Aevintyr Elds

Bjorn opened his eyes….

However…. Instead of his room… his surroundings are full of grey clouds….

He remembered where he was… since this is the place that he was visiting every night this past week…

Bjorn wondered what scenes he would be witnessing again this time…

This past week, he had witnessed a lot of events… 

From 'him' entering the village named Muspel… to interacting with its villagers…

'He' had always been doing something… Though Bjorn can't see 'his' face, even through a mirror, he knew that 'he' was a capable person… 

This past week, 'he' was doing magic tricks…. Yes… magic tricks.

So here we are… back to the grey clouds… 

Bjorn was waiting as always… He was always waiting on what 'he' would do… Bjorn was also amazed by the new sceneries, events, etc., and he would always wonder what exciting new stuff he would be witnessing.

After a while, the grey clouds parted… 

There, he saw the usual village that he had been witnessing this past week… It was desolate, yet… It was lively.

It was lively since numerous children were running around across the village, playing tag and the like.

The adults, on the other hand, were interacting with each other, whilst they were doing their own jobs.

It was a village full of smiles and life… amidst the harshness of the region… 

'He' walked across the village… The villagers and children waved and greeted 'him'. 

Althroughout 'his' walk, 'he' felt happy… 

'He' went towards 'his' usual spot… and as expected, there was already a group of people surrounding 'his' spot… 

This group was mostly made up of children and old people… this group was not here to fight 'him' but rather they were expecting what 'he' would do.

So 'he' took his spot between them all…

"Are you excited for my new magic tricks"

'He' said, with 'his' eyebrow wiggling around, and 'his' hands cupped on 'his' ear.

"Yes Please!"

The crowd was excited.

"Alright! Let's not waste time anymore!"

'He' grabbed a deck of cards from a pouch behind 'him'.

With a flourish, 'he' fanned them out, displaying them to the group.

"These are no ordinary cards, folks! These are magical cards… Each one holds a story!"

The children leaned in closer, their eyes gleaming with excitement.

"Now, watch carefully!"

'He' began shuffling the cards, the movements of 'his' hands fluid and mesmerizing.

After a moment, 'he' stopped, spreading the deck face down on a small table in front of 'him.'

"You there!" 

'He' pointed to a young girl. 

"Pick a card, any card!"

The girl hesitated for a moment, then reached out and picked one from the spread.

"Don't show it to me, but take a good look!"

The girl studied the card and nodded, clutching it tightly in her hands.

"Good, good. Now place it back on the deck, and I'll do my magic."

After the card was returned, 'he' shuffled the deck again, this time with exaggerated motions that drew laughter from the crowd.

Then, with a dramatic wave of 'his' hand, 'he' slapped the top of the deck and declared,

"Behold! Your card will reveal itself to me!"

'He' flipped the top card dramatically, only to reveal… a blank card.

The crowd gasped, and then a few giggles broke out.

"Oh no! My magic must be broken! Wait, I know!"

'He' reached behind the ear of the same girl who had chosen the card and pulled it out, holding it up triumphantly.

"Ta-da!"

The children squealed with delight, clapping and laughing. The old people also smiled softly. Seeing their grandchildren smiling sweetly is a good thing.

But 'he' wasn't done.

Placing the deck back in the pouch, 'he' produced a small, colorful scarf.

"Now for my next trick… Watch closely!"

'He' tied the scarf into a knot, then blew on it softly.

As the crowd watched in awe, the scarf began to shimmer, and suddenly… it bursted into tall flames.

The crowd was surprised! They were scared of the fire… and what happened to the magician's hands… They wanted to run away from the fire… but… their eyes are still stuck at the phenomenon in front of them…

After the fire weakened, 'he' blew through the fire and tada! A big bouquet of flowers appeared.

Gasps and cheers erupted as 'he' handed the bouquet to an elderly woman in the crowd.

"For you, my dear. A little magic to brighten your day."

The elderly woman smiled towards 'him'.

