The village of Echwood was a small and peaceful town of humans in the midst of Life's Hollow, a large and lush forest said to be populated by many supernatural beings. Although this would be hard to prove a fact, since most people would tell you that there is no such thing. ‘Just folktales invented to help explain how the world works’ but some knew better than that. Anyhow, what anyone could tell you was a fact was that the forest was beautiful. Filled with lush green trees, teeming with wildlife, ponds of water clear enough to see the fish and other aquatic life that traveled within it. From this bountiful resource, the humans in Eckwood live. It was a relatively simple life for those who lived here, but nonetheless, it was home.

In a small oak house built close to the edge of the village, teetering into the forest, sat a boy, no more than sixteen years old who was meditating. With his gray shirt tossed to the floor in a room dimly lit by the presence of a single candle, you could see on the boys chest what appeared to be the roots of a tree, growing up and down his arms. He tightened his focus, yet loosened his body, and listened. All around him he heard them, like the wind, he tried his hardest to reach out, but his efforts seemed fruitless, he wasn't apt enough yet. Suddenly the door to the house came flying open and the gruff voice of an older man could be heard singing

I caught me a devil and the devil did say

Fortune to the one who lets go of my leg

Liars and tricksters the demons are

So I trapped em here in my whiskey jar

Suddenly the young boy got up from his study and threw his shirt over his shoulder while walking into the next room. He stared at the old man, who stood about four feet eleven inches and had a beard that was as white as a pearl necklace, and touched the man's chest. He was carrying in rough cuts of meat and other supplies when he stopped to stare back at the young boy.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

“Hey old man, don't you know how to knock?” asked the young boy.

“If you are so concerned about me knocking at my own home then maybe you should get out” the old man retorted. The two stared at each other for a few moments before the old man's cheeks grew rosie and ballooned out, trying to stifle a smile. The young boy had an ornery smirk on his face that he could hold back no longer. He grabbed the items from the old man's arms and set them down before embracing him.

“I'm glad you're home safe Grandpa” the young boy proclaimed as he held his Grandpa.

“Oh Arte, i'm so happy to see you” Artes Grandpa responded as he returned his grandson's hug.

“How did the hunting trip go? I wish you would've let me come with you” Arte asked as he looked over his Grandfather's haul.

“Well I got some meat don't I?” Grandpa asked as he let out a hearty laugh. “Besides m’boy, it's an important time for you, I bet you were practicing hard while I was gone” Grandpa said as he gently grabbed Artes shoulder.

“I have, I've felt them, heard them, and even seen a few for a fleeting moment, but I have not been able to communicate with them yet” Arte responded as he looked at his Grandfather.

“Spirits are fickle creatures, or so i've heard, you just need to give it more time” Grandpa added as he sorted through the materials he brought back with him from the hunting trip.

Arte sat and thought for a few moments about the legends, there was no doubt in his mind that he was the one. He was an incarnation of the Earth's Spirit that existed thousands of years ago. For some reason, it was time for the great defender to rise again, and this time, it wasn't some great goddess like being, it was a normal human boy. Arte had known ever since he was about five years old that he was the presumed spirit. His grandpa had told him stories of how he found him abandoned as an infant on the outskirts of Echwood, left for dead, and how he couldn't understand their motives, until he saw the crest upon his chest. His grandpa assumed that fearing the legend of the Earth's Spirit being true, they cast him aside so they wouldn't have to deal with what they figured wouldn't be a normal child. He then raised Arte as his own and ever since then they've been inseparable.

“What's wrong Arte? Whatcha thinkin bout?” Grandpa asked as he looked at Arte who was still lost in thought.

“Sometimes I wish I hadn't been born with this crest. I can't see why someone as insignificant as me was imbued with such importance” Arte mumbled.

Grandpa then hugged his grandson once more and told him “You're gonna do great things, no matter what the world has lined up for you, you’ll succeed. And no matter what, you're my grandson and I'll always be proud of ya, even if weren't related by blood.”

“Thanks Grandpa” Arte replied as he smiled and looked around at the meat his Grandfather brought home, “You go ahead and relax for a while, I start up a stew for supper.”