After winning, Euric's father was about to go back to work. Before he left he turned to face his son, who was currently washing the dishes. "When evening comes, just before the sun dips beyond the treeline, come to the altar. Not a moment earlier."
"Alright, father," Euric responded with a wave.
Once his father left, Euric quickly finished washing the dishes and wiped the sink. About to head out front, his mother appeared from sending off his father.
"Euric, make sure to refill the bucket with water before you do your chores," Selena requested before disappearing into the hallway.
A sigh left the boy's lips. 'Another task, how great.' Grabbing the now-empty bucket of clean water he used to wash the dishes, Euric exited from the kitchen. The midday sun was shining with full force in the clear blue sky. The backyard of his house was surrounded by an old fence. The security it provided was questionable, but no crime occurred in the village so its old wooden frame would remain as is.
He turned left, leaving behind the cool concrete of the steps leading into his house to sink his toes into the hot, grainy sand. As he walked along the wall of the house, his fingers trailed over its rough, sun-warmed exterior.
After a few steps, a pungent yet familiar smell invaded his senses. The air grew heavy with the earthy aroma of hay and straw, undercut by the sharp tang of ammonia. His nose wrinkled slightly as he glanced ahead, where a gaping break in the fence came into view. Beyond it, a cluster of houses sprawled together in a chaotic patchwork, their shapes distorted by the shimmering heat rising from the ground.
The sound of clucking grew louder as he approached the break in the fence. Stepping past the edge of the house, he was greeted by the sight of a cluster of chicken coops nestled snugly against the wall, their weathered wood blending into the earthy surroundings.
Sparing a glance, he walked by and through the opening in the fence. Euric's footsteps crunched against the dirt path as he began his walk toward the village well. The path was well-worn, marked by the tread of countless feet over the years. On either side, modest village houses stood—brick walls weathered by time, each with its own small patch of garden. The air carried the warmth of the midday sun.
Passing through, he noticed a few women, their buckets sloshing with water, walking steadily down the path. They greeted him with a smile and a giggle, their hands busy balancing their loads. The children of the village were out in full force, their laughter and shouts ringing through the air as they ran in playful circles around the homes, the dust rising in small puffs behind them.
He walked further down the path, the scent of freshly baked bread assaulted his nose when he passed the local bakery. The chatter of villagers mingled with the clatter of carts, but his focus remained steady as he left the houses behind. Each step brought him closer to the outskirts of the town, where a commanding stone structure awaited—the altar.
Unlike the humble homes with their thatched roofs, the altar was a masterpiece of stone and symmetry, crowned with a tiled roof that gleamed under the sun. Its imposing stature and distinct craftsmanship marked it as a place of reverence, standing apart from the simplicity of the village.
Passing it, Euric felt his bracelets—those strange, old relics—tremble ever so slightly around his wrists. It was a recurring sensation, one that often happened when he was near the altar. Euric had grown used to it over the years, so he didn't mind it and walked by.
He continued his walk toward the well, which was situated at the edge of the village near Ndokwa forest. There, he saw a bald-headed youth, Luka. An easygoing boy with a wide smile, filling his own bucket. Euric waved as he approached.
"Good afternoon," Euric said as he neared, adjusting the empty bucket in his hands.
Luka grinned, tipping his head in greeting. "Afternoon, Euric. Need some water?"
"I do, actually." Euric stepped up beside him, taking the empty bucket and lowering it into the well.
As they waited for the water to fill, they chatted casually about the day's events. Luka had just finished helping his father mend the roof of their house. He spoke of how the cows had been acting strange that morning, but nothing unusual otherwise. Euric nodded, half-listening, his thoughts drifting back to the dream he had shared with his parents.
Luka finished filling his bucket first, tipping it back carefully as he gave Euric one last grin. "I'll see you later, yeah?"
"Yeah," Euric replied, offering a small wave as his friend walked off, the sound of his footsteps fading down the dusty path.
Euric took his time, letting the cool, fresh water settle in his bucket before he began to pour it into the large vessel. He worked quickly, already planning out the chores ahead. His mind wandered to the dark forest he saw in his vision, those eerie trees that seemed to stare at him in the heavy darkness.
Just as he was finishing, he paused. A flicker of movement caught his eye from the corner of the path leading into the forest. At the very edge of the village, where the trees meet the dirt road a shadowy figure stood still, watching.
Euric's heart skipped a beat. The figure was very tall, but there was something off about it— its form was more like a silhouette, no distinct features, just darkness. His grip tightened around the bucket handle.
He stood there for a moment, frozen, his breath shallow as his eyes searched the shadow. The figure didn't move, didn't blink or speak. Just stood there, waiting. Euric could feel his bracelets shiver, a sense of recognition crawling up his spine.
