"Vael: A Childhood Lost" by Emily Faerber

Vael

A Childhood Lost

Vael looked with disappointment at the small cottage, that until seven years ago had been his home. Seven years was a long time, and he had changed during that time, but this place hadn't. It was still the same small, quiet place it had always been.

"Vael!" his mother yelled, stepping out from the cottage door. Happy to see his mother, Vael ran and met her in an embrace.

"Hi Mom," he said simply, grinning at her.

"Your hair! It's white now! What ever happened to your strawberry blonde color?" His mother patted his shaggy white hair.

"I'm a white mage, my hair was supposed to turn color. So were my eyes." Vael lifted up his head a little higher, so his mother could see his now crimson eyes.

"Oh, I didn't realize that was part of becoming a color mage. When Master Kav came here offering to train you, he had black hair that looked natural enough . . ."

"You didn't pay attention Mom, his eyes were black also. He's a black mage." Vael gazed past his mother at the cottage, which was looking smaller by the minute. "Where is everyone?"

"At school or work, and the little ones are napping." Vael's Mother smiled, "Won't you come inside?"

"Alright Mom, but I have something I need to tell you. I've been thinking about joining the King's Army, they could really use my healing powers . . ."

"Hey Squirt, aren't you a little young?"

Vael spun around to look at the soldier who had spoken, his crisp new uniform rustling as he did so. "I am just as capable as anyone else, despite my age!"

"Yeah, I'm sure you are, they don't let just anyone join the army," the soldier leaned forward, sitting on his bed in the wooden barracks, a wide-brimmed hat hiding his eyes from view. "But you should be out running around and playing with your friends, completely oblivious to the concept of war."

Vael stood silently, staring sulkily at the soldier.

The soldier chuckled, "Name's Caedon Wolf, but I'd prefer it if you called me Wolf." he whipped off his hat, revealing his face clearly. "Stick with me kid, I'll teach you everything you need to know." Vael considered Wolf, studying his long brown hair that was pulled back in a loose ponytail, his light blue-gray eyes, and the design tattoo encircling his upper left arm.

"Alright," Vael said slowly, "teach me."

Vael stared around the mess hall, holding the edges of his food tray tightly. Wolf brushed past him, then looked back and nodded for Vael to follow. They sat down at a table, across from a woman eating alone.

Vael stared openly at the woman, then spat out viciously, "You're an elemental mage, aren't you?!"

The woman stared down intently at her food. "Yes," she said softly.

"I demand that you leave this table right now!" Vael shouted.

"I don't want to cause any trouble . . ." the woman stuttered.

"LEAVE!"

The woman quickly stood up, taking her tray and walking away.

Vael shoveled a spoonful of mashed potatoes in his mouth, and glanced sideways at Wolf, who was chuckling silently.

"Don't like elemental mages, do you?"

"No, they're arrogant lazy pigs!" Vael said forcefully into his food. "They don't have to work for their powers, so they take their magic for granted, thinking that they're more powerful than us color mages. And they think they're all high and mighty, because they're advisors for the King and crap. I hate them!"

"Heh, I don't care much for them either. All the ones I've ever met have a 'greater than thou' attitude. At least, until the army's broken them." Wolf laughed right out loud, "Then even a thirteen-year-old kid can boss them around."

"I'm fourteen, almost fifteen," Vael said distractedly, putting more food in his mouth. "This stuff is kind of bland."

"Welcome to the army, soldier!" Wolf slapped Vael on the back, laughing.

It was Vael's first battle, and despite himself, a sickly fear squirmed in his stomach. He stared numbly at the field, mechanically running and dropping down next to fallen soldiers, checking if they were dead or alive. He had missed the initial part of the battle, instead he was held back at the army camp, being prepped for what he would see by the other medics.

A man groaned as Vael knelt down next to him, covered in blood and writhing on the ground. Swallowing hard, Vael placed his hands on the side of the man's face, squeezing his eyes shut and trying to ignore the warm blood covering his hands and the sickly smell.

Seconds later, the spell was completed, and the injured man breathed deeply, slipping into a regenerative sleep. Vael stood up, feeling like he was going to vomit, and started walking away.

One of the injured soldiers on the enemy's side reached out unseen and grabbed Vael's ankle as he passed, tripping him. Vael spun around on the ground, kicking away from the blood-soaked soldier, panic seizing him. The soldier crawled forward on his hands, holding a long knife stained red. Vael struggled to get up, but fear froze his joints and made his attempted movements useless.

Suddenly a loud yell pierced Vael's mind as Wolf came running, holding his sword high. Wolf plunged the weapon into the enemy's back, severing his spinal cord. Leaning on the sword and breathing heavily, Wolf looked at Vael and cracked a half grin, though his eyes remained cold.

"For a moment I was afraid I wouldn't reach you on time."

Vael stared at him, unable to speak. Wolf pulled up his sword and shook off a few droplets of blood, before sheathing it.

"I'll clean the blade later. Do you know how to use a sword?"

"N-not very well," Vael stammered, standing up. "I'm supposed to focus on healing more than fighting."

"I'll teach you then," Wolf paused for a moment, then added, "Tomorrow."

"Is the battle over?" Vael asked, looking around. Medics and other soldiers were helping the wounded head back in the direction of the army camp. In the distance, a few retreating soldiers of the opposing army could be seen, but the rest of the enemies were lying in gruesome heaps on the ground.

