A new beginning

Arkhan was once a powerful wizard. Like every other villain in the story, he was smart and handsome. His blue eyes and his long golden hair attracted attention wherever he went. He had a clear goal, to achieve immortality. His obsession led him to make a pact with an elder entity. A nameless shadow that promised him to fulfill his wish. With determination, after years and years of hard work, he used part of the energy of the dark entity to stop the corruption of his body. From the shadows, he worked quietly for the entity to pay his debt.

After arduous training, the entity was defeated and disappeared into nothing. Arkhamˋs power was sealed. When the entity died, Arkham was following his steps and was now stuck in a foreign country in South America. Lost and confused in a land that did not appear on conventional maps, a gruesome war erupted. His beautiful colonial-style mansion now became a military base of operations.

He couldnˋt handle so much loss. Overall the centuries that Arkham lived, he managed to gather all sorts of information all over the world. Spells, conjurings, everything that had to do with magic. All of a sudden, he was left with nothing. Not even a purpose. He would live the rest of his days as any other mortal.

Without a home nor magic, Arkham now wandered aimlessly through that forgotten town. He walked some miles of red clay roads. His boats were now full of that same red, sticky and thick clay that stayed with anything that came into contact with it. With a long unkempt beard and desperation fully embraced. He spent his last savings in a foolish attempt to fill the void of his heart.

When he tried to sleep at night somewhere in an abandoned wreck of a home, he cried. Not only because of everything that he lost but also because he felt nostalgic about his home. Because even if he had the money to go back, he couldnˋt because of the war.

The heavy burden of guilt weighs over his shoulders. As a result, he drowned in bad habits just to forget. His fortune quickly disappeared as if it were grains of sand that fell through his fingers. And when he had nothing more than misery, violence took even his dignity from him. He was beaten until he felt nothing more than pain and copper taste in his mouth. He used his remaining strength and somehow dragged himself until he found an old and simple house. A house that hasnˋt been painted in years and almost colorless, moldy Spanish tiles. There, he blacked out.

Rebbeca found him there. A once pride and powerful man was now reduced to a simple battered body. She didnˋt know if he was a thief or a murderer but she couldnˋt just let him there to rot. Her kind heart wouldnˋt let her. Rebbeca took him into her home. Her long, straight, black hair covered her face as she kneeled down to drag him in. She changed his filthy clothes, treated his wounds, and dressed him in modest yet simple clothing that smelled like coconut soap.

At the next day, he woke up in a modest bed that he couldnˋt recognize. Confused and disoriented he wasnˋt able to determine how he got there to begin with. Then, a young, beautiful woman with cheerful eyes entered the room and waved at him as she knew him all along.

- I am a stranger. - He said with a raspy voice. - ¿Why did you help me? I could have robbed you or killed you. - Said Arkham tilting his head to one side.

The young woman raised an eyebrow and sighed with patience.

- First of all\, good morning. Second\, you were in danger. It is my duty to provide help to those in need. My elderly father once taught me that maybe one day\, we would be the ones in need. - Said the woman with a calm tone.

Arkham felt a shiver down his spine. Even after all the years that he lived, he never fully comprehended compassion. The world that he lived in was ruthless, the ones with more strength or power ruled as they pleased. A world where kindness was perceived as a weakness and gratitude as an unimportant luxury. But, there she was. Looking at him as his worth was actually worth something.

- Are you going to just stay there? - said the woman with a warm smile. - Help me to arrange the table for breakfast. And hurry up! There are lots of things to do on a farm!

Arkham nodded and followed her without much thought. Feeling strange in his own skin. An elder wizard, one who once knew all about dark magic, was now blindly following the orders of a countrywoman. He laughed a little. But it wasn't a sarcastic laughter, it was because he couldn't believe his actual situation.

The strong smell of tortillas filled the home from an ancient cauldron. In another pot, cassava was boiling in water. The wizard smiled. A meal like that would give anyone from the city a heart attack. But, for someone from the countryside was a very needed source of energy for the heavy work in the fields.

From the windows, the warm and golden light came from the sun. The house itself felt warm and kind compared to his cold and distant body. He sat down and observed the young lady elegantly serve the food on the table.

- What is your name\, young lady? I believe that we haven't introduced ourselves before.

- My name's Rebbeca\, sir. - Without even looking at him. - I ain't your momma\, so you would clean up this mess when you're done. - She added with a tone that intended to sound severe but ended up sounding playful. Showing her true warm nature.

Arkham surprised himself by smiling at that situation.

Suddenly, a scream interrupted the moment.

- YOUNG LADY! - Grouled a voice deep inside of the house. - Where have you left my tools again? I need to go to the field before the sun burns me to death!

Rebbeca rolled her eyes, smiled softly, and shook her head.

- At the kitchen pa!

An older man whose face suffered through the years and years of working over the sun entered the room. His steps were firm and his stare was severe. Quickly, their eyes met. The elder looked at him up and down in silence. Is not like he needed to say anything else to show how harshly he was judging him. After all, her daughter hasn't mentioned any new guests.

- And you are?

- Arkham\, sir. - And instinctively softened his posture and voice. - Is a pleasure to meet you. - And extended his hand as a gesture of respect.

The elder looked away as he just heard a fly and looked at his daughter again.

- Hon\, please don' tell me you are goin' out with a pussy. Ya know\, we need a man\, someone who can work at the farm.

- Pa! don' be rude! - Said Rebbeca\, clearly ashamed. - Some real cowards beat him up and took everything from him! I couldn' just let him there to die! You taught me better!

The grumpy old man frowned but ultimately nodded.

- I apologize for the inconvenience\, sir. it wasn't my intention. As soon as I get back to my old glory\, you will be highly compensated. - Said Arkham\, trying to win the respect of that man. After all\, he just appeared there\, at his house.

The man raised an eyebrow.

- Why is he speaking like that? Are ya a king or somethin'? -Said sarcastically the elder. - Bah\, man\, come and help me feed the animals. Nothin' free around here. - He petted Arkham's shoulder and got out just as fast as he appeared.

Arkham didn't quite know how to react. For the first time in centuries, someone didn't fear him or treat him with false kindness because wanted a favor. He just wanted help, nothing more.

Rebbeca smiled as she watched his uncomfortable face.

- What? is Mr noble too good to deal with a grumpy ol' man? - Joked the elder with sparkles shining through his ancient eyes.

For the first time in years, Arkham looked down, sort of ashamed. If they knew all that he had done... if they only knew.

Once he got out, he appreciated the beautiful view. Behind were three blue mountains that barely let the sun get to them. The field was filled with colorful and fragrant flowers. This was a much better view than the bars that smelled like piss and vomit that he used to wake up in.

He took the time to really breathe that clean air and got to work.

What would Arkham do? Will he just live and work as a farmer or would his dark past catch up with him?

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