2.Myths of reality (2)

Alec stood up and helped William move the big, heavy,wooden closet.

"This is so heavy..!" William murmured. He was clearly weak to even move this closet.

" Yeah. But we have to move it outside." Alec was stronger than William. So, naturally, he was able to pick it up more easily. They moved the closet out of the storage room with difficulty.

William panted with his hands on his knees, " just...a little more and..the storage is clean.."

Alec breathed manually but was also tired. He patted William's shoulder.

"It's fine. Let's hurry, I'm hungry." Alec walked inside again.

While William took his breath and followed his suit.

*****

" Aunt! Aunt Collen, we've finished our work." Alec walked in to the dinning table while supporting the exhausted William.

" Mom..hurry up. Im hungry."

They both sat on the table and Collen placed the plates Infront of them.

"Just wait a minute, boys. The rice is almost cooked." Saying that, she turned towards the kitchen. " You boys did a great job. I made your favourite white rice with fish Chowder and meat pie..!" She happily annouced her dishes.

"Really? Oh, thank you." Both of their eyes lit up at the mention of their favourite food. It seemed as though all their exhastion was replaced with anticipation.

Collen was happy with their response and chuckled.

*****

Late at night, Alec held a candle in his hand as he walked into the storage room. He rambled through the pile of books and turned to a clothed table.

He lifted the cloth and reveled an old book filled with dust. He picked it up and his gaze landed on a desk.

"Thank goodness it's still here." He mumbled to himself and placed the candle on the desk. He sat down, looking at the old book.

'thats weird.' he thought. It seemed as if it wasn't a normal book.

'but it's just a book like any other. Then why...,' he narrowed his eyes. The book he was holding, let out a strange aura. Alec's heart became heavy for some unknown reasons.

" Why does it feels like...like I should've open this book." He felt a strange sense that if he opened this book, it was not a good sign. He pondered on it and gently brushed his hand on the book, reveling an unusual title.

"The myths of reality "

He read out the name. It was an intriguing title.

"Well, it's just a book. What's the worst that could happen?." He shrugged and tried to open the book.

The book's locked. Alec sighed and fliped the book. He begin to examine it.

"Woah...is it locked by magic? I can't see any lock on it."

He tried to use strength to open it, but in vain.

Alec took a deep breath and thought of a way to open this ridiculous book.

"Hmm...it's locked by magic.." suddenly, a strange thought came to his mind. He unbottoned the first two bottons of his shirt and pulled out a transparent stone.

" Aunt Collen said its a magic nullifier....will it work? " He brought the stone closer to the book. He gasped softly as he saw a flow of red smoke, emerging from the book and vanishing into the stone.

The stone absorbed the red smoke and it's bottom became dark red. Alec observed this scene and hid the stone again in his shirt.

He slowly opened the book.

"It really...works?" His brows become knitted as he flipped the pages.

"What in the...it's empty? " Before he could come up with new conclusions, slowly, words and images started to emerge.

Alec's eyes sparkled with awe. "Wow...it's working."

He flipped the pages throughly. There was the mention of some strange creatures and items. All of them, Alec does not recognise. Owlbares, sirens, catamals, and some looked like the mixtures of animals like, griffens, snopions, etc.

Alec continued to flip the pages. His eyes landed on a title. He read.

"The seven rings of fate."

He read the content of the rings with curiosity glimmering in his eyes.

" The seven rings of fate are the creation of an unknown entity. These rings have the power to do anything. But only one wish can be fulfilled.

The wish can be anything. From bringing the dead back to life, to end a whole race. From opening the sea to cracking the sky. It can bring you glory or throw you down.

But only one wish is to be fulfilled.

The rings are scattered in the world.

You can find them ;--"

Alec flipped the book and came back but, " what the? Where is the next part?"

The page was torn from where the werebouts of rings were. He knitted his eyebrows and took a deep sigh.

"I guess the page was torn long ago.." he stood up, blew at the candle flame, took the book with him and left the storage room.

Making sure everyone was asleep, he went back to his room and slept.

*****

The next day, he went back to his usual place and practiced his sword.

