Lying on the bed was a young lady, all curled up and turning from side to side. Her breath getting heavier by the second, holding tightly onto the bedspread, her sweat dripping down onto the bed, soaking up the sheets. Suddenly she jerked up from the bed, “it’s a dream, it is just a dream” she said as she got up, walking towards her window and looking out. She saw the sun’s rays breaking through the blanket of darkness, chasing the night away. Leaving the window, she gets a bucket of water to rinse her body, gets dressed, and picks up a sheathed sword, heading towards the front door. Opening the door she was met by the scent of flowers and nature, she looked at the little garden, where she grows the food eaten. A bit far away from it, there is a little poultry where she gets eggs from. Towards the edge of the house, there is an old tree that seems to have seen millennia but still provides shade. Underneath the tree sat a middle-aged man, with his legs crossed holding onto a sword. “You’re shaking, is it another nightmare?“, “a new one or the same old one?” said the middle-aged man “Same old one, still couldn’t make out the face”. “I see, let’s begin then, take your stance, I want you to take ten hits without fluttering”.

Taking her stance, the training began with the man attacking while she defended and vice versa. They trained till the sun had risen completely. Breathing heavily, sweat dripping down her face, and then strolling down her hands, gripping the sword hard. Taking a deep breath and gripping her sword tightly ready for her last counter, Elara gathered all the remaining energy she had left, shooting forward with her sword going straight for the kill. Moving across the field with so much speed, covering the distance between her and the middle-aged man in seconds, just for him to parry her sword with one hand, deflecting it to the side, leaving her wide open. Willing to take his blow, Elara used the force imbued in the parry to make a spin and go for his neck with her. PZZZTTT was the sound that flew across the air. One second, he was standing before her and the next he was nowhere to be seen. Regaining her composure, she took a defensive stance, closing her eyes, taking in a deep breath listening to the sound of the wind, and waiting for any motion, she waits. Turning her back and raising her blade above her head, she blocks an incoming attack to her head. “You’re getting faster, and your senses have become even sharpened” a voice carried by the wind spoke, “but you still have a long way to go”. Following the sound of the wind, she turns to her right to strike, only for her blade to be stopped by a hand covered with crackles of lightning. Raising her neck she feels a cold steel resting on her neck. “You have improved, you know, your movements, your stance, and your ability to sense danger have all grown quite well, we should have a nice dinner to celebrate.” “What is there to celebrate when one isn’t a weaver” Elara interjected. “I can’t even defeat an old man such as yourself,” “When will I also become a weaver?” said Elara as she looked downcast. Letting out some breath the man then held her close “You know there are very few weavers and we haven’t had any female weavers for a long time now”. Resting her head on his chest “I just want to be like you though, and I’m not sure if I can ever match up if I’m not a weaver?” said Elara. “Because one is strong doesn’t mean he or she is the greatest, you may be weak and still be the greatest”. “It all starts from within before it comes out. It may take some time, but it’s still there”. You are just saying all that to cheer me up aren’t you” Elara said, putting on the I don’t believe you expression on her face. Having a little laugh he said,” Me saying it to cheer you up doesn’t mean it’s not true”. Separating herself Elara then picks up somethings and starts heading out. I might be back late today she said. “Then make sure you train well” he shouted back as she left. Looking at her leave, he sighed, his smile faded and gone. Pulling out a locket that had a picture in it of an adult version of Elara. Turning his back, he walked into the house.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Going through town, Elara was greeted by the usual aroma of baker’s bread, the noise of the children running about causing chaos and mischief, and mothers shouting their names, telling them to stop running so they don’t get injured. The older men are sitting together at the local bar having a beer and talking about the affairs of the state and how the new policies are affecting the town. “I tell you the elders have gone mad, sending our children to, the frontlines with minimal training, that’s just sending them to their deaths”. Said the first man. “That’s what you think but if more young lads aren’t deployed the stalkers will move closer and deeper into the kingdom and wreak havoc destroying both us and the young lads leaving nothing and no one in their wake,” said another man. “Though you are both right I don’t think the manner of approach is right, the children should be trained for a longer time,” said a third man. “So, you are saying our children should be taking at an earlier stage then,” said the first man, “No not necessarily but keeping them for a longer time at the camps should help raise their survival rate,” said the third man, “or you mean the rate of our taxes, I can barely survive with the pension I have” said the second man. They all sighed and shook their heads as they heard what the man said.

Still going around Elara found some young boys playing in a corner. The two kids seemed to be staring at something, it was the plant one of them was growing with his weaving abilities. The other looked at his palm and clutching it “I can’t wait to unlock my weaver abilities. Maybe I’ll be a life weaver, so maybe then I can find a way to bring back my dead dog back from the dead and never let anyone close to me die again”. Stopping what he was doing the first boy turned to look at him, “but you know no one has ever done that before I mean bringing something back from the dead” said the first boy. “I know that’s why I will be the first,” said the second boy as he grinned”. “Elara, Elara over here” shouted a voice at the bakery, a woman wearing a white and blue apron with her hair covered by a white scarf waved. “How is Nate, it’s been a while since he came out,” said the woman. “His fine Mrs. Pulley he’s just been a bit more tired these days”, said Elara. “Okay then that’s fine then. I just baked him a pie to thank him for helping me out the other day. I was wondering if you could help take it home to him on your way back” said the lady as she pointed towards a steaming pie at the window. “No problem, I’ll make sure to do that”.

Walking towards the forest, Elara found a spot by a tree that was towards the lake. Going closer to the tree, she made a mark on the tree, crossing four lines with a fifth one. Raising her head to look at the tree which has now been robed in tallies all around. Taking a deep breath, Elara took her stance again, striking at the wind and parrying, defending, and attacking. She did this for a while, then stopped to meditate. Sitting and meditating, Not feeling or hearing the sound of the wind she opens up her eyes. Cautiously looking around for what might be the cause of the sudden change, then she noticed a small tiny yellow dot flying around. It seemed to be flying forward toward the lake, but it wasn’t the only one. All around her there seemed to be tiny yellow flies moving forward, leaving a faint yellow trail behind. Rising, Elara decides to walk towards the gathering of the tiny flies, reaching the lake and stepping on it, solidifying the water, the faint yellow trails turned to thick yellow threads, and the tiny yellow flies came together to form a big yellow sun. Now she was standing in front of a big yellow artificial sun, trying to get closer. She noticed she wasn’t walking again but levitating. Getting closer to the sun, she held onto one of the strings, and at that moment it felt like being sucked up into a void. But this was not like any other void as the walls of the void were made of memories and not just any memories but her memories. Seeing all her memories with her father, the fun times, when things got hard but they kept pushing through. And there she saw it, the face she always sees in her dreams.