AUTHOR note: I'm back! I've been back for a while actually, but well, I guess procrastination has turned passive all of a sudden. I haven't done nothing though! the amount of redo's I did was overwhelming. also this chapter is somewhat... long? I don't really know since I don't do word count, I just write.

Most importantly, the name has changed from: Grey to Voices

TBH I'm not 100% on this name so I'm still gonna look around. I'll try not too change the name too much though.

Anyways, this chapter has a small info dump, I'm trying to minimize as much info dump as possible and introduce the info as the plot goes on.

Also, this chapter was difficult to write man, 1 because I don't actually know how to write a long story, 2 because DIALOGUE, goddamn it, do I hate those. Anyways, I don't know how consistent I can make the characters so bear with me. Hey, you know, trying to get an asocial introvert to write up realistic characters takes A LOT of imagination.

Lastly, I don't even know whether a lot happened in this chapter or nothing happened at all, but I'm basically trying to build up the MC's character and the world that surround her.

-Also can I have some tips on how to write children?- especially those between 1 and 10.

Thank you for reading and enjoy!

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Chapter 2: Slumber

This world is called Wyrth, a world blessed by various gods and spirits. Power comes in many forms, but in this world, power comes in the form of blessings. All Children at the start of age 3 will all enter the gods hall, there they will be chosen by various gods and spirits and be "blessed".

Not all children are Blessed, most will remain a normal man all their lives and the "Blessed" with have a identifying mark on their bodies, a tattoo like mark.

This mark will start out small, and will grow larger as the Blessed increase their affinity and understanding with their blessings.

The size of the blessing determines the potential the user can evoke, but the potential of each blessing varies, The wisdom and intelligence of each Blessed will also largely affect their abilities, a Blessed can have a  God class blessings, but lack of understanding may cause the blessed to never utilise his or her potential.

That day, was around 2 weeks since the Sehen family's, little girl, Silva Sehen, reached 3 years old, it was the first time she entered the gods hall to chance for her blessing.

They required to enter the hall every morning, it was a simple ceremony, in a large group, the children will sit within the soul circle, and bathe in a transparent energy.

There they will be chosen by various spirits and gods, if you were not chosen that day, then they will pray for the next.

However, little Silva, upon moments since the start of the daily ritual, started wailing, nay, she was screaming. Her grappling hands, flooded eyes, and squirming body, upon both the young eyes of children or the spotted windows of adults, it was both a baffling and terrifying moment.

It was not long before little Silvas foster parents came rushing in.

"What's happened?"

"Little Silva!?"

The frizzled haired mother and ruffled clothed father, they were not simply baffled however, without even time to catch their breaths, aside from living, all their focus was unto their small sweet daughter. Who has now turned into a wailing mess.

"Why is this happening?!"

"What do we- how should we-?!"

Yet there was nothing to do, what can they do?

They panicked and panicked, but no answer came, the healer knelt beside her, but even she simply stared. Before the parents came, she had already done what she could.

If she had a flesh wound, she'll use ointment.

If she was simply in pain, she'll use painkillers

but none quenched the little girls pain.

Mother and father held onto their little girl, holding onto her grip, her body which was grappling amount in pain. They have her themselves to grab onto, when her world was spinning in chaos, as if the ground fell through.

......

An hour later, the other children had already been hushed out, and the wailing little girl had stopped, simply fallen asleep with a wet face.

The mother, Meia Sehen and the father, Galt Sehen thanked the teacher and healers, before carrying Silva home.

Looking at her face that was taking deep peaceful breaths, and redeemed cheeks, they felt slightly relieved.

The screaming stopped, meant that the pains gone, but now they were anxiously awaiting her arise.

Before long, the father headed out again to pick up their twin boys, biological sons home.

"Silv! We're home!" Shouted Hak as he jumped past the doorway.

But there was no one in the usual lounge room. Their house was small, but sturdy, two floors, the lounge room directly connected to the kitchen and had 3 bedrooms and an extra for a family.

Refr stood beside

"Where's silva? She usually be napping in the lounge while mom sits beside her at this time."

The twins glanced around questioningly, before the father spoke up.

"Silvas probably in the unused guest room."

"Why is silva in there? Doesn't she still sleep with mom and dad?"

Refr questioned reasonably .

