03. Family

The sound of thunder threw me back into the dark alley as a delivery worker, I heard the sound of the gunshot again. I woke up screaming, drenched in cold sweat. I could still feel the cold of death. The image of the killer’s disfigured face, so vivid, still lingered in the corners of my vision.

The bedroom door burst open. My mother stormed into the room, tripping over a rug in the dark, but reaching my bed in seconds. She hugged me with a fierce and protective strength. She didn’t whisper sweet words. Instead, she said in a hoarse voice — No monster is going to touch you while I’m here, boy. I’ve already killed worse things.

It was a little scary, but her presence was good.

Soon after, my “father” came in, calmer, holding something like a candle. He didn’t hug me, but sat on the edge of the bed. With his usual deep and serious voice, he began to tell an ancient legend of the Region of Eldralon about a hero who faced his own darkness and turned it into power.

Even still sweating cold and desperate, I knew that story was just a bedtime tale.

And in this case, the ox is me.

His words were a diversion from the brutal reality that I had just relived. But even as he spoke, the echo of the gunshot still rang in my ears, and I could still see the person who shot me with a hood in the corner of the room, I was still trembling.

At that moment, nestled in my “mother’s” embrace, listening to my father’s firm story, I felt that their affection was real, in each one’s unique way. That hug and that story became the anchor that tied me to this new life.

I will protect you at any cost!

About two years passed

I reached three years of age

I already mastered the local language. My father told me stories, not only legends, but also about the history of the Region of Glimoria and other regions and the politics of noble families.

— What was the Capital like, father? — I continued — Was your life good?

— My life was good, Kaelen, but full of false people — he said, after a brief pause he continued — And the Capital is a nest of vipers that use smiles instead of fangs, never trust an easy smile.

— Alright, “father” — I nodded

My “father” warned me of something serious, I will always stay alert to easy smiles.

The Region of Eldralon is the region we live in, I also learned that my “father” was an important man in the Kingdom of Glimoria

Eldralon is a region within the Kingdom of Glimoria, where the capital is located, it is probably where the nobles and kings live.

From what I understood. The kingdom of Glimoria is the capital of Eldralon, that means we live in the countryside.

My “father” told me many stories, but one in particular caught my attention.

Legend of the Passage of Black Blood.

The Legend of the Passage of Black Blood was a war that lasted centuries against demons, in a passage to the Barren Continent centuries ago.

I didn’t understand the term “demon,” do other races really exist??

I got excited, it seemed like RPG games I played in my past life but in hard mode.

Midday passed after the conversation with my “father,” it was already night and we were at the table eating.

— Lyra today you really got it just right — he continued with his mouth full — It’s very good.

— Only today Theron? — her face was red with anger

— N..N.No dear you always get it right — said my “father” laughing nervously

— Father when are you going to take me outside? — I said changing the subject

— Isn’t it too early for you to leave the house, Kealen? — My mother replied

— No, it’s alright Lyra I’ll be with him — he continued — Tomorrow we’ll play outside Kaelen

— Alright! — I replied, I could hardly wait to see the world outside.

Dinner continued with a lighter mood, with laughter and conversations. I liked this place, I liked this family, I felt for the first time in a long time, I really belonged somewhere.

The night ended with the promise of going outside, I will finally discover where and in which region I live.

As soon as I woke up I left the room quickly and saw my father in the kitchen

— Good morning father — I said happily

— Good morning Kaelen, did you wake up happy today? — said my father

— Yes father — I said, after a brief moment I continued — You promised me something, remember?

— Hummmm — after pouting thinking he replied — I don’t remember anything Kaelen

— Father you promised yesterday.

He laughed

— I do remember son, let’s go outside.

I followed him to the door and the doubts only increased.

What was outside this house? Which region did I live in? What were the people of this town like, if I can even call it a town where we lived.

It’s incredible how I knew nothing.

Arriving at the door I began to feel anxious, what could be beyond that door?

As soon as my father opened the door I felt a strong wind on my face, the region as I had suspected was quite rural, my mother was swinging a sword in our yard, our yard had no walls only a small fence, any child could easily jump out of the yard, there were very rural streets, there were no power poles or anything like that, just a dirt road and many trees and plants around the street. I also saw wooden houses, I also saw men taking care of animals, I also saw a couple of small people, they caught my attention a lot, they were short and broad and had red hair, could they really be dwarves? or are they just small people?

— What are you doing here? — said my mother interrupting my thoughts

I looked to the side and saw my mother standing looking at me

— We came to play a bit outside — said my father

— Isn’t it very dangerous to come outside with his age Theron? — said my mother

— Don’t worry, Lyra — my father intervened. — I’ll be with him.

She nodded to my father and went back to swinging the sword.