The red flames burned brightly, penetrating the darkness of the night. All around me, only the ruins of wood were left burning slowly, turning into ashes. The smell of smoke and charred wood filled the air.
"The heat… it's suffocating…" I muttered softly, whining like a lost child because that's what I was.
I crawled slowly, my body weak. My legs felt sore, maybe injured. I couldn't stand, nor did I dare to look down to see the condition.
"Father… Mother…" I screamed, calling in panic, hoping to hear a familiar voice but only the roar of fire answered.
The light from the blazing fire spread wider, illuminating the ruins of destruction around me.
And in front of me… I saw a hand.
I was silent. My heart was beating fast. I slowly crawled closer, step by small, dragged steps.
The light of the fire now made the figure clearer. My mother's body, lying still, covered in wounds. Cold. Lifeless.
"A-Aghh…!" I woke up with a muffled scream, sweat dripping down my face.
Tughh, tughh, tughh, a knock was heard from the door.
"Alfonso! Hurry up, we're going to be late for the market!" a grown man's voice came from behind the door, Uncle Hubert's voice.
I stared at the ceiling for a moment, trying to calm my ragged breathing. My chest was still tight from the dream. Again, that dream.
The knock was louder. "Alfonso!"
Startled, I answered quickly, "Okay, Uncle! I'll get ready!"
"Yes, hurry up." he replied, before his footsteps moved away from the door.
I sat up slowly on the bed, holding the necklace with the green gemstone that I always wore, the only legacy from Mother.
I hurriedly put on my work clothes, a shabby shirt and field pants that were full of patches in several places. My hair was still tangled, but I didn't have time to tidy it up. I grabbed a small bag of necessities from the table, then pushed the bedroom door open quickly.
In the main room, my aunt, Stefana, was wrapping supplies on a wooden table. The aroma of warm bread and broth made my stomach churn a little. She turned and smiled when she saw me walking with brisk steps.
"In a hurry, Alfie?" she asked as she put the last package into a rattan basket.
"Yes… Uncle seems angry," I answered in a panicked tone. I fixed my shoelaces that were almost untied, without having time to sit down.
My aunt chuckled softly, "You should really hurry. Your uncle is indeed fierce with his mouth, but his heart is soft."
I just nodded as I grabbed the supplies from the table, a piece of bread, an apple, and a small bag of roasted nuts. My aunt had prepared them since morning.
"Thank you, Auntie!" I said quickly, then jogged towards the front door, opening it with a little too much force until the hinges squeaked.
In the yard, the morning sunlight shone on a small wooden cart pulled by a dark brown horse named "Braum." Uncle Hubert was already sitting on the front bench of the cart, his hands gripping the reins while tapping his fingers on his knees, a sign that he was impatient.
"Finally out, brat!" he exclaimed, although his tone was not really angry.
"Sorry, Uncle! I had a... nightmare." I replied, taking a breath and jumping onto the cart.
"Nightmares won't pay for the market stall rent, Alfonso. Sit properly." he replied flatly, but I caught a glimmer of worry in his gaze.
I sat beside him, holding my knees for a moment to calm my still chaotic heartbeat.
Uncle Hubert gave a small signal, and Braum began to pull the cart slowly, along the stone road towards the center of Heilig, the center of Lunaria. The sound of wooden wheels creaking combined with the rhythm of horse hooves and the morning life that was starting to stir, children running, mothers sweeping the front of shops, and the sound of small bells from the temple far away.
I could only stare ahead, trying to chase away the image of fire and blood that was still stuck in my mind.
---
[Heilig City Market]
We arrived as the sun was just starting to rise behind the stone towers of Heilig City. The morning market was alive with the sound of bargaining, the smell of spices, warm bread, and dust mixed together. Our cart stopped on one side of the cobblestone street, and Uncle Hubert and I started to set up our stalls.
We sold various daily necessities: simple tools, oil, and cheap cloth. I helped arrange the goods, then sat on an empty crate while fanning my face with a straw hat. That day felt like any other day, customers came and went, bargaining went on as usual.
However, suddenly a rumbling sound was heard from a distance. Not an ordinary sound. The sound of many feet, the clanging of metal and the blowing of trumpets.
A crowd began to form on the side of the road. Traders left their stalls, buyers stopped trading, and children ran around wanting to get a closer look.
I, who had been sitting relaxed, slowly stood up. Curiosity began to creep up. I stood at the edge of the stall, trying to see through the ever-growing crowd.
From the gaps between the people, a procession of figures in silvery-white robes, decorated with gold embroidery and the sacred symbols of Lunaria, could be seen. Among them, some carried large flags depicting winged suns, the symbol of the church. Followed by a line of armed Acotyle, their steps were steady and dignified.
I had never seen anything like it before. Their robes glistened in the sunlight, making the procession look majestic… and a little creepy.
I turned to Uncle Hubert, hoping for an explanation. However, his face was stiff, and his eyes were not on the procession, but elsewhere. As if he didn't want to see it.
"Uncle, what's that? I've never seen it before," I asked softly.
Uncle just snorted, without turning around. "That? Just a stupid parade of church people," he said coldly.
I fell silent, a little confused by the tone of his voice. He usually wasn't this sharp, even to greedy merchants. "Huh…? Okay then."
I looked back at the parade, but now with a different gaze. The curiosity in me grew, mixed with unanswered questions.
Then, my eyes met the eyes of an Acotyle.
He looked young, his face sharp, and his eyes seemed to penetrate. He rode a horse covered in light armor, wearing a white robe with silver embroidery that swayed with the horse's steps. But that wasn't what made me hold my breath.
His gaze was fixed on me, more precisely, on my chest.
I reflexively held my necklace, a small green gem inherited from my mother, which was hanging on my clothes. My heart was pounding. Did he... see it?
For a moment, the Acotyle frowned. But soon he turned his head back to the front, following the line. The parade continued to pass, slowly leaving the market and bringing with it a strange feeling that hung in my chest.
Why was he looking at me like that?
And why... for a moment... did the necklace feel warm?
I held my necklace in confusion. Acotyle's gaze was still clearly etched in my mind, but I tried to push it away. Maybe it was just a coincidence… I thought, though my heart wasn't entirely sure. I decided to ignore it for the time being.
The day went on, the sun slowly setting behind the city's stone towers. The sky began to turn red, then gray, and a cool night breeze began to blow.
Uncle Hubert turned to me as he tidied up some of his merchandise.
"Alfonso, come help. It's time to go home," he said briefly.
I nodded quickly, keeping my anxiety in silence, then helped tidy up the stall and load the goods back onto the cart.
The night began to swallow the last light. We went home with a simple cart, accompanied by silence and the sound of the wind.
I held my necklace tightly, still imagining Acotyle's gaze this afternoon as if he saw something in me.
For some reason, my chest felt restless.
And for the first time... I felt, my life would change.