Grandpa’s Journey

Nir and Rain are in the house of worship, listening to the strange baby’s story.

“I was born in one of the villages outside the empire. My mother… Her name was Erica. May her memory be blessed by the two gods… She was a real fighter. But she couldn’t harm anyone. She would have never wanted to... My mother worked really hard to provide for us. She was a simple merchant, selling simple items, mostly wooden tools, bowls and such… As she was really good at carving.

I only saw my father once. He was visiting the village for diplomatic reasons. He had a high rank in the Empire, although I’m not aware which rank exactly. However, it seems it’s not the first time he visited the village. When discussions about peace started happening, before I was even born - he went to the village for the first time and toured around. At the market, he met my mother, who he immediately fell in love with, willing to risk his position and even his life for them to get together.

They chose to marry in secret.”

Appreciating the romance, Nir and Rain smile at each other, knowing now they want to listen to his story all the more, unwilling to miss any details. They start holding hands as they look back at him and keep listening.

“Since I was born, all I could hear is my mother telling others: ‘His father died when he was young…’ - or: ‘He died in battle, I’m so proud!’ - She had to continuously cover for him… And for us. In the villages… Having children outside of marriage is frowned upon. They would kill the parents and raise the children only to harvest their hearts at the age of 10. It’s horrible. My mother used to always tell me: ‘One day… We are going to live with Dad in the empire…’”

Nir and Rain realize the story may not be as smooth a sailing as they thought. Their faces turn serious.

“Months went by, and eventually - years, and suspicion of me and my mother grew, as I became a little older than 2. At the time my ability to comprehend what’s happening was very little… Most of my comprehension, in fact, came much later…

Villagers started asking around frequently as to whether my father was ever even seen. My mother chose to tell the truth to her friend, who was our neighbor, hoping she would vouch for us. But she was too scared. She claimed she didn’t know the man. The villagers reported that to the head of the village, who with the rulers under him decided we should be put down. My mother’s friend never meant for that to happen, so she came to warn her as she got word of the ruling through friends and rumors around the village. But that’s not all… She also got info of the exact time their plan to kill my mother and take me was supposed to happen.

Having heard that - my mother made a decision. She waited until night. She took a knife, went to the houses of every ruler serving under the head at the very top of the village’s governing system, and killed them one by one. Elder after elder, and eventually, the head of the village. They all dropped dead, as she stood tall above them with a bloody knife. Then, she returned to me, knowing she wouldn’t be able to get away with this, and said: ‘I did it. I killed them all’. - And so she decided… To grant me her hearts.

She took my hands, and put her knife in between them, making me hold it. Her hands - wrapped around mine, slowly pushed the knife into her stomach. ‘Don’t be afraid. Don’t be afraid’. - She told me. My mother looked exhausted. Like she had enough, waiting for this. ‘Run, my boy. Run to the empire… Find your Father’.

She collapsed and bled out, making me inherit her 2287 attained hearts.

I couldn’t walk… So I crawled. I crawled towards the view of the empire we always observed from afar. Somehow… I survived the journey. Eventually, I collapsed next to one of the smaller gates. One of the guards must have brought me in, thinking I accidently got out, not knowing I’m from the village. I guess he wasn’t able to see my hearts. I was put in an orphanage where I stayed for a while. After a few years, as the rest of the children grew up, I knew I couldn’t stay there any longer, so I ran away to the other side of town. I was adopted over and over… And was named so many names throughout the years… ‘Ran’, ‘Ikar’, ‘Henry’, ‘Brian’, ‘George’, ‘Henry’ again! Hahahaha, what were the odds of that? Surely I forgot some of the names… But the most recent one was… ‘Ronald’. Although that one is also quite old”.

Nir and Rain notice the mentioning of the same name they heard from the old lady. They look at each other and stay quiet, barely reacting to it, as they are mesmerized by his story, shocked to their core. They turn their eyes to him, as he keeps talking.

“I’ve been living under the radar, sneaking around, learning things, reading books. I even heard conversations I shouldn’t really have. I became aware of lots of what happens in the underworld of the empire. Of course, I listened in on some normal conversations too, but I knew I couldn’t participate. Every time I felt lonely… - I just talked to myself. Eventually… My usage of my own voice has trained me enough to not sound like a child. That’s why I sound like an adult even though my body is still like this… Yet, I’d say I’m much older than even my voice would suggest, hahahaha”.

-”So… How old are you?” - Nir asks.

-”I am 129 years old”.

-”This is… Unbelievable…” - Says Rain.

-”You don’t believe me?” - He asks genuinely.

-”I do. It was just an expression”.

-”Oh, of course, yes. ‘Unbelievable’”. It is somewhat felt that he is used to speaking in general, but not to others.

-”So why didn’t you make contact with the empress? Maybe she would believe you and accept you in the palace… Or at least in the town”. - Nir wonders.

-”Or maybe she would kill me for my hearts. Not everyday you find someone unknown to anyone, carrying so many hearts”.

Nir and Rain find it hard to believe she would do something like that, but they don’t know her well enough to promise differently.

-”What about your father? Have you tried looking for him?” - He asks.

-”I did, but I couldn’t find any clues. All I know is he had a daughter in the empire. Her name was: ‘Samantha’”.

-”How did you manage to recall so much if it all happened when you were so young?” - Rain asks.

-”That’s a good question”. - He replies. “The statues. I gained many skills, worth hundreds of hearts. One of them is about memory clarity. It seems to function in a way that makes one unable to be denied information they were subject to”.

-”One of those skills that do not require constant consumption of hearts, I assume?” - Nir asks.

-”Yes, exactly. Most heart skills of aggression are useless to me, so it’s good that I have some of those more passive ones. Just like yours, young lady. The one you used to locate me”.

-”So what now?” - Rain asks the baby.

-”What do you mean by ‘what now’? I thought the empress sent you here to get me, as rumors about me spread…”.

Nir and Rain look at each other, and then at him again.

-”Not really…” - Says Nir. “We just heard the rumors and paid a visit. But… It’s not really like we can babysit you, as you can be our grandpa”.

He seems surprised, as he prepared himself for much worse.

“I have a suggestion”. - Nir claims. “What if you shared your knowledge with the empress? Wouldn’t she prefer working with you?”

-”Or alternatively, you can work with us if you prefer…” - Rain suggests, then turns to Nir to confirm, and he quickly nods. She then looks at the baby with a smile and says: “If we catch some bad guys - the empress will be happy and know your worth”.

-”That is… An interesting proposal…” - He says in consideration.

-”You don’t have to answer right now, of course. But me and Rain just got told by the empress we have some time off, basically. We plan on training, keep watch of the town, and mostly… Just live a normal life. I’m not sure how much time we’ll have for this quiet version of life in the empire, though”.

-”So this offer… May not be available forever, through circumstances outside of your control, it seems…”

-”Correct”. - Nir affirms.

-”Very well. I understand. But I still need to think about this. Will you pay me a visit tomorrow? By then, I’ll have decided”.

-”What should we call you?” - Rain asks him.

-”Hmm… Just call me ‘Grandpa’”.

-”Haha”. - Rain laughs, seemingly amused. “Okay, grandpa. Tomorrow, we’ll hear your answer”.