4th Age of Monouen
Swarming Season
February 12th of 1420
When the thunders roared over Eurolen, or so which they called Realm of Great Cities of Hodonia, one particular woman in her late seventies, dressed in brown old farmer's cloth long enough to hide her wooden slippers and gray scarf hanging on her yet so fair neck was holding two bags laden with potatoes, honey, manggoes, dragonfruit and whitebread. Her age seems ripe enough but her physique raw like a maiden in twenties. All of the people of Hodonia have this distinct characteristic. It is in the blood of all Hodons to stay young even if they already reached their century. It is one of the gift that they inherited from one of the five daughters of Hedon and Artemis. The gift of ageless physique from Hebe, Goddess of Youth, daughter of Hedon. Only those people who are lucky enough to reach the age of hundred and fifty changes their appearance as an old and despondent-looking man. In which case, they needed only to wait for the death to knock at their door.
She is beautiful too. One that can capture the attention of High Kings. Though all Hodon's are gifted with beauty by no other than the daughter of Hedon, the Goddess of Beauty, Athena, Eina's unique face like a scintillating starlight is beyond reach. Her black eyes shining like a dark flame, skin so fair and flawless, shape of the face is impeccable and her lips like a pool of cherry so sweet when kissed. She is the most beautiful out of the most beautiful there is.
Another important matter to learn from the Hodons is that they are born with raven black eyes serving as their identity. It serves as their totem of rights to live in Hodonia where no one else will deny their living. As long as one person had the eyes of Hedon, their great and powerful ancestor, they will live freely on whichever land they relish to reside.
Standing outside a bamboo door, anxious as she is waiting, she called her sister out to let her come in for the rain will soon wash her out. Even if the rain would not continue, it is still so cold outside that she needs the warmth of a hearth. Although the house isn't much hotel-looking, and the appearance so old that the roof made out of nipas are nearly falling, just like the twinning houses of her neighbors, she was still glad for in the City of Messo, there is someone she can immediately rely onto. Well, not so immediate for she has taken too long to open the door.
"Lethena! This is your sister! Eina! Come and open the door for it is but cold outside!" she shivered. One batch of thunder rolled before the raindrops heavily fell down on the ground and so the temperature decreased even more. "Lethena!"
Indistinct muttering came inside the house. Even the odd sound of the bamboo creaking makes her less comfortable but nonetheless felt blessed when Lethena opened the door furrowing her brows. When Lethena in her ashed yet still a beautiful face saw her beloved sister, her brows straighten in delight and welcomed Eina first in her tight embrace and second inside her humble abode.
"Tis so good to see you visit!" she merrily replied. "Come! Feel at home! I am sorry my home isn't much and goodness! You are shivering! Sit on the comforts of my chair and wait for a steaming honey tea!" there, she vanished behind the enclosures of her pallidly-green curtain. "I also prepared some sweet potato for supper. Join us when my sons come back from the fields. Mind you, I don't take no for an answer!"
"Still, your hospitality never ceases to overwhelm me" Eina said gratefully as she settles her bags on top of the table. It is indeed a cosy hearth intended for cold situation. Limited is the space but not so in terms of comfort. There placed the glimmering beauty of fire from the furnace facing the living room. Its heat casting out the coldness that has crept.
The place has not change over the course of year. It is still the wooden house with a wooden floor which would be an overstatement if said impeccable yet for the purpose of shelter brought some relevance. The thin beams of the house carved with intricate symbolisms made entirely from a narra tree, there hangs a lamp giving even small helpful beams of yellow light to illuminate and ease the darkness there is creeping almost anywhere.
As thunders roared louder and the droplets of rain drummed the ground, it never stopped the steam of the boiling sweet potato's irresistible smell wafting through every corners of the house. And so was the stomach of Eina growled impatiently. She's beyond hungry and tired trying to find something decent and cheap to eat from the populated and acrid market of Messo. Unfortunate are the moments that she has to live and suffer the tremendous amount of foods in the market. Being the smartest mother and buyer that she is, she only buy those food of which can withstand long journeys and perished no shorter than six days hence saving eight quarks and if in discount, she can save one euro which is actually a big sum of money.
