Morning, always in Hollowreach, was always quiet.
Groaning as sunlight leaked through the cloth curtain, a kid pulled the blanket over his head, as he heard footsteps from downstairs.
His father was already awake and was coming up to his room.
"Of course he is awake, do all parents have to be awake up every day."
With great suffering, the kid rolled out of bed, hit the floor with a soft thud, and lay there for a few more seconds, contemplating whether to stand up or not.
"Up, Theo," his father's voice called from below, from the door.
He squeaked in surprise and scrambled to stand up, "and that is my father Doctor Lavin Elton" now on his feet he rushed to the bathroom, splashing some water on his face, throwing on a pair of clothes, then rushing downstairs, where his father stood with a towel over his shoulder, hair tied back.
"You're late," Lavin said flatly.
"I'm early at heart," Theo said, pointing his thumb at his heart.
Lavin not as much surprised just blinked, and then pointed to the stack of jars he had to refill every morning, saying, "Since your up so early, go fill those."
Theo sighed and shuffled toward his chores, grumbling internally, "how other kids probably got to sleep past sunrise and didn't have to restock medical herbs still…". He sighed as he grabbed the jars, "I couldn't complain too much".
As he walked out to the street, he hummed as he saw settlement outside slowly woke, vendors setting up stalls, fabric tarps lifting, children running past windows to get to school.
This small and indiscreet place is called it wasn't big, but definitely felt like home.
Walking past a few houses, he ran to a garden near a hill. Reaching it, he was greeted by an old man that owned it.
"Your here on time as usual, Theo," the old man said, smiling at him.
"What can I say, am an early bird am Inot real Old man Han," Theo said, as he ran slowly to the garden.
"Theo," Han called out as the boy ran ahead, "don't take the ones in the nursery like you did last, and tell your dad for me that my arm is starting to ache again, so he should be expecting me to stop by."
Waving his hand, Theo ran to the garden
Han sighing just shook his head "What are we going to do with that boy as they say the beauty of youth"
Reaching a garden that spread wide and had many strange plants and herb putting his hand on his chin Theo looked at the jars and looked at the herbs while reading the names "moonrise lilies, Bloodstained roots unsalted honey leaves..." as he went on reading the names he started picking the herbs and putting them in each jar.
When he finally finished collecting each and did his check on each to avoid any under quality picks, he went back running, moving past the old man and getting home out of breath, Lavin stopped by holding his collar as he ran past him almost tripping, "Go take a bath then get for school," he said taking the jars from him "and avoid trying to get the kids to go outside the barrier as I already told you.."
"I am safe here with you and shouldn'tgo looking for trouble blah blah you don't want to leave work to come to my school blah blah," he said automatically, avoiding eye contact.
Lavin just raised an eyebrow slightly.
"…atleast you remember but what did I tell you if you did get in trouble."
Without a word, Theo just stared at him feeling embarrassed.
"If I get in trouble not to try solving it myselfand coming home immediately"he said looking away then turning his face back to gus dad he said with new found determination "but you do know that problem solving is a skill and I need to solve my own problems too..!"
Father pushed him gently toward the staircase and walked to his study with the jars .
Walking up, Theo smelled himself and looked disgusted by his smell, "I really need a bath" as took another step he stopped remembering something "Oh yea and Old man Han said his coming later"
With him went to take a shower getting ready for school combed his hair and wear his uniform straightening his tie, grabbing a slice of bread for the way he went out the door, the air feeling cold made him sneeze a little.
He kicking a pebble as he walked, drifting in thoughts.
'People always bragged about how easily they could pull energy into their palms or sense the flow around them'
'Not to mention my homeroom teacher always tries to get us to form shapes during our physicals. Even that annoying boy from three houses down does not seem to mind it'
"I just don't get it if its so special why is it everywhere not like I could see even if I tried hard"
"Maybe I am not that special. That was definitely boring."
Reaching school he walked start to class avoiding any small talk along the way
Finding Class not particularly exciting today he startedout the window at the barrier that covered Hollowreach.
Staring back he look at Miss Yoffim their history teacher, lecturing with her usual cold expression "Today we are starting with new topic that I personally find really interesting" writing on the board 'FLUX'
"till this point you were taught of what energy is and what it is used for and given alittle practice on using it but I don't if you were told its name"
Paying full attention Theo hear her speak
"This is new 'flux' so thats its name" he said listening as time passed
During the break, as his classmates played around with a ball of energy as a game kicking it around, Theo sat on the roof top, staring off into the mountainside beyond barrier
"Don't even think about it," said a voice, came sitting beside him without being invited.
"I wasn't, Eliza," he lied.
Elizabeth snorted. "You always look at the mountain when you're bored."
He pouted. "It's more interesting then what they are doing." He pointed down
"Flux" he said silently
Elizabeth's jaw dropped in surprise "You actually paid attention in class" he said covering her mouth
Theo sighing didn't turn to look at her "Even I am surprised it's the first time I hear the name of this energy that everyone seems to be able to use and manipulate"
Elizabeth's confused tilted her head "is it really that special"
Theo unfazed just responded straightforward "Beats me I just learnt the name and zoned out for the rest of class"
Elizabeth's not shocked just disappointed just looked pale and also looked in the distance "your really a lost cause"
At the end of the school day, hereturned home. Dad was talking about old man han's arm. Theo, walking in, looked at the mess his dad had left and just sighed at the sight washed his hands, then helped organize tools and herbs.
As he was organising the herbs
Outside, a crack was heard, barely unnoticeable.
Old man Han walked to the window, lifting it up to see clearly. "Storm in this time of day?"
Theo, looking out, frowned. "What a weird coincidence"
His father's eyes narrowed.
Another crack was heard.
Looking out in the distance, Theo felt a shiver run down his spine.
"Something is wrong, there is lighting only."
By the evening, everything returned to the usual.
But Theo ate dinner quietly while his father studied old notes.
"Normal again," he thought before bed as he was staring out the window.
The beyond the barrier seemed more interesting than ever at that moment.
Closing his eyes he went and grabbed a bag from his closet and went back to the window
"Am sorry dad, but I have know what that was" as looked back one last time he jumped out the window