The birds were chirping their favourite morning melody and enjoying the summer time. Nothing could be splendid than the sunlight penetrating through the windows and giving the life of light into the room on a bright sunny day. The surroundings echoed the calm life of the villagers in Uphill. The sound of the cows mooing, the hens clucking, magical beasts flying above their roofs or scrounging in the bushes, men and women working in the field; laughing and singing, it was the perfect morning vibe. 

Ermand slowly shifted his position for he was sleeping soundly in his tiny but comfy bed. Thank goodness he wasn't having terrible dreams that morning, which was extraordinarily contrary to what happens while he's at home. It seems things had started changing since the time he had joined Agledon, one of the best universities in the magical world of Iyerth. 

The door to Ermand's tiny room was slightly opened and a tall boy with auburn hair peeped into the room. He observed the golden haired boy, deep in his slumber. 

The tall boy strolled toward the bed post and waved his fingers at him. A few purple sparks flew toward the sleeping Ermand and struck gently against his face.

Ermand wrinkled his face and shifted his position but the sparks seem to be fascinated in disturbing him.

"Achoo!" Ermand sneezed, rubbing his nose.

He slowly opened his eyes, though only partially, and glanced around him. The sparks disappeared before Ermand could perceive what it was. 

"Get up, sleepy head. Rise and shine," the auburn haired boy told, peeling the thin cotton blanket that covered his little brother.

"Come on, Jack. It is my Holidays now. I haven't been able to sleep well like this since I joined Agledon. You know the classes begin at seven in the morning," Ermand whined, clutching his blanket.

"Mum has assigned us some chores. Also, do you have any idea about what time it is?"

Ermand remained silent, awaiting Jack's answer.

"It's half past ten already and Jason's muttering something about you to himself. Get up before you let him make legends of you," Jack tapped on his arms and exited the room, leaving Ermand losing his good sleep that he yearned for a long time.

"Well, it is now that I realize how important are holidays," he said to himself, jumping from the bed, grabbing a trouser that was hung on the wall. 

After bathing and slipping into his T-shirt and trousers, Ermand joined his family in the kitchen downstairs.

"Morning," he said, pulling a chair. 

"Had a good sleep of a lifetime, Ermie?" The gentle voice of a lean woman with a dirty kitchen apron over her pale gown approached him, serving him a plate. It was clear enough to recognise that she must be the mother of Jack. Jack has inherited most of his features from his mother. 

"I feel so relaxed," Ermand sighed, receiving the plate.

"Well, I've got some chores to assign you boys today," she chuckled, shaking her head. 

"Nothing funny, is it mum?" Jack asked, his brows furrowed.

"Nothing more funnier than you, Jack. Now, finish your breakfast and get ready."

"Where's dad?" Another auburn haired boy, who sat on his chair, not uttering a single word untill then, finally opened his mouth. He had an unpleasant look on his face, although he seemed calm. He had similar facial features as Jack and his mother.

"He had gone to buy a few packets of seeds. We're going to sow pumpkins and parsnip, probably in the evening," she replied, joining the boys at the table.

"The only thing I would miss about Agledon this month would be the food," Jack said, munching a piece of toasted stale bread. 

"Boy, yes. It was really a luxury living there," Ermand agreed, nodding his head to the plate.

"Stop talking, and finish your meals fast and come to the backyard," Mrs. Chisel scolded, drinking a tumbler of water. 

After breakfast, when the boys finished, they entered the backyard to find their mother holding a rake in one of her hands and a shovel in the other. 

"My boys had gone fat from doing no hard work like this. So, I think this would be a great exercise," she giggled, handing Ermand the shovel and Jack the rake. 

"Jason, you will have to fix the pipe over there, it's been leaking for the last two days. Since it has only been a day you boys came home, I thought of giving you a day off."

"How kind of our mother," Jack purred like a cat, rolling his eyes. "I wish the two weeks holiday ends in no time." 

