And so we set off. A winding path stretched toward the horizon, taking us far away. As we walked, we passed near my male cousin's house, which was a bit farther from mine. Its construction was similar to ours, made of sturdy wood. I watched it for a moment as we kept moving.
As we moved further away, I saw a few small houses scattered across the field, with people working around them. Most of them were elderly, bent over the earth, probably farmers tending to their crops. Despite the activity around us, we walked on without stopping or paying much attention.
The walk lasted about an hour, with the sun relentlessly accompanying us. We went down a sloping path that led us to a field that seemed endless.
"All right, we're here," said Zirael, his face completely red from the effort, just like the rest of us.
The field was far from the town, and the only thing visible in the distance was the tip of a chapel, a small building barely distinguishable. We sat on the grass, still damp from the previous day's rain. The grass reached up to our ankles, so green and fresh that any herd of cows would have had a feast. In fact, it seemed like an ideal place for a barn, as there was a slight slope in the ground that looked like it was meant to divert water.
I looked around and thought. This place looks like a field… shouldn't we be here? I felt a certain unease, and I soon noticed I wasn't the only one.
Rina, who hadn't stopped showing her displeasure throughout the journey, frowned. "I don't like this; we shouldn't be here."
"It'll just be a moment," I tried to reassure her, though I knew she didn't like the situation.
"Yeah, just a while," Zirael chimed in, trying to keep the mood light. "We won't be here long."
Luna, more reserved, looked around with a bit of apprehension. "Zirael, I think this place is for farming… We shouldn't be trespassing."
"Don't worry, Luna. Now then," Zirael began as we settled on the ground. "Like I told you last time, I wanted to show you something."
"What are you going to show us?" Rina exclaimed impatiently, swinging her legs as if she couldn't wait any longer.
"Just hold on, Rina," Zirael replied with a calm smile. "I didn't tell you everything, but as you know, I have a teacher who I'm very fond of. He and I still keep in touch, and I told him about you, about our progress. I told him how far we've come, and he told me that with our progress, we have great opportunities for a bright future."
"Get to the point, Zirael," Rina insisted, clearly frustrated by the suspense.
"Yes, cousin, what are you really trying to say?" I added, hoping he'd be direct.
Zirael looked at us with a mix of excitement and seriousness. He seemed to enjoy keeping us in suspense, but he knew he couldn't drag it out much longer.
"My teacher told me that, with the impressive progress I've made, I'm close to advancing in rank. But to do that, I need to be registered and present for identification. So, with my parents' support, I'll be leaving for the city of Shade when I turn eight," Zirael explained with a tone of excitement.
"You're going to leave us?" Luna asked, a bit distressed by the news.
Zirael smiled softly. "Don't look at it that way, Luna. See it as an opportunity. I'll go to Shade and settle into my family's home. I'll learn and grow so I can help all of you. I'll try to visit as often as possible. Maybe I'll come back every month… or every year."
"You're just trying to make us feel sorry for you, Zirael," Luna said, her face showing an unusual seriousness, accompanied by tears.
"Let it go, Luna. He's a Firebrand; his family is the main house in Shade. They're the leaders and rulers; he belongs there, not here," Rina interjected, her expression showing disinterest, though I noticed a different tone in her voice. It seemed she was trying to hide her concern for Zirael's departure, but she wasn't quite succeeding.
As I watched them, a mix of emotions washed over me. Was this why he brought us here? Just to show off his future? I thought with a bit of resentment. Now it turns out Zirael is leaving, seeking a better destiny far from here, and he's leaving us all behind. I can go anytime I want, too; after all, we're family.
The silence that followed his announcement left me thinking. I felt a strange sense of emptiness, as if something important would vanish as soon as he left, and I knew it, for my thoughts were arrogant.
"I don't think you fully understand," Zirael said, his voice more restrained. "What I want is for you to join me someday. I'll be waiting for you when you come to the city because I want you to study at the main academy. There, you can choose what you like most for your future!"
"But you won't be here anymore!" Luna replied.
"Luna, Rina, it's his decision, and we should respect it," I interrupted, trying to calm the mood. "Even if he doesn't say it, I'm sure it pains Zirael to tell you this. Besides, he's already said it; he wants us to come to the city when we can. Maybe he hasn't explained it in the best way, but what he's trying to say is he doesn't want us to be stuck here. We all know you both have interests in different areas that this town can't offer."
