Mystic Dawn

By Sam Banfield

It watches waiting for its perfect time to strike.
Evelyn discovers something dark, and it tests her limits. This dark comes from another world. It will make Evelyn question and reveal secrets about a forest and its forgotten history. A town is haunted on the edges of this plain, and in not long, Evelyn will awaken from a bad dream, tracing back the vivid memory to unravel something long lost from a very different era. The forest whispers her very name... Evelyn. But who am I? -- Evelyn asks. And who will she come to face if she is to go in search for answers? To venture the unknown is to rediscover herself. She'll walk an unknown time with an unraveling soul. She'll reach, in search for more. Oh, but the answers just keep getting better.
The winds of change are blowing, the time is now... and the echoes of her past are calling...
Evelyn looks over her shovel at the forest.
...The mystic dawn is waiting
to be found.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Balboa Press
• Release date: Oct 27, 2015
• ISBN: 9781504341592

Sam Banfield

I was born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario. I’m a young author driven by talent. I find the most important things in my life are following my heart and using my emotional compass to guide me. To trust is to receive, and to believe is no truer.

Book preview

Prologue

S unlight cuts through the sheer bliss of a forest. Its lush leaves and branches sway lightly in the breeze. The green grass is soft, simple here. The sun is warm, passing between the blades of grass and touching the roots.

A farmer removes his straw hat to wipe his brow. He grazes his palms across a meadow. His hard rough hands pass between the tall of the grasses, for he knows what’s coming.

A lady with a broom can smell the fresh scent of dandelions blowing between the breezes. Her blouse is moving in the direction of the wind. The wind makes her smile. It makes her feel safe. The brilliance that surrounds her moves with softness.

A robed man in black reaches for reins. Before he mounts his black nord (a black horse but with long floppy ears), he peers from under his hood and looks back at his men. His eyes are yellow as the sun, but with opposite intentions. They have the same slick of a snake. They have a daring look; it’s almost as if they could slither towards the rising sun beyond.

The lady begins to sweep leaves from her property onto a nearby rocky road. The sky above is a much different story today then yesterday’s gloomy. Her brassy eyes peer at the sun’s magnificent rays, its very essence reflects upon her surroundings for it’s almost deceiving, like the sky may turn cloudy at any moment. But the warmth lasts, for now.

A broken-heart approaches on the rocky road, a mother mounted by nord.

The brassy eyes couldn’t share the fierce dread that this other is portraying, riding her way. She couldn’t comprehend the pain and sorrow that lies within this rider’s heart.

The rider wears a green cloak, with her hood up. It covers features that resemble her enemy; but this in no way imparts their means. She rides an unknown path, and she can sense a lady’s innocence not too far off.

The lady’s blouse moves in the winds. She continues to sweep just beyond the green-cloak-rider.

The rider is a mother, and her hands tighten on the reins. The site of the lady in the blouse offers a thought of innocence to the mother. It’s overwhelming, a similar appearance that reminds the rider of her husband.

The brassy eyes look up from her broom, squinting with the sun in them; it’s odd to see anyone, because there is only desertion beyond, only forest and more of it. So where is the rider planning to go?

The lady steps off the path to move out of the way, and quickly the rider passes by. It didn’t seem the rider dared to stop, nor think of this pedestrian; but what cautions the lady in the blouse most – a sudden cry of a baby was overheard. It disappears, fading into the distance.

The rider does her best to hide behind her cloak, now entering the forest and attempting to stay away from the sunlight, as if the sun is trying to catch any sign of emotion. The rider felt this would make her feel defenceless at a time like this. She tightens the shroud around her face. Her throat feels tight when she swallows.

The hooded-one in black becomes more anxious as he nears his destination. His grip is tight around the rein. He rides and makes his way into a deeper forest path with his men enclosing behind.

With each step from the nord carrying the green-cloak-rider and the baby, the sky shuts out from behind them. Mother embraces the memory of her family one last time.

The farmer man positions his reaper to support his stance. His hat shades his features from the sun. There is a look in his eye, as if he is waiting for someone, and as he looks towards the distance where a forest surrounds him on all sides, his reaper begins to slip. Fighting his emotions back, it feels pitiful to him. The thoughts of his family are rushing him – he knows he must be strong. From underneath the sun, his grip tightens once more. His dark hair and deep blue eyes peer with freedom. But the sweat of his brow continues to weep.

The sunlight fights to reach the thick stumps and rugged branches. It is here the green-cloak-rider loses her warmth as she drifts farther and farther from her husband. The trunks begin to thin out, offering a lighter forest path for her to ride through. She dreads what looks like rising smoke ahead. The smell of burning firewood engulfs her senses. She slows down and is guided towards a thin pathway. A dim light flickers on the other end of this trail.

‘Smoke at this time of day.’ She asks herself. ‘I didn’t know anyone was out here.’

Ash lingers in the skies and is smothering a creek. It fills the air around her like flies turning everything black. The river seems to slither instead of glide. She wipes the tears from her baby’s face, covering her face with a red scarf from flames around. Nearing the smothering smoke, the mother’s hands tremble — She looks back. There is a look of abandonment — too far from him, too far to dread the thought of his dawning screams any longer.

The rider in black left the forest to approach a farm in the middle of its harbour. The rider signals his men to search through a field-house.

A few cloaks dismount.

The dark rider waits while his regime move to a barn next, but no one is found in either or.

The whole time a man had been waiting in the open farm. He stood, shading his features behind a straw hat with a reaper in hand. He never once looked up from behind his shading face, away from the approaching regime on foot and nord.

Finally, the leader who is still amount came forward; he brushed his soft hands across the wheat. His eyes have the look of the slither as he approaches the man in the cropping field.

The man’s head is evermore hung toward the ground, his features invisible by his straw hat. He knew better, these were no men. Then, he drops his reaper helplessly when approached by the Errifics; the regime uncovers their hoods to get a better look at the man who still hides his features.

The leader dismounts and took one step closer, and then spoke for his clan, still staring at this helpless man.

‘This means they got away. They still have it.’

The man never looks up to meet eyes with their leader, because the man knows they are slit, that they always slither, in pretence.

The leader took another step forward and spoke with further sentiment; ‘why am I not surprised?’

