Days of Life 1
Sep 10, Year 35. Second Era.
The morning had begun quietly. From the window, a soft light entered, illuminating the small room and caressing the walls with a warm glow. On the bed, neatly folded, rested a child's uniform, freshly ironed, carrying that particular scent of cleanliness and home.
The woman, leaning with patience, helped the boy get dressed. Her hands moved over the fabric with expert gestures, fastening a button here, straightening a crease there.
"All done," she said at last, letting out a small sigh of satisfaction.
The boy, perhaps eight years old, raised his arms and stood still, marveling at his reflection in the full-length mirror. His eyes shone with wonder; the jacket hung a little loose on his shoulders, but that only gave him a charming air, as if he were trying to look older than he really was.
"Mom, I look important!" he exclaimed, flashing a smile that revealed a freshly lost tooth.
She let out a small laugh and knelt down to be at his height. With a finger, she pointed to the pocket where a small embroidered crest rested.
"Of course you are. Do you see this? It's not just a uniform. It's a sign that you're starting something new."
The boy fell silent, lowering his gaze to the crest. He slowly moved his arms, spinning around as if to check how he looked from every angle.
"It feels strange, but… nice," he confessed, shrugging.
She ruffled his hair affectionately, undoing the effort he had put into combing it just minutes earlier.
"It suits you perfectly," she said with tenderness.
The boy let out a shy laugh and looked at himself in the mirror again, this time with more confidence. The uniform was not just clothing: it was a kind of promise. A symbol that he was growing, step by step, even if to him it still felt like a game.
The woman, standing by the door, watched him spin a few more times. The scene was simple, but in the stillness of that morning it felt special, like a memory both of them would keep dearly.
She opened the door softly, but at that very moment she heard a loud noise: a door downstairs swung open violently, followed by rapid footsteps climbing the stairs.
The echo resounded through the house, and before she could react, a man appeared in midair, leaping from the lower landing and landing firmly in the hallway. The impact was sharp, agile, like that of someone used to moving with speed and precision.
Without stopping, he ran toward her. It took him barely a second, two at most, to reach the half-open door. The woman shifted slightly to the side, giving him space. The man lowered his body, crouching to make no sound, and peeked into the room…
Empty.Only the gentle breeze and the morning light came through the open window, stirring the curtains as if mocking his tension.
Unease ran through him like a shiver. He pushed the door open further, hesitant, and stepped inside. His steps were careful, almost wary, until something struck him from below: a soft tackle, more like an embrace.
He looked down.There was the boy, clinging to his leg, his face buried in the fabric of his pants.
The man blinked in surprise, and then the child lifted his head, showing him a pure smile.
"Dad…" he said.
Relief washed over him instantly, visible in his whole body. The woman noticed it from the doorway; it was anything but subtle.
"Did it scare you so much that he hid in the wall?" she said, piecing together what had happened.
He glanced at her sideways and nodded in silence.Worry etched itself across the woman's face, though she chose not to add more.
The boy let go of his father's leg and ran down the hallway, clumsily but happily descending the stairs. His parents followed, this time at a calm pace.
"How long can you stay?" the woman asked softly.
"Maybe two weeks," he replied.
As they descended, she added cautiously:"By the way… what happens out there, in the outer lands, it's very traumatic."
He nodded without surprise."Yes, even if they're safe zones, different from expeditions… it always is."
She frowned."But when you come back, you don't seem scared."
"Ah…" he exhaled with a half-smile. "That's because of something new they've been giving us, to me and to the younger ones too."
Curiosity flickered in her eyes. He continued, lowering his tone:
"They're runes, stones enchanted by a new branch of magic. By inscribing symbols on them, they gain effects. They give them to us as pendants, badges, clips, or bracelets. We have dozens, so they're never lacking on missions."
She nodded, though each word seemed to stir more questions.
"And what they do," he went on, "is suppress fear… or give you more courage and valor."
"That sounds incredible…" she murmured, genuinely amazed.
He hesitated for a moment, lowering his gaze toward the hallway."Yes, but…" he paused to find the words, "it's as if, by using them, you lose a little of your own ability to feel those things. Courage, calmness… after a while, they feel foreign. And besides, they don't stop trauma or pain. They only postpone it. When the effect breaks, it all comes back."
The woman stopped for a second, holding his arm with both hands. She tried to soothe him, to quiet the fear he hadn't quite put into words.
He answered with a gentle, though weary, smile.
In that instant, they both noticed something: from the couch in the living room, the boy's face peeked out from behind the backrest, watching them with those wide, innocent eyes.
The father felt the tension in his chest dissipate at once. A broad, almost restrained smile lit up his face.
The mother followed his gaze and, upon seeing the same scene, her own expression changed as well. The tenderness of that little mischief was so unexpected it turned amusing.
Both burst into laughter. A pure, loud laughter that brought tears to their eyes until they had to wipe them almost in unison.
"Kaep," the father finally said, his voice still broken by laughter.
The boy straightened up on the couch, standing on the seat. Now his head reached up to his neck above the backrest.
"Ready for your first day?" the man asked.
The boy flashed another shy smile and nodded firmly.
"Good. Then let's have breakfast, and we'll take you… to TakRan Academy."