'He' then made more magic tricks for the continually increasing crowd… 

After a while, the whole session was finished… The sun was slowly losing its light… 

All those who watched 'his' magic show went home in smiles… They had witnessed a lot of amazing things today and they would surely be telling it to their families or friends… Some would also try to imitate the magic tricks that were shown.

'He' just stood there and watched the receding crowd… 

It was a nice place....... I want to play…

So 'he' went towards the tallest house in the village… the Village chieftain's house… 

'He' was quickly admitted to the premises since 'he' was a well known person in the village… 

After a while, 'he' was seated unto one of the chairs in the dining room of the house. 'He' was also facing the Village chieftain…

Before the village chieftain could speak, 'he' spoke first.

"What do you want?"

The Village chieftain was surprised… Normally he is the one who asks the questions but… here… He was being asked… Strangely… he cannot get angry at the person in front of him… so he answered 'his' question.

"I… I… I am happy with what I have right n-"

"Don't lie."

Bjorn felt that 'his' lips were grinning.

"I know when a person lies."

The village chieftain was surprised… his eyes were round in shock… He knew these people… People who know if you are telling a lie...… So he answered honestly…

"I… I wanted what's best for my people.... But…. I also wanted to have more than what I have right now."

The village chieftain's smile turned frantic… feral…

"I… I want more! I don't want to be just a village chief! I WANT MORE!"

'He'.... 'his' smile also turned wider… 'He' wanted to play… 'He' wanted to have fun…

"If that's what you want… I'll give you… the Eternal Fire."

After this, the village chief immediately ordered a tower to be built… He made the tower from stones and mortar, and it was tall… taller than at least 100 meters… It was also placed on the tallest place of the village… 

The tower is more like an obelisk, but the people knew that something would be put on the top of the tower…

After the tower was made, 'he' left the eternal fire at the top of it… 

The eternal fire was a white fire… It was large… and it was ever-flickering.

Once the eternal fire was placed… there was a sudden change to the village… The previously fallow lands… became more suitable for farming…

The barren fields that once yielded barely enough to feed the villagers began to change. Overnight, vibrant greenery sprouted across the landscape. Crops such as wheat, barley, and even exotic fruits began to grow where none had been planted.

The people themselves were blessed… An elderly woman, who had been bedridden for years due to a chronic illness, was brought to the tower by her family. As the Eternal Fire cast its light upon her frail body, her strength seemed to return. The once pallid color of her skin was replaced with a healthy glow, and she stood for the first time in years.

The harsh winters of the region, which often claimed lives due to freezing temperatures, suddenly became more bearable. 

The Eternal Fire's light spread warmth throughout the village. Even at night, when temperatures dipped, the villagers found their homes inexplicably cozy, as though the fire had extended its protective embrace to every corner of Muspel.

People know that fire is dangerous… however, this time… the fire… is the one that gives lives… 

Bjorn looked at this all. He was a spectator… witnessing all this was amazing…

Bjorn wanted to know more… what would happen… what would take place… what would occur… He wanted to see more… but he opened his eyes.

The usual room was in his sight… 

He then put his two palms on his face… He then thought about something that was in his dream…

"That fire... amazing…"

___________________________

Bjorn walked through the streets of Orario….

His destination? Not the dungeon, nor the guild.

Yesterday, he had a new supporter… He wanted to know Cathy's living conditions since it was unnatural for a person to be that… greedy… even in the face of danger…. so instead of going to the agreed time, Bjorn went towards her address…

Her address was a bit far… However, it was in Daedalus Street… 

Daedalus Street is a sprawling residential area for the lower class, situated between Orario's east and southeast Main Streets. Its intricate layout reflects the work of its eccentric creator, Daedalus, and the numerous modifications made over time.

Bjorn went towards Cathy's address…

After a while of walking, he had already reached his destination.

He looked towards the building in front of him… It was tall… but the windows were tightly cramped…. This shows that the width of the room is compact.

Bjorn went inside the building and noticed that the floor was riddled with dirt, grime, and litter… 

Bjorn didn't mine these and the stares that he was receiving, and went on towards his way.