She pulls her baby closer to her chest. No one to be seen, there’s no sight of blood, but this camp engulfed in ash. The river curling over the rocky sands is all that speaks for the forgotten. She doesn’t know what happened here, but marks of war are noticed. But if she were to guess, those who’ve come for her husband have come for her, perhaps. But if this were true, then where are the bodies? But most importantly, how could the Errifics know where she’d be?

A thought bares her mind.

I just passed into the Lady of the Forest. This is her dwelling and her doing. I must tread carefully. Her Dark Ones must have killed them and dragged the bodies away, for they’re always watching… they’re always doing her bidding…

The mother is careful as she treads her nord. She knows this forest and the dark stories that belong to it.

In the crop field, the air has a faint move to it. The man’s sea blue eyes flash back and forth between the Errific’s slit ones. The man slowly removes his straw hat, and rests it gently on the ground.

Four birds land on a barn in the distance, prancing along the edges of a rooftop.

The baby finally lays silent in her mother’s arm. A cool breeze chills from within, like a warning for those who dare to dwell deeper within. Her mother swallows and makes her way inwards. This forest is untouched, beautiful as it is ancient. Birds and life cry all along. With a grunt she reaches in her saddle pouch and pulls out a small book.

‘Ashnivarna…’ her mother whispers. She holds her baby close again.

A blue light crashes from the book; like a blooming flower, light bristles. The light attracts the baby girl’s attention. With wide eyes the baby watches. She isn’t the only one watching, something other is and it’s in the deep. This thing isn’t human. It waits for a signal to strike.

The eyes of Mom’s baby, a sea blue matches the crashing lights beauty. A book expands becoming heavier in Mother’s grasp. And as the baby girl watches, silently the light flickers and dies away. Here, Mom stares back at it; its power rests in her palm. Mom is to protect her baby but what Mother may soon discover; a pair of careful eyes is protecting something of its own; this old forestry moves in a light breeze. Mom is in its territory… and beyond the forest’s withering; Mother and her child have awakened an old legend, and one day its fight will have to be faced. Timidly, the Dark One will have to wait for the signal, until then; it carefully disappears back into forestry waiting for its master’s command.

The leader’s soft hands relax releasing his tight-fist. He speaks melodramatically.

‘We’re going to find it and when we do, there is no telling when it’ll all begin.’

He then snaps his finger to one of the cloaks nearest. This cloak mounts and leaves in order to search the house again.

One of the birds from atop the roof flies west, separating from its family of four.

The man is quiet, when the leader is about to speak the man decided to interrupt. ‘You won’t find it, because they’ll hide it from likes of you.’

‘So there is another…’ The leader says in his arbitrary ways and rubs his thumb toward his index.

His rider dismounts and hands him a small blanket.

The man’s face drops, and then stares back into the face of fear.

‘A child perhaps?’ the leader asks, turning back to the man. A wide smile creases from the lips of many who fear, but the man is not afraid of this arbitrator’s way. The leader removes his hood to reveal his features; his slit irises are yellow as the sun. He has sharp tipped ears that point skyward.

The man is about to speak, but before the leader let him, the leader shot a burning light from his open palm, smashing into the man and throwing him backwards. It instantly kills him.

A beast jumps out from behind a bush.

Mom halts her steed and the baby cries from the sudden stop. But the beast waits instead of attacks, blocking the way on.

‘A Dark One…’ Mother says under her hood, ready for it with her palm on the book, which is sitting in the saddle pouch.

But its eyes move towards something behind the rider and before Mother could turn to see, a swooping hand reached her baby and a flash from the other takes the life of Mom. Mom’s shoulders droop and she slides off the nord crashing to the earth with a thump.

‘You did well.’ A soft voice says with the baby under the arm. The being moves to the beast and pats it. The being is suddenly reminded. ‘Ah!’ And moves towards the saddled nord and lifts the strap. ‘Right were you should be. My dear Alas you are good,’ and pulls out a massive book. The woman looks towards the beast. ‘Tell me friend, what is the spell to relock the Book of Knowledge?’

The beast stares. It blinks once.

‘Ah hah, thank you my dear.’ She says in robes of white.

The baby begins to cry.

The Guardian gets down low in position to pounce.

With a snap of the lady’s finger the beast drops its striking pose and its eyes droop. It gives a tedious exhalation at the white robe and then walks away.

The Lady of the Forest returns to the baby, ‘just as Alas predicted.’

She looks down at the dead rider and places the baby on the earth. She removes the hood of the mother and finds the look of the enemy underneath. This is a surprise to her. ‘I can always fix this.’ She finally says and moves to the mother to pluck a hair, finding another step over the body and picking up the baby in arm again. The Lady of the Forest gave a short frown to the one in arm. ‘You and I will get right along, you’ll see.’

She places the baby into one of the saddle pouches, and then retrieved a serum from under her robe and places the plucked hair into mouth. ‘For Alas,’ she says tilting the vial back and swallows the hair and liquid. As she did this, she visualized the mother without the harsh features of the enemy. In adjustment, she pictured round ears and round irises.

A flash of green with a bluish tint came over the Lady of the Forest’s body. A small glitter around her mirrors the appearance of the one on ground, alongside alterations. The bright glow around the Lady of the Forest dies.

She eyes the baby and smiles deeply. The lady noticed a look of unjust but it was enough to convince the little mystic eyes, and that’s all the Lady of the Forest could ask for.

‘Now I have your mother’s eyes.’ She said as a figure of speech and lifts the baby up and out of pouch.

Only two birds from the four remain and so they cross overhead passing the lady and baby below, into dawn.

- CHAPTER 1 -

Mystic Dawn

S leeping under covers, safe and sound, a girl turns.

Just outside the wind blows. Cold and withered there is a forest that withers through the willow. The moonlight strikes across the skyline.

Evelyn wakes with a start and squints through her bedside window.

The beautiful night is silent just like it should.

She lays her head back down. Suddenly, she feels a rush, for today is Saturday. She sits up and rushes out of bed. Her hair is a thick-black and hangs over her shoulders. A love for it since it rarely can get out of place, even in the harshest of conditions. When it gets greasy from a few days without wash, it has a beautiful shine, which reflects nicely.

The air can be smelt of roasted oats. Evelyn puts on socks and jumps into overall’s, which fits loosely, much like her coloured shirts. Her nose carries her downstairs to a table, where a hot bowl of porridge lay.

‘Thanks Mom.’ She says in recollection.

