Chapter 70: Life Moves On
Year 0003, IV-VII Month: The Imperium
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The Passing of Time
A month had passed since the battle that changed everything. Wounds had healed, scars had formed, but the spirit of their small community remained fractured. Everyone who survived the encounter had lost something intangible yet precious—a part of their souls that might never fully return.
In the days immediately following the confrontation, August had moved like a man possessed, driven by grief and responsibility to prepare the body of their fallen comrade. Christopher had been more than just another villager; he was the fun uncle everyone gravitated toward, the one who inserted himself into conversations and situations with genuine enthusiasm. He was always the first to ask questions that sparked thought, the first to crack jokes that lightened heavy moments, the bridge between the serious and the lighthearted in their tight-knit community.
Now Christopher lay cold and unmoving in the earth, his infectious laughter silenced forever. August's heart bore the weight of that silence like a physical wound. The guilt gnawed at him relentlessly—his decision, his leadership, his naivety had cost them a life. The burden felt crushing for someone who had barely lived eleven years.
As the weeks passed and physical wounds mended, August came to a painful realization. After all the healing was done, after all the immediate concerns were addressed, he would step down from his leadership role. The truth was, he had never wanted the position to begin with. He was far too young, too inexperienced, too idealistic for such responsibility. His youth had served them well in some ways—his hopeful nature and fresh perspective had guided them through numerous challenges—but his young mind couldn't fully grasp humanity's innate capacity for destruction and violence. It was hardwired into their very genetics, a built-in system that seemed to grow more pronounced as civilizations evolved.
The village needed proper leadership—an adult who could understand these darker impulses and guide their community down the right path. Once they elected someone suitable to take his place, August had made another decision that weighed heavily on his heart. He planned to venture beyond the forest that had been his entire world, to broaden his horizons and understand how the larger world operated.
When he finally achieved that understanding, he would return to make this place align with his deepest ideals: peace and serenity, a harmonious balance with nature where death and misery were no longer inevitable outcomes, where laughter and the celebration of life were the most obvious choices. He envisioned a place where choosing death would only come when one was truly ready, with no other options remaining.
But even in his youthful optimism, August recognized the impossibility of his dream. As long as humanity existed, every ideal would eventually crack under the pressure of human nature. Yet controlling what was right and wrong would make him no better than a tyrant ruling over slaves living in an illusion. People couldn't be forced into happiness or peace, no matter how convincing the arguments might be.
This contradiction echoed endlessly in his young mind, a mystery without solution. He found himself torn mentally and emotionally, the path forward seeming dim, convoluted, and chaotic.
Yet somehow, inexplicably, life continued as if nothing had happened. The world treated their tragedy as just another natural occurrence, like the cycle of life and death itself. The sun rose and set, seasons changed, people went about their daily routines. The world didn't pause to ask about their complications or grief—it simply kept spinning, transitioning from day to night with mechanical indifference.
It was truly a wonder that left August questioning everything: What did it mean to be human? What were moralities and ideals really worth? How could right and wrong be so clear yet so impossible to implement?
Someone... someone please help him understand.
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Moving Forward…
August's mind had cracked under the pressure of these thoughts. For hours, he stood motionless before the freshly dug grave, staring at the mound of earth that covered one of those he calls friend and mentor. The others watched him with growing concern, whispering among themselves about the boy who had carried their hopes and fears for so long.
Finally, they could bear it no longer. Theressa approached first, her maternal instincts overriding her own grief. She wrapped her arms around August's trembling shoulders, and soon others joined them, forming a circle of warmth around their broken young leader.
"Oh, August," Theressa whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "Your decisions did not cause this tragedy. We all made our choices, and so did Christopher. You are far too young to carry such noble compassion for others, yet you hold people's lives in the highest regard. That's precisely why we never rejected your ideals, even when we feared they might lead to exactly what we experienced."
She pulled back to look into his hollow eyes. "There is nothing wrong with your decisions, child. You saved us when we were in peril and taught us many things that were new to all of us. But remember this above all else—it was never your fault to begin with. The world pushed this heavy burden onto your young shoulders. So please, at least rely on us now. We will continue to help you going forward. You don't need to shoulder it all alone anymore."
The warmth of their embrace began to thaw something frozen inside August's chest. For the first time in weeks, he felt the possibility that he might not have to carry this weight entirely by himself.
They all returned to their work then, they continued to work on other things that they might need, while August remained silent but participated alongside them. The air was still thick with their somber mood, but there was something different now—a shared understanding that they would face whatever came next together.
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Finding Solace
Days passed in familiar routines. Christopher's body had been laid to rest with all the ceremony their small community could provide. Everyone attended, even those still recovering from serious injuries. They supported each other with crutches and bandages, determined that their friend would not go to his rest without proper witnesses.
Red delivered the solemn eulogy, his hunting experience having taught him the weight of words and the importance of honoring the fallen. His speech was simple but profound, capturing the essence of who Christopher had been and what he had meant to their community.
When the burial concluded, August spoke for the first time in a month. His voice was hoarse from disuse, but his words were clear and decisive. He had reached the finality of his decision to step down as their de facto leader—they needed someone truly capable of bearing such responsibility.
"In this meeting, I am officially stepping down from the role I've been given," he announced, his young voice carrying unexpected authority. "A new kind of leadership needs to be established, and the chosen leader will guide our village into whatever future awaits us."