My words seemed to calm Luna, who was still holding on to the idea that Zirael was leaving, while Rina, though maintaining her facade of indifference, was clearly feeling some inner conflict. She was affected, too.
"Thanks, cousin. I didn't know how to explain it," he said, looking a bit relieved. "That's exactly what I meant. My parents and I had already talked about my trip, though there were some reasons not to go. In the end, I decided to go. Like my cousin said, our family is willing to welcome you as guests in Shade."
It was clear Zirael didn't want to go alone and hoped we could all have the same opportunities. However, that wouldn't happen immediately, and we understood.
Luna calmed down a bit more, but Rina was still reluctant to accept the idea. Still, Luna, with her patient nature, tried to explain every detail, hoping to make Rina see it was for the best. As for me, although I felt sad about his departure, I was also aware that this was only the beginning of something bigger for all of us.
"So, cousin, that 'thing' you mentioned that would benefit both of us… I guess it's not what you're telling us now, right? Besides, you said you'd show us something, not tell us," I asked, a bit incredulous.
Zirael laughed, "Haha, it seems you know me well."
"So, what's that thing?" I insisted, impatient for a clear answer.
"Well, you've made great progress these past months, and you yourself asked why we haven't practiced other types of spells. The reason is that I can't fully control them myself. They're difficult for me to handle. Luna knows it well," he explained, gesturing toward Luna, who nodded slightly.
"Ah…"
"My teacher, he's a good mage, but everyone has their preferences, you know," I nodded, showing I was paying attention.
"…"
"Well, he didn't readily accept spells other than the one I showed you, just because of his preference for that element, so I never learned another except that one." His tone changed, and I could hear the nervousness in his voice.
"…"
"When my teacher left, I tried practicing other spells, thinking it would be easy for me, but it wasn't. I tried and tried every day, but there were no results… And when you came, you asked me to teach you. I agreed to help you, but I was scared of what I should do. I decided to guide you as best as I could with my knowledge." He lowered his head slightly and said, "Truly, I'm sorry, so sorry!"
In a way, everything was starting to make more sense. Zirael's answers often seemed incomplete or evasive, as if everything was a game to him, but now I understood his reasons better.
It was almost laughable. He'd held me back in my potential because of his own issue. The only good thing was that I could at least control an extremely complex spell.
"Don't apologize. In the end, you were a great teacher, and that's confirmed by what you taught me," I said.
In part, he was a great teacher, but no more, no more to think about, or else I'd get angry with myself.
"So, what's the conclusion?" I asked, waiting for him to finally get to the point.
"The conclusion is that I'm finally ready to show you what I've been hiding all this time."
"But was it necessary to be here?"
Rina and I both asked.
"Yes, was it necessary?"
Zirael smiled in a daring way as if he enjoyed it. It made me think his idea was exactly what I suspected. He was trying to show off. "It was necessary for us to be here, in this specific place. Like I said, you'll see soon enough."
At that moment, Zirael raised the wand he'd pulled from his waist, murmuring words I couldn't understand, and the air began to vibrate with the appearance of tiny transparent particles. It seemed like something incredible was about to happen, but just before he could finish his spell, a shout interrupted us.
"Hey, kids, what are you doing here?!" The voice was harsh, filled with authority and anger. I looked toward the source of the sound, and instantly felt a chill run down my spine. Not just me, but also Luna froze in fear. Rina, though also nervous, managed to keep a steady gaze.
The man yelling at us was terrifying. He was older than my father, maybe by many years, but he looked much worse physically. His body was round and unkempt, with an appearance that made you want to turn away. There was not a trace of cleanliness about him. What impacted me most was that he was holding a girl by the hair, dragging her roughly as she squirmed in pain. It was a horrifying scene, more disturbing than anything I'd ever witnessed.
"What the hell are you brats doing here?! This is harvest land; get out of here!" he shouted again, even more intensely than before. His face was twisted in rage.
Panic took hold of me. This wasn't a simple game; this was dangerous. We had to get out of there as soon as possible. I looked at Zirael, hoping he'd do something.
I have to do something. I have to get Luna and Rina out of here. Everything inside me screamed that we needed to escape, but my legs wouldn't respond; they were paralyzed with fear. What were we going to do?