He shook his head, blinking, the figure vanished. His eyes scanned the area, but found nothing. "I must be unnerved after hearing my father speaking about spirits."
Swallowing down the unease that clung to his throat, Euric quickly finished filling his bucket. He turned to leave, trying to shake off the sensation of being watched, but the image of that shadowy figure lingered in his mind, tugging at him like an unseen force.
The village felt as calm as ever, but Euric couldn't shake the feeling that something was stirring beyond the trees. Watching him.
He went on with his day, doing all his chores. He started off, tending to ol Bessy, the family cow. Feeding the chickens, scattering grain around the small yard while listening to their clucks. He proceeded to water the farm area in front of their land, before tilling a patch of soil. Sweat dripped from his body as he continued to toil under the sun's intense gaze.
The sun reached its apex, as he finalized his chores. He ran inside, glugged down a refreshing drink of water before heading into town. Walking past some people he heard them whispering about something, only being able to catch his father's name before they saw him and stopped talking. Giving him odd looks. He arrived at the agreed rendezvous, meeting Luka standing there waiting for him.
"Hey Luka, you ready?" Euric shouted after greeting Luka.
"I was born ready!" Luka jumped in excitement. "Linsey and her gang are already there. We should hurry." The two boys ran through the village, reaching the well Euric hesitated for a moment. Shaking his head, he stilled his resolve and dashed into the forest behind Luka.
They ran through the forest, weaving between trees and leaping over roots. The forest was dense, the air thick with the scent of pine and damp earth. Sunlight broke through the canopy in fractured beams, casting the forest floor in a dance of light and shadow. Euric kept his eyes fixed on Luka's back as they sprinted, trying to ignore the growing unease that stirred in his gut. Every few steps, he glanced around, half-expecting to see that shadowy figure again, or to catch another flicker of movement out of the corner of his eye.
"Are you sure you know the way?" Euric called as they ran, his voice just a bit tense.
"Of course I do!" Luka replied with a grin, not slowing down. "We're almost there!"
As they pushed further into the forest, Euric's eyes caught sight of a cluster of twisted, ancient trees that looked disturbingly familiar. It was the same bundle of trees from that vision that he had seen earlier today. A chill ran down his spine, but he shook it off, focusing on Luka's footsteps as they raced past the strange grove. Yet, even as he moved, he couldn't help but feel eyes on him, watching, assessing. It was an unsettling feeling.
They finally reached a wide clearing where a river ran clear and fast, reflecting the sky on its rippling surface. The shouts and laughter of others carried over the water, filling the air with a lighthearted energy that melted away Euric's tension. By the riverbank, some of their friends were splashing, laughing, and diving into the water with carefree abandon. Among them, Euric noticed Linsey, her bright laughter carrying across the river.
After taking off their clothes, Euric was the first to jump into the cool water as a relief from the heat. Taking a moment, he floated on his back, looking up at the clear sky. In that moment, the worries that had been gnawing at him seemed to dissolve with the water.
Luka splashed over and nudged Euric, breaking his thoughts. "Something on your mind, buddy? You've been quiet today." Luka asked, stroking his bald head.
Euric sighed, turning to look at his friend. He didn't want to bring up the odd feeling he had earlier by the well, or about him hearing the villagers whispering while looking at him strangely. Instead, he shrugged. "Just… thinking about stuff. It's not easy being the Shaman's kid sometimes."
Luka raised an eyebrow, a grin forming on his face. "You mean, cause everyone looks at you like you're something special?"
Euric chuckled softly. "Yeah, something like that."
Just then, Linsey's laughter rang across the water. She was standing at the edge of the river with a couple of her friends, watching the boys swim. Linsey smiled at Euric, her presence like a breath of fresh air among the tension. Euric returned her smile, feeling a fleeting sense of peace.
Luka noticed the exchange and nudged him again. "Looks like Linsey's waiting for you to join the fun. She's got that 'come on' look." Euric rolled his eyes but laughed.
As the two friends swam closer to where Linsey and her group stood, the atmosphere shifted. The sounds of splashing and laughter felt distant, muffled as Euric noticed a group of young men inching closer, their eyes locking onto him.
"Hey, you," one of them sneered, his gaze sharp and unforgiving. "You're the Shaman's son, aren't you?"
Euric tensed, already sensing trouble. "Yes, I am," he replied cautiously, keeping his tone steady.
"Then you probably know that your father told my mother she wouldn't make it through the winter," the boy growled, a bitter edge in his voice. "What kind of family curses people like that?"
Euric's heart pounded as the boys closed in, surrounding him. "It's not a curse. He only told the truth of what he saw," Euric said quietly, trying to keep his voice even.