Wolf winced as he watched Vael look around. "Yeah, pretty much is. Listen to me, from this point on, you'll never be the same. War is one of those things that can never be understood unless seen with your own eyes. Promise me that no matter what happens, no matter what you see or who dies, you'll never let yourself slip into despair. Life is too short to waste feeling bad all the time."

"Alright," Vael said quietly, his eyes fixed on nothing as he stared.

"You're really too young for this."

Vael didn't object.

That night Vael and Wolf headed to the nearest town after receiving permission from the Commanders. Vael had put on civilian clothes, but Wolf remained in uniform. However, Wolf was wearing his wide-brimmed hat, which he had placed jauntily on his head. Upon entering the town, Wolf immediately veered off in the direction of the tavern. Vael trotted along behind, looking around and trying to get his bearing.

Wolf ordered a shot of whiskey from the bar tender and downed that, then ordered another.

"You know," Wolf said solemnly, "sometimes I wish I had never gotten into this life."

"Why did you?" Vael asked, eagerly watching Wolf.

"My wife died, and I just couldn't stand to be in that house anymore. That house, that town, that area, anything that reminded me of her." Wolf drank down the whiskey and slammed the glass on the bar. "But now I regret leaving my daughter like that."

"You have a daughter?" Vael asked curiously.

"Yeah, she's five now." Wolf reached into his shirt and pulled out a locket. He opened it and smiled at the picture inside. "I left her with people to take care of her, of course." Wolf turned the locket so Vael could see the picture of a baby girl.

A young woman in her mid-twenties with long, pretty auburn hair sat down on the other side of Wolf, and cast a sideways flirty look at him

Wolf stood up, taking off his hat in a flourishing bow. "My Lady, please allow me to buy you a drink."

"Thank you," the woman giggled. "My name is Acacia, by the way."

"Caedon," Wolf smiled, "and this little kid is Vael. I'm watching out for him."

"That's so nice of you!" the woman gushed.

"But surely I am not as great as you, with your exquisite beauty," Wolf took Acacia's hand and kissed it, all the while looking intently in her eyes.

All along, Vael watched, taking everything in with his eyes.

Vael marched along, staring grimly ahead. Every now and then, he would cast a sideways glance at Wolf, who grinned when he noticed Vael looking at him. It was another battle, just like all the ones they had been in before.

They came upon the enemy in a clash. Vael dashed around, thrusting his sword into the opposing soldiers as he went.

An hour into the battle, the ranks of men were greatly thinned. Vael staggered along, occasionally dropping down to heal someone. Blood ran down his face from a deep cut that ran across the side of his nose and under his left eye, and his body ached terribly from the fight. Not to far from him, he saw a man leaning against a sword, hunched over on his knees, so with shuffling steps Vael dragged himself towards the man. Kneeling down by the man, Vael realized with a jolt that it was Wolf. Blood was trickling down Wolf's chin, and his chest heaved up and down in rasping breaths.

"Hold on," Vael said quietly, "I'll heal you."

"No," Wolf gasped, "don't." He shifted, revealing a large gash in his stomach, his intestines spilling out onto the ground.

Vomit flooded Vael's mouth, but he swallowed it down.

"Promise me," Wolf coughed, splattering blood in his hand, "that you'll get out of here. Leave this life, and live for yourself."

"You mean desertion?" Vael partly stood up.

"Promise me you'll find my daughter," Wolf's voice was growing faint, "take care of her."

"Alright," Vael said quietly, "I promise."

Wolf smiled, and breathed one last time, before lying still forever.

Vael stood outside of a large house, looking around at the children playing. He had discarded his army uniform, and now wore normal civilian clothes, though he was a little dressed up. But he kept his sword at his side, and in his hand's he held Wolf's hat.

"Excuse me, may I help you?" a matron asked as she came outside.

"Yes, I've come in regards to Jade Wolf. I'm taking her away to live with me."

"Well, I'm sorry, but we can't let our children go with just anyone. Only that girl's father can take her."

"Caedon Wolf is dead," Vael said coldly.

"Oh, so there won't be anymore money coming in from him . . . You of course are able to provide for the child?"

"Yes," Vael answered simply, going back to watching the children play.

"Alright then, I'll go get her for you," the woman said with a smile, then turned and headed in the direction of the playing children. A few minutes later, the matron came back, a small brown-haired girl following her.

"Jade, this young gentleman has offered to let you live with him. What do you think?"

The girl stood silently, staring shyly at Vael. Vael knelt down, and stretched out his hand towards Jade, "Hi Jade. My name is Vael, and I was a good friend of your father's. Would you like to come and live with me and my family? I have lots of little brothers and sisters for you to play with."

"Where's my Dad? Why isn't he here?" Jade asked timidly.

"I'm sorry, but your Dad died a few weeks ago." When Jade didn't say anything, Vael continued, "This was his hat, and this," Vael reached around his neck, and pulled off the locket, "was also his."

Jade looked at the items for a moment, then said, "I know I should be sad, but I've only seen my Dad a couple times that I can remember. It's like hearing about a complete stranger that's died." A second more of silence passed, before Jade asked, "When are we leaving?"

"Tomorrow, if you'd like," Vael smiled.

"Okay. Would you like to see my room? I share it with Cynthia and Maggy, but some of the stuff is still mine."

"I'd like to." Vael laughed as Jade took his hand, and led him to the large boarding house.