“I AM BURNING!”

“Hey! I didn’t boil the water that much.”

I woke up in my bed and looked up to see a young woman holding a bucket.

It was Rose.

“You’re alive!” I exclaimed excitedly.

“That’s great news. When did you learn that?”

“And your legs are intact!” I added.

“Yeah, I think I boiled the water a bit too much,” Rose admitted.

So it was just a dream. I was glad, but then I remembered something.

“Wait, did you say you poured boiled water over my head?” I asked in disbelief.

“Oh, you’re back! You had me worried for a second there,” Rose said with a smile.

“DON’T CHANGE THE SUBJECT!”

“I thought it would warm you up a bit in this cold weather. You should be thanking me,” she said, smirking.

“You’re just wasting the water from the well,” I said disapprovingly.

“Nope, this is water from the lake.”

“Lake? Why did you go there so early in the morning?” I asked, curious.

“Never mind that. Aren’t you hungry?” she asked, changing the subject.

“I am.”

“Let’s get downstairs then.”

I jump from my bed and we get down the stairs.

“Yay, sardines again,” I said with disappointment.

“Don’t worry, this is the last time we’re eating sardines.” .

“Is that a death threat?” I replied jokingly.

“No, they’re going to spoil tomorrow, so I’m just trying to finish them off,” she explained.

I sigh and we start eating.

“By the way, do you know what day it is?” Rose asked.

“Sorry, I lost track of time a long time ago,” I replied.

“Is that the reason why you thought I was dead?”

“No, I just had a nightmare. I’d rather not talk about it.”

“You don’t have to,” Rose said with a reassuring smile.

After we finished eating, Rose stood up and said,

“Now then-“.

I cut her off, saying, “Here we go again.”

“Let’s go outside.”

“I was expecting you to say something more extreme.”

“Okay, let’s go climb a mountain without using our hands then.”

“I am not a Cellurk.”

“That can change. We’ll just have to cut your arms.”

I had a sense of deja vu and asked,

“What?”

“Never mind, let’s go.”

As we left through the front door, Rose walked a few steps before stopping to look around.

I asked her, “What are you doing?” as she stood there, surveying her surroundings.

“Waiting for someone.”

“Who? Prince charming with a white horse?”

*Thud-Thud* *Thud-Thud* *Thud-Thud*

As I finished my sentence, we heard the sound of a horse running.

We see the figure of a horse and a man riding it merge through the forest,coming closer.

“Did I just call a fortune for you?”

The horse got closer, and I noticed that it was actually white.

“I should have wished for money,” I said to myself,I look up to see who the rider is.

“Elder?” I got confused and continued:

“Never mind, it wasn’t a fortune after all. It’s a miracle to witness an ass riding a horse. Poor animal, it is forced to carry that weight.”

“You are here!” said Rose in excitment.

“Huh? isn’t he bit old for you?”

“What are you going on about? You’ve been babbling nonsense for a while!”

Elder got off the horse and walked towards me.

He looks at me and smiles saying,

“Happy Birthday!”

“Happy what-day?”

“Birthday it’s your birthday.”

“Was it today? Oh... Thank you.”

“This is my present for you!” He shows the horse with his hands.

“The horse?”

“No, its turd you are going to clean it from now on.”

“I’ll use your face as a wipe then.”

Rose gave us a stern look, as if to say “stop fighting, or I’ll have to intervene.”

We both took a step back, realizing that our argument had gotten out of hand.

He coughed lightly, trying to break the tension, and then resumed his speech.

“Of couse it’s the horse,I’ve been saving to buy this horse for you”

“Saving? Since when?”

“Since you started working for me.”

“Is that the reason you didn’t pay me a coin all this years?”

“Well,I have given you food and a place to stay haven’t I?”

I look down and smilled subconsciously.

“I guess you are not so bad after all,Thank you I mean it.”

“Spare me your flattery.”

He said that but I think I saw him smile for a second.

“Where did you get her anyway?”

“From the city.”

“When did you go there?”

“Last week.”

“What? Where did you hide her for a week?”