"Ha!...ha!" He swung the sword on empty air.

William sat by the tree and flipped through a book. He lifted his gaze to look at Alec.

" Why are you so slow today?"

Alec continued his practice and retorted, " I'm not slow..haa..is that book fun?"

William went back to his book. "If you understand, it's fun then. Otherwise," he put the book to a side. " it's a waste of time."

Alec wiped his sweat off the forehead and sat under tree, beside William.

"Phew...hey, have you ever thought about..going to the Capital to study? "

William punderd on it and shook his head.

" No. Because I like it here better." He watched his town with a little glimmer in his eyes." Why do you ask?"

Alec looked at the blue sky. His hazel eyes reflecting the sky.

"... nothing. Just a strange thought."

William looked at him and felt something was amiss. They had known each other for far too long. He was hidding something. But William dismissed that thought because if Alec had something to say, he'd definately say it.

That's just how Alec is.

****

At dinner table. Collen was picking up the dishes to wash after eating.

"Aunt, let me help." Alec stood up and helped her move the dishes.

Collen smiled at his behaviour and then looked at her own son. " Will, what are you doing staring at the table ? Did you guys cut the wood that I asked of?" Collen crossed her arms.

William came back to reality and awkwardly screched his head.

" Mom, Alec-"

" I helped him do it, Aunt." Alec cut him off.

Collen turned to looked at Alec. " It's good that you guys help eachother but will, you should also do your fare share of work "

She sat back on the chair. William pouted .

"Well, it's not like I asked him to do it. He did it himself." William tried to defend himself and in return, faced the glare of his mother.

Alec also sat down on his chair.

"Aunt, don't be angry. I asked him to let me do it." Alec explained carefully.

Not letting her know that William couldn't cut even one wood. So, Alec offered help because of that.

" If it's like that, then I guess I'll let you guys off this time." She wasn't angry in the first place. Both of them knew that too. But william still glared at Alec because Collen favoured Alec in this matter. Alec brushed off his glare.

He begun slowly, " Aunt, I want to ask you something. "

Playfulness aside, she looked at him earnestly. Willian also listened attentively.

"What is it?" Collen asked him in a gental maner.

Alec fundled with his fingers.

"Its nothing serious but, I wanted to..." Alec faced her eyes."I wanted to ask if I can go to the capital. "

William was the first to react and he did it strongly.

" Is that why you asked me if I wanted to go to the capital? "

Collen ignored her son and instead, asked Alec.

" Is there something you wanna do at the capital? ...is it something you need? "

She meant if there's something he lacked in here. Alec quickly waved his hands.

"No, no. It's not like that." Out of habit of whenever he was in trouble, he would look at William. But this time, William also has questioning eyes .

" Why do you even want to go at the capital? " William rested his chin on his palm.

Alec sat up straight and looked at his hands." I..I thought about it and, " his gaze landed on Collen for any kind of reaction.

"I think I want to be a swordsman."

William shook his head in disbelief.

" Tsk,tsk. All that fuzz over something so trival?" he crossed his arms and means back on his chair.

Collen also thought about this matter. She grined at Alec and gave him her answer.

" If you want to , you can even be a swordsmater! Whats with the ' i think'?"

Alec's eyes sparkled at her response. He expected to be taken into account. But this was a positive response from the both , mother and son duo.

"Really? I can go? " He couldn't conceal his excitement.

"That's right." Collen confirmed for him.

" Hey, if you go to the capital, who's gonna be here ? " William sat back up and pointed at him.

" Now, now. Why don't you with him then?" Collen rised an eyebrow. Her green eyes smiling with a hint of mischief.

" I refuse !" William shook his head and crossed his arms into a cross.

Alec and Collen laughed at his silly reaction.

" Thank you, Aunt. " Alec couldn't help but feel greatfull.

Collen waved her hand min dismissive manner. " Don't worry, sweetie. It's the least I can do " she really is a humble and kind woman.

"Does that mean I'm not going ....does it?" William looked at his mother in suspected gaze.

" Oh no, young man. You are going. " Collen declared her final decision.