The druid's house was behind Kalle when he sprinted out. The wide cobblestone road he ran on was seething hot from the sun's beating rays.

  Yet, luckily, there were trees planted on the corners and all along the sides of the town square. The square acted as the town's lively market.

  Even in the summer heat, business was flourishing.

  Kalle ran past various stalls that smelled of freshly cut melons, pop-fruit and sweetened wine. Although Kalle found the latter to be horribly bitter, despite the sweetness that masquerades it.

  At the center of the market stood a great peach tree; its branches cast long shadows across the square that provided much needed shade in the summer heat. According to Merwyn, he started his studies as a druid when he was just a young boy of fifteen and this large, ancient peach tree was the first thing he had ever planted. That was seventy-five years ago.

  At the base of the tree were 4 boys:

  Jeck, Cleft, Arnond and Timlan. All of them sat around a make-shift table made of plank scraps, focusing intently on their tense game of cards.

  They were so-so friends to Kalle.

  The older boy, Jeck, glanced upward at Kalle. His brow furrowed. "Did you get the rope?", Jeck asked simply as the other boys took notice of Kalle.

  "No, not yet. Merwyn says he needs me to fetch willow wood for him to make a strong rope with."

  Cleft, a younger boy with soot black hair, groaned in annoyance before he turned his attention back to the game. "Well that's great. Where will we find Willow wood?" It was Arnond who spoke. He was shorter than Jeck, which made him the second tallest of everyone else at the shoddily made table, including Kalle.

  "He said that there is a willow tree in the marsh outside of Malthumberg. It's not that far from town. I think we can get there before the sun reaches it's peak." "No," Jeck interjected Kalle's statement. "We still need to fetch the meat-hook from the butcher, Henry. Also the Hammer and chisel from Jaime's workshop." Jeck's tone was laced with annoyance. He was always annoyed when he spoke to Kalle.

  The final boy, Timlan, took a card from the deck and grinned, setting the cards down as he spoke, "That's a winning hand. Sorry boys."

  "Ah-ah. We still need to draw our cards, then see if you won. Jeck, you're up." Cleft spoke, gesturing at the older boy to pull another card from the deck. "I forfeit, we have other things to do now." Jeck spoke simply.

  "Alright guess its my turn then. And..." with a smile cracking on his face, Cleft set the cards down.

  "Sorry to you guys. But I win this round."

  The cards he set down made Arnond and Timlan eyes widen. "No damn way! You cheated! Has to be!" Timlan shot up from his seat as he pointed down at cleft.

  "I agree, there is no way you got that good of a hand. That is the best hand in the game and you got it four times in a week. That is stupidly lucky. Its not even lucky, its just you cheating." Arnond chimed in, not as peeved as Timlan, but relatively frustrated.

  "The cards don't lie guys." Cleft spoke sheepishly, his shoulders shrugged at the hostile comments flung at him.

  "The cards can't lie, you're right. But you have lied more times then we can count!" Timlan shouted through gnashed teeth. Everyone started growing infuriated with each other, while Kalle stood to one side, amused.

  "Shut up, Timlan. You can't even count past two." Cleft rose from his seat, thrusting three fingers up at Timlan. "Really Cleft? You're holding up three fingers... Maybe Timlan is smarter." Arnond said matter-of-factly, which angered Cleft even more.

  "Why I'll Beat the-!"

  "Enough!" Jeck's deep voice boomed, grabbing the attention of all the boys. "All of you shut up. We have a plan to get done with."

  Kalle watched as the boys peered at Jeck with scowls on their faces, but they listened to his words and tossed the cards down onto the table's planks. "Cleft and Timlan, you two do so well together that I think you both need to go and fetch the hammer and chisel from Jaime. Me and Arnond will get the meat-hook, and Kalle..."

  Jeck turned his way toward Kalle. His face wore the same scowl the other gave him.

  "You will go to the marsh and fetch the willow wood. Take this to cut it." Jeck pulled a short serrated blade from his belt and tossed it to Kalle's feet.

  Kalle glanced down at the blade, slightly dismayed as the other boys turned away. Cleft took the cards and shuffled. Arnond played with his fingers and Timlan began to whistle.

  "I-um... Can I go with someone? The swamp's waters are kind of deep and I can't swi-" Kalle was interrupted.

  "No. I said you will go alone. Do you—" A thick finger pressed into Kalle's shoulder, the pressure intensified as it dug deeper, sending a sharp pain through his arm.

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  "-Understand?"

  Kalle backed away from the incessant finger (from his piercing finger). "I understand. I'll get it for you."

  The small blonde boy replied, his head hung low.

