MAJESTICA AGE OF THE FIRST LIGHT

They locked the bells reached to the hall. at seventeen he was the only one denied the evening meal, the iron bolt drawn across the door while the other past in silence. he did not shout he had learned long ago that silent was safer. Mercy was for those who belonged , and from the day he had been found at the monastery gate, he never truly had a place. the shadows of the walls became his only company, and still, something in the air whisper that his story was far from ordinary. The scent of bread and broth drifted under his door, mocking him. he counted each scrape of a spoon , each laugh you could not join. outside voices rose in harmony , inside stone walls swallowed he's hunger and his anger are like. through the high narrow windows , he glimped smoke curling over the village, unfamiliar and sharp against the sky. a distance cry pierced the evening air every lock door, every silent meal, fed a question he deard not speak. what was waiting for him outside beyond the walls I had never truly held him. The next day the boy found the priest at the far end of the monasrery Gates, his robe still dusted with the morning chill, he did not speak at once only gestured for the boy to follow him to the edge of the courtyard. the boys hand shook as he followed the priest to be far edge of the courtyard, where the sunray fell weekly over the monastery walls. the air tasted of Ash and damp stone, and even the wind seemed cautious whispering across the cobblestone. "look closely" the priest said voice low "you have noticed it too "the priest said quietly eyes scanning the hills beyond"something grows in the shadows the world wait for those who are unprepared". the boy clinched his feast, a cold knot formed in his chest. questions rose, but the priest offered no answer only the weight of urgency pressing him forward. He pointed out at an old white owl, I looked at him head burning, trying to figure out what he was going on about "how often do you see those at day"he said finally and started walking, I followed closely with precaution "you know when you were mysteriously brought in here, they were slow to accept you, they feared the worst, the rumors that flattered every mouth, he stopped and starred dead cold into my eyes "they were scared" he continued his gaze still at mine. "of what"I asked nobody really knows he replied. "that doesn't make any sense "I replied"that's the point, they feared what they couldn't understand what secrets followed you he said walking closer towards me he's gaze unwavering "what you are"I moved back when he got too close hoping he will stop but he didn't he kept on coming until I bumped into a wall He placed an arm over my shoulder and rested on the wall and leaned on me . his gaze steady "who you are " he continued but suddenly looked outside the window that was right next to me ,the brim of the western hemisphere is on flames and soon on ashes , "I lost my cousin last week "he said with a weary face ,once the flames reaches the elf village , you know I will be called to lift the flags . He finally left I couldn't tell if I should feel relieved or scared , my knees quaked at the priest words . but my heart was calm from the tension. I looked over the window I could not tell if the priest was talking about war or something deeper . I left the monastery to the forest hoping on scrabbling for food , winter was fast approaching and I realized that the forest couldn't handle my frequent visits,it was quite clear at this point that the monastery wasn't going to provide food for me , and when they did it was less than the scraps they left for dogs . The atmosphere was cold despite being late morning, I squeezed my palms together and stuffed them in my holes pockets I had walked nearly a mile deep into the forest when I stumped upon a tree I looked up and saw few apples at the top , I quickly began climbing the tree half way there I stepped on a weak branch, that snapped and broke , and sent me falling I landed on my back luckily it wasn't so high to cause me any injuries although I was bruised , still on my back I noticed a red coated fox staring at me it had green and blue eyes that seemed to pull me in. it cornered me slowly , I tipped over to my sides and got up slowly Maintaining my balance , for a while we started at each other . Suddenly the horn at the monastery blew I looked back breaking eye contact,when i looked back he was gone, I ran towards the monastery, I didn't want to be late for the afternoon prayers, by the time I got there the prayers had begun I fell into the line before any one could notice but I was beaten ruthlessly they had noticed I wasn't around in the line , like they were waiting to single me out and when I wasn't their they was no one for them to mock even the teachers kept a horrible face ignoring the beatens ,I would have died that day if it wasn't for the priest . I was in a very bad condition. it was so bad that the priest wanted to take me to the elf village , "master a regular leech will be able to help" a monk told the priest But he gave no answer, just a disturbing gaze . even I wondered why he had to take it as far as the elf village . The elf village was where they took really serious cases, or things man could never understand That night I laid in the dark feeling the sores on my body , again I was deprived food . The night was cold and hard , I could feel my heart slow down untill it stopped for mins , I put my hands on my chest straining to hear a heart beat ,nothing , I waited for over an hour before it came back and pumped , I was scared, abandoned and lonely like every other night but this was diff The next morning I limped Into the cart and sat , the priest followed . it was a silent journey we moved for miles, we had nothing on us but our wine skins for water finally it was night and we stopped to camp , I sat in a rock and watched him build a fire , we sat together for a while I. silence , for a while until it got awkward . but at this point I was worried about greater things "you see the flames " he asked. ". anything familiar about them " he continued "I don't know really " He rose aggressively picking up a stick from the fire tore my shirts open and placed the stick on my bare body I screed from the pain the heat burned I knew better than to fight with the priest . That will just make matters worse than it already was. "The more you continue to play dump,The worst things will get"he said choking with anger before turning around to lay down. I sat down three feeling my open skin. I wasn't shocked I was use to such tortur- eventually I finally went to sleep amiss the pain. At dawn I rose to find the priest gone. I got up and found the cart right where we left it I walked along the path and found him at stream cleaning up, He looked at me for a sec then his face turned pale. I could feel the fear in his face.I bent down and splashed my face with water. I tried to adjust my torn clothes when i noticed the burnt skin was healed not a scratch left ,I felt around in astonishment, even the scars from before where gone I looked at him still staring in awe. But what happened?I asked but instead he quickly got on the cart. “Let’s go” He said. I followed him into the cart wondering what happened moments later we arrived and what I saw was what I was never prepared for.