Four years earlier…
The sun bore down relentlessly on Eldric as he and his father worked the field. Heat shimmered off the dry earth, and not a single cloud offered respite in the wide, endless sky. Sweat trickled down Eldric’s face as he paused, leaning heavily on the hoe in his hands. His arms ached from the day’s labor, the dull throb a reminder of the hours they had spent under the blazing sun. He let out a deep breath, glancing upward.
It would be nice if there were a breeze to cool us off, he thought wistfully, wiping the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand.
The two of them were planting potatoes, a vital crop for the village—especially during the long winter months when the fields lay barren. Eldric shifted his gaze forward, watching his father. Alaric was a few paces ahead, methodically working his hoe into the parched soil, turning it over to prepare it for seeding. Beads of sweat rolled down his weathered face, glistening in the sunlight. He wiped his brow with the dirt-streaked sleeve of his once-white shirt, leaving a darker smear in its wake.
Eldric glanced down at his own clothes. His shirt and pants were just as filthy, caked with soil from hours of labor. Taking a deep breath, he tightened his grip on the hoe and resumed working the earth, the steady rhythm of their task broken only by the occasional scrape of metal on stone.
It wasn’t long before a pair of figures appeared on a nearby path, catching Eldric’s attention. A tall, slender woman walked with a young girl beside her. The woman’s bright red hair caught the sunlight, gleaming like fire against her pale skin. She wore simple clothing—a plain white button-down shirt tucked into a full-length black skirt.
As they drew closer, Eldric recognized her. Amara Lightspire, his mother’s closest friend, was the village’s only doctor and a familiar presence in his life. His father had once told him that Amara had been the one to introduce him to his mother.
Eldric’s gaze shifted to the girl walking beside her. She was unfamiliar, her red hair marking her as likely Amara’s daughter. Noticing his stare, the girl darted behind Amara’s skirt, peeking out only briefly before disappearing again. Her timidness brought a faint smile to Eldric’s face.
Alaric paused his work and straightened, resting his hoe against his shoulder. “Good afternoon, Amara,” he called out, his deep voice carrying easily over the quiet field.
“Heading over to see Selene?” Alaric asked, squinting against the sunlight as he reached down to pick up a bota bag from the ground.
“Yes, we’re going to start on dinner,” Amara replied, shielding her eyes with her hand to block the glare.
“What about your husband? Will he be joining us this evening?” Alaric inquired, tilting the bag to take a deep gulp of water.
“Shaun will catch up later, once he finishes at the water mill,” Amara said, her voice tinged with a faint note of worry. “The drought has really hurt this year’s harvest—there’s not nearly as much grain for him to grind. But he shouldn’t be too late.”
Alaric wiped his brow with the back of his hand, nodding. “Can you let Selene know we’ll be on our way soon? Just need to finish planting these seeds.”
“Sure thing,” Amara said with a wave of acknowledgment. She turned, and with a gentle nudge, encouraged the shy girl at her side to keep moving. Together, they started up the hill, the wind tugging at their skirts as they walked away.
Eldric’s eyes lingered on the girl, confusion flickering across his face. He didn’t recognize her. As far as he knew, he’d met all the children in the village.
“Dad,” he asked, holding out his hand for the bota bag, “who was that girl?”
Alaric handed him the bag and glanced toward the retreating figures. “Her name is Fiora. She’s Amara’s daughter. She’s been sick since birth, too weak to leave the house until recently. Amara only just found a way to cure her.”
Eldric took a sip from the bag, his curiosity growing as Alaric crouched down to look him in the eye. His father’s expression turned serious.
“I want you to be nice to her,” Alaric said firmly. “From what I’ve heard, she’s a sweet girl. You should try to make friends with her. You spend too much time isolating yourself from the other kids.”
Eldric frowned. “It’s because none of them like me,” he muttered, his voice tinged with frustration.
Alaric sighed deeply, straightening as he turned toward home. “Come on, Eldric. Let’s head up. We’ll finish with the potatoes later. Just… try to be nice, all right?”
“Okay, I’ll try,” Eldric grumbled, shuffling after his father up the dirt path.
When they reached the house, Eldric followed Alaric into the kitchen. The familiar warmth of home greeted him, along with the comforting aroma of something delicious cooking. His eyes scanned the room, landing on his mother and Amara crouched by the stone stove, feeding wood into its firebox. Smoke spiraled gently up the chimney, mingling with the rich scent of stew.
As the door closed behind him, Eldric’s attention shifted to the table. Sitting there was Fiora, nervously twisting a strand of her shoulder-length red hair between her fingers. She fidgeted in her seat, glancing around the room like she wanted to disappear.
Taking a deep breath, Eldric walked over to her and stuck out his hand. “Hi, I’m Eldric. What’s your name?” His voice was flat, and he stared at her expectantly, his hand extended.
Fiora looked at him, her expression uncertain. She hesitated, her gaze darting to her mother, who offered her an encouraging nod and a gentle smile. Tentatively, Fiora reached out and shook his hand.
“My name is Fiora. It’s nice to meet you,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. She avoided his eyes, staring instead at the floor.
