That was the day everything I loved was taken from me.
And from that moment on… I stopped being the person I used to be.
But all of that goes much further back.
In fact, I think it all began that summer… the summer when I decided I would become a mage as strong as my brother.
I was sitting in the shade of an almond tree with my friend Luca. We were outside the city, something extremely dangerous, not only because of wild animals, but also because of the demons that wandered through the uncontrolled areas.
Even so, Luca had dragged me out there, as always.
It was a quiet place. Too quiet compared to what people said about it. We knew we shouldn't be there, but it was our refuge. A place far from the noise of the city, far from people.
—Luca, we'd better not tell Mira where we've been —I said jokingly.
—Yeah, Ren —he replied laughing—. The last time she found out, she nearly killed us. "It's extremely dangerous, you should never go outside! I'll tell Elijah!"
We both burst out laughing.
—Well… she's not wrong —I added after a moment—. We shouldn't come here. It's calm, yes, but it's not safe.
—And you'd protect us, right? —he looked at me with a teasing smile.
—I don't know —I shrugged—. I haven't even discovered my affinity yet. If an animal showed up right now, we'd probably get eaten alive.
—I don't think so —he said without hesitation—. We're strong. Or we will be. We have to be if we want to go beyond the city.
—Isn't reaching here enough for you? —I laughed.
—Of course not, idiot. I want to see the horizon, explore everything that exists. I don't think the world has been fully discovered. I want to be the one who finds what's left.
I looked at him silently for a second.
—If you want to go beyond… you'll have to be careful with the demons. They control too much territory.
—That's exactly why we have to become strong —he replied immediately—. Promise me we will. That we'll become strong… and explore the world together.
—I'm not sure about that… —I muttered, unsure.
Then he grinned mischievously.
—You can bring Helen with you.
—Huh? What does she have to do with this?
—You like her, don't you?
—That's a lie. I don't know where you got that from.
—Alright, alright… I won't insist anymore —he laughed—. But you could bring her with us when we're adults. Deal?
I sighed, defeated.
—Deal.
We spent a while longer laughing together.
The wind gently moved the almond tree's leaves, making that soft, constant sound that mixed everything into an almost unreal calm. For a moment, the world felt simple. Safe.
But time, as always, moved faster than it seemed.
Before we realized it, the sun was already setting.
—We're going to be in trouble… —I muttered as I saw the sky.
We ran toward the city.
The way back became a race against the closing gates. Dust rose under our steps, and the evening air grew colder with every second.
Luckily, the guards spotted us from afar.
—Again, you two! —one of them shouted, though more in resignation than anger.
They waited a few extra moments before closing the gates.
Still, we didn't escape without a hit on the head and a scolding.
—If you come back late again, you'll stay outside, understood?
We nodded, laughing nervously.
Inside the city, everything was as it always was at that hour.
The streets slowly emptied. Merchants packed up their stalls, lowered their awnings, closed their crates. The sound of the day faded little by little, replaced by tired footsteps and wooden doors shutting.
Sometimes Luca and I did something we never said out loud to anyone.
We watched people.
—See that guy? —Luca whispered.
—The one with the blue cloak?
—Yeah. I'd bet he's a traveling merchant.
—Looks like he's broke —I replied.
—That still counts —he laughed—. Someday we'll get one right. It's statistics.
—That's not how statistics work…
—Doesn't matter, it works in my head.
I couldn't help but laugh.
It was a stupid game. But we liked it.
As if inventing strangers' lives made the world feel a little bigger.
On the way back, it wasn't just the guards waiting to scold us.
They were there too.
Mira, Helen, and Tarin were waiting near the main street.
We were a strange group if you thought about it.
And yet, we fit.
—Where have you been? —Mira crossed her arms the moment she saw us.
—Why do you care? —Luca answered immediately.
Mira frowned.
—You went to the outskirts again, didn't you? I told you not to.
—You're not our mother —Luca raised his hands—. We're old enough to decide for ourselves.
—If you were old enough, you wouldn't do stupid things —she replied instantly—. You're fourteen.
—You say that like you're not the same age —Luca muttered.
The tension was in the air, but it wasn't dangerous. It was the kind of argument that always ended the same way: noise… and then nothing.
I stayed quiet, looking at the ground, hoping not to get pulled in.
—Guys… there's no need to fight —Helen said, stepping forward.
She always did.
—Oh, the leader of the group speaks —Luca teased, half joking, half annoyed.
—It's not that —Helen looked at him seriously—. I just want us to be okay.
Mira sighed.
—They always do whatever they want without thinking.
—And you always try to control everything —Helen replied, now looking at Mira—. It's fine to worry, but you can't decide for them.
For a moment, no one spoke.
Only the sound of the city slowly dying around us.
Then Mira looked away.
—…Whatever. Just don't get into trouble again.
Luca clicked his tongue, but didn't respond.
The tension broke on its own, as always.
We said our goodbyes when the sky was already completely dark.
The city lamps began to light up one by one, like small stars trapped between buildings.
I walked home with Tarin.
As always, he didn't talk much.
But when he did, it was because it mattered… or because he was about to say the worst joke imaginable.
—You've been quieter than usual today —I said.
—That's because today was a calm day —he replied.
—That doesn't make sense.
—It does.
I smiled.
His house came first. He stopped for a moment.
—You'll probably train with your brother tomorrow, right?
—Yeah.
—Good luck then.
—Thanks.
He turned and left without saying anything else.
I kept walking alone.
The streets were quieter now. Colder.
And when I opened the door to my house…
My brother was standing there, waiting.