Eclipse: the Beginning
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Instead of camping, Seraph insisted they press onward. Celestial protested, as expected, but the Wind would not budge. Samuel watched them throw arguments back and forth. Glancing at Seraph’s hand, he noticed that Cherub was not there. That was when he recalled the staff returning to him after the fight.

“Seraph,” the teen mused aloud, making the two quarrelers silence. “You have that branch from the trees.”

“Yes, I didn’t want to leave it, since it can never return to the tree.”

“Couldn’t we make torches from it?”

Seraph thought himself foolish for not considering that. Celestial had little room to argue with a light source present. They had everything they needed to continue. Samuel just smiled in that he was of help for once. With the branch broken in half, the sleeves from Seraph’s borrowed clothes made two torches. Seraph carried one, and Samuel held the other. Celestial wanted to keep her hands free for a quick draw, or as quick as she could swing the massive blade.

After walking a while on a dirt path inside the mountains, Seraph paused when he saw the silhouette of a building in a soft glow on top of a hill. His eyes looked so blank in the fire’s light before him, but Samuel had joy in his chest. There was no mistaking its origin. Seraph had missed his home.

“Is that the estate up ahead?” Celestial asked from behind Samuel.

“That’s it. I’d remember this path blindfolded.” The Wind’s voice was soft and distant as he spoke. “If I didn’t, we could have gotten lost in the labyrinth.”

“Labyrinth? I didn’t notice anything tricky on the path.” Samuel glanced around them.

“That was why I insisted we press onward. It’s easier to see paths at night, especially if you recognize the true one you’re taking. I figured we would stick closer together in the dark as well, less likely to get lost.” Seraph looked back at the listeners, waiting for either praise or criticism.

“Good idea, mate.”

“I think you wanted to get home sooner,” Celestial groaned as she stared at the property in the distance. Samuel glared at her with a disappointed face. She was such a wet blanket.

“Come,” Seraph called as he continued onward at a faster pace, “tonight, we’ll have beds, and tomorrow, a hot meal will await us.” He grinned in the light of his torch.

“You never denied my opinion, Wind,” Celestial said as she hurried to catch up to him.

“That’s because it’s your opinion. That doesn’t make it true,” the intersexed lad defended himself with a soft laugh.

“Wait for me!” Samuel was so glad he had a torch to find the speed walkers. It was not long before they reached the estate’s boundary. A grapevine alluded to a fence line.

“A vineyard?” Celestial glanced over the foliage growing the side of the hill.

“Oh, yes,” Seraph replied with pride, “we make our own wine and grow fruits and vegetables. We sell a good bit to the desert and plains, but we’re still self-sustaining here.”

“That’s amazing, Seraph. You’re not just helping yourselves, you’re aiding your countrymen. I’m in awe. Whatever brought this cause about?” Samuel tried suppressing the urge to steal a grape off a vine before snagging one. The sweetness made him sigh from pleasure.

“Mother said my father was a good and a great man. He used his private home to take in people and give his country hope. I wish I had known him,” he sounded pained with those last words. It made Samuel want to say something, but he had no words to convey his sympathy.

“The house is just ahead! Come on!” The Wind hurried off like a schoolboy, freed of class, and home at last. The two sped up, not wanting to lose their guide.

From the vineyard, the Wind led them up to a round wooden building. It was a massive one-story framework, making the width a colossal sight even in the dark. Samuel noticed that the wood glistened in the light of their torches. It reminded him of the lacquer look from the capitol. He figured he could ask Seraph about it later.

“Anyone still awake?” Seraph called in a soft voice as he opened the door. He moved a large pot off the side. Samuel looked inside after Seraph set it down.

“Oil?” he mused aloud. Celestial followed his gaze. “This must be the kitchen.”

“How do you know?” The soldier did not see the connection between pots of oil and kitchens. What did Samuel fathom beyond her ignorance?

“Seraph once told me they kept oil outside the kitchen door at his home. Something to do with scaring wild animals.”

“Master! You’ve returned!” The cry of joy drew their attention into the house. They found a young woman with a basket at her feet, presumably dropped in surprise. She had embraced Seraph, her face glowing with happiness. Samuel did not need his gut to appreciate just how happy she was.

“Is that you, Tamar? You’ve grown so much since I left! Let me see you.” The Wind knelt as he broke from the embrace. “Why you’re a grown woman now! It really has been three years!”

“Master Seraph …” Tamar teared up, wiping her eyes before they fell, “You still remember me! Oh, we’ve missed you terribly! Master Raphael said you would return to us! I’m so glad you’re unharmed!”

