Sonavr
The sun was slowly drowning towards the horizon. Canopies and grass ruffled as sudden and slow wind of gust drew over the Aravan village.
Sonavr was training as usual in boiled leather. Sweat dripping like clear waters of capital.
On a hilltop far from village, he could see the forest far east. Just looming there in darkness. Even the brightest of mornings did not seem to affect it. It was always dark and filled with dense wildlife and canopy.
"Need to do more".
All of his life although as long as he could remember, he was chasing a single objective. To reach capital and become a sworn noble knight and fight their wars.
You cannot do it.
Many people shamed him for that. He was a herdsman and a son of one too.
Why does he want to travel all the way to that dangerous den of monsters they called the capital.
Well it gave him a purpose. Something to look forward to in life.
But the reality was far from that.
On one of his travels with his father, they went from villages after villages. Cities after cities and several kingdoms to plead for a reprieve. The taxes of capital was too high of lately. They demanded several crops, food supplies and Any animals that they can feast upon.
So,naturally they went for the capital through Alam road and Sori harbour. From there they bargained for a stout vessel to bear them across the waters of Shina.
Although the negotiations with the king himself was proven to be a venture wrought in vain, but Sonavr had gotten the ripest of fruit from his travels.
Though he had never crossed the gates of the capital, he glimpsed the colossal knights that roamed beyond it, their armor catching the sun like wandering giants of steel.
He was fascinated by the sight of it.
And ever since that journey, he wanted only one thing - to become a knight for the capital.
...
He swung his sword with all his strength. All the strength he could muster anyway.
The sword was of poor quality—
A blade whose spirit had long since fled the iron, leaving it hollow and weak.
But it was enough for practice, Sonavr thought.
He practiced day and night, firm grip on sword and anger in eyes to achieve something, to do something.
No one ever believed that he had it in him. Why would they? He was a herdsman after all not a warrior and certainly not of a noble blood.
Yet something told him that if he practiced enough, just maybe if he put in effort, he could do it.
With the poor steel in his hand, he practiced a downward slash, not quick enough, he thought.
A side swing, not graceful enough, Sonavr acknowledged.
He tried thrusting the steel in middle, "well this I can do".
"You lack skill boy".
Sonavr glanced over his shoulder as he saw his father skidding against the steep isolated hilltop they were in.
"You could have sent fronn", Sonavr said lowering his weapon.
"I wanted to see", jemriah said. "You looked harried last night".
"I was not. Far from it", Sonavr said. "If I want to become a sworn then I have to overlook these small mockeries as a mere nuisance. A smaller stone compared to other boulders in my path".
"Look at you", jemriah said just a hint of smile. "Already talking like a knight or a prince".
"I am neither of those yet".
"I want you to become sworn knight of the capital", jemriah said. "The path ahead of you will be filled with stones and boulders as you said but even after you achieve the ranks of your desire, that will be your main objective".
Sonavr blinked slightly and cocked his head.
"What does he mean?" Sonavr thought. "Father, I am not sure I understand you-"
"You will, just keep your eyes up and pray to old gods that they always shower you with their blessings" , jemriah said. "As for understanding, that will come in time".
"Yes, i always pray to Aravan. even after I don't see him, I feel his presence", Sonavr smiled. "It helps me, especially in Aravan forest".
"I hope you achieve everything you want boy", jemriah said. "I want to give you everything you ask for but sometimes I feel so hopeless".
"You did everything you could father", Sonavr said. "Now it is my burden to see after your troubles".
World of sumaka through the eyes of common folk:
Aravan forest is quite scary. I feel quite sorry for merchants and herdsman who have to travel for timber for trade and have to trap these animals for food. One time, although it is rumour, I heard that there were several wolfhounds surrounding a tomb, an ancient tomb that possess power. The wolfhounds eyes were yellow and they loomed over like giants of traflr. It is quite scary and mysterious. I had this newfound respect for merchants and herdsman.