*Smack*

Rose slapped me behind my head.

“Okay,point taken I am asking too much questions.” I said, rubbing the back of my head.

Elder pets the horse from her head at starts explaning:

“She is a 7 years old in her prime.”

“Can see that she looks healty.”

“She is quite fast and strong.”

“That’s what a horse is yes.”

As I started petting the animal, the Village Elder fell silent.

“Why don’t you take her for a test ride?” Rose said watching us behind.

Which made me question how she was involved in this.

“I’ll do so but, did you know about this?”

“About the horse?”

“About the horse,about Elder saving money to buy it.”

“I just learned last week as well.”

“You just learned?”

“Yes,I asked Elder why he never paid you and he told me everything.”

“You could have told me.”

“No it would ruin the suprise,besides if I told you that elder was holding on to your money you would have gone and ask him to give it to you.”

“You are correct, a horse would definetly help me a lot but I wouldn’t waste money on it.”

Village Elder began to speak,

“I knew you would do that, so I decided to hold on to it.”

“You two know me well, I guess.”

We talked for a while, and then I decided it was time for a test ride.

I knew how to ride a horse; my father had taught me when I was young.

I mounted the horse and held on tightly to the reins.

“She is calm.”

“She is well-trained and used to people,” replied the Elder, as he too got on top of the animal.

I couldn’t help but feel sorry for the poor horse, forced to carry so much weight.

“On your way, take me to my home,” Elder said.

“As you wish.”

I waved to Rose and kicked the horse, urging it to take off.

We travel quietly till we get at his house, where he gets off.

“You can continue with your test ride. I’ll wait for Pickle in the cellar, he should be returning soon.”

“Okay, thank you again,” I replied as he waved his hand and started walking away.

Now that I am alone, I decided to ride towards the lake. It was a long enough ride, and I could also rest there.

We arrived at the lake in no time, thanks to the horse’s speed.

After dismounting, I let her drink some water while I rested by the lake.

Then it strike me that I need to give a name to this horse.

“What should your name be?”

“Bad-fortune?”

“Pickle-eater?”

“Rose-burner?”

“Angel-silencer?”

Oh I know,

“Assmount.”

Nonono that’s too vulgar!

there are kids in the village.

“Asmound it is!”

Some time passes...

*Vrrrrr* *Vrrrrr* *Vrrrrr*

I heard a buzzing sound far away,I get up and notice the same X shapped creature from yesterday is flying above the forest.

It doesn’t seems like it noticed me and even if it does I have Asmound with me.

I can run away anytime.

“Let’s go Asmound.”

The creature started moving towards the west,I mounted Asmound and began following it.

It led us through the dense forest, which made it challenging to ride the horse due to all the trees.

I had to be constantly aware of my surroundings and move my head up and down to avoid colliding with any obstacles.

After some time, the creature began to slow down and descend.

“Is this where your nest is?”

I dismount and hide inside a nearby bush. I hear footsteps approaching from the opposite direction.

Two figures emerge from the forest, and from their body shape, they seem to be human.

As they come closer, I notice that they are wearing strange outfits that cover their entire bodies.

The outfits are quite shiny and very eye-catching.

They are yellow with black lines running over them, like a word or letter that I’ve never seen before.

The garments have several hoses attached to them that seem to be connected to something in the shape of a backpack.

Their faces are also covered by some sort of mask or helmet.

“Aliens?” I whisper to myself.

*Vrrrrr* *Vrrrrr* *Vrrrrr*

The X-shaped creature descended in front of the aliens. One of them reached for the creature and grabbed it.

The creature’s claws stopped rotating as if it had just died. Were the aliens controlling the creature?

I had come here expecting to find the nest of the creature, but instead I saw something even more bizarre.

I could hear the two aliens talking to each other, but it was like hearing a different language. I couldn’t tell what they were talking about.

Anyway, this seems dangerous, so I will report this to the Elder.

...

He will not believe me. I can imagine the conversation between us even now.

“I saw an X-shaped flying creature controlled by aliens,” I will say.

He will never believe me.

I need proof.

“Neigh!” Asmound cried out loudly.