Mother will make Evelyn breakfast on most weekends, since weekdays are too busy most times.

The kitchen window is left wide open. Evelyn rubs her eyes to the cool room. She doesn’t get much sleep whenever the weekends come along. And she stayed up especially late last night hanging out with her two best friends, Jason and Jonah.

Evelyn’s mother is always trying to get her daughter to bed on time so Evelyn can arrive on time for school. An accurate sleeping schedule is how Mother put it. But Evelyn doesn’t lead a very accurate lifestyle.

Katherine; otherwise known as Mom, knows what it means for her daughter to get older. It is like a shadow reminding Mom to let go, so Evelyn can learn to grow her own wings, and leave this town to make a life beyond its shrinking lifestyle. It may sound easy, but for most mothers letting go isn’t.

Katherine’s love only grows fonder for her child, naturally. Mom knows the other side of this fence, loved to be let go; a circular dilemma. Mom tries to keep her mind off what this town worries about on a daily basis. The question is, should they stay or should they go?

Evelyn watches out the window as she eats, thinking about this very thing also. What will time bring? What will she do? And what will become of her outside the only place she knows? It reaches at her deepest fear. She would like to stay here in Maesemer, a town she adores. Its history is fascinating, yet all to be forgotten if she moves to the city to the far east. A place outside the realm of farmers and any real history, a place of work, work, work and no real play, but most importantly, a place Evelyn believes one goes to sell their soul for a Career.

Evelyn puts a spoon to mouth and her teeth clank it. She remembers what her teachers preach for a better life.

Remember to arrive on time and get good grades, so you can further your career. Maesemer is thinning, and we only get so many chances.

And yet, Maesemer is the only place she wants to be. This could explain why she hates school so much. Actually, it’s not that she hates it, but despises the thought of being told to be someone or something else. Beyond this, it’s a piece of land that had been hoarded by the country’s major educational district. There came a time when it was Maesemer property, when the town’s teachers spoke of its town’s history with a pride. But if the town wants to keep its train station open to receive supplies for hospitals and whatnot, then Maesemer has to abide by the capital’s laws, even if they’re deep to the east.

‘Put back into its rightful place.’ Evelyn rolls her eyes to the thought, one to do with history class two days ago, on the subject of magic. She continues to recollect, ‘whose rightful place? Brunon’s soulless self that is.’

Perhaps being told You need to learn to be a lady so you can leave and go to Brunon to marry that gentleman would make anyone go mad.

‘Brunon,’ she says and shudders at the capital city of Egerd, Egerd being the country of the beautiful Maesemer and the soulless east. What makes it worse; Brunon uses coin as exchange system. No trade or bargain. So her thought on the matter is:

What kind of fun is that going to be?

With very little room for country land, it’s a place set in bars inside this girl’s imagination.

She knows the stories of its concrete jungle and its way of life; an Industrial Revolution, and all she ever hears about is the factory workers putting in extra hours, whether man or woman, it’s the city’s way of life.

Evelyn shakes her head and moves toward fresh berries on the counter in a ceramic bowl, dropping them in her cereal. Placing her bowl down, a pair of leather boots usually for farming is put on. She places her pant legs over and with a quick swoop to her bowl, she leaves the house. Haulberries, Tayberries and even Coneberries jiggle in her bowl. And she comes down the front porch steps to the backyard.

‘Hey Mom,’ Evelyn says. ‘I just came out to see what you were doing. I know today’s going to be busy, so I’ll get right to work.’

The sky is dark blue. A faint outline of the moon is seen.

In the family of Maelkyn; Mother is always up especially early to feed their chickens and livestock. Packing and storing crops, she’ll jot her records down with pencil. One positive notion that came out of Brunon was the invention of the pencil, especially in Evelyn’s opinion. She couldn’t imagine using ink and quill, at least not in today’s day and age.

Let’s get some perspective here, adhere with time and era. Egerd is only six-hundred years old, being three-hundred for the Old Capital, which is now abandoned, and the remaining for those thereafter; to the far east. I’d recon; Egerd is somewhere Earth’s time-line in the 1850s. How do I figure? Granted, time is primitive… but hear me out. On Earth the first pencil was invented sometime prior to about 1560.

I promise not to give a lecture on history. Hang on. Maybe I will.

Since before the goods and passenger steam railway began forty years from the Upheaval to begin building to the far east — Asnin being the Old Capital, and the Upheaval being the time of its change. After the Upheaval commenced the birth of Brunon, Brunon no longer wielded ink and quill, lucky for Evelyn; and thus the concordance of two primitives.

Today, Evelyn has grown up in a time that has fully bloomed into an Industrial Revolution. Brunon is using heavy machinery — Great right? Well, the machinery is transcendent to Earth’s second Industrial Revolution, which begun on Earth in the 1850s, and ends in the early 1900s. Let’s do the math; keeping in mind this is justifiable. We subtract 1560; the date of the first pencil, from the second Industrial Revolution. And what do we get? Three-hundred and ten Earth-years. Again, the premise is similar time ranges. In this perspective, you’d think Egerd’s society would be coincided. But oddly enough, Egerd’s dialect is Earth’s First World Twenty-First Century, and its fashion is 1990s. So Brunon is ahead. I suppose Egerd’s absence of mass destruction and only having a short civil war (a light way of putting it) was good for business.

Yikes, right? I mean, we’re the ones with the true World war… It is hard to believe I live on the very planet (Earth… obviously) that faced such brutality… That stuff doesn’t come cheap, and it certainly doesn’t just fall out of ones imagination. I don’t think I want to imagine any of it, anyways… Well, at least we know someone got it right. Cough, Egerd. Anyways; it really makes me thankful to be living in one of the most amazing countries, Canada. Gloating is not cool… I know right? Tie me up and bind my hands. That’s the amazing thing about time; you can’t! I’m in the Twenty First Century – And yes, lucky us. This story, which you’re in a ride for, would get me hung like many had during The Salem Witch Trials in 1692. Now that’s food for thought. Still, I better be careful what I say…

With all of thee above, Brunon is sure coming up with new and aspiring ways to delight its time. No one in Egerd (that’s the last time I’ll be this literal) can forget the newest invention, electricity in the form of solar and wind turbine. In Maesemer, only the main streets receive this luxury.