"Yes, but some things... Happened, the healer said she should sleep somewhere where the natures healing essence in the strongest, the guest room has the largest window and a polsk tree right next to it, we decided to let silva sleep there for now."

"Healer?!" Both the twins suddenly shouted. The fact that their little sister needed a healer meant that she was hurt, an anxious swirl of emotion tumbled through their stomachs. They started to panic and shout.

"What's happened to silva?"

"Was it an accident?!"

"Is she hurt?!"

Galt quickly exclaimed to calm the boys

"No, she's not hurt, don't worry - just.... well something happened, she's just sleeping now.

"Then what? What happened?" The boys questioned.

Seeing his slightly calmed boys, halt gave a sigh.

"Let's go see little Silv and your mother first, I'll tell you then." He exclaimed whilst ruffling his sons hair.

Refr shaked off his dad's hand in a struggle

"Guess so, Hak! Let's go!"

"Kay!"

The two jumpy boys quickly dashed off to the back of the house, where the guest room was. For a small house like theirs, they usually wouldn't have a guest room, but when they bought it, the room was already there, and they didn't have much use for it, so it was simply kept that way as they also used it as a storage for bits and pieces.

The boys footsteps created light tapping noises as they rapidly neared the guest room.

When they opened the door, presented before them was a sun light illuminated room, with random things scattered around. With the largest window open, the dust had already been swept outside, in exchange, the scent of leaves and Earth wafted in.

Below the window, was a low white sheeted bed, the frizzle haired mother sat beside a slumbering little girl.

"Silv!" The boys cried.

They jumped beside, taking a long hard stare closely at their little sisters face.

"Hey now boys," Meia spoke up

"Even if you look so close she won't wake up suddenly," she placed a hand on their shoulders, gesturing to them to move back.

"Mom, what's happened to little silv? Did she get hurt? When will she wake up?" Hak asked with a downcast expression, his sights never leaving his little sister figure.

Meia pulled the teary eyed hak into a soft embrace .

"It be alright Hak, she's not hurt, just... Let your little sister sleep for now."

Hak looked up at his mom, Steering his sights at his little sister.

The boys looked at each other, before nodding to their parents.

"Kay.... But what happened?" Refr asked

l

Hak parted from his mothers embrace, and asked again.

"what happened?"

The parents glanced at each other, before both glancing down at the children

"Okay, boys," she replied, seeing the twins plodding down into the bed, Silva was small, so there was more than enough space for the both of them.

"You know the morning blessings you boys used to go to?"

Hak and Refr nodded.

"Well, you also know that its little Silvs first day right?"

"Yeah?"

"We don't really know a lot, nobody does in fact, but it seemed that... Silv screamed and collapsed near the start."

Meia left out some details, she couldn't very well tell her 8 year old sons that their little sister went through an hour of torturous pain.

"collapsed? then is silva okay?" Refr questioned with worry clinging to his heart.

Meia nodded with a smile and she stroke her sons back.

"We don't know when she will wake up, but from the healers advice, her body's perfectly healthy. For now, we should just let her sleep and if she doesn't wake up soon, we should go find her."

Meia stopped, with firmness in her voice, looking at her children with unwavering and motherly eyes.

The twins looked back at their little adopted sister, who was breathing rhythmically, her cheeks tinted with a child's blush, at least she looked healthy enough. There was that feeling that they couldn't quite get out of their chest, but their parents words gave then some reassurance.

The parents, watched with maternity, Galt gave a pat onto the boys roof.

"Alright boys, it's late, let's go have dinner, didn't the healer say, that she's perfectly healthy. if silva wakes up, we can't have her worrying about us too now."

"Ah, I haven't made dinner!" Meia suddenly realises.

"I'll help you then, there should still be some stuff left at the restaurant," Galt replied with a smile.

Together, they left the chamber, the boys took one more look at Silva before the door quietly closed behind their gazes.

-------------------------------

6 days slowly passed, during that time, the family turned more and more nervous, especially the parents that constantly tried to reassure the boys that wasn't quite at the age to be easily rused anymore. Each day the Healer came, and each day she could do nothing, however, there was a glaringly obvious question, how is Silva so healthy? Everytime the healer checked on her, there was no malnutrition of any sort, only a healthy young girl that seems to be sleeping a little too deeply.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

But on the morning of the 7th day, Silva had awoken, and all those questions seemed to have flown out the window as it was replaced by relief and joy.

