I was 5 when I saw it for the first time.
It’s one of my earliest memories, in fact. Although it only happened a little over 4 years ago, it feels so distant. I was just starting to get a better grasp of speaking.
My father was back in the village for a few months at the time. Managed to get away from his restaurant in the Capital. Since I was still so young, he wanted to get as much time with me as he could, even though he was always so busy. I was sitting in his lap by the fireplace. My belly was full of a hearty stew he had made for us all before. We had been sitting there for hours as he patiently taught me the words. My mother, in her nightgown, was watching from a rocking chair in the corner with a dreamy, content smile on her face.
My father's large hands lifted me by my waist as he adjusted me on his lap. My lip is quivering with frustration. A few tears stained my eyes. I was having a lot of trouble with the pronunciation. The word blinded seemed to stumble in my mouth. Mother kept telling Father to give me a break for the night, as it was late. But he was far too determined.
“Just…one more time, Yara…she’s almost got it! I can feel it!” His voice, although enthusiastic, was also tinged with apprehension. Mainly due to the pensive stare and pursed lips my mother was directing towards him. But she relented with a sigh as she lifted herself up out of her chair.
“Fine…once more…and then it’s off to bed.” Mother states bluntly as she moves over to the large furred rug we are sitting on. Right behind Father lies my older brother's form, fast asleep within a quilt our neighbor made for him when he was born. Mother kneeling down and scooping him up into her arms. He was already almost 9 at the time and had gotten quite big, but Mother is pretty strong as a [Farmer], so he was lifted with ease. “I’ll settle Leone down…” Giving her husband another narrow look with her eyes before stepping out of the den and back towards the bedrooms.
Father grimaced briefly, awkwardly running his fingers through his tufts of wild, thick black hair that held its place around his head like cotton. My little hands held on to the collar of his white tunic. I vividly remember looking up at him with worry that I was getting him in trouble. But he quickly flashed a grin and patted my back. “No worries, little dove…you got this. You almost had it.” His encouragement ramped back up as he smiled widely down at me.
My mouth was so dry. It’s honestly funny remembering how nervous I was just saying something so simple. But Father made it feel so magnanimous. Treating it like a big challenge instilled quite a lot of determination in me. He later told me how adorable he thought my serious little expressions were for a 5-year-old while I kept trying to sound out the words. Overblown, but it paid off.
Suddenly, it sort of just…clicked.
“May…the…blinded…see.” I knew it was finally correct before anything even happened. My eyes were slightly blurring as something began to obstruct my vision in front of me. Framed by the waning fireplace. Even though the room is so dark, I could still see it so plainly. The unnatural white bold letters slowly etched themselves before my very eyes. It was so slow the first time, as if it was still figuring out what to write. My Father was so quiet. He could tell I had done it just by the look of astonishment on my little face.
It took about a minute or so for it to finish scrawling. The bold white etchings even form a frame around the writing within it. So simple. But to my younger mind, it was about the most magical thing I had ever seen. I felt like a [Mage].
But there it was. My [Window to the Soul]. My gift from god. The thing that will dictate to me my life’s purpose.
I was still learning to read, so it took me a bit to make out what was written.
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[LEVEL-00]
//Name: Liore Perro
//Age: 5
//Class: [Farmer] [Unlocks in 4 Years 8 Months 15 Days 21 Hours]
[SKILLS]
//null
[CLASS QUESTS]
//null
______________________________________________________
This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
As I was studying my [Window], my father's impatience grew too overwhelming. “Well, dove…what does it say? Don’t leave your old man in so much suspense here.”
My face turned so red. Lips pouting at his interruption, but I returned my attention to my [Window]. “It says my name…”
“Aye…should also say your age. But the important part is where it says your Class. What does it say there?”
Reading through the details again to find the right spot. “Um…it says Farmer…” I respond, feeling Father's figure shifting back before a dull cushioned thump. Turning to see that he had let himself fall back onto the fur rug. His hands cover his face as he lets out a long sigh.
I remember feeling my heart sink so deeply. My lip quivered, and my arms wrapped around myself. “Is…is that bad?”
Father sprang up just as quickly as he fell back. His face was wide with worry. " No, no! Not bad at all. That is fantastic! No worries at all, little dove!" His voice cracked with desperation as he attempted to comfort me.
My eyes had already started to water. The frown on my face was so deep that the corners of my mouth almost touched the edges of my jaw. “I…isn’t that what Mama is?”
