As the first light of dawn kissed the edges of Alvin's tattered curtains, Alvin woke up from bed. He decided to throw the matter about his blue eyes to the back of his head. He knew all too well that without his efforts, his family would go hungry, and his mother's medicine would remain unattainable.
With a heavy heart, Alvin made his way to his mother's bedside, where she lay pale and fragile, her breaths shallow and labored.
"Good morning, Mom," Alvin greeted her softly.
"Are you sure you should be going out today, Alve?" His mother's weak voice broke through his thoughts, pulling him back to reality. She knew he was injured and his body was not fully healed. She also knew that if he couldn't earn some copper today, they would have to rely on plain water to suppress their starving stomachs tonight.
"I'll be fine, Mom," Alvin replied, forcing a smile onto his lips despite the worry gnawing at his heart. "I'll make sure to bring back something good for dinner tonight."
His sister, Mia, clung to his leg, her eyes wide with concern. "Be careful, big brother," she whispered.
Alvin tousled her hair affectionately.
His mother mustered a weak smile. "Take care, my dear".
.....
As he walked through the crowded streets, Alvin couldn't help but feel a pang of envy towards the carefree shoppers and bustling merchants who seemed oblivious to the struggles of those around them. With a shake of his head, he pushed aside his bitterness, determined to make the most of the day ahead.
"Looking for work, young lad?" a gruff voice interrupted his thoughts, causing Alvin to startle in surprise. He turned to find a burly man with a bushy beard eyeing him curiously.
"yes" he replied. "Any odd jobs you need doing?"
The man chuckled heartily, slapping Alvin on the back with a force that nearly sent him sprawling. "Well, as luck would have it, I happen to be in need of a helping hand," he said with a grin.
Alvin's heart leaped with hope as the man outlined the tasks that awaited him – sweeping floors, stacking shelves, and even the occasional errand to run.
Despite the toil and sweat pouring from his brow, Alvin couldn't help but feel energized at the thought of earning money at the end of the day. He was truly afraid, seeing his mother's health condition worsening day by day due to the lack of medicine. With this money, he could set his heart at ease.
As the sun began to sink beneath the horizon, Alvin carefully counted out the copper coins he had earned through a day of backbreaking labor with a huge grin on his face.
Then, without a second thought, he made his way to the local apothecary.
The bells above the apothecary's door tinkled as Alvin entered, the musty smell of herbs and potions enveloping him. The kind old apothecary greeted him with a warm smile, understanding the struggle etched across Alvin's weary face.
"I've got the medicine your mother needs, lad," the apothecary said, handing Alvin a small bottle. "That'll be 10 copper coins."
Alvin handed over the coins, relief washing over him as he secured the life-saving elixir for his mother.
He thanked the apothecary and made his way to the bakery next door, Usually, Alvin could only afford cheap sweet buns that tasted like dog food from street sellers, but since he had money today, Alvin decided to give his family something good.
As he approached the counter, the baker, a portly man with flour-dusted hands, looked up with a warm smile. "What can I get you today, lad?" he asked.
"I'll take three of those meat buns," Alvin replied.
The baker raised an eyebrow. "three, eh? Treating your whole family, are you?"
Alvin nodded with a humble smile. "I have earned something. It's been a tough day."
The baker counted out the buns, placing them in a small paper bag. "That'll be three copper," he said.
After paying, Alvin walked back home.
Upon reaching home, Alvin found his mother still lying in bed.
"Did you overexert yourself, Alve?" she asked, concern lacing her words.
Alvin gently reassured her, "No, Mother. The market was kind today. I've brought us some essentials."
His mother's eyes softened with gratitude. "You're a blessing, Alvin. I wish I could do more for you."
"Mother, please," Alvin interrupted, kneeling beside her bed. "You've done more than enough. It's my turn now."
Elena, clutched the medicine Alvin gave in her trembling hands.
She smiled weakly, her eyes reflecting both pride and sorrow. "Promise me you won't forget to live, my son. Don't let the weight of our struggles crush your spirit."
Alvin held back his tears. "I promise, Mother. I'll find a way to make our dreams come true."
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the small room Alvin called home, he laid out the meager feast.
Alvin's little sister, her eyes wide with wonder, stared at the meat bun before her. She started eating it in small bites with a wide smile on her face.
As Alvin looked at his little sister, the memory of her eagerly watching a child enjoy a chocolate cake with their parents flashed in his mind. He knew his sister longed for simple joys, like any other child.
In an unspoken moment, Alvin reached into the small package he had concealed, revealing a small piece of chocolate cake. The sight of it brought a sparkle to his sister's eyes, a mixture of surprise and joy.
"Brother, is this for me?" she whispered, her voice filled with disbelief.
Alvin nodded, a lump forming in his throat. "You've been eyeing those cakes at the market, haven't you?"
His sister's eyes welled up with tears as she nodded, the significance of the moment not lost on her. Alvin's heart swelled with a mixture of sadness and love for his little sister.
With a tender smile, Alvin handed the piece of chocolate cake to his sister. "Consider it a special treat," he said, ruffling her hair gently.
After dinner, Alvin sat at the table, his mind consumed with curiosity about his newfound power. The words of the Mother of the Universe echoed in his mind, saying he could understand the meaning behind everything.
"But honestly, I would have thought it was just a dream if not for my eyes turning blue," Alvin muttered to himself.
Turning to his little sister Mia, who was engrossed in dressing her broken doll, he had a sudden idea.
"Mia," Alvin called out. "Can you show me how you use your darkness talent?"
Mia's eyes lit up with excitement at her brother's request, her doll momentarily forgotten as she bounded over to him. Yet, her enthusiasm waned as quickly as it had come, replaced by a shadow of disappointment.
"I... I don't know how," she confessed softly, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "I never went to school to learn like the other kids."
Alvin's heart sank at Mia's words, a pang of guilt gnawing at him. He had dreamed of giving his sister the opportunity for education, but their poverty had shackled them, denying them such luxuries.
A tender smile graced Mia's lips, her innocence shining through despite the weight of their circumstances. "But brother," she said, "I can make shadows move."
With a flick of her wrist, Alvin's shadow moved on it's own. Alvin's eyes widened in astonishment as he watched, his own shadow stirring in response to Mia's manipulation.
As Mia's childish face contorted in concentration, Alvin found himself murmuring the words that had plagued his thoughts since the revelation of his newfound ability.
"Eye of Intent... what could it..."
Before he could finish the sentence, a resounding boom reverberated through Alvin's head, sending shockwaves of darkness cascading around him. In an instant, everything vanished, leaving him stranded in a void of ebony emptiness.