Sdorica -Vestige-

Chapter 5: Inhuman

The last few weeks were utter chaos. Longtails were frequently appearing at our doorstep, day and night. We were barely given any time to rest. The Corona Village officials also had us working over the day, fixing whatever was destroyed in the last incident with Acelin. Took them long enough to fix the place. But, in doing so, we had to do the dirty work.

"Be patient, Roxas. This will all pass soon enough..." even with father's, miraculously helpful, words of kindness, it wasn't able to quench the flames of my anger. It was on the breaking point.

I wanted to destroy something. Really, really badly. For a person belonging to the lowest of the low class of people, my outbursts wouldn't matter. Even if I had a point. Even if there was any sort of sense, my opinion, and my existence as a whole, didn't matter to the world. Even if father and me died today, there were at least two people who would care. Aside from them, the world would continue as if we didn't exist in the first place.

These thoughts raced around my mind after a whole day of work. Most of the village houses were fixed thanks to us and a few other workers there. It was a fulfilling day, though one I did not dare to think was enjoyable. I threw myself on the nearest chair and slumped, breathing heavily as our work was over for now. I sighed loudly, knowing that tomorrow would be the same ordeal again. Father immediately fell asleep on the kitchen table, not even finding a comfortable position. I stood up and peered at the window. The fields were now brown and lifeless.

I almost forgot we were farmers, not some construction goons. I looked back and saw father's sickle at the counter of the kitchen. I contemplated the moment. The sun was shining on it's rusty blade, it's handle bound together by leather straps. Maybe it was time I finally learned how to farm. After all, all I ever knew about the field was planting seeds and pulling them all out after they've grown. Never have I ever thought about how they worked.

As me and father cooled down after exhausting all of our strength to physical labor, my hopes were lifted up as we had an unexpected visitor. As annoyed as I am thankful, I reluctantly waddled on over to the door.

"Is anyone home~?" asked a soft voice whilst knocking on the brand new door. Apparently father had the time to install a proper door knob, instead of just having the door be tied to a hook fastened on the wall. I grasped unto the knob and twisted it. It was a sound I wanted to indulge myself in for a while.

I opened the door, Saint Paula was standing in front of me. "Hello~!" she happily said as she jumped at me. I just stood there and caught her, bringing her into a welcoming hug. Any male would take the chance to sniff a woman's hair. Who wouldn't? Hers didn't have a specific smell, although it was pretty unique to her.

I broke off the hug. She looked a bit disappointed when I did, though. Fixing her hair, she spoke, this time her tone turned from a happy one to a serious one in the blink of an eye, "Anyways, Roxas dear, I need to talk to your father..." I pointed at father, who was napping on the table, without uttering a single word.

Saint Paula hastily walked towards him and proceeds to slam the table, causing my father to jump up, arms flailing about. "Althalos! We need to talk!". Déjà vu? A familiar phrase. It has been so long since a woman ever told that to father. I shook my head in silence, the world laughing at the heaviness compiling within my chest.

"P-Paula? Wh-what?" father asked, totally fazed and with his head in the air. He wiped away his drool on the right side of his face with his hand as Saint Paula slapped him. A slap that was heard even by the sheep outside.A slap that, once again, was familiar to my ears. I felt my body react to it. Like it's already an everyday experience that even an unfamiliar cause would trigger it. That made me even sadder. I walked to the nearest chair, comfortably sitting back and watch as their heated discussion unfolded before me.