The story of Aldorem

Chapter One; Part II: Rushing home

After being by my spot for many hours while having fun, chilling, and training, I decided it was time to go back home, so I come back before the sun will sets. It was already past midday, so I needed to hurry up, as my parents told me more than once to always be home before it gets dark outside.

Arriving in Aldorem, the sun-rays have long vanished in the chasm, but I could clearly tell that I was on point if I hurried home. So after finishing the last few steps down the stairs, I began running home.

I ran out of the small side alley, where the houses were built so closely together that even rats had trouble squeezing through the narrow gaps between them. The ground is roughly paved with cobblestone, until connecting with a nicely paved street, leading further to the main road. I ran trough the street and then over the crowded side-walk, beside the main road and accidentally bumped into more than one person on my way to the marketplace. Which is a shortcut to my home, there, I accidentally ran into a child of my age who fell and got hurt. I apologized to him, helped him up and ran on until I was forced to stop because of my lack of stamina.

I stopped on the market, near the last corner I needed to go past before going right, and then being home after half a minute of going straight.

While regathering my breath, I leaned against a stand where an old lady was selling fruit. She just smiled at me, knowing me well, due to me going with my mother often shopping. I smiled back at her, while enjoying the good smelling fruits and the all in all nice atmosphere on the market.

While gathering my breath, I looked around and saw a group of teenager—all maybe 15—going over the market. While looking at all the goods, speaking and laughing with each other. This wouldn't be suspicious if they were wearing normal clothes, but they seemed poor and rather broke. They seemed to last have washed years ago, and their clothes had holes all over them. So I decided I would observe them for a bit, as I had still time and had nothing better to do than standing here, until I could run further.

They slowly made their way towards the stand I was leaning against. Arriving there, two of them actually came and talked with the owner, whereas the other two stood there next to them with their mouths shut.

Then it happened: the two silent ones stole some fruits, thinking no one saw them. But I did, and so I screamed "thieves" while running to them and pointing at them.

They reacted directly and ran as fast as possible into the next side alley, while being followed by me and some other angry people.

But I had a good idea and took a shortcut to block their path, which indeed functioned but wasn't the smartest idea in retrospect. The four teenagers weren't faced by me and just pushed me away to the side, running further, down the street. This made the followers stop to inspect my injuries, as I was heavily crying. But only my back hurt, there a huge wound had opened, because I fell against the side wall. Through the commotion, the thieves could flee with their little loot without problem.

But luckily, I wasn't hurt that badly, and after resting for a few minutes, I went home with the help of the stand owner. She was thankful for my help, and she even gave me an apple.

My parents already stood in the door frame when I went around the corner to the entrance. As they saw me, I heard my mother asking me in a serious tone where I was. But then she saw the saleswomen supporting me while I was walking and went down to look at me. While she inspected my back, the stand owner informed my mother of what happened. My father stood in the background and then went into the house. Shortly, he came back with a flask filled with a light green liquid. He pressed it in my little hand and said I should drink it, and so I did. Meanwhile, my mother thanked my supporter and said her goodbye.

The potion my dad gave me is a minor healing potion. It is a potion that can restore your stamina almost instantly and even heal some injuries. Healing potions can be bought for a relatively cheap price, at least if they have a low concentration.

After taking it, I felt refreshed, and the pain lessened, but until the next day, the injury should be all gone.

Then I went relieved inside and ate my cold dinner, which still stood lonely on the table. My parents sat at the table with me and wanted to hear the full story, which I then told them from the point of time where I arrived in Aldorem, as they shall not know that I was outside the safe city. While listening to the story, they began getting seemingly more embarrassed and angry. When I finished the story, my parents began lecturing me and told me to be more gentle to all the people and mind my own business without annoying other people. Furthermore, they said to me that those guys I hunted probably depended on the goods they got from stealing and needed them to survive.

After my parents' annoying lecture, I went to sleep in hope of awaking with no injury on my tenth birthday. Yes, tomorrow, the 6. Of may, I will finally be ten years old.