Chapter 5 — Just a Stroll
Well, okay. Even if someone is watching, I don't have the strength or the mind to figure that out right now. I need more information about this world. There are so many unresolved questions left for me. And why did I, of all people, end up here? So many questions. I'll find the answers to these later, step by step...
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The next day
Well, this morning my father went out. To get a book, of course! Hehe, I'm getting excited. Yesterday I made a request to him — I told him I needed a magic book. A low-level book teaching simple magic. To survive in this world, to understand my surroundings, I need power. And magic — is a form of that power. My father is a serious man, he keeps his word. He'll definitely bring it.
"Mother, may I go outside and play with the children?" I asked.
Actually, my intention was different. I wanted to stroll around a bit, find out what people are doing, about the big news in the world. In short, spying... hmmmm.
My mother affectionately stroked my head. "Alright, you'll come out with me. What mother would send her sweet four-year-old son alone into such a big and cruel world?" she said, cuddling me. Then she picked me up: "Do you want me to die, huh?" she laughed.
"No, I'm a grown-up!" I protested.
"Oh, my big grown-up son!" she said, hugging me even tighter. Hmmm, strange, I thought.
"What's strange?" she said, laughing.
"Okay, okay, have it your way. Let's go, we'll stroll through the market," I agreed.
"Okay, my dear. Just be patient for now, let me finish my chores. We'll go shopping together," mother said, gently putting me down on the ground, and started on her housework.
I stood by the window, watching the street. This world... it's very similar to the world I knew, but at the same time completely different. The smell, the people, even the air feels foreign. I still can't believe I ended up here sometime. But this is reality. And I have to learn to live in this reality.
After some time, mother and I went outside. Mother locked the door and we started walking. She held my hand firmly.
"Never let go of my hand," she said in a serious tone. Something flickered in her eyes — was it fear or anxiety? My mother's fear... this was a new feeling for me.
"I promise," I said sincerely.
The street was full of people. The closer we got to the market, the more crowded it became. Everywhere there were merchants, voices haggling with people.
"Come on over! Take it! You won't find quality goods like this even in Abkhazia!" shouted a bookseller. I observe and remember everything.
Abkhazia... I hear about it often here. It's the heart of the empire's economy, far from here, one of the largest port cities by the sea. I've planned to go there sometime. That place must be very interesting. Especially, there are many rumors about the Academy of Mages there.
Mother and I wandered for about half an hour. I gathered a lot of information, although most of it was useless. Prices, people's moods, the patrol spots of the city guards — I memorized everything. Who knows when it might come in handy?
At one spot, mother stopped and started bargaining with a merchant. Right at that moment, she let go of my hand. Suddenly, the crowd thickened. It was as if someone had deliberately caused a commotion. Out of nowhere, a cart wheel broke, scattering cages of chickens everywhere. Everyone rushed to help. A crowd of people came between mother and me.
I looked around frantically — I couldn't find mother.
"Mother?" I whispered, but my voice was drowned in the noise. Somewhere, she must have been calling me too, but I didn't hear. I looked everywhere, but people didn't even pay attention. No one looked at the little boy about to be trampled under their feet.
It was very frightening. If I were truly a young child, I would have started crying. But... I wasn't that scared. Although my heart was beating fast, my mind was working clearly. I remembered the way back home. After all, that's important.
I started walking in the direction I knew. It wasn't easy to push through the crowd, but gradually, I moved away from the market noise. The streets became quieter, the people sparser.
After walking a bit, I saw a girl by the side of the street. She was alone too. She seemed about my age, but dressed very neatly — expensive silk dress, clean hair, a noble elegance on her face. She must be a nobleman's daughter. What was she doing here alone?
I approached her. "Hey, what are you doing?" I asked.
She looked at me, surprised. "Are you talking to me?" she said with interest, but there was also a hint of arrogance in her voice.
"Yes," I said. "Where are your parents? It's dangerous for a young child to walk alone on the street."
Her eyes widened. "Whaat? You're young yourself, you know?" she said.
I just looked at her silently. There was no way to answer her. From an outsider's perspective, this was a very funny and cruel thing to say. I sighed.
"Okay, which way is your home? I'll take you there," I said.
She tilted her head, observing me. "Okay, it should be around here," she said, gesturing vaguely.
Then she suddenly asked: "What's your name, anyway?"
