3
Milestone I
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Near the outskirts of the town, close to the school building, stood a gymnasium. It wasn’t large as there weren’t that many students here. But it showed signs of being used regularly.
And one of the reasons were the young people. Compared to larger cities this place was really lacking in entertainment, in turn, however, most young people formed a tight-knit group. And today the young adults had gathered inside.
The smell of sweat pervaded the air as the black-haired youth entered. As Alduin rejoiced as he looked inside, “Ohh, you’re having a competition?”
Four heads turned in surprise. “Alduin?” A youthful voice asked back.
“Hmm, who is winning?” Alduin walked faster as he left Veleda and Frieda near the entrance.
One of the ways they found that easily relieved boredom, was having strength competitions. In actuality, they just wrestled to see who was stronger. Sometimes incorporating martial arts techniques but most were pinning each other down.
“Of course it’s me,” A blond-haired young man haughtily said.
“Yeah yeah, you’re lucky that I’m not joining Leon,” Alduin replied.
“We can go now if you want,” Leon quipped back
Veleda who saw her joyful day with Alduin disappear in front of her eyes suddenly interjected with a panicking voice, “Alduin, you should wash up first!”
“Hm, oh right.” Alduin smelled himself.
“You’re scared right?” Leon replied laughingly
Veleda looked towards her side in fear. But Frieda was as helpless as she was. Both could only watch on as the two locked their arms around each other.
“Fuck man, you smell like shit!” Leon suddenly yelled out.
“W-What?” Alduin who had gotten used to this smell suddenly panicked as he looked back, but Veleda could only look away before nodding slightly.
‘I thought it was only Edward.’ Alduin felt regretful before looking toward Leon. ‘I probably wouldn’t have won today anyways,’ Alduin thought as exhaustion made his muscles numb, but still, seeing Leon trying to escape his grip, he suddenly smiled.
“Well, now you smell like shit as well.” Alduin suddenly started rubbing his clothes all over Leon before falling down laughing.
After a short while, Alduin stood up and smiled at the people gathered here, before he peeked towards Veleda. Alduin proudly proclaimed, “Well, you’re lucky I already have plans today. But if you want to challenge the champion then I’m always open.”
“Fine fine, just go away,” Leon grumbled as he started smelling his own clothes.
“See you later, Frieda, Erika.” Veleda who heard this blushed faintly as she walked towards Alduin.
“Well, get stronger quickly guys, see ya.” Alduin and Veleda left almost as quickly as they arrived.
Leon in turn sniffed his clothes again before asking, “Do I smell as well?”
“D-don’t shove it in my nose!” Frieda started coughing from the scent of sweat and dirt mixed together.
Erika and her brother started laughing, while Leon’s younger brother looked towards the doorway where Alduin had just left.
The sun was already coming down. The days were getting shorter and the wind started carrying a tinge of coldness.
“I’m home,” Alduin unenthusiastically said.
Alduin and Veleda entered a house that was average in every regard. Well, if there was something noteworthy then it was its age. The same as with every other house in this town. But as average as the outside was, the interior had a modern feel to it. As if his parents still wanted to feel as if they lived in the big city.
As Alduin entered the living room his mother said from the open kitchen, “Oh, Veleda is here as well?”
“Sorry for intruding,” a gentle voice replied.
“Don’t be, you’re home here as well aren’t you,” Alduin’s mother, Lydia, gently replied before continuing, “Do you want to eat dinner with us?”
“I can’t today, but maybe next time.” Veleda and Lydia quickly struck up a conversation.
‘Well, that was fast.’ Alduin who stood to the side smiled slightly.
“I’m going up to take a shower, I’ll be right back,” Alduin said.
As Alduin took a shower, Veleda and his mother talked about many things. Lydia was a doctor back when they lived in the city around 7 years ago. Naturally, as an aspiring doctor, Veleda quite looked up to Lydia.
In fact, Alduin’s father was an engineer. Both had exceptionally good careers. Which is to say it was odd that they both moved to the outskirts where their career could no longer progress.
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By the time Alduin came downstairs Lydia had just finished up a phone call and was visibly excited.
“Your brother called!” Lydia said with joy. “He’s asking us to come over tomorrow.” Lydia started calling Alduin’s father before he could reply.
Alduin stood in contemplating silence. While he tried to mask his expression, some sense of being uncomfortable couldn’t help but be shown.
“Can you walk me home?” Veleda pinched Alduin's sides, she had quickly noticed it. Even compared to his parents, Veleda pretty much knew most when it came to Alduin.
“Sure,” Alduin replied after a pause
“Aunt Lydia, we’re going home, see you later!” Veleda said to the excited Lydia.
“Oh already? See you soon Veleda.” Normally she would have urged her to stay longer, but given the situation, this was to be expected.
***
The next morning Alduin lay in his bed with overwhelming muscle pain. ‘Fuck, I even took a cold shower last night.’
As he slowly got out of bed and started stretching he couldn’t help but think about last night, after walking Veleda home he found it hard to focus as his mind continuously wandered.
‘I hope they didn’t notice,’ Alduin thought. During dinner he had tried to hide how his arms were almost limply hanging down. His parents were overprotective when it came to him. To the point of it being uncomfortable. But thinking about it again, they probably didn’t know given his brother's invitation.
[today we’ll be talking about the increase in-]
‘God, first thing in the morning, who cares about that.’ Alduin reflexively turned off the radio alarm.
