"Memories are like the stars, they may fade but they'll never truly disappear"
A childish voice sounded out with wonder from a little boy who's currently laying happily on a stack of hay.
The boy's hair was red and kept short. He wore a brown tunic that seems to be slightly larger than his size, causing it to look a bit baggy on his small frame. The boy didn't seem like he is of age yet, perhaps younger than 12 years old.
A wide smile adorns his face while his eyes gazed upon the sky in wonder, as if he's looking beyond the clouds. Towards the stars perhaps? After all the child talked about such meaningful philosophical words just then, maybe he's smarter than he acts-
"What a load of crap"
A much older voice sounded out nearby, the boy blinks before looking towards the speaker.
"What do you mean brother?"
A much older boy who looks like he's in his late teen years was using a pitchfork to gather hays and pile them nearby to create a stack.
He had red hair like the little boy as well. The only difference is his was longer, reaching the shoulders and tied in a short ponytail. He was wearing a brown tunic as well.
He has a smirk on his face as he continues to gather the hay with a pitchfork. A chuckle of amusement escapes his lips as he shakes his headÂ
"Like I said Rain, it's a load of crap."
This statement seem to not sit well with the Rain as he pouts, still gazing at his brother.
"I heard you the first time Finix. I'm asking why you said it's a load of crap"
He shook his fists at Finix as if threatening him.
"If you don't explain why you think teacher Psemuel's word is equal to dung, I'll show you and-"
His words got cut off when a lump of hay falls on top of him
"Ack!"
Rain coughs in surprise before he moves the hay away from his face with his hands. After clearing the hay, he glares at Finix who was smiling in front of him. The pitchfork was stabbed to the ground, his hands was resting at the end of the handle with his chin resting on top of his hands. A cheeky smile was on his face.
"Look at you trying to pick a fight with your big brother because your favorite teacher's words got mocked"
Finix shakes his head side to side once gain before he pats Rain on the head.
"I'm saying that his words are pretty dumb. If memories fades away wouldn't it mean it disappeared? How can something that is gone return? Memories especially"
Rain opens his mouth to retort his brother's words. But nothing came out of his mouth. Despite him being smarter than most of the children his age, he is after all, still a child.
He crosses his legs and holds his chin as he quietly gaze at the ground, trying to decipher Finix's words and trying to remember all the lessons he has learned from Psemuel.
Finix shakes his head with a sigh after seeing his little brother enter the usual pensive pose of his.
The older brother turns around and continues to gather hays, focusing on his work and leaving his little brother to his own thoughts. He can't wait until his brother finishes his bout of thinking before resuming his work.
After all, the hays won't stack themselves up.
That would make his life easier though.
Ahh what a dream that would be.
…
…
…
"That's all of them"
I sigh, wiping the sweat on my forehead while looking at my handiwork.
6 Haystacks were gathered in front of my eyes. Each of them was probably a head or two taller than my own father.
I look up at the sky, looks like the sun will set soon, it's already evening. Thankfully I manage to finish in time today.
Turning around, I gaze towards my little brother, Rain. He was still in his pensive pose. Well I'll say, he is in a bit of a conundrum isn't he?
Our Rain is a smart kid, he'll definitely be a teacher or even a wisemen when he grows up. However he thinks too much and always wants to debate someone if they have a different opinion or understanding of certain matters as compared to his.
Then there's the matter of the wisemen in the village who people considered as a sage, the man called Psemuel.
Sure, he seems kind enough and soft-spoken. But so was the Mad King Alareich from ages ago before he started the massacre of Burmington. Hundreds or even thousands died when he razed the city down if memory serves me right.
Not to mention Psemuel comes from far up in the north. I've even heard the village folks talking about him being from beyond the sea. That's even more reason to be careful around him.
You can't truly trust outsiders too much, especially one that seems too good.
The problem here is that Rain idolizes him too much and prefers running to the village and listen to his teachings as compared to helping out in the farm.
Father always complains about it as well before, but because of Rain's potential and mother's gentle advice he relented. This means Rain can go listen and study whenever Psemuel teaches in the village. Most of the time that is.
Although that did mean Rain won't help as much in the farm and now I'm doing more work. So this is what a cow feels like huh? Man I have to be more grateful to Betsy, perhaps I'll feed her an apple later after supper.
Or maybe half an apple, we'll see how full I am.
I am happy with Rain learning from Psemuel, I do. Kid looks so excited and all that. I just wished he'll be careful with his teacher and to stop spouting this nonsensical philosophical crap every time when we're together.
Although that's on me I suppose. Ever since I beat him in a debate he kept coming to me every time he learns a new saying from his teacher to try and stump me.
I sigh before I shake my head once again, trying to snap away from my daydream as I approach my little brother who's still lost in his thoughts.
