Owl in the Daylight

Chapter 6

Darkness.

That was the first thing that greeted the little boy when he woke up with a rumbling stomach. Hungry and confused, he sat up and looked around but couldn't see a thing.

"Uh, 'ello?" he called out tentatively, his voice echoing against the walls. For whom he was calling, he didn't know. For that matter, he seemed to know nothing.

"--am 'ungry," he whined to someone. To anyone listening. But he could only hear himself.

Scared and lost, the child let out a wail. He cried and screamed as loud as he could, hoping someone would come to him.

No one did.

After a long while, the boy stopped crying from exhaustion. Face wet with tears, he stared in daze at the seemingly infinite darkness in front of him and realized he was truly alone.

That was the first lesson of his young life.

Since then, the boy did what he could to survive. There was an unknown drive in him to stay alive. To know where he was, he crawled around and touched everything he could reach. He figured he was trapped inside a stone room without any exit. Amidst the shadows, there were times he could see light through an air hole on the wall. Fortunately, food was being left for him every several days. He tried staying awake to see who was dropping it off but failed to find out.

At least he had food and water. He became thankful for small mercies.

Having nothing else but time on his hands, the air hole became his companion. It provided him with a change of scenery from absolute darkness and cold stones. He would squint outside, fascinated, even though there was nothing but barren land and howling wind. Seeing passing birds was a treat for him. His giggle could be heard when they chirp. A sound aside from his own voice. An evidence of life outside. Maybe someone would find him. Maybe someone would save him. He held on to a sliver of hope.

Most of the time, he spent it thinking to himself. Who was he? Why was he here? Had he been a bad boy so they locked him up?

Questions he had no answer to.

Several summers and winters passed when he became accustomed to seasonal changes. Sometimes, it was scorching hot he felt his skin was burning to crisps. Oftentimes, it's freezing cold his fingers felt about to fall off from numbness. Now, he was able to tolerate those pains.

His body changed too. As he grew bigger, he had to discard his old clothes and wear his blanket instead. His hair reached below his waist, but his nails became a problem. There were times where he found it hard to eat or walk because they're too long. His nails kept chipping. Annoyed, he tried to break them but most were pulled off instead. The pain was agonizing and there was a lot of blood, but it gave him a long time before they grew enough to bother him again.

The boy, a bit older now, made surviving his way of life.

Then that night came when he fell so sick, he thought he was going to die.

***

The drastic weather changes ultimately caught up with him. Burning with fever, he could only wait for it to pass. He was getting weaker by the day and all he could do was sleep, when he finally heard a voice outside.

"Lad, are you dead?" it curiously called out.

Eyes wide, he wasn't sure if it's real or he's just delirious. "Who--?" trembling, the kid got up and edged towards the air hole."Help--" he rasped desperately.

"Oh, you are alive! Good. Listen, I can't break you out right now but I can guide you so you don't die just yet," the voice delightedly offered him.

The boy nodded vigorously, "Yes. Yes please. Don't leave me." He plead the stranger before passing out.

***

After about two days, the kid woke up to a cool sensation on his forehead. Gradually opening his eyes, he saw a floating wet towel.

"What the--!" he frantically scooted back until his back hit the wall. He was horrified at the sight.

"Hahaha! Is this your first time seeing magic, lad?" the stranger outside mused.

"Magic?" his disbelieving eyes stuck on the floating cloth.

"Magic exists in this world. That's why you are stuck in there. And you have great potential for it, even in your dying state," the voice rambled.

"Me?" his young brain could barely grasp what the stranger was saying.

"Yes. And that's what brought me here. You will make for an excellent apprentice!" it declared merrily.

The boy could only tilt his head in confusion from the nonsensical ramblings outside. Aside from finally meeting another person, the thing called magic was being introduced to him.

"My name is Von. And how should I call you, lad?"

"I'm--" he paused, his brows furrowed in thought. "I-- don't know," he uttered, surprised with the sudden realization. He never needed a name before.

"Oh? Interesting," Von pondered for a while. "Shall I find your name for you?"

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Young Audwin art by RubyGraceProper (discord) / RubyRoo_Proper (archiveofourown) ☆

Dedicated to @drlee2535 / banana (discord) ♡♡