Soul: Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Home Sweet Home

     Most of her life Lily has been traveling with her half brother Joseph. Even though they are half siblings they still consider each other as fully biological siblings. She is also a mage, a very powerful one at that. So was her elder sister Mary. She also left her a few things. A magic transformation tool that changes into any tool that she may need. Her family’s ancient scepter that is known for its healing and plant magical abilities. Along with her grimoire. A grimoire is a magical book of spells that any mage has access too. Although only the mage that owns it can read it. The last tool is one that she created herself. She took a normal pouch and enchanted it so now it can hold anything or anyone without getting heavier or bigger.

They live a quiet life in an old church that they found a few months ago. Most people avoid it because of the untamed, wild gooseberry bushes that grow around it. It is high up on a secluded hill in view of the road and the grasslands. At the edge go the end of the grasslands there is a forest that goes as far as the eye can see. A river flows behind the great old church that if you follow it to the west you will end up in the small town of Wheatherberry.

“Lily where are we going?” Said Joseph who is currently blinded by his sister's hand.

“Just wait and you’ll see” She replied giving him a slight shove foreward.

“Ugh Fine.”

They walked into the church and when he looked around he saw what she meant. From the outside it looked so destroyed that it had lost all of its beauty. But the inside after-- Lily had fixed it---now was elegant and breathtaking on the inside. The old confession box was turned into a storage area for food and other materials after being sealed completely and locked with a spell. The bell tower was turned into an outlook. The old kitchen was fixed up and now usable. Even the worship hall was changed into a living space. Lily and Joseph felt like they were being watched. That feeling didn’t leave until the end of the night.

In the morning they both went to work. Joseph went into town to work and do errands. Lily found reeds by the riverside and she began to weave water sealed baskets. As she sat at the river's edge weaving, a small basket went down the river. Lily curiously went into the river where the basket got caught in the reeds. When she opened it there was a small baby wrapped in blankets. Lily gently picked up the baby and as she felt the baby’s forehead it was hot. No wonder she was in the river her parents most likely couldn’t afford medicine.

Luckily Lily knows healing magic and she can mix herbs and medicines like it was nobody’s business. The child looked to be about two weeks. This wasn’t a good this as Lily could not provide milk because they had no cows nor was she herself capable. Lily looked through the money that they had. They could afford two cows, one male and one female. Lily knew that this was a great idea for it would also give them access to milk, not only good for the baby but for them as well. Although using magic might be a better version of milk but then again magical objects on a child this small is unwise. After all people that don't have an affinity with magic have very bad reactions to things that are infused with magic. Lily put the money in her pouch and carrying the child she went into town.

In town she ran into a merchant who didn’t like her because no one who has ever seen her has seen her face or her without her shawl. “What do you want you annoying girl?” He asked rudely. She never liked him, he always had a smug look on his face as if he was beyond reproach. “What I have come for matters not to you.” Lily walked away to where the old farmer lived.

“Ah young lady have you come for more seeds?”

“No sir not today, do you think I can get some cows?”

“Well you have enough money for two so, sure thing I can get you what you want.”

After the transaction Lily bought a bit of milk and took her cows home. There she set tied them to an old wooden post. She knew that when Joseph came home they would have plenty work ahead of them. The basket that she found the child in was made perfectly so that it can be carried. She set the basket down while she picked berries. Using magic she made fruit grow one after another. After putting the fruits away in the storage area she went to the edge of the hill where she used her magic. “Summon Wood” by summoning magic she could create a small fenced in area for animals.

“I wonder what to name this child...what name would be fitting for a small baby girl?” she thought and though for a long time all the while she summoned wood so she could complete the task at hand. “I know how about Amy! Perfect.” She looks towards the town “When is Joseph comes home I want him to meet our new family member.”

Amy sleeping in her tiny basket lay there while Lily built a small fence area. It was midday by the time she finished. She milked the cows and got an entire bucket full. As she stood there on top of the hill feeding Amy a group of magic knights passed by. One of the knights noticed her and went up the hill to say hello. The other knights came up as well. “Good day miss” he said to Lily smiling. She did not smile back “and what may bring you here?” The knight knew what to do “Well first food and a place to stay for we are so very tired” Lily was starting to get uncomfortable.

“I am sorry but you will have to wait until my brother gets home from work.”

“Is that really true?”The young knight knew that most people aren't comfortable hosting grown men in their house, especially when they can use magic. “Yes sir, so please take one step back.”

“I don’t think so”

“Please my brother will be upset if he finds out that I let strangers in”

“Yes but we are knights and you are a woman, at maybe age fourteen?”

He guessed right but Lily saw that she was slowly being backed into the wall of the church. All of a sudden the knights heard a voice “What is happening here?” It was Joseph, pitchfork in hand he looked at Lily as she ran towards him and hid behind him. “Well, hello sir! How do you do?” Said the knight. Joseph was not happy “Do you think it funny?” The knights shuffled “Where is your captain? I think it wise you tell me” an older man walked up the hill. “Boys What is happening here?” It was the captain.

He looked at Joseph and repeated himself “What is happening here?” The knight that had spoken to Lily earlier pointed at her and said “This woman has been denying us shelter” it was the law of the land that if knights needed shelter the citizens had to give them shelter. “Ma'am is this true.” Lily’s grip tightened on her brother’s shoulder because she still had Amy in her arms. “Of course she did sir.” Said Joseph confidently. The captain shook his head “That is the law my boy.” Joseph understood the law and said “I know sir, but I had told my sister that she cannot let anyone into our house unless I am present and your men arrived before me.”

