An Inundation of Leaves, Trees and Assorted Shrubs

I definitely shouldn’t be acting so smug about this. I just got more responsibilities dumped on me, and this feeling is all too familiar – just like back in my old life at work.

I roam aimlessly through Barathrum Castle's halls, trying to wrap my head around all of this. I met some intriguing people who are supposed to be my mentors in the coming years.

First, there was this jacked dude named 'Dreadlorde'. He hid behind a metal mask on his face revealing very little save for two stoically sinister eyes. He was clad in dark armour that protected his overall… I guess you could say, buffness?

His presence was commanding, far from the stereotypically elusive mage.

Near the end he said something to me along the lines of, "You either conquer fear or fall by the blade."

Was that deeply spiritual or introspective? Maybe.

He didn’t give much of an explanation.

Then there's this girl who looked just around my sister’s age named Euphemia, with her comically large staff and orb. She said it channels her Magicka when she casts spells, and that she can't wait to teach me all about it. But before I could really talk to her, poof, she vanished. 

Shame, she's not bad-looking, actually.

My self-aware and infatuated train of thought takes a hit when my older sister whacks me on the head. Ouch. She stares at me with pure menacing determination.

"Don't blow this for both of us, Luci," she warns with that devilish grin of hers.

I still can't figure out what her deal is. She looks so much better without that stupid grin.

Seraphina, at first glance, doesn't seem all that special, but I could be dead wrong about that. There's this aura about her that screams, 'I'm a force to be reckoned with.' And yeah, that's pretty much what it is.

She pats me on the head.

At least she's affectionate where it counts, I suppose.

"Good luck tomorrow Luci." She whispers to me in my ear.

Crap. I think? What's tomorrow?

Oh damnit, that meeting went on for ages and ages, I definitely switched my brain off through most of that thing!

Let's see if I can remember. They said the Tenets, my parents did that speech, a few members introduced themselves... uhhh... uhmm...

"You're doing that silly look again, Luci. Don't tell me you 've already forgotten." Seraphina sighs.

"I... uhh-" I stammer.

What?" She asks incredulously.

"Ummm... I think you might be right." I admit. "It seems like I completely zoned out while listening to everyone else speak. How does one get rid of the effects of that, especially at meetings?"

Seraphina rolls her eyes. "They're called Seraphic Conventuses and you'll find out soon enough. But get ready to feel the pain of practice and true discipline."

Practice? Pain? Discipline.... Argh!

This is totally gonna suck big time.

✠ ✠ ✠

Ok, small change of plans.

My panic instinct kicked in, I got cold feet and made a break for it when the opportunity struck.

Being the heir to something I barely understand? As enthralling as that is to some, I’m definitely not ready for any of that.

I'm running away from here to who knows where.

Sure, the fancy life has its charm, but it's a double-edged sword, no doubt about it. The weight of that power and responsibility and the force fed skill learning and the magnitude of literally everything was just about ready to crush me.

It’s all too much to handle, I’d rather be a nomadic dweller of some sort than have to bear all of that.

Who am I kidding? At my age and stamina, I'll probably never make it that far. I'm totally screwed.

I busted out of there like a shadow in the night. My heart pounding and my legs carrying me far away from that castle. But did anyone see me? No way, right? How could they? I was too fast, too slick, I think?

I don't even know if they'd even welcome me back with open arms or unleash some medieval punishment if they find me again! Ugh, I'm in deep trouble, aren't I?

Okay, gotta catch my breath for a sec.

No one's chasing me... yet.

Just... breathe. In... out... in... out... Yeah, that's it.

What do I know about being a master over anything?

Why does any of this have to be my burden?

Power, responsibility, leadership – they're all thrown at me like I'm some kind of chosen one. But I didn't sign up for this! I don't even know what I'm supposed to have power over. Why can't I just enjoy the lavish lifestyle without being forced into a position of leading some legacy? It's like I'm trapped in a crazy, never-ending loop of pressure and expectations. I can't handle it!

Maybe the forest will give me some peace and quiet. I need to clear my head anyway.

Still can’t get over how I actually got away with that. Not a single alarm was raised or anything.

That was way too easy, even for this place. Guess they didn't anticipate me bolting like that.

I hope they won't come after me. I stare at my feet again.

…They probably will.

I need to keep moving and put as much distance between us as possible.

