The sound of waves crashing into the shore was in sync with his breathing. He breathed in the warm salty air, letting it fill his lungs.

He loved summer - the warm sun, balmy breeze, the sea, and the green forest. Oh, how much he adored adventuring through the forest and then lying down on the tall grass up on the cliff.

He opened his eyes and sat up. From up the cliff, you could see the whole town. Parahill wasn't a big island. If you'd walk from one end of the island to the other, you'd reach the other side in an hour and a half. And he knew every corner and every inch of the island.

"Elias!"

He looked towards the town, the shout of his name barely heard through the waves. Regardless of that, Elias knew who it was. He stood up and started running down the hill towards the town.

It was his mother who was calling him. The town hated when she would shout for him to come, yet this was the only way that she could summon Elias back home.

Elias was the only child his age in Parahill. Consequently, he had no one to play with, so he spent most of his days adventuring and exploring the island. He never minded not having anyone to play or hang out with. He adored walking by himself through the island's forest. And he still had his parents, with whom he loved spending time with.

His mother trained him in throwing knives, which she wasn't keen on teaching Elias, but his father persuaded her to do so. Elias' father was a metalsmith and a woodcarver who on slow days gladly gave Elias a chisel and showed him how to carve wood.

They were very renowned in Parahill and therefore everyone knew Elias. If it wasn't for his energetic personality, it was for the resemblance of his father's blue eyes and his mother's black silky hair.

"Hey, kiddo where are you going?" Asked an old man who would always sit in front of his house on his wooden chair.

Elias smiled and waved to him. "I'm going to pa and then we're going home."

"Tell them I said hi."

Elias' smile widened as he sped up. "I will!"

He passed the marketplace where a ship, which had just left the harbour, brought new supplies and provisions. Elias stopped by the market stall with fruit. He went on his tippy toes and peeked through a heap of green apples.

"Oh, Elias!" Said the lady behind the stall. "It's just a matter of days and you'll be taller than this pile of apples."

"I already am tall!" Said Elias annoyed. "I'm almost as tall as you."

She smiled softly. "Almost. Want anything?"

"My ma said, I need to bring oranges when I come home."

The lady nodded and picked some oranges, putting them in a little basket. When she handed it to Elias, she added a handful of Vomlies, sweet red berries, and winked to Elias. "So, you'll grow faster."

Elias' grin widened, exposing a gap between his baby teeth. He thanked her and hurried up the busy road to his father's workshop while trying not to drop the oranges. When he arrived at the forge, Elias had to put down the basket to open the big heavy door.

As soon as the door was open, he was met with eyes the same as his own. The man was just putting down his apron.

"Pa!"

Elias' father spread his arms as Elias ran into them. Despite his strong arms, he had trouble holding him up.

"Gosh Elias, you're getting too big for this."

"He'll soon take your place, Arvel."

Both of them turned towards the man who had just come from the back of the forge.

"He is still too young, he is barely six." Said Arvel as he looked at Elias. "But in the future, I'm sure he will."

"No, pa." Elias looked at the man and then back at his father. "I'm going to be a sailor. I'm going to travel the world."

Arvel smiled and pulled him closer. "I don't doubt you will." He put Elias down. "And if you'll go to the sea, you'll need this." He turned to one of the tables and picked something silver from it. He handed the dagger to Elias.

Elias gingerly took it, as if he was afraid, he might break it. It was a beautiful silver dagger with a red ruby in the middle of the crossguard. Elias was lost for words. He looked up at his father with wide eyes.

Arvel winked. "Just don't let your mother know. It's our little secret."

Elias' eyes shone as he tightly hugged his father. "Thank you, pa."

"Now let's go. Mother is waiting. I already heard her shout for you." He turned towards his mate and waved. "See you tomorrow."

The man nodded in goodbye as Elias and Arvel left the building.

Their little home was the last house down the street, a little further away from the other houses, closest to the sandy beach. Elias burst in through the door startling his mother, who was in the middle of her embroidery. He sprinted straight to his room and hid the dagger under his pillow.

"In such a rush that you can't even greet your mother?"

Elias returned to the main room and ran into his mother's embrace, laughing. She gently ruffled his hair.

"What was my little Eli up to today?"

"I'm not little." Frowned Elias.