He climbed the stairs towards the 3rd floor of the building. There, he headed towards the 2nd door to the right…

Bjorn stared at the wooden door in front of him… It was surprisingly clean… Without further ado, he knocked on it.

He heard murmurs inside the door and after a while… it was opened.

He saw a little cat boy… and beside him is another little cat girl. 

These children closely resemble Cathy… so he quickly concluded.

She has children?

Without hesitation, Bjorn reached out his hands towards the head of the children. He then patted their heads….. It was soft.

At first, the children were hesitant… but upon feeling that the person in front of them meant no harm…. They snuggled into the palm of this person…

After a while of patting, Bjorn saw his supporter.

"Hey… who was the one who knoc-"

Cathy was surprised…. She didn't expect Bjorn to visit her early in the morning….

"I-I-I thought that we would meet at the dungeon?"

Bjorn softly smiled towards her.

"I wanted to know how my supporter lived…"

Cathy then scratched the back of her head…

"Umm… I'm sorry for showing you a bad scene…"

"Don't worry about it…. May I come in?"

"Ah! Yes… please come in."

Bjorn went inside the humble 'home' of his supporter… Once he was inside, he noticed how small it was…. It really was smaller than the typical studio rooms in his previous life… It might be adequate enough for a single person to live in but… a family of 3 is overcrowded…

Cathy noticed that Bjorn was looking around… whilst patting the head of the children…

"It's small isn't it?"

Bjorn looked at her and said…

"Nah. It's fine. I'd also lived in places like this before."

Bjorn thought about the hard times before he decided to be a soldier….

It really was harsh…

Cathy, on the other hand, was surprised… She thought that Bjorn lived well before but… to think that he had also experienced this.

"Did… you really lived in places like this?"

"Yeah… it is great for a single person to live in but a family of 3….? It stretches things right?"

"Yes…."

Bjorn then stopped patting the heads of the two children…

"So… these are your children?"

Cathy was shocked… 

"No! No! They are not!!! They are my siblings!"

"Ahhhh alright."

"W-w-what do you mean by 'alright'?!!!"

Bjorn just laughed. He decided to joke with her for a bit.

After a while of joking… 

"So… what is your dream…?"

"My dream?"

Without hesitation, Cathy answered Bjorn.

"My dream… is to move to a much safer place! To a much better place! I want my siblings to live better! I want them to be clean! To have hot water in the morning and the evening! I want them to be safe… That is my simple and humble dream.."

Cathy wanted a life that is much better than what she is experiencing now… She dreamed of simple things for her siblings… for her… All she wanted is a good life… free from dirt… grime… litter…. She wanted to sleep on a nice bed… to have her siblings be cozy under the blanket…

"If that is your dream… then pack your things."

Cathy widened her eyes. 

"Pack your things now. I will get you a nicer apartment to live in."

"R-r-really?!"

"Yes… but take note, half of the payment would be deducted from your earnings."

With the savings he had saved this past few weeks… he can now afford to pay the downpayment of the apartment…

"T-t-thank you! Hey! You guys should bow too!"

Cathy brought down her two siblings' heads…. She also bowed almost 90 degrees down towards Bjorn…

Bjorn smiled at her and expects her to do a much better job in the future…

You see…. She is already a good supporter…. And with this… she will be a greater supporter…

______________________

I'm back my people! 

I did pretty mediocre in my exams HAHAHAHAHAHHA. I really hate Obligations and Contracts…. But what I hate is not really the subject… don't get me wrong, I love Obligations and Contracts….. But…. the professor...….. Damn.

So yeah haha, I would be going back to my hometown this christmas… I gotta use my well earned and unused vacation and sick leaves HAHAHA. Fret not my people, I would be posting chapters too!

Anyways, I hope you like my chapter! and psst... if you are part of the swarm..... go subscribe and/or gift subscribes to Neuro's subathon hehehehehe... (I'm an evil believer btw)

Peace out my dudes!