Lucien trudged through the dusty wasteland, his feet aching from the endless walking. His family's nomadic lifestyle had grown familiar, but the constant struggle to survive had taken its toll.
As he walked, Lucien's gaze drifted to the scars on his arms and torso. Reminders of the "accidents" that had plagued him since birth. The villagers and other travelers they met believed he was cursed, that his presence brought misfortune and hardship.
But Lucien's parents, Arin and Lila, loved him unconditionally. They had always been his rock, shielding him from the cruel words and suspicious glances of others. They would do anything to protect him, to give him a better life.
As the sun began to set, casting a golden glow over the desolate landscape, Lucien spotted his family's makeshift camp in the distance. His heart swelled with love and gratitude as he saw his parents busy preparing dinner, their faces lit up with warm smiles.
But despite their love and support, Lucien couldn't shake off the feeling of being an outcast. The weight of the curse, real or imagined, still lingered, casting a shadow over his life.
As he approached the camp, Lucien steeled himself for the familiar mixture of love and worry from his parents. But little did he know, tonight would be different. Tonight, everything would change
As Lucien entered the camp, his parents immediately noticed the weariness etched on his face. Arin, his father, set aside the rabbit he was skinning, while Lila, his mother, stirred the stew simmering over the fire.
"Hey, kiddo! How was your day?" Arin asked, his voice warm and gentle.
Lucien shrugged, dropping his backpack beside the fire. "It was fine. Just walked a lot."
Lila's eyes narrowed, her gaze scrutinizing. "You're limping again. What happened?"
Lucien hesitated, not wanting to worry his parents. But they always saw right through him. "I just... fell. That's all."
Arin's expression turned stern, but Lila intervened, placing a reassuring hand on her husband's arm. "We'll talk about it later, Lucien. First, come eat. You must be starving."
Lucien nodded, taking a seat beside the fire. His parents handed him a steaming bowl of stew and a hunk of bread. The aroma wafting from the food was heavenly, and Lucien's stomach growled in anticipation.
As they ate, Lucien's parents asked him about his day, listening attentively to his stories. They laughed at his jokes and offered words of encouragement. For a brief moment, Lucien forgot about the curse, about the struggles, and simply enjoyed the warmth and love of his family.
But as the night wore on, the shadows deepening around them, Lucien couldn't shake off the feeling that something was watching him from the darkness. Something that didn't want him to be happy.
As they finished their meal, Arin and Lila exchanged a concerned glance. "Lucien, we need to talk about your limp," Arin said gently. "What really happened today?"
Lucien's eyes darted between his parents, his mind racing for an excuse. "I... I just twisted my ankle. That's all."
Lila's eyes narrowed. "Lucien, we've seen you walk with that limp before. It's not just a twisted ankle. What's going on?"
Lucien's face grew hot as he struggled to maintain the lie. "I'm telling you, it's just a twisted ankle! Can we please just drop it?"
Arin and Lila exchanged a skeptical glance, but before they could press the issue further, a voice boomed from the entrance of the camp.
"Hey, Uncle Arin! Aunt Lila!"
Lucien's heart sank as he saw his cousin, Ryker, striding into the camp. Ryker was the son of the patriarch, and he loved to bully Lucien.
Ryker's eyes locked onto Lucien, a sneer spreading across his face. "Well, well, well. Look what we have here. The little cursed child, limping around like a wounded animal."
Lucien's face burned with anger and humiliation, but he bit back his retort, knowing it would only provoke Ryker further.
Arin and Lila exchanged a worried glance, their eyes warning Ryker to behave. But Ryker just chuckled, his eyes glinting with malice.
Ryker's smirk grew wider as he said, "Father's calling for us. Let's go."
Arin's expression turned serious. "What's going on, Ryker? Why is your father calling for us?"
Ryker shrugged. "No idea, but I'm sure it's not good for Lucien here."
Lila's eyes flashed with warning. "Ryker, that's enough."
Ryker chuckled and headed out of the camp, with Arin and Lila following closely behind. Lucien trailed after them, his heart heavy with foreboding.
As they approached the patriarch's tent, Lucien could hear the sound of murmured voices and the rustling of papers. The patriarch, Thorold, emerged from the tent, his face stern and imposing.
"Ah, Arin, Lila, Ryker," Thorold said, his voice commanding attention. "I've received a message from the Council of Elders. It seems they're interested in... reevaluating Lucien's status."
Lucien's heart skipped a beat as he wondered what this meant. Was it good news or bad?