“I’ve returned for a short time,” Seraph said, rising from his knee. “These are my companions, Samuel and Celestial. We’ve been traveling for a while. Do you know of any rooms ready for guests?”

“Oh, forgive me! Do come inside!” She bowed quickly.

Tamar appeared close to Samuel’s age. She was a lovely young woman with chestnut brown hair and bright hazel eyes. Her skin was as tan as Seraph’s. After seeing other cities in Wind, Samuel thought it might be a regional complexion.

“I’ll show you! Oh, everyone will be so happy to see you, Master Seraph! Please stay awhile!”

“I’ll stay as long as I can. I promise.”

Tamar showed the trio to the hall beyond the kitchen. Since Seraph had thrown their torches into the hearth, Samuel was grateful to see sconces in the hallway. The wide hall arched around in both directions. Across from the kitchen, a cutaway spanned the whole wall. Samuel noticed plants in the flame’s light, so he presumed it was a garden. The teenager noticed open doorways along the other wall. He imagined he was inside a honeycomb. Out of one of these doorways, a tall man, taller than Seraph, with white hair and a wrap robe entered the hall. Seraph and he paused at the sight of one another.

“Seraph …?” the newcomer gasped.

“Raphael!” The two rush toward each other, grasping forearms. “I’ve returned for a brief time.”

“Still sneaking into the kitchen, I see,” Raphael replied with a smile of relief. From the way he stared at Seraph, his amber-green hazel eyes might weep for joy. “It is wonderful to see you again, young master. We have much to catch up on, but I see you have brought companions. You must have journeyed a long time, for I see the fatigue in your faces. Tamar, fetch them fresh clothes for the morning. I shall take them to the spare rooms.”

“Of course, Master Raphael!” The young woman bowed again and scurried away. She was so excited. Samuel sensed it radiating off of her. He had little doubt their arrival would be buzzing throughout the house by morning.

Raphael led them further down the hall to a doorway that made Samuel’s honeycomb idea feel plausible. Two doors stood on either side of the hall which Samuel presumed were the guest rooms. Raphael opened the door furthest back to the right, glancing back toward them.

“These rooms are unoccupied. Please, rest for the night. We can talk tomorrow. You are welcome and safe here.”

“Thank you, Raphael,” Seraph said as he embraced the taller Wind again. “I look forward to it. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight to you all.”

Dropping the pack he had been carrying, Samuel collapsed to the bed in his room. The woven blanket and stuffed cushioning reminded him of Grandmother Wingie’s bed, like a futon mattress. He smiled at the memory of the older woman tucking him in to sleep. It lulled him to slumber.

Light streamed into the room, waking the teenager from his deep slumber. The smell of flowers stimulated his senses as they followed his consciousness. The room was close to the size of his dorm bedroom, but he found its simplicity pleasant. A wooden chest sat across from his bed, and the window to the left of his door let in the sweet, fresh air. On a table next to the bed, a bundle of clothes waited for him. He hoped he remembered how to put them on. A knock at the door startled him from his thoughts.

“Y-Yes?”

“Master Samuel?” The voice sounded like a young man, younger than Samuel, for sure. “May I enter, sir?”

“Oh! Yes!” The ‘master’ title threw Samuel off. He held no status in Aurora to call for the formality. Celestial had pegged him when she called him an alien, despite his wishes.

“I hope I didn’t wake you,” the voice said as the caller entered. The caller was a youngster. He could hardly be older than ten. A bright smile spread across his face. Chestnut brown hair fell to his jaw in the front, but there was more bound behind him. His eyes reminded Samuel of the vibrant greens of the Ancient Forest.

“No, you didn’t. Good morning.” He glanced to the side with an uncomfortable expression.

“Is something the matter, Master Samuel?”

“Well … is the title of ‘master’ necessary? I’m not a noble or anything special. Samuel is fine, if you don’t mind, that is.”

“Oh sure,” the boy laughed. “I’m Yamin, Samuel! Master Seraph sent me to show you to the bath house. He said you hadn’t had a decent bath in a while. You can enjoy your new clothes better when your skin is clean, no?”

“A bath? Yamin, you’re my hero today,” Samuel smiled at the boy as they left. Yamin carried the fresh clothes as they walked, leaving Samuel’s arms to fold behind his neck. “Does everyone live on this side of the mansion Yamin, or are they scattered around the loop?”

“The house has rooms all around, but my mother says the Master’s room was in the center of the mansion in the tower. Master Seraph and the Madam lived there, too.” Yamin hung his head as he reflected on the sad memory. “When the Madam died, Master Seraph moved out of the tower. He wanted to be with the rest of his family.” The thought of Seraph’s words made the youngster smile once again.

