Back at the orphanage, far away from where gloom reigned supreme, with Alekk wallowing in his sorrows,seated under the oak tree as before,pinned against it. Here and there, the children charged forward, to a battle that awaited them,armed to teeth, with a bowl and a spoon.But not the case for Alekk. He had no stomach for it, something unheard of in such a place.
In the heavenly gay sky,the sun continued to scorch all more fiercely,almost blazing a dry blade of grass alight.Before the misfortune that had befallen on him, in this scorching heat,he would often sneak off to the waterfall to cool himself .The cool waters of the down the waterfall had a invigorating allure to it, only a dip and his boyish self always rose sky high. He relished those days, when his life wasn't riddle with painful memories.His days ,as he could remember, were always blissful before that tragic moment. His mother's cooking,after a days work,was the best he could ever have . Her smile and her warm embrace were the only things that kept him from losing his sanity.
For in his world, those sweet memories that he dearly treasured were slowly on the near brink of being devoured by his rageful memories, despite his struggles to hold them off. His world was cold. Quivering in his own existence, of the untold reality that his mere sight was highly despised in the orphanage.
They avoided him like a pestilence, unaware of what he could have done to warrant such vile resentments. Alekks recount of what had happened a day earlier was shrouded in mystery,with his only memory being of an insatiable anger,an anger unfamiliar to him,that had erupted out of him onto something or someone. He was clueless of his guilt.
Lost in thoughts,Alekk plucked a straw of grass, with the beans broth savoury smell stinging his nose silly. Hastily,he shoved it right into his mouth and sapping it dry. His grumbling belly betrayed him. He only wished for a friend he never had, someone to talk too, someone to share his pain with. A friend who wouldn't be afraid of him. Alekk's loneliness was growing to be his worst enemy.
In the eating chamber, a ruckus was ensuing,with children pointing accusing fingers at each other, against a more villainous enemy known as the bread snatchers. It was exuberant and lively,at the very least. Here, inside the eating chamber, was where the children came to understand each other well enough. There ravenous bellies brought them together than a battle would.
Up the stairs, away from the ensuing ruckus, Master Konn was seated in his office,a small crowded chamber facing the field, full of unnecessary items ranging from weaponry to a mysterious object that hanged on the wall. The Master of the orphanage was busy going through the monthly expenses,with the object in question being of peculiar caliber.. It seemed like a bone or scale of sort. Nevertheless, it was scary and weirdly odd looking kind of a sword. Dusty and unattended to unlike its fellow weaponry,it struck of being haunted.
Master Konn kept on ruffling through the monthly expenses, sighing deep in worry;there was shortage of coins for purchasing provisions.It was going to be tough time ahead,with the only person who cared more than enough for the orphans,now slept the deep sleep of eternity. She had been kind enough to come to their aid more often than not. Master Konn couldn't remember how many times she had saved them from the brink of starvation ;she had been a saviour to all. He now saw doom and gloom ahead of them,with pangs of starvation sharping its teeth to sink deep into their wasting bodies.
"What's going to become of us?" Master Konn murmured to himself. It was looking grim, with the provisions almost to nothing. It could hardly have be enough to last for more than a whole month long; even that would've been a miracle. With the children growing bellies, he knew it couldn't last a fortnight. Gloom was written all over his face ,with the tidings that the capital was in turmoil, things weren't going to be a walk down the hill. One hundred and fifty children were on the brink of starvation,all whom he had taken in and depended on him for sustainence and shelter: he fell into despair with his destitution biting rather hard." What shall I do?
Where shall help come from?" He asked with no one to answer him. Only the laughter of rowdy children and the loud banging could be heard below him. They were happy here than anywhere else. Here they were safe from the wars of the grown-ups. Here they could sleep at least without fear of soldiers knocking down the orphanage's door in the middle of the night.
In this orphanage, they were free to live freely like children as they should have been.Heavens knows it was way better than the homes they had left behind. What kind of a parent picks a sword against his own son or daughter? Or a lord taking their subjects only piece of land?
Exhausted from all the pondering,he laid his wary head on his right hand,his only arm. Master Konn stood up abruptly, clearing his desk in rage. A thin sweat rolled down him,panting and exhausted. At his door,a knock pierced through. Panicking,he hurriedly tried to recollec himself before answering back; also collecting the rummaged items lying on the floor.