✠ ✠ ✠

Here I am, traipsing through the forest like some kind of clueless nomad who grabbed the lightest gear on their way out of that fancy castle. Can you believe it? I ditched my posh suit and threw on this haphazard outfit, like I'm ready to embark on a grand quest, but instead, I'm stumbling over roots and getting branches caught in my hair.

You know what though? The forest in this world is something else.

The breeze, the rustling leaves, and the earthy smell - it's a nice change from the pretentiousness of that castle. I feel like I'm stuck between two worlds, not fitting in either. It's like I'm running away from something I don't understand, and yet, I don't know what lies ahead either.

I prefer the latter.

I take in my surroundings. The towering trees, the sunlight playing peekaboo through the leaves, and the birds singing their hearts out - it's mesmerizing. I end up finding a stream, its water clear and inviting. I scoop some in my hands and drink, feeling the refreshing taste cleanse my soul. Nature's elixir, untainted by golden goblets and crystal chalices.

But, damn it, the guilt follows me like a shadow. Did I do the right thing? Am I supposed to be here, wandering away like some wayward soul?

With a sense of determination and a tinge of desperation, I decided on making the riverbank my sanctuary. I gather whatever fallen branches and twigs I can find to create a crude circle for my makeshift camp. It's not exactly a majestic fortress, but it's mine, damn it.

Using a bigger stick, I clear out a small area, making sure there's no debris that could ruin my cozy corner. I then lay down the few belongings I managed to snatch from the castle - a thin blanket, a half-empty water flask, and a small pouch of dried fruits.

I sit down with my back against an oak tree, as I take in my new domain. It's not much, but it feels like a tiny haven in the vast wilderness. The babbling river becomes my soundtrack, drowning out the memories of that posh life I left behind. Here, I can finally breathe, away from all the expectations and pressures.

As the sun sets, I gather some stones and form a little fire pit, although I have no idea how to start a fire.

I try rubbing two sticks together like some cliché wilderness survival tactic, and by some cosmic miracle, fire happens.

Fear me world! Lucien ‘Doombringer’ something something Brahmeus has made fire!

Sure wish I had marshmallows or anything to roast at all though.

I settle for some dried fruits I snagged on my way out from the castle and wrap myself tightly in a blanket, feeling the chill of the night creeping in.

Despite the uncertainty of my situation, I can't help but feel a glimmer of pride. This is my space now, for a little while anyway.

No one's telling me what to do, where to go, or what responsibilities to shoulder. It's just me, the forest, and the river.

Until it wasn't. Suddenly, a sudden chill runs down my spine as I'm suddenly struck with the thought that someone is watching me.

I try to stay cool and slowly turn my head. Sure enough, someone’s there.

Thankfully, it's not Emilia the maid, my dad, big sis or anyone I know at all.

She looks to be about the same age as me and stands there awkwardly in the distance, her head peeking out behind a tree trunk. She doesn't say anything and looks kinda nervous. Is she afraid of me too?

I get up off my stomach, still not quite sure what to do. What am I supposed to say anyway?

Luckily she does this for me.

"I didn't know other people knew about this place..." She says, slowly revealing more of herself.

"Oh.. me?" I shrug. "I just happened upon here by mistake, you see I..." I stop myself.

I can't tell this girl who I really am, can I? I don't know who is who in this situation. Best to play it safe and pretend I'm some lost idiot.

"I think I made a wrong turn somewhere. My name's.. uh..."

Best not to use my real name either, just in case she's someone I should be wary of.

"I go by Luc… I’m also 10 years old, and you?"

How many names is that already? My second name in this world? Yeesh.

"My name’s Elara, I’m 11 years old and live in the countryside." She looks away briefly. "This is the only place I can be alone. Nobody comes here."

"Sorry to intrude, I really had no idea." I say trying to keep her friendly.

"You said you were passing through, so are you from around here?"

"I'm kind of a nowhere guy." I answer truthfully.

That wasn't exactly the answer she was expecting.

"A nowhere guy?" Her face falls slightly, her shoulders drop a tad. "What about your family? Were they nice? Do you have parents or any relatives?"

I think back to my family in the old world as she asks these questions. They’re literally worlds away from me.

I frown.

"Don't have 'em anymore..."

"I'm sorry! Was that insensitive of me?" She moves up a bit closer to me.

I get a good look at her now that she's a bit closer to me. She isn't very tall, maybe 5'2". She’s got dirty blonde hair and an adorable little nose and face to boot, no pointed ears like mine though.