Alaric, seated at the far side of the room, glanced over and nodded approvingly at his son’s effort.
“Eldric, I forgot to get onions for the stew. Could you and Fiora go fetch some?” Selene asked without turning from the stove.
“Mom!” Eldric and Fiora exclaimed simultaneously. Their eyes met for a brief moment before Fiora quickly looked away, her cheeks flushing red.
“Do as your mother says, son,” Alaric said, his tone leaving no room for argument as he pulled out a chair and sat down.
Eldric sighed, glancing at Fiora, who sat stiffly in her seat, clearly uncomfortable. “Fine. Come on, let’s go,” he muttered.
Fiora reluctantly pushed back her chair and followed him out the door. The weight of an awkward silence settled between them as they walked, broken only by the crunch of their footsteps on the dry dirt path. The sun was beginning to set, painting the sky in vibrant hues of orange and gold.
Fiora stopped suddenly, her gaze lifting to the heavens. “Wow,” she murmured, her voice filled with wonder.
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“It’s just a sunset,” Eldric said, not even slowing his pace.
Fiora lingered a moment, her eyes wide with amazement. “This is one of the first sunsets I’ve seen that isn’t through a window,” she said softly, falling back into step behind him, the corners of her lips hinting at a faint smile.
Eldric glanced over at Fiora and smiled faintly, catching the happy expression on her face as she stared at the sky. For a moment, he let himself appreciate her wonder before turning his attention forward.
They soon reached the edge of town, where a man stood behind a produce stand. Eldric approached the stand to fetch the onions, leaving Fiora behind, still captivated by the colors of the fading sunset. After a few moments, he returned to her side, stopping beside her.
He followed her gaze upward, his eyes lingering on the painted sky. “Come on, let’s go,” he said gently. Fiora nodded and shifted her focus to the path ahead as they continued their walk.
As they neared the halfway point back to the house, three boys came into view, playing on the side of the path. Eldric’s stomach tightened with irritation. He recognized the group immediately. His past encounters with them had been anything but pleasant.
“Hey, Eldric! Is that your wife?” sneered the first boy, a stocky, black-haired kid whose white shirt and brown cloth pants were streaked with dirt. He ran toward them with a smug grin. “She’s pretty ugly!”
Eldric’s jaw clenched, but he forced himself to reply calmly. “No, this is Fiora. Her family is having dinner with us tonight.”
The second boy, tall and lanky, sauntered over to join his friend. “I’ve never seen her before,” he said, narrowing his eyes at Fiora. “I’d remember someone as pale as you.”
The third boy ambled up, a cruel smirk on his face. “Guess an ugly girl is the only one who’d love you, Eldric!”
Fiora flinched at the words, her head dropping as tears welled in her eyes. “This is why I never wanted to come outside,” she whispered, her voice trembling.
Eldric took a confident step forward, his face calm but his eyes sharp. “Yeah, she’s shy. She can’t even look me in the eye, heck you can hardly hear her speak” he said, his tone deceptively light.
Fiora’s head snapped up, her tear-filled eyes pleading for him to stop. She was about to speak when he gave her a warm, reassuring smile. She froze, confused by his unexpected response.
“She may be shy,” Eldric continued, his voice steady, “but you know what? At least she’s not a jerk like you.”
Without warning, Eldric bent down, grabbed a stick from the ground, and struck the fat boy across the face, sending him sprawling into the dirt. Spinning quickly, he jabbed the taller boy in the stomach, causing him to double over with a groan. His eyes darted around for the third boy, his grip tightening on the stick.
A sudden, sharp pain exploded on the top of his head. Eldric staggered, turning to see the largest of the boys holding a stick, grinning maliciously.
“Come on, fight me!” the boy taunted, stepping forward confidently.
Eldric raised his stick, bracing himself for the attack, but the larger boy was faster and stronger. He swung hard, battering Eldric’s defenses and overpowering him. Blow after blow landed until Eldric took a nasty hit to the head, sending him crashing to the ground, face-first in the dirt.
Eldric flinched as he felt something wet hit his face. Groaning, he blinked his eyes open, struggling to bring his surroundings into focus. His vision was clouded, as though he were peering through a thick fog. The pounding in his head reminded him of the blow he’d taken earlier.
“Get up, you coward,” sneered a voice, dripping with malice.
Shaking his head, Eldric sat up, his limbs heavy and sluggish. As he turned, his eyes widened at the sight of a large branch swinging straight for his face. Panic surged through him. He squeezed his eyes shut, bracing for the impact.
But it didn’t come.
Confused, he opened his eyes and found himself still lying on his stomach. This time, however, his vision was sharp, the haze gone. The sensation of spit landing on him again sent a shiver down his spine.
“Get up, you cowa—”
Before the words could finish, Eldric twisted his body with lightning speed, rolling away just in time to dodge the incoming strike. Springing to his feet, he gripped his stick tightly and swung it with all his might. The branch connected with his opponent’s face, sending the boy sprawling to the ground.
Eldric glanced around, catching his breath. Two of the bullies lay motionless in the dirt, groaning in pain. His satisfaction was short-lived as a sudden scream behind him drew his attention. He spun around just in time to see the fat boy charging at him, a jagged rock clutched in his hand.