Silva felt tired, almost too tired, her eyes glazed around the room, yet not quite threatening enough to force her to sleep.

She watched her family discussing in her room, she felt... different, like an experience had made her change, yet her undeveloped mind had yet to organize such things.

"Silva" called out the healer, who was clad in a white cloak, to Silv who was lost in the daze of her body.

Before she knew it, her family had stopped talking and sat quietly.

Silv moved to get up but she stopped her.

"Ah, you don't have to get up, we just want to ask you to try talking again."

She said with a smile

Silv layer back down and gazed at her mother, father and brothers, as well as the healer that looked at her intensely. Nodding her head. She opened her mouth again, but no words would travel from her vocals.

"You really can't speak huh..."

"What do we do? Miss Healer, is there any way to bring her voice back?"

"From what I see, there should be nothing wrong with her physical condition, her voice also... Perhaps it's something more mental, I don't specialize in that field so I can't help unfortunately."

"Then should we call a specialised healer?"

"You can, but people don't normally call them healers, they're normally called mind tinkers, they are rare and tend to be eccentric, perhaps you can find someone in the capital, I must remind you, mind tinkers aren't trustworthy, they tend to be more akin to researchers that healers. "

"Mind tinkers?" Meia said out loud

The healers voice was full of caution, perhaps she has a dislike toward that kind of profession but for a world like this based in magic rather than science, psychology is probably not its strong suit.

Meia looked at Galt worriedly.

"What should we do Galt? People may think she's possessed and lost her voice. Should we ask for a help in the capital?

"Maybe, but what if they do something to Silva?

"But Silvas lovely voice will be lost..."

They both frowned in contemplation, and the healer spoke again.

"You don't have to find a mind tinkerer, those guys tend to reject theories of gods so they aren't very trusted, perhaps a priest or priestess from the capital can help, or a blessed with a light based blessing may have mind healing powers."

She said reassuringly, whilst looking kindly at the family,

Meia looked on her foster daughter, when she detected her gaze. she smiled and said.

"sweetheart, are you okay?"

Silv listened... grasping her mothers hand she gripped a little tighter, but her grip loosened soon after, her head cocked to look out side the window.

The sky was bright, and the rays of sunlight peeked through the blooming branches of a tree planted right outside her window. Feeling the warmth brushing her face, she slowly fell into slumber again.

Both parents looked at their daughter, and felt anxious, would she wake up again? should they wake her up?

"Well then, I apologise but I'll have to leave now, I have more people to treat at the guilds pharmacy."

The healer spoke, as she brushed her cloak and stood up from the chair.

"Ah, I escort you out," Meia quickly stated.

"Thank you, but it's alright." The healer smiled back.

"It's great that silva has loving parents like you, even without outside help, perhaps your warm hearts will allow her to speak again, well then good bye."

"Thank you as well," the parents lead her out to the exit, leaving only the children in the room.

-------------

For another few days, Silv simply slept in her room, having found that she had neither energy nor permission to move beyond the house, having not much to do, she read the books her parents brought back from the library, though they were mostly picture books, as her vocabulary as a 3 year old was limited. Her parents were very much relieved to see her wake up every time even despite her frequent deep slumbers, they had found out that every time she slept, it was nigh impossible to wake her up through external means.

This also have them decided that it's not wise to take her to the capital for help, until she is able to stay awake for longer periods, it will be difficult to move around with her.

she didn't think much of it, as if lacking the capacity to, she looked up the window, the sun hung high and the oval leaves of the tree created a cooling shade, she lied back down, basking in the comfortable mixture of warm daylight and shadow. She didn't want to sleep particularly, but that feeling of unknown familiarity gives her an overwhelming sense of both void and fulfilment, and her mind is simply blank, like awaiting for something to draw onto it.

Meia and Galt was currently at the Gods hall, they stood at the alter and prayed. They decided to bring Silva to the capital temple to cure her voice when she was better.

The two decided to hurry back, although they asked a friend to take care of her, they still didn't feel unperturbed leaving her in the house.

The both stepped out the temple slowly making their way onto the Main Street back home.

"Galt dear..."

"What is it?"

"About Silva... I think... No I feel that she's somewhat... I don't know, it just feels like she's so faraway,"

Galts expression tensed.

