"Mum, I'm off to school now!"
"Don't forget to study for that upcoming test! I don't want you to fail... again!"
"Yeah, yeah"
"Oh, and Caleb, you're going to your grandma's after school don't forget!"
"Yeah, I know!"
Caleb walked out into the hallway of his old dusty apartment building and made his way to the barely functioning elevator. Still half asleep, lamenting the start of the school day.
("Man, I wish it was still the weekend. I don't want to go to school today…Hey, at least I get to visit grandma today though!")
Caleb's favourite part of the week was always visiting his grandma in her house down near the riverside, he loved hearing her fantastical tales and getting lost in the worlds she told him about, even if he didn't believe most of it was actually true.
"Heya, Caleb!!"
As Caleb was stepping out of his apartment building he heard a familiar high-pitched, sing-songy voice, it was the voice of his childhood friend Lizzy; a girl of medium stature with green eyes and straight glossy brown hair that extended down to her shoulders, which was held together by a signature red headband that Lizzy always wore. Caleb had known Lizzy ever since he had moved to Oakwill at the age of 5. The two were inseparable ever since they first met.
"Hey, Liz…"
"Wow, someone sounds cheery today haha!"
Lizzy looked over at Caleb's sulky face while letting out an exaggerated and high-pitched chuckle at Caleb's expense.
"Can you blame me though? it's a Monday! The weekend's over and the rest of the week's just going to be more tests. So boring!"
"Jeez, Lighten up a little! life's not always about doin' fun stuff Y'know sometimes you got to do the boring stuff too!"
"Yeah, whatever. I just wish life was more like a manga or something..."
"You're sucha kid, Caleb, Haha"
"Shut up…"
Lizzy nudged Caleb in the shoulder while letting out another exasperated laugh. As much as Caleb was annoyed by Lizzy's antics, he did still enjoy her company, although he would never admit that to her.
As the two made their way across the street Caleb heard a notification sound come from his phone; indicating that he had received a text.
"Oh..?"
Caleb took the black glossy smartphone out of his pocket to see who had texted him
"Oh, it's my grandma…Oh crap, I forgot my textbooks at her house again!!"
"Probably because you were too busy playing all those video games and reading all that manga! Jeez, Caleb you really are a kid y'know that!"
"Yeah, yeah whatever…Well, I gotta run you go on ahead I'll see you before class!"
Lizzy sighed as she watched Caleb make a mad dash for his grandma's house. This wasn't the first time this happened, not even close. Caleb Had a habit of forgetting essential items like his tie, phone and his textbooks. Lizzy always joked that "He had the mind of a child but the memory of an old man".
# # #
Caleb swung the door open to his grandma's house which created an audible and loud slam as the wooden door crashed against the white plaster walls of the cottage. Caleb stumbled in and crumpled to the floor completely out of breath after his frenzied run.
"G-Grandma."
"Deary me, Caleb…You really should start remembering to take your things!..now you're going to be late!"
"Y-yeah I know…sorry."
Caleb's Grandma lifted herself from the Blue recliner she was sitting on and gave Caleb a familiar warm smile before handing him the textbooks that were sat next to her.
"..."
"..."
"Dear…Actually, could you sit down for a second?"
"Grandma! I'll be late!"
"Don't worry. I'll explain everything to your mother …"
"Ok then…"
Caleb felt tense he didn't know why. It was as if the earth stood still; It was like the whole universe revolved around this very moment the tension was sickening but nevertheless, Caleb Sat down on the blue wool recliner facing his grandma and listened intently to what she had to say.
"Caleb, dear. Do you remember when you were little I told you the story…the one about the two brothers?"
Caleb instantly perked up. He loved that story and was fascinated by it ever since he was a small child, he never got tired of hearing it, but he was confused as to what reason his grandma could possibly have to bring it up now and why couldn't it just wait until after school?
"Yeah...What about it?"
"… Remember the young lady in that story… the one who was married to the sword-wielding brother, Edwil?"
"Yeah…"
Caleb's Grandma paused and looked out of the old square window at her side as if contemplating on both the past and future. Reflecting on painful memories and hope that had been hidden away for a long time…
"Caleb, you must listen to me carefully now..."
Y-yeah I'm listening, grandma."
Caleb was taken back by his grandma's sudden change of tone, usually, she would have a warm welcoming smile the type of smile that could forgive you no matter what you had done but now the expression on her face was that of sorrow and dutifulness.
"…Caleb that lady in the story... was me"
"…"
Caleb sat in stunned silence he couldn't believe what he just heard. He looked at his grandma, he expected her to tell him it was all some sort of joke or a prank of some sort, but the expression on his grandmother's face said otherwise. She was dead serious.
"Grandma… I…uh"
Caleb struggled to say anything. Of course, he wanted to believe his grandma, but a story like that couldn't be true. It has to be just a fairy tale, right? I mean, there's no possible way that could be true.
"I know this is hard to believe Caleb, dear, but it is the truth…Edwil was my husband, and your grandfather..."
"…But…why are you telling me now…and…"
"I know this is a lot to take in, dear, and I haven't even told your mother this…but there's a reason I'm telling you now… I know, you, Caleb…are worthy of defeating my husband's brother. For a long time I have felt this sinking feeling in my heart; the same feeling I felt when I first saw the monster my husband's brother had become…which can only mean…he will soon awaken."
Caleb sat in shock and awe at what he just heard. Part of him still didn't believe his grandma, despite trusting her very much. But another part of him; the part that craved adventure wanted to believe all of it... believe that fairy tales really do exist.
"B-but I-I don't have any sort of powers or anything not like Edwil…and how would I even like…get there?!"
"You are strong enough, dear! When I look at you, I see the same determination and courage that was in my husband's eyes every day. You may not know it but you are worthy…when the time will come you will know it…In the meantime, I'd like to give you something…"
Caleb's grandma lifted the glistening blue and hexagonal-shaped gemstone necklace she always wore off her neck and placed it gently into Caleb's palm.
"Is this…?"
"This is…my husband's soul gem it is the only part of him I have left…but I want you to have it…it will protect you when the time comes…take care of it, dear."
Caleb was still confused and bewildered but willing to fulfil his grandma's wish, nodded his head and took the soul gem from his grandma's hands.
"Goodbye Edwil…I love you"
Caleb's Grandma stared longingly at the soul gem, holding back tears as the memories of her husband came rushing back to her. Every painful memory washed over her like a high tide. feelings locked away for years eroding her soul.
"Go now, dear You're going to miss your class!"
"Y-yes grandma"
Caleb dashed out of his Grandma's house out into the cold windy outdoors, sprinting as fast as he could along the hard concrete pavement; hoping to make it before the 1st-period bell rang.