In luck of time, when Lethena comes out from the curtain holding an iron tray laden with boiled potatoes, plantain bundle, water cabbage, dried meat of sheep preserved and honey tea, her husband Queron and his two sons Zeton and Heton suddenly came inside with their hats and cloths already soaked in the formidable rain. As they ventured to the living room and saw Eina, their hearts rejoiced seeing her once again.
"Oi! What a surprise, my sister! A merry evening!" greeted by Queron Hamquill removing his farmer's hat and placed it on his chest bowing a bit.
"A merry evening to the three workhorses. So as I am surprised seeing you three got soaked!" Eina chuckled so as the three. Heton and Zeton both lifted the fair hand of Eina and let her bare knuckle touch their foreheads. It is called Mano in their Hodonian language which is a sign of respect of younger children to their older relatives.
"Ah! There you are atlast! Come and let us eat before the soul of food depart!" Lethena called. "But you three must go and find dry clothes to wear before you eat or else you might get some sickness! Hurry now! Make haste!" she said before putting the tray on top of the table waiting to be eaten. Three men already disappeared in sight behind the closed door of their bedrooms changing their soaked clothes into a dry one more comfortable and warm.
Both women are left to talk about themselves in which case is what they always tend to do. After all, women in Hodonia like it storytelling and also a good listener to tales. Lethena sat down on the opposite edge of the table and began to babble about half important story and half a foolish one. Her mouth is as incessant as the rain pouring heavily outside. But loquacious women are of great company especially when seasons are dull and the atmosphere need a strong intricate sense of humour to add bit of a life. It is a shame Eina is not as talkative as her sister to let the looming dark aura be casted off whenever it tends to strike. She is just, well, timid and reserved but more grace it is that she has compared to Lethena.
"It really is good to have you tonight, my sister. How long have you been idled to visit 'ere? Nine months? Maybe ten or even a year since you last visited. What caused your delay? How is everything in Emiroque? Is it about Quill? Is your son alright?" Questions have been asked in bundle and so Eina sighed for even in a serious matter, her sister could not contain the richness of her tongue.
"Indeed it was about my son, Lethena. You know I could not leave him alone in Emiroque for a long period of time. Everyday that I see not his face, everyday that I feel not his presence, weariness continues to grow inside me! Oh, my sister if only you know how much I try to hide him! He is only but a child and yet he suffers such predicament. He does not deserve such situation"
Indeed. Quill doesn't deserve it as much as all the ten year old Hodonian children who was born different in their country. Quill was deprived from beauty of the world. He was still hidden under the secret compartment of their abode back in Emiroque. He made friends from all the rats and roaches crawling in his dark room. It is his only wish to see what lies beyond the door. Always so curious with the birds, the sky and the grass. Always wanting to feel the west breeze and some of the things that Eina used to tell him about the wonders of the King's fortress. Yet with all such mustered urge he can't. He will always be bound to be behind closed doors dreaming to go out and venture the hidden wonders of the world.
"What then will you do? You can't keep doing this forever, Eina. You can not keep Quill from the Emirates for too long. Zeborah's daughter, Zefiah has already been caught and was taken to the fortress. Soon enough, they will be casted off into the sea and let them die there. They will soon find your son. Please, I beg thee take good care of Quill, Eina. Even I can not contain my weariness."
It is much true for the exorbitant display of emotions of Lethena. It was only once that he saw Quill when she visited the city of Emiroque. By that time, Quill was only but an eight year old lad with a resplendent eyes as blue as the sea being stroke by the scorching sun. She does not see anything wrong with such marvellous orbs despite the fact that King Ponchio reckons all of those 'bizarre-eyed' people were descendants of witches, vampires, and anything of that sort that looks absolutely horrifying. Only that, she feels so much pity for the kid. The scarcity made him thin and his eyes hunger for the world. It only displays the need to know the only Monouen.
