Chapter 4

It was morning. A cool crisp breeze wafted through the open window beside the bed in which Korvath slept. The air warm and inviting. His room was a place of wonder. Glass doors opened to the gardens where a pool had been depressed into the soil. His bed made of the finest of wood, his sheets the purest of silk. A simple dresser stood beside, with a small bonsai tree sitting atop. The floor was a white marble with a gold satin rug complementing the walls with light grey trim. His room alone was like a palace, angular, yet simple in design. It wasn't an oversized space, but rather one on the smaller side. It gave the feeling of security, of comfort, yet open and relaxing.

His mother calls for him. "Korvath, please wake up my child, breakfast will be ready shortly!" His eyes snap open, "coming mother!" Mornings were never his thing. Although having gotten up at 6 since around the age of four, he still wasn't used to it. Eyes were heavy, a feeling of weight upon them, the burn of them being slightly dry. Mornings always felt like rising from the dead, never stiff but dazed. While startled by the call, he struggled to keep them open and proceeded to drag himself upright. Slippers on, robe, necklace. A present given to him during his coming of age ceremony. A gift bestowed by his parents. It was three golden chains braided into one, with a red sapphire ring dangling below. It symbolized his current status, that of having partaken in the ceremony. It held no weight though it allowed him small privileges at shops and the like. Because of it he was allowed to borrow books from the library and was trusted with money.

"Morning mother" he stammered, all the while rubbing his eyes with the sides of his fists. "Korvath, sweetie, go wash up. Your food will be on the table when you're finished" she said, a look of motherly fondness sparkling in her eyes. "Ok." Turning, the bathroom a quick walk down the hall. He grabs his stool moving it towards the sink. Hands on the rim, he looks up into the mirror. An old man, a plain man, a boring man stared back from his reflection. Gasping Korvath blinks, falling backwards off the stool. On the floor, heavy breathing. "What was that," he whispered. Mind racing, fully awake. Timidly crawling to the sink, he peers over the lip.

Personal reflection. Himself. Eyes wide with alarm. Fight or flight on full turn inside his brain. Slightly tan, small nose, brown hair. Jaw slightly agape, breathing heavily. All he saw. He blinked a few times, still him. Catching his breath, a long sigh. Relief washing over him. He felt cold, even though it was a warm spring day. Wiping his brow, his hand wet from a cold sweat. "Sweetie!" Korvath nearly fell once more from the sudden call of his mother. "Foods on the table, you all washed up?" He shook his head trying to refocus himself. "Almost done!" He yelled down the hall. Grabbing a facecloth he quickly washed his face.

"Mother?" A look of confusion on his face. "Yes sweetie, what's wrong?" A mother's instinct. "I saw a weird man in the mirror." She stopped eating, her fork suspended mid travel. "Oh? What did he look like?" Korvath shifted uncomfortably in his seat "I'm not sure, he was kind of plain." One could feel the tension leave from around Aria. "Don't worry my child, I'm sure you were still just half asleep, our minds like to play tricks on us like that." Abashed, Korvath looked down, chin to his chest. "Why is that? He seemed so real." A look of musing took form on Aria's face. "Mmm, well we all dream right? Sometimes those dreams like to follow us even after we're awake." A look of amazement shown from his face as he looked at his mother "Really? Why do they do that?" A calm delight came over her face, "Well, they don't wish to be forgotten."