"Dialogue"

'Thoughts'

-Author Notes-

Chapter 08: An Unfortunate Interruption

The storage pantry was next to the kitchen, so Zephyr didn't have to venture too deep into the house since the back door already left him very close.

As he expected, his aunt and uncle were still sleeping and probably wouldn't wake up for several hours.

Giving their life essence at the temple always left them extremely exhausted since they were already in their late forties and didn't have much left to give.

He found half a ball of cheese, some bread, dried meat, and fish.

He took everything and put it in his bag.

Since he was doing it… might as well go all the way.

Leaving the house through the back, Zephyr made his way to the plaza and filled his leather container to the brim.

As he expected, there was no one on the streets at this time.

The sun was just starting to come out from the horizon.

This was the best moment to leave… but then he remembered something.

“I should say goodbye at least.”

Every year, on his birthday, Zephyr would go to the end of the docks where his parents had died and speak a few words.

They didn't have a tomb since there was nothing left of them so this was the only place that Zephyr had to speak to them.

Since he wasn't planning on returning to this village anytime soon, it would be bad to leave without saying something.

He hurried his steps to the docks as he wanted to leave before too many people were awake.

It would be no good if they saw him carrying a big bag around.

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Zephyr stepped onto the wooden dock and looked at the vast ocean.

The waters were filled with many colors at this hour. It was a beautiful sight he didn't get to appreciate often.

“Mom… Dad… I came to say goodbye. For now at least,” he added, not really sure if he was going to come back one day but didn't want to say goodbye forever.

“I… I don't know what I'm going to do exactly. I might become the apprentice of a carpenter, I learned a bit from uncle… or maybe a blacksmith. I don't know, but I will try to make you proud…”

The waters near the dock started to ripple, but Zephyr was too preoccupied with his speech to notice it.

“I hope you are well… wherever you are. Maybe we'll see each other again one day.”

He had no idea what happened to people after they died.

The Celestial beings had mentioned the circle of reincarnation.

When they die, their Gods allow them to be born again.

But Zephyr didn't think this applies to humans...after all, they are not even allowed to worship their Elemental Gods.

And they didn't have any Gods of their own.

“I wonder, if humans from the past had them… maybe they abandoned us after all,” he muttered.

Zephyr closed his eyes and remained silent for a moment, hearing the sound of the sea and its waves as they hit the dock.

‘Huh?... is it getting louder?’ He thought for a moment.

“Oh, what do we have here?”

The newcomer's voice startled Zephyr.

He opened his eyes in a hurry and looked in horror at the speaker.

The worst person he could possibly encounter now would be his uncle, but this one was a close second.

“Didn't you hear me?” Thomas frowned.

“I asked you, what are you doing here?”

The giant twins were at the side of Thomas, as usual. They both glanced at Zephyr with cold eyes.

Zephyr's eyes focused on Thomas.

He still had some scars on his body from when Bill burned him.

That was not the only thing that changed… after recovering from that incident, he had become even more cruel.

Zephyr had no idea what he did to Bill's sister, but she had not been the same after that. The previously happy girl never smiles anymore and barely talks.

“I… I'm not doing anything.” He told Thomas.

“Nothing?...” Thomas raised an eyebrow.

Zephyr knew that Thomas was not going to let him be unless he gave him something more.

“I… I came to speak with my parents. They died here a long time ago.”

“Here?.” Thomas glanced at the dock for a bit and appeared to recall something.

“Right… those two fools who got eaten by a sea monster. Those were your parents?” he chuckled.

Zephyr clenched his fists.

“Yes…”

“Wait, I remember you now! You are that stupid kid who works loading fish at the docks.” Thomas said.

He had been beaten several times by Thomas and his two servants but apparently, he never left much of an impression on him.

“Yes, I work at the docks.”

“Don't tell me… were you friends with that bastard?... Bill?” Thomas's face contorted with anger as he mentioned the name.

“No… I knew him but we weren't friends or anything.” Zephyr just wanted this to be over so he could leave.

“I see… how boring.” Thomas appeared to be losing interest in him very rapidly, but then his eyes moved to his large bag.

“And what do you have there?” he pointed.

Zephyr wanted to yell. This was the worst that could happen.

‘What do I do now?... if he sees the food and money, he is going to take them, and then… what do I do?’

He couldn't go back to his uncle's house after stealing their food.

And with no supplies, he would never make it to the next town.

“I asked you something… what do you have in that bag?” Thomas insisted while he got closer.

“Nothing important… just some dried fish for lunch,” Zephyr told him.

“Oh yes?... By the way, you are holding it… I think it's something more important. Give it to me!” Thomas demanded.

“No…” Zephyr took a step back, the ocean was behind him and he had no place to escape.

“Go get that bag, now!” Thomas commanded his two servants.

‘Oh no… I'm doomed!’ Zephyr thought.