"I will start to journey north to return to Emiroque after the rain will stifle its course. I can not linger here any longer for every second that I am not beside my son, he will be in grave danger."
"But you only just came and the night just got deeper! You never know what lurks behind the shadows. And you need some rest! You look absolutely exhausted. I will not let you venture the wilds of the road with only but a little strength left in you. I will help you in this and don't bother decline my request this time. You need to muster all the help that you needed"
When three men already came out of their room after changing into dry clothes, they all shared the supper in deep talks with thunder fulminating between the night. They were partly enjoying the simple feast for they already grieve from the capture of many Outcasts all around Eurolen. It is a gruesome capture where all captives experience torture. Some endure the lashing of a whip on their skin because of their frenetic resistance against Emirates or the guardian and collectors of Eurolen, others tried to hide but failed because of the strong nasal talents of Emirates' wild dogs and some, only but a pitiful infant who deserves to live, were deprived from their rights to see Monouen and were burned to death leaving one final cry of tribulation.
It was a horrible scene to remember and quite possibly a thing hard to forget. The evil grows thicker creating a menace of the lands. Soon enough, it will create revolution and most probably, a thing harder to cease is war. A war against Emirates and farmers. Every living soul and people in right mind will see a war coming because of the horrendous punishment they lay against the Outcasts. But Lethena and her family think it is not yet the present day where people are still hiding inside the walls of their houses being a blind followers to abhorrent rules that the King promulgates. It is not yet the time when people are still frightened about the King's law and the King himself. Courage still is lost finding a way through their hearts. They are still being slaved by their cowardice.
"Lethena, I understand that you feel rather scared about me journeying the night. But even I am scared of what the night might do to Quill! Emiroque is a place of terror. Every city in Eurolen is a subtle hell. I can't risk losing my son"
The silence washed over the hearth but their eyes scream sympathy and horror. Queron, with his words daring to slip at the tip of his tongue finally spoke.
"I agree about what my wife has told you" he intercepted. "We don't know when will blood moon strikes again. If it happens now, people under the light of that red moon will go insane. It will be the hour that Insanity breaches the mind of people who has only but a small amount of resistance in their heads. The sickness can drive everyone mad. They will drive people to kill whoever they see. We don't know when will another blood moon occur. If it happens to be now, it's best to lock all doors and arm yourself whenever an Insane barges in. What happens if Quill knew that you have been killed upon going home in a blood moon? It will destroy him of course! And without you knowing it, he will eventually step out of the shadows of your home and will try to linger in danger that has long been tarrying outside your door. Choose, Eina. What would it be?"
Queron made a splendid point. The occurence of the Blood Moon is always unexpected. The red light of the moon causes people under such exposure to become violent. They will kill as if they have no mercy. It will only stop if the blood moon wanes into a silver moon. Aside from Insanity caused by the Blood Moon, is the growing lust on men. Even the most respectful man in Hodonia suddenly becomes so erotic. They sometimes pay a whore but most of the time they rape. Not only adults but the children as well.
Eina thought for a while and considered the consequences that Queron had mentioned. It probably is the best. She loves Quill she never wished to leave him behind or even him being alone.
She agreed to stay and decided at last to get moving when the first sunlight appear over the east hills which is almost like a poor residential area swarming with houses.
After supper, Lethena prepared a room for Eina to sleep and let it be the place she recovers her strength. The room was small but convenient with a small window where the first light comes seeping through. The mattress isn't quality-checked but it could provide comfort. The darkness ruled the room's corners due to rare visitations but being the most hospitable and caring sister that Lethena is, she provided a small gas lamp and put it on a small table near the bed.
"Sleep now, my sister. Let this be the hour that you forget all the troubles. I will take care of the things you need at dawn. Are you sure you don't need anything?"
