1 Departure

The first rays of warm dawn sunlight shone on the left side of the humongous wooden chalet, as a tepid breeze holding in its folds the chants of morning birds strived but in vain to mask some groans and moans, which came from inside the challet, ones which had an air of deep distress, such a mood was rarely if ever encountered in there, it was usually peace and an atmosphere of mutual help and laughter that reigned the place.

It's inhabitants were mostly women who had their fair share of pain and trouble in life alongside their children, refugees of some sort, sharing the stay with few monks and men of religion who's life is as routine as one can be, completing their repetitive daily chores, such as prayers, agriculture, eating, feeding livestock and i spare you the rest.

The youngsters mostly started the day by helping the elders in their daily task, then played with each other, messed with the cattle or tried hunting birds and small rodents that infested the basement. Any sort of amusement was welcomed amongst them, they rarely got into trouble except of course when dueling and fighting each other the way knights do, to prove that they were worthy of the charming princess's heart or so the tales and stories they enjoyed hearing before sleep dictated.

Thus the usual atmosphere was contrary to that morning, which would be the begging of a tragedy an event that will drastically turn the villagers life upside down, the beginning of the end for some, and the advent of a new age for others.

While sleeping on the thin layered pad he had always slept in, feeling uneasy and anxious, something was stirring distressful groans and moans out of the poor 3 years old toddler, a nightmare perhaps, he kept rolling from left side of the pad to its right, rumbling and mumbling in a fearful manner, not the gentle breeze passing by nor the chant of the finest birds of the nearby alley could appease such a torment.

A few moments passed by and he finally woke up. but before that, just for a jiffy he had a vision, which was like naught he had ever came across in his life, he saw what seemed like dark lines similar those drawn by the artists of his village using old brushes but clumsier, being printed by a demonic hand on human skin, the general colors of the vision were mostly of a blood curdling dull violet or mauve, and screams of agony and suffering could be heard as the lines were drawn on flesh, it all ended with a large scarlet rhombus characterised and defined by the same dark lines previously described.

"Mama !" Were the first words that he dared scream once awake, all the other children sleeping in the room rose heads and stared at the panicked little child screaming and crying, gentle and swift foot steps were advancing towards the door.

"Am coming boy, am coming" his mother said before entering.

"Come to me my sweet boy, it's okey, i am here now" she worryingly said after she saw her beloved boy's tears and frightened attitude.

Her generous hug and the warm smile she mustered were more than sufficient to establish some comfort and bring stability to the child's heart.

"Go now to the watersource wash your face, change clothes and lets hop down i will prepare my little boy something to eat", for he only wore an oversizes undefined piece of cloth that served him as a sleep item, it was just like someone cut three holes on a sheet and put it on the little guy's shoulders.

He went hastly to the watersource which is a room with what seems to be like a small fountain draining water from a certain nearby river or such, used to wash clothes, bath, and even sometimes drink when times require so.

Started by dipping his hands in the cold clear water, washed his neck and nape, then his face, but the coldness of the fresh water crashing on his eye lids

Was accompanied with visions, clumsy lines floating on a dull violet background defining scarlet rhombuses of various shapes, but this time he saw a child, black hair, red forelocks similar to his own, thin body, classy clothing, and a demonic figure wings wide open behind him, pointing at a certain location which was hard to spot because the vision started blurring and disapearing as he opened his eyes.

Submerged by fear he ran downstairs ignoring all his friends calling his name along the hallway leading to the stairs, he went down seeking his mom but was petrified by what he saw, a dim scarlet light glowing around one of the doors leading outside, terrified but also curious, he advanced towards it, reached the door handle, as the light grew brighter with each step, the atmosphere was so calm not even a fly could be heard, he put his hands on the handle, and started pushing.

The door is now wide open, and in fron of the small young boy was absolutely nothing, just the horizon beaming sunrays on the vast desert of Terra Nullius.

He was relieved that his visions were only a fruit of his imagination, happy that he will finally join his mom to fill that empty little stomach of his, he turned around facing the door from the outside, took one step forward, then he disapeared in a deafening clic sound, leaving behind but a breath of dim violet smoke, and glitching rune like marks made out of clumsy black lines engraved on some areas on and around the door.

All the neighborhood rushed to the place and were intrigued, they have never witnessed marks like those engraved, and the clic sound was like a big explosion yet no mark of damage was sustained, they called upon all the children there from fear of an unknown threat coming from outside the village, all were present but one.

They searched everywhere he was nowhere to be found, his mom in despair collapsed on her knees and screamed In agony " Aster, why !" Before losing consciousness.