Prompt#19: Nuclear

Word Count: 499 of 500 MAX
DAY 19 Prompt: Nuclear

         As I tend to do, I gazed up into the grey sky. The clouds were thick, rolling slowly along on their never-ending journey. The world was grey when I came into this world and has always been. Sometimes it made me sad which puzzled me.

         Master Barbaros must have heard my sigh for he suddenly appeared next to me atop his chestnut mare.

         “What seems to be the problem, boy?”

         “Nothing, your Grace.” I made sure not to look him in the eyes lest I insult him. “I apologize if I’ve disturbed you.”

         

“Nonsense boy. Traveling can be so boring. I relish any distraction.”

         I took that as an invitation so I boldly carried on. “Why is the sky grey?” One of the soldiers scoffed and I clammed up. I’d gone too far and made a fool of myself.

         Master Barbaros didn’t laugh. He turned in his saddle to look at the soldier. “You find amusement in the question?”

         The soldier smirked. “The sky’s always been grey. That’s its color. Everyone knows that.”

         I rolled my eyes while my head was down in embarrassment. I knew the sky was always grey. That’s not what I meant. But the damage was done.

         “I apologize, your Grace. Its a fool I am for asking such a question.”

         “Stop apologizing all the time. How old are you boy?”

         “I’ll be fifteen seasons come winter.”

         “Where did you have your schooling?”

         Now it was my turn to scoff. “Never had any schooling, your Grace. School is for the nobility. I’m the son of the Stable Master. My father taught me what he could.”

         “Ah, your Martin’s boy. Phillip I believe, yes?”

         “Yes, your Grace.”

         “Well, Phillip,” he paused to look over his shoulder at the soldier, “he’s wrong.”

         “Your Grace?”

         “As recently as several hundred years ago the sky was blue.” He saw my eyes grow big and chuckled. “Oh yes, the world was a different place. It was overpopulated, too many people lived upon it. And as happens, there was war. And a great war at that. It lasted for years until one side tired of the stalemate. They used a horrifying spell called the nuclear to destroy their enemies.”

         “What did it do?” I was hypnotized by his story.

         “It was so devastating that it turned parts of the world to ash. It even had the ability to set the sky on fire. Unfortunately both sides had this spell and when one used it, the other did as well. The sky is grey because its still smolders from that war.”

         I was terrified. “What happened to the nuclear? Who has that power now?”

         “No one. When the world burned, it took all the knowledge with it. Only through historical books found during excavations have we learned so much.”

         “I pray I never see such a spell used.”

         Master Barbaros smiled down at me. “Now, what other questions might you have, to entertain an old man on such a boring journey?”