"Ahem! Come on in!" he invited,clearing his voice. It was Pumpkin,with her a tray of his noon food. He sat himself down, as Pumpkin careful laid his bowl of bean broth and a loaf of bread on the desk. After having set his food before him, Pumpkin held the tray on her chest, pressing tightly against her breasts.
"Master Konn,have something to eat," Pumpkin said. She rather knew he was going through a tough time that even his hair was falling off day by day, worried sick with small provisions running out. She needed not ask. It was written all over his face. And the weight of his coin bag, that was excruciating to bear. Even a tavern mouse was way richer than he was.
"Thank you, Pumpkin," he replied. He clumsy wiped his sweat with his palm, dripping a bit of it into his broth. It was clear,with beans easy to count. And the bread,it was reducing in size with each passing day. The hard days were now upon them. Master Konn picked up his spoon, scooping the broth to his gob. It was tasty, slurping like how young boys do. Then he took a lump of bread, dipped it into the hot savory bean broth, as it slowly soaked in the broth. Pumpkin was still standing by the door, watching him closely as he gorged down the soaked lump of bread.
She wasn't willing to leave him, just yet. All that she desired was an empty bowl to take back to the kitchen. He had not eaten for five days straight. Master Konn had been starving himself for their sake. He had wished no bread or broth for himself, fearing that the children would lack their fill. His sacrifice was noble but unfortunately it came with a hefty repercussions.
Since then,the day he cut off from eating, Master Konn had been growing weaker with each passing moon as Pumpkin kept a watchful eye on him from a distance.
Master Konn deeply cared for the children's well-being more than his. And that pained Pumpkin more than she could've admitted to it. She was already fed up with his unfathomable sacrifices. Who would protect the children if he departed from the world of the living? And who would give shelter to the motherless or fatherless children?
No matter how much he drunk goblets of water, the grumbling refused to quiet down.Pumpkin, there and then, whole heartedly swore on her mother's grave not to leave his side until his bowl was swept clean to the very last drop. That said, Master Konn needed not be told twice, for his bread and bowl of bean broth now laid comfortably deep inside his belly. He leaned back, satisfied, with his pangs of hunger now dull,as he suddenly let loud burp ,after gobbling his food faster than a speeding arrow.
"How was the food?" Pumpkin asked.
"It was delicious, Pumpkin. Thank you for the meal," he replied. His belly had bulged suddenly. But it wasn't going take long before his hungry belly grew back to it's usual shape. Still, he felt a familiar sensation of satisfaction that he had almost all forgotten about it.
Those last five days were hellish for him. His stomach constantly protested in angry voices, that even no matter what he did or how. Those nights, hungry and cold,were far gruesomely painful than the day he lost his left hand. His stomach grumbling quickly died down.But for how long? His stay at sweet heaven was obviously for a short while,but he savored it, every second of the paradise. The joy of having a full belly was a blessing than it seemed. Only those who had survived from the brink of starvation could relate to the joy of it.
"That's good to hear. I beg of you,don't torture yourself to death like that again ,the children wouldn't forgive themselves if anything happens to you," Pumpkin begged. Master Konn keenly listened,nodding in agreement. Even he knew that his actions were perilous, something he wished not to endure through again. Though his duty towards the children outweighed his deseres. They'll mattered a great deal to him. He couldn't forgive himself either if anything bad had befallen on them. Pumpkin diligently picked the dirty bowl, Iaying it on the tray, with a smile ,brightening the dullness of the chamber.
"How's Markus?" She asked. Since that fateful high-noon, he had never left the confines of his bedchamber. From dawn till dusk. No one , apart from the Master of the orphanage, had gone to check up on him. He had been the menacing bully of the orphanage, after all. They still feared him, despite his incapacitation. Truly, fear was like a double edged sword.
"He's pulling through the injury, that's for certain, "he replied." But that isn't what's worrying me the most."
" Then what's ?"she asked curiously.
It's his despair," he replied." His world, how can i put it, is shattered. Not just merely shattered, but shattered beyond helping. I've effortly tried to talk to him, to at least get through the broken world of his,but to no avail. His eye might be open but his heart and soul are tight shut. It's heartbreaking to see him like that. That even I can't reach him.... it's heartbreaking..." Pumpkin was saddened to hear that. She knew Markus was a strong boy to think he was beyond helping. He mayn't have been anyone's cup of tea and yet she still felt pity and compassion for him.
