The sun cast its warm glow over the small village of Eldenwood, bathing the thatched roofs and cobblestone streets in a golden light. Birds chirped cheerily as they flitted between trees, and the air was filled with the scent of freshly baked bread wafting from the bakery down the street. It was the kind of peaceful morning that made one forget the world beyond the village's borders. But for Kael, it was just another day in a life that felt all too predictable.
Kael sat at the wooden table in his family's modest home, fiddling with the contents of his bowl of porridge in front of him. Lira, his mother, bustled about the kitchen, preparing breakfast. She nimbly worked the pot with gentle hands, her blonde hair tied back in a simple braid that swayed as she moved. If it were anyone else, they might have thought her a delicate thing, but Kael knew better. Simply recalling the true mother he knew sent chills down his spine. She was too strict!
Today was a special day—his sixteenth birthday. In this small village of Eldenwood, children were considered adults at this age, expected to begin taking on the responsibilities of their families. Kael grumbled, pushing his porridge around the bowl, as he felt the weight of that expectation settling heavily on his shoulders.
"Kael, dear, don't forget to help your father with the crops after breakfast," Lira reminded him, her voice sweet but insistent. There was no room for discussion.
"Yes, Mother," he replied, his heart sinking at the thought. The fields stretched endlessly before him, their green expanse a constant reminder of his obligations. He had no desire to toil away under the sun, feeling like a cog in a machine that expected him to follow the same routine day in and day out. His parents insisted he was merely rebelling, but they didn't understand. He was better than this, he thought, with bitterness curling in his chest.
His father, Ronan, entered the room, wiping the sweat from his brow with a weathered cloth. Ronan was a sturdy man, with broad shoulders and rough hands that told tales of years spent laboring in the fields. His face was weathered but kind, marked by lines of a man who had known both hardship and joy. "Morning, son. Ready to put in some work today?" he asked, a hearty chuckle escaping his lips as he slapped Kael on the back, making him flinch.
"Of course," Kael said, forcing a smile. But inside, frustration simmered. His parents had always laid out a clear path for him—work hard, be responsible, contribute to the family. It was a life he had been trained to accept, but deep down, he longed for something more, something he couldn't quite name.
After breakfast, Kael glanced at his younger sister, Mira, who was busy doodling on a scrap of parchment. She was a bright-eyed girl of eight, with a cascade of golden curls and an infectious laugh that could lighten the heaviest heart. "What are you drawing today?" he asked, attempting to divert his thoughts.
"Dragons and heroes!" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "One day, I'll be a great knight, just like in the stories!"
Kael couldn't help but smile at her ambition, but it stirred a longing within him—a yearning for adventure and freedom that felt increasingly out of reach. "You'll be the best knight, Mira. I know it," he said, hoping to encourage her dreams.
After breakfast, the family made their way to the fields. The sun was now high in the sky, casting a golden light that felt more oppressive than warm. Kael followed his father, who was already tending to the crops. They worked in silence, the rhythm of their motions synchronized as they pulled weeds and watered the plants. Kael had become adept at his work over the years, a fact his father relished, but the tasks felt more like shackles than responsibilities.
As Kael bent down to uproot a stubborn weed, resentment surged within him. Why am I here, doing this every day? The thought echoed in his mind like a relentless drumbeat. He looked up and saw his father's strong hands working tirelessly, his back bent with the effort. Ronan was dedicated to his family, yet it felt as if he were a prisoner of his own choices.
"Kael, focus!" Ronan's voice broke through his thoughts, sharp and demanding. "You're not pulling your weight today."
Kael's chest tightened, a knot forming in his throat as frustration boiled over. "I'm trying, Father! But this—this isn't all there is to life! Can't you see that?" The words came out sharper than intended, reverberating in the stillness of the field.
Ronan paused, his hands stilling. "What do you mean? This is our life, Kael. We work hard and take care of our own. This... doesn't have something to do with your coming of age, does it? We've already discussed this!"
"But I don't want this! I don't want to be just another farmer working the same land day in and day out! Can't you see I want more?" Kael's voice cracked, the weight of his suppressed dreams spilling out like a dam breaking.
Ronan's face darkened, confusion and disappointment washing over him. "More? More of what? Fantasies and dreams won't feed us, Kael! You need to learn that!"
Kael's heart raced, a storm of emotions swirling within him. The knot in his throat tightened painfully, stinging with the bitterness of feeling unheard. "You don't understand! You never do!" he shouted, the words laced with despair.
"Watch your tone," Ronan warned, his voice low and steady, but Kael could see the frustration etched in his features. "I've sacrificed everything for this family. I expect you to take your responsibilities seriously."
"I don't want to be like you!" Kael cried out, the words escaping him before he could contain them. "I don't want to spend my life bound to this place, doing the same things over and over again!"
The silence that followed was deafening. Kael's chest heaved with heavy breaths, the realization of his outburst settling heavily in the air. He could see the hurt in his father's eyes, the weight of his words hanging like a thick fog between them.
"I'm not like you guys..." Kael finally said, his voice shaky. Without waiting for a response, he turned and dashed away, the world around him a blur as he raced toward the edge of the village. The familiar paths twisted and turned, but Kael hardly noticed as he pushed through the dense forest at the village's edge.
The trees loomed overhead, their leaves whispering secrets in the breeze. He stumbled into a small clearing, where sunlight filtered through the branches like golden rain. Kael sank to the ground, leaning against a sturdy oak, the rough bark pressing into his back. The sobs that had been building finally broke free, each one a release of pent-up frustration and helplessness.
"Why can't they understand?" he whispered to the silent woods, his voice barely a breath. The beauty of nature surrounding him felt ironic—here he was, a boy drowning in his emotions, seeking solace in a world that seemed to offer none.
He could hear the birds chirping, their cheerful melodies mocking him, reminding him of the joy he felt he would never grasp. He clenched his fists, feeling the wetness of tears against his cheeks, an unfamiliar feeling of vulnerability coursing through him.
What am I meant to do? The question echoed in his mind as he stared at the sky, the endless blue reminding him of everything he felt he was missing. He longed to escape, to find adventure beyond the confines of his life. But for now, he was trapped—trapped in a cycle of expectations and responsibilities that he felt he could never break free from.
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, Kael took a deep breath, attempting to gather himself. But even as he sat in the beauty of the forest, he knew the battle within him was far from over. He was just Kael, an ordinary boy from an ordinary family, but the dreams of who he wanted to become burned brighter within him than ever.