2

  It was Monday the next day; a week day. The time was thirty minutes past six in the morning. Kaelith’s mother woke him up yelling at him. “Do you always have to yell at me every morning?” Kaelith asked. To which his mother replied, “not if you wake up before six.” He grunted and turned to continue sleeping. “Wake up boy!” His mother yelled; he sat up startled, “Fine, I am getting out.” And got up. He went inside the bathroom and took a shower.

  The time was now seven. Kaelith got dressed in his uniform and went downstairs. His father was at the table reading the morning paper. Kaelith sat at the table and began to eat his breakfast in silence. “Mondays are the worst, aren’t they, son?” His father asked, “Yeah, I hate Mondays.” “After enjoying the sweet freedom of the weekends…Monday feels like hell, doesn’t it?” “Yeah, what do you want?” “Oh, sorry, just making small talk. Didn’t know you were in a bad mood…I will stop now.”

  “Yeah, your son is always in a bad mood.” His mother said from the kitchen, “I wouldn’t have been in a bad mood if you hadn’t woken me up yelling.” Kaelith replied, “Well, if you don’t want me doing that, wake up before six!” “Your mother is ruthless as always son.” His father looked at the clock and said “Anyway, you better get going.” “Right.” Kaelith replied.

  “Mother!!” he yelled. “What now, boy?!” she asked as she came out of the kitchen. “I am done, I will get going.” “Did you take all your books and quills?” “Yes.” “Your handkerchief?” “Yes.” “Your pocket watch?” “Yes. I took everything.” “Behave yourself.” “I will, bye!” And he walked out.

  “That boy becomes a greater handful everyday.” Kaelith’s mother said. “Yeah, he will learn soon.” His father replied with a chuckle.

  Kaelith walked to Thaldrine station. On his way there somebody yelled “Kaelith!” Kaelith looked around and saw his buddy Dravich; running up to him.

  He asked Kaelith, “How are you brother?” “Well let’s see...got woken up by being yelled at, mother was annoying throughout, and father wasn’t helpful either.” He giggled and said “That must’ve been rough. My mother never yelled at me and my father never hit me either.”

  “Because your mother lost her vocal chords in an accident and your father is barely home and is always drunk.” Dravich chuckled and replied, “You certainly woke up on the wrong side of the bed.” “I am sorry...it is just that...my mother has been different since my father has been back from his voyages.” “Really? That’s weird.” “Why?” “Why does your mother need to change her personality when a man she is married to shows up after a while.” “Whatever, let’s change topic. I don’t want to talk about all that.”

  “Ok, let’s see…how about your relationship with Elira? How is that going?” Kaelith stopped walking and stood. “What?” Dravich asked. “What did you just ask me?” “You said change topic, so I asked about your relationship with Elira.”

  “What do you mean by relationship? We’re just friends and I use her for her father. If I remain on her good side, she might help me evade trouble with her father’s political power.”

  “But me and the guys think otherwise. I heard you woke her up in the morning. If you know what I mean.” And he winked. “Shut up Dravich. And tell the guys to shut up and mind their fucking business.” “Yeah. I will tell them that and your secret is safe with me.” And winked again.

  On their way, Kaelith said, “I have to use the toilet can you wait for me?” “Sure.” Dravich replied. Dravich waited; and after a few minutes Kaelith came out.

  They both continued walking and reached Thaldrine station. They bought tickets and sat waiting for the train.

  “Let me ask you this seriously. Do you have any feelings for her?” Dravich asked. “I…is this going to be spoken of with other people?” “No, and why are you speaking like that?” “I don’t know. I wanted to sound intimidating.” “That was not intimidating. If that is what you call intimidating, I am the king of Syntar.” “Whatever. Will you keep this a secret?” “Fine.” “Yeah, I do have feelings for her.” “My friend found a crush eh?” “I want to get married and have a family with her.” “Hold on there, that is too far.” “Why?” “First get close to her. Then let’s see about the marriage and family part.” “Ok.”

