Sirco was a small but vibrant village nestled in a secluded valley. The village was home to about 1,500 souls, a close-knit community where everyone knew everyone else. Life in Sirco was simple, and for the most part, untroubled by the larger conflicts and concerns of the world beyond its borders.
The village was ruled by the Simtrek family, a minor noble house whose influence extended only as far as the fields surrounding Sirco.At the heart of the village stood a modest chateau, the seat of the Simtrek family's power. While the chateau was no grand castle, it was an impressive structure for a village as small as Sirco.
Its stone walls had withstood the test of time, and its tall towers offered a commanding view of the valley. The Simtrek family had ruled Sirco for generations, maintaining a delicate balance between authority and kinship with the villagers.
Lord Simtrek, the current head of the family, was a fair and focused man, respected by those he governed. In his early forties, he had become a widower a few years prior and had chosen not to remarry. His late wife, Lady Elara, had been deeply loved by the people, and her loss was still felt keenly throughout the village.
Lord Simtrek was known for his unwavering commitment to the well-being of his people. He was often seen walking the village streets, speaking with the villagers and listening to their concerns. He was not a ruler who kept to his chateau; instead, he believed in a hands-on approach to governance, one that earned him the respect and loyalty of his subjects.
Lord Simtrek had four children: three sons and a daughter. His eldest son, Alric, was being groomed to succeed him one day, learning the ways of leadership and governance. The middle son, Bastian, was more scholarly, often found buried in books or speaking with the village healer about the history and magic of their land.
The youngest son, Joren, had a spirit of adventure, often leading the village children in daring games and exploring the surrounding woods.
But it was Mycela, his ten-year-old daughter, who was most often seen among the villagers.Mycela was a spirited child, her presence a breath of fresh air in the otherwise quiet village.
She was known for her curiosity and her kindness, often stopping to chat with the villagers, ask questions about their lives, and even help with their daily chores. Despite her noble birth, she was unpretentious and well-loved, especially by the village children, who saw her as one of their own.
Torrack had crossed paths with Mycela several times. Her aura was a bright green, vibrant and full of life, much like her personality. Torrack found her fascinating; she was one of the few who treated him not as a blind child to be pitied but as an equal.
She spoke to him with genuine interest, often asking about his unique ability to "see" without sight. She was intrigued by his Aura Sight, as Torrack had begun to understand it better, and she often asked him to describe what he "saw" in the people around them.
The village of Sirco itself was a tapestry of life and magic, woven with the daily routines of its inhabitants and the quiet hum of enchantments that made life just a little easier. Magic in Sirco was subtle, not the grand, spellbinding spectacle of the stories told by traveling bards, but a practical tool that permeated everyday life.
The villagers used magic to light fires, draw water from wells, and even help crops grow in the fields. Those with an affinity for "chore magic" were highly valued, as their abilities made the labor of daily life less burdensome.As Torrack grew older, he began to understand more about the world beyond Sirco.
He learned that their village, while small and somewhat isolated, was part of a larger kingdom—a realm governed by a distant king whose name was spoken with reverence but little familiarity. The kingdom was divided into various regions, each ruled by a noble house like the Simtreks. Some of these houses were far more powerful than others, with vast lands and armies at their disposal.
The Simtreks, by comparison, held only a small corner of this vast tapestry, their influence limited to the borders of Sirco and its surrounding fields.Despite their relative insignificance on the broader stage, the people of Sirco took pride in their village.
They were hard-working and resilient, a people shaped by the quiet strength of their land and the steady hand of Lord Simtrek. The village was a place of simple joys and deep-rooted traditions, where magic and nature intertwined seamlessly. It was a place where a blind boy with a gift could find his way, not just through the streets, but into the hearts of those around him.
Torrack knew there was much more to learn about this new world—a world where magic flowed like the streams that ran down from the mountains, where the aura of each person told a story of their own.
He was eager to explore beyond the confines of Sirco, to see what lay beyond the valley and the village he had come to know so well. But for now, he was content to learn from the people around him, to understand the magic that bound them together, and to unravel the mysteries of the auras that painted his world in colors unseen by any but him.He was still a child, but the road ahead was long and full of possibilities.
And in this new life, Torrack felt a sense of purpose growing within him—a desire to use his gifts to help others, to heal, and to discover the true nature of the magic that surrounded him. The world was vast and filled with wonders, and Torrack was ready to see it all, not with his eyes, but with the deeper vision of his Aura Sight.