Evelyn continues to watch the sky; she rubs her eyes again, tiredly. Today’s the weekend and that means the market is expecting the Maelkyn’s to deliver their vegetables and fruits that are usually ready for picking. The Maelkyn’s own the second largest fruit and vegetable farm.

There’s something unique about the morning in Maesemer, before the break of dusk. Crisp, the air has a fresh nip. If one is to ever go out before the sun touches the horizon, they’ll notice the change around. The quietness surrounds.

Evelyn lights a match made of Oatiswax; Oatis insects gather this nectar from specimens and create a hive. It is done exactly how a bee worker passes their nectar to their species tongues, where the nectar evaporates and turns into sugars, and then the Oatis convert the sugars in their glands. This last step is created into Honey, a term not comprehended by the people of this planet. A Planet called Thaera. The Maelkyn’s and their society have their own tern for Honey. It’s called Nuetpate.

Evelyn takes the flaming match and opens a small hatch door of a lantern; she puts the flame to wick, igniting it. She closes the hatch door and ventures to Mother. There is a light mist, hovering above the ground. Evelyn’s boots can barely be seen as she walks along its misty path, and she comes to the long rows of berry bush. Blue, red, purple and even orange berries are witnessed. Evelyn grabs a berry from a short branch and bites into it; it’s cold on her lips, fresh like morning.

There to her left, leaning against the Maelkyn’s backyard shed, a damaged shovel is. Evelyn passes it and ventures inside the shed to come to a low wrack. She grabs a pair of gloves, tossing them inside a steel bucket and leaves the many other tools and gardening equipment behind.

Outside the moon is hidden behind some cloud. Evelyn puts on her pair of gloves and retrieves her lantern, shining light along the dark path. She finds a simple bush to set up near, and begins picking from the short brush along her path.

Evelyn is a fit girl. She’s a survivor, and she does what she can to get by with her mother. As a farmer, she must not only feed herself, but supply part of Maesemer. And with a town of farmers and tradesmen holding this place, these craftsmen and farmers are its only hope. And since coins don’t meet much demand, this makes the way of life separate to Brunon, generating little to no economical growth.

‘Mom, when are we going to get those new shovels? It’s been on my mind lately.’ Evelyn hunches below the bush. A few paces from Mom.

Her mother is overheard. ‘The crops are almost grown, you know this, when the main harvest is ready for picking.’

Evelyn comes up from the brush. A large forest in the distance blocks all of Evelyn’s view westward. Distant mountains of great lengths fight to be seen, cropped by the forest’s high branches.

‘Hey Mom, I was thinking about the forest. I know it’s forbidden and all, but you can’t help but be curious of what goes on at night.’ Mom looks busy watering the fields, but Evelyn continues anyways. ‘How can a few witches and their stirring pots bring so much fear into us?’

Her mother finally comes to a stare, but all she can see it the top of Evelyn’s head since her daughter went back for more berry picking.

‘Miss Madalyn might be cooped up on a lonely hill and speak of ghoulish stories, which is one thing, but her story on the witches could hold up, and that’s why many of us still fear the forest and dislike Miss Mad for reminding us. You promise me, Evelyn, you promise me you won’t cross over that forest. Not for your friends and not for me.’

But something in Mother’s stare made Evelyn interested. Her daughter has a knack for looking for trouble. Like a cat, curious and clever.

‘Witches are very powerful.’ Her mother looks around, ‘even if they’re the last ones. Beyond myth, the reality of them could still remain. And besides all of this, you are not going in there to pick anymore of those darn Rooberries. I forbid it Evelyn… you know this.’

‘Well, I was never going over there just to look for trouble. I came back out alive, didn’t I?’

‘Evelyn, you know it’s not safe. You don’t know what lurks in there. You were lucky, and you leave the hunters to picking those Rooberries. It’s just not worth it.’

‘I know.’ Evelyn laughs off her mother’s worries. ‘But you have to admit, those berries came in good use.’

‘I understand that. But it’s not worth your life, now is it?’

Evelyn nods sheepishly, knowing there’s no win to this argument.

‘And I told you, I do believe the witches remain.’ Katherine lightens up. ‘I don’t blame them for hiding, who wouldn’t want to be the furthest from Brunon?’

‘Interesting,’ Evelyn responds. ‘Maybe they’ll come out of hiding once everyone empties out of Maesemer?’

Mother groans. ‘I think that’s the whole point, honey. Honestly, the capital wouldn’t be too happy if their myth was found in reality,’ and she goes back to watering.

The mist probes from the forest, moving more heavily between Evelyn and her mother’s feet. The vegetables and fruits have a fresher appearance, dripping from condensation.

Evelyn punctures her finger on a prickly bush. ‘Ouch,’ yet retries for a juicy Haulberry.

‘Did you hear that?’ Mother calls.

Evelyn looks to where Mom had directed her focus, towards the forest; curiosity strikes. ‘I don’t see anything.’ Evelyn said next with annoyingly, alongside her pain. She bends back down to continue picking more carefully.

A light grows across the expanse, deep beyond Evelyn’s sea blue eyes. The forest’s edges are now shining gold; she turns around to see the sun is up. ‘It’s beautiful.’ Evelyn says, holding her hand to shield the light.

‘Its morning,’ her mother says and looks away from the forest to grab a barrel.

Evelyn rolls her eyes with a few Haulberries in mouth, ‘which can only mean one thing.’

A rickety wheel squeaks and bumps. A small cart is pulled by the Maelkyn’s family. Inside the cart are barrels filled with today’s fresh picked berries.

A nord should be the one pulling, but they’re too expensive to buy nowadays, and to take care of.

Evelyn holds one bar to the cart, and her mother the other, pulling with their back and chest muscles on the way to town.

The sky is bleak blue, and the nip is usual at this early-blue.

They continue to pull up hills and move nearer town, wearing their usual farmer clothes and heavy boots.

Maesemer bows to a castle in the southwest. In the shadow of early morning and in the black of night, the castle and its surrounding area is most quiet, and doesn’t receive many visitors. But this place is no longer home to Maesemer or the far east. The castle remains a reminder of the dawning fate Maesemer could one day face; desertion. You see, Evelyn and her mother don’t live in a time of medieval, those days were numbered. It’s kind of ironic, since Maesemer is born from the ashes of Asnin’s true found glory. Now that was a time of medieval.