Zirael stepped forward, though the trembling in his legs showed he was just as nervous. I'd seen him act mature and confident in many situations, facing whatever came his way, but this time, his voice shook.
"Sir, we're just here playing for a little while," he said, trying to calm the situation.
The man let out a harsh, mocking laugh. "Playing? Hahaha!" His laughter echoed across the field in a disturbing way, while the girl he was holding continued writhing on the ground, whimpering in pain. The sight made me feel powerless. I wanted to do something, help in some way, but my body was frozen.
Then I saw Rina stepping away from Luna and me, slowly walking toward the man. I'd always seen her keep a firm facade, but now, as she got closer, I noticed that confidence starting to waver.
"Please, sir, we're not doing anything wrong," Rina said, her voice carrying a mix of fear and plea.
The man glared at her and replied roughly, "Shut up, girl! I'm talking to the boy." His voice was so loud and commanding that it left Rina completely stunned.
Zirael took another step forward, with more determination this time. "Sir, you're going too far. You should lower your tone and stop treating that girl so violently."
The man laughed again, this time more sinisterly. "This girl? Hahaha. This scum has no right to be treated like a person." He turned his head toward us with an expression of utter disdain. "And who the hell are you people? What are you doing here? This is no place for brats."
"I'm from the Firebrand family; my dad is Paulus Firebrand. That boy over there is my cousin, and he's a Firebrand too."
The man immediately stepped back upon hearing the name "Firebrand"; his face completely changed as he realized whom he'd been intimidating. His clumsy steps took him back a few meters before he started to stammer with fear.
"I'm sorry, young Firebrand; I didn't know… please, forgive me."
His aggressive attitude crumbled instantly, and with an awkward turn, he hurriedly walked away, as if he'd seen a demon. The change in his expression—from arrogant to terrified—made it clear to me the weight the Firebrand name held in the town, much more than I had imagined.
The girl he'd been holding fell to the ground when he let her go abruptly. We all rushed to her. My cousin began to apply a healing spell.
"Are you okay?" Zirael asked, leaning over her. His tone had shifted slightly, trying to soothe her.
She didn't say anything. Her breathing was heavy, as if she was in shock. After a few seconds, she lifted her head and looked us in the eyes. It was clear she had been through something horrible.
"We're here to help you. You don't have to be afraid," Rina said, standing beside me.
I approached, trying to show her we were there to support her. Her clothes were torn and dirty, and she seemed like she hadn't received any care in a long time. I felt bad seeing her like this.
"Yes, don't be afraid. We're here," I said, trying to sound as calm as Zirael, though inside my heart was still racing.
The girl didn't say anything. She looked at all of us as if unsure whether she could trust us. But over time, her expression began to soften.
"Everything is okay now. That man won't bother you again," Luna said softly, extending her hand toward the girl.
But the girl, still trembling and visibly exhausted, took a small step back, avoiding the contact. It didn't seem like disdain; rather, it was out of fear and shame. Her reaction was unexpected; she stood up on her own.
"Sorry, I don't want to dirty you, miss," she said, her head bowed. Her humble comment took us by surprise.
Rina, Zirael, and I exchanged glances for a moment and couldn't help but laugh. There was something ironic and amusing about the situation. Luna, the daughter of a farming family, was being treated like some sort of noble by this unknown girl. It seemed ridiculous, considering Luna's family lived off the land, just like everyone else in the countryside.
"Don't worry about that!" Luna said, smiling and clearly amused by the situation. "I'm not a princess or anything like that; it's okay if you get me dirty."
The girl, a bit embarrassed, looked up with a shy and grateful smile. "Thank you… Really, but I still don't want to touch you."
"I understand," Luna replied.
"We all understand. You don't have to thank us; we just did what was right," Zirael said, staying close to ensure she didn't faint, as she could barely stand on her own. She looked utterly exhausted, as if the energy keeping her conscious was slipping away.
We stayed there a few more minutes until the girl seemed fully recovered.
"What's so funny that you laughed a moment ago?" Luna asked, confused by our laughter earlier.
"It's nothing, sorry, Luna," Zirael replied, trying to keep things normal. Despite the tense moment we'd witnessed, a few laughs were the best way to ease the tension.
"I guess in such a tense moment, it's good to laugh," Luna said, smiling slightly in embarrassment over the events unfolding. Then she turned to the girl and asked, "What's your name?"
"My… name? My… name… is… Reiner…"