Blake POV:

I sat on top of a big rock doing my usual training for my sound attribute, I could hear every single movement around me; the rustling of tress, whistling of wind, chirping of birds, my own breathing and heart beat and even the sound of people yelling in the village.

I'm hungry.

However unlike my usual self, I was overwhelmed by the sounds around me, usually I would use a special technique to filter out the unnecessary waves of sound, otherwise this would happen.

Even though I was only 8 years old, I have almost mastered this technique, a technique that is normally mastered at the age of 15 for us Calliopes.

My mama and papa called me a genius since I had a powerful sound aptitude and excellent learning ability, all people in our tribe have the sound attribute, but my aptitude was freakishly strong.

To be honest I didn't like the sound element, it was an advanced form of wind, but it's offensive prowess was almost non-existent, the best I could do was hurl a loud sound wave towards my enemy to disorient them, which could be countered easily by creating a barrier, other kids at the village had much cooler ones like fire.

I didn't like it but I continued training because my parents have high expectations for me.

I want to meet those expectations, and even surpass them if I could. I thought, trying to encourage myself to focus on training but my thoughts were elsewhere.

why did they warn me to stay away from the village no matter what? Is there a problem? Shall I go see? No... but mama told me not to! But I'm very curious...

I debated for a long time whether I'll go check it out or not, my curiosity finally won over me, I jumped down the rock and headed to the village.

I'm only going to see it from far away so it doesn't matter either way does it? And I will return after seeing what's happening. I thought trying to reduce the guilt I was feeling for disobeying my parents.

I didn't want to be found out so I muffled my footstepscloser and enhanced my hearing with my sound attribute, as I got closer I could distinguish the words said by the yelling people.

"THE VILLAGE CHIEF DIED!"

...

"WHAT IS THIS CURSE? NO! MY CHILD!"

...

"WHERE ARE THE LIGHT USERS OF THE VILLAGE?"

"MOST OF THEM HAVE ALSO DIED! WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?"

...

Huh? Eh? Why are they all talking about a curse? the chief died? Where is mama? She is a light user! I can't hear her nor hear my papa!

Any thoughts of returning were erased, I plunged into the village and started searching for them between the wailing and desperate people, there was a crowd forming around someone, that someone was my mother, I ran towards her and felt relief.

"Mama!" My voice was clear, it cut through air and I didn't need to yell loudly for her to hear me.

"Blake?! I told you to stay away from the village why are you here?!" She looked dishevelled and had a layer of sweat forming on her face, she was also very sickly pale, probably from the overuse of her abilities.

I stood stiff in place, I was at a loss of words, I had no excuse, it is true that I came here despite them warning me not to.

"I- I thought something bad happened to you and papa!" Tears were forming in my eyes but I didn't cry because it would be bad in this situation.

"my dear, for my sake please get out of here before the curse reaches you."

"But, but what about you and papa?" My tears finally couldn't be held in and started falling.

"Don't worry dear we'll come to you shortly after you go back."

"Bu-!"

"No buts Blake! Be obedient and go back! I will definitely follow you later, I still haven't scolded you yet!" Although she was reprimanding me, she was also assuring me so that I wouldn't worry.

I finally nodded my head and turned to leave when a black hand reached out and threw me to the side and I hit my forehead on the ground.

"PLEASE PURIFY THIS CURSE FROM ME!" A man yelled.

"Blake!" That was the last word I heard before I fainted.

When I woke up I was in an unfamiliar place.

what is this place? It's so abnormal!

it was very weird, there were big boxes where I could see human were in, there were also some sort of moving creatures that humans rode, they looked like an equivalent of a carriage.

Where are the horses? How is it moving?

it was very bright despite it being in the middle of the night, there were lanterns everywhere and weird glowing paintings that showed moving pictures.

magic?

there were few people around but what surprised me was that a lot of them had black hair! They're also wearing weird clothes!

My mama told me that black hair was a special trait of the Calliopes! Which is why people liked to have us as slaves, that's why we live far away from the human kingdom, but here people were walking among each other without even looking at the black hair as if it wasn't unique!