"What do you need my name for?" I asked cautiously.
"Nothing, I just need to call you something," she said innocently.
"Okay. Kael. My name is Kael," I said.
"Well, what's yours?" I asked.
She puffed out her chest a little and said in a regal voice: "Mine is Alise. Okay, let's go, I'll take you home."
"Okay, fine," she said.
And at that moment, a man appeared behind me. I didn't even notice where he came from. It was as if he sprouted from the ground. His eyes were cold, his stature tall and imposing.
"Get lost, barefoot boy," he said in a cold tone. His voice wasn't loud, but it carried immense pressure. I felt like I was dying. My breath caught, my knees went weak.
Alise suddenly ran over. "Joy aka, don't do that! This is my new friend! He was trying to help me!" she said, standing in front of her brother.
I stumbled backward. This man — Alise's brother — was as tall as a mountain. There was no emotion in his eyes. Only coldness. He looked at me for a moment, as if looking at a tiny insect.
"Alise," he said, looking at his sister. "I'll forgive you this once. Don't disappear from our sight again." Then he looked at me: "We're going home now."
"Okay, but I wanted to play a little, brother," Alise said hopefully.
"No," he said firmly. "We have to leave." He took his sister's hand and, as they were leaving, added: "And don't befriend just anyone. Especially... with such common children."
Then, looking at the city guards standing nearby: "Hey, guards! Take this child to his parents," he said.
The chief of the city guards immediately replied: "As you wish, young master!" and started walking towards me.
I stared at them. No, this can't happen. I can't scare my mother again. Right then, I ran.
The guards shouted after me, but I had already entered a narrow street. Fast, I ran very fast — I had never run this fast in my life. But no matter how hard I tried, I didn't have the strength to escape the guards. My legs were short, my breath was running out quickly. They caught me.
They took me home. I showed them the door myself. At home, father and mother were waiting. When mother saw me, she burst into tears.
"I was afraid I lost you, my baby! Forgive me, I couldn't pay attention to you!" she said, crying, pressing me to her chest.
The guards explained something to my father and left. We went inside. Mother held me for a long time without letting go.
"Father, mother, please forgive me. Mother, it's not your fault. It's my fault," I said, hanging my head.
Father knelt down and looked into my face. His eyes held seriousness and something else — was it pride or worry? — mixed together.
"That's enough, forget it. But it won't happen again," he said in a serious tone. Then, from behind him, he pulled out a book: "Here, the thing you asked for," he said and placed it in my hands.
A book... This was no ordinary book. Its cover was made of thick leather, the pages were yellowed and adorned with magical symbols. On the cover were words written in an ancient language: "The Path of Beginner Magic." This was exactly what I had asked for! A manual teaching low-level magic.
My father bringing this book for me... this was very dangerous. Magic books aren't ordinary books; they are expensive, and possessing them isn't always safe. He knew that. Even so, he brought it for me.
"Father... this..." I started, but he interrupted me.
"Don't show it to anyone. Read it carefully. This isn't easy stuff," he said in a low voice. Then, looking back to make sure mother couldn't hear, he added: "Someday, this knowledge might be useful to you. But for now... just remain a child."
I understood the meaning of his words. He understands me. Maybe he knows I'm like someone else? Maybe he also... No, this isn't the time to think about that.
"Thank you, father," I said and hugged him. Then I hugged mother too. They pressed me to their chests.
Mother's tears had dried, but her hands were still trembling. "I will never let go of your hand again," she whispered.
After that, I went to my room. I sat on my small bed and opened the book. It contained simple spells — creating a spark of fire, purifying water, moving small objects — written about. These were very basic things, but for me, they were the first step. The first step on the path to understanding this world, surviving in it, and becoming strong.
The events of today came alive before my eyes. The market, the fear of getting lost, Alise, her cold brother, the running and the guards... This world truly is dangerous. And even though I'm small, my actions can have consequences. But now, I hold power in my hands. Even if it's small, the power of magic.
I smelled the book — the scent of ancient paper and magic. This room, this small world — is my shelter. And I will use all my strength to protect this shelter, these two people in this world who give me love — my mother and father.
Tomorrow, a new day begins. And I will continue to uncover the secrets of this world.
But for now... for now, I'm just a four-year-old child. And four-year-old children need to sleep.
I placed the magic book under my pillow and closed my eyes.