Author's Note: I tried something different, concerning the format of the writing. Instead of having a sentence indented, to mark the start of the paragraph, I'm just going to add a space between the paragraphs. I hope this makes it easier to read. I know this is just starting, so I look forward to reading your thoughts on each chapter.

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~16 Years Later~

Kendrolgo spent the day outside of the village near the Aberain Forest that surrounded the village. The radiant heat from the skies, with the occasional light breeze, made studying outside perfect, though others in his village would consider it the pits of Cragnus. Kendrolgo, like any other day, sat under his favorite tree enjoying some cheese and milk, while reading over the lesson for the day at school. Unlike his friends, who are probably enjoying preparation for the spring festival, marking the birth of Grace.

Packing up all of his belongings, Kendrolgo headed back towards the village passing through the field, between the forest and village. Going through the entrance of the village is a pretty amazing sight, with all the various decorations of the festival. Right next to the entrance to the right of the village was where his family was staying. Compared to the other houses in the village, the place his family stayed at was considerably humble.

“Ken, where have you been all day?” A voice called out, behind him.

Turning around, Kendrolgo saw his mother Saleras walking through the entrance. His mother probably just came back with Naltric, his step-father who trades in the nearby villages. Sometimes Naltric goes with his friend Kalt, the trader in the village that transports various supplies and goods. “I was at my usual spot.” Kandrolgo said, smiling. He always thought that his mother was the most beautiful woman in all of Gaus, the world Grace supposedly made with his twelve followers.

“Well I’m about to make supper so I guess you’re just in time.” His mother walked up to him, and hugged him tightly. People often said that his mother spoiled him, greatly.

“You’re embarrassing me,” Kendrolgo said, pretending to be embarrassed by this public display of affection. Growing up with only his mother as his blood relative, the fact that he is somewhat spoiled is something he easily admits to.

Grabbing the basket of fruits and vegetables his mother was carrying, Kendrolgo waved to his step-father, who was riding the wagon with Kalt into the village. Kalt owned the nearby stable that housed all the wagons and horses in the village. Though Kalt did not own all the wagons and horses, he did provide a maintenance service working with the village blacksmith. The stables were located in the middle of the village, before the markets and shops. Kalt set up the stables in that particular location, to help traders have an easier time moving their wares to the markets and stores. It was very convenient, and provided an impressive sight with the constant coming and going of wagons.

Walking into the house, Kendrolgo went into his room, which he shared with his brother. The room was situated with two beds perpendicular to the door, and the head up to the wall. Up against the wall between two beds was a dresser, with a bowl of water on top. Heading to the water bowl to clean off his hands and face, he looked into the water bowl, and noticed his reflection off the water, grimacing after seeing his face. The face staring back at him was a face unlike his family or anybody in the village, with his black eyes contrasted by his red pupils. Whenever he asked Naltric or his mother, they would just tell him that Grace had shown Kendrolgo his blessing.

“Hey Kenny,” a voice spoke behind him. The voice belonged to his step-brother Trikald or just Trik, as he likes to be called by family and friends.

“Hey Trik,” Kendrolgo answered. Continuing to wash his hands, he turned his head and looked back at what Trik was up to. His brother unlike him had normal eyes, wavy dirty blond hair, and was slightly taller. The one common physical trait they shared was their weight, which was slightly heavier compared to others. “Mother said that supper would be ready soon.”

“I can already smell the delicious meal that mother always makes, especially when they come back from the nearby villages.” Trick grinned while rubbing his belly, a sentiment that Kendrolgo shared. Looking at the books laying on Kendrolgo’s bed, Trick made a groaning noise commenting, “I can’t believe you enjoy studying so much. I mean why not enjoy the festival preparations instead of burying your head into your books.”

“What, I should be mingling with the villagers and ignore the uncomfortable looks whenever I look at them?” Kendrolgo asked with hints of bitterness in his voice. Images of the villagers went through his mind. Whenever he would try to interact with others, the first thing they would look at was his eyes. At least during the day his eyes looked semi-normal, but areas where light was lacking his pupils glowed red.

“You know the villagers are trying,” Trik tried to explain. Unlike Kendrolgo, Trik believed in the villagers and tried to sway Kendrolgo’s feelings of ostracism. Trik tended to act as a peacekeeper between Kendrolgo and the other villagers. Though he was only a year younger, Trik was more mature compared to his older step-brother, most likely due to his desire to become the next mayor of the village or at least part of the council. Trik tried to take on as many leadership opportunities as possible.

Kendrolgo quietly dried off his hands and walked out of the room before he regretted saying anything in spite. He understood that Trik was part of the committee in charge of festival preparations, and Trik was only trying to get him to feel a part of the village. Going into the kitchen, he started to take out the metal plates from the cabinets. Stacking the plates and the getting the utensils, he took everything to the table right outside the kitchen. Kendrolgo thought about all the times the village kids made fun of his eyes and the fact that Naltric is not his real father.

“Is everything alright my darling?” his mother asked him with concern in her voice. Walking over to Kendrolgo, she placed her hand on his back and lightly rubbed it. Taking the pot off the stove, she placed it on the table and took the metal plates from Kendrolgo and began to portion out the stew.

Smelling the stew made Kendrolgo’s mouth water. As his mother finished portioning out the stew, his step-father walked into the house. Naltric set his hat on the peg next to door and gave Saleras a kiss. “That smells amazing!” Naltric exclaimed giving both Kendrolgo and Trik, who walked into the main living area, a bear hug. Even though Kendrolgo is not his own flesh and blood, he treated both of his sons equally.

“Hello father,” Kendrolgo gasped from his father’s crushing hug.

