《Echoes Of the Seed》


 Chapter 1: Last Winter

    Clack! Clack! Clack!


    The sharp crack of wooden swords echoed through the quiet forest. Perched on a sturdy tree branch, Reed sat cross-legged, his eyes fixed on the sparring match below. In his lap rested a crumpled scrap of parchment, its edges smudged with dirt. He scribbled quickly with a battered pencil, glancing up now and then to observe the fighters.


    Above him, his sister Jade lounged against the trunk, her long legs dangling carelessly over the branch. She yawned, brushing a stray leaf from her tunic.


    "What do you think of his technique, Reed?"


    Reed paused mid-sentence, his pencil hovering over the paper. He glanced at her briefly before returning to his notes.


    "It''s not very powerful," he murmured. "But it''s efficient. His movements are precise, and the style suits his smaller frame."


    Jade smirked, crossing her arms. "Since when did you care about swordsmanship?"


    Reed shrugged, closing his notebook for a moment. "I don''t know. Maybe it''s a new interest."


    Jade crouched on her branch, leaning closer. Her teasing tone softened, replaced by genuine concern.


    "Reed, I''m your sister. I know you better than anyone. You''ve always dreamed of becoming a scholar, not a fighter. You''re not cut out for swinging swords around."


    Her words hung in the air like a challenge. Reed didn''t reply immediately. He simply stared at the sparring match below, his hands tightening around his notebook. Jade tilted her head, studying him, then sighed and pressed on.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    "Why don''t you ask Dad to teach you? He''s a hunter. If you''re so interested in fighting, he''d be happy to train you."


    Reed''s grip slackened, and he looked down at his feet. His voice was barely audible.


    "It''s fine. I don''t want to bother him. I''m not trying to fight. I just want to understand it."


    Jade frowned but didn''t push. Instead, she patted his shoulder lightly. "Don''t be silly. You''re not a burden, Reed. You should talk to him. Anyway, I need to get back and help Mom with dinner. You coming?"


    "No," Reed replied softly. "Not yet."


    Jade gave him one last searching look, then stood and stretched. "Suit yourself. Just don''t stay out too long, okay?"


    "Okay," he murmured.


    And then he was alone.


    Reed rested his head on his knees, hugging them close as the sparring match below drew to a close. The fighters exchanged a few words, laughed, and walked off, their wooden swords resting on their shoulders.


    As the forest grew quiet, Reed stared at the empty clearing.


    ***


    The warmth of the makeshift fireplace filled the small room, its flickering light casting shadows on the walls. The family of four sat on the cold, uneven floor, their meal spread out on a wooden crate that doubled as a table. The air smelled of mutton stew, rich and savory, steaming in chipped bowls alongside chunks of crusty bread.


    "I heard they finally found an artifact for Cassie!" Reed''s mother exclaimed, her voice bright with relief as she handed Jade a bowl.


    "What grade did she get?" asked his father, already tearing into his bread.


    "A D-grade," his mother replied, shaking her head. "And it cost them 10 whole silver."


    Reed''s father let out a low whistle. "10 Silver? For a D-grade artifact?" He shook his head in disbelief. "Haih. This world''s no place for the poor." He glanced at Jade and Reed, his voice softening. "Thank the lord neither of you is marked."


    Without warning, he pulled both children into a bear hug, his large arms wrapping around their shoulders.


    "Dad! Ew!" Jade squealed, wriggling free. "You''re so sweaty!" She scooted back, glaring playfully at him as she adjusted her tunic.


    Reed chuckled, unable to hold back a smile at his sister''s over-the-top disgust. His father grinned, his laughter rumbling deep and warm. Soon, their mother joined in, shaking her head at their antics as she stirred the stew.


    The laughter swelled, filling the room with a rare and fleeting joy. For a moment, the weight of their struggles seemed lighter, the cold outside a distant memory.


    But Reed''s smile faltered as he looked around at their faces. His chest tightened. He clutched the bowl in his hands, willing himself to stay present, to savor this moment.


    One last night.


    He forced the thought away and let the laughter carry him, holding onto the warmth for as long as he could.

 Chapter 2: First Snow

    A loud yawn echoed through the small, cold room as Reed''s father stretched and scratched his stubbled chin. His bleary eyes scanned the room before resting on his wife, who was folding a patchwork quilt.


    "Where''s Reed?" he asked, yawning again.


    "He headed out early," she replied without looking up. "Probably writing those notes again."


    "Notes?" His brows furrowed.


    "Yeah, he''s been studying swordsmanship," Jade piped up, sitting cross-legged by the fireplace, polishing a carving knife. "I think he''s too shy to ask you to teach him."


    Reed''s father blinked, then grinned. "Well, that settles it. Let''s surprise him with a wooden sword today."


    Jade''s eyes lit up, her face breaking into an eager smile. "I''ll find the best stick to carve!" She sprang to her feet, hugging her father briefly before rushing out the door.


    In the bustling market square, Reed stood in front of a street vendor''s stall, staring at a small, chipped skinning knife. His fingers tightened around the eight copper coins in his palm.


    "How much for this?" he asked, voice steady but soft.


