Eversummer

Chapter 1 : Eversummer

It was nearing the end of yet another clear sunny day in the small and peaceful town of Wintercrest. It was the 3rd clear day in a row and the snow was already thawed out revealing patches of brown dirt. For the usually white-covered town, it was very unusual to have a streak of more than 3 sunny days so everyone was in high spirits predicting another Eversummer. Eversummers were long summer seasons usually lasting up to two months enough for the landscape to turn green. They were so uncommon, only 5 has happened in the town's 200 year existence.

"This might be your first eversummer Red, are you excited?" Said a gentle voice while Red was practicing with his wooden sword.

"I guess so Nana. I love the snow though. I think it's beautiful and it's not that cold here compared to other towns." Said Red whilst whirling his sword around evidently trying to hide his disappointment at the changing weather. He was always the kind of boy to act all grown up and hide his emotions and he always resented change. If anything, he was afraid of it.

Red has always been wary of change. For such a young boy of 14, he has already experienced so much. His flee from his hometown, his separation from his friends and the loss of a loved one all before he was 9 all of which, he had trouble remembering but nevertheless, they left a hole in Red's heart. And now, Red wanted to keep what he has now forever. His peaceful life in wintercrest and his grandmother, Nana Lean.

"You're one curious boy Red, but I bet you'll love it when everything turns green. The town will be so warm, we won't have to be indoors all the time. And we'll have a festival too!"

"A Festival?" Red's face lighted up at the sound of the word festival. Festivals were only held in very special occasions such as when the Holy priestess would visit and bless the town, or when a hero is chosen from the townsfolk and of course, during eversummers. Red had always wanted to be the town hero ever since he received a toy sword from Nana Lean. And so the thought of a festival thrilled him boundlessly.

"Wow! A festival huh? That's great! When'll it be then?" he asked excitedly. "Uhm... Not that it matters to me" he then quickly retracted. But Nana Lean with her quick gaze, saw right away his excitement.

"Oh dear boy, we haven't even confirmed if this really is the start of an eversummer. But I can see you're as much excited as me. Let's hope for the best little 'un."

"I told you I'm not excited or anything!" Said red bashfully, trying to keep his grown up act.

"Whatever you say red, now come along, let's go inside now, the night is drawing near." Said Nana Lean in her gentle soothing voice.

Red ate his dinner and went straight to his room to go to sleep. But slumber evaded Red and his thoughts were filled with his imagination of an eversummer. So he stood up and looked at the mirror, it had been a gift from his Mom. He looked at his messy, red hair and pale complexion. Nana Lean always told him his hair was just like his dad's. He couldn't really tell if that was true, he couldn't remember his parents and his home back in the capital before the accident. He thought again of the everwinter, and wondered what this change would bring to his life.

"A green land huh?" From what Red remembers, he has never seen a green meadow. All his life, he has always seen white. He only ever heard of greeneries from travelers who passed by the town. He wondered what it would actually looked like. While he thought of it, his heart pounded loudly. He was both excited and scared. Excited that he could explore a new world, and scared that he didn't know what was coming. This was after all. Red's first eversummer.