Chapter 2 Echoes of the past

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Chapter 2: Echoes of the Past

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Aster Evernight traced the cracks in the windowsill of his cottage, his fingertips brushing the rough wood. Outside, the village bustled with life, but none of it welcomed him. The Evernight name was synonymous with bad luck, and he was the living embodiment of their fears.

The loneliness gnawed at him. He wasn't sure which was worse - the harsh words or the silence that followed him everywhere. His parents' abandonment still lingered in his heart, a festering wound that never fully healed. He had grown up with whispers of being unwanted, cursed, a burden the village never asked for.

Most days, he wondered why he stayed. Was it the familiarity of the cottage he'd grown up in? Or the distant hope that one day, he'd prove them wrong?

The sound of shouting snapped him out of his thoughts. Peering through the window, he saw a group of villagers gathered in the square, their faces contorted with anger.

"It's not natural! The moon hasn't set properly for days!"

A woman shook her head vehemently. "It's the Evernight boy! He's bringing misfortune again!"

Aster's heart sank. They blamed him for everything - the failing crops, the restless nights, even the cursed moon's eerie glow.

"Elijah," he whispered, hoping his friend would avoid the confrontation. But deep down, he knew Elijah wouldn't stay silent for long.

---

Later that day, Elijah arrived at Aster's cottage, his face drawn with tension.

"I saw them in the square," Aster said as he let Elijah in. "They're getting worse."

"They're fools," Elijah replied, setting down a bundle of herbs and bread on the table. "You don't owe them anything."

Aster shook his head. "They'll never change. No matter what I do, I'll always be the cursed child in their eyes."

Elijah grabbed Aster's hand, squeezing it tightly. "Then let's leave. We've talked about this before. There's nothing for you here but pain."

Aster stared at their intertwined hands, feeling the warmth of Elijah's touch. It was a simple gesture, but it grounded him in reality.

"And go where?" Aster asked quietly. "What place would welcome someone like me?"

Elijah's gaze softened. "Anywhere but here."

---

The next morning, Aster ventured into the village, keeping his hood pulled low. He needed supplies, but he dreaded the trip. Each step felt like walking on broken glass, each glance like a dagger aimed at his back.

The market square was bustling with life. Merchants called out their wares, children ran through the streets, and the scent of freshly baked bread filled the air.

But as soon as the villagers noticed Aster, the atmosphere shifted.

A mother pulled her child close, whispering, "Stay away from him."

Aster kept his gaze down, his chest tight with the weight of their stares. He wanted to disappear, to melt into the shadows.

"Aster Evernight!"

The sharp voice cut through the noise, drawing everyone's attention. A group of men approached, their faces twisted with anger.

"You think you can just walk among us like nothing's wrong?" one of them sneered. "You bring ruin wherever you go."

Aster stopped, his hands trembling. He didn't want trouble, but trouble always found him.

"I'm just here to buy supplies," he said, his voice calm but strained.

The men closed in, their voices growing louder.

---

Before things could escalate, Elijah appeared, stepping between Aster and the crowd.

"Enough!" Elijah's voice rang out, silencing the group. "He's done nothing to you."

"He's cursed!" one of the men spat. "Our crops are failing, and the moon-"

"The moon's been strange for months," Elijah interrupted. "You can't blame Aster for everything that goes wrong."

The crowd murmured, unsure whether to push back or disperse. Elijah's defiance was rare, but his words carried weight.

Aster watched in awe as his friend stood his ground. Elijah wasn't just protecting him - he was challenging the entire village's beliefs.

Back at the cottage, Aster sat by the fire, lost in thought. Elijah's loyalty humbled him. Despite everything, his friend stood by him, unwavering.

"We need to leave," Elijah said suddenly.

Aster glanced up, surprised. "Leave?"

Elijah nodded. "There's a whole world out there, Aster. Beyond the mountains, there are places where no one will care about curses or moons. We could start fresh."

Aster's heart ached at the thought. Freedom. A new beginning. But fear held him back.

"What if we find more of the same?" Aster whispered. "What if they hate me too?"

Elijah smiled gently. "Then we keep moving. Together."

---

That night, Aster couldn't sleep. He stood outside, staring at the cursed moon. Its light bathed the landscape in silver, casting long shadows that danced like phantoms.

He shivered, pulling his cloak tighter. The air felt heavy, as though the world itself was holding its breath.

The wind whispered through the trees, carrying with it a sound - soft, distant, like a song carried on the breeze.

Aster closed his eyes, letting the sound wash over him. It wasn't a voice. It was a feeling - a pull. Something was calling to him, beckoning him to step beyond the boundaries of his world.

Opening his eyes, he gazed at the mountains in the distance.

Maybe it was time to leave.

The next morning, Elijah arrived at the cottage with a determined look.

"I've made up my mind," Elijah said. "We're leaving. Pack what you can."

Aster hesitated, staring at his friend. "Are you sure?"

Elijah grinned. "Positive. We're not meant to rot in this village. There's a bigger world out there, and we'll face it together."

For the first time in a long while, hope flickered in Aster's heart. The future was uncertain, but it held possibilities he had never dared to dream of.

As the cursed moon hung low in the sky, Aster took a deep breath and made a silent promise to himself.

He would find his place in the world. And maybe, just maybe, he'd find love and acceptance along the way.