"Dialogue"

'Thoughts'

-Author Notes-

Chapter 07: Plans for the future

They had to wait for over thirty minutes before the envoy returned.

His Beastman companion was dragging Bill along.

They had placed a dark metallic collar around his neck that was connected to a chain the Beastman was holding firmly.

Zephyr glanced at Bill more closely as they passed.

He looked dirty and exhausted. It didn't seem they had given him any food or treated his injuries during the past two days.

His eyes were still orange as they were that day but had lost all their light.

He was not sure if this was an effect of the collar he was wearing or his mental state.

His family was close by... they stared at him with despair in their eyes but couldn't say anything or complain in any way. Otherwise, the Celestial Envoy could have them punished too.

Zephyr heard some murmurs from the villagers.

“Look at his eyes…”

“An abomination…”

“Get him away from here!”

“That's right, he deserves to be punished!”

Seeing the faces of the villagers made Zephyr uncomfortable.

These people were usually kind, but now… they all stared at Bill with anger and disgust.

This was the treatment that awakened humans received.

‘Is it the same thing that happened with Dalia…’

The Celestial Beings have taught them since childhood that humans cannot have magic, and that it is wrong for humans to possess the power that belongs to the Celestial Beings.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

Humans must always have black hair and black eyes. Anything else is treated as queer and wrong.

Zephyr understood this… he understood why the villagers react in such a way when someone like Dalia or Bill appears, but it still felt wrong.

‘They did not choose to awaken their magic. It's not like they did anything wrong… they didn't steal it from anyone, they were just born that way…’

They were all being punished for something terrible their ancestors did...it wasn't fair.

“Our business here is concluded,” the Envoy finally spoke.

“This boy is coming with us.”

The Village Leader bowed to him.

“Thank you, oh great Celestial Envoy.” The Leader did not even ask what they were planning on doing with Bill.

And Bill himself seemed to be resigned to whatever fate awaited him now.

Any sign of rebellion now would only serve to put his family in danger, and he knew that very well.

When Dalia was taken, her mother, who was her only living relative, came to complain and questioned the Elf… she was executed on the spot.

‘Our lives are worth nothing to them…’ Zephyr stared at the back of the three Celestial Beings as they dragged Bill into the distance with bitter feelings.

<><><><><><><><><>

11 months later.

Zephyr removed the wooden plank in the corner of his room after moving his bed.

He put his hand inside the hole, pulled out a small bundle, and opened it up with a lot of care to avoid making any noise.

It was very early in the morning, so his aunt and uncle should be fast asleep, but he could not be too careful with this…

“Let's see…” He observed the contents of the bundle with attention.

A small pile of copper coins was inside.

Zephyr started to count them, one by one, and very slowly.

“Thirty-two… thirty-three…”

He continued to count the coins until he reached the last one.

“Forty-two…”

This was his entire fortune. He had spent years collecting it.

And it was very difficult to do so as his aunt and uncle would never allow him to keep a single coin… if they knew.

Zephyr usually makes six copper coins for his work unloading the fish, and that money would be taken by his uncle. But once in a while, when the fishermen had a particularly good catch or they were in an extra good mood, they would give him an extra copper coin.

He would hide these coins here and not tell his uncle about them.

‘If they discover this… my uncle would beat me black and blue…’ just thinking about it made him shiver.

“Forty-two then… that's over four silver coins. It will have to be enough.”

He had always dreamed of leaving this fishing village and traveling to Zloria Town, to the northwest of here.

It was a much bigger town and could offer better opportunities for his future.

It would also allow him to get away from his aunt and uncle.

This money was his way out of this village.

He would need at least four silver to pay for an apprenticeship at one of the craftsmen's. As long as he was accepted and worked hard, he would not have to worry about food or a place to sleep.

‘It's finally time… I'm going to do it!’ he thought with excitement.

He had been planning for a long time, but the day had arrived.

Today was his sixteenth birthday, and the day before the entire village went to their monthly temple visit.

Meaning that today, the village streets would be almost empty, and his aunt and uncle would spend most of their day at home.

By the time anyone realized he was gone, it would be too late to stop him.

He went to his bed and picked up his bag.

It was made by tying together a couple of his old tunics but should be able to hold a few things.

He stored his coin bundle inside and a leather bladder to put water inside.

‘I can fill it in the fountain before leaving… the problem is going to be food…’

The trip on foot was going to take almost six days even if he didn't get lost.

Without food, it was going to be difficult to travel.

So he had no choice but to steal some from the pantry.

His aunt had just bought a big piece of cheese and some preserved meat from the market.

‘There is no going back… if they catch me after this, they are going to kill me.’