Tied To Ruins

~Chapter Three~

     Kali was awake, but kept his eyes closed. He had been for at least an hour now. The moonbeams from the window landed softly on the blankets of his bed, like a phantom cat bringing warmth and comfort to him. The few birds that were awake this early sang almost in light objection as the wind sighed, rustling the trees outside. A thin cloud blocked out the moon, canceling the beams landing on his bed. They soon returned as the cloud passed, as if they were loyal to him only. The silly thought made him feel a little better (and little in power of the moon) and eased his nerves a tiny bit.

     After all, today was the day. The Decision, some people called it. Jonathan would stand on a fancy wooden stage with a scroll of names and mentors assigned to each other, and call them out in order. Ordinarily, they would be cheerful to be called, but Kali was feeling quite nauseous at the thought of it! He thought he may as well open his eyes. Particles of dust, illuminated by the rare moon light, pranced around his cozy room. They lived a short life and their light seemed to leak out of them as they escaped the range of the moon. Comforted by this nostalgic action, he closed his eyes again.

     A muffled knock came from his door, alerting his senses, and his eyes instinctively snapped open. "Kali?" Ambros called softly as he opened the door cautiously as if he would leap out and bite his hand off! "Good morning." His tone soothed, seeing that the boy was awake. Kali held in an anxious shiver. Had Ailith done her job correctly? If so, how would he pay her without his father knowing? "Morning Father." He commented dryly, propping himself up with his elbows. Ambros blinked affectionately at his son before questioning, "Did you sleep well? Are you excited?" He sat next to Kali on his warm bed, eyes bright, proud, and full of questions. "You know it! I hope I'm chosen." Kali faked a smile and tone.

     "You didn't sound very happy when I said good morning to you," Ambros frowned slightly, concerned. "I'm just tired, that's all Father! You really should stop worrying about me." Kali smiled soothingly, lifting the covers and stepping onto the cold floor. The boy stretched his rather skinny frame before walking off to get some breakfast. Navigating the large home his Father had provided him and his servants, he looked inside various rooms for a feel of comfort. There was the living room, the other living room, and a third one... yet he didn't feel very happy to look at them. There were the guest bedrooms, empty as always. Kali sighed and walked into the kitchen to grab some leftovers from dinner- a plate of recooked steak and veggies, and he explicitly left the eggs for his Father.

     Kali held his plate so tensely that the tips of his fingers turned a splotchy mix of white and red. He held out his free hand and pushed the front door open and cringed as the metal hinges scraped against each other, screeching like an unholy bird! "Kali Moore! Where on Earth are you going with that plate? Haven't I taught you that you eat at the table?" Ambros scolded staunchly, pulling out a chair for him. Kali groaned internally and spun around dramatically with an expression that could only be described as 'holding in unstoppable anger.' The boy stopped at the table and stared directly at Ambros, holding his plate in the air. After many heartbeats, he dropped the plate with attitude and glared, still at his father, as the plate hit the table with a loud CLANG! Kali pulled out a chair to eat, purposefully on the opposite side of the table from his father.

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     It had been at least an hour since he had eaten breakfast, and the moon was still set lazily in the sky, paler than ever as the sun rose on the opposite side of the horizon. Kali had gotten dressed (which had taken quite some time due to the fact that he had to dress "very nicely for this occasion, now that you are old enough" according to his father) and he was very uncomfortable! The thin, brown belt he wore around his white pants felt like a narrow piece of string had wrapped around his body multiple times and was trying to cut him in half! Kali winced and looked up at his father pleadingly. "You must suffer to be handsome, Kali. I bet all the girls will love how thin your waist is!" Ambros added cheerfully, tightening it further and Kali yelped in shock. "Yeah, I bet." He rolled his eyes. "If you wore this, all the boys would be all over you..." He muttered sassily.

     Ambros blushed angrily with embarrassment, and looked in Kali's closet for a pair of clean shoes that were fitting for this event. The boy sighed and swiftly tried to loosen the belt, but almost instantly ceased this action when Ambros turned around to face him, holding a pair of shiny brown shoes. "Not those!" He whined, slouching his shoulders slightly. A quick tap from his father, which he had grown to despise yet obey, forced him to stand straight again. "Put them on, Kali. I want you to look nice today." His voice was shaded with the tone that all children disliked- the do what I say or I will make you do all my paperwork for five hours straight. Maybe for other children his age didn't do paperwork for their parents, he knew Ailith would have to do farm work, like planting seeds or doing things farmers do. He doesn't really study what peasants do, and his friend had never shared any experience with him on that topic.

     His father had graciously allowed him to be around Ailith, but he often complains about how much he hangs out with her. Kali was beginning to lose his patience with his father, and found himself often storming off and snapping back at any sentence he seemed to say. Sure, he felt a little guilty, but his intolerance towards his friend was wearing away at his respect for Ambros! Kali let out a disdainful grunt as he accepted the pair of proper looking shoes. "I can't wait to wear these for more than half the day." He snapped brusquely, tying his laces and squinting his eyes in stubborn pain. "Kali... you know I just want you to look the best you can for the ceremony! I want you to look nice when you walk up on that stage to receive your destiny-""No one talks like that." Kali cut him off, his throat stinging from holding back angry tears once more.

     "Well I do! I don't know what's gotten into you recently, but you have had a terrible attitude! I try very hard to feed you-" "Oh yeah? You try very hard, laying back in your chair as money piles up on your desk. That sounds SOOO difficult! Being Royal Healer is a terribly rough job! You have to stay up late and show up to work every single day of your life. For sure. And when you come home, there's hardly any money left to feed your son, your servants, your livestock, and your apprentices!" Kali shouts, jerking away from Ambros, drinking in the pain of his father's gaze. For a moment in the deafening, angry silence he almost felt bad for him- but, no. He had ruined his life and his family! Kali stormed out, slamming the door as the tears popped into his eyes once more. In a couple heartbeats, Kali froze, blinking as his vision blurred, trying to make it clear again as he turned around.

     He was surprised how vehemently he had yelled at his own father! Guilt washed over him and he sighed dramatically, brushing a lock of styled, blonde hair out of his face. The boy stood awkwardly with practiced posture, his dark blue eyes now gentle, without the bright crystals of hatred burrowed inside its deep, oceanic depths. Although he had deserved it (well, at least Kali thought he did) it still made him feel somewhat bad for Ambros.