Prologue Part 6
The sun rose signaling the start of a new day. Seven year old Matteo got up from his room and headed to his mother's room. He got inside but saw that no one was there. He went downstairs past the hall that had large portraits of past Dumont family members hanging on the walls and to the lower floor of the mansion. He went to the dining area and saw Sylvia cleaning the tables. "Good morning Sylvia."
"Ah, good morning, my lord." She greeted back with a bow. "Where's mama?" He asked. "Your mother left early to visit a friend of hers." "Okay" He replied then sat down on the sofa. "Oh wait, I'm busy right now so can you please go and sit in your room? Once I have finished I will prepare your breakfast and your bath." "Okay. May I please go to the library?" "Alright, but don't go anywhere else, okay?" A mischievous gleam appeared in his eyes. "Okay."
He then left the living room while Sylvia brought her palm to her forehead. Honestly, that boy is so much trouble.
Matteo headed for the library which was on the opposite side of the house. On his way there he passed a room in which he saw something strange. He decided to take a closer look inside and saw his "father" Thomas sitting on a mat on the floor with his legs crossed. There was a strange symbol on his back that had lines flowing across his hands as well and they were glowing blue. Matteo decided to get a closer look at him and saw that both of his eyes were closed. He tried tapping Thomas on the shoulder but he didn't respond. He tried again a few more times but he still couldn't get his attention. He tried touching the symbol on his back and his finger felt a stinging shock. "Ow!"
One of the servants noticed that the door was wide open and decided to see what was going on. She saw Matteo trying to get his attention and immediately tried to stop him. "No, lord Matteo. You must not interrupt your father. He is busy." Matteo furrowed his brow. "What is he busy with?" The servant took his hand and walked out the room with him. "He is busy inside his Spirit Tree." "Huh, what's a Spirit Tree?" They exited the room then the servant lady explained to him, "It's where he goes to get strong. I can't tell you more since I don't have one myself, but I do think you will learn about it very soon."
The servant lady left and Matteo continued his walk to the library. After a few minutes he got to the library, took out a book on the history of Callistéa which was his homework assignment from his tutor, then sat down and read the book. The book began with a dusty tale from a thousand years ago, when Callistéa was just a tiny village run by the Camulan tribe. Matteo blinked. That long ago?
Then came the Kailund Empire. According to the text, they had enslaved the Camulan people and ruled with cruelty. Why would they do that? Matteo frowned. He didn't like the sound of King Earnest Kailund III already.
But then, hope came. A hundreds of years later, a man named Aurelien Callistéa united all the enslaved tribes and overthrew the empire. He must've been so brave... just like in those hero stories I read before bedtime.
Matteo turned the page eagerly. Wait, he died during the coup? That part made his heart sink a little. Even the greatest heroes didn't always survive.
Still, it was inspiring. So he saved everyone and they named the country after him? That's so cool!
He thought in wonder as he finished the first section of the book. He was about to read about what happened after that but "Lord Matteo, it's time for breakfast!" Sylvia called out to him from the entrance of the library. Matteo jumped out of his seat and ran towards Sylvia. They went back to the living room where Matteo sat waiting for Sylvia to bring him his food. She brought him a bowl of porridge with honey drizzled on top and placed it on his lap."There you go."
"Thank you." Matteo replied back. He took the spoon that was on the table and began eating his breakfast. Right in the middle of his breakfast, Isabella walked into the living room. "Hello mama." Matteo waved at her. "Hello my sweet little boy," she waved back at him. Isabella couldn't help but laugh at her son after seeing how dirty he was. "You are covered in porridge. Did you take a bath yet?" "No" Matteo replied. "Well you better go and take one once you finish… messing up your clothes. Okay, my little porridge monster?" "Okay." Matteo replied back. Then an idea came into his mind. "Mama" "Yes?" Isabella responded. "Raar!" Matteo roared as he scooped some of the remaining porridge into his hands and smeared it all over his mother's face. He then laughed after. Isabella smiled as she wiped the porridge off her face. "Okay, okay. But we do not play with our food like that. Okay?"
"Yes mama." Matteo went back to trying to eat whatever food was left in his bowl.
***
Matteo finished his breakfast, took a bath and was now fresh and clean. He walked to the front door where Isabella and Thomas were waiting for him. "Finally you are clean." Isabella celebrated as she picked Matteo up in her arms. "Is father coming too?" "Yes he is." Matteo turned to him. "Father, what is a Spirit Tree?" Thomas ignored him and exited the house. "Matteo, go visit the restroom before we leave." Isabella reminded him gently. Matteo got down from his mother's arms and ran to the restroom, leaving Thomas and Isabella to have a quick chat.
"What is the matter with you?" She asked, grabbing his shoulder aggressively from behind. "The child asked you a question and you just ignored him like that." Thomas replied, "I did not ignore him. The boy was speaking to his father and the last time I checked, I am not his father." Isabella tightened her grip on his shoulder as a green aura emanated from her body. "You are such a hypocrite! You have no problem going around and flaunting his achievements as if they are your own, but you refuse to acknowledge him despite all he has done for the Dumont family name?"