    "Ten copper," the vendor replied without looking up.


    Reed frowned, glancing between the knife and his meager savings. "I only have eight."


    The vendor scoffed, shaking his head. "Come back when you''ve got enough. What do you expect me to do?"


    Before Reed could respond, a gentle voice interrupted.


    "Here, take these."


    Reed turned to see a girl holding two copper coins. Her golden hair shimmered like sunlight, and her warm smile revealed flawless teeth. Around her neck hung a pendant depicting a knight holding a spiked mace-the crest of House Mina.


    "Lady Cassie!" The vendor''s demeanor shifted instantly. He straightened, voice respectful. "Please, take your money back. I''ll give it to him for eight copper."


    Snatching Reed''s coins, the vendor shoved the knife into his hand. "Here, take it."


    Reed quickly pocketed the knife, pulling up his hood to obscure his face. Before Cassie could say another word, he muttered a quick "thank you" and hurried away.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    The vendor sighed and turned to Cassie, his tone oily. "Ignore him, Lady Cassie. Kids these days have no respect." He caught himself, eyes widening. "But not you, of course. You''re wise and mature beyond your years!"


    Cassie frowned, her gaze lingering on the boy disappearing into the crowd.


    Reed made his way to a secluded cave hidden deep in the forest. Inside, scraps of paper littered the ground, alongside dark scorch marks-a sign of past fires.


    He crouched near a crack in the wall, pulling away twigs and leaves stuffed into the crevice. Reaching into the gap, he retrieved a small, worn bag. Unzipping it, he carefully added the knife to its contents: a few notes, a handful of odd tools, and a piece of cloth.


    Satisfied, he tucked the bag back into its hiding spot, refilling the crack with leaves and twigs before turning to grab a scrap of paper and a pencil from the ground.


    Meanwhile, Jade returned home, a long, straight stick clutched in her hand. She plopped herself onto the floor, grabbed her carving knife, and began whittling away with careful precision.


    For hours, she worked tirelessly, smoothing edges and shaping the wood into a makeshift sword. When it was finally done, she held it up, admiring her handiwork. With a small grin, she etched the name "Reed" into the handle before tucking the sword beneath a pile of hay in the corner of the house.


    As the sun dipped below the horizon, Reed returned home, greeted by the warm glow of the fireplace. His mother handed him a blanket, while Jade glanced up from stirring the stew.


    "Back so early?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.


    Reed nodded. "Not that hungry today. You can cook a little less for me."


    Dinner was a modest affair: crusty bread and a pot of mutton stew. The three of them sat around the wooden crate, waiting for their father''s return.


    "He''s late today," Jade muttered, tapping her fingers impatiently.


    A familiar shuffle of boots outside the door caught their attention. The door creaked open, and their father stepped in, shaking snow from his shoulders.


    "Sorry I''m late," he said with a grin, rubbing his hands together. "The snow came out of nowhere, and I''m freezing."


    After warming himself by the fire, he joined the table, clapping a hand on Reed''s back. "Let''s eat! I''m starving."


    The family passed the bread and stew around, laughing as their father made exaggerated complaints about the cold. As the laughter died down, Jade caught her father''s eye, her excitement barely contained.


    She gave him a small nod, signaling she was ready.


    Reed''s father smiled and placed a hand on his son''s shoulder. "So," he said, his voice calm but deliberate. "I hear you''ve been interested in learning swo...."


    The whole room froze.


    Reed felt it first-a warm, humid gust brushing against the nape of his neck. His body stiffened, every instinct screaming at him to run, but his legs wouldn''t move. Slowly, as if compelled by some unseen force, he turned his head.


    Hovering just inches behind him was a creature unlike anything he had ever seen. Its single, massive eye-easily the size of a wrecking ball-stared at him with an unblinking intensity. Veins pulsed across its translucent surface, glowing faintly in the dim light.


    Two impossibly long, scrawny arms extended toward him, their skeletal structure almost insect-like. Each arm ended in three elongated fingers, twitching ever so slightly, as if eager to grasp something.


    The creature''s mouth twisted into a grotesque smile, its jagged teeth uneven and spiked like shards of broken glass. Saliva dripped from its maw, sizzling faintly as it hit the wooden floor.


    Then it spoke, its voice a guttural rasp that sent chills down Reed''s spine. One word.


    "Speak."

 Chapter 3: Lost

    Time itself seemed to shudder, the world grinding to a halt. The crackling fire at the hearth froze mid-flicker, its light trapped in a ghostly glow. Reed''s breath hitched as the air around him grew still, heavy, and cold. The warmth of the room was replaced by a damp chill that crawled over his skin.


    A humid breeze brushed against the back of his neck, carrying the faint, metallic scent of something otherworldly. The hair on his arms stood on end. Slowly, as if compelled by forces beyond his control, he turned.


    And then he saw it.


    Hovering just beyond the edge of the firelight was a creature unlike anything he could have imagined. Its enormous, unblinking eye, the size of a wrecking ball, stared down at him with a gaze that seemed to pierce through his very soul. Its scrawny, elongated arms ended in three spindly fingers, each flexing with a deliberate, unnatural grace. When it smiled, its uneven, jagged teeth glinted like shards of broken glass.


