First Day of Work

Rain dominated the realm of sound. Sun rays alarmed the young boys.

The pale, thin boy, cocooned in the thin cloth, jolted from it.

“Augh! Augh!”, he coughed hard.

He put his fingers on the wet feeling of his lips, bringing back droplets of blood stained on his fingertips.

Darun quickly swiped his hand over mouth, and checked around to see if any drop fell elsewhere.

“Goodmorning.”, a sleepy Ronald said, getting up.

“Goodmorning, Ronald.”

They freshened up from the washrooms and met again, on the way to breakfast. Icy water bath washed off any lingering drowsiness the servants had.

“Your lips definitely looked red.”, Ronald troubled the boy, “Did you eat beets from somewhere?”

“Beets?”

“Beetroots.”

“Oh. No. My… lips are naturally red.”

“But now they are not.”

“...At night… they get red at night.”

Ronald, smiling, kept looking at him.

“Or, did you perhaps, get your hands on, a lipstick?!”, he dramatically teased.

“N-no, why would I do that.”, poor boy was more baffled than worried or annoyed.

“You know why. Afterall you are the one with rosy—”, he abruptly stopped, on the verge of colliding with Mr. Torrens, going in the same direction.

The aroma of sweet bread wafted through the dining room.

Breakfast is a loaf of bread, a hard-boiled egg and some mixed fruits.

Darun took the floor. Indeed slaves were eating on the floor. As Darun ate, he remembered the girl from last night and his eyes searched around, but couldn't find her.

Breakfast is complemented with a cup of tea. Darun, thinking slaves cannot touch the metal containers, quickly chugged water from his clay mug and held it out to Gin.

“Ms. Gin, may I have some tea please?”, he asked.

“Yes.”, she said naturally.

He kept standing. A while later she saw him like that and poured him tea.

“Do it yourself next time.”

“But, am I allowed to touch the metal containers?”

“Why won't you be allowed?”

He opened his mouth but couldn't express his thoughts.

“Did anyone tell you not to? Then why not? This is the last time I am pouring you tea.”, she said firmly. The boy bittered her bright morning.

*****

I stood alongside Ronald in the assembly of servants, in the open space of the first floor in front of the railings of the second floor. Two stairs curve down from either side of the second floor.

“Come forward Darun.”

I went.

“Introduce yourself to your colleagues.”

I turned to them.

“I am Darun Nikov. I am 14 years old. I will be working with you all from today. Please help me in doing so.”, the words came out clean unexpectedly.

“Is that the boy?”, I heard a distant voice from up behind me.

“Yes, my lord.”, another voice.

“Huh.”, he chuckled.

“What are you looking at you filth?”, he said to someone.

‘Thud. Thud. Thud.’, someone was running away.

*****

Torrens gave me the task of going to the town to buy items with Ronald.

Apparently, Ronald always did it alone. Now an extra pair of hands will ease his burden.

The pain in my abdomen has increased. I can feel my condition deteriorating. Coughs are becoming more frequent.

*****

After leaving the long gates of Skylien family, we walked on the empty path of soil.

A warm summer morning. Each gust of wind cools the beading sweat.

Very soon a few houses came into sight. We passed by them and more houses came into view.

“Ms. Gin is from this village.”

“And where are you from?”

“I am from the town we are heading to.”

That's why you are on this duty.

“We can find a carriage a little ahead.”

“Yeah, that'll be good.”, I said, huffing lightly.

So chronically, first comes the barracks, then the castle of Skylien protected by the soldiers, buildings and watchtowers, and behind it is the village, and then going through it we get to the town. The line of defense is strong at the front of the castle.

We walked the muddy paths until a bullock carriage came into sight.

“Wait!”, Ronald called it.

We boarded, a few more were already inside.

Taking in the morning wind and the bumpy muddy road, I tried peeking out of the cart.

Mountains faraway. Greeneries everywhere.

We passed through a few more villages, getting some more passengers.

The sun was very bright when we reached the town.

