Chapter 2 - Childhood (1)

Four years passed by and the Stormsong manor welcomes the winter veil with bright and cozy decorations that perfectly match the joyous atmosphere permeating around the whole town of Brennadam. Outside the manor stood a little boy, staring above as the snowfall gently, the pink hue sky well reflected in his deep blue eyes. The boy, accompanied by a tall bulky guard, directed his attention to the jolly scene not far from where he stands. Four peasant children, consisting of boys and girls in pairs conversed in a manner enviable for little Daniel, he watched as the four ate their brown bread quite happily as if munching on fine bread.

"Lord Daniel, I suggest not to mingle with the peasants." Seeing his young lord contemplating whether to approach the group of kids, Frederick, the tall guard spoke with a tone as cold as the snow.

Daniel stared at Frederick with an unadulterated look, he asked. "Why is that, Sir Frederick?" he continued. "Uncle Thomas also told me not to make friends with the kids outside, but I find no reason why not to," His low-spirited tone made the guard's heart ached.

Little kids were meant to play outside along with their friends, but Daniel was different from the kids his age. He is the heir to House Stormsong, the ruling family of the Stormsong Valley, and might so in his right be the next leader of the tidesages. So since the age of three, the boy was taught from learning how to read and write the common tongue to basic etiquette. It was to instill excellence and discipline at a young age, producing an excellent noble by the age of adulthood. However, the loneliness that accompanied it was quite uncomfortable for a young boy, and so he found asylum through a friend he met during his 3rd birthday.

Frederick answered. "It is unthinkable for peasants to speak in a manner equal to you, my Lord." Then a small shout from inside the manor made him smile. "Well, it seems the maids have already finished preparing for the feast. It's best we go inside now, lest you catch a cold." The guard gently spoke, he bent his knee, leaning down to help adjust Daniel's thick fur coat.

"Thank you, Frederick." A gentle appreciative voice rewarded Frederick's act, and the two entered the manor.

Cheers rang loudly in the great hall of the Stormsong manor, Daniel found his seat beside his mother, who greeted him with a kiss on his cheeks. Daniel's face flushed when he saw the wives of his father's vassals staring at the intimate acts between mother and son. These vassals filled the seats and they laughed cheerily amidst one another, some went on to flatter Lord Stormsong, hoping to gain a bit of his favor, while their wives conversed with lady Elaine in matters of fashion and romance. This feast which occurs every winter's veil was one of the ways where the nobles in Stormsong Valley could interact with one another, and establish friendships between their children. Unfortunately, there was none whose age is near Daniel's for most were above the age of eight.

Daniel rubbed his cheek where his mother kissed, and said complainingly. "Please don't kiss me in front of everyone, mother." to which Elaine responded with a giggle, "my dear, how could a mother not kiss her own son?"

"But not here, mother," the boy said.

"Understood, my dear," Elaine answered but her action spoke otherwise, Daniel could feel his mother's soft lips on his cheek once more. This time, however, he continued to munch whilst muttering his protest.

The feast proceeded smoothly, ending with most men including Lord Stormsong drunk, this garnered the annoyance of their wives; especially, lady Elaine who was said to have nagged quite furiously when Lord Stormsong had woken up in the morning. For Daniel, the morning after the feast arouses his anticipation, he wore a blue luxurious suit and combed his silky blonde hair, he had a smile as if meeting his first love. The guards greeted him along the way and they all wondered where the lord would go whilst dressed flamboyantly, it made them laugh but not in a malicious way, some even joked how their young lord would grow into a casanova.

Like a sneaky rat, little Daniel was able to avoid surveillance after passing by the guards and until he reached the area behind their manor, in front of him was a torrent of trees; a small forest to be exact. Usually, Frederick, his guard would follow him all around like a puppet, but today, Daniel smiled brightly due to losing Frederick's rail, which he deems quite an achievement.

Daniel walked right beside the trees, his voice echoed throughout the forest. "Luna, I'm here!"

There was silence and no voice responded in his call, in turn, Daniel once more called. This time there was a response, a beautiful serene voice, to be exact.

"You came." The voice sounded very happy, and from behind the trees, a figure appeared. A being with four legs and an upper body similar to elves. Daniel smiled when he saw his dryad friend. "It's our promise," he replied.

"As you should, my little hero." The dryad's voice had a certain charm, and it had a tremendous effect on the little boy. "I've heard about what happened in your feast from the trees, it seems you've enjoyed last night's celebration." She talked while slowly approaching the boy.

"Yes, it would have been better if my mother would stop kissing me in front of the guests," Daniel complained sulkily, and after a thought flash through his mind, the boy said. "I hope you'd be there the next time, Luna. I want to introduce you to mother and father."

Lunara smiled seeing the boy's innocence, but she answered neither accepting nor not. "In time, my little hero." She gestured. "Come, let's take a walk in the forest."

Daniel very much loved the time spent with his beautiful friend, the walks in the forest were very memorable for him and the singing of her sweet voice soothes his childish ears. Lunara would sometimes sing in a language very unfamiliar to him but he nonetheless will listen attentively. Their rendezvous started during Daniel's third birthday, where he heard Luna's voice calling for him from the forest. Since then, they'd meet from time to time and it has been three months since their last walk.

"How long will you stay here?" Daniel asked while he was tiptoeing on a pathway of rocks to cross a creek. His eyes held expectations as he gazed at the dryad.

"Twelve moons," Lunara answered. "Twelve days in your native tongue."

Hearing her answer made Daniel enthusiastic, he cheered. "Then let's meet every day!"

Lunara nodded and they continued onwards, her singing did not stop and Daniel with a cheery complexion whistled along with her singing, although his whistling wasn't as pleasant nor was it even in tune with her; the two still cherished it.

It was a pleasant trip but every meeting must come to an end, Daniel reluctantly parted ways with Lunara. He was all smiles until he saw his mother fraught with worry, she ran with tears in her eyes after seeing Daniel's appearance from the woods. The boy was heavily reprimanded by his concerned mother, and he could only look downward in guilt. Nevertheless, this won't stop him from fulfilling his promise of meeting his friend.