Erix || Waking down the same cobbled streets for what may be the last time was unsettling. Erix felt the joy, pain, and sadness he had in the streets sweep past him once again. One memory in particular hit him like a pile of bricks. It was his first job, in Ketterdam and he was more than thrilled. He was working for one of the richest families in the whole Barrel, and one of the scariest. People had told him to be careful and to turn away but he needed this. Walking to the manor, it seemed like a shadow across the rest of town. “ Mr. Caddel?” A man had said outside of the house. Very fancy man to fit a very fancy house but the sound of Erix’s last name made him jump. He hadn’t heard that name since…. Since the day. “Yes, that's me. Is this the Van Eck estate?” “Yes sir. Mr. Van Eck is very busy so I advise waiting out here. He doesn’t like intruders. You can understand that right? This is a very.. Dangerous place afterall.” Erix nodded but was curious what Van Eck could be busy with. Sure he was a businessman but what did he do? After a couple of minutes waiting outside the door Erix heard a scream from inside the estate. Then a gunshot. It was the first, but not the last, gunshot Erix had ever heard. After the shot the door opened and out walked a man with reddish-blonde hair, a beard, and the biggest scowl. “ Mr. Caddel? I’m Jan Van Eck. But if you call me anything other than Mr. Van Eck I will have your head on a spike.” Mr. Van Eck said, extending his hand towards him. Erix didn’t take it out of fear till Van Eck said; “ That was a joke. It was meant to be funny. But I see you aren’t a man of humor.” Van Eck placed his hand next to his side. Erix felt more nervous than he ever had. “ I’m sorry.. I meant to-” Erix started. “ No, it's fine. I’m just joking around. So, you applied to work for me right? Well I want you to know that all my guard applications are filled. But as of recently there has been an opening for my son’s tutor. The last one had…. to resign.” Erix realized quickly enough that the man who got shot was the tutor. Was this job worth it? “I-” Erix started to say before Van Eck lifted a silencing hand. “And before you say anything, you can’t really say no. I am one of the most powerful men in Ketterdam so saying no is kinda like instant death.” Erix nodded. Was this what it was like to live in such a dangerous place? “Great. My son, Wylan. He is… different. I need you to sit with him and help him with math. You can do that?” Erix indeed once more and followed Van Eck into the estate. Big marble stairs cascaded down the floor with windows so big you could see the whole town from here. It was dark, cold, and unforgiving. In hindsight, a sign of what was to come. “He is upstairs by himself in a playroom. Don’t bother me with anything until the end of the day. Even then don’t bother me with him. Just make sure he stays alive.” Van Eck said as he left Erix in the hallway alone. Up the stairs. How bad could it be?
When Erix opened the door, there was a little child, about 6, playing with toy horses. He was a small skinny thing with bright red curls, flowing down the side of his face. Big blue eyes filled with wonder and joy and yet a still face as he turned to look at Erix. The playroom on the other hand was dark. Gray walls and chocolate color floors with a small toy chest in the corner. The floor was scattered with toys, small bits of furniture with parchment and pens placed in an orderly fashion. You could tell which the child preferred. “Hello. I’m Erix. You must be Wylan.” Erix said, kneeling down to eye level with the child. No response. “Your father said we should learn a bit. Do you like math?” The child, again, expression not changing, stood up and waddled over to the table. Erix assumed this wasn’t his first rodeo. Erix followed and sat at the other end of the round table. Brushing his hand across it he felt sharp points and scratches from pencils. “Where do you want to start?” Erix asked. Wylan picked up a pencil and started making random scribbles on the paper. His eyes still filled with wonder but no changing expression. “Well, while you are doing that I’ll pick up your toys then we can start.” Erix said, bending back down to grab the ponies. Little toy soldiers with blue coats and yellow tassels, horses with wild manes in poses such as running, standing, or even one with a small gunshot in its side laying down. “What child-hood does Wylan have?” Erix asked himself quietly. After putting the toys away Erix walked back over to Wylan to see a beautiful drawing he had done. It was some sort of contraption that what Erix could tell, looked like a new instrument. One end looked like a violin while the other looked like a piano. Even though it was wild and crazy, Erix loved it. It looked like blueprints of it as if Wylan wanted to make it one day. “Wylan. This is- is amazing. We have to show your father at once!” Erix said, taking the finished drawing to the door. Wylan ran over and pulled on Erix’s sleeve. “No. No. Daddy hates drawings. Please don’t.” He pleaded. It was the first time Erix had heard Wylan’s voice. It was soft and sweet, fitting his demeanor. Erix couldn’t help but feel bad. This child’s father had clearly not paid attention to the things he liked. “Wylan, your father would love it. I’m sure.” “ No, no. He hates drawings. He made me burn them. I don’t want to burn this one.” Erix hadn’t thought a father could be so cruel. Wylan looked at the verge of tears so Erix gave up. “Alright. If not then, where do you want to put the drawing?” Wylan took the drawing and waddled over to a floorboard. He carefully lifted it and there was a pile of drawings and paper that Wylan had drawn on. He had hidden them. “... You put them here so that your father doesn’t find them?” Erix asked, kneeling back down. Wylan nodded, looking him back in the eyes. Erix nodded and said; “ I promise I won’t tell your father.” Wylan hugged him. That was the start of the end. Erix remembered where he was. Walking with Cora down to the docks.
