Valors Heart (Songs of War Fanfiction)

Chapter 1: Then and Now

(Well 2021 is finally here! Nobody will miss you 2020, sayonara! Also, thank you to @isfurygirl and @hellschourch for following me!)

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(Would suggest listening to Moonlight Lullaby by BrunuhVille)

Insects were abuzz as the peaceful creatures droned on through the stormy night. While everyone was tucked in their warm beds, nice and cozy under soft sheets. Snoring their dreams away. There were some who were known to be night owls. And not the actual nocturnal feathered birds either. No, night owls as in: "people who would stay up through the long wakeful hours of the night." Either by an undesired feeling of not wanting to go to bed and rest one's tired eyes. Or, some could be kept awake by mere excitement.

A young boy was lying on the wooden spruce floors in the main living room of his relatives' cottage, enjoying the comfortable feeling of hiding under a wool blanket. A book almost larger than his head, sat in front of him. The boy took a small sip from the cup of coffee he had poured for himself. Savoring the creamy, chocolatey fudge flavor of the cocoa beans that had been grinded and mixed in with the brew. The boy had even put in a few teaspoons of sugar, hoping it would send more adrenaline through his veins to help him stay awake, as well as to add a taste of sweetness to his night time beverage.

Devin brought the candle slightly closer to his book. The flame's heat slowly caused small patterns of wax to melt down the smooth side of the candle. The small fire brightened and brought out the inked black-lettered words on the book's white, thin, parchment paper. Devin carefully took the edge of one of the weathered-down pages of the novel, which was already beginning to wear out from the many oily hands of people who had read the book before him. Even a few fingerprint stains were on the pages, obviously someone had carelessly been eating food and never bothered to wash their hands! Didn't they know that books only lasted as long as the readers allowed them to?! Devin gently turned the page to the next one, then leaned over to get more comfortable as he continued reading. His eyes skimmed over the words on the paper hungrily, taking in every bit of information and knowledge, and memorizing everything he could.

The cottage was peacefully quiet. Which helped make Devin's concentration all the better, allowing him to vividly envision the book's plot within his head. While constantly dealing with the town that was normally a bustle of activity and liveliness. With aarons to run, groceries to purchase, and educational lessons that were to be attended by children whose teachers demanded that students have their homework finished before the starting bell; always made Devin appreciate his moments of solitude.

Devin also had other reasons why he avoided people as much as possible. He had been born with a rare condition known as albinism, that caused his skin to be the palest milky white. If he remained outside too long, he would be sunburned beyond comprehension. Even at the age of ten, his hair was already white, like that of an elder mans! His eyes were another story... they were the brightest contrast of red irises one could ever lay their eyes upon... Definitely a look that did not seem normal for a typical little boy. And it proved rightfully so from the many stares and insults he had to take each and every day from the other children. And the awkward first impressions and wary glances from others the first time they ever met him... Devin felt his appearance made him seem like a monster...

Henceforth why the darkness of midnight, just after the moon had carried itself higher in the sky, would always be Devin's favorite time of day. Instead of daytime, when the world was noisy and loud with its many problems. Nighttime was different. While his relatives drifted away into their sleep... During this time, Devin felt like he was finally alone for the world to share its many secrets and mysteries with a young curious boy who waited patiently to listen. This gorgeous stretch of time was when the world was finally silent, and a rest. The perfect opportunity for Devin to learn all he could without getting interrupted, or being told to go clean and tidy up his room. This night, however, was different as rain hammered against the roof while thunder roared above, making all the wooden overhead beams in the ceiling creak, and the shutters on the cottage's windows shake.