Something must have scared him.

Aliens must have heard the noise because they are coming here.

“Damn it!”

I mounted the horse quickly and started riding without looking back.

Our speed was so great that my eyes began to water.

I look back and notice that we are not getting tailed,so I slowed down the horse.

“If it comes to this I need to get the Elder to come with me here again.”

“It is necessary for me to convince him to request aid from Lady Unut.”

Lady Unut is the lady of Castle Unut, and she also owns this village.

From what I’ve heard, she is a fox-like woman, but she shouldn’t be leaving her people to die.

Her tax collector will be visiting tomorrow to collect taxes, and we should inform him about the situation.

I made my way to Village Elder’s house.

“ELDER!” I shouted as I knock the door.

But nobody came after a while of trying I gave up.

“Maybe he is in the back still.”

I made way to the cellar which was wide open.

I entered and looked inside but nobody was there.

“Where is he?”

I felt a sharp pinch in my neck and fell down.

Suddenly I was so tired, I managed to turn around with the last power I had left.

I saw a shadow figure exiting the cellar and locking me inside.

After that everything went black.

...

*sniff* *sniff*

I can smell burning wood.

I open my eyes to see the fireplace, its flames crackling, casting a warm glow throughout the room.

I heard a door open with a crack behind me.

I got up from the couch where I was sleeping to see what was going on.

“Father you are back!” I said as I jumped from to couch to hug him.

I ran towards and hugged him with all my strength and he slowly hugged me back.

I look up to see his face he seemed like he was very sad.

“What is wrong father?” I asked.

Without giving me answer he kneeled and put his arm to my shoulder.

“Hey,would you like to go on a little journey just the two of us.” He said.

“Mom isn’t coming?” I nervously asked.

“She actually went beforehand and is waiting for us there.”

“Oh okay then, where are we going?” I asked exicted.

“To a village called Unut.”

“Unut? I never heard such a village.”

“It’s in the south from here,it’s a beatifull and peaceful place.”

“Really? when are we going?”

“Right now.”

“Huh? but it’s late.”

“Doesn’t matter,we are going to go there with a cariage.”

“Is it far away?”

“Just a little,now hold my hand.”

I do as he tolds,we get outside of our home.

Father is walking a bit fast, and I can hardly keep up with him.

We arrive at the carriage and get on.

It was late, and I was very tired from all that walking, so I fell asleep.

Some time passed.

I feel a shaking on my arm.

“Wake up!”

I open my eyes, and it is daytime.

“We arrived.”

“This is the Unut village?”

I jump outside the carriage and look around.

It was just like father said, very beautiful.

While I am still looking around, father grabs my arm and starts to pull me.

“It hurts.” I cry, but he doesn’t even hear me.

We walk for a while and stop in front of a two-story wooden house.

“We are here,” he says.

“Whose house is this?” I ask.

“Yours.”

“Huh? What do you mean, Father?”

“You will live here from now on.”

“We are moving here?”

He doesn’t answer for a while.

“Your mother is waiting for you inside. Go find her.”

He lets go of my arm.

“Aren’t you coming?”

“I need to talk with the carriage owner. You go ahead.”

I nod my head and run towards my new home. I open the front door and go inside.

“Mom, are you here?” I shout, but receive no response.

“Maybe she is asleep.”

I start searching the first floor but find nothing.

I then go upstairs and continue searching for my mother.

“MOM!” I shout with all my might, but she isn’t there.

“Maybe she went outside.”

I decide to go find my father.

I walk back to where the carriage was.

“Nobody is here.Maybe he just went somewhere else and will come home later.”

I return to the wooden house and sit on one of the couches.

I wait...wait...wait...wait, but nobody comes.

The sky is red, meaning it’s almost night.

I decide to go search for my family again.

I go outside and start running in a direction.

I run and shout for them until my energy is drained.

*Sob*

When I realize that they left me behind, I start crying.

*Sob*

I don’t know how long I have been crying.

It is dark already.

*Step* *Step* *Step*

I hear footsteps coming towards me.

“Why are you crying, kid?”