"I think this is the biggest one here. It will definitely help in building the large fence," Eamon muttered to himself as he tightened his grip on the axe, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. With a swift swing, he aimed the axe towards the fifth tree, he mumbled "This should be enough."
As the fallen trunk shook the ground slightly, Eamon placed his axe on his back and hoisted the trunk onto his shoulder, adding it to the four others he had already felled. "My old body still has it's strength. If it were Jolnhere, he wouldn't even be able to carry a log," he chuckled lightly to himself as he made his way back to the village.
Upon entering the heart of the village, Eamon was greeted by the villagers, who hailed him as "Eamon The Saviour." He made his way to his home, a simple wooden hut but with a big and lush garden where he placed the trees before heading inside.
However, as he was about to enter his home, a voice called out to him from a distance. "Eamon! Thank goodness, I've been looking for you! Where have you been these days? We miss your company!"
Turning to see Jolnhere approaching, Eamon replied, "Oh, hey Jolnhere. I've been out collecting wood for the fence I mentioned to you a few days ago."
"What fence?" inquired Jolnere.
"The fence to protect the village from The Alpha Wolf?"
"Oh, that fence! Yes, I do remember," Jolnhere responded.
"I doubt that," Eamon said with a smile.
"Anyways, why don't you come with me and the others for a drink? We miss drinking with you! especially the stories you used to tell us while you're drunk about you being Sulvor's helper" Jolnhere added
"I think you already know the answer to that. Before informing you about the fence, I told you about my new son, and how I need to become a better person for his sake. I won't be drinking any longer."
"Oh you mean Morvan? Well he's still just an infant so I think he wouldn't mind haha. Plus, you're a new fadher, you can cut yourself some slack right?"
"No, Jolnhere. A promise is a promise. Now if you don't need anything else, I'll be heading in." Said Eamon in a firm and desicive tone.
Eamon entered his house, and found the kid sleeping peacefully on his bed, he looked at him, and smiled.
"Morvan, fate gave you another chance to live. In my hands, I will dedicate my life to raising you in the best way possible, I promise.." he murmured.
He gave him a gentle hug, but the boy started crying, because of Eamon's thick white beard, as it stung him on his face.
"Damn it not again... Welp, I guess the fence can wait until tomorrow.."
Years passed, and Morvan grew up under Eamon's guidance, becoming a kind and energetic boy skilled in blacksmithery and trade. At just 14 years of age, he helps his father by molding the ores into bars and selling them to the villagers at the bazaar. However, one day Morvan returned home with troubling thoughts about his identity. At home, he just sat there infront of the chimney thinking about the matter. Seeing his troubled son, Eamon sat next to him, hoping to help.
"What's the matter, son? I never see you like this." He said in a soothing voice, putting his hand on Morvan's shoulder.
"Hey father. I- I'm just.. thinking about something. Are- you my real father?"
Eamon hugged his son and said:"Of course I am.. and what makes you ask this?"
"You know Felix and Marcus, the two brothers who like to bother me all the time?Well, yesterday, while selling the ingots, they came to me saying that I'm adopted, or something like that, I asked the head of the village about this word, and it meant that I and you are not really related."
"Listen to me son, whoever says things like these about you, they probably just aims to bring you down. You're a strong kid, Morv, and some people don't like those who are better than them.."
"Yes, that's exactly what I though, and that's why I did not tell you about it but.. today I overheard two of your friends talking about me, and they said the exact same thing, that I was found somewhere and taken by you out of pity. Is that true..?"
"..."
"Father ?"