  "Good. Now, let's get a move on, or we'll never get that giants tooth." Jeck waved at the boys to follow him. And as soon as he gestured, they left.

  The knuckles of Kalle's hand grew white, gripping the knife's wooden handle. He felt inferior to everyone.

  _________________________________________________________________________________________

  Stupid Jeck. Thinks he can boss me around because he's two winters older than me. I'll show him. I can beat him in anything. He can't climb as good as me, he isn't as brave as me. Where is he going to find rope for his grappling hook? Yeah, from me. Who's gonna go and cross a big marsh filled with drakelings and bugs and weird monsters. Yeah, me. I am better than him!

  Kalle furiously kicked at random loose stones that littered the road. His hands in his pocket and his mind repeating the same thought over and over. I am better than him. I'm better than him... I am better than him! Another stone was sent tumbling down the fading dirt path.

  The path was encroached by large paperbark trees, their thousands of twigs intertwining with the others', creating a thick canopy that was impossible for light to pass through; even on a hot summer day like this, it was twilight in the brush.

  Kalle walked unperturbed by the intense gloom, too self absorbed in his own brooding and frustration to really care. He was brave, braver than all the boys. Heck, he was the only boy to have entered the haunted fort Malthum.

  That was once a big deal at the time to him and the other kids. The fort was the home of lord Malthum, who saw the bloody battle unfold, and soon after died of night terrors. Which allegedly, turned him into a mad ghost that cursed anyone who entered his fort, thinking they were enemies. Kids dared each other to see who would get the closest to the fort. Jeck had come as close as halfway across the forts bridge. Kalle came as close as actually entering it.

  He didn't see or hear the ghost of Malthum when he entered, however the place was still open and there was a kind of stable near the entrance. Maybe the Ghost doesn't like the outside...

  But regardless, he was deemed cursed by the children and everyone avoided him for doing it. That confused Kalle to no end; why dare someone to do something, and then act surprised when the person actually does it?The only other kids that partially excepted Kalle was Jeck and his friends. They found him cool at the time, now it feels like they use him because of his fearlessness.

  Stupid Jeck.

  Kalle thought for the final time before he realized he was now standing on very muddy, even ground. The shadows that the paperbark trees cast were fewer here, now replaced with the smell of soggy leaves and humus, and a hint of something fresh.

  He was at the marsh, and looking up, he saw great anvil clouds that now blocked the sun, prolonging the gloom. The path faded near an old, abandoned shack, with three boats near the waters edge. Alder trees dotted the landscape, their branches crooked and writhing in the wind like black snakes.

  This time Kalle felt uneasy. He always felt uneasy around large bodies of water. The unease grew more as Kalle saw his goal. The great willow tree sat on an island near the center of the marsh, like a big ghostly head with a bright green mop of hair, the strands swaying in the wind.

  Kalle moved to one of the boats, scanning it to see if it was still usable. It was, but the boat was heavy — almost immovable — for him. Still, the mud that squelched under his sandals helped slide it into the water.

  Once the boat was afloat, he hopped in and grabbed the massive oar to push it further from shore. A knot formed in his stomach as the boat rocked in the water. I made it this far, best to keep pushing.

  Kalle maneuvered around the black trunks of the alder trees, their bark slick with various layers of hardened, red sap. The oar was heavy, making the boat difficult to maneuver, but the boy managed. Before long, Kalle saw the individual strands of the great willow's whips, their long branches swaying gently. Gnats buzzed in large clouds around him as the front of the boat touched the island's shore. The boy hopped off, relieved to finally feel solid ground beneath his feet. He tugged the boat closer to land, ensuring it wouldn’t float away.

  He was here, finally. He was halfway done with his quest. Kalle pulled the jagged knife out from his belt that Jeck gave him. At the back of his mind he still felt anger. He'll throw the knife and the rope at Jeck's feet, see how he likes it, Kalle thought.

  The plan Kalle had was to climb the tree and saw off a couple of the branches with the knife, instead of spending an eternity slicing through individual, swinging strands. So Kalle put the handle of Jeck's knife in his mouth and began to climb.

  It was natural for Kalle, his hands finding the grips with ease, almost gliding further up the great willow.

  Finally climbing onto one of the bigger branches, his vision became obscured by the tendrils. His eyes scanned the willow, settling on a branch that seemed easy enough to saw through with his jagged-edged knife. Kalle made a few initial strokes before finally cutting deeper into the wood. It was still difficult work, and he had to take a couple of breaks. He made significant progress, almost halfway through the branch, before...

  "Hello?"

  The single word surprised and stunned Kalle for just a moment, long enough for his grasp to loosen and slip. In the blink of an eye, he was off the branch and plummeting towards the ground.