Chapter 6 – A Moment Called Peace
The morning sun crept lazily over the thatched rooftops of Colva, golden light dripping through the trees like honey. The scent of dew and firewood danced on the breeze, and birdsong chimed like a lullaby far too sweet for the reality that would one day come.
I yawned and rubbed my eyes as I leaned out of the window.
"Morning already?" I mumbled, blinking at the sky.
Below, the village stirred with soft laughter and clanging pots. Theo's voice echoed from the training grounds. Kaela and Aya were shouting something about breakfast. And off in the distance, Renji's unmistakable whooping carried from the edge of the woods.
Another ordinary day.
Another peaceful one.
I pulled on my boots and jogged outside, nearly bumping into Elda on the porch.
"You're late again," she said, arching one of her elegant eyebrows as she crossed her arms. "That's three mornings in a row."
"I was doing... deep mental training," I said seriously.
She bonked me on the forehead with her spoon.
"More like deep pillow training. Come on, help me carry these."
We brought baskets to the table in front of the house where Kaela and Aya were already stuffing their mouths with buttered rootbread. Theo was practicing his sword swings in the field nearby, sweat flying from each sharp movement. Even half-distracted, he looked ten times stronger than I'd ever be.
"Oi, Zero!" Renji shouted, bounding into the yard with a crooked grin. "Let's go monster pig hunting today!"
"That's not my name," I said, stuffing bread in my mouth. "And again, no."
"Come on, Aisu," Hiro added, stepping beside him with his arms crossed, the calm to Renji's chaos. "It's just a boar. Aya wants to see you actually do something useful before she leaves for the academy."
"I do not!" Aya said.
Kaela snorted. "She does."
"You guys are the worst," I muttered, cheeks full of food.
But I couldn't stop smiling.
---
We spent the rest of the morning laughing. Renji told stupid stories, Hiro rolled his eyes every five seconds, and Aya kicked a bucket at Theo, who blocked it midair without turning around.
Kaela tried casting a tiny fire spell and accidentally set the laundry on fire. Again.
And Elda, always the quiet backbone, just watched us with that same soft smile she always wore when we were all together.
"If only this moment could last," she said softly as we ate lunch under the tree. "It's like something out of a dream."
I glanced around at the others—at Theo's proud stance, Aya's teasing grin, Renji's wild gestures, Hiro's quiet smirk, and Kaela trying not to fall asleep with her head on Elda's lap.
It really did feel like a dream.
---
That night, I sat on the rooftop, staring at the stars.
A strange wind blew past, colder than usual. I shivered.
In the distance, the forest was too still.
And behind my eyelids, for just a second, I saw—
Flames.
Screams.
A shadowed figure in armor, eyes glowing like a demon.
My name, lost in the fire.
I gasped and sat upright.
Just a dream.
Just a dream…
Right?