We met each other when I was 12 and he was 15.
He was sleeping under our vegetable cart that one morning, making himself feel warm with the soft fabric that was for the vegetables. He's so tiny that time that anyone would think we're the same age. Father carried him on to our small living room, still asleep, and wrapped him in a blanket.
He wasn't sick, father suspected that he's a heavy sleeper. We waited for more than an hour until he finally wokes up.
I tilted my head when his eyes first dropped on mine. He stared at me for more than five seconds, I think, before scanning what's around him. Father came out from the kitchen holding a bowl of soup.
"Ah! He's awake, Reeves! Come and get him water!" Father signed right after he placed the bowl on the tiny table in front of him.
From the kitchen, I heard him ask questions on how did he get here. His voice are very mature and respectful towards my father. He's also very calm, his very presence feels like a never ending falling leaf of an old tree in the middle of a forest.
Father told him that he was found under our cart and asked him how did he got there. He said he was so sleepy last night because of tiredness but don't want to go home and it felt safe under the cart so he snucked in there. Father laughed, secondly asking him where did he came from so he could send him himself there.
"I'm from the Hailia Empire, Sir. Im under the Pelvalune Magic Tower."
Hailia! In the East!
I could feel my insides screamed in excitement.
Aunt Imogen told me stories about Hailia. That's where she once lived when she was a maiden. They've got a golden fountain near the shore of the infamous Korial Island. That's where also the oldest person in the world live (Aunt said that that person was still alive today based on the newspaper from Hailia). They've also got the oldest Magic Tower, the Foundation of the Hailia. It was located in the Coral Forest near the Bronze Temple in the Empire's South. That's where he came from!
I've seen the paintings, but it would be so much better if I'll see it in front of me, with my own two little curious eyes.
"Hailia! This is the border, young man. Are you traveling?"
He shook his head. "My master told me to figure out how to get to the tower. I've been on a walk since a week now. He left me on a Qartumo Cave."
My heart could've almost dropped when he informed us. I've been told that the Qartumo Cave is at the top of the world. Winter is the only season there.
"Ah, it must've been your mission then? I read a guide book when I was a teen that wizards must've complete a mission before having a token of competence. So you're fifteen?" I turned my head on father with awe.
Father's fond of remembering, given that he was a former librarian for twenty years in the royal library of Malaya Kingdom where we lived when mother was still alive.
He nodded and asked what book did he read. Father answered him that it's a long time ago when he was still a librarian.
I sat there and listen to them talked and discussed things that I still don't know. A little while later, father introduced me.
"She's Reeves, my daughter. She's turning thirteen next next month." Father put his arms around me and smiled.
He stared at me for a little while longer as if he's remembering something. He gave me a short smile before introducing himself. "I'm Alistair. Hello, Reeves."
I nodded my head and smiled. Father then asked him when would he continue for his mission and if he please, he may stay here a little while for days. It would be good for him to stop and save energy for his departure.
He immediately agreed.
That afternoon, father bid us his goodbyes to sell the vegetables in the marketplace. He and I were the only ones that was left in the house.
Father told me, before he left, to tour him around the house. He just nod and ask small things as I toured him on our small wooden house filled with spider webs and dust.
I was please at his demeanor as I delightedly converse him with small things like the plates and utensils. His eyes aren't judgeful and was simply curious and interested, unlike the other lost citizens that took refuge for a short time in our home.
As we went outside, I told him to sat on the chair at the porch because I'll fetch us some bread and water. When I came back, he was blankly staring at our garden where the vegetables we sell are planted, fully lost. I had to pat his shoulder to make him realize that I'm already back from the kitchen.
He took the bread as I sat far beside him and took a crunch at my bread.
"Can I ask?"
I nodded my head. "Hmm, anything."
"Aren't you and Mister scared living here in the middle of the woods, alone? And...this is the border. Aren't you scared of the bandits?"
I shook my head. "Father told me that a kind Goddess is protecting this forest and us from harm."
He blinked. "Goddess?"
"Hmm."
"Is it a folklore?"
I tilted my head and thought of it. "Father never told me any. Maybe it is."
He continued to bite on his sandwich. "Is it okay if I'll be here for three days? Would I not be a bother?"
"No. We would be happy if you could stay even for a week. We haven't had a visitor for a long time. It's lonely here sometimes that I am left alone."
"You're not going with Mister in the marketplace?"
"Hmm-hmm. Only on weekends. I was the one who found you under the cart yesterday because I was with Father, it was Sunday. It was so cold then, you're lucky you've got a coat on you, you know?"
He nodded. "Thank you."
I smiled. "You're a good man."
"T-Thanks."
"Don't die early,"
He almost choke on his sandwich as I say those words. I mean it.
"Why would you think of saying that?"
"Because you're a wizard. The wizards I've read on books always die early."
"It's just on a book. Wizards like us can live up to a thousand years, unlike your kinds."
"Hmm. It's such a shame that humans like us is a simpleton. We'll get buried in just a manner of time. You should be grateful in your long life, you've got to experience many things."
He was silent then seconds after and stared from afar before he ask another question once again.
"Can I walk around?"
I nodded. "Do you want me to go with you or you'll go alone?"
"Please come with me," He said while fixing his coat.
I close the door of the house and we walk pass through the garden fences. He kept asking questions that I splendidly answered most. I don't really know about some of 'em. I realized that he is somehow twisted. Once, he asked about if there were ever brown bears in here that he'll gladly kill. I felt a little angry and told him that there are brown bears, but they are far away from us. Bears are parts of nature, and if I ever saw him kill 'em, I'll make sure our to kick him in the butt. I saw smirked for the first time.