"Let's go fix the pipe," Jason's voice, in his usual monotone, interrupted the conversation.

Mrs. Helmuth, the boys' mother nodded at him, smiling and led the way while Jack and Ermand stared at each other. 

"You know what I hate about gardening?" Jack whined.

"Gobblegocks?" 

"Yes, that mischievous thing! Even an elf would be much less puckish than that creature."

"Oh, well. We have to plough at least a small piece of area before she comes," Ermand shrugged, gazing at the grassy ground. 

"Come on, then," Jack sighed.

Ermand sighed before punching the shovel blade into the ground. He scooped a patch of grass along with the soil and continued doing the same over a small area until some tiny creatures about the size of an onion came out crawling from the muddled ground. 

It had a pale pink body that seemed vulnerable to the external environment with it's shiny skin glistening in the sunlight. It had curved ears to the front and large eyes that seemed too much for a creature in such a size. With its delicate claws, it moved the soil to get on top of the ground. The purple ringed tail wiggled around while it plunged it's hands to scoop out the soil and climb to the top. When it sensed that Jack and Ermand were observing him, it giggled to itself in a very unpleasant sound and ran away to hide itself in a bush nearby. 

"These Gobblegocks are so infuriating," Jack muttered, smoothing the soil with his rake. 

Just then, a few more Gobblegocks found its way out through the smoothened soil. 

"There're more of these," Jack grumbled.

Before he could move the rake an inch, an army of Gobblegocks came out of the soil, giggling to themselves and ran to surround the boys' leg. 

"They're so notorious!" Jack yelled, launching his rake at the tiny creatures. 

Ermand winced and pulled one of the Gobblegocks that clutched onto his foot, literally biting him. 

More of the Gobblegocks began hopping onto the boys and bite them everywhere, clinging onto Jack and Ermand's body with its miniscule but sharp teeth penetrating into their flesh.

"Ahh!" Jack cried out of frustration. "These pricking little brutes!"

He pulled as many of the Gobblegocks as he could and threw them onto the ground from where they giggled and got on their feet and hid themselves into the bush. 

"It's itching everywhere!" Jack grumbled through gritted teeth, scratching over his arms and legs.

"Gobblegock sting," Ermand muttered, mimicking his brother. His hand and feet had turned red with rashes. 

Jack bit his bottom lip and glared at the bush, his eyes filling with rage. "I don't understand why they hide themselves behind the bushes now." 

"You know they hate us gardening."

"Oh no, those Gobblegocks bit you?" Mrs. Chisel squealed, running to them.

"You should've given us something! A group of these nasty creatures have just erupted from the soil and then it was just sting and bite," Jack replied, scratching his back.

"I'm sorry, my boys. I thought you were brave enough to face a tiny Gobblegock," Mrs. Chisel chuckled.

"Funny, mum?" Jack asked, rolling his eyes. 

"Kind of. You should know how me and your father dealt with these mischievous creatures. You should've used the repelling spell. I didn't have any formal magic schooling in my life while you both went to one of the best universities in Iyerth. I think I've overestimated my sons."

"Can you get a solution to this. I feel like peeling my skin any moment!" Jack yelled, scratching rapidly all over him.

"Come," she smiled at them. 

Before the boys entered the back door, a jelly substance that levitated in the air, echoed the sound that was vaguely familiar to them. It was the official way of bringing announcements from the Tawarnian senate.

"This is a crucial decision from the senate of Tawarn that there will be major changes in the law and working of our country that will soon be implemented within a month. More information and details to your prevailing inquiry will be announced and sent through knockmen to each and every person belonging to Tawarn. This is a very important announcement from the senate… This is a crucial decision from the senate of Tawarn that there…"

Mrs. Chisel and the three boys listened eagerly to the announcement. 

"Changes?" Ermand turned to Jack.

"I've heard some rumours about this. I didn't know it would be real!" Mrs. Chisel gasped. Her cheerful face became desolate in a matter of seconds.