  “Also, how was your day yesterday?” Dravich again asked. “Fine. Had a lot of fun with my father.” “Is that so? You had the Tharyn combo?” “Yeah. Father had it after a long time.” “Well he must’ve loved it.” “The waiter was super confused with the vinegar order and my father explained it to him. Should’ve seen the look on his face.”

  A loud honk filled the station. Kaelith pulled out his pocket watch and checked the time. It was thirty minutes past seven. “My god, we have been chatting for that long.” Kaelith said.

  The train arrived the next moment. It was the first train of the day, so most of the train was empty. Dravich and Kaelith sat together in one of the empty seats.

  During the ride, Dravich pulled out a ‘Magic and War’ traveler’s set from his backpack and showed it to Kaelith and asked, “Want to play?” Looking at it Kaelith said “You know that today is ‘bag and locker check day’, right?” “That’s today?” “Yeah, every Monday.” “I guess I am buying another on the way home then. But for now, want to play?” “Ok.”

  The game was not very intense for Kaelith. Because out of all the people in their friend group, Kaelith was the best and Dravich was the worst.

  Kaelith captured Dravich’s monarch in no time. They played twelve or so games and Dravich didn’t even win one. After the last match Dravich said “I still have a lot to learn. How do you do it so easily?” “Just play a lot I guess.” “I also think that the box design for the traveler’s set is absolutely impressive. To think a person could come up with a box design that also acts as a shuffler.” “Sure.” Their stop arrived not long after, and they got off.

  They walked to school and walked in class and sat. Again, Kaelith sat beside a sleeping Elira.

  Mr. Ahnuun, their homeroom and mathematics teacher walked in first. He put his bag on his desk and said “Good morning kids. Take out your notebooks and quills, let’s begin today’s class.”

  Everyone took out their books and quills and ink and sat ready. Mr. Ahnuun took out a fresh piece of chalk and looked around and yelled, “Elira! Wake up!” Elira woke up, got her notebooks, quills and ink and sat down.

  “Well then children today’s topic is square roots. And Tharyn I don’t want to see doodles in your notebook. With that, Let’s begin!”

  After what felt like forever, class was over.

  Kaelith was walking to the toilets, and Dravich ran up to him, and walked with him. Dravich said, “Well, I got lucky today because Mr. Ahnuun forgot that today was ‘bag and locker check day’ or whatever.” “Yeah, you got very lucky.” Kaelith said laughing. “Well, would you look at that ‘Mr. Woke up on the wrong side of the bed just laughed.” “Yeah, yeah whatever.” And he continued laughing.

  They did their business and went back to class.

  seconds felt like hours. Hours felt like years. A while which felt like forever later, school finished and all went home.

  Kaelith came home, went upstairs to his room, put his things, took a shower and began studying. He had a worksheet from Mr. Ahnnun’s class and Ms. Helemere’s project. Kaelith was done with the worksheet in no time. He soon began with Ms. Helemere’s project. After reading the project topic he made a list of things and went to his father in the basement; who was making ships in bottles.

  “Father.” Kaelith said. “Yes son?” “Can you please give me some money?” Taking the list his father said “Yeah? How much?” “five Velms.” “What are you buying? A warship!?” “No father prices have gone up.” “By that much? Back in my day all these items used to cost half a Velm.” “Yeah yeah whatever father. Can you give me the money now because…it’s urgent.” “Fine, go get my wallet.”

  Kaelith went into his parents’ room and got his father’s wallet. His mother who was in the room reading a pamphlet, saw him taking the wallet and asked “What are you doing young man?” “Giving father his wallet?” “Yeah? what for?”

  “I need to buy some stuff for my project.” “Really? What project?” “I need a huge sheet of paper and some other things to draw a map.” “A map of what?” “A map of mainland.” “Really? Do you know how mainland looks like?”

  “Yeah, that is what we learned today.” “What did your teacher say about mainland.” “She said that life is much harder in mainland than it is in Syntar.” “True. Their way of thinking is ancient compared to us.” “Yes, that is what my teacher said.”