Asnin was once proud by many, until the Upheaval left witchery for merely echoes. A civil war had gone on for many years, till finally, the witches were cast out into the forest. From then on, Asnin was liberated, and in not long, Brunon would take its place. But ever since the refugees of witches and what have you; those who ventured deep into the forest, disappeared… and forever, mind you. The people of Egerd knew the forest was no longer a safe place. History is what makes the Forbidden Forest… well, forbidden. When the revolution moved and built Brunon, come ash and memories, the remaining people, farmers and their land tied in their families names stayed behind and built a town out of rubble. You said it, Maesemer.

In time, some thievery from the Old Capital laid paranormal experiences to those who brought items back to the ashen-town. And from then on, the forest would become second to their worries. Maesemer swore never to set foot near the damned towers again. Of course, that never stopped the new generation born into this world. If anything, it only excites them further.

Those from the east call it an eager-to-hear Wives tales – Truly, the stories from the ashen-ones travel. But the town folk’s with first eye of the Forbidden Forest know better. They’ve said it once before and they’ll say it again, The fall of Maesemer will be from the fool-hearted today.

Still accused as fool or not, Evelyn likes Maesemer. She likes the history and what it once represented before its civil war. It was said to be a place of freedom and rejoicing people, and this sparks her interest.

Yes, Asnin is a castle proud by few in numbers, and those mainly from town. Evelyn can’t help but feel surrounded by the Old Capital’s self. A history set farther back than the oldest of town folks residing. There’s something about it that makes her question her own beliefs. In a time of spiritualism and inner-being, to her, it is a place reckoning with myth and power. For most, it’s just stories to pass around dinner or an intriguing night time story.

Sure, nobody would miss its living standards. But the rule of thumb is simple; no more practice in magic, and this means there is something definitely going to go bump-in-the-night in that nearby forest. We both knew that was coming, didn’t we?

‘Mom,’ Evelyn asks, seeing the town up ahead. ‘I don’t want to leave Maesemer.’

‘Then don’t,’ her mother looks tired, having heard this a hundred times. ‘I wouldn’t judge you for it.’

‘I just don’t know what to do. What’s it going to be like to have a career?’

Mother relaxes her speed to adjust to Evelyn’s slower movement.

‘Well, I’d assume it’d be a lot like farming, but you’re doing a lot less work and way more studying.’

‘Hmm. Don’t like the sound of that,’ and finds a frown. ‘That sounds like work.’

‘My goodness dear, do you really want to remain here as a farmer your whole life?’

‘Why not, you’re doing it.’

Mom is silent, but Evelyn can see a sad look on her face.

Hmm, no harm done… right?

‘I know. I know. Life here is only temporary.’ Evelyn says to her silence, figuring Mom sought through.

Mom spoke up. ‘That is why we are trading for your books, so you can get into a good school, remember?’

Evelyn has a gaze someplace far off. Her lips move but her eyes stay glued forward. ‘If I choose to leave, then I’m going to do something with money, perhaps an accountant. I heard it’s the best career out there right now.’

Mom makes a face. ‘Yuck.’

Evelyn never thought of how Mom would actually take it if she does decide to skip town. Could Katherine handle herself? Sure, it’s going to be a lot more work on the farm being on her own, but Evelyn isn’t worried about that part. Mom is built and can outwork any woman her age. But can she cope with the simplest fact and one being her weakest suit; her emotion? The distance could cause trouble for her… Who will she turn to if she gets sick, or just someone to talk to? Evelyn and Mom don’t exactly have heartfelt chats. Still… doesn’t a presence make the difference? One would think. Evelyn can’t help but worry.

‘Good.’ Mom’s voice picks up again, ‘maybe you can teach me a thing or two about money. Either way, you’re buying me somethin’. How about a nord so we can stop hauling this piece of junk?’

‘Mom,’ Evelyn’s about to ask something more, but decided best to change tone. ‘What will you ever do without me?’

‘Well, the sooner you decide the sooner I’ll have enough to trade our stuff for one of those nord’s. You cost a lot to keep around, Missy.’

Evelyn nods her head.

That’s just like her, always calculating what’s best for her interests

‘You think you’ll manage?’ Mom goes on to ask.

Evelyn’s thoughts run.

Me? You’re gonna ask me this?

‘Yep,’ Evelyn says and ponders afterwards. She picks up speech thereafter. ‘I was only worried about making friends, is all.’

‘Oh you’ll be fine at that; I’d be more worried about their laws.’

Evelyn laughs. ‘Well thanks for the vote of confidence.’

‘Well, you’re always up to something. Just make sure if you break anything, you can run faster than the person you’re making trouble with.’

‘Well, who’s to say I’ll be with someone?’

‘Oh you’re naughtier than I thought.’

Evelyn laughs. ‘Oh, so you’re giving me a lecture now? Because you’re always the one up to something, yes, don’t give me that look, disappearing and never telling me where you speed off to. You do remember when you said you were working on our neighbour’s farm? I found that you weren’t there. Where do you go to half the time? You know, something tells me you’re up to no-good most of the time, also.’

‘I had to go out shopping, silly.’ Mom says playfully nudging her, ‘and my dear you’re your mother’s daughter. Alright, I guess I really don’t have to worry.’

Evelyn rolls her eyes. ‘But do you ever take anything I have to say seriously? You never do keep to your promises.’

‘Oh honey. I was only joking when I teased you. Seriously though, be smart and keep good grades and all will be fine,’ she winks at her daughter. ‘You’ll see.’

‘It’s not the grades Mom; it’s the whole new life-changing thing.’

‘That’s the best part. Trust me, moving out will be the best thing you ever did. I’m just hoping I’ll get to see you again, once everything rolls over.’

Evelyn’s brows lift. ‘You really think I’ll be that great?’

‘Oh I do. I really do.’

The Maelkyn’s pass the town houses on the outskirts to town central. The streets are lit with old lanterns, black from smoke and oil stains from Asnin’s time. The pathway made from stone, the houses are made of this very same material, sedimentary rock.

A large tree comes into view. The Maelkyn’s boots crunch under the dry weeds.

The moon can hardly be seen, still a celestial in the sky, where the sun is not too far off, shinning between the trees spanned arms.

The Maelkyn’s trade their berries for greater needs at the market, mostly for eggs, bread and cheese. Very little folk showed up. Even the regulars were in low quantity, so meeting other demands fell short.

