Peaceful Days

Sylvas watched quietly with a calm expression as his mother and sister prepared lunch. After a while, he snapped back to reality and slowly made his way to the stairs in the corner of the room, which didn't attract much attention.

Climbing the stairs, Sylvas reached the second floor, where he was greeted by a simple yet peaceful atmosphere. The second floor, while still reflecting the warm and cozy vibe of the lower floor, seemed like a more private and personal space.

The floor was made of polished wooden planks, just like the ones downstairs, but these were older, creaking slightly with each step. This sound conveyed a sense of the house's history. The walls were painted a soft cream color, occasionally interrupted by wooden beams. The windows let in gentle daylight, and the thin white curtains swayed lightly in the breeze.

At the center of the second floor, there was a small seating area. An old rug covered the center of the space, with a few cushions and a wooden coffee table placed around it. On the table, an open book and a half-drunk cup of tea were left, indicating that this was the family's resting corner.

On the right side, three closed doors caught Sylvas' attention. These doors seemed to lead to individual rooms. Each door was carved with small handmade symbols, resembling tree branches and roots. The craftsmanship was simple but meaningful, symbolizing the deep connection with nature in this world.

To the left, near an open window, there stood a small bookshelf. The shelves were filled with old and worn-out books. Among the books, there were a few scrolls and small stone figurines. On a shelf above, a vase filled with dried flowers sat; the flowers seemed to have been left there as a memento.

The ceiling was lower than the first floor, with finely crafted wooden beams giving the space a warmer feel. A small lantern hung from the ceiling, seemingly used to illuminate the room in the evenings. The gentle sound of raindrops hitting the zinc roof above added to the peaceful atmosphere.

As Sylvas looked around the second floor, he felt that this was more of a retreat, a quiet space in contrast to the liveliness and activity downstairs. "How peaceful," he said in his usual calm tone.

He made his way towards the seating area and, taking a book titled "Basic Knowledge" from the small bookshelf on the left, sat down on one of the cushions and began reading.

As Sylvas flipped through the pages of the book, most of the writings seemed familiar to him, but instead of teaching him new things, the book directly explained their existence. The following lines caught his attention:

"In this world, the roots of a tree lie hidden within every person's soul. Through their spiritual bonds, people are interconnected with nature, but discovering the type of tree takes time. This power shapes through the individual's inner journey, and discovering one's true nature requires effort. Each tree grants a different power, but no tree is exactly the same. Some are calm and patient, while others transcend possibilities."

As Sylvas read these words carefully, he felt the anger deep within his soul and sensed the presence of his tree. It was something he needed to understand, but it wasn't clear—it felt like being trapped between endless sparks and thunderstorms.

"As the tree grows, it grants power, but it also brings out the inner conflicts of the person. Power is not only a physical development but a spiritual one. For the tree to grow properly, the heart and mind of the person must be in balance. Every tree has a beginning; how strong it is depends on how deep that beginning goes."

Sylvas examined the book more closely, feeling the echo of these sentences in his mind. In this world, everyone's soul harbored the roots of a different tree, but what type of tree it was remained a mystery for each individual. Some discovered their tree through inner intuition or meditation, while for others, it was a lifelong discovery.

Sylvas closed the book and looked up at the ceiling. "Haha, it looks like it's going to be a difficult journey, judging by what I feel in my soul," he said softly, laughing.

After reading for a while, he suddenly heard his mother's voice coming from downstairs.

"Lunch is ready," he thought, and quickly made his way down.

As Sylvas descended, the smell of food from below reached his nose. It was clear that his mother was preparing something in the kitchen. With a warm feeling in his heart, he headed towards the area where his family members were. When he reached the bottom of the stairs, he heard his mother's voice calling from the kitchen. "Lunch is ready," she said with a warm smile.

In the kitchen, his mother was gracefully preparing the meal. Her hair shimmered golden under the sunlight, and with every movement, she radiated a peaceful atmosphere. Sylvas' mother, in her mid-thirties, was an energetic woman. Her green eyes reflected the love and tranquility within her, and the soft wrinkles on her face added maturity. Despite the years, she hadn't lost her youthful glow, and when she smiled, joy seemed to burst from her eyes. At that moment, surrounded by the aroma of freshly prepared food in the kitchen, she was by his side with her warm gaze.

His father, entering the kitchen, lit up the atmosphere with his characteristic smile. With short brown hair and a muscular build, he looked strong. Despite his age, he was still quite energetic and cheerful. At that moment, as he placed his large bag on the kitchen counter, the confidence emanating from his eyes provided reassurance to everyone, just as it always did. His father had a calming and reassuring presence, and his smile always made Sylvas feel secure.

His sister, watching everything happening in the kitchen, had an energetic presence. Her yellow hair, just as bright and wavy as her mother's, was a striking feature. Her eyes were a slightly lighter shade of green, but they still conveyed a sense of liveliness and energy. Despite her young age, she possessed a strong character, and the firmness in her facial features showed her determination and strength. When she entered the room, she smiled and remarked that the preparations for lunch needed to be sped up. "Shall we begin the lunch preparations?" she said.

After Sylvas and his family finished preparing the meal, they sat down to a peaceful lunch together.

Once the meal was finished, as usual, they chatted for a bit. Shortly after, his mother, Elaris, began washing the dishes, his father, Kaelan, headed out to chop wood for the evening, and his sister, Lyra, went upstairs to her room to read a book.

From that day forward, Sylvas tried every possible way to understand and bring forth the power within his soul, but nothing seemed to work. After about three months, he decided to talk to his family about it. At first, he hesitated, but realizing he had no other choice, he gathered his family in front of the fireplace early one morning and began explaining everything. His family wasn't too surprised, as this was something common for everyone in this world. However, they were taken aback by one thing: the symptoms were showing up far earlier than expected. Usually, a person's power begins to manifest around puberty, but in Sylvas' case, this was happening much earlier. This led his family to see him as a prodigy.