Felkin woke up, yawned, and then rubbed his eyes. He stood up from a straw mat that served as bedding and looked outside. It was already noon and he saw food was already prepared for him on their table. He found no one else was in the house; and having nothing to do he went outside.

There was no school in their village or any nearby village so the children played in the streets until they can be taught some form of trade or learn a skill they can profit off from. He walked outside, his bare feet stepping on the grass and the mud. He did not like to play with others often but instead preferred playing with sticks or picking up rocks or other objects to examine. He walked and blocked his eyes from the rays of the sun and walked down the street.

He wonders if he should have eaten first, but continued, looking on the road and on the ground for anything interesting. The children were playing in the street or assisting their parents with goods or the roadside stalls. He considered going to the grassy open plains or to the nearby stream to sit around and hang out with himself.

He walked down a downhill slope and tried not to slip as he neared the water’s edge. The water and the rocks above it gleamed in the sunlight and the fish that swam through it were clearly seen in the shallow depth. He looked at his reflection while trying to look for something to do in his boredom. He saw the glint of metal in an object just below the water’s surface. Before his hand could breach the water’s surface, he saw the shadow of someone who was approaching from behind him.

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He turned around and saw a young girl his age. “What are you doing here all alone?” she asked. “I could ask the same question.” He responded. As he faced her, he quickly got startled. She was covered in bandages and completely wrapped. “I’m sorry.” He said having one eye still on the thing in the water. “Its okay, the others don’t even want to get close, not even talk to me.” Felkin reached into the shallow water and picked it up. It was a shiny metal sword; he had seen other tools like knives before but he carefully examined it. “What is it?” he turned around and held it out in front of him. She walked closer and examined it at a distance. “What’s your name?” “It’s Felkin. How about yours?” Before she could respond, Felkin looked back at the water and saw a strange sight. He then quickly looked up at the sky. The girl fell back and Felkin went in front of her clutching the sword in hand. Moments ago, it was daylight and now a red moon hung low in the dark sky.