But his words only seemed to make them angrier. One of the boys shoved him, hard, sending him stumbling back into the water. Luka jumped in to help, but they were quickly outnumbered. The bigger boys were relentless, taunting Euric.
"Your lousy father is nothing more than a witch," they shouted, before throwing punches. Euric tried to defend himself, but they were stronger, their blows landing with bruising force. Luka struggled beside him, attempting to shield himself, but their attackers were too many and coming from all sides.
In the chaos, Euric caught a glimpse of Linsey's face, and his heart sank as he saw her look away, a mixture of fear, shock and disappointment in her eyes. The shame stung almost worse than the punches. By the time the older boys left, Euric and Luka were sore, bruised, and dripping wet.
After a long, tense walk back to the village, Euric parted ways with Luka and went straight home. Anger bubbled inside him, mingled with embarrassment and the sting of humiliation. He quickly entered his room not wanting his mother to see him.
Evening came, and as the sun dipped toward the horizon, casting long shadows over the village, Euric followed his father's instruction and headed to the town altar. Taking an extra step to avoid people, he arrived before the grand hall. He entered, trying to calm his frustration. His father's expression softened when he heard Euric's uneven steps.
"What happened?" his father asked gently, reaching out to place a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
Euric hesitated, his thoughts swirling with anger and embarrassment, before finally telling his father about the fight. His father listened quietly, his expression growing thoughtful.
After a moment of silence, he said, "It's hard to carry the burden of sight, Euric. For there are things beyond their understanding, and when people don't understand something they usually fear it." Alaric stood up and turned towards the altar.
"You my boy come from a long line of spiritualist, gifted people who have been blessed with the ability to touch the spirit." He gestured toward the altar, where an old, worn tapestry hung, covered with images of their ancestors. Euric's eyes traveled over the faces, stopping on a man who looked very similar to him.
"That's your great-great-great-great-great-grandfather," Alaric said. "He was the first of our line. Rumors have it that during one of his journeys into the Realm of spirits, he stumbled upon a hurt spirit. Nursing it back to health, it blessed him and gave him those very bracelets you adorn." Alaric continued, looking down at Euric.
Euric gazed down at his bracelet before looking at the ones sitting on the man's wrist. Unlike his own, where one bracelet has white pearls and the other black pearls. These ones had a mixture of both black and white pearls on each hand.
"Every spiritualist has a spirit seed." Alaric's voice sounded. "The spirit seed allows us to tap into the spiritual energy that leaks from the realm of spirits." With a wave of Alaric's hand, Euric's bracelets begin to vibrate as he sees a colorful cloud-like substance being displaced by his father's movements.
"But father, what is the reason that I must wear these bracelets? I was not blessed by a spirit." Euric questioned.
"Well that's just it my boy, you were, you carry a blessing passed down generations." Alaric pointed to the family images. "After every few generations, one of us is born blessed. They are then bestowed these bracelets as both a marker, and protection."
"What protection, father?" Images of the earlier fight surfacing in Euric's head.
"Think not of the things in this physical realm my boy,"
"That's hard when those things are pummeling me to the ground." Euric retorted.
"Child, the pain you experience from a punch, is nothing compared to the pain of the spirit." Alaric chuckled.
"Alright, if that is the case, what do they protect me from?" Euric's brow furrowed dissatisfaction, rubbing his eyes.
"Good question." Alaric praises, patting his son on the head. "Our family's spirit seed is a little unique, it doesn't alternate between dark and light. Instead, it remains in a state of equilibrium between them two. This type of spirit seed draws both light and dark spirits, and that's why these bracelets are necessary for you. They help contain and protect your power. This trait skips some generations, which is why I don't have it. "
"I wanted to show you all this today, because you are soon to awaken my son." Facing Euric, who was dazed on the mat. "Starting tomorrow I want you to remain here, I want you to start slowly getting exposed to the spiritual energy that accumulates here due this shrine."
"There are only four days left, will I be ready?" Euric worried
"Don't worry, by the day of the ceremony you will be ready." Alaric moves toward the large center of the room, stopping beside the stone shrine—a majestic, intricately carved structure. Images etched along its surface tell tales of the village's ancestors, their faces solemn yet powerful, each one seeming to watch over those who approach. At the center of the shrine stands the depiction of a mysterious being—a towering figure with outstretched arms, holding in both a glowing orb with a shadowy flame nestled within. Its face is obscured, blending the features of animal and human, representing the unity of spirit and mortal realms.
Euric left the altar that night with a whirlwind of emotions, torn between awe and frustration. Maybe, he thought bitterly, if he hadn't been bound by these seals, he would have defended himself today. He had so many questions, but every time he asked his father after the initial conversation, they were put off until the day of his awakening.
That night, his dreams took him not to the void of stars and swirling vortexes, but to a dark forest—the same one from his vision.