Nevendar: The wizard's tale - Sunrise - part 2

thewriterguy (58)in #fiction • 8 years ago (edited)

Introduction - link.
The story continues.

link

Near the orphanage, Eternal Hope , a few of the older kids were chopping wood for the day. Other kids were making beds, dusting and helping in the kitchen. Eternal hope had two caretakers. Younger woman, Adely, is a cook, but she also taught kids about proper physical activity, as well as manners and customs. The older one was a teacher called Emberly, together with Adely was a second mother to children living in their care.

„Breakfast’s ready!“, Stephany yelled from the outside of the front door. It was not long when everyone rushed in to the kitchen that also served as the dining room. As the older boys and girls were cleaning themselves from working outside, others were helping to set up the table. There were sixteen seats. Fourteen for the children and two for their caretakers.
„As you all know, today we say farewell to four of our friends. Four oldest brothers and sisters. Four oldest kids we helped grow and mature... I’m sorry, I even memorized this stupid speech.“ Adely was overcome by emotions. She always tried to act tough. Even when everyone knew she was kind and soft. She was wiping tears from her eyes, but they just kept falling down her face.

It was a celebratory breakfast. Four of the children have turned fifteen years of age. In the kingdom of Normania, that means they should choose their profession. To find their path in life.

„I will become a knight!" Loudly and proudly proclaimed Gerath. Tallest ward in the Eternal hope. Honest and always blunt in his statements. „You can't be a knight Gerath, you're too slow." Said Emily as other children started laughing. "What would you know? You can't walk without falling on your face." Answered Gerath, directing laughter to Emily. "And you're stupid!" Said Emily as she continued eating while pouting the entire time.

This was a typical sight during meals. Gerath and Emily are always teasing each other. This is the first time she is taking it harshly. Adely turned to the twins. "What about you? Are you ready for the mages academy?"
„We are." Answered Cristabela. „We've been preparing for years. I've even decided which school I'd go to."
„What about you Luca?" Adely asked politely. „It's fine, we'll be mages. Just like they were"
„You don't sound very happy about that. What's wrong?"
„You giving up that easily?" Nico said. „I'm not. I'm just not sure if this is what I really want."
„This is our family tradition. Why should we end it now?" Cristabela said. Her voice was filled with determination.
"We don't even know if that's true."
„I do." With no hesitation answered Cristabela. „That is all that maters to me!"

link

Breakfast was slowly ending and everyone went their own way. Cristabela and Luca were walking to their room. As every other room, it was a shared with a few more kids. There were four of them in this one. A brother and a sister. Emily and Johan. She was twelve and Johan was ten. He was always quiet and calm. Good at listening, but not as good at saying the right thing at the right time. Emily was usually brash and arrogant.

„Are you sure you want to become a mage?“ Asked Cristabela calmly. She was clearly worried of what her brother said during meal. „You never said you didn’t wanted it. What changed?“
„Nothing really. I always had doubts about it.“
„Then why didn't you say anything earlier?“
„You were always so happy when you talked about mages and magic. I didn't wanted to spoil it for you.“
„Then what do you want? It’s not too late to choose something else.“
„And let you go alone?“ Luca asked while smiling.
„Don't tease me!“ She said loudly, but with a lot of joy in her voice.

Luca garbed her hand. „Don’t worry about me. This is something I have to deal with myself. It’s not that I don’t want to go, it’s just, I’m not sure if I want to be a mage as much as you do.“
„You don’t have to want it as much as I do. You just need to want it enough to finish school. If not, you might regret it later.“
She walked a few steps ahead of him and entered their room first. Johan was already there. Sitting on his bed, reading a book. It was an old book. Covers have peeled of, years ago. Many pages were yellow and a few of them were barley readable. Never the less, it was the best they could get.

