The damp forest was a haven for many creatures. Birds, bugs, flies and even shriekers. It was their home , a safe space as they joined in in balancing the ecology. The lush trees and grass provided the herbivorous with leaves and thus gave the shriekers and hunters food. When they die the small vermin's had delicacies for days. When they decomposed they became food for the plants and trees. This was known to all as the cycle of life and the balance that needed to be protected.
At the center of it all was the sun. The primal deity in the sky. The giant orb that floats across the sky day in day out. And through its warmth and light, life manages to exist and flourish. Its energy, the essence passed down and across the cycle. Everyday felt by the leaves of the plants and its gentle warm rays settle onto the bodies of animals, giving each a sense of protection from the entities that rejoice in the dark.
Warm as they were, Liora still wondered. Her hand ran across the tree bark her back was rested on. The little light that had pierced through the cracks of the leaf shields above illuminated the green moist moss on the tree and the fern that sprouted bellow.
Her eyes were caught in the passing light beams but yet it didn't seem to bother her. It was as if the light just passed right through her, it's presence never felt.
Her eyes shifted to the ground where she had scribbled. Even in the dim soil she could make out the words. Etched on the forest floor was what she would call an accurate description of the world of what the world looked like to her.
" You have beautiful handwriting, Liora. " she heard the elder's say.
This was not the first time she had heard those words today .
" Thank you. I've been practicing a lot. " Liora answered.
" It shows. Also a quiet the understandable view for someone in your predicament. "
Liora's hand paused.
" She can read!? " she thought as she faced the elder.
The elder gracefully sat on the wooden stump. Her robe swept across the ground hiding her feet underneath. Her calm expression still a wonder to Liora. Her eyes were not on her writing . They faced elsewhere.
In the clearing Sen was still dodging darts shot by the now slightly enraged and entirely engaged Dym. Fast as it was, Sen was now able to dodge the four darts with ease even having time to taunt Dym. Ery, off to the side cheered for Sen, sometimes acting like an reality anchor whenever Sen was way over his head.
" They seem to be having fun. " the elder commented.
Liora remained silent.
She was on high alert now that she had a vague understanding of what the elder was aiming for. Her comment earlier had set of the alarm that her well placed secret had been breached.
" She's silent. Looks like she's caught on. " the elder thought.
She smiled then continued.
" Don't you think they should know ? " The elder asked.
" Know what ? "
" Quiet the smart girl. " the elder thought.
" Two days from now you'll be heading out for the mission with them. Telling them now will be better than telling them then. " she said.
Liora's heart skipped a beat. Her suspicions were true. She knew.
Then it began. Her head started dizzying as the memories flushed in. The voices from long ago still fresh in her memory. The space around her darkened. It filled with their laughter as they echoed through.
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" Make way, make way. The child prodigy of house Vane is passing through. " said a mocking voice.
Laughter followed. Deep and hearty. Their smiles vibrant as they sunk into ecstasy.
She covered her ears, shut her eyes but all the same. The voices seemed to find her everywhere.
" No ! no ! " she cried her voice meek and soft.
" Help me, big sister. " she called out her voice muffled out by the darkness.
She slowly drifted in the darkness, her cries fading the deeper she sunk. No one could hear her.
<>
" No ! " Liora exclaimed.
The elder raised an eyebrow.
The bark beneath Liora's hand had been scarred.l. Five finger sized depressions had been etched out on the tree exposing the underside of the bark.
" No need to worry. Know here knows apart from your instructor over there. " she said trying to calm Liora.
Her breath had slightly hitched. Her hand was still on the tree bark with some blood dripping from the fingertips. Her eyes had widened. They seemed puzzled, confused and surprised. In her mind a question boggled.
" Why am I feeling this ? "
" Why ? "
" It's been four years. I've already healed… Then… then why ? "
Her eyes slowly raised from the ground. As though synched, her eyes and Sen's met.
Sen was mid air dodging a passing dart. His dark hair with the fading silver at the tips was still suspended in the air. That's when their eyes met.
" Him ? " she thought.
" In the world there are those who can't feel the warmth of the sun. They are riddled with darkness that pushes them into the shadows. And the more they are pulled into the shadows, the more they push away those who enjoy the warmth of the light and end up drifting in the darkness alone. "
" But… " she paused turning to face Liora.
" A time comes when the memory of the light is introduced back to them. It ignites the memories of their past beckoning for them to reach for it. And that's where they have to make a choice. "
" Even though it's bright that light can still fade. And in the short moment it exists the choice is yours. Reach for it… "
" Or stay hidden in the darkness, where the fear of your truth is the chain that binds you there. " the elder concluded.
Elder Lin observed Liora . Her breathing had settled and for a part of their talk was attentively listening. The elder smiled a little.
" But you don't have to worry. Take as much time as you want. " she said.
" Your light is a little bit more resilient than most. "
Liora gave her a passing glance.
" I don't know what you're talking about. " she said.
Time elapsed and the bantering chatter from the clearing had died down. Sen was seated on one of the stumps panting. His clothes were nearly tone up with some of bleeding tainting them red. Some of the cuts were slowly sealing up thanks to the warm light that radiated behind him.
Behind him Ery stood as she healed him. A gentle sky blue hue radiated from her hands as the cuts on Sen's body disappeared.
Liora stood some distance away, arms crossed, as she looked at Sen and Ery talk. She could feel a sting in her hand telling her to reach out to the two. It was sharp and the pain was searing. But for some reason she held back. She tucked her hands deeper into her fold so no one could see.
Then suddenly Sen looked at her. Like before their eyes met but this time there was silence. Her head flurried wondering why he was looking at her.
The his mouth opened.
" Hey Liora, Your finger is bleeding. " he said looking the drip of blood falling onto the ground.
" Yeah it is. Move aside Sen. " Ery said pushing Sen from the stump.
" Hey! Ouch ! , that hurts. " Sen shouted rubbing where she had pushed him from.
" You're already healed up. It's Liora's turn. " Ery rebuked.
" I'm fine. It's just a small cut. Plus he stillhas some bleeding " Liora said.
" No. That's his fault for deflecting the darts with his bare hands. "
" Soo come on. "
Standing next to where Liora had been scribbling ,the elder watched with a smile. Her eyes followed Liora's she moved towards the stump Ery was seated on. Sen had been pushed over and was sitting legs crossed on the forest floor.
Liora took a sit on the stump giving her bleeding hand to Ery. A sky blue hue encased Liora's hand as the right continued in their chatter.
Below her the ground stirred subtly. The ground on which the writing gradually sunk with new fresh soil coming up to replace it. A seedling popped up from the new soil, its green small leaves now exposed to the forest light.