"Positive. Thank you, Lethena. I wish you good night" Eina gave a warm smile as she tucked herself inside a brown blanket.
"Good night, Eina" she said back and turned her sole yet stopped once more looking back at her saying, "It's so nice to see you again" before gently closing the door behind her.
Inside the small room screams weariness. A sound that only Eina can hear. Created by her mind not wanting her to sleep. Of course! How could she sleep? Emirates are always inspecting at an unexpected time and in unexpected place. Yet she tried. Tried not to become pessimistic for once and answer the need of her body to sleep. When she does, she dreamt of a vast blue sea.She was at the shore with spear threatening to stab her back and her hands bound by a tight rope. On the sea there sail a boat and on the boat there sat a boy screaming her name. As the boat sails further, the screaming went vague.
"Mom!Help me!" was the only thing she heard. She can't move nor can she scream. She was paralysed. The sea starts to dance in high spirits creating a monstrous wave. In the edge, it swallows the shadow of a little boat and the vague screams turned into silence.
Tensed voice of Quill has been cut off into the wilderness and sank into the dangerous edge of the sea. Her body suddenly came into life rendering movements. But it was too late to swim into the abhorrent water because Quill has been dragged by death itself.
"Noooooooo!Quillll!" her voice rang continuously and her tears ran down her cheeks like a grieving river. "Noooooooo!" her voice cracked. The pain is too much for her.
She could not believe that she just watched her son die!
"Eina!"
A pat on her shoulder made her wake up from her horrifying dream. Her eyes wander around a familiar small room with Lethena sitting on the edge of her bed looking at her flummoxed.
"What happened?! Where is my son?!" she asked nervously with sweat streaming from her forehead.
"Eina! You need to leave!"
Lethena peeked at the small window as if someone maybe watching. It was already dawn and the sun spilt its rays over the east hills. Because of Lethena's flustered face, Eina thought that something grave happened like it was on her dream.
"I have already packed your things and fed your pony. Go home! Queron brought news from Zeborah"
"Why? What is it?"
"When the Emirates arrested Zeborah's daughter,she heard one of the guards that they will soon raid Emiroque and it is today! There will be a surprise inspection back in your city and you need to go before all the Emirates get there first!"
"What?!"
"I beg thee, Eina, GO!"
Eina immediately got up from bed and rushed to get her things from the table. Without proper self composure, she opened the door and was surprised when Queron already prepared Azul, her pony completely saddled with food.
She climbed on the pony's back with ease.
"Thank you for feeding Azul, Lethena and thank you for making me stay. I need to go. I will see you soon when all these awful events fade. So long"
"I am looking forward to it, my sister. Now enough with the talking and go! Save Quill!"
Eina bitterly smiled down at the two couple saying, "I will" before spurring her pony and taking the road seriously fast.
Lethena and Queron both looked at each other with such overwhelming pity and fear.
"I just hope she isn't too late"
"Don't worry now, my love. I am sure Eina will do everything in her power to save Quill. Let us not lose hope. Hedon will not forsake us"
End of Chapter 1
Dear Fellow readers, I hope you like the first part of my story. I also would wish for you to click vote and comment all your suggestions as well as questions and let us make our own world out of the real and existing one. I would be happy to offer you all my service.
Yours truly,
Gab
vocabularies
Hodons - a term used for people living in Hodonia.
Monouen - Hodons' term of the 'World' or 'Earth'.
Euro - the largest amount of money in Hodonia.
Quarks - Ten quarks is equal to one euro.
Outcasts - people who possesses different color of eyes such as blue, green, brown and etc.
Emirates - guard and policemen of Hodonia.
Eurolen - main land of Hodonia where many Cities delve.
Mano - a sign of respect being shown by younger ones to their older relatives by taking their hand and let their knuckles touch the younger people's forehead. (In reality, it is the tradition of the Philippines to show respect to their older relatives)
I WISH YOU ALL A BLESSED DAY!