If you went into the ocean and swam deeper and deeper, you would pass through layers of darker and darker blue until everything is black and cold and the pressure will be so intense that it will kill you. But if you continued on, you would find little glowing specks of light. Now, if you went up into the sky and went higher and higher, you would pass through layers of darker and darker blue until everything is black and cold and the pressure will be so intense that it will kill you. But if you continued on, you would find little glowing specks of light.
Do you know why they reflect each other, dear?
This is how I begin every morning, staring at the worn and tattered letter pinned to the alabaster wall, as I brush my teeth. It had definitely seen better days.
"Hey Yuke, what's taking so long? I wanna get there early and surprise him-"
I turned around and saw a mass of extremely curly light brown hair peeking through the doorway. It was Vy, my roommate, if you will. More like partner in crime, fellow orphan, and my last semblance of family- blood or not.
I smiled as I would every other day. You would think with this being a daily occurrence she would know what I'm doing. It's just like her though, Miss Airhead. "Yeah, yeah, I'll be ready in a sec."
She nodded but lingered in the doorway. "...Did you find the answer today?"
I shook my head, "Not today." and walked past her, "We should get going."
Pieces of who we love stick to us. That's why the sky is blue. It's in love with the ocean.
The bathroom, well room we used as a bathroom, was the first room on the right from the main open space. Worn pillars lined the space keeping the ceiling from falling. We arrived before a giant piece of rubble that was blocking the exit. The two of us moved the 'door' and crawled out through the opening.
"Finally, it's sunny again! What was that, like four days of cloudiness?" Vy exclaimed as she skipped ahead.
"I don't understand how you can enjoy the brightness so much," I replied as I raised a hand to block the illuminating rays. "It hurts my eyes."
"That's just because you're a caveman, Yuke," retorted Vy. "If you were as awesome as me, you'd be basking in it!"
Despite my irritation, I found myself smiling, "If you say so, Little Vy." I ruffled her locks causing it to puff up even more.
She was like a firecracker going off, "Hey! What did I say about calling me that? You promised once I turned thirteen, you'd stop it!"
"Mhm, but if your head inflates too much, it's my responsibility as your older, cooler brother to knock ya down a peg."
She blew a raspberry at me and looked ahead.
My eyes had adjusted by now, and what greeted them was the good ol' Outskirts: ruins of civilizations past that now serve as a roof for the unfortunate. They litter the landscape south of Naminas and are sandwiched by Mt. Aderos. It is a depressing sight, but one of familiarity. I've been here for as long as I can remember, this place is home. And quite honestly, not one I'd leave by myself.
It's always been Vy's dream to go out into the world and make a name for herself, to not just be an Orphan of the Outskirts, but for me… I'd just like to be wherever she is. Be it here or in Naminas, or on the other side of the world. She had dreams of grandeur with epic battles and adventures, I had nightmares of solitude. SO, as you can see, I would have my hands full with the little rascal, because chaos was sure to follow her.
But it'd be worth it… if her company remains.
"Yuke, Yuke look at this!" Vy exclaimed as she dragged my arm. There, waving slightly in the breeze, was an Assadia Lily. It was an extremely rare sight for the red flower to bloom and if found it was considered a sign of good luck.
We crouched and took a closer look. It was the only sign of natural life to be seen, growing between the cracks of the scarred and broken cobblestone. "How does this little thing sprout here of all places?" I wondered.
"Life always finds a way, Rave," Vy replied, deadly serious. She was staring at the lily intently while stroking the petals. "We don't have to be stuck here much longer."
I said nothing, the significance of the flower to her dawned on me.
Vy pinched the very bottom of the stem and lifted it out of the crack. It broke off easily and she wrapped it carefully in a spare cloth before placing it in her empty sack.
I stood, still feeling a bit off-balanced by the abrupt change in her. I've never seen her this serious, honestly, hearing my given name out of her mouth was scary in itself.
Vy stood and at that moment, with the breeze in the air blowing her hair and the determination in her purple irises, I could totally imagine her dreams coming true. She would become a Herald of the most renowned. It brought out a weird feeling in my stomach. If she were to be that awesome, what would I end up being? Would I even be in her sight?
