Issac dreamt of the past, a time even before his life in Sadone. He dreamt of the city of Zephyhr, on the continent of Zalara, where he was born and raised. He dreamt of his family, who he loved and missed.
He saw himself as a young boy, sitting at the dinner table with his mother, his father, and his sister. They were eating a simple meal of bread, cheese, and soup. They smiled and talked, sharing their stories and hopes.
They lived in a small house in the slums of the city, where life was hard and dangerous. Their house was old and worn, with cracks and holes in the walls and roof.
But they also made it cozy and homey, with candles and flowers to brighten it up. In the corner there was a fireplace, where they cooked and warmed themselves. They had a table and four chairs in the center of the room, where they ate and talked. The beds were placed in the other corner along with a chest and some other wooden crates. They had a window and a door on the opposite wall, where they looked out and went in and out.
Issac's mother Sarah had brown hair and green eyes, like him. She was slender and graceful, with a gentle smile and a soft voice. His father Jacob had black hair and brown eyes, like his sister Lillia. He was tall and muscular, with a stern expression and a loud voice.
Issac finished his soup and bread quickly. He thanked his mother for the meal, then stood up from the table. He was eager to go outside and play with his friends, who were waiting for him. He loved to run around the streets, exploring new places and having fun.
He was stopped halfway to the door by a grunt from his father. Jacob downed his ale and looked at Issac with a scowl.
"Before you go, boy, throw some more wood on the fire. It's going to be a cold night," he ordered.
"Yes, Father," Issac replied obediently. He went over to the fireplace and picked up some logs from the pile. He threw them on the fire, making it crackle and glow.
He hoped his father would be in a better mood tomorrow.
Lillia turned in her chair towards Issac, who was about to leave. She gave him a pleading look.
"Please don't start the game without me this time." she said.
Issac placed a log into the fire, making it burn brighter. He grinned at his sister.
"I won't. I don't want you crying to Mom for hours and then ignoring me for days," he teased.
He loved his sister more than anything. She was twelve years old, two years younger than him. She had black hair and brown eyes, like their father. She was petite and cute, with a round face and a button nose. She had a dimple on her left cheek, which showed when she smiled. She was dressed in a bright yellow dress with a matching ribbon in her hair, which contrasted with the dullness of their surroundings.
"Alright, that should last for a while. I'm going now!" Issac said, brushing his hand off on his pants. He ran out of the house, eager to join his friends.
Lillia watched him go, feeling a pang of envy and worry. She wished she could go with him, but she hadn't finished eating yet. She glanced at her mother, who was sitting across the table from her. She saw the lines of fatigue and worry on her face, and the thinness of her body. She knew her mother worked hard to provide for them, but it was never enough. They barely had enough food, clothes, or medicine. They were always in debt, always in danger. She felt a surge of love and gratitude for her mother, and also a twinge of guilt and sadness.
She decided to ask for more soup, hoping her mother wouldn't mind. She knew they had to ration their food, but she was still hungry.
"Mom, can I have some more soup, please?" she asked in a small voice.
Her mother smiled warmly and reached for the pot. "Of course, dear. Here you go." She poured some soup into Lillia's bowl, making sure to give her some of the meat and vegetables.
Lillia thanked her mother and took a sip of the soup. It was hot and savory, filling her mouth with flavor. She felt a wave of comfort and satisfaction wash over her.
"Mmm, this is delicious. You're the best cook in the world," she complimented her mother.
Her mother chuckled and stroked Lillia's hair. "Oh, thank you, sweetie. You're too kind."
Lillia felt a surge of curiosity and courage. She wanted to ask her mother something that had been bothering her for a long time.
She wanted to know why they had to live like this.
"Mom, can I ask you something?" she said hesitantly.
Her mother looked at her with interest and concern. "Sure, honey. What is it?"