Suddenly he remembered the basket of oranges. He ran back to the door where Arvel just entered and took the basket from his hands. Elias ran back to his mother and handed her the oranges, taking the Vomlies out.

"Oh, what beautiful oranges." She gave him a little kiss on the forehead. "Thank you. I'll make you your favourite – orange pie."

She laughed at the big smile that crossed Elias' face.

"Nyala my flower, " She looked up at Arvel. "Am I not getting a kiss?"

Nyala smiled as he pulled her into a kiss. "Hello Arvel."

"Maaa, the pie." Said Elias impatiently.

"Yes, yes. Go prepare the flour." Elias ran into the kitchen with a giggle. Nyala looked over her shoulder to Arvel before following Elias into the kitchen. "I saw that dagger."

"You see everything, flower."

She smirked and joined her son in the kitchen.

After dinner when the sun had already set and the dark blue sky was sparkling with bright twinkling stars, Nyala sat beside Elias' bed.

"Which story do you want me to tell you tonight? Do you want the one with the black pirate ship?"

"No. Not that one." He frowned. "I don't like that one."

"Then do you want to hear a new one?"

Elias snuggled closer to her. "Yes, a new one."

Nyala smiled and stroked her son's hair. "Once there was a prince in a kingdom ruled by a mighty king, his father." She looked at Elias to make sure he was paying attention. His eyes were on her, listening carefully. "He had everything he could ever want, the kingdom was swimming in its reaches. The prince also had a friend, a princess from another kingdom. They made a promise to each other that they would stay together till death would do them apart. Prince had everything he ever wished for, but his heart yearned for something he didn't have."

"What was it, ma?" asked Elias, his eyes already closing.

"He yearned for adventure."

Elias smiled. "Just like me."

"Just like you Eli." She laughed.

Elias yawned, his eyelids heavy. "What happened next? Did he go on an adventure?"

"His father wouldn't let him. He said it was too dangerous and that he was too young. There were bad things out there - pirates, witches, and awful people. But the prince wasn't afraid. He stayed awake every night thinking about all the adventures he could have and then one night he decided he would pack his things and leave the kingdom. He found a boat and set sail towards the horizon."

Elias didn't hear the end of the story as he fell asleep too quickly. He could only hope the prince had an amazing adventure as he sailed off into the open sea.

Elias was up before the sun. He put on his clothes and boots in the soft blue morning and hid his new dagger under his coat. He ran into the kitchen where Nyala was already preparing breakfast.

"Why in such a rush, young man?"

Elias picked an apple from the table and ran towards the door. "I'm going to the forest."

"Be careful with the dagger!" Shouted Nyala after him.

"I don't have a dagger!"

She stood between the doorframe. "I love you!"

Elias looked over his shoulder and waved. "I love ya too ma!"

And before you would know it, he was gone into the woods.

Elias couldn't wait. Ever since dad gave him the blade, he couldn't wait for the next day, when he could go out into the woods and test how sharp the dagger was. When he came to his usual spot, a clearing in the middle of the dense forest, he stopped.

He tossed the knife from one hand to the other, getting familiar with its weight. Then he swung it around, the metal making whistles as it cut through the air. Father really makes the best blades, he thought as he pretended he was fighting someone. Then he picked a tree for a target and threw the dagger at it. He missed the first couple of times, but he quickly got a hold of it.

After what felt like just minutes to Elias, he looked up. The sun was already high in the sky. He decided it would be enough for the day. He fastened the dagger on his belt and picked up his apple. Elias ate it as he walked to the cliffs to his spot.

He sat down in the grass and looked out on the sea.

He had heard stories from sailors who stopped at Parahill. They talked about islands so big you couldn't see their end, greater than he could ever imagine. They spoke of villages and towns and even mighty kingdoms. Elias wanted to see the whole world.

Elias was woken up by the sound of bells. He didn't even know when he fell asleep. The bells rang in his ears.

That was weird. There were no churches, no bells in Parahill.

The only bells he knew of were…

Elias jerked himself up and his eyes immediately fixated on a black ship. It was the biggest ship Elias had ever seen. Its black wood and black sails were barely visible in the night, only orange light illuminating it.

Orange light.

Elias moved his eyes away from the ship towards the source of the orange light. His pupils shrank as he saw his town being swallowed by scorching flames.

Parahill was in flames.