Johan blushed and dag his head into the book, as soon as Cristabella walked in. It was a simple room. Big enough for three beds and one closet. Walls were freshly painted, only few months ago. It was a joint effort. Everyone helped, even a few neighboring families. Entire orphanage got a new color. Beds were rusty. They sometimes screeched when kids jumped on them. Like most things they had, beds were a gift. Previously used by someone more fortunate. Closet was even older. It was not just rusty, but it was falling apart. Inhabitants of this room were unlucky to get one of the worst Eternal hope had. There was nothing to be done about it. They had to use it as best as they could. It was well kept and tidy. Cristabella and Johan liked to keep things clean. It was usually an uphill battle to make their siblings help out.

Luca entered shortly after his sister. He smiled when he saw Johan reading the book.
„Reading again? I thought you’d finish by now.“
„Sorry. It’s really long. I, really tried to finish it before you left.“
„Don’t worry about it. I've read it twice already. You know what, I’ll give you the book until next time we see each other.“
„But that might take years! I can’t keep it that long.“
„Yes you can, because I said you can. It’s my book and I say, keep it.“
„Are you sure?“ Cristabella asked curious and unsure what to think of this event.
„Of course I’m sure. Just be sure to enjoy it.“
„I will!“
„And take care of it. Who knows when I’ll see it again.“ Luca said while placing a hand on Johan's shoulder. He slowly got up and started looking for everything he might need. Even if he did not had much, he still carefully packed almost everything he owned.

Cristabella sat on the bed while her brother was near the closet sorting his suitcase. After a few moments Sandra and Stephany walked through the door. Sandra jumped on the bed next to Cristabella and hugged her. "Why do you have to leave? I'm just going to hug you and you won't be able to leave. Don't go! Just stay with me." Sandra was fourteen years old. She had a short, black hear just barely covering her ears. She had a few freckles on her cheeks. A warm, soothing smile and sad, lonely eyes.

„Don't be silly. You know I have to go. We talked about this."
„I, know. I'm, sorry." Sandra stopped hugging Cristabella and garbed her hands. „Let’s start packing.“ She said as she stopped pouting.
„Sometimes it’s tiring watching you Sandra. We've been thru this twice.“ Stephany was sharing a room with Sandra and they were the same age. Thanks to Sandra, her patience has been tested many times. They still managed to remain best friends. She was taller than most girls her age. Her hair was long, almost reaching her hips. Stephany was usually highly reserved, never talking too much. She wore long fluttering dresses.

"We should start packing. I don't want to be late."
Girls quickly started going through Cristabella’s stuff. Just like her brother, just like all the kids in the orphanage, she had very few things she could call her own. Never the less, she had more than most. Few times a year, town would donate used and some new clothes. This never stopped some of the kids from trying to earn money on their own. Most often the leader of this endeavors was Cristabella. She would organize juice sales. Plays in an old, almost abandoned theater. Magic performances and tricks. She even gave magic classes to several kids who would soon become her colleagues in the academy.

After Luca packed, he went outside. Ne needed fresh air. Being in a small room with too many people can be unpleasant. He walked past kids playing in the living room. They were cheerful and oblivious as ever. Light, cold breeze welcomed him as he got outside. A few of the youngest children were playing in the sand and in the mud. One of the girls was watering the flowers with their teacher. Cherry flowers have almost all fallen along with the yellow leaves. Giving the entire front yard a very unique smell. For a reason unknown to him, he already felt nostalgic. Like he left a while ago. As he walked the makeshift road, he noticed small rocks inside of it. Sparrow nest in the crack close to the roof of their home. For reasons unknown to Luca, he was noticing all the little things he took for granted.

It took them almost an hour, but the girls finished packing. Johan and Stephany left the room. She grabbed his hand and they walked outside. He was still carrying Luca’s book in his other hand. Cristabella laid on the bed and Sandra soon joined her. Laying back turned to her. Cristabella wrapped her arms around Sandra and she placed her hands on Cristabella’s arms.
“You won’t forget about me?” Stephany asked in unusually somber voice.
“How can I forget about you? I'll wait for you in Nevendar and once we find a place for our own, we can start living together! For now, can we just lay down, for some reason, I feel, tired.”
Stephany softly smiled and closed her eyes. After a while they looked motionless.

Images links: image 1 and image 2.

part 1

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