Elara’s dressed in tattered dark clothes like me and is giving me a soft empathetic look.

"Nope! I'm alright, it's ok." I give a little chuckle, rubbing my eyes with the sleeve of my cloak.

"So why'd you run off then?" She gives me a curious look.

"I just wanted a break from everything. I guess. Life’s got me down" I sigh.

"I think I know what that's like. Are you gonna be alright?" She beams.

"Hopefully…" I say, not fully believing my own answer.

This girl's a breath of fresh air after all those strangers back at the castle.

"I'm just glad you're you and not some scary monster lurking around." She says, exhaling out of relief.

"I was beginning to think this spot is no good anymore. Glad that's not the case."

"You really do like this spot, huh?" I say.

"Well, yeah, I mean, look around! She twirls around, the wind blowing her hair around a little as she turns. "How could you not love such a serene and calm place?"

"I haven't seen much peace lately... but yeah, I would love to explore more here someday.” I nod.

“Do you happen to know what this place is, by the way?” I add.

“It’s a ways away from my homeland of Byzmea, it must be a forest near the border just touching Dralthar.” She explains, a bit unsure herself.

Now I'm getting the hang of this, what with the names and learning the geography of this world. By her logic, Dralthar must be where I lived at the castle…

I genuinely didn’t make it that far. I gotta hand it to me though, my stubby legs can run.

"Ah, Byzmea and Dralthar," I say, trying to sound as if I'm fully aware of the world's geography. "Fascinating places, I'm sure.”

Yeah, I’ve got absolutely no idea what the hell I’m talking about.

✠ ✠ ✠

As the evening sun starts to dip below the horizon, the forest takes on this... magical glow, like something out of a fairy tale.

Amidst all the crazy stuff going on in my head, I feel a little relieved when I'm with Elara, there’s something about another person who’s not a raging lunatic that just brings about great vibes.

We sit side by side for ages, resting our backs against the sturdy oaks. The leaves above us paint these funky patterns with the fading sunlight.

Before we know it, we’re talking about everything under the moon. Our pasts, our dreams, the struggles we've been through. Surprisingly, despite our totally different lives, there's this... connection between us. Elara has her own share of hardships, escaping to a secret hideaway, claiming this forest as her little spot. And then there's me, stuck in that massive castle, trying to figure out who I'm supposed to be.

That castle had way too much pomp and grandeur for its own good, you know? It was like living in a gold-plated cage, or like I was drowning in a sea of formalities and highfalutin traditions.

Glad that’s over for the time being. I better enjoy this while I can.

We’re both enjoying the comforting glow of the fire when suddenly, Elara gets up.

My eyes widen in awe as her hand begins to glow with a faint, shimmering light. It's like watching the birth of a star right in front of me. She mutters some incantations under her breath, and suddenly, a translucent dome-like barrier emerges around us. It's like a dome of energy, shimmering and pulsating with a gentle, otherworldly glow.

"Whoa, wait a second! What's happening?" I ask, observing this weird display of light.

"This should do it!" Elara says with a sly grin. "Check this out, Luc! This is a lil’ barrier, a quick trick I picked up a long while ago!” She says, casually, as if she's talking about baking cookies.

“It'll keep us safe from any unwanted guests while we sleep." She gleams.

I cautiously reach out and touch the barrier. It feels warm and tingly, like a gentle electric current passing through my fingers.

The fact that it's protecting us, that I'm now witnessing magic firsthand, is mind-boggling.

"You can do magic?" I ask in amazement, my voice barely above a whisper.

Elara nods, her eyes sparkling with pride. "Yep! I've been practicing for a while now. Magic is a part of who I am, just like your pointed ears are a part of you."

I can't help but chuckle at her comparison. "Yeah, these ears are kind of hard to miss, huh?"

She giggles, and it's like music in the forest. She's not just some mysterious girl with magic; she's also warm and friendly, and it's nice to have someone like that around for a change.

"This is incredible," I say, still mesmerized by the magical barrier. "I never thought I'd see anything like this in my life."

Elara's smile softens as she looks at me. "Magic is a gift, but it's also a responsibility. It can be dangerous if used recklessly, but when wielded with care and respect, it can be a powerful force for good."

✠ ✠ ✠

As I drift off to sleep, the stars twinkling above, I can't help but smile. Magic, newfound friendship, and an enchanted camp in the wilderness – life sure has a way of surprising you.

I thought things would go south for sure and almost regretted my decision.

This girl really is something.