The weather had darkened with gathering clouds as the frightened child ran along a narrow path overgrown with wild grass, fleeing the bustling market and the taunts that clung to his shoulders.
His cheeks were still damp with tears, but he forced himself onward, though every step felt like a burden. In the distance, Østberg spotted Moth Park, a small oasis tucked between ancient water pipes and crumbling city walls, where children often escaped the crowds to play
That was where Elara and Famed... were waiting.
"Øst!" Elara shouted, waving as soon as she had seen him.
Elara, The girl was wearing a Faded blue coat and a pair of high-heeled shoes that were starting to wear thin.
Beside her, Famed, with brown skin and short curly hair and a sharp gaze, looked at Østberg worriedly.
"What happened to you?" Elara immediately asked as she approach.
Sorry guys, I have to lie to you...
This is to protect your emotions...
Østberg fell silent, only shaking his head slowly. "I just fell... in the market there..." He answered half-lying, trying to hide the truth.
But Famed could read the lie at a glance. "Did they beat you?" He muttered angrily. "The citizens... bastards!"
Elara stared at Østberg longer, but only said softly, "You still came... Even though we could have met you at home."
Østberg forced a smile. "I just wanted to hang out, no big deal." He took a breath. "And we've already planned to go south, right?" He continued.
Famed turned his head quickly. "Are you sure you still want to? After what happened earlier..."
"I have to know..." Østberg cut him off firmly, for the first time his voice and gaze were as firm as steel.
"About that place. About... what they're hiding in the south."
The three of them walked through the park area and along the path on the west side of the southern district, which led to a small hilly area.
There was an unusual black stone road there, different from the usual path in Audhild village.
While they were walking, Famed accidentally stepped on a tree branch that had somehow gotten there. That made Østberg startled and scream a little, but he calmed down again.
Famed panicked. "H-hey! Don't scream, we'll get caught."
Østberg covered his mouth with his palm. "Huh?! It's your fault for stepping on the tree branch!"
Famed looked annoyed with Østberg. "What? My fault!? It's clearly your fault for screaming. If we got caught, I would have blamed you."
Østberg replied indifferently. "Uh, just imagine, it's so quiet here, and suddenly someone steps on a tree branch, it would definitely be a surprise!"
"Hey Hey, come on... can you two stop fighting? If the patrol sees us, our fate will end here." Elara said.
Elara continued, dramatizing, "I-if... our fate ends here, then I... won't be able to... achieve my dream..."
(Elara imagined the time when she in the future failed to achieve her dream, which was to become a chef on a luxury ship)
"HUAAAA... I DON'T WANT IT!!" Elara shouted.
(Østberg and Famed immediately rushed to cover Elara's mouth with their palms)
Famed whispered. "SHTT! SHUT UP..!"
Østberg continued, "Yes... You yourself said we should be quiet, but now?"
Elara smiled at the two of them. "Okay! That's how it should be. Um, but, look at the end of the road there..."
At the end of the road, two royal guards stood straight, complete with armor and long spears with the royal symbol on the tip.
Østberg, Elara, and Famed, who had just realized there were guards at the end, immediately hid in the wall next to them.
They chatted and asked each other's opinions about how and what they should do next in this place.
"How?" Østberg asked.
Elara thought for a moment. "Maybe we should just get out of this place before we get caught..."
"No!" Famed said.
"We have to go in. Look at those two guards, they look tired! Maybe they won't notice us"
The path was a kind of corridor to the administrative building, it was a special route for the military and high-ranking officers. No ordinary citizens were allowed to pass through it, even just to look.
But the atmosphere changed when they approached the old stone gate that separated the village from the path to the royal fortress. Two guards stood there, wearing silver armor with a winged lion symbol on their chests.
Østberg stopped, staring at the large door behind the guards. Something inside him felt attracted, as if there was a magnet behind the stone wall.
"I want to come in..." Østberg said suddenly.
Elara turned quickly. "What? Are you serious?"
Famed interrupted. "That's only for high-ranking officers, but are you sure?"
Elara tried to hold her steps, "Even my father has never passed through there."
(As they neared the gate, one guard immediately crossed his spear…)
"Stop right there! This area is not for you guys." The guard's voice was heavy and intimidating.
Østberg took one step forward. "We just want to see. We won't go too far in."
"A child shouldn't be here." Another guard said in a mocking tone.
"Go home. Do you think this place is a playground?"
Famed tried to mediate. "We're just passing through, sir. We don't mean to disturb."
Elara added. "Excuse me… But can't we just take a little look? We're just curious."
