The sun continued to descend with each passing minute, leaving behind an amber glow that blossomed like petals unfolding at dawn. The gentle breeze, once warm, gradually shifted into a refreshing chill. Its whispers seemed to softly comb through the vast expanse of grasslands stretching as far as the eye could see. At the edge of the dense Northwood Forest, the view of the Sylvan Mountains unfolded like a precious and beautiful collage.
On the western horizon, a teenage boy sat facing the twilight, casting a clear silhouette beneath the evening sky. He let the wind play freely with his silvery albino hair. Sunset was the time he felt most at ease. Standing upon the Taliesin Valley made him reluctant to return home. At the very least, he could feel the weight of his weariness ease in a place like this, even if only for a moment—before the cycle began all over again.
For him, this was enough—there was no need to explain the restlessness in his heart at length to his parents. Truthfully, he didn't really mind working as a livestock herder; guiding and watching over the animals as they grazed didn't demand much effort. It was just that the boredom crept in uninvited, slowly spreading through his thoughts.
To ease his unrest, the boy would sometimes play with the livestock or simply catch tiny insects fluttering nearby. He refused to return home until the sun dipped westward and perched at the edge of the horizon.
Every so often, the albino-haired boy would close his eyes as the gentle breeze brushed softly against his body. He wondered what it would be like to suddenly find himself somewhere far from home—or away from the Taliesin Valley. He didn't know. But even just escaping the chatter of the vegetarian animals around him was enough to make him feel free. Sadly, such a thing felt like a world that only existed within the storybooks he often read at home.
At the age of fifteen, he sometimes found himself daydreaming about the world beyond the island—wondering what life was like out there, beyond simply being a native of a small island, even if it was still part of the same continent called Magire Kivanal.
Cadleon Island was a small landmass located in the northern region of the Magire Kivanal continent. It also served as a natural border between Magire Kivanal and the northernmost continent of Aecthery. That vast northern continent stretched from the far north all the way to the western edge—it was called Elfytrys. Elfytrys encompassed several peninsulas, one of which was the Haraldsen Peninsula, a distant eastern tip of the continent on its main island, Rhusyus.
The continent of Elfytrys also encompassed several other islands, including Darkville, Valeria, Reanthel, and Bluewillows. Though Elfytrys was considered one of the smaller continents within Aecthery, it was rich in maritime trade routes, thanks to the numerous straits that wove through its territory. Elfytrys was also home to the Omercuss Archipelago—a cluster of small, uninhabited isles used solely as resting points for sailors and ship crews during long voyages.
The sudden chorus of his livestock jolted him from his tranquility. Only then did he realize that twilight was on the verge of slipping beneath the horizon. Panic surged through him as he leapt to his feet, quickly rounding up the herd and hurrying them home before darkness fully fell.
On the way to Nliyff, the young boy had to pass through the bustling crowd of Furmist, a small town not far from his destination. He occasionally muttered to himself as his gaze wandered over the various sights around him. Just as he grew distracted, one of his livestock suddenly broke loose—nearly vanishing from sight after a passerby, riding a Vlatsh vehicle, collided with the animal before speeding off.
It was only then, upon hearing an old man apologizing to him, that he snapped back to awareness.
He ignored the stranger's apology, his attention already fixed on the fleeing animal. Without hesitation, he left the rest of the herd in place and rushed off in pursuit. Determined, he guided the runaway livestock back to its group so they could continue their journey together toward Nliyff.
After retracing the same path, the young shepherd finally arrived at the very spot he had been before. And only then did he realize that someone had been watching over his flock. It was the old man who earlier had caused one of his sheep to run off.
"I'm sorry, son. I was in a hurry earlier, and ended up making trouble for you," said the man as the young owner of the woolly animals returned. But the boy simply shook his head. "No, sir. I should have been more careful while herding them. But it wasn't a big problem—I've already found and brought back the sheep that ran off," the boy answered with a sincere smile.
"Very well then. What's your name, son?" asked the old man near his Vlatsh cart. The noise of the surrounding area began to fill the space around their sudden conversation, but the boy paid no attention to the bustle or the stranger before him. What he remembered most was his mother's words: always respect your elders, no matter who they are. That's why the fifteen-year-old didn't hold any grudge about what had happened. He knew it wasn't intentional, and that his own carelessness had also played a part in it.
"Nelvan Aetherion," Nelvan answered.
"A beautiful name. I hope you grow up to be a fine man, just like that, son," said the old man. "Now, I want you to take this." He reached into the pocket of his coat and quickly took both of Nelvan's hands, placing a small brown pouch in them. The pouch caught the flickering glow of the nearby oil lamp.
"W-what is this, sir?" Nelvan asked, still holding out both his hands toward the old man. But the man quickly climbed onto the Vlatsh and motioned for the driver to set the cart in motion.
"That's my apology. Take it, son. Don't refuse!" he shouted as the Vlatsh rolled away. Nelvan, still unsure of what had just happened, could only watch as the cart disappeared at the far end of the main road behind him.
Knowing it was pointless to chase after the man, he reluctantly placed the small pouch into his sling bag.
"Alright then, we have to go home now, or mother will scold us," he said to his sheep.
Nelvan then continued his journey with his flock, hoping to reach Nliyff soon. He realized he had come home late today because he had been daydreaming in the Taliesin valley earlier at dusk. Fortunately, the unexpected incident had given him a decent excuse to tell his mother why he was returning after sunset.
***