"Oh! Is it really that bad?" She asked, saddened.
"I'm afraid so, but that boy, i can't put my mind on it, of how he could cause such grave injuries! " said Master Konn.
" It's intriguing, how is that even possible? "inquired Pumpkin.
" Yes, it's quite intriguing. But how, aren't witches born girls only? "asked Master Konn. Pumpkin also was in deep thoughts, trying to comprehend the mystery behind Alekks weirdly powers.
" I've have never heard of there been a man as a witch before, not for centuries long has such been heard or seen," said Pumpkin.
" But how can you explain his mysterious witch like powers?! " he asked . They all needed a shed of light on the matter. It had been bothering Master Konn's since that day, from where Alekks came from or how he came to be washed up down the river. It was a mystery within another mystery. Even after tirelessly begging of him to open up, Alekk was too adamant to divulge anything concerning himself.
"That's the mystery,don't you think so?" replied Pumpkin.
Master Konn sighed, laying his head on his clenched fist. "I believe their is more than meets the eye,for all he had no witch marking on his back,not a single witch like marking."
"If that's the case, he's no witch. Might be something all new that can't be explained,or he poured oil on his face and then lit him on fire,"she said suggestively. But he wasn't buying into it so vaguely. Many possibilities were their to explore, he hadn't given up yet.
"Uh huh! It might be the so,"he replied, lying. He thought it was for the best if he went along with her logic, to spare her the trouble of having to go through sleepless nights or hellish nightmares. "Don't overthink it too much, your hale comes first!" she implored.
" I will do just that. Thank you for worrying about my well-being, "Master Konn answered back
" If i don't, who will? "replied Pumpkin, as she readily was about to leave. Master Konn let out a chuckle,in delight of being needed.
"Once again thank you for the meal,"he said . Now she had opened the door and slowly walked herself out. She stood outside the chamber,with the door half closed.
"Take good care of yourself, Master Konn. The children need you more than you may think. I shall leave you be, until dusk. Don't over exhaust yourself,am always here to lend an ear and a hand," implored Pumpkin.
"I shall take your advice at heart. Until dusk,take care," he answered. Pumpkin closed the door completely, leaving Master Konn seated. She might have wished for him to think less of his worries,but the problems at hand needed someone to worry about them. And he was the only one capable of taking them by the scruff,somehow. He leaned back on his wooden chair, swing himself back and forth. The magnitude of his worries were far more worse than she could think . Its yoke was burdening on his neck and back. Seated on his chair, many questions came flooding to his mind that need answers. The questions that needed Alekks participation to puzzle them out. "Alekk!Who are you?What are you? where did you come from?" Yet those questions got sucked up by the gloomy aura of destitution and despair.
Meanwhile, outside the insufferable chamber and it's resident, Saber was on a stroll around the orphanage, drenched in sweat, alongside Zulu, with his mouth opened wide and his tongue wagging out.
They were coming out of the eating hall,having stuffed themselves silly, that a walk around and about the orphanage was necessary to hasten the digestion and lessen the agonizing pain of their bloated bellies.
The forests around them was thick and weirdly scary,as they headed straight into one of them, deeper and deeper twitching with excitement and fear. A mere crack of a dry twig ruffled them silly, Zulu in particular, wasn't only fearful but delusional. He could have swore someone or something was trailing them from behind. But who could blame him, after all in his twelve year stay at the orphanage, not once had he dared to step a foot in . It was simply terrifying for him than Saber.
Above the canopies of the trees ,the sun shone ever brightly,with its rays vanishing upon hitting the forest. The forest was dark, not pitch black,but still dark for someone to get lost without as much as figuring out the direction least not by a touch. As they trod deeper,Saber couldn't help but feel a sudden rush of excitement, as for Zulu, half scared to death, clung closer to Saber like a little brother of sort.
On their way to the forest, to dip themselves into the cool river that was nearby, they had walked past a bored to death Alekk. Glancing shyly, Zulu feared to catch his eye. As of Saber, like a strong willed boy that he was, knew nothing of such,undaunted by his fiercely eyes, with their eyes meeting, picturing a perfect image of each other's face at the back of their minds.