Thomas did not reply with words but rather by emanating a powerful aura from his body that was far stronger than any amount Isabela could ever hope to unleash. "unhand me, Isabella." he said sternly. Isabella felt weak and fear took over her very being. Her knees felt weak and there was nothing she wanted in that moment more than to fall to the ground. But still she held on and didn't let even the smallest sign of fear or weakness show. They stayed in that battle of strength and endurance for a few more seconds. Isabella was about to crumble, but luckily she was saved by the bell. "All done mama!" She let go of Thomas and went over to Matteo's side. They had both controlled their powers the second they noticed him. Thomas entered the carriage first and the other two followed soon after.
They were headed to the annual carnival, an event that every noble, commoner, and trading company had been waiting for all year. After an hour of travel, they finally arrived at the site of the carnival in the city of Marivale.
There were a lot of different carts that stored a variety of different items from clothes from across all 5 continents of the world to the rarest of delicacies. There were many people there, more people than Matteo had ever seen at once. His mother immediately grabbed his hand once they got out of the carriage. As they walked around, Matteo couldnt help but notice how people were clearing the way for them. These people were wearing robes but they looked far more dull in their cotton fabric compared to the shiny and lavish silk worn by Matteo, his family and a few of the other people there. Some of them even had holes and tears in them.
Just like that, the Dumont family was at the front of the line. This did not sit right with Matteo as he asked his mother, "Mama, why are we cutting in the line?" "Because we are nobles sweetie, and the nobles get the first pick in the caravan." "But that's not fair," Matteo said. "I know it isn't fair, sweetie, but this is how things are. Life is not fair, and you will understand it more when you grow up. There are some people who are not as fortunate as us and the only thing we can do is try our best to be more fortunate than others."
"Well, why don't we just share with the ones who are not fortunate?" Isabella giggled at his response. "We do, but sometimes that is just not enough. But still, you should try to share as much as you can with those who don't have anything, alright?" Matteo nodded. "Now, let's wait for the caravan to open." "Okay," Matteo replied. He tried to forget about it but it just did not sit right with him. The more he thought about it, the more his blood began to boil. Isabella began walking and he took one last look back at the commoners and gave a sympathetic look towards them all. But that's not fair!
Soon, the caravan event opened first to the nobles who swooped in and took pretty much every item of value being sold. An hour later, the commoners were let in as well as the peasantry. The Dumont family had just finished their shopping. Thomas bought a new sword that cost 3000 Crayna and some clothes from the Maxence Boutique which is the number one fashion Boutique in the Tetoli continent. All his clothes cost 10 000 Crayna. Isabella also bought some new robes as well as some dresses and accessories from the country of Debonair which cost her 8000 Crayna in total. Matteo bought a few sweets and some new robes as well as some new clothes and toys from the kingdom of Kailund which now sat on the opposite end of the Tetolian continent from Callistea. His spending total came up to about 2500 Crayna.
They sat down for lunch inside a small nomadic restaurant that served food from all over the world. After a few minutes, which felt like hours for Matteo, their food finally arrived. Matteo was about to dig in when suddenly, the entire restaurant full of noble men and women went silent with only the sound of murmuring left as they all watched a guard drag away a woman wearing slightly torn ragged clothing. Matteo looked on at the whole scene. "Please! Please! My baby is hungry and we don't have anything to eat! I'm begging you. You all have a lot of money but my son and I, we have nothing! Please spare us some food!" Her screams could now be heard across the restaurant. The guard threw her to the ground and kicked her in the stomach. "Leave! This place is for nobles only, not for peasant filth!" The guard spat. All the nobles in the restaurant were still, but from the looks on their faces, they were either intrigued by the sudden spectacle, or they were annoyed by the peasant lady interrupting their lunch.
"Please… have a heart." The lady continued to beg. "Just one plate of food… It doesn't matter what kind. As long as my son and I have something to eat. We have not eaten in over two days. Do you know what that is like, especially for my poor son. He is still only eight years old. I'm begging you!" The guard scowled. "I do not care about you or your child! You are disturbing the people in here and they are the most important people in this entire nation. Far more important than you or your boy will ever be. Now leave, this is my last warning."
"No… no please." She continued to beg, clutching at her stomach as she tried pulling herself up. "Please!" The guard had enough. He took his stick and was prepared to swing it in her direction, when…
"Stop it!!" Matteo shouted, standing just behind the guard. Matteo! Isabella gasped as she realized she had been distracted. She got up from her seat and was about to call out to him but then Matteo walked up to the woman and gave her his dish packed in a kids bag. "Here you go, ma'am." The woman stared at him in shock, and so did the rest of the restaurant. Once the lady took hold of the bag and saw what was inside, she covered her mouth in disbelief. Around seven thick pork ribs with a side of fresh vegetables and two moonshrimp on the side. "I'm sorry, but I already ate three of the ribs… and three of the moonshrimp. I hope that will still be enough to feed you and your son. What is his name?"