“Haha Is that so? Well then that solves that issue”

“I have nothing against your men I just care for the safety of my sister.”

“Elder brother what shall I prepare for lunch?”

“Well we are low on meat so prepare some salad and if you would like to, bake whatever you would like”

Lily’s eyes shimmered as she ran into the church excitedly. When the knights went inside they found that the old church had been turned into a living quarters. “So boy tell my knights and I about yourself” Said the captain to Joseph. “Well first of all my name is Joseph and my sister’s name is Lillian although I just call her Lily. Our last names are Solei” Joseph's face went dark.

“Our family once lived at the edge of the capital but there was a fire and my sister and I were forced to flee. We traveled and eventually wound up here. The baby well I’m guessing that my sister found her abandoned today. My sister is great at almost everything she does. Cooking, cleaning, weaving, sewing, gardening and anything else that she needs to do.”

One of the knights sniffed the air “ooh what is that smell?” A few minutes later Lily came out handing each knight a plate with food on it. “Hey Lily do you mind telling me the harvest today?” Lily smiled as she sat down next to her brother still holding Amy. “Well we filled up almost everything. The only issue is that we need more meat but today I bought two cows.” Joseph took this into account. The captain hearing her voice for the first time thought that her voice sounded as sweet as the birds in the spring.

There was a knock at the door. Lily rose to answer it when it was forcefully opened and she was knocked back “Lily!” Cried Joseph as he rushed to her side. Standing in the doorway was a man. “General!” The knights all rose to their feet. “I see so this is where you were.” He looked down to see Lily and Joseph. “Boy you are of age why aren’t you in the army?” Joseph shook his head “I am not suited for that career, my sister is still young and is unmarried I cannot leave her alone to do all of the work”

“Well then marry her off!”

“I cannot force my sister into that for it would break my heart”

“Too bad, girl you will now marry someone in this room”

“General I am sorry but you have entered my house without permission please leave.”

“No I will not! You will let me stay and you will have your sister married!”

“Leave. Now.”

The general swung his sword at Joseph but a magic barrier appeared “So you are a mage boy?” Joseph shook his head “Sadly, I did not acquire our mothers abilities, my sister did.” The General heaved an exaggerated sigh and ordered his men to move out. After they left Lily and Joseph cleaned up and spent time together. It was quiet as they sat on the river bank fishing. A piercing cry broke the silence as Amy announced that she was hungry.

“What did you name her?”

“I gave her the name Amy...after mother.”

“Well she is adorable.”

“We have cows now so we can feed her until she is old enough to eat real food”

That night Lily had a dream...no more like a nightmare. A small girl running through the forest away from Shadow crawlers, monsters that can have a human form. She ran and ran until she met a young woman. It was Lily soon they were both surrounded by shadow crawlers. Lily used her magic and fought them off but there were so many one after another. They were terrifying, Shadow crawlers were known to feed off the fears of humans until they couldn’t move because they were frozen in terror. And then they feast of the flesh of the human until all that remains in bone and whatever the shadow crawler left behind. Lily woke up panting and drenched in sweat. Amy lay beside her sleeping peacefully and Joseph lay on the other side snoring loudly. Very loudly actually.

Lily got up and went outside, it was almost dawn, the light of the stars were fading as the sun rose. It was nearly time to milk the cows when a shrilling shriek sounded across the sky. The only thought that crossed her mind was, Shadow crawlers. Shadow crawlers came from the forest straight towards the village Lily teleported to the village where the knights were getting into formation to defend. Lily watched from a rooftop as they one by one started to get overpowered. She then jumped down and begun casting spell after spell overwhelming them and sending them back to the edge of the forest they wouldn't dare leave for the dawn had already pierced the sky and the light would surly make them parish. When she went home, she grabbed three potato sack sized amounts of strawberries. They were currently out of season so she could sell them for a decently good price. Especially seeing as she has an unlimited amount due to plant magic.

After selling the strawberries she had one basket full of gold coins. One of the knight spotted her and went to say hello. “Good morning miss” he said with a bow. Lily in return answered “and a good morning to you as well” Lily didn’t want to hang around too long so she turned to leave “Wait miss! If you would like may I walk you home?” He seemed like a modest young man who looked around her age. Lily smiled and said “No thanks I can handle it” he saw a faint glow from her left eyes and she disappeared. She teleported home where she saw Joseph holding Amy and a bottle of milk, frantically attempting to feed her. She laughed and showed him what to do. It was a great day. Neither Joseph or Lily knew what would happen if they dared do something that affected a huge chain.

“Today has been peaceful”

“.....yeah it is…..”

“You’ve been quiet Lily”

“My sight has been blurry as of late, I am worried that there might be a huge change.”

“I see….let’s hope that, that change does not affect us or our home”

“I really don’t see that happening”

“Let me guess, war?”

“Most likely.”

“Of course it is that is how things work in this world”

“Who knows, life is unexpected…..”

After their chat they got back to work. One by one all of their chores were completed and they finished in record time too. Who knew what could come next, after all life holds many surprises. What will the next few years bring, more war? More peace? Or maybe tragedy is waiting right around the corner. Whatever it might be if Lily’s sight is blurry it can’t be anything good.