And just like that, the image I would never forget vanished and Vy was back to her energetic self, yanking me along on our way to Old Man Hewg's.
Old Man Hewg was a figure of constant mystery to Vy and me. He was a senior of few words. It seemed whatever he said was carefully deliberated upon and said with reason. His cottage was on the most southern part of the Outskirts. It was situated at the foothills of Mt Aderos and was the last vestige of settlement before entering the "Wood," the untamed area that marks the beginning of Mt Aderos' range. His cottage was a quaint, two-room cabin made of dark brown wood. Compared to the rest of the buildings in the Outskirts, it stuck out like a sore thumb, being the only wooden structure and not built thousands of years ago.
As we approached the door, it opened to reveal Old Man Hewg. He had long gray hair that was in a bun, something I always asked about because it was such a different style than anyone else, but he would never answer.
Brown eyes narrowed at us before softening slightly. "You are early."
"Yes Mr. Hewg, we want to get more done today than yesterday," Vy answered with a noticeably polite tone.
"What Vy said, but I have some questions about the story you were telling yesterday as well," I added.
Since he taught us what he called, "proper etiquette," Vy and I always try to be particularly polite and fluent with him.
Old Man Hewg said nothing and moved out of the way allowing us to enter. We took our shoes off and left them by the door before heading toward the fireplace at the far side of the room and plopping down on the animal skin rug.
Old Man Hewg ambled over to his rocking chair and sat quietly before taking out a pipe. He snapped his finger, and a flame suddenly arose. He lit the pipe and took a hit, letting out a great sigh that seemed to come from within his very bones.
I was watching intently. Very rarely did Old Man Hewg ever use mystics and when he did it was for stuff similar to this. It was absolutely mind-blowing to think about. Mystics, the ability to control the elements, and making anything possible when you can literally conjure flames from your hands. I had begged him to teach me anything he could about mystics, but he refused, stating, 'You will learn what you need to if you listen.' If that isn't the most old man thing I've heard, then I don't know what is.
"You had questions, boy," Hewg said in such a way that there was no room for debate, it was a statement, not a question, and made scarier by his deep voice.
"I did, Sir. Yesterday, when you were retelling the story of the Legendary Swordsman, you said that with each of his victories, his legend grew. How would it grow if there was no one alive to tell it?"
Old Man Hewg chuckled, "Victory does not mean death to the loser. But that does not mean he was merciful. No, he took the vanquished weapon; their pride, and their very honor."
"What would he do with all those weapons?" Vy asked.
Old Man Hewg shrugged, indicating he did not know. "Is that all?"
We nodded.
"Good." He pulled two books from seemingly nowhere, "Here is your assignment. I will tell you when your time is up."
Vy and I took our respective books with not a word or expression. The last time we complained… Let's just say it won't happen again.
I snuck a peek at Vy's book, The Wildlife of Maardoma (And What We Know). It was a decently sized book, but mine seemed a bit thicker. The Enigma: Myst. My hands began to shake. A book on Mystics! Or well the particles we use to form mystics. I gave one more look at Vy, who was already reading intently before I opened my own tome.
It was a hard book to read with many words that I had just only recently learned. I suppose I forgot to mention, but Old Man Hewg has taught and is teaching Vy and me everything that we would normally learn if we attended the Academy in Naminas. It only emphasizes to me that Old Man Hewg wasn't always someone living in the Outskirts. He is very knowledgeable, more so than anyone I have ever met.
I was so fully entranced in my reading that it felt like barely any time had passed before Old Man Hewg's voice broke my concentration. "Explain what you have read."
Vy started, "There are many different types of wildlife out in the world, but many of the dangerous species are those that have been mutated by Myst, with stronger variations in Yakht, whatever that is. Despite how much information we do have on the flora and fauna, much is still to be learned, and it wouldn't be too far-fetched to say we have uncovered only 10% of the beings that live, be it deep underground or high in the mountains or these so-called areas, Yakht."