  “Also, mainland people still believe in torture.” “Really? It has been so long for us that we don’t even have it in our textbooks.” Kaelith said shocked. “Oh no, we weren’t always like this. We too were once like them…”

  Just as his mother was about to continue, Kaelith’s father yelled, “Son! What is taking you so long?” “I am coming!” Kaelith yelled back.

  Kaelith handed his father his wallet, his father gave him the money and Kaelith walked to the nearby art shop.

  Kaelith went inside and asked the person at the reception, “Excuse me. I need a huge piece of paper.” “How big sir?” “I don’t know the exact size but big enough to draw a map of mainland.” “Oh, we are doing geography projects are we?” “Yes, would you please give me a huge piece of paper.” “For a map you would need a S1 sized sheet, and will that be all?”

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  “Do you have brown ink wash?” “Sir nobody sells ink wash, but would you like brown ink and a pamphlet that teaches the best method of making ink wash?” “Yes thank you. And how much would that be?” “three Velms and eighty Thalons.” “Here you go; five Velms.” The cashier gave Kaelith the change and Kaelith went home and began working.

  A few hours later he was done with his map. He went to the basement again to his father and said “Father, can you please come and see my new work?” “What have you created now son?” “Just come.” His father came to his room and saw the map.

  His father impressed, said “What a beautiful piece of work! You did pay attention to my teachings; I taught you when you were six during the Winter holidays.”

  “Yeah. Also, why did you teach me?” “When you were that young, I was a mere cartographer for the navy. You used to always used to watch me work and tell me how much you liked seeing me make maps, so one winter I taught you. Why don’t you work as a cartographer for the navy in the holidays?”

  “Oh, right…now I remember. Good idea. But I don’t want to be a cartographer.” “Work for the money. Enjoy with the money you make throughout the holidays.” “Great idea father…”

  Kaelith was interrupted by his mother yelling “Boys come downstairs! Dinner is ready!”

  Both father and son went downstairs and sat at the table. Dinner was bread and tomato gravy with a side of grilled fish. “Your mother makes something great everyday.” Kaelith’s father said. “It is good but…don’t you have five star meals on deck?” “Oh no, preserving ingredients to make five star meals might cost a fortune. The council doesn’t spend a lot of money on such voyages. They save up for when a real threat comes by. Maybe when your son becomes an Admiral one day, he might have five star meals on deck.”

  “Remind me again. Why do you guys go for trade.” “That is because the trade our cargo ships carry and the increase in piracy. We don’t carry some cheap goods. Those cargo ships are filled with Emerald, Sapphire, and Topaz.” “Syntarian navy is the most feared force in the sea. By just looking at our sails they turn their rudder and go on their way.”

  “So what do you eat?” “On deck, all we have are ship’s biscuits and a few sea creatures; though though that was rare. Tomatoes and lemons spoil, and preserving them was also a tedious process; so we never took them on voyages. We had Vitamin C pills but the flavour of tomatoes when cooked right or lemon with fish; those pills can never replace that.”

  “Yeah, I can’t imagine myself eating fish and ship’s biscuits everyday three times a day throughout the voyage.” “That is why not all set out to sea. Only real men do.”

  “Why did you become a voyager then?” “I had no choice son.” “Both of you shut up. No negativity at the dinner’s table.” His mother interrupted. “Father was going to tell me his life story.” “He hasn’t told you till now because his story isn’t something you can share. He comes from hell.” “What hell?” “You will not ask your father that question again boy. And you, you will not entertain that topic.” “Why are you hiding this from me?” “We are not hiding anything. I am just not letting you talk about it in the dining table. Also, you have to wait, I myself will tell you the truth…when the time is right.” ]

  “But…I don’t understand…” “Enough!” His mother yelled. “Eat your food and leave. If you cannot understand when said nicely, I guess yelling is the only other way.” Kaelith ate his food in silence and confusion.