"I should've known that this day would come.. Listen, years ago, while you were still a newborn, our village got attacked by The Vampire Kingdom, a bunch of bad guys thirsty for blood, demanding us to give them our land, but our villagers' pride did not let such a thing happen, so a war happened. I, was our leader, Eamon Solaire, with my war axe, the axe you see in the workshop, I used it to cut the vampires heads, I was fighting nonstop, defending my village and defeating the vampires, then, I heard a baby crying, I rushed to the source of the sound, it was coming from a small cabin, I broke the door and found two parents laying dead on the ground, and a vampire standing atop of their corpses, holding their kid in his hands. I can never forget his name.. Vamp. He killed both of them, and was trying to kill the baby, but I rushed with my axe to cut his head off. I missed, hitting him on his shoulder instead, leaving a scar he will forever wear..
He screeched intensly, transforming into a bat and retreating along with the other vampires, and we emerged victorious, I was given the nickname 'Eamon The Saviour' for being the strongest in battle, and for slaying half of the vampires, after that, I looked at the kid I just saved, he had an innocent face, and a bright future ahead of him with proper care, so I decided to adopt him, and name him Morvan Solaire..."
Eamon looked at Morv, trying to hold his tears, not to look weak infront of his son. Especially after telling him about his glorious days.
"I wish you can forgive me, Morvan. I was only trying to protect you.." Said the man
"You were pretty awesome back then.." said Morv in response "Don't apologise father, you did nothing wrong, and honestly, I don't really care about my parents, I mean, its sad that they died and all, but all I care about is you, you raised me, and gave me the love I needed, that is what I care about, I love you father, and I always will."
Eamon stayed silent, hearing Morv's words, he hugged him, saying "I love you too, son" with a tear finally slipping out of his eye.
After a warming hug, Morv added:
"I want to be as strong as you father, train me, tell me how you became so strong and got the strength to kill vampires! "
"Heh, slow down boy, you must start little by little. If you want to reach my strength, we must start with your physique! I'll first teach you how to cut down some trees, it will make you strong as it is a hard job."
"Understood!"
Eamon started training him gradually, beginning with small tasks like the proper way to handle an axe, then showig him how to chop trees.
And at the end, added to his smithing job, he now also helps his father with woodcutting.
And one day, Morvan ventured into the forest to chop trees as usual. This day was particularly fruitful since he cut down 15 trees. He collapsed and sat on one of the felled trunks.
"I wonder when will my muscles are going to grow like my father's. Wait, what was that noise ?"
Morv heard weird wispering sounds coming from the deep forest, which leads to The Fangwild. He grabbed his axe and decided to follow the sounds.
He kept walking and walking for hours, until he reached a place with dense flora colored in blue and purple, but he kept going, following the sounds, he started to venture further and further from his village, and he almost forgot about it, almost as if he were hypnotised. He was only thinking about the voices, until he finally reached it. A massive tree with leaves half green and half purple, and with particularly colored mushrooms growing from it. But upon touching it, the voices stopped.
"Aw man, this can't be fair."
He sat under it, catching his breath. He found the place to be quite peaceful, as he enjoyed the chirping of the birds.
"COME BACK BEFORE MIDNIGHT BOY"
The kid remembered the chilling promise he made to his dad, and was horrified to think that even if he headed back right now he wouldn't be able to make it in time.
Morv got on his feet and was ready to run, but noticed something on the side of the tree. Below the vines and leaves, there was a small cavity.
"It's fascinating how a tree this big can be hollow.. and great! The voices are back. Ohh but I need to head back, what do I do, what do I do!."
And after a moment of reflection, Morv decided to crawl in the little hole to finally relieve his curiosity. He clung to the vines, using them to go down, but after struggling for a while, one of the vines gave in, leading the boy to fall. Thankfully, the impact has been lessened by the thick foliage in the bottom. Dizzy, the kid asked himself where he was. Somehow, in the bottom of the tree, there was a dark path that he could barely see light at the end of. So naturally he rushed to get there. The place was slowly revealed to be a temple of sorts and the light was emited from a white, floating crystal in the middle of a secluded room...
Morv slowly walked up to it. He gazed at it for minutes, amazed at the sight before him, but then he desided to touch it. He pulled a fallen brick to use for elevation, and then slowly moved his hand toward the gem...
-To Be Continued-