Justin looked at the glow inside of the dark bedroom, as he faced away from Adius. Out of habit, Adius recommended sleeping rather early, 9 P.M. Justin didn’t mind. He had kept trying to empty his brain of the paranoia pertaining to the scarred rabbit, and though Adius had told him to ignore it or to forget, he couldn’t shake the loose feeling that something terrible could happen. Justin had always been anxious over smaller issues, and he knew he needed to force himself to quit thinking about it. He rolled over to his left.
“Adius,” He beckoned with his voice. The rabbit stirred, a questioned noise coming from him, “How did you become a watchman?”
Adius turned, “If you need help getting to sleep...” He started.
“I don’t,” Justin insisted, “I’m just curious. I’m just... trying to think of things to go to sleep.”
Adius sighed and recalled, “Alright, well...” He hesitated, almost telling Justin to simply clear their head and sleep, but he didn’t have the strength this time of night, and let it go.
“When bucks are young... when they’re around 12 years old, we go through some training exercises, a trial, to see if we’re fit to become a watchman... you haven’t been outside around the east out edge, but there’s a wide lane set up for the test. There’s a lot of things we need to pass, and if we do pass, when we turn 18, we get the job automatically. To be honest, it’s not as luxurious as it seems; it’s... quite boring. Eight hour shifts; we walk around the perimeter of the castle... guarding... not much. At least, not anymore. There were threats, a long while ago, but they haven’t been near us in... oh, a few years it feels—of course, you came along, but... those who originally attacked us haven’t been back. That’s a whole ‘nother thing that I won’t get into.”
“Do you get paid for this work?”
“No, we don’t. It’s completely voluntary. All of us take the opportunity because we don’t have many other things to fill our days besides the usual entertainment, so we see it as sort of a way to help our community.” His voice sounded bland despite the subject, as if he didn’t want to be reminded of the repetitiveness and exhaustion of pure boredom.
“Well, what about Burian? Did he not pass?”
“To my knowledge, he didn’t pass on purpose. He didn’t want to become a watchman, and some bucks actually don’t mind working in the castle in a doe’s position.”
“I see... maybe some men think it’s more worth their time to be busy rather than stand around?”
“That’s certainly a good way to put it...”
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Not an hour more, and Adius was now asleep. Justin was thankful that he slept silently, but it gave way a non-interrupting stream of thoughts, questions that he had asked himself before, but not to this absurdity. How would he get out of here, out of this world? What lies before him; should he be worried about what could come? Why have his problems before him grew into this mountain that he felt unable to climb? It was as if Justin’s river of unanswers was being sucked out of him by a vacuum, leaving him dry. Like an empty well, even if he wanted a drink, he would not be able to get one. Closing his eyes, he could only see the inside of his eyelids, and it made him all the more restless and uncomfortable. The projector shown to him inside of his mind, showed the unknown with flashes of color.
Oden sat within the grand lounge, alone in the very early morning. The quietness was just broken by the sound of the clock on the opposite wall, ticking. Oden’s relaxation surprised even himself. He had never gotten a moment like this before in a long time, actually feeling at ease. Lying his head low with his eyes shut, something broke his peace. It appeared Lyn had had the same idea, coming to join him.
“Can’t sleep?” Lyn started.
“I was,” Oden replied in a serious, hushed tone, “You woke me up.” Even the act of breaking his state of mind made Oden upset. “I was thinking.”
Lyn smirked, “Well if you were thinking in you’re sleep,” She sat down beside him, “It’s called dreaming.”
Oden scoffed, “Well, I don’t have any dreams.”
Lyn paused, “You’ve been more hostile lately...” Lyn admitted, hearing the upset in Oden’s voice, “I know you dream of being a good watchman.”
“If I do it every day, it’s not really a dream, is it?”
Lyn’s concern was glaring, “Maybe you should relax a little, during work—stop being so... by-the-book?”
“I can’t relax during work, that’s why I’m relaxing right now! And you interrupted it! Can I at least once get some peace and quiet without someone breaking it?!” He shot up to is feet, pointing at his accuser, “I’ve done more work than any of you! And for not a ‘thank you’ or anything, especially by Grace!”
“You’ll get what you deserve! You’re a hard worker!”
“How long? Is what I’ve been doing not good enough for anyone? Bunch of... naive idlers! I’m not like you!” Oden walked strongly towards the staircase.
“Wait! I didn’t mean... Where are you going?”
“Bed!”
Lyn listened, as his feet trudged up the steps.