Every day at 8:00 am his radio turned on, he liked this more compared to an alarm clock. But lately, the same topic came up over and over again. He had heard it so much that he couldn’t care anymore.
As his mind regained its clarity he couldn’t help but curse his stiff muscles as he went to take another shower.
“We’re going to leave at any moment now!” his mother called from downstairs, and by the time he was completely dressed his parents were already waiting.
‘Last minute phone call and he even invited me. The world must be ending or something.’ another sigh escaped his lips.
Slowly but surely they left for the city.
‘Guess I won’t see her today.’ Alduin looked towards the small museum that stood near the entrance of town. ‘A town with an archaeological site. Probably why this place isn’t deserted yet.’
It was a common consensus that tourism was the lifeline of this town. A pagan shrine not far away from a medieval village. Veleda’s parents were both archaeologists. Due to this, the museum was the most modern building in the entire town.
The car started speeding up on a road surrounded by a thick forest as the museum gradually left his sight. Shortly after only the orange hues of autumn leaves were visible.
[It truly is an amazing milestone. Last decade it became a common consensus that a population collapse would be happening. Yet near the end of the 1920’s we saw the opposite. Even with several humanitarian crises, the rate of-]
The same old news could be heard on the radio. One topic to rule them all. The repetitiveness was annoying, but more than that, for some reason, a strange and yet familiar sense of unease overwhelmed him every time he heard this news.
In response to this unease, he pulled out his earbuds and phone to put on music.
[Have fun, see you soon x]
A new message caught his eyes and a smile formed on his lips. 'She sure woke up early today.'
Now it was just hoping this day would pass soon. Knowing the ride ahead he gradually closed his eyes again.
***
At around 9:30 they finally reached the city. For a Sunday there was more traffic than expected but they still made it on time.
“We’re almost there, you can rest a bit longer,” his father spoke to him as he finally woke up.
“No, I’m fine,” Alduin replied as he started looking around. The surroundings were nostalgic. Although much had changed since their move 7 years ago, in the end, everything was still the same as he remembered.
“It’s been a while since we last came here, is there somewhere you want to go?” Lydia asked.
“Not really, but I ordered something so I’ll have to pick it up later,” Alduin absentmindedly replied.
It was always the same, around this point his parents would be overly worried for him. It’s not like he was anxious, his intuition was just overly pronounced, and as a kid, the danger of crowded places was hard to get used to. However that was years ago now, but if it was up to him he would still prefer to stay home.
“This road really hasn’t changed,” Alduin’s father, Lucas, remarked as they were getting close to their old familial home.
“You always say that Dear.” Lydia was also in a joyous mood.
The only person who felt a sense of distance was Alduin, although he didn’t show it.
“Mom, did you send a text?” Alduin asked.
“They should know we’ll arrive by now,” Lydia replied.
And sure, the moment they reached the driveway two figures walked outside. An elegant, black-haired woman and his brother, Egan. He quite resembled Alduin, albeit being slightly taller with a more willowy build. Their black hair and brown eyes made them resemble each other quite well.
After getting out he was immediately approached by the woman, Alessia, 26 years old. Her energetic voice called out to him, “It’s been a while!"
“It really has been,” he replied with a smile.
“How are you doing?”
“Fine, and you?”
“Fine, how’s your girlfriend doing?” she interrogated.
While opening the trunk Alduin almost hit his head, the unexpected attack made him flinch. “Uh- oh- uhm.”
“If you meant Veleda then I must disappoint you but she’s not my girlfriend yet,” a rattled voice replied softly before a small strained smile appeared. Not even a single minute has passed and she already managed to throw him off guard.
“Yet? She’s not your girlfriend yet? Oh, then we’re both disappointed.” A sad expression seemed to mock his situation.
“Well, unlike others I don’t rush into these things.” Alduin seemed to hit a nerve with his smirk.
“If you love someone you shouldn’t wait for years,” Alessia fired back.
“L- love. Well...” Alduin panicked slightly. “Well, maybe there’s better news next time we meet.” Seemingly shooting himself in the foot, he mockingly laughed at himself before sighing.
“Oh, I-” But the awkwardness came from Alessia. “Jeez. Giving up so soon, you’re no fun. I used to be able to get such a reaction out of you.”
Looking up at Alessia he suddenly realized something. No, It was more like intuition. As Alessia tried to pick something from the trunk, Alduin stopped her.
“It’s alright, I’ll take care of it.” Alduin picked up a box of vegetables and large pumpkins they brought with them.
"Oh." Staring at Alduin she smiled and said, “Aren’t you a gentleman.” Alessia stepped aside and pushed the loose strands of her tied-up hair behind her ears.
"Well I am quite strong,” Alduin confidently replied. Alduin rolled up his sleeves and picked up the box as he grinned at Alessia.
“Oh my, your strength is impressive, even your brother would-” Alessia inspected Alduin. “No wait, you actually might-”
Her teasing expression was replaced as shock spread over her face. “What have you been doing? and that’s a scar, isn’t it? Has it been that long? You grew before I even noticed it-”
Egan called Alessia over as she smiled regretfully at the now-grown young man. “Well, I bought those snacks and drinks you like,” Alessia whispered before turning around “I’m glad you came.”
With a beaming smile, she walked towards Egan, before entering their home with his parents.
‘It really seems like we’ll hit that milestone soon doesn’t it?’ An unknown emotion filled him as he closed the trunk and followed his family inside.