It made the Maelkyn’s a little sad, but one thing was evident, Evelyn wasn’t getting those new shovels she had hoped for. Even a rare commodity like berries can run for plenty, in a town as slow as this, eating is all anyone does, and berries are a great way to make a morning, evening or night, special.

Evelyn scratches her head and Katherine followed.

Mom says. ‘I suppose no one will be having berry pie over dessert today…’ — Berry pies are another great delicacy.

‘We can always try Mr Barkley’s.’ Evelyn tries to cheer things up.

Mom nods and the two pack their things to leave. They enter a shop on their way out of town central, where a sign sways. It reads, Barkley’s Inventions.

Inside is rather dark.

Every day the Maelkyn’s stop by and find most of the items have already been discovered. In their encouragement to Mr Barkley, it helps him to create newer items, and much more will be on the shelves in no time.

The owner of the shop has Grown successful with his inventions, and to sell his uniqueness without lifting a finger on a farm. Brunon’s rules restrict any conduct of invention. Not unless they approve can one have creativity on the streets, or commercial sale. That is why this man comes from the land of the many to sell his inventory.

Before Arnold Barkley was a well-known man in Maesemer, he felt he had to be an already success to grab everyone’s attention in order to set up shop, which he arrived as an electrician who graduated from Brunon’s top school, O.H. Occupational Hazard.

I’m joking. The school is a well known institution. Do you think you can guess its name? It’s Brunon Institution of technology. Could have guessed it, right?

Evelyn taps on a metal and glass object situated on a shelf. Some items are for lower trade, all for the kids and adults in the slow move of things. It helps to spice up their lives, while the more important items are traded for berries and whatever Mr Barkley desires. It pays, or I should say Trades to get on his good side and know what his wants and needs are.

The store is dusty and hot; it reminds Evelyn of the dry summer days she spent here, with the cool breeze blowing in from the wide open door. To her, the shop is a perfect collection to town; allowing for the fast paces to settle down. There is dust accumulated between the floorboards from all the summer hazes, since.

‘Ah ha…’ Evelyn says. ‘The solar light bulb – what else is new?’

Katherine gave Evelyn a frumpy look and turned to find the man at the back-store counter. ‘Hey Arnold, do you have any new toys for me today?’

‘Maybe, it depends on the gift you’ve brought me.’ He says loosely with hunched shoulders, much like the fit of his clothes, reflecting that of the town’s plainness.

‘Sweet berries, of course.’ Mom replies.

‘Oh, very good ma’am,’ he says with a swivel and disappears around back to return with something small and metal. He places it in her hands and says. ‘This should be useful.’

‘What is it?’ Mom giggles back.

He exaggerates the moment. ‘I call it… the Quick Lantern.’

‘A Quick-what?’ She has a bored look. ‘Mr Barkley, you promised me something grand.’

He reaches over and clicks a button on it. ‘Indeed, I did.’ He says and a light turns on, beaming wherever it goes in the palm of her hand.

‘Oh my, this is interesting.’ Mom says. She flashes herself once in the eye and then in Mr Barkley’s, and then moves it around the room. There Mom points the light, to find Evelyn looking taken back by the new toy.

Evelyn puts her hands up and found Mom examining the thing. Evelyn decided it would be best to turn from site. Her daughter finds an item on shelf. ‘Hey… is this new?’ Evelyn asks figuratively, and then flicks a button on the side and got a little shock. ‘Owe,’ and places it right back down. ‘Guess so… no wonder why it’s at the back of the store and all…’

Still, to her, it is nice to see electricity work in such a little thing.

Evelyn turns to ask Mr Barkley now. ‘Is this a compass that lights up, also? Is this the new invention you’ve been promising us for weeks now?’

‘No.’ He responds. ‘I came up with that prototype just last night. I figured I could start incorporating light into all my littler gadgets after I came up with the Quick Lantern.’ He scratching the back of his bushy head, ‘and the item I promised is finished, yes.’ He approaches Evelyn, who is still caught up in rubbing her thumb where it was buzzed. ‘Sorry about that one,’ he points. ‘Some of these little buggers can be a bit wonkier. Best take that one away from yea’. Don’t want anyone gettin’ hurt, now do we?’

Evelyn gave him a short face. ‘You probably should check all these others before putting them on isle.’

‘Ah. But no need when I got you, ah?’

‘You bugger.’ She replies and finds another compass.

‘You mean zapper?’ He asks smartly.

Evelyn scoffs to his use of humour and flicks the light on. She mocks. ‘But not clearly as bright as the Quick Lantern I see…’

‘Still a neat device, no?’

‘Rightly so,’ she perks, forgetting about her last words, and moves toward more items.

He finds Katherine taping the lantern for more power, for the light is dimming.

‘It is solar power.’ The man says. ‘Only in the sun can these miscellaneous conduct and extract light.’

‘It’s good…’ Mom’s eyes swivel, ‘but you promised me something extraordinary.’ Her eyes twinkle at a glass container, not far from where a cord is set up to a power box outside. She looks back at the torch in hand. ‘What am I going to do with this when the sun goes down?’

‘Mom, I’m sure it stores power.’ Evelyn says, grabbing it.

Mother smirks.

‘No doubt,’ the man responds to Evelyn’s statement, but Mom is silent, so Mr Barkley amends. ‘Alright, fine.’ He spoke in more of a rush. ‘I was going to wait, more of an announcement, but since I had promised.’

He leaves again only to return with something small.

Evelyn grimaces.

Oh, another zapper?

He places the new device in Mom’s hands. ‘I have made a few. It works. It predicts the weather.’

Mom is silent, both Evelyn and the man aren’t sure what she’s thinking.

‘W-What is it?’ Mom finally asks. A look of hunger is in her stare. ‘How does it work?’

He rubs the front of his forehead with his finger. ‘Well, those are the temperatures, and the dial moves up and down, hotter, colder. Look, its one Cantatude right now.’

Cantatude is basically Celsius… it’s… their way of defining things.

‘The weather you say? Well that’s just brilliant.’ Mom hits Evelyn, making her jump.

‘Well I know.’ He smiles and finds Evelyn rubbing her arm a bit. ‘Very good, will it be —’

Katherine is quick to speak. ‘It’s this,’ closing her palm over the item. She leaves him with a goodbye, ‘my lips are sealed!’

