Chapter 3 - Music Leads To Light

The sun shone warmly as the villagers of Gemhules worked tirelessly in the repairs of their village. Men were seen carrying wood, others were mending damaged roofs and some made blocks. A few more were looking at house plans.

The women chatted happily as they prepared food for the men. The children, on the other hand, were running around playing.

Fortunately for the villagers, no one was killed or thrown into hibernation during the attack. Only a few received injuries that ranged from minor to severe. Majority were able to escape unharmed.

The injured were taken to the hospital were gamarax manipulators took care of them. Only a dozen houses were destroyed. The villagers were so thankful that the kremis was taken down before it could do more damage.

Word that Sharaina; daughter of Sharumez the carpenter, defeated the kremis spread like wild fire. The villagers gossiped among themselves. They were astonished that Sharaina was able to take down the kremis.

The gossip was especially worse among the women. Sharumez was in the hearing range of four. He was nailing a roof as he unwillingly listened to the women gossip.

"I heard that she was drunk the whole time." the first woman said and the other three gasped. Sharumez formed wrinkles on his forehead.

"What makes you believe that she was? I can't imagine facing a kremis while drunk and worse as a not of age warrior!" the second one snapped her fingers. Sharumez put his hammer down and looked down at the women in disgust.

"I'm telling you the truth. Okay, can you tell me why Sharumez angrily took her home?" the first woman defended her thoughts. The other women gasped at their realization. None of them saw Sharumez scowling at them.

"Sharaina is a very beautiful girl and now we know that she is will be a skilled warrior. Sharumez and Akirexer must be proud of her." the third woman remarked with admiration.

"I think they'd be prouder if she stopped drinking." the fourth woman added, and the other three nodded their heads sympathetically.

Sharumez had enough of their gossiping and hit a nail so hard that it startled the women. They finally saw him on the roof and swallowed embarrassed. The women scattered in four different directions. Neither of them dared to look up at Sharumez again.

Jenu, Sharumez's best friend, saw this and became concerned. He knew that the gossiping was irritating Sharumez but he didn't think that it would affect him that much. He walked over to Sharumez and handed him some more nails.

Sharumez got the nails and continued nailing them to the roof. He hoped that his silence was enough to give Jenu a hint to leave him alone but alas to his dismay, Jenu sat down opposite him.

"Sharumez, you can't honestly get upset with gossiping women." he held Sharumez's shoulder. "Our village is small so gossip is a common thing in these parts."

Sharumez sighed, "I am not upset with the women." he put his hammer down. "I am concerned about Sharaina. She is getting worse. All she wants to do is go out with her friends, get drunk and party. I can't help but feel that I am losing my little girl." Sharumez complained. Jenu could hear the pain in his voice.

"Sharaina is just a child and it's normal for children her age to behave that way. This is just a phase that she will grow out of. Stop worrying yourself." Jenu assured Sharumez.

Sharumez shook his head doubtfully, "You must understand that I can't help but worry. Soon she will be of marrying age. What will happen then?"

Jenu laughed, "Don't worry my friend. Your daughter is beautiful. In fact, she is so beautiful that she already has suitors lined up. While she has her mother's face, she inherited your golden hair. She is fun to be around and an easy person to talk to. Let's not forget that she has a big heart and constantly puts other people's needs before hers. Please don't worry about her not getting married because of this one flaw of hers."

Sharumez laughed softly at Jenu's comforting words, "I know that she is beautiful. I also know about the suitors. My concern is on the type of man she will end up with. So far I can't stand all the men that have come forward for her hand in marriage. Most of them have come across her at these parties and I don't want a drunkard for a son-in-law. I just want a good boy for my daughter. This is why I want her to sober up and become responsible. At least this way, she will attract a good boy worthy of her."

Jenu slapped Sharumez a pat on the shoulder, "It shall happen as you want it to be, my friend. Oh look, here she comes." Jenu pointed at Sharaina.

Sharaina greeted everyone on her way to Sharumez. Some little girls ran to her and skipped around her while she laughed with them. When Sharaina came across little boys who were playing football on the road, she handed the basket she was holding to one of the girls and lifted her long brown dress.