The silence that followed was deafening. Everyone was stunned, though gradually understanding and compassion began to show on their faces. They knew, with the wisdom that comes from shared hardship, that they understood. The adults especially recognized their own culpability—they had pushed this enormous responsibility onto an eleven-year-old child, a burden that should never have been his to bear.
Now August would finally have time for himself, time to find solace in pursuits more appropriate for someone his age, time to heal the wounds that ran deeper than flesh.
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A Change in Leadership
The choice for new leadership came down to Jonathan and Red, but the decision resolved itself when Jonathan firmly refused the position. He possessed enough self-awareness to recognize his limitations.
"I'm not leadership material," he said bluntly during the discussion. "I know myself—I'm hot-blooded and react with my emotions. I'd be better suited as a field commander, someone who executes decisions rather than makes them."
Red Peerce, on the other hand, possessed the qualities they needed. His years as a hunter had taught him to see the overall picture of any situation before making critical decisions. He understood patience, strategy, and the delicate balance between action and restraint that true leadership required.
The transfer of leadership was finalized with unanimous agreement. Even August voted in favor of Red's appointment, recognizing the wisdom of the choice. Everyone congratulated Red on his new role, and they dismissed the assembly with a sense of cautious optimism about their future direction.
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August's Decision
After the gathering concluded, August requested a private conversation with Jonathan and Red. There was something weighing on his mind that he needed to share with the two men who had become his most trusted advisors.
"Uncle," he began, addressing Red with the informal title that had developed naturally over time, "I have made an important decision. By the end of the summer season, I plan to venture out of our forest and broaden my horizons. I need to understand the world we live in beyond these trees. Please don't worry—this is only temporary. I intend to return to the village by the start of the new year."
Red and Jonathan exchanged meaningful glances, reading the determination in August's eyes. They recognized that the boy had thought this through carefully, and that arguing would be futile. After a moment of silent communication, they both nodded in understanding.
Red spoke first, his new leadership role already influencing his tone and approach. "Very well. Truthfully, we pushed you into the leadership role far too soon, and I believe we bear partial responsibility for what happened. I approve of your decision—this journey might be exactly what you need."
He paused, considering the practical implications. "However, we will not send you out alone. This journey must be accompanied by an adult, someone with broad experience in dealing with different types of people. That is my only condition for approving your departure. Besides, our village has no money to speak of, and you'll need someone who can help you navigate the economic realities of the outside world. I hope the experiences you encounter will prove fruitful and help heal the wounds on your soul."
Jonathan nodded in agreement before adding his own perspective. "For my part, boy, while your decisions have generally been sound, this brief expedition will expand your understanding of what went wrong and why. So be safe out there, but don't worry about us here. We'll take care of things in the village while you're gone. Besides, we have the Peregrine Eagles with us now—that gives us security and capabilities we never had before."
August listened carefully to their conditions and wisdom, finding their concerns reasonable and their support touching. He agreed readily to the requirement of adult accompaniment—in fact, he already had someone specific in mind for the role.
His next conversation would be the most difficult one.
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The Masters Blessing
August sought out his master Aetherwing, knowing he needed to explain his decision to the mighty creature who had become both teacher and protector to their community. When he called for a private conversation, Aetherwing descended from the mountain nest where he and his family had made their home, sensing the serious tone in his ward's voice.
They spoke while soaring high above the forest canopy, the wind carrying their words as August explained his need to leave and explore the wider world. Aetherwing listened without interruption, his ancient wisdom allowing him to understand the deeper currents of his student's decision.
"So be it, August," the great Peregrine Eagle finally replied, his mental voice carrying both sadness and approval. "While I will not be accompanying you on this particular journey, rest assured that I will protect the village and its inhabitants in your absence. I will not make the same mistake I made before—I will be vigilant and ready."
He paused in his flight, hovering for a moment as he made a promise. "Tell me when you are about to leave, and I will give you something to aid your journey."
"Thank you, master," August replied, feeling a mixture of gratitude and sorrow at the thought of temporary separation.
Aetherwing descended to the village grounds once more, and they parted ways with the understanding that this farewell was not permanent, merely a necessary step in August's growth and development.
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Preparation and Departure
August returned to their modest home and began preparing for the journey ahead. He had two months to gather everything he would need for his expedition into the unknown world beyond their forest sanctuary.
He deliberately avoided speaking with his closest friends about his plans, not wanting them to worry unnecessarily. More importantly, he wanted them to remain in the village where they could help protect their home in his absence. Their loyalty and skills would be crucial to the community's safety while he was away.
As the months passed, they continued building the structures they had planned for the year, focusing on those that could be completed immediately. The work provided a sense of normalcy and progress that helped everyone heal from their recent trauma.
Summer would gradually gave way to the promise of autumn, and with the changing season came the approach of August's departure date. His first journey into the outside world loomed ahead—an adventure that would test everything he had learned and challenge everything he believed about the nature of humanity and the possibility of peace.
The boy who had reluctantly become a leader was about to become something else entirely: an explorer of the human condition, seeking answers to questions that had no easy solutions. Whether he would find wisdom or disillusionment in the world beyond remained to be seen, but one thing was certain—he would not return unchanged.