Fear rooted Eldric in place. He shut his eyes, bracing for the inevitable blow.
Instead, a loud thud rang out.
Eldric’s eyes snapped open to see Fiora standing over the boy, a stick trembling in her hands. The fat boy lay at her feet, clutching his side and groaning. Fiora’s hands shook violently, and tears welled up in her eyes as she stared down at the bully.
Dropping the stick, she ran to Eldric, throwing her arms around him as sobs overtook her. Eldric stood stiffly, unsure of how to respond, before gently resting a hand on the back of her head.
“It’s okay,” he murmured softly, his voice steady despite his own exhaustion.
When her crying subsided, Eldric took her hand and began walking. “Come on,” he said gently. “Let’s go home.”
“Don’t worry. I promise I won’t let them bother you again. Don’t cry,” Eldric added, his tone confident, filled with quiet determination.
Fiora followed him, her eyes fixed on the back of his head. There wasn’t a shred of doubt in her heart that his words weren’t true. Glancing down at their joined hands, she tightened her grip, a small flicker of comfort breaking through her fear.
“We’re back!” Eldric called out as he and Fiora clattered through the front door.
Fiora darted straight for the kitchen, her small frame trembling as she fought to hold back her tears. Eldric followed more leisurely, brushing dirt off his clothes. He winced as his fingers brushed over fresh bruises, evidence of the fight he’d just endured.
When Fiora reached the kitchen, she didn’t hesitate. She flung herself into her mother’s arms, her composure breaking as sobs wracked her body.
“I brought the food, Mom,” Eldric said as he stepped into the room behind her, his tone casual despite the chaos.
Selene turned toward him, her eyes immediately narrowing at the state of his clothes. “It took you long enough! What happened? Look at you—you’re a mess!” she exclaimed, practically lunging across the room to inspect him.
“Nothing. We just fell on the way,” Eldric said, sidestepping her attempts to fuss over him.
Amara, still holding Fiora, pulled back slightly to check her daughter. “Are you okay? Did you get hurt?” she asked, her voice tight with concern.
Fiora shook her head, tears still streaming down her cheeks. “Mom, he’s so nice! He protected me from the bullies! I’m so glad I listened to you and came out today!” she said, her face lighting up despite her tears.
She turned to Eldric, her smile growing brighter as she ran to him, arms wide open. Before he could react, she wrapped him in a tight hug, lifting him off the ground as she beamed with joy.
“You were amazing! Thank you!” she exclaimed, her voice full of admiration.
Eldric blinked, caught off guard, but the pride swelling in his chest brought a smile to his face.
Selene and Amara exchanged a glance, a knowing smile passing between them.
“It’s been such a long time since she was this happy,” Amara said softly, her eyes misty. “I’m so glad they always get along.”
Selene nodded, her gaze lingering on the two children. “Me too,” she replied, her voice warm.
Back in the training hut, Fiora blinked, rousing herself from her daydream. Eldric still sat across from her on the bed, flipping through the book in his hands. She looked at him and smiled.
“The Making of Children? What a joke,” he said, laughing awkwardly as he closed the book.
Fiora chuckled softly, then her expression turned thoughtful. “You know,” she began, her voice warm as she reflected on their past, “I was such a crybaby when we were young. You have no idea how happy you made me back then. I don’t know how things would have turned out if you hadn’t been there for me.”
Eldric smiled at her words, standing up and stretching. “Well, it’s time for bed. I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said, his tone light. “Good night.”
“Good night, Eldric. Tomorrow should be fun,” Fiora replied with a wave.
As he left the room, her smile faded, replaced by a look of quiet determination. She lay down, her thoughts heavy. I will become strong, Eldric. I will protect you.
Turning onto her side, Fiora closed her eyes and drifted into an uneasy sleep.
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Fiora opened her eyes to find herself standing midway up a hill, her surroundings eerily silent. She looked around, her heart sinking at the sight of bodies scattered across the landscape—a grim aftermath of a brutal battle. The metallic scent of blood hung heavy in the air, making her stomach churn.
Looking up the hill, she spotted Eldric standing alone at the summit. Relief and confusion mixed in her voice as she called out to him, “Hey, Eldric!”
He didn’t respond. Panic rising, she ran toward him, her boots slipping slightly on the blood-soaked ground. Reaching him, she grabbed his shoulder.
“Eldric, what is all—” Her words cut off as his body collapsed forward, lifeless.
“No!” she cried, dropping to her knees beside him. Her trembling hands pressed against his chest. “This can’t be! Eldric, wake up! Please, wake up!”
Tears streamed down her face as she pulled him close, clutching his limp form to her chest.
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Fiora’s eyes snapped open, and she found herself staring at the ceiling of her room in the hut. Her breath came in ragged gasps, and sweat drenched her skin. She sat up abruptly, her wide eyes darting around the dimly lit space.
“What the hell was that?” she whispered, her voice shaky with terror.
She took several deep breaths, trying to calm her racing heart. It must have been a bad dream, she told herself, lying back down.
But even as her eyes drifted shut again, the haunting images lingered, casting long shadows in her restless mind.