  He left the table once he was done and went upstairs to his journal and began writing:

  9 at night on the Herman clock........................................................................................................................................................14th Umbrilis on The Syntarian Calendar

  Dear diary,

  Today unlike usual, was quite good. I don’t enjoy Mondays but today was great. Food and my project both turned out to be great. My father and mother are hiding something from me. It is something so big that if they tell me, my life could get ruined. Whatever it is, I have to find out one way or the another. Dravich today almost got his ‘magic and war’ set taken; but that old fatty Ahnuun forgot. I hate that man. Always ruthless, over complicating a simple problem and giving us calculation heavy problems. That man deserves hell. Anyway good night.

  Kaelith Tharyn.

  He extinguished all the lamps and went to sleep.

  Kaelith’s mother walked out of the shower wearing her night attire. Kaelith’s father was already in bed reading a book. “What are you reading today, honey?” Mari?n asked. “Oh nothing one of the greatest fictions ever written on this island about sailors.” Kal replied, “Really which one?” “ ‘The Unforgiving Ocean’ by Rahel thorpe.” “Isn’t that the book you bought when Kaelith was six?” “Yes, just never had the time to read it sadly.” “How many pages is it?” “three hundred or so.” “Big book.” “Yes, I am in page fifty.” “Continue tomorrow.” “It is still only fifteen minutes past nine.”

  “Not to sleep. We have work to do.” “Oh…that work eh?” “Yes, my dear.” “No, I am not in the mood.” “What, I got all ready and…” “Once a week Mari?n! Once a week!” Kal yelled, “Be quiet, your son is going to wake up.” Mari?n whispered.

  “Sorry, but not today, I am going to ‘give it to you’ the coming Sunday.” “I can’t wait that long Kal…” “Well, you have to wait miss…now, let me read this masterpiece.” Mari?n groaned and said, “fine…I guess I have to wait.” “You will get the best sex of your life on Sunday.” “That is what you say always.” “Whatever but you still have to wait.”

  Next morning was like any other weekday. Kaelith was woken up yelling and walked to the station upset. Dravich didn’t join Kaelith because he called in sick.

  Kaelith reached school and didn’t pay attention to most of the classes.

  After lunch, it was Ms. Helemere’s class. She walked in, and put her bag on the desk and said , “Well then children, have you completed your projects?” “Yes madam!” Kaelith yelled in excitement. “Well then Mr. Tharyn please present your work.” Kaelith showed his map and everyone saw in awe. “I thought, why not draw the map about mainland the way the people on mainland do it.” Kaelith said. “Well what a nicely made map. Who taught you how to draw maps?” “My father did.” “The Admiral knows how to draw maps?” “Yes, he was a cartographer for the navy when I was young.” “From a mere cartographer to the highest ranking officer in the navy. An inspiring tale indeed…go back to your seat Kaelith. Who would like to be next?”

  Half the class was people showing their map. Once everyone was done, Ms. Helemere said, “Children, now open up your books, sit ready with your quills, we are going to learn about the tectonic plates today. Kaelith enjoyed Ms. Helemere’s class because she tended to go easy unlike Mr. Ahnuun.

  Time felt like it sped up, because before Kaelith knew it school was done.

  Once school was done, Kaelith walked to the station, got on the train and came back home.

  Weeks passed as such, and Kaelith completed more projects. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Until that one day when Kaelith heard the news.

  On the 25th of Umbrilis, the day began as normal. Mari?n was expecting to bleed on that day. But she didn’t. She thought that she had miscalculated and waited for a few days. But still, nothing. Then she realized it; she was pregnant.

  Kal was in the basement and Kaelith was in school. She ran to him and said, “A big change is going to happen?” “Huh? What change?” Kal asked puzzled. Mari?n put her hand on her belly and rubbed it. Kal realized what had happened. He dropped his hammer in shock; and asked, “Is it what I…” she replied nodding. Kal hugged her tight; he whispered in her ear “Thank you.”

  Kaelith came back from school soon after. Once he came back, he saw his parents sitting at the table. Confused, he asked “What happened?” His father replied, “Your mother…has created new life.” Kaelith in shock looked at his mother and she nodded. He was lost for words, he hugged his mother and he said “I always wanted a younger me.”

