Leo sat up in his bed, the soft light of the sunrise filtering through his tattered curtains, casting a warm glow upon his short, pointy, white hair. "What do they mean by 'They're Coming'?" he muttered to himself, his mind still foggy from sleep.
The sweet symphony of birdsong outside brought him back to the present. "I'm late!" Leo exclaimed, springing into action. He moved with the speed of lightning, hastily throwing on clothes that lay strewn on the floor. In his haste, he accidentally smacked his toe against the bed frame, doubling over in pain. "Rooster, chicken, cow gizzard. Why me? I know I said this happened last night, but it didn't have to actually happen," he grumbled, groaning slightly.
With determination, Leo leaped to his feet and rushed out of his room, heading towards the place he had dinner the previous night. His father's mannequin stood there, holding the fur gear, but the sword was conspicuously missing. Ignoring the peculiarity, Leo dashed to the kitchen and grabbed an apple from the basket, though he knew he shouldn't take it before it was washed. "I'll be back, Mary. I took an apple for the trip!" he hastily announced, hoping she didn't catch him in the act.
"Leo, you better not. I'll inform your..." the words trailed off as the door slammed shut behind him.
Leo emerged onto the bustling village street. The previous night's darkness now gave way to the beauty of the morning. The sun slowly rose over the treetops, and the villagers were busy setting up their trade stands. The sounds of dwarfs crafting metal rang through the air, providing a melodic accompaniment to the vibrant scene.
As he zoomed along the path, Leo noticed his father in the distance, holding his sword adorned with intricate designs. The hilt wrapped in leaves and what appeared to be a shining emerald as the pommel caught the glint of the rising sun. Etched onto the blade were the words, "Keep my family close, but my enemies closer."
Curiosity flared in Leo's mind. "What does he mean by that?" he wondered. Pushing the thought aside, he picked up his pace, jumping over a fence to reach his father. "I'm here, father; are you ready to meet your maker and see your end?" Leo declared with excitement, sporting a mischievous grin.
Asher shook his head with a disappointed look. "Leo, did you not hear the birds start singing? Why can't you ever be on time? Why do I have to constantly repeat myself to you that being late is the difference between life and death?"
"Father, what birds? I've heard nothing but the grungy sounds of metal clashing; blame the dwarfs for my lateness," Leo quipped, glancing at the dwarfs and winking.
Asher sighed, "Oh, so you can easily defend the people you care about, but with your faults, the blame's on someone you don't know? Good to know; go grab a sword and be ready, full speed today."
Leo walked over to the dusty rack of swords, hanging his head low. The rack bore scars and cuts from previous trainees who had missed their mark, just like the training dummy next to it. As he reached for a sword, Asher rushed behind him, swiftly grabbing his shoulder and tossing Leo across the training area. "Being late is the difference between life and death; you were too late when grabbing a sword, now you're defenseless, now grab a sword and get ready," Asher admonished, a sense of importance in his voice.
With determination, Leo got back on his feet and ran towards the rack of swords. Asher swung his sword with lightning speed, the sunlight reflecting off the blade. Leo raised his arm to shield his eyes from the glare just in time to see the sword aimed at his head. He swiftly rolled under the attack and, using his arm, struck Asher's knees, causing him to stumble backward. Before Asher could recover, Leo had grabbed a sword and pointed it toward his father's chest.
"Now, what was it you said? Oh yeah, 'The difference between life and death is being late,' or something like that, right?" Leo taunted with a cocky smile. Then, he playfully changed the subject, "I never realized you had so many tattoos, Father. Why do they cover you from neck to waist, and when can I get some?"
Asher, humor mixed with pride, seized the wooden sword with his bare hands and tried to throw it. Leo held on tightly, preventing it from leaving his grasp, while Asher's amused expression gave way to respect. "Good, I see you aren't completely useless when holding a sword, and stay focused, young one," Asher said, then tried to throw the sword again. This time, Leo let go, getting tossed back but quickly regaining his footing.
"Why do you continue to constantly throw me? I will not stand for it!" Leo declared defiantly, his frustration evident.
Leo charged at Asher once more, but his father remained still, simply extending his arm, halting Leo's progress in its tracks. "I will get you, just you wait! You've messed with the wrong one today!" Leo flailed his arms, trying to grab Asher.
Asher chuckled, "Boy, will you never learn? Anger will only cloud your judgment. You must never let your anger affect your decisions. Otherwise, you'll end up dead."
Suddenly, Aurora came flying to the sparring fence, her presence bringing a change in the atmosphere. "Leo, Leo, Leo, I have something I need to show you! Asher, Sir, is the training done? Leo could easily take on a cyclops... with my help, of course," she giggled uncontrollably, barely managing to hold onto the fence post.
"A cyclops, huh? Oh, you're so funny; we all know it'd be mainly me doing all the work against it." said Leo.
"Don't worry, Leo, I'd let you get the last hit so you could be the one to say you killed it," Aurora replied, elbowing Leo playfully.