"Yeah... I feel that too, it's like, her mind has wondered somewhere we can't reach,"

"Yeah, something like that, although I can't quite place my finger on it, she's... lost her usual cheerful self, although she's always been an unusually quiet child, now there's just something more to it."

Galt nodded as he looked forward, thoughtfully questioning the situation at hand.

"Could it be the blessing?" He spoke, and looked at Meia for an opinion.

"I think so too..." Meia trailed off with a solemn look, "... What happened to you Silva..."

Galt didn't answer, he felt as unsteady as Meia, but they both walked hand in hand, knowing they were at each other's side was enough, enough to keep the ground from falling.

.... "Adina! We're back!" Meia lightly called once they stepped into their town house.

"Ah! Your back! I've just about to bring a drink to little Silva."

Adina said as she brought her plump body near the entrance whilst carrying a cup of juice in her hand. She seemed somewhat middle aged, some years older than Meia and Galt.

"Oh, I'll bring that," Meia replied and was passed the cup their neighbour, Adina a was carrying.

"Thanks you for taking care of Silva while we were out."

Adina laughed heartily.

"No worries, I've known you guys for years and when it comes to your children you've always been worry warts."

Meia smiled with appreciation.

"Well then! Since your back, I'll better head back, I still need to cook dinner for my kids."

"Oh! You and your family can join us! As thanks for your help today." Meia suggested.

"It's fine, my eldest kid is coming back from the academy today. Though I'll be grateful if you gave me some of the fried Preskins from your restaurant, he loves those!"

"Really! It's been a year hasn't it?" Meia replied as she saw Galt walking into the kitchen packing up some Fried Preskins they saved as a snack.

"Then we better not disturb you guy!"

"have a good day!" they both said as Galt handed over the wrapped up skewers.

"You guys too! Have a good day." Adina replied in joy, as she slipped on her shoes and stepped out in bounce.

After bidding their close neighbour farewell, Meia looked on with a gentle smile.

"Come to think of it, it's been 2 years since our boys awakened their blessings haven't they?"

Meia giggled and said.

"Haha, yeah... I'm just worried that we'll be forced to send them to the capital sooner or later though."

If anyone else heard it, they may have felt this was an odd conversation.

A blessed is rare, and a child that has awakened at 5 is even rarer, in fact, it's the youngest age to ever be recorded. For the two loving parents to not want their child's to be blessed earlier... it's odd.

"I'll go take this to little Silva then." Meia said as she held the cup in her hands.

"Go on, since I have a day off, I'll cook dinner for once!" Galt exclaimed confidently.

"Haha, I look forward to it then."

Galt exited the house again, to buy the ingredients for dinner. While Meia went to the back room where Silva was staying.

"Little Silva?" Meia softly said.

Silva looked over, with her uncombed messy grey hair and dazed eyes.

She took the chalk board her mother had gifted her and wrote a messy "mummy".

She was young, and knowledge on the alphabet was limited, she didn't have many chances to write either, that was before the ordeal during the blessing though.

Meia smiled and sat on side her bed. She pressed her palm onto Meia forehead, then moved to her cheek.

"You seem healthy, if your tired, then sleep."

Silva shook her head.

"You'll feel better if you sleep, sweet heart."

Silva shook her head again.

Then she wrote in her board.

"Sleep, not like,"

Meia looked worriedly at her daughter and didn't know what to say.

"Why does she not want to sleep, even though she's been sleeping so much this past week."

"I know, sweety, you've been sleeping a lot lately and you'll probably want to go out, but you'll be much better soon, I'll stay beside you, so sleep okay?" Meia smiled and patted Silvas soft head with tangled strands of hair.

Silva looked on glazed at her mother, she didn't really know what or why, she simply felt that even though she's tired, she didn't want to sleep, but with the assurance of her mother she nodded and laid back down, her dazed eyes closed, allowing the specks of afternoon sun light to peek through her eyelids. She usually preferred sleeping in the dark, but the warmth light was more comforting, yet she felt fear when she realised that soon there will only be darkness.

There was the light clunks of her mother moving her chalk board, she felt the soft breathing of her mother, sitting beside her bed, and the flitting of a book.

"It's okay...it's okay right?" She thought to herself before slipping into the darkness that the sunlight can't pierce.