“What a wonderful thing to say. Seraph is a kind person.”

“Oh, he is! I remember how he helped with chores around his studies! He always played with us when we asked him! I’m happy to live here!” Yamin beamed. The expression reminded Samuel this was not a fief. It was a community. People working together to help one another was a wonderful display of love and brotherhood. No wonder Seraph called them family.

“The baths are here,” Yamin interrupted the teenager’s thoughts. “Master Seraph mentioned you might need help to put on your clothes. He said you weren’t familiar with Western clothing. I told him I’d teach you.” An encouraging smiled followed, making Samuel relieved about his ignorance.

“I appreciate the lesson, Yamin,” Samuel said with a smile. “I won’t be more than a moment.”

“Please don’t rush! You’ve traveled for a long time. I’d love to hear about what you’ve seen. I’ve never been outside the labyrinth. Please, Samuel!”

The child’s pleadings worked splendidly. As Samuel relaxed in the bath, Yamin sat at the fire that heated the clay bowl of a tub, monitoring the flames. Samuel told the young man that Seraph and Celestial had found him in the marketplace, and after Grandmother Wingie’s advisement, the two were watching over him.

“You’re a Nomad, then?” Yamin asked with a grin. “I’ve heard about the Nomads from my mother, and I know some people living here were Nomads once.”

“Nomads, eh?” Samuel was used to hearing the term now. Grandmother Wingie had said he was one, but he really did not grasp what it meant. It had been a while since he learned something new. “I recall little before Seraph found me. Could you tell me more about Nomads, Yamin? Perhaps I might remember something.”

“Of course,” Yamin said excitedly. He enjoyed sounding grown-up with all the answers. “Nomads don’t hail from any country. My mother told me they are born from parents of different countries, and they don’t want to claim one over the other. They’re also people who have no home to return to, so they wander Aurora. Mother said they’re seeking a home. Maybe you were doing that before you met Master Seraph.”

“Seeking a place to call home, eh?” Samuel’s voice was soft and distant. His metallic gaze fell to the water’s surface. He had always longed for a home, a family. Even after Earl Watson adopted him, he sent him off to boarding school that week. The teenager had never had friends, either because of his eyes, his sleeping problem, or the Watson name. He was alone, except for Mother. The life of the Nomad sounded fitting for him.

“Samuel?” the youngster asked timidly, “Have I said something wrong? Did I make you angry?”

“No,” the young man replied as he looked over the edge of the bath to smile at the boy. Sad eyes looked back at Yamin as he said, “I just remembered I was searching for a place to call home.”

“You aren’t from Western Wind, are you?”

“How do you mean, Yamin?” Samuel asked with a curious gaze. The other was gaping up at him in childlike disbelief.

“Well … your name … it’s a Wind name. I thought you might have had Wind parents, but you really were born somewhere else, huh? You speak differently and all.” Yamin coiled his knees up to his chin, watching the fire. “You said you don’t remember though, so maybe that’s it …”

Samuel blinked at the comment on his speech. Was he referring to his accent? It was not something he could unlearn with ease. This sparked interesting ideas for him. Just as different cultures on Earth had names from their regions, Aurora’s provinces had a similar arraignment. The longer he stayed in this world, the more he came to realize the similarities to his original one. It was a comfort to not be a complete alien.

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Sparkling green eyes gaped up at him. Samuel smiled as he told the lad the event in the capitol and Celestial’s rescue. Yamin yelped for joy at the victory, making Samuel laugh. It was wonderful to get praise for a change.

“And then you crossed the wilderness to reach the labyrinth? That means you went through the Forest of the Ancients!” The youth gaped up excitedly. Samuel nodded in response with a smile. Yamin was an amusing young man. “What are they like? I heard they were a gift for Lord Zion from the Earth goddess! They must be amazing!”

“They are,” Samuel said in a wistful tone. His thoughts centered on the day before. When the Light soldiers fought Seraph and Celestial, he had been useless, as if he were holding them back. The trees had saved them. That was clear to him.

Samuel remembered his argument with Celestial. He had felt her rage, and reflecting further on it, he realized that he had experienced the phenomena several times before. The young man had been fairly accurate when reading people’s eyes and body language back home. His adoptive father had even said the ability had made him stand out for consideration. It was only here, and recently, that he sensed others’ emotions along with his own.

This both intrigued and troubled him. He knew he had been summoned to this magical world for a purpose he was still wrapping his head around. Grandmother Wingie had said his eyes had awakened, and the rest would follow in time. What had Aurora given him to make him empathetic … and was this all he would receive? He needed to discuss this with Seraph and Celestial later … whenever he saw them.

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