"Please don't say the training is done, Father, or she will be the cyclops I take down," Leo said, glaring at Aurora.
Asher whispered to Leo, "Don't worry, I got your back," before addressing Aurora, "Of course, Aurora, go ahead and take him; he's all yours." With a sly grin, he nudged Leo towards her.
Overjoyed, Aurora jumped up and down, clapping her hands, her beautiful bright crimson hair swaying as she revealed her pointy elf ears adorned with a shiny hoop and an amethyst at its center. "Oh, thank you, thank you! C'mon, Leo, we have places to be," she said, grabbing Leo's hand and pulling him along.
"Can you not drag me, Aurora? I have my own two feet, you know," Leo protested, trying to keep up.
"I'm so sorry. Leo, I totally didn't notice. Thought you were just letting me do all the work," Aurora giggled, pulling Leo to her and bringing their faces close together.
"How about you just show me what you were wanting to show me?" Leo suggested, blushing slightly before averting his gaze.
As Leo and Aurora walked down the path, the sun had fully risen, casting its warm glow on the world around them. Birds chirped merrily, bees hummed as they collected pollen from vibrant flowers, and the dwarfs continued their melodious metalwork to arm the village against potential threats.
"You know, Leo, have you thought about who you're going to take to the spring dance this year? I've had a few thoughts about who I was going to take," Aurora said, her voice filled with curiosity as she glanced away shyly.
"Oh, I don't know, Aurora. Maybe that cyclops you mentioned earlier, so they can pick me up and twirl me around. You know me, doing none of the work," Leo joked, elbowing Aurora and laughing.
"You can never be serious, can you, Leo? I just wanted to know if you'd..." Aurora's words trailed off as they arrived at the end of the path, standing in front of a serene pond. A fish leaped out, almost hitting her, but Leo's quick reflexes saved the day.
"Stupid fish. Can't you see I'm talking to my friend here? Now, what were you saying, Aurora?" he said, playfully skipping the fish across the pond, his irritation evident.
"Uh-Uh, nothing. It's fine; I just forgot, I need to be home before dinner, you know how Mama gets," Aurora said quickly, cheeks blushing brightly.
Before Leo could respond or inquire further, Aurora darted back down the path. "Something is off about her. I don't know what it is, but I hope she'll be okay. She knows I care for her, right? That she can tell me anything, right?" Leo mused to himself, absentmindedly picking up a rock and skimming it across the pond, creating ripples that reached every corner.
Looking up, Leo noticed a tall humanoid figure on the other side of the pond. It appeared almost blacked out, impossible to discern, but the figure was there. Whispers filled his ears, eerie and unsettling. "Why must you dabble in the affairs of these weak people? That elf warrior and little elf girl will make you weak. You're running out of time, little Leoboirn. Don't be too late to make your choice."
"I am not Leoboirn! It is I, Leo! Remember that!" Leo yelled back with defiance, his heart pounding.
Asher suddenly appeared behind him. "Who are you yelling at, boy? You'll have the whole village sounding the alarm with that volume," Asher chided, a puzzled expression on his face.
"Father, do you see that man over there? I'm not blind. There is someone over there!" Leo pointed and tugged at Asher's arm, urging him to look.
"My boy, there is no one over there. You must be worn out from today's training; let's go home," Asher reassured him, guiding him gently.
"But father, I saw that man over there; he..." Leo began to explain.
"Leo, let's get home so you can eat and rest. You did well today, don't let it go to waste from exhaustion," Asher interrupted, understanding his son's struggle.
The scenery changed as Leo and Asher walked back. The sun was setting, casting a breathtaking orangish-red hue over the pond, and the sounds of the day were gradually replaced by the gentle chorus of nocturnal creatures. Fireflies danced in the dimming light, and frogs croaked in the distance.
"Father, you have to believe me. I didn't know how to tell you, but I'm getting these dreams at night and hearing voices in my head," Leo confided, his voice tinged with fear.
"I know, my boy. Do you think you can hide these things from someone who cares deeply about you? You're my son, Leo, and I will always be there for you, even if you don't see me; I'm right here," Asher reassured, pressing his finger to Leo's chest where his heart lay. "That's why I have spoken to the village watchers and the village elder; I will find a way to make them stop, even if I have to take them on myself."
Leo halted in his tracks, tears starting to flow down his cheeks. 'No, Leo, you must be tough; no one can see you as vulnerable. You've got to be tough.' He thought to himself, wiping his face to hide his emotions. "Wait up, Father, I just had to um... you know..." he stammered, hoping Asher didn't suspect the real reason.
"I know; tie your boots? Don't worry; it happens to us all. Just come on, my boy," Asher said, giving Leo a warm smile as he continued to walk. "We have dinner waiting for us. I'll race you home," he playfully challenged.
"You're on; the last one there is the rotten dragon egg," Leo retorted with excitement, and without a second thought, he took off, laughter and determination in his heart.