I closed the thick book and just finished reading. From a distance, Nathan saw running towards me. Ignoring it I silently leaned against the big tree behind me. The breeze makes me very sleepy especially when I just finished reading. Nathan had his hands on his hips when he came in front of me. This 11-year-old boy in front of me is very disciplined about timing. He must want to pull me into the real world right now.
I could guess by now he was going to send me home. I closed my eyes and folded my arms behind my back for support.
"Hey it's late, your mother will be angry if you don't come home," he said firmly.
I sighed. I opened my eyes as I tossed the book to him. Nathan immediately caught him. "I told you not to be so strict with me."
"But I won't get paid if I don't take care of you properly," Nathan said as he held out his hand to me, I accepted his offer and stood up.
"Where is there a child who is a child caretaker? We are the same age," I said while equating our heights.
I patted my shirt to remove the dirt that had stuck to it and then walked ahead of Nathan. My friend even pointed to himself.
"There. It's in front of you," he said not wanting to budge.
"But I will be punished if you don't come home on time, Mr. Sorin," Nathan continued, pressing the word MASTER at the end of his words.
I rolled my eyes. "Please don't call me sir. It makes me uncomfortable, you know."
"But you are indeed my master. Besides, I need money, so I work for your family," he replied, not wanting to lose. More precisely because you have nowhere else to go, and the words "need the money" are just excuses.
We passed through green meadows before reaching my house. An adult man approached me with a stern face. "Master, the books you ordered have arrived."
My eyes sparkle. "Please keep it in my room. I'll see you after dinner."
This is Mr. Asa. He is the caretaker of this house. An aged man with sharp eyes and a firm voice. His mustache is always neatly trimmed and his clothes are always formal. I wonder if he has no other life than being the head of the household in this house.
Mr. Asa then left. I then walked into the room followed by Nathan. After arriving at the room I took off my outermost clothes to get ready to take a shower.
Nathan was seen keeping the book on my bookshelf on the right side of the room. "Nathan, I'm going to take a shower now. Can you check if the book I ordered is complete?"
Nathan walked past me to an old cardboard box filled with books. He gave a thumbs up. "Ok. You can go," he said excitedly.
Nathan is an orphan. At least 3 years ago. His mother and father were immigrants to this region. On their way, they were attacked by bandits. Coincidentally my family guard saw him and helped him. But unfortunately, his parents died because they were killed by the bandits.
From then on Nathan was brought to this house. Because he had no one, his father finally made him my servant as well as my friend. Even though he wasn't from a rich or noble family he was very kind and intelligent. I don't want to call him a servant. He's more like a brother.
I taught him basic knowledge such as reading, writing, and also counting. He is also a patient and persistent person. After taking a shower I walked over to him. Nathan gave me a thumbs up. "The book is complete, nothing is damaged and everything is new."
I smile. "Good. I'm tired of the books here."
"You are indeed great, Sorin. You can read all these books well and understand their contents," he said praising.
I shook my head. "At this rate, I won't be able to beat dad. There's still a lot I want to know in this world."
Nathan laughed. "I think you already know a lot. You're only 11 years old but you've read a lot of books."
I shook my head again. "Tell me that when I'm the head of the family later."
I smiled as I walked out of the room. Nathan followed me. "Nathan, don't you have any intention of going to school like me?"
Nathan shook his head. "I'm not royalty and I feel enough just to be by your side."
"But I'm not royalty either. Knowledge should be passed on to everyone, right?" I said my opinion. "Everyone has given one brain each after all."
Arriving in the dining room I saw my mother and father waiting. I immediately sat on the chair. Nathan stood behind me. "Dad, I want Nathan to go to school too."
Hearing my request father nodded his head. "If that's what you want, I agree. Let Nathan be your assistant when you become the head of the family."
I smile. "Thank you, dad!"
My father, Rowan. He is a businessman. He is the one who trades weapons products whose shipments reach other continents. He could buy a mountain if he wanted right now. He is also the one who controls the trade flow of this kingdom. I want it too. I'm always wanna stand with pride like a father.
"Nathan, you can eat now. You can sit with us," said Emery.
She's my mother. He's one of the noble children of this region. A woman with the upbringing of a daughter who is orderly and polite. Mother nature? Of course, he is very gentle and also kind. She married her father to strengthen her family's influence. That's what I thought, but the mother and father's relationship is too harmonious for such a reason. Ah, I shouldn't have doubted them.