Yet he, Alekk,seemed lost and out of place,moving his eyes from one side to the other. No one bothered to get near him. Also, Esia and his friend, Gantz, sat away from him,wishing to be as far away as possible from his unpredictable ways. With sapped dry straws of grass laying beside him, his hunger was growing unbearable for him to endure any further.Saber and Zulu, tired like an overburdened donkey, finally reached the never drying river, with its waters flowing gently down to the capital, throbbing with exuberance. Here the sun shone, warming the waters chilliness and vegetation growing on the rivers side's. Blossoming water lilies floated on the floor of the calm waters,with birds of nectar hovering above it in order to sap it's sweetness.
Zulu, escatatically,rushed towards the river so that he could feel it's so called magical touch. Carrefully,he dipped his legs into the river, with it's bewitching spell driving him into hypnotic state of sheer ecstasy. The tingling on his feet aroused him,as calmness of tranquility reigned throughout his body. Everything around him seemed to move at a snail pace,and the soft river stones touching the sole of his feet sent a rejuvenating spark straight into his mind. His eyes were getting drowsy upon hearing the sweat chirping melodies of the hundreds of birds nesting nearby. Nothing,as of that moment seemed better than that feeling of being at peace and happy with a trustworthy friend.
"Aaah... the water is subtle on the skin!" he said in excitement. Saber wasn't new to these,he regularly came here on a hot day to treat himself. He knew the joy of it.
" I told you, didn't I?"replied Saber," that the water is to die for." He was hastily undressing himself, with his tattered shirt coming off first. Then his ragged trousers,also dropped down on to the moist ground. Now he had become one with the nature,naked and unashamed. With his legs still dipped into the still waters, while seated on the edge of the river bed, Zulu, gleaming with excitement,glanced behind his shoulder,only to meet a small penis swinging about. Abashed,he squirmed quietly, hastily glanced back, faster than a bolt of lightning,flustered and embarrassed,as he took hastily took off his clothes, with his dark skin glowing like a moonless night.
Saber, eagerly to bath in it, dove first spraying droplets of water straight onto zulu's face and the vegetation around. In giggles,he sheepishly wipped off the droplets of water with his right hand. Brimming cheerfully, Zulu also dove straight into the waters,spraying a splash of water on to Sabers face. In unison, they both let out a gale of laughter, spitting out fountains of water from their mouths.
"These is exhilarating!" said Zulu. The droplets of water slithery rolled down his black skin,back to where they came from as Saber too drank from the same river spitting out straight into Zulu's glowing face in a humourous way.
"Yes, it's. Even in this place, there is still something beautiful about it," replied Saber. With his head above the water,afloat and not sinking like a hammer,Zulu was doing great at his first try. "Huh,how so?" he asked, intrigued, "does it hold a special meaning to you?"
"Not really. But you can feel it too,can't you?" Saber replied, "your worries being washed/christened away. The despair sinking deep into unreachable depths of the waters" Zulu, for a while, stared at his friend. He was moved, literary. He shed a few tears for this moment, luckily for him,he was inside the waters. It washed away his soft side.
Zulu sank himself, holding his breath,deep beneath the surface as he watched the beauty that Saber had earlier mentioned to him. Deep inside,small fishes of different colours swam in numbers in pursuit of the deeper plankton's reefs to feast on.He gawked in awe. As he rolled his eyes away from that beauty, lifting his head high , Sabers penis struck his sight again as he awkwardly rose up to the water surface in haste,almost choking himself to death. Now his eyes had been pierced twice,he hearkenly wished for a third strike not to happen anytime soon or ever.
The sweetness of their youthful selves shrouded their dark existence. Here they cared less of what their fellow orphans thought of them behind their backs. Zulu was extremely having the time of his life, stroking the waters thunderously with tremendous zest. His world was at peace with itself, his smile had at last found it's rightfully place and his heart had found happiness in the circle of friendship. Saber gently let loose his body, floating in it's calmness.A cold breezing wind broke through from the forest of witches,shivering aganist it's coldness, rippling the calm waters into small waves to as far as their drowsy eyes could see.
The forest of the witches, sat on the opposite side of the river, with its thick and menacing aura it unleashed, quelled the curiosity of many men who dared enter, although for the very few who entered, forfeited their own clung onto lives in trade for the thrill.Death awaited those whose reasoning succumbed to a moment of madness.