    "Speak," it whispered, its voice like dry leaves rustling in a tomb.


    The creature''s presence should have terrified him, but it didn''t. Reed simply stared, his face unreadable. Whatever fear he might have felt had long since eroded, buried beneath the weight of resignation. He had already lost.


    "Take me," he said quietly, his voice cutting through the stillness like a blade.


    The creature paused, its grotesque grin widening. It tilted its head, curious.


    "How curious," it murmured, its voice dripping with dark amusement. "Very well."


    The creature dissolved into the shadows, its form unraveling like smoke caught in the wind. For a moment, there was only silence.


    Then agony came.


    A sudden, searing pain stabbed through Reed''s body, like his very essence was being torn apart. He collapsed to his knees, gasping as fire seemed to spread through his veins. His dark blue hair began to drain of its color, fading into a stark, unnatural white. Blood welled from his eyes, his nose, his nails-every pore-as though his body was being hollowed out.


    Through the haze of pain, he glimpsed his reflection in a shard of broken glass near the hearth. His once-healthy frame was withering before his eyes, his muscles shrinking, his cheeks hollowing. He could barely see his parents and Jade frozen in time, their faces blissfully unaware. A choked sob escaped him as tears mingled with the blood on his cheeks.


    The pain faded into numbness, and Reed lay motionless on the floor. Minutes passed-or maybe hours. He wasn''t sure. The silence felt eternal.


    Then, through the void, came a whisper.


    "The trade has been witnessed. The fate, blood, and history of the boy for the seed."Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    The voice was soft, almost playful, yet laced with something unspeakably cruel. Reed gasped as his eyes fluttered open. He was alive-but not the same. His body was frail, his strength all but gone. The world around him had resumed, the fire crackling again, voices faintly audible from the other room.


    Reed stumbled to his feet, his legs shaking as he made his way to the door. Each step felt like a monumental effort, but he pushed forward. He couldn''t stay.


    Outside, the winter night was merciless. The snow crunched beneath his boots as he stepped into the cold, the biting air slicing through his weakened frame. The moment the door shut behind him, his legs gave out.


    Reed collapsed into the snow, leaning heavily against the door. His breath came in shallow, labored gasps as he clawed at the ground, trying to stand. His fingers trembled, his body unresponsive.


    Minutes dragged into what felt like an eternity. He clenched his fists, forcing himself to try again and again, but his body betrayed him. The snow soaked into his clothes, the chill numbing his skin, yet he kept pushing.


    Voices from inside the house floated faintly to him, muffled by the door.


    "Honey, did you make extras tonight?" his father''s voice asked, warm and familiar.


    "Oh, I''m so sorry," his mother replied, a hint of laughter in her tone. "Something must''ve come over me."


    Jade''s voice chimed in, light and cheerful, though tinged with confusion. They were talking, laughing, as if nothing had happened.


    Reed gritted his teeth and, with trembling arms, finally pulled himself up. His legs wobbled as he limped forward into the snow-covered night, each step heavier than the last.


    A little further out, he paused and turned back toward the house. Through the frost-covered window, he could see his father leaning back, patting his stomach with a satisfied smile.


    "I don''t remember the last time my belly''s been this full," his father said, his voice carrying faintly through the night.


    Reed stood still, staring at the warm glow of the home he had just left. He let out a slow breath, his chest tightening with an ache he couldn''t place.


    "Your sin is now forgotten," he whispered to the night, his voice heavy with something between acceptance and despair.


    A faint smile tugged at his lips. He turned away, limping into the endless white of the winter, his figure soon swallowed by the cold, unyielding night.


    ***


    After the laughter and chatter of dinner faded, the house grew still. Jade hummed softly to herself as she prepared for bed, her tune light and carefree. She padded across the room toward the haystack bed where she slept, her mind already drifting toward dreams.


    With a small leap, she plopped down onto the haystack-only to yelp in pain.


    "Ouch!"


    She sat up, rubbing her back with a wince. Something hard and unyielding had jabbed her. Puzzled, she pushed aside handfuls of hay, her fingers brushing against a solid object buried beneath. After a moment of digging, she unearthed a wooden sword.


    Jade held it up, turning it over in her hands. Confusion flickered across her face as she examined the sword. The weight of it was familiar, the smooth grain of the wood carefully polished. Her fingers traced over the carved patterns etched along the blade-patterns unmistakably hers.


    And then her gaze landed on the base of the hilt, where a name was carefully carved.


    "Reed."


    Her breath hitched. A tear slipped unbidden down her cheek, catching her completely off guard.


    "Huh?" she whispered to herself, her voice trembling.


    Why do I feel sad?


    Her free hand flew to her chest, clutching at her heart as it raced beneath her palm. An ache bloomed deep within, sharp and unrelenting, as though something precious had been ripped away, leaving a gaping void.


    The sword trembled in her grip as she held it closer, her tears falling faster now. The feeling was inexplicable, but it consumed her entirely-a loss she couldn''t name but felt with every fiber of her being.