Wet broad roads, made of rocks and boulders. Stores on either side. Bigger than usual windows on them to let people see what's inside. Bustling with people.

We took turns and reached a shop.

“How's it going Ronald?”, the shopkeeper asked.

“Just fine, sir! Goodmorning.”, he bent forward. Such energy…

“And who's this pale boy with you?”

“He is…” Already forgot my name?

“I am Darun Nikov, sir. A servant of the Skylien family.”

“Best wishes for your job, young boy.”, he smiled warmly.

He passed a bag to Ronald, and Ronald passed it to me.

The shop has an instrument on display and some other metal objects. Ronald was leaving after giving some coins from a pouch before I could figure out what the shop was for.

“See you tomorrow.”

“Yes sir!”, Ronald answered.

Walking with the heavy bag in hand, I asked, “What is in it?”

“Oh. Just something the lord needs.”

“...”

“...”

“What is this town called?”, I wondered, not lingering on the secrecy of the bag any longer.

“Valley’s Town of Skylien.” He continued, “This entire town is made in the valley.”

Indeed, the place was surrounded by mountains.

“Is Skylien a powerful country?”

“What is that?”

“Skylien?”

“No, ‘country’?”

“A big distinctive piece of land.”

He took a while.

“Then Skylien is a ‘country’?”

“If not, then what do you call Skylien? I-I mean what is Skylien compared to other lands?” Are we playing word games now! Just what kind of idiot am I paired with?

“O-Oh! Now I understand you. You are calling a city as ‘country’.”

“So, Skylien is a city.”

“Yes.”

“City of what?”

“The great land of Vyldymya.”

Vyldymya.

*****

We were on the carriage, returning to the castle.

“You said you were from that town.”

“Oh yes I am. Anything about it?”

“How did you end up in the Skylien castle?”

“I worked hard for it. I learned the noble house's etiquettes, then—”

“I mean, why work as their servant?”

“Why not? It has been my dream to work there! The pay is good. Your family will be safe. You will have power as time passes. Then you can have bigger works out of the house too.”, he excitedly said.

“You have everything planned out.”

"Of course I have. I am ambitious.”, he said proudly smiling.

We reached the castle. On the way, in a village, some people waited with fresh harvests in bags for Ronald to buy as usual.

*****

Next few days passed similarly. I work only on the first floor, so I have never seen the higher levels. My work is to assist Ronald on his shopping.

I clearly understood this castle has no need of extra hands, but it can’t tolerate to see them rest. Whenever someone saw me doing nothing, they'd pull me to either assist them or look at them doing their work so that I can someday do it for them, like making the table, holding trays properly, mending the garden, etc.

Most days, I work in a daze. One day Ronald was saying, “I haven't seen you smile even once, Daerun.”

“My name is Darun.”, I said coldly.

“That's what I said, ‘Daerun’”

“Spell it, D-A-R-U-N.”

“D-A-R-U-N, Daerun.”

I gave up correcting for the time being.

The biggest change is what is happening even now—locks of black hair following me. And these belong to a girl, whom I have seen run away a few times when I looked her way.

She wore a long, flowing cloth of heavy silk, cut loose enough to drape gracefully. The sleeves fell wide at the wrist, the fabric pooling like water. She is smaller than me. I assumed she must be nobility too.

One day when I was working, I saw from the side of my eyes a dark shade at the wooden frame of the room. It creeped me instantly and as I turned with a horrified face, the shade quickly went inside. I saw it at the railings of the second floor and at corner of the doorframe of the servants’ dinner room while I was eating. I thought I had been finally cursed in this backward world to complete my set of tragedies.

Until one day, when I turned to the shade, it ran in front of me, and for the first time I saw that shade was deep black flocks of hair flowing from that young girl's head.

I do not have the guts to bring up a talk to the noble, and the girl herself seems to be only observing me. But honestly, it is fun to turn at her suddenly, as she then runs away. Might I dare even call her that gesture, and that worried and embarrassed expression cute.