Old Man Hewg crossed his arms, and a deep bassy sound reverberated from his chest, "An apt, but extremely broad summary of the first page, little one. It would be wise to make use of your memory than to write it all out in fear of being quizzed, you would've gotten further in the reading."
Vy sunk into herself a little but nodded in response.
I knew she had a hard time remembering stuff when she read, so I told her to take notes if that would help… I'm going to get an earful from her later.
Hewg continued, "It is not wrong to put information on parchment, but you won't be able to use that parchment in battle. Say you encounter a Cactoir, at least thirty seconds to take the parchment out of your bag and another thirty to gloss over it for strengths, weaknesses, and behavior. What happens then?"
"I'd get hurt," Vy mumbled.
"Or worse," Hewg stressed. "The mind is a powerful tool, train it like your muscles and you will survive. Now, let's listen to the boy." He directed his gaze toward me.
I cleared my throat, "Um, well I suppose Myst is everything, it is you and it is I. It is the trees outside or the sun in the sky. It is the goadja and the monsters. Everything perceivable is Myst. The very makeup of life and the inevitability of death. In its purest form, Myst is an invisible particle. The greatest of beings can attest to that as they can feel each particle and manipulate it to their whims. When large concentrations of Myst amalgamate, vast mutations of life and geography occur. These areas are called Yakht." I couldn't remember anything else, but I felt like I got a good amount out there.
"You suppose?" questioned Old Man Hewg.
"It is everything." I answered, adding "Sir" as an afterthought.
"Good. Both of your progress is surprising yet not unwelcome. You may survive out there after all." He stood up and walked over to the door, beckoning us to follow. "...If you two get lucky."
Old man Hewg was hard to impress, he never seemed satisfied. It was infuriating, he would bait us into a compliment only to end it with an 'If blah blah blah'. But we knew, secretly, deep down inside of his rough exterior that he cared, and that he saw something in the two of us. Why else would he teach two urchins? Two bottom dwellers that only had aspirations to hold at night; and no way to obtain them.
Vy hit my shoulder and I realized that I hadn't moved from the rug. I quickly stood and followed her outside where Old Man Hewg was prepping the area for our physical learning.
This is how most days would go. The first half would be spent honing the mind and intellect, while the latter would be gaining in strength, speed, endurance, and skill.
The old man had determined that I would be best suited in swordplay, wielding a broadsword or longsword. Vy on the other hand was immediately attracted to dagger usage. He said we had good synergy because whereas I had more weight behind my strokes and was good at engaging, Vy could capitalize on weaknesses and vital spots.
It was awesome to see how quickly and effortlessly Vy was able to pick up the skills and techniques.
I was the opposite. It took much longer for me to understand what Hewg was teaching, but now, it just feels so…natural. When I grab the hilt of my wooden training sword it gives me the same feeling as eating a nice meal that the Old Man makes for us. Oh. Just at that thought, I began to salivate.
Suddenly a sharp pain echoes through my head. The Old Man had smacked me! Not only that, but he did it with my own training sword?!
"Get your head out of your ass and prepare yourself."
"Y-yes sir!" I scrambled to get my training sword from him and stood opposite of Vy.
She had a shit-eating grin, "You were thinking of the Axebeak we ate yesterday, weren't you?"
"No..."
She began giggling, "I could see the drool from here!"
Hewg ignored us and began, "Today we will work on parrying. With no shield or form of mystical protection, defending an attack is dangerous. Parrying allows you not only to minimize any damage taken by deflection but also counterattack. It is a necessity when facing humanoid opponents. For more monstrous enemies… dodging, as we worked on last week, would be best."
It made sense. I wouldn't want to try and deflect an overhead slam by an Ogre.
Old Man Hewg took turns with Vy and me working on the timing of a parry; the hardest part of succeeding at one. It was awful.
"This will be the last chance you have, boy."
I nodded. We had been doing this for so long, that it was practically nightfall. My hands were aching and the calluses that were formed from before had opened, staining the wooden hilt red. I had bruises and welts everywhere from every failed attempt. Vy lay passed out from exhaustion after finally succeeding once.
It was just me and Hewgy.
