Experiment NO. 276,361: Failure. “Sigh.” Lately I have been daydreaming a lot about my younger days, with mother and father. These failed experiments have been taking a toll on my psyche, what was my mother even hoping to find? After my parents died, I decided to continue with my mother’s research on Elusium. Once a well-renowned Alchemist around the continent; decided she’d rather live a quiet life. We lived in a village about One Hundred Kilometers from Inkuse.

  In our home resided myself, my father, my mother, and her apprentice Retra. Retra was around eight years old when she became mothers apprentice. The slave trader was making his way through our village. My mother would save all the children if she could. Retra was living in a neighboring village, where she was eventually sold as a slave after her parents died.

  Noticing a glint of curiosity in her eyes. “What is your name little one?” Mother asked her.

  The girl responded, as if she hadn’t spoken in weeks, her voice rolled over “Retra.”

  “My Retra such a wonderful name. It’s nice to meet you, my name is Nelahne Peranze and this is my son Nephra. How would you like learn alchemy?”

  Retras eyes widened and before she could answer

  “Good.” My mother smiled.

  We arrived home about fifteen minutes after father; he had already begun chopping wood for dinner’s fire. My mother greeted him with “Hello my love!” and a kiss on the cheek. Every single time you could see my father’s cheeks turn rosy and I couldn’t help but chuckle. My father glanced over at Retra, with a look that could shatter the confidence of any who felt lesser. Though that was his normal face, people always quivered in his presence. “We’ll discuss it at dinner.” Mother said, and my father silently agreed.

  Years passed and Retras understanding of alchemy grew astronomically, developing new techniques and ways of thinking with the assistance of my mom. I have learned a lot but at a much slower pace than Retra. My focus has been training with father to learn the ways of the spear and shield. Vigorous routines. There was a point where I actually thought I was going to die. My father had been a soldier since the age of twelve; the second youngest to ever dawn the title of “Knight”, so his training had developed to beyond normal standards. Martial training was much easier for me; my father often told me I was more talented than he was at my age.

  My 16th birthday had just passed a week prior. My father gifted me a new spear and shield, the spear tip made of Mythril. The wood crafted with precision from a Three Hundred-year-old Elsh Tree. Carved into it were alchemy circles that my mother had discovered. The shields exterior had circles that were intertwined with the infinity- it was hard for my mind to comprehend. When I looked inside, I cried for the first time in years- My mother invented a way to capture the world and display that moment on whatever she desired. Inside the shield was our family; Father, Mother, Myself, and Retra, each of us there looking as if they were standing right in front of me.

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  Not long after was the 2nd worst day of my life. No one had any idea what was coming, monsters, creatures of the night that ravaged everything in their paths. Right before dawn. They attacked, the screams of the villagers woke us from our rest. Father grabbed his spear and shield and rushed from the house. Mother gathered supplies to aid the injured while Retra did the same.

  “Stay in the house Nephra!” She commanded. “Wait till I or Ol’Ven return.”

  “But mother” I tried to interject,

  “Stay Nephra your father is strong and he will protect the village- and he will be able to do so more effectively; if he knows you are safe. So please stay Nephra.” Her face softens and I could not help but say yes.

  “Yes Mother.” I nodded and then she and Retra left.

  Screams that I still hear to this day, the day I learned the difference between screams of joy- and screams of terror. As I sit in my house, I can hear from the distance- yelling, bodies being torn apart, thuds of people being dropped from heights never explored. The terrors outside; now taking residence in my mind.

  Some time passed. There’s still yelling in the distance, but it’s followed by the sound of clashing. “Father!” I grab my spear and shield and make my way outside. I see my father battling with a horror only found in nightmares, across the field I could see him but I remained frozen. The beast moved at speeds where I could barely keep track. Its blows landing fiercely into my father’s shield, sending a wave of sound that echoed in my chest. Finally, able to gather myself I noticed a mound of dead creatures around my father, it had to be at least thirty of them lying there. My father was a warrior; the truest of the word, at that moment I had no doubt my father would win and save the village.

  The air snapped as the beast lunged toward my father; he braced himself right until the moment of contact. As soon as the creatures claw touched his shield; he stepped to the side deflecting its attack. In the same motion he bashed the ribs of the beast, causing it some pain. He thrusted his sword, but the beast dodged, yet father gave it no rest. Kicking off the ground hurling himself toward it before it could land. In one fell swoop the beast body went limp then split in two.

  The next moment felt like an eternity, it’s still as vivid in my memory as the day it happened. Not a second seemed to pass, my father and I locked eyes. Mine filled with excitement from witnessing the greatest feat I had ever seen, and my fathers with terror. In the next instant his sword spun past my head into a beast.. As I turned back to look for my father, now just feet away from me. I realized I had made a mistake; taking my eyes off that beast for a mere second and that mistake cost my father his life.

  Defenseless as my back was turned to the beast, my father threw me out the way but couldn’t raise his shield quickly enough. I watched as the beast claws tore through his torso, sending the pieces flying. Emotionless tears fell from my eyes. I grasped my spear firmly and turned my attention toward the beast.

  It’s noticeably weakened from the sword my father had thrown, my training now paying off as I am reminded to home in on weak points. I step toward its injured leg with observant precision; it holds its ground just the same. Knowing I must press my advantage, I feint a thrust and follow with a spinning attack, I hit the sword still embedded in its leg. Sending crushing vibrations through my arm. The beast retreated, I gathered myself and just like my father, before the beast could land I thrust my spear into the ground and used it to propel myself. One instant my spear in the ground and the next: driven through the skull of the beast. Still holding my spear, the beast body falls to the ground with a squelching splash, I take a deep breath, followed by a long exhale.

  I had not realized that it had begun to rain, my adrenaline was starting to wear off probably. As I scanned the horizon I could not see anyone- beast nor person. I yelled out for my mother “Mother!” no answer. After a while I decided to begin my search for mother and Retra. The more I looked the less I started to see.

  Where were all the people? There were barely any bodies, nor blood around the village.

  What happened out here?