"There's a fall nearby. You can wash yourself up there." I said after walking for almost half an hour around the forest where I pointed everything I know. Including the flowers, trees, owls, and the snakes that father fed sometimes.
Our past visitors seemed pretty weirded out by father and I whenever they shelter in our home and we told them stories living here, but him, how do I say it? He's pretty casual about everything. Probably because we're almost the same age, and we're just curious.
He followed me until we got to the fall.
The current weren't as strong as it is when it's raining. Since it's sunny, I could see more ducks and gulls paddling along. The trees are swaying softly, touching each other's leaves. The meadow nearby was peaking through the rocks beside the falls.
When I gazed at him, I could see him mesmerized by it. I let him stare at the scene, not speaking for more than three minutes or so.
He removed his coat but not his robe and trousers when he got into the water.
"Aren't you going to wash up too?"
I shook my head as I sat on top of a rock and lift my trouser as the current pass along my feet and legs. I lay my body on the rock as the sun shone upon me. I closed my eyes.
"Later." I answered him with a tired tone.
Closing my eyes, I could hear him splash the water. I murmured that I will not wash up. 96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJoPLdSyHeN
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"Hey. Wake up."
I could feel a cold hands shrugging my shoulders. When I finally opened my eyes, I was blinded by the light peaking through. I immediately sat up.
Ah, I fell asleep.
"You're asleep for almost an hour, I think." He said as I got up and scratch my eyes.
He grabbed his dry coat and wipe my wet legs with it that has been flowed by the stream while I was sleeping. He only gave me a nod as I thanked him.
"Come to think of it, what should I call you?"
He lifted his head and look at me, his eyebrows both on up. I blinked as he's staring at me too much, probably thinking deep.
"You can call me Ree, or Reeves, or Eve, or Ivy." I said. "Ree is what my aunt calls me before she died. Reeves, that's what father calls me. Eve, that's what the old man by the marketplace calls me. Ivy, err, I invented it myself. That's what I call myself in my journal."
"Reeves," He murmured as he stand up. "Reeves for now,"
"What's 'for now' means?"
He shrugged his shoulders at me and turned his back. He began walking. I paced fast to catch up.
"Call me Ali, Alistair is too long."
"Alright, Ali. What dish do you want for our dinner? I'll be cooking."
"Anything, I'm not a picky eater. I'm alright with anything."
"Alright."
Arriving at our house, Ali sat on the front porch to stare at the garden. He's looking ahead, probably thinking deep again. I went straight at the kitchen to prepare our dinner once father gets home. I boil up some potatoes and cut some vegetables to make some soup. Then, I prepared to wash the fruits displayed on our table to cut it.
We have a visitor first time in months. Father and I always wanted them to feel welcome in our home with the food we serves.
I let out a sigh when I can't see any mango on the table. I eliminate the fire for a while and got out of the house.
"Where are you going?" Ali asked, wondering why I was leaving.
"Picking up some mangoes." I told him.
I continued walking to the very near mango tree, being followed by him. As I was starting to climb up the tree, he snatched my hem.
"It's dangerous,"
"No. I do this every few weeks. I got to get some mango. Just wait here."
He never say anything more as he let go. I climb up up to eight branches to get to the part where the ripen mango was at. I look at Alistair from above and he's just blankly staring like being wary I might fall.
"Can you catch the mangoes I will throw?!"
I saw him nod, quite and attentive. I began picking up the yellowish ripen mangoes and throw it to his figure from below. I throw about some 5 or 6 mangoes. I stretched my arm to a branch, struggling to go down.
This is the part I always struggle. Going down. But somehow, I always managed.
I took a deep breath, reaching the branches going down.
"Reeves!" I heard him shout.
"Hmm?"
"Jump!"
I stopped and turned my head to his figure. He was opened arms, ready to catch me. I blinked as my eyebrows met. I look at the tree on the way down and sighed.
"Are you sure?!" I shouted back. "I'm heavy!"
"Just jump!"
"Alright, wait!"
I cling to the small tree branch to find some support as I let myself fell down with eyes open. His wide and strong grip captured my fall. It was shocking that in his figure like mine, he was firm enough to catch me without falling down himself.
As he let me down, he pick up the mangoes and stock it in his long robe, using it as a bag. I let him carry it because he refused to give it to me until we got to the front porch.
It was dawn when father came back from the marketplace. Alistair helped him pushed the cart in the garden when he saw him arrived.
At dinner, father prayed first. He then immediately asked how's Alistair's first day here. Father's glad to hear that Alistair was pleased and happy. At the end of the dinner, father reminded me to help him with picking up the ripe vegetables in the garden by the morning.
After washing the dishes, I prepared Alistair's futon on the floor to sleep on. Father went outside to checked on the fences to which the big wild boars take away every night and trespass to eat our plantation. It's the problem we deal with here as we chose to stay here.
My futon was warm when I laid on it, with Father on my left and Alistair on my right side. When I turned my head to Alistair, he was looking above at our ceiling. I didn't mind it and close my eyes to sleep.
I think it was midnight when my eyes opened. I saw Alistair staring at me with a very calm face. I almost gasped.
"Why aren't you sleeping?" I whispered, scared that father might woke up. "There's a big day ahead. Close your eyes."
"I can stay awake for three days."
"I know it's possible. But you must close your eyes."
"I can't sleep," He admitted.
I sighed. "You're probably just adapting to our place."
I adjusted his blanket and put my hand on his chest. I began tapping it and started a little humming.
"It's alright. Close your eyes."
He move his head and close his eyes. I continued humming for a long moment with my eyes still open. I hummed until I fell asleep.
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He probably was too, I guess.
ns216.73.216.121da2
and then Add to home screen.