Chapter 2: Shout and Chaos
575 Words
'Strange name," Frieth commented.
"Blame my mother for that," Eziphin replied with a grin.
Outside the library, they heard a vendor shouting aggressively, "Poison!"
The guards stormed the vendor's stall, smashing tables full of potions. Glasses shattered near Frieth and Eziphin, startling them. Chaos erupted as the guards apprehended the vendor and his secret customers.
Eziphin started running away from the danger, and Frieth followed.
"We'll meet again sometime!" Eziphin shouted over his shoulder.
"Sure!" Frieth responded, raising his hand in farewell before continuing to run.
Later, Frieth walked home, feeling a mix of guilt and excitement from the encounter. As he approached his house, he heard his father shouting again. His heart sank as he realized his mother had forgotten to wash his father's clothes.
Peeking through the door, Frieth saw his mother sitting at the table, tears streaming down her face. She quickly wiped them away and approached him.
"Frieth, you came home early," she said, wiping the dirt off his face from the earlier commotion. Frieth couldn't sleep that night, feeling guilty for having fun while his mother suffered. His anger toward his father grew.
The next morning, his mother called him for breakfast. They had a pleasant conversation, and Frieth vowed, "I'll never leave mom today." Suddenly, he heard footsteps approaching and knew it was his father. His mother's smile faded.
"I-I can't do it. He's scary. I HATE HIM!" Frieth shouted, pushing past his father and running out of the house.
He stumbled upon the remnants of the potion vendor's place, now a mess of broken glass and wet ground. An idea sparked in his mind.
"I HAVE A PLAN!" he thought.
Farith Rediem (Frieth's father)
Farith came home exhausted, hungry, and in a foul mood. He didn't even know why he was always angry; it just felt uncomfortable being a father to only one son.
"I wanted three kids... Two boys to protect my daughter, raising her like a princess," he always dreamed.
Ten years ago, when he first met Szumaria Zaphin, he didn't fall in love; he only saw her potential as a mother.
"She'll be a good mother," Farith had thought.
They got married and were happy, until Farith started pressuring Szumaria about having children.
"I want two sons to protect our daughter," he said.
Szumaria chuckled, rubbing his back. "That's why I love you. You think of everyone, not just yourself. But not today."
Farith laughed it off, but he continued to ask day after day, receiving only denials.
Finally, fed up, he asked again. This time, Szumaria's nervous response revealed her secret.
"N-no honey, I'm just waiting for the right time," she said, stuttering.
His dream felt shattered. Farith lost himself, drinking heavily and wandering the city. One night, he returned home drunk, complaining incomprehensibly.
"If only I knew!" he cried, pointing at her.
"What are you talking about?" she asked, worried.
They both broke down, and Szumaria confessed, "I-I can't get pregnant, Farith! Blame my bloodline if you want!"
Farith laughed bitterly. "How do you know, Szumaria? You don't even know yet!"
Against all odds, Szumaria became pregnant with Frieth. Their happiness was indescribable, and their entire family celebrated.
"See? It was just a belief, Szumaria. You just had to believe," Farith said proudly.
Their joy turned to despair as they tried for more children and failed. Szumaria was right; she couldn't have more children. Farith's dream crumbled, and his love turned to resentment.
- Writer
