Chapter 4 - Lost Youth

Andric came back home feeling pretty content. He didn’t have any pressing tasks around town, and he wasn’t helping out in the fields with his grandparents or mother. His only focus was on practicing the Standing Tortoise Manual, and with no other obligations, he had all the time he needed to get stronger.

But even though Andric wasn’t looking for trouble, trouble found him. That night, nothing happened, but the next evening, a group of older townsfolk showed up outside his house. Most of them were farmers who didn’t have much say in town affairs, but there were also a couple of businessmen from the inner town, relatives of Audovacar’s friends.

The moment Andric saw the gathering, he knew they were there to cause problems. It wasn’t news to him that many townspeople thought he had no right to be born, and they resented the help Alda and he had been getting. In Einburg, everyone had to work for their meals, except Alda. She got special treatment from the town’s mayor, which included perks like the Standing Tortoise Manual and a weekly bag of grain.

Alda used to be able to defend Andric by saying he was just a kid, and the mayor backed her up by pointing out that her parents had done a lot for the town and deserved some help. But now that Andric was fifteen and officially an adult by Hochland standards, things were different.

If the townspeople wanted to push him out and cut off Alda’s benefits, it wouldn’t be surprising. After all, it had been fifteen years since Alda’s trauma, and the townspeople were not going to let things go on forever.

Einburg had grown from a small village into a bustling town with hundreds of residents. What was once manageable for a few families had become an issue with so many people. The townsfolk didn’t want anyone taking advantage of the system, using Alda as a precedent.

“Hey, Alda, we need to talk to that boy of yours,” a man from the group called out, his voice echoing through the house since the walls were thin.

Andric knew the group was gathering outside, but he stayed in his bedroom, continuing to read the Standing Tortoise Manual. Gasto and Roza, his grandparents, were in the sitting room with Alda, clearly unsure of how to handle the situation.

“That boy is nothing but trouble,” Gasto muttered, leaning back in his chair. Though he had always been critical of Andric, he wasn’t thrilled about the idea of a mob outside their home. He wanted Andric’s departure to be handled smoothly.

“If they want to talk about him, they should talk to him. He’s an adult now, so he can speak for himself,” Roza added, also disapproving of the crowd’s approach.

“I’ll go see what they want,” Alda said, standing up and heading for the door.

Andric knew his grandparents and most of the townsfolk didn’t like him, but he didn’t really care. The only opinion that mattered to him was Alda’s. He could handle the sneers and hostility as long as his mother wanted him around.

Staying in Einburg had its conveniences. It was a safe place for him to practice his meditation techniques and learn about the world. If he left, he’d miss out on things like the Standing Tortoise Manual and the generous Instructor Hubert. He originally planned to stay another year, but leaving early wouldn’t be the end of the world.

Alda opened the door and faced the group of townspeople. “What do you want to talk about?”

“I just want to know when you’re going to move on,” the man replied, stepping back into the crowd.

“What do you mean?” Alda asked, puzzled.

“We’re not blaming you for anything,” the man continued. “We know you didn’t have a choice with Andric. But you can’t just sit back and let the town support you forever. At some point, you need to accept that the past can’t be changed. Andric’s an adult now, and he should be out working.”

Alda stood there, flustered, while her parents joined her at the door. Gasto whispered something in her ear, and she finally said, “I know. I’ve spent so long trying to get back to where I was, but now I’m older and I’ve lost so much time. I’m thirty-two now, and I’m still in the same place.”

Alda’s words were heavy with regret. She thought about all the “what-ifs”—what if she’d aborted Andric, or let her parents sell him? Every day, she wondered where her life could have gone if things had been different. Though she tried to ignore it, she couldn’t forget.

The townspeople who had gathered had known Alda since she was a child, and they felt for her. But they also saw her as stuck, unable to move on. They wanted her to have a chance at a better life, not be held back by her past.

“Alda, we’re here for you, but we can’t support Andric anymore. You need to decide: either he starts working, or he leaves with the next merchant caravan,” the man said, laying down the ultimatum. “We didn’t want it to come to this, but it’s the only way to help you move on.”

For Alda, this was a tough decision. She had barely ventured out in fifteen years, and the idea of sending Andric away was daunting. But the townspeople’s proposal meant she could finally have a chance at a fresh start.

Merchant caravans came through Einburg every few months, and joining one wasn’t expensive, but it was a cost Alda and her parents couldn’t afford. It was easier for the town to pay for Andric’s trip and be done with him.

Alda’s parents would gladly send Andric away. They hoped he’d end up in a border region, join the military, and die there, at least earning them some silver in return for raising him. Anything to get him out of Alda’s life.

For sixteen years, Andric had been a constant burden for Alda. Even though he was a talented and adaptable kid, the townspeople saw his presence as a weight holding her back.

Alda thought for a moment, then asked quietly, “Can you help him get to Mahtzig?”

“If the next caravan is heading to the capital, we’ll cover his trip,” the man said, reassuring her. The mood among the crowd brightened— it seemed Alda was going to agree to send Andric away.

“If you can arrange that, I won’t have to worry,” Alda said, relief flooding through the crowd. After fifteen years, they had finally convinced Alda to let Andric go.

Alda knew she couldn’t force Andric to leave, but she didn’t need to. He had always obeyed her requests without question. She knew if she asked him to go, he’d comply. And though she wouldn’t see him again, Mahtzig was a safe city, and she hoped her brother there might be able to help him.

Sending Andric to Mahtzig would be a way to give him a chance and also a way for Alda to finally move on with her life. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a step toward a fresh start for both of them.