The world lost a part fundamental to its very existence. Colors were less vibrant, the usual busy chorus of the day was muffled, and scents blended together into a mash of nothingness. Everything had blended into the background to the point that Mareus had gained more than a few bruises on his way home from walking into or tripping over several posts and crates.

He stopped at the open doorway of the lifeless building that was his home. It was small enough that he could stare a hole into the back wall from the door, taking in everything except for the kitchen and bedrooms on either side. Not that he would want to see them yet.

This was his first time here in more than two weeks because Elder Wei and Mai both insisted that he stay with them during the Celebration of Life. Maybe it was because of his time away, but now it felt like a stranger’s home more than the one he had grown up in.

The background made of everyday items was replaced with a distorted space where the most mundane things stood out. They carried an air of familiarity while feeling a little bit off. A basket of random trinkets looked out of place in it’s corner. Scrolls of varying styles took up too much space on a shelf. His favorite blanket that was neatly folded on a chair was nothing more than patterned cotton.

Mareus whispered to himself. “I’m home.”

He waited longer than he knew he needed to, praying that everything was just a vivid dream. He hoped that she had secretly ran off somewhere under the guise of going on a longer hunt. Perhaps she would eventually return to step around the corner and nag him for leaving the door open.

Even the wind was silent today.

“I’m going out.”

Without taking a step inside Mareus turned around, making sure to shut the door behind him.

Mareus drifted between buildings not knowing where he was going except that he wanted to avoid the places that were likely to have people. He was almost spotted by a farmer who happened to turn down a different path before looking his way. Then by someone hanging their laundry, only for the wind to pick up and smack them in the face with a cloth. Finally he reached the other end of the village, his home was now nothing more that an out of focus blot atop the distant cliff.

Before him was the wide open plains with grass twice as tall as him that separated the village from the Shou forest. The yellowed blade’s swaying beckoned him to disappear into their embrace.

His foot shuffled closer to the bounds of the village.

“It’s not as far as you’d think.”

Mareus looked back to see a somber Wei Ganju.

“The forest I mean. It may look a world away, but in reality you’d be at the tree line within a hour’s trek.”

He watched his elder brother’s stone face.

“It’s strange how people can laugh and smile so close to multiple unimaginable dangers.” He crouched down and directed Mareus. “Over there is a nest of rodents that will eat anything. Behind that hill is a serpent’s den that took the life of my senior uncle. And way out there.” He pointed to the opposite side from where they stood. “About half a hour’s journey through the trees, is the king of the forest. I’ve never seen it of course, but I’ve heard rumors about it being some bull with a giant dark head and short horns.”

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

“Why are you telling me this?”

“I just thought I’d tell you the places to avoid. If you plan on leaving that is.”

Mareus didn’t think about leaving, he would have prepared better if he did. Looking at his feet, he thought about how the frayed wraps were almost too small for him again. It wouldn’t be long before he wore through them and would have to walk barefoot through the wilderness.

“I’m… not sure.”

Ganju patted him on the back as he stood. “Come with me.”

He started walking towards the back of the watch tower. Which was strange because the ladder was on the front side. Mareus watched as the grown man disappeared behind a pillar. He waited. But, Ganju never emerged on the other end.

Mareus jogged after him only to find him waiting in a small crack in the mountain. Without a word the two made their way through twisting tunnels, up for hundreds of meters, and back down another hundred or so. They emerged onto a ledge overlooking fields that stretched to the horizon in every direction.

Ganju spoke once he found a flat rock to sit on. “I was sixteen when Master found you.”

Mareus stopped scanning the view without taking his eyes away. Both Ganju’s words and their meaning reverberated through him.

“Back then, there were a few small caravans that were willing to make the journey to the middle of nowhere.” His tone pitched up. “Apparently, the things made in Sen’Shi sell for a good price in the big cities. Something about being more exotic but still more refined than the goods made by nomads. Not good enough for a permanent trading route though.” A hint of grief returned to his voice.

Mareus sat on the edge and listened. He knew where this was going. But, he didn’t really listen to the elder the first time. It felt better hearing this from someone he saw as family, someone close to both him and his grandmother.

“You see that skinny tree all by itself towards the left. That’s where we found you. I mean Master was the one to actually do it. But I was part of the squad that went to investigate. It was my first expedition out of the village and…”

Mareus cut him off. “How did she find me?”

Ganju had a sour look on his face. He leaned forward, both of them keeping their eyes on the tree as if it would sprout legs and run off.

“There were tracks and signs of a Shou rampaging through the caravan, it didn’t make sense. They don’t behave like that. The ones that live here are children and are almost always cowardly. Depending on the type, they would rather pick off stragglers or steal unprotected supplies. This one… it destroyed everything.”

He paused for a long time, fidgeting in place, struggling to find the words. It was clear to Mareus that Ganju didn’t know if he should mention the next part.

“The people… were in pieces. Everyone except a couple we guessed were a few years older than I was at the time. Their… condition… made it hard to tell.”

He watched Mareus for any sign that this was too much. Who wasn’t stoic about the story, more like there was a vast distance between him and what happened.

Since there were no protest he continued, “Master found you cradled between them. I thought she was going to break down while giving the order to prepare graves for everyone. She wouldn’t let that happen on a mission though, her position prevented her from giving in to those impulses.”

Ganju picked up a rock about half the size of a newborn and began cradling it. If it wasn’t for his gaze Mareus would have thought he did it without thinking.

“You were swaddled in old rags that made it impossible to tell what kind of state you were in, but when she grabbed at you, your parent’s arms went limp.” He chuckled as he held the rock up to the light. “Looking back on it now, I think they could tell you would be safe if they gave you to her.”

He kept pausing between almost every line, recalling the exact memories burned in his mind. This one giving him a more bitter sweet expression than before.

“You let out the weakest cry, but it was enough, you survived. The silence broke and it was the first time any of us had seen Master cry. You were the littlest thing when she hugged you.” Ganju pulled his stone baby close to imitate the elder.

Mareus looked back from his seat on the ledge with tears streaming down from his face. They were warm tears that sank into the creases of his restrained smile. Mareus fell into his adoptive brother’s arms and squeezed as tight as a child could, not letting up until the sun finished setting.

He rubbed his eyes. “I’d like to go home now.”

By the time they got to the door Mareus was already falling asleep on Ganju’s back. That night he had his best sleep in weeks.