She dribbled the ball against the boys, and kicked it into their makeshift goal. The children erupted in cheers. Sharaina got her basket back and waved goodbye to the children.

When she got to her father, people were already gossiping around her. Sharaina paid no heed to them. She shielded her pink eyes from the sun and faced up. Sharumez and Jenu looked down at her.

Sharaina smiled happily at them but only Jenu smiled back. Jenu soon noticed that the people saw that Sharumez didn't smile back at Sharaina. He nudged on Sharumez and he feigned a faint smile.

"Hi, uncle Jenu." Sharaina greeted Jenu and he nodded his head at her. Sharaina averted her eyes to Sharumez, "Papa, are you still angry with me?"

"No, my child." Sharumez cleared his throat, "What are you doing here?" he asked her.

Sharaina pulled a flask out of her basket, "Mama asked me to bring you some fresh fruit juice."

"That's good, Sharaina. Throw it up here." Sharumez said and Sharaina threw it.

"I am leaving now, papa. I will see you at home." Sharaina waved goodbye and turned to leave.

"Sharaina wait!" Sharumez raised his voice and startled Sharaina.

All the villagers around them looked at them stunned.

"Yes papa?" Sharaina asked, lowering her chin, confused.

Sharumez cleared his throat. He could feel the stares. "Where are you going? Home is that way." he pointed.

"I am going to the woods to pick mushrooms for dinner." Sharaina innocently explained.

"Okay, be safe." he said and she waved goodbye again. Sharumez watched Sharaina leave and when he lost sight of her, he continued working.

Sharaina hummed to herself as she scouted the woods for mushrooms. Her mother specifically told her to pick the white ones with brown patches. Sharaina only walked for a few minutes when she spotted a bunch of them ahead. She put her basket down and started loading it. They were about the size of an apple so it didn't take long for her to fill up the basket.

Sharaina got up to leave when she heard the sound of a guitar. She listened to the sweet melody and got smitten by it. Without a second thought, Sharaina followed the sound of the guitar and it led her deep into the woods.

She came face to face with a tall tree. Sharaina gasped surprised to see the young man she saw moving into the mansion earlier that morning. When his eyes met Sharaina's, he smiled warmly at her and continued to play.

Sharaina put her basket down and sat down to listen to the music. She slowly swayed to the rhythm. It was a slow and gentle piece. It felt like it was going through her and refreshing her. The tune was so enchanting that she almost believed that it was alive.

"I am glad that you like my music." he said from up the tree when he was done playing.

"You play beautifully." Sharaina gave her opinion.

He laughed softly, "You are the first one outside my family to hear me play." he jumped down from the tree and extended his hand to Sharaina. "My name is Light Velan. I am the son of Velan the business man. Your new neighbor. I believe we sort of saw each other earlier."

Sharaina took his hand and he helped her up. She held her breath taken aback when she looked directly into his eyes.

Are his eyes always this warm? She wondered to wondered to herself. "I am Sharaina Sharumez, daughter of Sharumez the carpenter." Sharaina introduced herself.

Light stepped back surprised, "Wait a minute, you're the girl everyone is talking about." he babbled, amazed. "It's rare for a not of age warrior to activate their powers. This is fascinating."

Sharaina rolled her eyes, "I always underestimate the extent to which gossip spreads in this village."

"You are a warrior darkas god. That's pretty cool. I'm a gamarax manipulator." Light pulled up his sleeve and showed Sharaina his special V birthmark.

"That's great, Light. Aren't you supposed to be at the Great Academy?" She asked him.

Light nodded his head, "Yes, I am actually in my fifth year. We are currently on holiday. I am to return in 30 days."

"That's nice to hear." Sharaina flashed him a smile.

"It is really a pleasure to meet you, Sharaina. You are the first person I have spoken to since we moved here this morning." Light couldn't stop smiling.

"Don't worry, you will have friends in no time. People are just busy with the repairs." Sharaina confidently told Light, "Where were you living before you moved here?"

"We were in Lano. We lived there for 30 years." Light briefly answered.

"Welcome to Gemhules." Sharaina picked up her basket. "I must return home now. My mother is waiting for these."