On Evelyn’s way out, she stops at the usual toasters, bug zappers and a miniature greenhouse. She touches the greenhouse glass case, feeling the heat on her palm. A buzzing sound comes from a bright light bulb inside – to her glory; tomatoes are a bit plumper since yesterday, growing on a vine.

When he promised something extraordinary, Mom had hoped this was his new invention. She is ever curious if he could maximize its size. Evelyn feels much the same; still, the Maelkyn’s remain happy, since the barometer is a gift of early brilliance.

Evelyn is quick to remember Mother and is fast to come outside. She finds Mom with an egger site.

Her daughter whispers. ‘Can it really predict the weather, Mom?’

She jumps with glee. ‘It can, it’s a gift of gifts.’

‘Well, since you’re in such a cheerful mood —’

‘Cheerful?’ Mom eyes brighten, ‘this is brilliance; he is a brilliant man that Mr Barkley.’

‘Rightly so,’ Evelyn says and then hesitates a little. ‘Would it be fine if I worked tonight, with my friends and all? They found a great digging job for an old folk. I only wanted to do this because of the season. You said yourself I should start working, now that spring is among us.’

‘Let me guess…’ Mom eyes drop not having to look at her daughter. ‘It’s near the forest.’

Evelyn signs. She was sure Mom was fascinated enough by the gift. Evelyn would simply agree that Mom is still plainly aware, and will always and forever be… stubborn.

‘Oh come on, Mom! It’s for Rooberries, cheese and bread. Mr Barkley always said if we could make him a Rooberry pie, we could get something else. I think he’s getting tired of our berries… and besides, we need some new shovels. And I can kill two birds with ‘em Rooberries.’

Mom looks at her daughter. ‘Rooberries…’ Mom says and then nods in self acknowledgement, ‘oh alright.’

A look all too easy for her daughter and this makes Evelyn’s eyes squint. ‘So… what’s the catch?’

‘Oh nothing, only that you’re home at the earliest, and if I find that you’re out picking near that damn forest, then you’re in big trouble.’

Evelyn’s sapphires are bright.

This is not like Mom

‘Well… alright then.’ Evelyn says. ‘I’m glad to hear you’re trusting.’

‘Oh… and one more thing.’

Evelyn has a careful look.

Here we go…

Mom has a smile.

‘Oh mother… let me guess?’

‘Oh indeed. If you want to go, then you guessed it right.’

It didn’t take long for Evelyn to wait for the day to turn to darkness, even if she had to do homework from math class for taking her leave tonight. Don’t get me wrong, working on the farm is hard work, but it’s fun. But studying… however, you may as well guess it.

But what’s ever more thorough, Evelyn’s in for a treat as a new burden stirs, when a mystical fog lingers.

On the corner of Malvin Drive, there is one of the biggest lots found. Evelyn stops at its rocky trail leading past an open gate, which is never closed. Weeds pass her as she arrives at the front door steps. It’s quiet around this part of town.

She comes up solid granite steps to use a silver door knocker, banging it loudly on one of the two large oak doors.

This house is very old, and it has always scared most kids around town. It’s known for being haunted, yet those who live here never once said they’ve walked into a ghost, figuratively speaking. But Evelyn’s found the parents have always been way too analytical without much care for sharing personal agendas, either. And the daughter that lives here would never spill the beans, not if it meant going against their word; which is just as much standing out in that case. That would mean a loss in the finer things in town… specialties, like Mr Barkley inventions, of course. I mean, what else is there to buy here?

Which reminds Evelyn, ‘walked into… no one has ever worded if they’ve seen or heard one have they?’ She shakes her head. ‘Cheeky —’

‘Is that Evelyn?’ A man’s voice is overheard behind the door. The door opens. ‘Evelyn!’ He says. He’s a tall guy who fits nicely in regular clothes, only because of his large frame. ‘Don’t look so stranded. Come on in.’

‘Thanks Jason.’ She replies, hugging him. She almost disappears into his arms. She’s a thin girl from such a small bone size, and had always been thinner than most girls because of this.

It’s warm. It’s dark. A furnace can be heard. Evelyn steps inside and takes off her dirty work boots.

‘Hey.’ A brunette girl greets her.

Evelyn rubs herself. ‘It’s been a while,’ and hugs Jonah to get one back.

Jonah went a little further to give her a warm rub on the back.

The three move into the living room. Lit candles are their source of light, flickering madly.

‘It’s chilly out there, huh?’ Jonah asks her.

‘Very.’ She smiles, noticing they already have a drink in hand.

‘Let’s get you a drink. There in the kitchen.’ Jason says.

‘Besides, it’s warmer.’ Jonah agrees. ‘And for crying out loud, you’re only wearing a shirt under a jacket.’

‘That’s a start, a clean pair of genes for once.’ Jason adds, noticing her outfit also.

‘I know. It’s just the rest was all way to dirty to wear. I figure it’s a great way to ruin the last pair I have. Or should I say had?’ She rolls her eyes. ‘Oh well.’

Jonah scratches her head.

‘That a girl.’ Jason says, admiring the risk.

‘It doesn’t matter. You always looked g-great in whatever you wear.’ Jonah says.

Evelyn raises her brows and spoke teasingly. ‘Were you going to say something else?’

Jonah laughs it off. ‘Yes,’ and clears her throat. ‘I was thinking grand, but decided great sounded better.’

Jason watches the two staring at each other. ‘Is it me or is it getting romantic in here?’

‘What?’ Evelyn asks, knowing he’ll do just about anything to change an awkward moment, awkward for him maybe. But when it comes to ‘em girls, as the slang around town goes, it ain’t.

Jonah hits him. ‘I know right? This one has a lot of work to do. Hey mister, you’re with me, remember?’

Evelyn smiles weakly. She finds herself at a frown as well. ‘What is up with these candles tonight? It’s new,’ taking off her jacket. Sweat marks are noticeable on her armpits; she usually gets scared of what others will think of her body weight, and this paranoid feeling is the reasoning behind her profuse sweating.

The two notice her insecurity, but don’t care. It’s not the first time.

The kitchen isn’t any brighter, where a few more candles are lit and spread out. But what is neat, are the solar powered light fixtures Mr Barkley installed. Evelyn had been looking up at it and came back to frowning at the two. Jonah is middle of the kitchen, leaning against the sink and Jason furthest, where the drinks are.

