The cold morning breeze drifted through the alleys of Mala, that humble village that sleeps in the arms of the mountains north of the city of Nexar. The birds began their usual chirping, as if heralding the beginning of a new day … a day unlike any before.
Despite the misery surrounding her mud huts, despite the cracked roads and ragged clothes, Mala was pulsating with love. Its people are kind, their hearts purer than water, they share bread and salt without question, as if life has taught them how to be human, even in the darkest of circumstances.
At one end of the village stands a small wooden hut, the walls of which embrace the golden sunlight peeking through the clouds. Here, the story begins …
Inside this hut, between the first breaths of morning, a small body moved on the mats. She opened two softly fiery red eyes, shining in the shadow like coals, and then the silver-haired boy rose steadily, as if he had been accustomed to order and discipline since birth.
He is King Valdekar, the child of eight years … but whoever sees him cannot believe that this little one carries within him the maturity of a man, the calm of a wise, and the mind of a genius.
Without making a sound, King walked lightly toward the water barrel, dipped his palms, and wet his face. The water was cold, but his eyes remained steady …
Raising his head towards the clear sky, he breathed deeply, and whispered in an almost audible voice:
> "Mom is still asleep … I'll make breakfast instead."
He entered the kitchen, trying not to make any noise, but as soon as he took the first step inside … he saw her.
His mother, Hina, was standing there, arranging the dishes with her usual warm smile, the light shawl covering her head like the light of dawn.
"Mother! I thought you were asleep," said King, astonished.
She lifted her head, smiled at him as if she knew he was coming, and said in a soft voice:-"My son... why don't you sleep like the rest of your brothers?
He approached her and said confidently a little man-"I want to be strong, not lazy. Men start their day before everybody else, don't they?"
She laughed lightly, and ran her hand over his silver hair, and said, "How wonderful you are--well, help me then, little knight."
At that moment …
The door to the room opened violently!
Ariana, the older sister, golden-haired and brown-eyed, rushes out like a hurricane:-"Hahaaa! Finally woke up before you, cocky King! Today is my day!!"
But suddenly she stopped at the kitchen door, her eyes wide with shock.
-"Impossible!! When did you wake up?!"
"Before you--as usual," replied King, without paying attention to her.
Her face flushed, and she said stubbornly,--"I'll beat you one day, mark my words!"
King laughed, turning his face to her as he confidently said,-"Only in your rosy dreams."
Behind them … a soft rolling sound was heard, Saif, a little five-year-old, was running towards them with an open mouth and a dreamy look:
-"King! Who will win? You, right? Surely you!"
Cried Ariana, laughing, "Sword! You little traitor!"
Then I hit him lightly on the head, and he leaned back with an innocent laugh.
Laughter fills the place.
And Hina laughs along with them, clutching her chest at the excess warmth that overflows from their moment.
Then the door of the cottage opened again, and the father-William, with his bushy beard and weary look, appeared, wiping his eyes and saying in a half-sleepy tone:-"What's going on here?! An earthquake?!"
Hina laughed and replied, "Not an earthquake … but King and Ariana, their usual battle."
William shook his head and said as he approached, "You three … you're a two-footed disaster."
Ariana shouted, pointing at King, "I defy him! Here and now!"
King looked at her with a sideways smile and said, "I'm not free for a loser."
Saif said naively, "Ariana, King will win as usual, right?"
Ariana snarled again, catching him by the ear:-"Traitor of thy day!"
Everyone laughed … as if something was not normal this morning, as if the very air laughed with them.
"Come, heroes, let's get the table ready," said Hina at last, putting the hot bread on the table.
They all gathered, children and adults, around the little table. There were no sumptuous dishes or many foods, but hearts were full of love, and laughter was better than all blessings.
After breakfast, King and Ariana put on their school clothes, their battered bags slung over their shoulders, and set off for the dirt road leading to the school.
Seif stood at the door, waving his little hand at them, and his voice rising behind them: "Tell me everything when you come back!"
If time had gone back … they would have stopped for a moment, and given Saif a longer look.
They didn't know that this morning.
It will be the last innocent morning of their lives.