Nathan shook his head. "I'm a nobody. I don't think I deserve it."
I just wanted to force Mr. Asa to enter in a hurry. The man with the long mustache had a panicked face. "Master, there is an old woman outside. She is screaming for the master to come out."
"What?" my father asked. "Why is there such a person? Maybe he wants to eat, just give him food the problem is solved right?"
"We also thought he was a hungry beggar. But he didn't ask for food, he asked to come inside. Besides, he carried a sword," explained Mr. Asa making my father confused.
My eyebrows knit together. I was surprised too. What is the old woman holding a sword for? Especially screaming to meet my father.
My father kept his spoon and fork in a hurry to resolve the woman's problem. Just as father stood up the voice of an old woman was heard. My eyes widen at the appearance of the woman. He sits on a super large dimple and his face is very wrinkled with a long nose. In his hands, sure enough, he was holding a sword. Wait, what's even weirder is how can a mortar float like that?
Emery my mother approached me. "Son, are you afraid?"
I shook my head. I was even more horrified to see the woman's face. I can tell that my face is very pale right now.
"Are you Liam's son?" she asked.
My father nodded. "Right, do you have a problem with my father?" said Dad politely.
At that time the old woman laughed loudly like crazy. His laughter is very loud and quite scary. I covered my ears as his voice grew louder.
He then descended from his super large dimple. In a split second, the mortar advanced toward my father and slammed him against the wall. My blood doesn't seem to flow anymore. My father was there covered in blood. Half of his body was crushed in the mortar. I couldn't even breathe again when the woman's sword floated toward my mother who was standing beside me. I frantically turned to my mother who was lying with the sword pierced through her chest.
My world is spinning. My body froze. I couldn't feel my breath and my heart felt like it was going to explode. I can't hear anything. Nathan grabbed my hand as my house guards rushed in.
"Sorin, we have to run!" he shouted.
"W-wait, my old man..."
A few seconds later, a large number of my house guards arrived. Just as they approached, they were thrown in the opposite direction with a bang. They didn't wake up again.
I can't do anything anymore. My wish is to kill that old woman who has caused such a mess. But my body can't be moved. Am I afraid?
Or am I scared to death like those guards? No, be aware Sorin. Look what that old lady did to your parents. This is a fact I hate. Maybe....maybe mom and dad are dead.
Nathan stepped in front of me blocking me with his body. He spread his arms. "Don't come near you damn granny!!!" he shouted.
The woman laughed. I could see Nathan's legs shaking. Just like mine. With a big scary smile on her face, the woman walked toward us. He grabbed Nathan's neck and broke it.
Crack...
The sound of Nathan's neck snapping made me freeze. I swallowed. I don't think I dare to even curse at him. My eyeballs trembled when I saw Nathan's body collapse in front of me.
"I'll turn your grandson into an old doll as you told me that time," he said, I couldn't understand.
I took two steps back. "W-who are you? What did my mother and father do to you damn woman!!!!"
I screamed in one breath. My chest is rumbling. The old woman walked up to me holding her hand up. The wrinkled hand with long black nails touched my left cheek.
"I'm Baba Yaga."
He then held my head and closed my eyes. When I opened my eyes I saw that the woman was very tall. The woman's hand reached for me. What? This is not true. There's something wrong with my body.
The woman led me in front of a mirror. When I saw what was in the mirror my heart was mixed. Baba Yaga turned me into a dirty and ugly old teddy bear. I can't talk. Or am I speechless because I'm a doll now?
Baba Yaga laughed while turning my head to see the state of the room. My father's body has been partially destroyed, my mother is lying by the pool of blood and a sword is stabbed into his chest. Nathan, my dearest friend, lay there not breathing anymore. The guards of my house were lying motionless which this old woman had killed.
Baba Yaga laughed while taking me out of the house. When outside there was already a stocky dwarf creature. His skin was slightly wrinkled and his nose was long. His eyes are round and have dark circles under them. On his head was a hat slightly conical at the end with a red color. The hat looks wet.
Baba Yaga stretched out his hand and was greeted by the creature. In the blink of an eye, I was brought to the top of a high bridge with a rushing river below. Baba Yaga put me on the side of the bridge.
"Listen this is Liam's grandson. If you want to be human again bring me a child for me to be a maid."