Chereads / In Remembrance of The Old / Chapter 3 - Welcome to Asmara (Rotation: W.M. #1)

Chapter 3 - Welcome to Asmara (Rotation: W.M. #1)

"o holly messenger, how are you doing?" A small old villager in his 60s living in a little shack approaching the messenger

"I am doing fine and well"

"Are there anything special today for me? I would love to hear or receive anything from him" the villager's wife and son approach both of them from inside the shack and stand in front of it.

"I have nothing for you Hashib"

"Hmm… maybe he is busy, but let him know that I always submit to him and I am his son" Hashib smiles happily, his eyes are slanted, and showing wrinkles around it. In his back, his wife and son are throwing stones at him from the front of their home, but he doesn't react to any stones his family threw.

"My lord, I have come back and ready for your service" The 7 messengers bow down before the presence. Awaiting for his grand order to deliver to the creatures of earth: human, animal, plant, air, water, every living being and non-living being. Each messenger delivers their order for each of their world; 7 messengers, 7 skies, and 7 earth.

The presence began to speak

In a blink of an eye, I have been summoned by the presence on earth again. He said to us there are 2 "lights" that will bring a new world to this humanity, and we are tasked to find them and watch over them. And these lights can be anywhere on this earth, anywhere on this 7 earth. The presence summoned us several minutes; they have been here, but only 1 or 2 earth can they be found. Meaning these lights can travel from 1 earth to another, Which it should be impossible for humans unless given permission from the presence itself. 

A shepherd without sheep, what can he do? He must find his sheep to be a shepherd. Sheep without a shepherd will be lost and die. How would they survive the world? Which is worse? A shepherd without sheep or sheep without a shepherd? I would say the second one. Sheep need someone to follow, a leader even if in the end, they will be eaten by the shepherd. The shepherd can find or create his own sheep, it is a transcendent being and can do whatever he can. What can we do without him, what is our purpose in the end without him? It is fine for me if our purpose was just to be eaten by him, lest we have a clear purpose, not just wandering around the world. His order may sound "why would he not do it by himself?" but, I believe there's hidden meaning to it, and I will always follow his orders. 

"In your name, we pray, give me the strength and guidance under your light. I am your sheep and need your direction. Help me in this search for your 'lights'. Amen"

"Excuse me sir, do you know what this city called?"

"Ah, are you new here young man? Good to you, you're in Asmara"

"Asmara?"

"Yes, would you like someone to walk you around? I am free and can show you places that are interesting to visit for newcomers"

"Thank you very much, please do"

"First of all, have you eaten? Here we have the so-called 'roti buaya'. It's one of our culinary foods." he proceeds to buy one for me at the nearest vendor.

"Alan, how are you?"

"I am good, how about you Lisa?"

"I am good too, and I see you're with someone new here?"

"He's a tourist Lisa, I would like to buy him 'roti buaya' how much for one?"

"Ohhh, for him it's free, no need anything to pay for"

"Really? I have about 10 grahls it's okay for me to pay"

"No, no, it's okay for you it's free this time. And 10 grahls is too much for just one 'roti buaya' hahaha"

"Hahaha it's not that expensive young man, usually it costs 2 to 4 grahls"

"Ahah I see, thank you very much, ma'am"

"Have a nice trip boy, Alan take care of him"

"Of course Lisa" he gave thumbs up and smiled

We visited the hall, where many little children were playing. Some parents too with their child having a fun time. I began to worry that I might not be able to find the 'lights', they may have switched to another earth. I should be able to sense if they're here around me, but I'm not sensing anything or seeing something out of the blue. I have to search harder in this crowded area.

"Young man, I should've asked you this from our meeting, what's your name?"

"My name is Eloi" I lied

"Wonderful, now I can call you by your name, and not Young man-young man haha. And you can call me by Alan"

"Tell me Eloi, what brings you here to Asmara? Sightseeing? Looking for love?"

"Haha, I actually do look for someone"

"Your friend?"

"No, truthfully I have never met this person"

"So you don't know how he or she looks? How are you supposed to look for this person?"

I don't know if I should tell him I am a messenger, is it safe to say it to him? What should I do?

"Well, that is going to be hard Eloi, it'll take days" Alan pauses then resume talking, "You'll need a place to stay too, I have a spare room in my house"

"What about your family?"

"I'm alone there, just me and my dog" Alan stares blankly at children playing football.

"Oh look, the sun is setting down, let's go look for dinner first then we can go to my home"

I nodded

As soon as we're leaving the hall, I get goosebumps and feel a chill wind against my neck. I look back at the hall, children heading back to their home saying goodbye to each other. I thought I found it, maybe not.

"Eloi, you're lucky you came to Asmara today, because right now we are celebrating a festival tonight!"

"Festival? What is a festival?"

"Hahaha, you're a tourist you should know what a festival is. You are kidding right?"

I shook my head and being dumbfounded not knowing what festival is

"My god, REALLY? You don't know what festival is?"Alan raised his eyebrows, then tapped his forehead and rubbed his face. "Okay okay, since this is going to be your first festival experience. I will make sure it will be an impression" He became very energetic and tapped my back. "But first, you need to relax boy. You've been too stiff on yourself, even if you can't find the person you are looking for today, you can rest first tonight then continue tomorrow"