“Let’s settle down,” Saleras said enjoying the bond between father and sons. She motioned for them to sit down and they all prepared to eat. “What did you boys do today?” she asked looking at her boys.

Trik glanced at everyone and said, “I spent my time working with the parents and children in the village getting ready for the spring festival.”

“I’m proud of how you’re getting involved with the village, I’m sure you’ll be able to take part in the council soon.” Naltric slapped Trik’s back in congratulation.

“Congratulations brother, I’m sure you’ll be able to become a part of the council soon. With the name day ceremony at the end of the spring festival I’m sure that the council will begin to let you participate.” Kendrolgo smiled at his step-brother. Even though he may feel different about matters of village, he still loved his brother and wished for him to become successful in life regardless of his own personal feelings.

“Ken did you spend all your day reading again?” Naltric asked Kendrolgo, beaming with pride. “My son the sage, sitting under the tree reading books.”

“Yes father, I went over the lesson from school today.” Kendrolgo replied, grinning. Even though his step-father was formerly part of a military force, and still stayed fairly active, his step-father was always supportive of his desire for knowledge.

“No other mother could feel prouder than I feel towards my boys.” Saleras was filled with joy and laid her hands on both Kendrolgo and Trik’s hands. She looked across the square table, at her husband her eyes expressing her love.

Though she felt fulfilled, with how her boys turned out, she at times felt an occasional pain for the differences between Kendrolgo and Trik. The only people who knew Kendrolgo was a half-demon was her husband, the mayor and her. She still knew that the villagers were frightened of her son, and was sad about her inability to help him. Luckily, when she first came to the village that stormy night she was able to meet Naltric, who cared for Kendrolgo with love comparable to none, aside from her own.

With the arrival of the spring festival, Trik left right after dinner to head over to the Wayward Traveler, a local inn. Looking at the layout of the village, how it’s designed to look like a horseshoe it was located at the far back, where it began to curve. The inn served as more of a tavern than an inn, with only the occasional traveler coming into town. Most of the patrons lived either in the village, or in the nearby villages. During the spring festival, especially so close to name day when the young villagers are acknowledged as adults, the tavern serves a special beverage for villagers to enjoy.

Trik and the others, who were close to be named, go to the tavern and enjoy beverages while they talked about the upcoming festivities. Being in leadership positions, Trik was popular and well recognized in the village and surrounding areas. Kendrolgo often wondered if he would have walked a similar path as Trik if not for his eyes. Watching Trik take off to the Wayward Traveler, Kendrolgo began gathering the dirty plates, and helped his mother clean the dishes.

Completing his chores, Kendralgo gathered his cloak and headed out the door. The night air was cool and refreshing, compared to the warm afternoon that day. Though he disliked the way his eyes separated himself from the rest of the village, he liked the benefit it gave him at night. With his eyes, Kendrolgo saw his surroundings as if it were still daylight, but with a slight shade of light blue. Growing up he never understood why people needed to use lanterns, until he learned that his ability was unique, another excuse for the villagers to keep him at bay.

Walking between the buildings, like a shadow in the night, Kendrolgo walked towards the forest where he enjoyed the silence and peace it brought. Getting closer to the tree he sat under during the day reading his books, he saw a girl from the village standing there waiting in the dark.

“Hello Kenny,” the voice called out. Hearing the voice he recognized it as belonging to Malera.

“Malera what are you doing out here?” Kendrolgo asked confused as to why she was waiting for him. For some strange reason, Malera approached him differently than the others, even when he looked at her. He imagined how he must look to her, with his fiery eyes in the darkness. The image in his mind made him grind his teeth in frustration, at the hand life dealt him.

“Well you never seem to stay inside of the village, aside from school.” Malera whispered, when he was in front of her. Whenever she talked to him Malera’s lips would have a half smile, like she had some kind of secret. He knew that the guys in the village found her attractive, though this wasn’t the case for him. In the village, the only person that treated him with some decency was Malera. At the school, while other students keep away, she always sat next to him and worked with him on the lessons they learn. He never understood why she hung around him.

“You didn’t answer my question.” He repeated, annoyed.

Malera looked at him with that half-smile and asked, “You know that the spring festival is being prepared right?”

“You know that I don’t want to go to the spring festival,” His patience beginning to thin, due to her teasing. Normally a conversation with a villager would never have lasted as long as this, due to the glowing red eyes of his. The fact that she was purposely dragging this out made him suspicious of her intentions.

Deciding that he was finished with whatever this was, Kendrolgo started to walk past her towards the forest.

Malera proceeded to grab Kendrolgo’s arm and asked, “I wanted to ask you to the spring festival.”

The question caught him completely off guard. The idea that anyone would ask him that kind of question was out of the question. Instead of responding, Kendrolgo continued to walk away pulling his arm out of her grasp.

Entering the forest is an experience that he always enjoyed. A shadow encased him, the canopy of leaves and branches blocking the light from the moon. Tonight there was no breeze in the air the silence in the forest helping to calm him. In the forest, the world was a shade of blue and purple.

In the darkness and the silence of the forest, Malera’s words echoed in his mind. Feelings of resentment, anger, and emptiness resonated through him. Her words hurt him the most since he didn’t understand what brought her to ask him, to the spring festival.

Deep in the forest, the ground cover changed from dirt to a thick moss. To him this place was special due to a certain species of flowers growing in the forest, the demon flower. Kendrolgo never understood why these flowers were called demon flowers. The flowers looked beautiful with a mixture of blues and black. During the day time they were stunning, but at night they took his breath away, with the way they seemed to glow. Lying down on the bed of moss among the flowers all feelings in him slipped into the ground. With the forest, flowers, and the night, Kendrolgo drifted off to a peaceful sleep.