"Oi, snap out of it. It's already evening"
He didn't respond and was still holding onto his chin, muttering some words too faint to hear beneath his breath.
That is admirable, but too much thinking at times can cause more harm than good.
Thoughts without actions is like loading a lot of arrows into your quiver without shooting the bow in the middle of a battle, useless.
I tap my knuckles on his head gently, don't want him turning into a retard after all.
"Hello, anybody home?"
He flinch as he snaps out of his thinking pose. He blinks slowly as he looks at me in confusion.
"You've been thinking for a while now. I guess you have a good retort for my statement about Psemuel's words this time around?"
I smile at his confusion that slowly turns to realization before he looks down in embarrassment.
"U...um...I-I'm still working on it"
He muttered quietly, playing with the hem of his tunic. I chuckle at him being meek, losing all the hot air he had a while back.
I noticed that whenever he gets stumped by something he turns very quiet and anxious. Like he's scared that he'll disappoint us or something if he can't come up to par. As if there's a certain expectations he's trying to meet.
Can't really do anything about it. Or at least not now, I already have my hands full with my own troubles.
"Well, that's another one of the stuffs you'll have to put in the rucksack for now and try to ask your teacher later"
I ruffle his hair.
"Come on, the sun will set soon. Let's go home and have supper-"
"I was wondering what took you so long"
A melodious voice sounded behind me, cutting off my words. I smile in exasperation and manage to stop my body from flinching due to the sudden voice.
Well this time at least, considering that girl likes to startle people and seeing me, her trusty and always calm brother flinching in surprise seems to amuse her to no end.
I turn around to look behind me.
A girl stood there, she has long red hair that reaches her waist and braided. Freckles on her cheeks and running across her nose.
She was wearing a long brown gown with a sleeveless green tunic. She has both hand behind her back, a grin was plastered on her lips.
"You two took too long, this means you don't want to have supper yeah?"
Still grinning, she puts a finger on her cheek as she tilts her upper body slightly side to side as if she's debating about something in her mind.
"Well, more portion for me and Oura. I'm off to tell mother~"
Turning around, she seems like she's about to dash away but I was faster and managed to hold her wrist this time, I speak calmly with a grin on my face,
"Not a chance Vulpi"
My voice sounds a bit exhausted at the eldest daughter's mischievous streak. She once ate half of my supper because I took my sweet time walking back to the house after all.
I'm not having this fox tax my food again.
Vulpi stops as she slowly looks at my hand on her wrist, she then turns her gaze up towards me quietly.
She suddenly smiles brightly.
"Dearest brother, please let me go. I promise I won't run away and eat your supper"
I gave her an equally dazzling smile.
"Do you take me for a fool? I'm not trusting your words again, you little food tax collector"
We both turn silent, smiling at each other before she suddenly jumps forwards, trying to pull her wrist out of my hand, her face straining.
"GHHHHHHHHH"
That would've worked if I was weaker. Unfortunately, all the work in the fields made me strong. Holding a girl in place is not a hard thing to do.
Ah my body just shifted, I forgot she also helps our mother out with chores, sometimes helping out father and I. So she's quite strong as well.
Not to mention the strength we all got from our father.
'Father dearest, your daughter is really strong. Or is this mother's strength?'
I had that silly thought in my head as I adjust my footing and dug my feet on the ground.
She kept pulling for a while to no avail before she finally stops and her shoulder slumps in defeat, panting for a bit.
"Fine. I give up. Please let me go brother"
She sighs before turning at me with those doe eyes trick she learned from her friend, Sedea.
Unfortunately, I've already developed a certain resistance to it. That method is by closing my eyes. I already knew she was going to use that to try and escape.
I've fallen for that too much already. To both of my sisters and even Sedea as well.
"Come on, lead the way you little fox"
I shake her wrist, waiting for her to pull me along.
"Tch"
I hear the clicking of her tongue and felt the slight pull. I move my steps and follow her,
"Rain, lets go"
There was no answer so I open my eyes and look back.
Rain was not behind me, in fact it was only me and Vulpi walking together.
"Strange, where is-"
Vulpi pointed to the front and I saw Rain walking a bit further ahead of us, his hand on his chin again. Must've taken the chance to walk ahead of us while me and Vulpi was messing around.
I look at his back quietly. Looks like this time Rain's mind is shaken and challenged more than usual. Probably cause the majestic saying he learned from his teacher got shaken up so easily by a peasant like me who never studied and was merely a farm boy.
Chuckling, I look back at Vulpi who was also staring at Rain's back. She looks a bit longer before smiling and turning her head to look back at me
"So what did you say this time to put our wisemen Rain into one of his philosophical daydreaming?"
I grin at her inquiry, she'll definitely be amused about this one.
"Tell me Vulpi, what do you think of Memories and the stars above?"