"Hugo… his name is Hugo!" She said as tears fell down her face. She brought her head down before him, "thank you, oh thank you! Now my son doesn't have to sleep hungry… I can finally start being a good mother to him…thank you… thank you so much." Her voice broke and her tears became uncontrollable sobs. Matteo rubbed her back with his small hands, but was then grabbed from behind by the guard who gave him a stern look. "Hey, kid. What are you doing?"
But Matteo just pushed his hand off and gave him a stern look of his own, "I am giving this woman my food because her son is hungry. What about you? You just kicked her and embarrassed her when she was asking you so nicely. What about the rest of you! Why are you all so mean?! All she asked for was one plate of food so that she and her son could eat like the rest of us. You all have so much food on your plates that you can't even fit all of it onto your tables, and yet you would rather leave it there to get rotten than to give your extra food to those who actually need it! Why are you all so selfish and mean?!" Matteo balled his hands up into a fist and snuffled as a tear shed down his face.
A tear fell down Isabella's face as well and the restaurant went silent with mixtures of shocked faces and disdainful sneers. Matteo went into the bathroom, leaving an awkward and uncomfortable atmosphere in the dining area. Matteo came back and was silent for the remainder of their stay at the restaurant. Isabella bought him some dessert to cheer him up and it worked. Then they left the restaurant, finished their last rounds of shopping, and in the early hours of the evening during sunset the caravan closed and the Dumont family went back home.
***
It was already dark by the time they got home and a few hours later, it was Matteo's bedtime. He brushed his teeth, got into his nightgown, said his nightly prayer, and was tucked into bed by his mother. Isabella sat on the bed next to her, also in her nightgown. "What story are you going to tell today, mama?" Matteo asked in excitement. She didn't have a book ready with her like she normally did. "Tonight's story is the story of -"
Suddenly, all the candles lit in the room went out, leaving it in complete darkness. "Mama, what was that?" Matteo asked, his heart starting to pound. Isabella jumped up from the bed and tried to look for the door, but she couldn't see it. "Mama, I'm scared."Everything's going to be okay, sweetie, I promise. The candle just ran out." Then, they both felt a breeze brush past them, which turned into a recurring wind. Isabella's heart finally began thumping aggressively against her ribs. What on earth is going on? She thought.
Then, white smoke came out seemingly from the floor, the same type of smoke that usually came from the smoking pipes or fires, but this one didn't smell of tobacco, or anything for that matter. Slowly, it accumulated in the area of the room just in front of Matteo's bed, glowing in the darkness. Matteo clung to his mother for dear life and she clung to him just as hard. "Mama!"Matteo cried as tears raced down both sides of his cheeks. Isabella was trying to gasp for air.
She finally found it in her to move as she gritted her teeth, held Matteo tightly and made a quick dash to the door…but it wouldn't open. "Help! Help us!" Isabella banged the door as hard as she could but no answer came from the outside. After a few moments, the smoke began to shift, almost as if it was shaping itself into something… something like a transparent figure of a human body. Isabella's eyes widened and Matteo closed his eyes.
The smoke had finished its formation and took a few steps forward. A loud scream escaped from Isabella's mouth, a desperate, raw wail that seemed to stretch the very fabric of the air itself. The figure stopped and stood still for a second. Matteo tried to wipe the tears from his eyes and accidentally opened one of them, he saw the smoky figure standing just a few meters away from him. But this time he did not scream, he did not cry, he just stared. He gazed directly at it, and it seemed to be gazing back at him, although he could not tell due to its lack of a discernible face.
Isabella banged on the door as she sobbed and screamed. When she realized that it wasn't working, she gave up completely, sinking to the floor and reluctantly turning her gaze back to the human smoke despite everything in her telling her not to. Her body trembled violently and her skin turned pale as she realized just how helpless she was. "I don't want to die." she barely managed to whisper hoarsely with whatever remained of her voice. "I don't want to die. I don't want to die. I don't want… to die." Her body felt weaker and weaker and her vision started to blur until finally, her body completely gave out.
Matteo did not notice this as he was still staring at it. It finally continued moving as it stepped closer and closer in his direction. Matteo still didn't run or scream, he stood perfectly still, completely unchanged. Eventually, the smoky figure was right in front of him, just standing there, staring him down. Matteo stood up and they now stood face to face. Matteo tried to touch it but when he made contact with the smoke his hand passed through the figure's head. This time it was the smoky figure's turn. It took its hand and slowly raised it towards Matteo's forehead. But once its hand reached Matteo's forehead, he felt an immense chill colder than anything he had ever felt before running throughout his entire body.
Then… everything turned black.