"H-hello aunty? I am Blake, my family name is Black and I am of the Calliope tribe, can you please tell me where I am?" I said with the most formal greeting I know of.

I tried to approach a woman to talk to but she ignored me, she just kept walking.

I tried several more times but they all ignored me, they would be startled if I touch them, then confused, then they would shrug, mutter a word or two and continue moving.

Can't they see me? Am I invisible? I can't understand their language.

I want to return to the village! Where am I?!

I started running around but I only got more lost in this huge place, it wasn't like my village, it was very complicated.

Sunrise was nearing, I was still running, somehow I don't feel tired, I've been running for a long time but my body was still normal, I wasn't slightly out of breath.

I was now sure that I was invisible I tried communicating with all types of people but they couldn't see me, I was losing hope.

I was now standing in an isolated place compared to the one I've been in before, I saw a young man get out of a box, which I assume is what houses are like here, I went to him and asked

"Um... Hello uncle, my name is Blake, I'm lost, can you tell me where I am?"

I didn't bother with a formal greeting because I never seem to be getting replies, however he looked at me, I was taken aback, he was scary! Although handsome, his face was expressionless and he looked angry.

did I say something wrong?

"I'm sorr-" I was going to apologise but he said something at the same time, it was an unknown language to me but I understood his words, he also seemed to understand mine.

"You're lost? why are you apologising?" He asked

"I thought- I thought I said a rude thing to you, I don't usually talk to strangers, and yes I'm lost I don't know where I am" I said awkwardly.

"No, you didn't do anything wrong, anyways, where are you parents? Do you know your home address?" He patted my head.

I noticed that there was a slight change in his voice, it was very unnoticeable but my enhanced hearing could distinguish it, his voice softened up a little and sounded consoling.

He's a nice person!

I smiled at him and he was a bit stunned, I didn't know why though.

"What is a home address? Also, I don't know where my parents are, when I woke up after losing consciousness from hitting my head, I was already here, my village was in chaos after there was curse spreading there, everyone had black bubbles on their skin and they were dying, my mother... was helping with healing the cursed, when someone... pushed me and I hit my forehead... and after I was here... when I tried to talk to people here... no one... listened to me... they just ignored me and kept walking... waah!" The more I talked the sadder I was, I couldn't hold back and finally hugged the man's leg and cried.

The man stiffened, I thought I was disrespecting him and tried to pull back.

"sob... I'm sorry sob... I didn't mean to hicc..."

The man bent down and hugged me, he patted my back awkwardly.

"It's okay Blake, it's okay, everything is going to be fine, I'll help you look for your parents, we'll definitely find them." He comforted me with that flat voice of his, it was surprisingly comfortable when he was hugging me, I felt safe, so I hugged him tighter.

After calming down I pulled away, he took a piece of white fabric out of his pocket and wiped my tears.

he's so nice!

I smiled at him "Thank you uncle!"

His lips turned up subtly, he looked scarier than before but I knew he was trying to smile at me.

"I'm only 18 years old, don't call me an uncle, my name is Noah, call me that"

"That's a beautiful name, brother Noah!"

He sighed helplessly "Sure I'll be your brother if you want."

He seemed to notice the bruise on my forehead and his eyes widened slightly.

"Let's go inside and treat your wound."

He took me inside his house, washed me with warm water that came out of a magical fountain, and got a cube with a red plus mark on it, he opened it, took something out and started wiping the little wound on my forehead, it burned a little, I winced.

"Ah I'm sorry, does it hurt? Bear with it, this is a disinfectant and then I'll apply a band-aid so the wound will heal faster." He tousled my hair.

"Yes I understand, brother Noah!" I beamed at him.

"What an obedient little guy you are." His lips turned slightly upwards, which was his version of a smile.

I felt like I could understand him very well, and he understood me too, it was weird! He felt very familiar, this was our first time meeting.

"I'm not a little guy! I'm 8 years old! My mother said I could protect her!" I pouted.

"Sure," Noah said "are you hungry?"

