Chapter 1 The Innocence of Boyhood (1/2)

*The Eldovian Era, Year 1702*

”Rassa! Rassa we're going to play find the bunny!” called little Jane as she waved over at her nieghbour. Rassa sat helping his mother cook the bread they would need for the next few days. He always enjoyed pounding his little fists into the soft dough, watching his mother as she folded and pressed it with practiced grace. His never tasted as good as his mother's though.

”Why do yours always taste better mother?” Rassa would ask.

His mother would smile, ”Well its a secret, and I can only tell you if you promise to keep it!”

Rassa would look at his mother seriously, determined to keep such an all important secret safe, ”Of course!”

”Well, with such determination how can I refuse?” asked his mother, then she would turn to the dough, showing him her repetitive movements in slow motions that he could follow, ”You see Rassa, dough is like the clay you use to make pots. Only those hands that no how to guide without hesitation, and push at the right time, will get the submission of the element they mould”.

”Submission?” Rassa asked, confused by the new word.

His mother smiled, ”You have to show it that you're a worthy leader. Somebody who will bring out the best parts of it if only given the time”.

Rassa frowned and turned back to his own dough, ”Then I can't hurt it?”

”That's right, you can't hurt it, only push it in the right direction,” his mother agreed.

”But how do I know which way is right?” asked Rassa.

”You'll know,” his mother replied, ”When the time comes, you'll know”.

Rassa still hadn't found the right direction, even after watching his mother knead the dough over and over again.

”Rassa, come on!” Jane insisted, stressing her impatience.

Rassa looked over at his mother, ”Go on, just don't venture too far into the woods. It's dangerous if we can't find you”.

Rassa smiled, hugging his mother quickly before jogging over to Jane who held out a hand for him eagerly.

Rassa looked down at it, then frowned at her, ”I thought you were a big girl”.

Jane's cheeks reddened. She'd scolded him just the week before about treating her like a child. She retracted her hand and turned away, ”I am...”

”Well come on then,” Rassa grinned, jogging up the path. Jane only hesitated a moment before she ran after him, the grin returning to her face. Holding his hand or not, at least she got to play with Rassa.

Jane had grown up with Rassa, she was a few years his junior, but that didn't stop her from treating him like an equal. Rassa had never really cared. Jane was assertive and knew what she wanted despite her age, Rassa was different, quieter. He observed and therefore saw more than the other children. He could sense when something was wrong amongst them, and then he could push them in the right direction. Whilst he had done this largely unconsciously, it had made him an integral part of their group. Everyone knew Rassa, and despite his lack of leadership or extroversion, he was important to them. An important part that more and more of them seemed to be acknowledging. Jane was no exception. She'd noticed how the eyes of Falla, a girl that was a few months older than Rassa, had strayed to the boy on more than one occaision. How Falla would insist upon having him compliment her, or at the very least holding a conversation. She was not the only one, but she was the most prominent in Jane's mind. This was mostly because Falla was the pretty as one of the porcelain dolls the Lords would give to their daughters. Skin like snow and long flowing hair with cheeks like a juicy peach. Everyone gushed at how adorable she was, and whilst Jane had no idea what the emotion truly was, it made her angry that she couldn't draw that attention.

Yes, Rassa, with his soft features and messy black hair, was one of the draws this group of children, Falla was the other.