But Østberg didn't move. His gaze remained fixed on the end of the path, as if something was calling him from behind it. "I need to know… what's there. Just for a moment…" He said, this time in a quieter tone.
Østberg with his blank stare continued to look at the end of the path while muttering incoherently. Elara and Famed who saw that looked a little panicked.
The sound of birds was heard in the sky, and the wilted leaves began to fall a few to where they were all standing now.
One of the guards smiled mockingly. "Hey kid! Look at your gaze! That's the same gaze as a suffering loser. How much suffering can a kid like you have!"
After the insult, Østberg regained consciousness and blinked, he then took a few steps back, while trying to beg the two guards to let him in for a moment.
The two guards looked annoyed with Østberg's stubborn attitude, one of them pushed Østberg to make him move a little away.
"Østberg…" Elara sounded worried.
The first guard snorted. "This kid is also stubborn." He lowered his spear and approached Østberg, while the second guard prepared himself.
The second guard continued. "I told you this is no place for you!!"
(And without warning, a hard blow hit Østberg in the stomach. He fell instantly, falling to the ground)
Elara screamed. "ØST!"
Famed took a step forward, but was blocked by the other guard's spear. "Stay out of it!"
The first guard screamed. "YOU IMPOSSIBLE BRAT!!!"
(The guard kicked the helpless Østberg, sending him tumbling to the side of the road)
Blood flowed from the corner of his lips, but his eyes were still open.
"Enough! Enough!" Elara screamed in tears, trying to stop him.
The first guard spat on the ground. "Next time, learn your place. And don't ever come back here."
Famed helped Elara lift the helpless Østberg. The three of them walked away, leaving the road with tired bodies, physical injuries, and silent anger.
Behind the guarded path, a low rumble could be heard, like a whisper from another world. And for some reason...
---
[Evening is approaching]
The sunlight turned yellow softly, reflecting on the surface of the river that flowed quietly beside the path. The wind carried the scent of damp leaves and the sound of trickling water that seemed to calm the world.
Østberg stood still on the edge of the path, watching the river meander slowly, as if following the direction of his uncertain thoughts. On the surface of the water, several small wooden boats could be seen slowly moving along with the current.
Østberg smiled thinly. "Huh, how unlucky I am today."
The afternoon light danced on their sails, creating swaying shadows on the surface of the water.
Beside him, Elara sat on a large rock, her hands supporting her body behind her as she stared at the sky that was starting to warm orange.
"Elara..." Østberg muttered without taking his eyes off the river.
Østberg smiled, "Have you ever felt… like the world is hiding something from you? Like there's a truth that's being deliberately hidden."
Elara smiled slightly, her eyes staring at the edge of the bridge. "Everyone has felt that way. But most choose to ignore it… because maybe the answer to that question is too hard to accept."
Østberg took a deep breath. The wind blew softly, blowing the dried leaves from the trees around them.
Not far away, on a small stone bridge that connected the two sides of the road, Famed stood still. His left hand held the edge of the bridge, and his eyes stared at Østberg and Elara. But his facial expression looked more serious than usual.
"I've thought it through," Famed said, his voice audible quite loudly from where he stood.
Famed grinned, before speaking again. "Do you know… a place where not just anyone can enter. That place… is behind the boundaries of the southern district palace. And only high-ranking officers are allowed to enter."
Østberg and Elara stared at each other.
Famed now slowly descended from the bridge and approached them. "That place holds many things… including the truth about last night. And about those old watchers…"
"I have access. But I can't do it alone." Famed continued.
Østberg turned, looking at Famed with a look that had now turned to conviction. "You want us to go in there?"
Famed nodded slowly. "Exactly… we have to go in there."
Elara stood up from her seat, gently brushing the dust from her skirt. "If this is about what really happened… I'll come with you."
Instantly, the atmosphere felt heavier. Not because of the threat before their eyes, but because of the realization that the three of them, at such a young age, were about to step into a place that had been hidden from the rest of the kingdom.
The sky was now starting to turn golden orange. The clouds were slowly being swallowed by the last rays of the day's sunlight. In the distance, the temple's small bells were ringing softly… a sign that night was coming.
Østberg stared at the river for the last time that evening. The small wooden boats were still moving slowly, undisturbed by anything. But inside him, a storm had begun.
"Come," he said without looking back. "If the world wants to hide something from us… Then we will be the first to force it to speak."
And with equally heavy and firm steps, the three of them walked together, along the path… towards a place that only those who had sworn to secrecy could enter.
They did not yet know that those steps, small steps at the end of the afternoon, had led them… to something new.