  The following days went differently. He and his father managed most of the house as his mother mostly rested and stayed in leisure. Those days were happy, for all. His father and mother were happy that they were getting another child, and Kaelith was happy that he finally gets a sibling.

  Soon, the month of Umbrilis was done, and Pluvinar began. All the good in the month of Umbrilis, was ruined by the bad in Pluvinar.

  4th Pluvinar, Kaelith went to school as usual and everything was fine. Just fifteen minutes after Kaelith left for school, Kaelith’s father went and checked the mailbox. He came back inside with four envelopes. Most of them were bills and letters adressed to his wife. Except one. One letter was adressed to him; with the royal seal. Kal opened it up and read it. The letter read:

  27th Umbrilis on The Syntarian Calendar

  Dear Admiral,

  My wife has organized a get together for all the children of respected families; for my son’s birthday. As the highest ranking officer in the main military force of Syntar, I hope you come with your family. A royal carriage will pick you up on the day you receive it, which I believe is six days from the date up top. The work in communications is going well for our island nation.

  I ask you to come.

  Yours sincerely,

  Magnor Thavric II

  The king.

  Kaelith came home at the usual time. Kaelith’s father was in the kitchen working as his mother was just sitting at the table eating.

  Kaelith’s mother said “Welcome back son!” “Thank you. How are you doing?” “Just eating all the delicious food your father made.” “You’re eating a jar of sardines dipped in jam…” “It tastes surprisingly fantastic, would you like to have some with me?”

  “Father is this normal?” “The doctor said such weird things are enjoyable to pregnant women.”

  “Also why is mother not scary? She is very nice and not ruthless.” “That is the mood swings.” “How long is this weirdness going to go on for?” “Till that baby comes out.”

  His father again spoke, “also son, I got a letter from the palace. We are invited to the prince’s birthday party.” “That baby spoiled brat who looks like a pig?” “We do not say bad things about other people.” “Fine, but do we have to go?” “Yes. All three are invited.”

  “No I don’t want to come.” Mari?n spoke in the middle. “Honey you have to come.” “No, I don’t need to come. You two enjoy.” Both father and son were shocked at her words but nonetheless they agreed. Kaelith asked, “when do we leave?” “Tonight at seven.” His father replied.

  Kaelith and his father began packing.

  As Kaelith was checking if anything still was remaining, he saw his journal in the drawer. Not wanting to miss an entry he began writing:

  5 in the evening on The Herman Clock.............................................................................................................................................4th Pluvinar on The Syntarian Calendar

  Dear diary,

  I am writing early because, I have to leave in 2 hours and cannot leave this day’s entry empty. I have to go to the palace in Velkanor for that baby spoiled brat, called the prince ‘s, birthday. I have seen him in public assemblies, cries for absolutely no reason at times. Anyway me and my father are leaving. Bye!

  Kaelith Tharyn.

  seven ‘o clock at night; the carriage arrived. The driver got off and helped them load the luggage. Then everyone boarded the carriage. The driver asked “Is everyone on board?” “Yes.” Admiral Tharyn replied. The driver flogged the horses and they began their journey.

  “I have never been in a horse carriage before.” Kaelith said, “Well, I have; a few times. It is quite fun.” “Never been in a carraige eh?” The driver said. “Yeah.” “Well then be prepared for quite the experience.”

  “Also why can’t we use the train? Or any vehicle that can get us faster there.” Kaelith asked. “We do this out of tradition young man. Back in the day, high-ranking officials were picked up in the carriage for royal parties. So that’s why, we continue to follow that tradition. Also because the queen wanted a vintage theme for her son’s birthday. Does that answer all your questions?” The driver replied. “Oh, wow.”

  “Is that all with the questions?” The driver asked. “Yes.” Kaelith replied. “Well feel free to ask more on the journey. Hope you all enjoy” “Thank you and we will.” Admiral Tharyn replied.

  To be Continued…

  If you have read till here…I thank you.