He stood across from me with the tip of his blade pointed down. I nodded, signaling that I was ready.
One step, two steps, he slowly approached me and slashed across his body horizontally at my right side. Seeing his obviously choreographed attack, a plan came to mind. Even if I failed at parrying, I could still get some sweet little revenge.
I held my blade vertically, the contact shaking my wrist and forearm. I let my blade drop as I stepped back and sent a punch to his gut.
"Owww!" I stumbled back holding my fist.
Old Man Hewg laughed. Wait, he laughed? This has never happened before, I…I didn't know what to do.
"The form was incorrect, the plan: risky, and yet, you've caught me by surprise." He gave another boisterous chuckle before whispering seemingly in disbelief, "You made contact with me… What would Venitus have said if he saw this?"
"W-what's so funny about it? I still failed at parrying your attacks..."
"You boy, have done something no one has done in years."
"Attack you?"
"No. Plenty have done that. You laid a hand on me, connected with your strike so-to-say. It is not something grand or legend-defying, but still. Something to be proud of for someone so young."
"Um. Thanks...?"
Old Man Hewg approached Vy and lifted her gently. He looked up at the stars in the dark sky, "Come, you two can stay the night, it's a majestic danger to be out with the stars."
I grabbed my training sword and followed him into the cabin, still extremely confused at the turn of events. I was expecting him to scold me, give me the trustworthy hundred push-ups, hundred squats, hundred sit-ups punishment, but he didn't. He wasn't even disappointed. It was confusing. And who knew punching him would've been like punching rock?! My hand still hurts.
The old man set down two pillows on the rug and rested Vy on the one further from the fire. He then grabbed a pot and filled it with water, hanging it over the fireplace. I sat at the table, trying not to tense because it would send a shooting pain throughout my entire body.
He took a seat across from me and I decided to take a gamble. "How do you know all of this, Sir?"
"Hm?"
"Like myst and everything about combat. Only Heralds can use myst, so you must've been one."
"If not for your growing skill with a blade, I'd have thought you to be a scholar. An astute observation, boy."
Hey, it was something. That basically confirms he was a Herald.
"But not everyone that can use Myst decides to become a Herald. Remember that, it could save your life."
And there's his backtrack, I'm gonna stick with my first guess and say he was one. I looked down at my hands, tracing the constellations of lines in my palm. A wave of solemnity fell over the room.
I could feel the old man's inquisitive gaze. I had one last question to ask, it's been gnawing and festering inside me, like my own little monster inside. I just wasn't sure how to say it.
"What ails you, boy?"
I flinched; he could tell there was something. Should I really ask? Would knowing the answer even change anything?
"Why-" I swallowed at how shaky my voice sounded. "W-why do you help us?" I feared his gaze, judging and disappointed.
"Rave, look at me." The tone was different than any he had used before, it was almost... caring?
I slowly looked up and held his gaze. 'A warrior locks eyes with their problems.' His words echoed in my mind. This is my problem and I have to look it in the eyes.
The Old Man interlocked his hands in front of himself. "Why do these thoughts haunt you?"
"They do not haunt me!" I hastily rebuked, before taking a deep breath. "Sorry, I just- I want to know why?!"
He was silent for a moment. I could now see for the first time, the slouch in his posture, the bags under his eyes. "The two of you remind me of myself. I was an orphan like you. I had someone who taught me; like I am teaching you." He paused before smiling slightly, "It's nice to be able to live instead of trying to survive, isn't it?"
I was shocked, he- he understood. Not knowing when our next meal will be, knowing that to anyone you may meet; you are nothing, a leaf in the vast tree of life. He knew what it was like to be alone. Forgotten. I caught one glaring difference though, "You didn't have someone like Vy, did you.?"
There was no answer.
I understood what his silence meant. Quickly trying to move forward, I grasped for a subject, "Your mentor, who were they?"
"I'm sure you'll be graced with his visage soon enough."
No way. The Old Man's old man is still alive? "How...?"
Hewg gave a wistful smile, "There are many spectacular things in this world, he is just one of them. Now, get some rest."