The sun was barely out, when Draven was already at the edge of the village square, sweeping the dust from the path in front of the baker's stall. His movements were careful, almost lazy, though he could have done the job twice as fast with half the effort.
Draven! Don't dawdle, or the bread'll go cold!"says Old Maer, the baker, wiping flour from his hands.
Draven grinned, tipping his head. "I'm making it look like hard work, Maer. Can't have the villagers thinking I'm too eager.
The old man chuckled, shaking his head. "Too clever . But fine. You've got charm enough to get away with it.
People passed, greeting him warmly. A little girl ran by, holding a basket of apples. Draven! Look! I found the biggest one!
He knelt, giving her a thumbs-up. "That's a monster apple! Make sure you don't eat it all at once, Or I'll turn into one!" she laughed, running off.
Draven's was happy at the easy familiarity. He liked Glen. The villagers were kind. Curious, sometimes, but kind. Yet every smile felt like it carried a shadow. Every glance reminded him that his mother wanted him to remain unnoticed.
"Draven!" Maureen's voice called through the morning air. She appeared at the edge of the square, her basket swinging, eyes sharp. "Why are you talking to everyone like you belong here? Don't let them see too much of you."
Draven sighed, dropping the broom. "Mother, it's Glen. They already like me. I can't hide from them entirely."
She crossed her arms, lips pressed into a thin line. "You must. Remember what I told you. Curiosity and attention are dangerous. People love what they don't understand but they also fear it."
He glanced around, watching a man lift a cart that had tipped over. Without thinking, Draven stepped forward, placing a hand on the cart. It righted itself with barely a sound. His mother's hand shot out, gripping his sleeve.
"Draven! You felt it again, didn't you?" Her eyes were sharp, but not angry only fearful.
He shrugged, pretending it was nothing. "I just… helped.
Do not help where it draws attention. Not here. Not ever, she said, her voice low, urgent.
Draven frowned but didn't argue. Maureen was always right about danger, though sometimes it felt like she saw threats in the wind itself.
Old Maer called out from the bakery window, "Draven! Will you finish the path before the sun climbs too high?
He glanced at Maureen. "I'll finish it quietly," he said, brushing past her.
She watched him go, with unease . "Quietly, she whispered to herself, as though saying it aloud would keep him safe.
As Draven worked, he couldn't shake the feeling of being… different. Stronger. Faster. Sharper. The villagers admired him, laughed with him, yet he felt like a shadow inside their world, one that didn't fully belong.
By noon, the path was clean, the villagers smiling, Draven was stacking firewood at the edge of Glen when a familiar voice called out.
Draven! Wait up!
He turned to see Klein, his friend and partner in mischief, jogging toward him, hands waving.
What is it? Draven asked, wiping sweat from his brow.
I'm going to the next village for trade," Klein said, smiling . "Come with me! We can see the market, hear stories, maybe even get some sweet bread before anyone else.
Draven hesitated, thinking of how his mother.
,had always been strict about him staying in Glen, keeping a low profile. Mother won't like it, he said.
Klein laughed,and said, Since when has that stopped you? You're supposed to be smart,not scared.
Draven chewed his lip, glancing toward the village where Maureen was sitting ,She had her head down, focused, but he knew she would notice if he left.
"I… I can't," he muttered.
You can!" Klein nudged him playfully. You need a break from chores. Come on, Draven. A little adventure won't kill you."
Draven hesitated for a long moment, then nodded. "Fine. But we have to be careful."
Later, as they walked down the winding road between the hills, Draven felt the thrill of freedom. The wind lifted his hair, the sun warmed his back, and the world beyond Glen seemed wide and alive.
See?" Klein said. Nothing bad has happened
Draven grinned. "Yet."
Their laughter echoed between the trees until a sharp shout cut it short.
"Hey! You there!"
Draven froze. Two guards, unfamiliar and stern-faced, blocked the path. Behind them, a merchant's cart had been overturned, spilling apples and coins into the dust.
Klein whispered, "Uh-oh… maybe we should have stayed in Glen."
One of the guards stepped forward. "Did you see what happened here? Someone tipped the cart."
Draven's heart pounded. He hadn't touched anything… yet he felt the stone beneath his boots tremble subtly, reacting to his unease.
Klein pointed at him. "It wasn't him! He's with me!
Draven clenched his fists. The wind seemed to stir at his side, the trees rustling unnaturally. He knew he had the power to fix it,but what if it drew attention? What if someone saw what he could do?
"I… I didn't…he began, voice shaking.
The merchant cried, That boy! He did something! The cart… it… moved!
Klein looked panicked. "Draven, do something!
Draven swallowed hard. He pressed a hand against the ground, feeling the familiar hum beneath his fingers. The cart lifted slightly, settling upright as if an invisible hand had corrected it. The coins rolled back into the merchant's basket.
The guards and merchant froze, eyes wide. Klein's jaw dropped.
Draven stepped back, heart hammering. "I… I just helped, he said quietly.
The merchant stared, awe and fear mixing on his face. How… how did you do that?"
Draven's stomach turned. He hadn't meant to show his power. Klein clapped him on the back. "Whoa! That was amazing!"
Draven muttered, "Amazing… or dangerous."
The guards exchanged a worried glance. "Stay here, one of them said. "We'll be watching."
Klein shook his head. "You've got to learn to hide that… or you'll get us all in trouble."
Draven nodded, stomach tight. I know… but how can I hide it when it feels like the world notices anyway?
Run, Klein shouted,
And far away, back in Glen, Maureen's eyes scanned the horizon. She had felt it her son had stepped beyond her control.