THE QUEST FOR THE MASTER:
"When the World Burnt"
Link took his hands off his ears when his mother's voice in his head ceased to vocalize. He could hear the men walk out of his room, leaving mom behind on the floor. Wanting to wait until he felt safe enough that the men had left his house, he kept put under the floorboards.
Who were they looking for? Why his house?
He could recall ephemeral discourse of a stranger that had been seen around town, acting very strangely, not too much earlier that day. Had this foreigner been the one who, without invitation or consent, entered his humble sanctuary of a domicile and took his mother from him? What provoked this man into such a senseless act of homicide?
If only the mercy of the Gods would shine down…
The rain still continued to pour down heavily overhead, like the weeping of the Divine Ones for whom no one has seen, yet continually believe watch over one and all.
Once Link heard the front door shut he quietly and stealthily lifted up the floorboards and peered through the little crack. His eyes met with his mother's lifeless gaze, her eyes open wide and piercing right through his very soul. He wanted to let loose and drain his eyes of the liquid that stung them but, even for being so young, persistently reminded himself to remain calm. There was a sparkle in her eyes that warmed his heart. A twinkle he would fall asleep in and find himself in a place where he would lose all sense of despondency. In that place, the streets were paved in gold and hope never plagued anyone's mind, for despair resided far, far away from that shelter from depravity. Regret and remorse found no such sanctuary within that place of tranquility. Sublime. Amidst the fleeting visions of passed dreams of serenity that seems oh so real, he could see his own times of yore manifest before him. All the fun times. All life's lessons taught. His mother's touch. Her face. Her smile. Her sympathetic eyes. Her uplifting laugh. All the things that will never be again.
He wiped the callous tears from his eyes and forced himself to wrench his eyes from his mother's. After he climbed from his little burrow he replaced the boards and knelt next to his mother for one final moment with her. Her neck was completely red and tiny trickles of blood seeped from her nostrils. A flash of lightning revealed a single tear that leisurely made it's way down her cheek to the floor which upon she lay, as if it were without worry, concern, or any other preoccupation or disposition, only meandering its way to death. Only a tear can be so content in such short life. Maybe that is why they sting so much when exuding forth. There was never a day when he did not see her wearing that beautiful necklace of hers. Tonight was no different. He had recollections of lying in bed and watching the necklace swing before him, glistening in the moonlight. It never left her, always clinging to her, never letting go. Always held tight to her, as if afraid to be liberated and face the world. Face the world alone…
Link put his young, little hand over her eyes then ran them down her face, closing her eyes. He then leaned forward and longingly kissed her forehead. Where did such a sense of composure and maturity derive from?
Out of the blue, when Link felt his equanimity slip away and was thrust into his most vulnerable state, his father quickly staggered through the bedroom door and fell to the ground beneath his recently departed companion. Link could see the tears culminating in his eyes. After a ephemeral pause, his father turned to him, choking back his despondency then motioned to the window. Their eyes intertwined for as long as it took for them both to relay unspoken thoughts and sentiments through vacant lexis.
Grandfather painfully and disorientingly stumbled through the door, helped up Link's father and the three made haste to the window, opening it and climbing out.
As Grandfather slouched and slid down the side of the house to sitting position on the ground Link and his father clandestinely slunk over to peek around the corner of their residence in attempt to see the current state of affairs.
In front of their house a big man in a long, flowing coat that was attached to a hood covering his head stood, casting a shadow that originated from a torch that the tall, skinny man held. Link couldn't quite make out the man in the coat's face, except for two blood red eyes. The two interlopers seemed to be discussing something, although Link couldn't quite make out what. They stopped talking and turned to Link's house. Link could make out the same repulsive yellow teeth from earlier. He wanted to run over and teach those two a lesson, but some invisible force held him back. Nasty teeth man held back the torch, ready to throw it upon Link's roof, when hoof beats emerged from behind Link and his remaining family. The intruders turned in Link's direction, causing his heart to fill with dread and despair and sent a shiver down his spine.
A couple dozen soldiers came racing passed on valiant steeds.
This sight caused the vagrants to promptly spin around and dash away as fast as they could, sparing Link's house the torture of burning to the ground.
The rain stopped.
The chill left along with the men.
Link sat down on the cold, rain soaked earth.
And began to cry.
Good-bye, mom….