Thousand Suns Twilight

Chapter 2: Fading Dreams, Distorted Memories

Erendlure was a small village. There were six houses, which were occupied by the three families, separating the young from the old. It was done this way to keep the peace among the members of the family. It was not expected for an entire family to stay together under one roof. The eldest of relatives would stake their claim with their peers in one house, while the members still of childbearing age would rear their children in another. There was plenty of room, despite these families having a history that tracked thousands of years back. When a child came of age, a ceremony was held, whereupon a great feast would be shared amongst all the members of the village. Proceeding this feast, all members of the family would gather underneath a festively-decorated pavilion, where the Chief Caretaker would stand with the honored child, who would be of 16 years of age, no less and no more. The young prospect would be presented with a choice: stay in the village, and promise to help maintain the forest; or leave the village, be it to embark upon a scholarly journey or perhaps to seek greater riches travelling the lands of Cyreet. Regardless of the choice, the young adult's wishes would be honored and they would be sent off in whichever direction they chose.

Late one night, after a long day of ceremony, music could be heard coming from a home on the south end of the village. The sharp, yet engrossing twangs of a Zawlin could be heard, accompanied by an angelic voice, singing the lyrics of a song that held great meaning to all of the inhabitants of Erendlure. This was the song of the willows of Erendlure, famed and revered for its unfinished state. After the first verses were sung, only the Zawlin's plucks continued to resound, muffled by the walls of the house.

Inside this house were three people: a jaded-looking older gentleman, holding a Zawlin; a beautiful woman whose grace only multiplied with age, humming along with the man's playing; and a young girl of only 12 years of age, who sat by the window, peering out into the forest. This family was the one who had presented their son for the coming-of-age ceremony on this day. Their son, having reached 16 years of age the previous week, had spent the past fortnight with the Chief Caretaker meditating in the middle of Verdance Forest, being taught many fundamental concepts about the duties of a Caretaker that were deemed too deep to be taught to a younger child. Upon his return, he spent a full day with his family as he once had before, while the rest of the village prepared for the feast and the ceremony at the end of this week. The day that he returned was his 16th birthday, and seven days later, the ceremony was held. The boy had chosen to leave the village and seek out a life in Alamond, and now his family was reminiscing upon the memories after saying goodbye.

This family was the younger generation of the Setenna family. The boy was named Terren, and the 12-year-old girl that was gazing out the window was Ariane.

Ariane had been staring out the southern window of the house the entire time that her father, Arok, had been playing the song. The window gave way to a pleasant view of Verdance Forest. This window faced the opposite direction which Terren had departed toward, and Ariane chose to look away with resentment in her heart.

She understood his decision, and as was customary, did not allow herself to make known her disgust. Ariane had never been a social creature, choosing to stay in the vicinity of her home and spending time with her brother, Terren. But now he had left, and she hated him for that. She didn't really hate him, but her feelings were harsh as she knew she couldn't change what had already happened. She didn't have any time to try and convince him, either, as he spent the final days with his family chatting with their parents and grandparents about his personal future.

"That stupid girl took him from me..."

Ariane broke her own oath and actually said this out loud, causing her mother to suddenly become silent, and her father's playing to stutter and then cease. He let out a few coughs, gasping for air as he tried to fight the coughing fit before it struck him.