‘It’s,’ Jonah starts laughing because she found it too humorous, ‘Mr. Barkley’s fault. He will be coming by tomorrow to fix them. For now, it’s back to normal.’

‘What went wrong?’ Evelyn asks, admiring Jonah’s soft sense of humour.

Jason found a frown and says. ‘He might be wrong, but it’s a brilliant thing we have him. God knows we’d be no different than those witches if it wasn’t for him.’

Jonah answers Evelyn’s earlier question.

‘I don’t know. It’s his newest invention, but something went short in the wiring and now we don’t have any lights.’

Jason sighs. ‘That’s because I told you, you shouldn’t have trusted his newest ones. Anyways,’ Jason turns to Evelyn next. ‘Want a drink?’

Evelyn nods eagerly, ‘Kaluberry?’ She can feel her pits sticking to her sides. It’s a yucky feeling. She tries to wear dark shirts so it is not noticeable, but sometimes, it hardly matters.

‘Yeah, you’re favourite right?’ And he pours her a glass of the berry juice. He hands Jonah it, but teases her, pulling it back a couple of times. He spills a bit on himself, and Jonah laughs.

Evelyn just puts her hand to her face. ‘You’re both so adorable.’

‘Really, you think so?’ Jason asks.

‘You don’t even know when your best friend is being sarcastic, do you?’ Jonah says and reaches in and grabs it, finally passing it to Evelyn. Jonah points at Evelyn’s drink, finding it hard to hold when a finger is poking at her sides. ‘We just picked some up this morning.’ And turns back to slap his bugging hand, but missed. ‘Ugh,’ she sighs and makes sure to reach in and hit him.

‘You picked it up just for me?’ Evelyn asks, and the two nodded back.

Ugh, just focus on them and ignore the feeling. It always goes away afterwards. It happens; I’m just going to have to sweat and deal with it

‘Okay, we should bounce.’ Jason says.

Jonah gave him a stare.

‘We were kind of having a moment — Me and Evelyn.’

‘We were?’ Evelyn asks. She notices the moment and rolls with Jonah’s humour. Evelyn smiles to Jason now. ‘Yeah we kind of were.’

‘Fine, when you two chickens are done flapping around this cage, I will be outside to see the two of you in one.’ He says it with his single index raised and leaves.

Jonah just shakes her head. ‘He’s a weirdo. But that’s why I love him.’

Evelyn frowns on a different subject. ‘I’m surprised you didn’t see us at the market today.’

‘Who?’

‘Me and my mother.’

‘Oh… I was thinking the same. We must have just missed you guys. How are you and your mother doing, anyhow?’

‘You know… she doesn’t tell me much, mostly the same old same old.’

Jonah grimaces. ‘I’m surprised she let you come.’

Jason voice picks-up from outside. ‘Are you two coming?’ He lingers the word.

‘It’s fine.’ Evelyn says to Jonah, being interrupted and all. But Evelyn wasn’t fine. It’s been weeks since she brought up the subject or anything sentimentally close.

Jonah shakes her head after his interruption. ‘We should burry him.’

‘It would take the two of us, wouldn’t it?’

‘We do have shovels. And not a person would miss him, would they?’

Evelyn continues with their humour, ‘were forgetting about his grandparents.’

‘They never were serious when they said they wanted to take him in anyways. They wouldn’t miss his messy self.’

Evelyn nods. ‘Well, what are we waiting for?’

Evelyn ends up changing her pants into a pair Jonah gave her; they’re roughly the same size. Jonah simply felt bad for the girl, not wanting her to ruin her favourite jean. That’s why she gave her a different pair of pant.

Everyone knows Jonah’s a rich girl of the town, because her father owns a distillery that exports to Brunon and sells locally. But nobody understands why they’d choose to live in Maesemer. Surely they could move house and still keep the business running? But Evelyn knows better, and that’s why she likes Jonah, she’s different — a girl who likes the boonies over the cityscape. Someone who’s not in it for the money, that’s why she stayed behind; it’s a figure of speech. She’s in it for the free life this town can offer.

Jonah taps on the washroom door. ‘Would you hurry up in there,’ coming to a lean against it, only to find herself explaining the light fixtures as a subject matter. ‘You know… It was my dad’s idea. He always wants the newest thing when it comes out. I shouldn’t have encouraged his rich taste for things.’

Evelyn opens the door. ‘I wonder where you got that from.’

‘Hey.’ Jonah hits her playfully. ‘I love my mom, Meanie.’

The two exchange glances. It’s funny, because Jonah admires Evelyn’s figure, but Evelyn adores the relationship she and Jason shares. It also makes Jonah more attractive, in Evelyn’s opinion.

Evelyn swallows a little and Jonah passes her, smiling. They both knew, they felt it… but neither would tell one another of their little secret.

Jonah closes the door afterwards, speaking behind it. ‘I didn’t know he was moving so quickly on his part, Mr Barkley I mean.’

Evelyn leans now. ‘I was just thinking that. I was there with my mother. She was really excited about —’ she stops when she hears someone else talking.

‘What, what is it?’ Jonah asks worriedly.

Evelyn returns to her lean. ‘— It’s nothing, probably just Jason talking to himself.’

‘Yeah, I thought I heard another voice…’

They both laugh.

‘Anyways, it’s his newest inventions. They’re getting better.’

‘Any news on that grand greenhouse of his?’

‘Nothing yet, but my mother was happier today. She got a new toy of his. A Quick Lantern, so he says.’

‘Really, did she manage to smile?’

‘Yeah,’ Evelyn laughs.

‘Well,’ Jonah scoffs. ‘That’s a relief.’

Evelyn found a smirk in the silence. She turned her head away from the closed door to find a famous Mr Barkley invention on the counter. She’s surprised she hadn’t seen it sooner.

Oh sweet… one of his earlier inventions

She picks up a heavy toy car made of steel; a replica from Brunon’s auto industry. Evelyn flips a button and its headlights turn on. She can overhear the voice again. She decides to check on it and moves back into the kitchen. The flash from the toy car finds Jason on the porch step. The man’s talking to himself.

‘Well…’ She says; short minded, ‘could be worse.’

Evelyn finds her place at the door again. Just then, the door opens and Evelyn almost fell. She stands right back up to find Jonah with her hand on her