soil nearby. Through this process,

via sichochtal energy, the nearby vegetation had thrived. Not only was this place a perfect place to renew supplies (Thanks to Günnuaç's abilities), it was

also the provider of a great opportunity for Farriz. In an environment where rapid cultivation was possible, Farriz could learn a lot about his specific

branch of sorcery.

"I love you" a boy said to me. His mien was jubilant and agitated, like always. A priceless smile was stretched across his face.

"Hmm? I love you too my boy, but why have you said this to me now?" Pure, juvenile eyes peered at me with adoration. Farriz shrugged. "I love you" he said,

and didn't even hesitate slightly while he leaned on to me. Little arms wrapped themselves around my stomach, forcing me to stop. I did not to try to get

him off of me, and instead caressed him for a short while. Eventually the moving people forced us to go on, but that brief moment would remain in my mind as

a fond memory that enlivened our burdensome journey.

As we kept travelling further north-eastward, we started encountering stranger and stranger fauna on our way. Quite a few plants we saw had mutated into

weird shapes and sizes as a result of the magical infestation emanating from the cave. Even the trees weren't able to avert this fate that was sealed onto

them. Among those that had undergone change, some of them had shed their newly gained crystal leaves. Some flowers had received the gift of cinder, they

were occupied with creating a poetic visual in which their petals were burning endlessly. To me, the oddest of these bewitching beings were the eel-grasses.

We were almost at the hideout when I spotted a bunch of them, moving around smoothly with their bodies which were affixed to the ground. Much to my absolute

bewilderment, they hissed at me. They weren't just stationary plants anymore, but rather had turned into active animal-greenery hybrids. Another memory,

another thing to remember. This experience marked our entrance to the magnificent hall of alterations.

Tucked away within the corners of a small canyon, there was a cave whose mouth was covered by a quaint waterfall. A river ran from the entrance towards the

other end of the ravine. Plunging oneself into the depths was not necessary to witness the hauntingly beautiful lights escaping from inside. With my

grandson in tow I went to talk with Hearrain, who was standing right in front of the outpouring of water. She noticed us long before we were even remotely

near her.

"Are you two alright?" she asked. "Did you two notice anything that might be dangerous while coming here?"

"I certainly did not. What about you, Farriz?" I asked the child. His mind had wandered elsewhere, but he quickly caught up and answered the question.

"No. I only saw cute eels."

The woman only responded with a simple "good"; it was obvious that she was planning something. "I'm thinking of using this place to our advantage. The

people couldn't prepare for the journey, so our food will run out before we reach the next city even if we use what we have conservatively. We need to grow

something in there."

"I'm back!" shouted a younger woman from inside the cave. A bright ball, the product of Inse Solnağı, was floating above the ground next to her shoulder. It

was Günnuaç. "It's quite expansive in here, we could make lots of fruits very quickly. I can transform them to include proteins and other important things

as well."

"That is great news!" Hearrain said back to the woman. "You should rest now, we will set up camp here. You have a lot of work to do in a few hours."

"Can you teach me how to grow things other than trees?" Farriz asked the dryad who was exiting the cavern. Out of clumsiness, she stepped a bit too far left

while she was leaving, and a small tuft of her brown hair got soaked with water.

"Sorry, I can't. I'm too tired now, and I'll be way too busy soon." The boy didn't seem to be thrilled, but I knew that he was considerate enough not to

object. He responded with a subdued "Okay."

"Maybe I can teach you, little one" I suggested. With eyes that resembled the surface of a moonlit lake, he impatiently turned towards me. I was ready for the

hug, but not for an ear-piercing shriek of victory.

"BEST!"