"How many times do I have to tell you two? You're not children anymore! Stop playing around and start contributing to the village!"
On a dusty main path, Ashren and Lykon walked side by side with Snow, who continued her relentless scolding.
Despite her serious tone, both boys wore bitter smiles.
"Come on, Snow! We're eighteen and nineteen — we are still kids!" Azrael replied nonchalantly.
Snow shot him a sidelong glance, her expression icy. "You've got some nerve! If it weren't for you, none of the other kids would be following you around instead of doing something useful."
She snorted in frustration. "All you do is engage in dangerous antics every day without a care for your safety. What if you get hurt? What will your grandfather say then?"
"And you, Lykon, you're older than him! Instead of guiding him, you're just as bad. Can't either of you grow up for once?" Snow turned her gaze sharply towards Lykon.
Ashren and Lykon exchanged glances before shaking their heads in unison.
"Look, Snow," Ashren said with a hint of exasperation, "it's not that we don't want to help out; it's just that no one lets us! Do you want us to follow you around picking flowers all day?"
"Yeah," Lykon chimed in from the side. "We can't just sit around doing nothing, it's boring!"
"Do you know why no one trusts you two to help out? Because you're irresponsible! If only you'd show a little maturity, maybe Uncle Galen would take you hunting or let you help on the farm," Snow replied as she stared ahead.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Ashren said dismissively while leaning back with his hands behind his head.
Snow looked at him incredulously, confusion flickering across her face.
"Alright guys, I'll see you later; I've reached my destination," Lykon announced as he veered off down a narrow path and quickly disappeared from view.
"Hmph! That guy really runs fast!" Ashren muttered as he watched Lykon vanish into the distance.
A heavy silence settled between him and Snow as they continued walking forward. Glancing at Ashren from the corner of her eye with hesitation evident in her expression, Snow finally broke the silence.
"So… did you manage to climb that cliff today?" she asked after a moment's pause.
"Nope! Failed again," Ashren admitted with a shake of his head.
"Why don't you just give up? You could seriously injure yourself; it's too dangerous!" Snow urged thoughtfully.
"No way!" he replied firmly.
"Why not?" she asked, puzzled by his stubbornness.
"I'd feel uncomfortable if I didn't conquer that cliff!" he insisted passionately.
"You and Your Never-Want-To-Lose disease!"Snow shook her head, exasperated.
"But I'm serious! You need to grow up and stop playing around all day long. You're making your grandfather worry about you," she said, her tone firm yet caring.
"Okay, okay! I hear you! Can you just stop nagging already? Geez, it's not like you're my mom or something," Ashren waved his hand dismissively, annoyance creeping into his voice.
"You.... you! Fine! I won't bother you anymore, hmph!" Snow huffed, pointing a trembling finger at Ashren before storming off — her footsteps loud,like she was tryingto drown out something she didn'twant to say.
"What's wrong with that girl? Why is she always on my case?" Ashren scratched his head in frustration as he muttered under his breath.
As he walked along the path, he glanced up at the sky; the sun was beginning to set, casting a warm orange hue across the horizon.
Lost in thought as he admired the vibrant colors above him, he moved forward with a blank expression on his face and his crimson red hair fluttering in the gentle breeze.
A few minutes later, he arrived in front of a simple building surrounded by a fence and featuring a large yard out front.
"Huh! Already here," he muttered to himself as he took in the familiar sight of home. There was an old man reclining in a chair outside, seemingly enjoying the last rays of sunlight.
Ashren's eyes sparkled with mischief as he stealthily approach the entrance. He moved cautiously, careful not to make a sound, as neared the old man sitting in the chair.
The old man appeared blissfully unaware of Ashren's presence. He still had that smile of enjoyment on his old face,completely.
Leaninh over the old man, Ashren opened his mouth,ready unleash a loud scream meant to startle the old man.
But just then, the old man's cloudy eyes fluttered open, and a gentle voice floated from his lips.
"Ah, Ashren,back from your adventures, I see."
Ashren froze, disappointment flickering in his crimson pupils before he quickly masked it behind a grin.
"Grandpa! Bow do you always sense me? I never make any noise when I try to scare you! I can boast that my stealth ability is unmatched in the village!" Ashren scratched his head and plopped down beside the old man,confusion etched on his face.
It really baffled him how Grandpa seemed to have to have uncanny awareness of everything around him,even with his eyes closed. It was almost supernatural; he could tell where Ashren was standing and even what he was wearing.
The old man remained still in his reclining chair, that same serene smile gracing his face.
"It's the mind, Ashren. It's all about trusting your instincts and your mind," he replied calmly."With that comes achievement."
Ashren felt lost,Grandpa words made little sense to him,frustration bubbled up inside him." You always speak in riddles! I don't get what you're saying!".
He leaned back on his hands and gazed at the sun sinking lower in the sky.
The horizon painted itself in vibrant shades of orange as the birds flew overhead in perfect V-shape formation. The gentle evening breeze rustled through the grass,wrapping them both in tranquility. Silence enveloped them as they closed their eyes and enjoyed the fading warmth of the day.
Breaking that peaceful moment, Grandpa asked with genuine curiosity, " How did your new adventure go? Were you able to conquer that cliff this time?"
Ashren's joyful expression shifted instantly;annoyance crept into his as he replied, "Nope! That cliff is still my nemesis! It's so frustrating — i can stand losing like this!"
"This is how things work; sometimes you win some;sometimesyou lose some. Not every battle not every battle needs to be won, take it easy," the old man chuckled softly and gave Ashren an indecipherable look.
Ashren shook his head vigorously and resorted. "That maybe true for others, but not for me. Losing is for the weak! One day will reach the summit of that cliff and show it who's boss!".
"Too stubborn," the old man sighed while shaking his head. He didn't talk any further and just closed his eyes.
Ashren stood up, patted his butt, and strolled toward the house humming a tune.
The old man opened his eyes again as he looked deeply at Ashren's back.
His turbid eyes slowly traced to the back of Ashren's right hand and then let out a sigh, filled with disappointment and guilt.
"What a waste! Baneless."
These words lingered in the air as the old man went back to enjoying his sunbathing.