Before Father could answer, his spine shuddered at the voice coming from behind him. “Yes, it is what Mama is…and Mama wonders why Papa sounded so disappointed at hearing that…”
My father's dark tan skin almost completely paled as his head slowly turned to meet his wife’s dangerous gaze. “Now, Yara…I wasn’t disappointed or nothin…it’s a wonderful thing, and she will make a fine [Farmer]!”
Mother's eyes narrowed even further, causing Father to sweat profusely as he raised his hands up in surrender. A fearful smile on his face as he continued. “It’s just…we might have to cut back on the pricier cuts of meat for a few weeks…” He swallowed hard enough to make the wood floor creak beneath us. “…cause I definitely just lost a bet with Old-Guard.”
“How much…” Yara’s brows tipped inwards.
The man’s teeth chattered as he shook like a leaf. “Uh…just a Two of Silver. Nothing I can’t handle.”
Mother pinches the bridge of her nose before sighing, too tired to really argue with her husband's poor monetary decisions. “You had best.” And ended it with that before she turned her attention to me. The tall brown woman’s expression softened at the still apparent worry in my eyes. Approaching calmly as she settles down onto the rug next to her husband, she reaches over and pulls me into her lap instead. Hugging me to herself. “I always knew you’d be just like Mama…I am so proud.”
With my mother's smile shining down at me, my fears were easily soothed. “So…[Farmer] isn’t bad?”
Father chuckled as he leaned in. His hand reached over to pat my head. My poufy soft hair cushioned me from the paternal gesture. “Not bad at all, little Dove. In fact, it’s fantastic!” He grinned as he teased away some of the tufts of black hair partially covering my eyes. “[Farmer] is one of the most important classes in the world.”
My eyes widened at the prospect. Finding out I had been born as something so important filled me with warmth. “As important as Leone is?”
Both of their eyes widened at the question before they shared a smile with one another. Fathers' grin widening as he tapped a finger on the tip of my nose. “Even more so! Your brother may one day fight against the forces of evil! But without you, he would never have the energy to get there.”
My Mother’s hand pressed against my cheek and angled my face towards her. “[Farmers] are the foundation of the Grand Continent. All other classes rely on what we produce one way or another.” She explained, rubbing my back in gentle circles. My eyes were getting heavier, but I kept my focus clear as Mother continued. “Soldiers and Knights can’t fight without food. Chefs can’t cook that food without vegetables and meat. Tailors can’t make clothing without cotton. Smiths can’t make armor without leather. Apothecaries can’t make medicine without herbs. And we can make all of that.”
I could feel so much pride welling up in me at the time. Even as my eyes were fluttering. My mother's soothing voice lulls me towards sleep. I couldn’t wait until I was grown so I could become something so powerful and vital to the world.
I could hear Father chuckling at me over my expressions again as Mother stood with me in her arms. Both of them were walking down the hall and into my bedroom. Gently lowering me into bed before bundling me up in the covers. Father lights the candle on the wall while Mother tucks me in.
“Am I gonna be a good [Farmer] Mama?”
Mother smiled, kneeling down next to me and leaning over to lay a kiss on my forehead. “You most certainly will. I’ll train you myself, in fact. So you’ll have to be.” She assures me with a giggle.
“Can I be a hero [Farmer]? Can I have adventures?”
Mother looked as though she had to think about that for a moment, but Father cut in from above her. “Of course you can dive. You’ll be the greatest [Farmer] in the world, I’m sure of it.”
Mother just smiled and nodded before standing up. “Sweet dreams, Liore.”
The two of them left my room that night. Leaving me to my over-imaginative thoughts.
“May…May the…Blinded See” I stammered, thinking I messed it up, but it seems it was enough as the [Window] slowly began to etch itself out before me again. Albeit a little faster this time.
---
[LEVEL-00]
//Name: Liore Perro
//Age: 5
//Class: [Farmer] [Unlocks in 4 Years 8 Months 15 Days 20 Hours]
[SKILLS]
//null
[CLASS QUESTS]
//null
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I fell asleep that night smiling at it. Excitedly gazing at the spots that would one day be filled with special skills and exciting quests.
And I wish every day I could go back to being that excited for the future. But unfortunately, it didn’t take long for me to find out that what I was looking forward to then wasn’t exactly what I would get.