At the mention of food my stomach rumbled, I was hungry since I started my training, I blushed because of the sound my stomach made, it was bad behaviour to show to people you've just met.

"Haha. Okay I'll get you something to eat before we go to the police station and file a report, do you have any preference?" He tilted his head.

"No, anything's fine, I have already caused you trouble, I don't want to be anymore of an inconvenience." I said seriously.

However he seemed amused "pft."

"Why are you laughing at me?" my face turned redder.

He pinched my cheeks lightly "I'm not, I just find you really admirable, your parents raised you well."

He went away for a while and came back with something on a plate.

"What is that?" I asked

"It's a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, do you not like it?"

"No! No!" I took the plate and grabbed the peanut butter and jelly sandwich as he called it, after taking a bite my face brightened up.

it's nothing similar to what I've ever had before! It's so sweet and delicious!

"Do you like it that much?" Noah asked.

"Hm!" I nodded vigorously.

"I'll make you another one to eat on the way to the station then" he added

"Thank you!" I smiled at him.

He pinched my cheeks again "Stop being so formal with me will you? Aren't I your brother?"

"Okay... but, why do keep pinching my cheeks?"

"I can't help it, it feels nice, you have very plump cheeks, it's like playing with slime, very relaxing."

"Right? I feel the same way, I always pinch my cheeks."

His eyes widened a bit by my answer and then he laughed emotiolessly "pfft hahaha."

"Okay, let's go."

I took his hand and we went outside.

While we were walking we saw a young woman standing on top of a box... house? shouting, but I couldn't understand what she said, there was almost no one around but me and Noah.

Noah let go of my hand and ran towards her, and he started telling her that it wasn't worth it to jump, I followed after him.

is she trying to kill herself? But why? I don't understand.

I repeated what brother Noah was saying to help him, my voice was clear because of the sound attribute but only he seemed to hear me.

People were crowding around us, and it was chaotic.

After saying something and crying, the girl made a decision and jumped off the building.

Brother Noah ran towards her and tried to catch her, however the force of the fall made him hit his head hard on the ground.

"NO!" I made my way to Noah, a pool of blood forming underneath his head, my thoughts were a mess.

what? Why didn't he use magic? It was obviously the right choice, why do something so reckless? Can he not use magic? But what was that magic fountain? What about the disinvektor and the bant-ait? Were those not magic? If I had known I would've helped him with wind magic!

After he was finally able to speak he said to me

"I'm sorry Blake, I couldn't help you." There was genuine worry in his eyes, he didn't care about his death.

"No brother Noah! It's going to be okay, everything going to be fine! Don't worry about me, just don't die!"

He turned his head to the girl and said something to her, I didn't pay attention to her before, but now I glared at her.

It was all her fault, why would she try to kill herself!? Brother Noah was now dying instead of her, she's so selfish!

He turned his head back to me and chuckled "why are you glaring at her like that? It isn't her fault, I was the one who chose to save her, I only regret not having helped you find your parents, I'm sorry Blake."

"Don't say that! You're going to live! I'm making sure of that!" I started to cry, he was the only nice person here, only he helped me, I pushed away the girl hugging him and crying and hugged him instead, she doesn't deserve to hug Brother Noah!

"Thank you." He said as he pinched my cheek.

His eyes started dimming, as if the life was leaving them.

No! No! No! Please don't die!

I felt my legs start to fade away, they were being sucked in by a strange force, it was a weird sensation, but I knew that I was going to go back to my village, I could hear my mama's voice calling me.

No! I still need to save Noah!

Noah stopped breathing, his heart ceased to beat and his eyes became duller than they already were, he died.

I couldn't save him...

Noah body was still, but something was coming out of him, it looked like a golden light, it started to fade away, but I instinctively hugged it, if I didn't, brother Noah would not exist anymore.

The golden orb was absorbed by me, it enveloped me with a golden light, and I could feel it fusing with me, after that I was was fully sucked in by that force and I fell unconscious.

Noah POV:

I woke up, full of sweat, tears falling freely from my eyes, that dream was the last memory that Blake had.

How could I forget about Blake? How come I just remembered that kid?