Lillia took a deep breath and gathered her thoughts. She looked around the small house they lived in, noticing the cracks and holes in the walls and roof, the dirt and dust on the floor. She looked back at her mother, seeing the hope and love in her eyes.
"Why do we have to live here? Why can't we live in a nicer place?" she asked innocently.
Her mother sighed and put down her spoon. She looked at Lillia with a mix of sadness and tenderness. She knew what Lillia was feeling, because she had felt the same way when she was younger. She had also dreamed of a better life, of seeing the world, of having fun. But she had learned to accept her reality, and to find happiness in the little things.
"Well, Lillia, life is not always fair. Some people have more than others, and some people have less. We are not rich, but we are not poor either. We have enough to survive, and we have each other. That's what matters," she explained gently, hoping to comfort her daughter.
Lillia nodded, but she wasn't satisfied.
"But Mom, don't you want more? Don't you want to be happy?" she pressed on, hoping to understand her mother.
Her mother smiled sadly and took Lillia's hand in hers. She squeezed it gently, feeling the warmth and the pulse of her daughter. She loved her more than anything in the world. She wanted her to be happy too.
"I am happy, Lillia. I have you, and Issac, and your father. You are my happiness. You are my treasure," she said sincerely.
Lillia felt a warm glow in her chest, but she also felt a cold doubt in her mind.
"But Mom, don't you want to see the world? Don't you want to travel and explore and have fun?" she persisted.
Her mother nodded wistfully and looked at the ceiling.
"I do, Lillia. I do. But sometimes we have to make sacrifices for the ones we love. Sometimes we have to put our dreams aside for the sake of our family," she said softly.
Lillia frowned and shook her head. She didn't understand why they had to make sacrifices. She didn't understand why they had to put their dreams aside. She didn't understand why they had to live like this.
"But Mom, don't you ever get tired of this? Don't you ever get bored or angry?" she challenged.
Her mother sighed again and looked into Lillia's eyes. She saw the spark of curiosity and courage in them. She saw the reflection of herself when she was younger.
"I do, Lillia. I do. But I also have hope. Hope that things will get better someday. Hope that we will find a way out of this place. Hope that we will achieve our dreams," she said firmly.
Lillia blinked and tilted her head.She wondered what hope was, and how it worked. She wondered if it was enough to make them happy.
She wondered if it was real or just a trick.
At that moment, a loud bang came on the door. Lillia jumped in her seat, startled by the noise. She looked at her mother, whose smile faded from her face.
"Who is it?" Jacob yelled out, his voice slurred by the alcohol. He slammed down his wooden mug and staggered to his feet, ready to face whoever was at the door. He didn't care who it was, he just wanted them to leave him alone.
But before he could make it to the door, a loud crash rang out as the door was blown from its hinges by a blast of magic. Three men entered the home, dressed in the blue uniform of the Peace Keepers, the city's law enforcers. They looked cold and cruel, like they had no mercy or compassion.
Lillia screamed and ran to her mother, who was still sitting at the table. Sarah immediately took her child into her arms and shielded her from the intruders. She felt a surge of fear and panic, not knowing what they were here for.
"What do you assholes want? You'll pay for this!" Jacob shouted, his eyes wide with rage and pain. He went and retrieved an axe by the fireplace, the only weapon he had. He stood before the men, trying to protect his family. He didn't care if he died, he just wanted them to live.
Without words, the man leading the group of intruders, a rough looking man with a scar that ran through the center of his mouth, drew his sword with such speed that Jacob couldn't react. It pierced through his chest, making him gasp and groan. The axe fell from his hand as blood splattered the floor.
"Dad…" Lillia whispered in her mother's arms, looking at the lifeless body of her father. Tears welled up in her eyes as she began to scream. She couldn't believe what she saw. She couldn't accept what had happened.
He was gone.
He was gone forever.
"Don't look, Lillia!" Sarah screamed, pressing Lillia's head into her chest. "Don't look." She sobbed, feeling a surge of grief and despair.
She knew it was over.