Silence. Dense, almost tangible, it enveloped the room like an invisible veil. Only the barely audible rustle of the pages disturbed this calm. Naru was sitting by the window, clutching an old book with a dark leather cover to her chest, the Nail family book. Dusk was gathering behind the glass, painting the tops of the forest in warm golden-pink shades. His silhouette was all too familiar to her, but every time it reminded her of the main thing —the border. Behind him, a world full of suspense began. A world where she wasn't allowed.
She will be fourteen years old tomorrow. She always thought that this day would be special. But how could she spend it in this place, under lock and key, in a golden cage? The decision matured slowly, but now it has become inevitable. Everything will change tonight.
She slowly closed the book and looked at the backpack lying neatly on the bed. Inside is her future: a family book, a few coins, a jacket in case of cold weather and a map with route markings. How many times had she double-checked things? Three? Five? Maybe more. Each time, my hand reached for the zipper to make sure everything was in place. There should be no mistakes.
Muffled footsteps could be heard behind the wall. My father was in his office, as always. The ruler of the city. Cold, majestic. A fire without magic. His gaze was as heavy as the walls of this house. Naru had never seen him use magic. From snatches of conversations with the servants, she realized that magic was not available to him. Perhaps that's why magic was forbidden to their family. But how could that stop her? Didn't she have the right to become like the other Fiers?
Rumors of magic always stirred her imagination.
Every time the servants told stories about his destructive power, Naru found herself listening to them with bated breath. Her fingers tightened on the fabric of her dress, and her heart began to beat faster. She tried to push these stories away from herself, but her thoughts kept coming back over and over again. "What if he's nearby? What if I run into him today?" Just thinking about it sent a chill down my spine.
Naru knew that meeting this magician was the worst thing that could happen. She recalled snatches of rumors—the residents of the city believed that he hunted the Fiers to take their power, or perhaps he was just destroying everything for his own pleasure. In any case, his presence meant trouble. Just thinking about it made my heart ache with fear.
And yet... deep inside, there was a dangerous thought. What if he could teach her magic? A real force that would obey her will. Not the kind of magic she'd read about in books, dead and dry. But she's alive, strong, and wild. The one that could set her free.
But it was just a fleeting fantasy. She immediately pushed it away. Stupidly. This path was dangerous. She couldn't trust someone she was so afraid of. No, she shouldn't even think about it. However, his heart stubbornly whispered otherwise: isn't the path to power always full of risk? Doesn't true freedom require courage?
"Naru, are you with the book again?" Elin's maid's voice rang out at the door. "Would you like to have dinner?"
"Later," she replied shortly.
Elin left, leaving behind only a light scent of fresh flowers. The servants were her only window into the world. Sometimes she heard them talking about the world outside the walls. About freedom. About magic. And about those who were dangerous. Each of their stories only fueled her desire to see everything with her own eyes.
Night had fallen. The shadows of the trees thickened, the air became colder. My heart was beating faster and faster. She was standing by the window, already in her jacket, with a backpack on her back. Freedom was just a step away. She took a deep breath and, opening the window a crack, climbed out onto the ledge.
The moonlight silvered her hair. There were two guards at the entrance below. They didn't even look at her. Naru held her breath and looked back one last time. Her heart was pounding in her chest, anticipating freedom and at the same time fearing the consequences. If someone goes out into the garden now, everything is gone.
She carefully slung her backpack over her shoulder and slowly stepped onto the ledge. The wind ruffled her hair, and the cool night air chilled her skin. The thought of the unknown ahead was powerful. She looked down—the fall seemed lower than she had imagined. "If only I didn't fall badly..." flashed through my mind.
Steeling herself, she jumped down. The impact of her feet on the soft ground sent shivers through her body, but she resisted. The guards were still looking at the gate indifferently. No one noticed.
Freedom.
Cool air filled my lungs. The escape has begun. There was no turning back now.
Every step along the path was a reminder of the fear of the unknown. Naru was thinking about the Ashen Reaper mage. What if he's somewhere nearby? In these woods? The thought was disturbing, but she couldn't stop. Every time she heard a rustle in the night, she shuddered. The shadows of the trees seemed like silhouettes to her, the whisper of the wind like voices. "He could be anywhere," she thought, looking around at every suspicious sound. But each new step forward strengthened her resolve.
At first, the steps were easy. But it's been a long night. My thoughts were confused, and my heart was drawn home — not out of fear, but out of anxiety. By morning, my legs felt heavy. Her gaze fell on a large tree. Its roots have formed a comfortable hollow — an ideal place to relax.
"Just a little bit... " she exhaled and sank to the ground.
The cold of the ground pleasantly refreshed my skin. My eyes closed of their own accord. Dawn was just beginning to color the sky with delicate colors. She fell asleep knowing that tomorrow would bring a new life. She'll be fourteen tomorrow. It all starts tomorrow.